Real Life With John Cowan

Joy Reid - Co-founder of One Mother To Another and former journalist

Real Life With John Cowan

Show Notes

Joy is a highly respected New Zealand broadcast journalist and television presenter, best known for her extensive career with TVNZ’s 1News. A former European Correspondent based in London, she made history as the first mother appointed to the role, covering major global events across nearly 20 countries—including Brexit, royal weddings, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Beyond her journalism career, Joy is a passionate philanthropist and the Chief Executive of One Mother to Another. Inspired by her own experiences in neonatal wards, she co-founded the charity to provide care packages to parents with hospitalized children, earning her a Kiwibank Local Hero Award for her impactful community work.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from Real Life With John Cowan

Oct 18, 2026

He was the man who put the "pace" in New Zealand paceman. At his peak, Shane Bond was terrifyingly fast, clocking a blistering 156.4 km/h at the 2003 World Cup and dismantling the world’s best batsmen. Widely regarded as our greatest fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee, Shane’s career was a thrilling rollercoaster of immense triumph and devastating, career-threatening injuries. But his story is much more than just cricket statistics, it's a masterclass in resilience.

Oct 11, 2026

Before scaling the world's most unforgiving peaks—from Antarctica to the Andes and the Himalayas—Sir Graeme was a "painfully shy" child growing up in Gisborne who was afraid of everything. His life transformed when he discovered the outdoors, leading to historic feats like the first-ever winter traverse of the Southern Alps in 1971.But his greatest legacy isn't written in the snow. Spurred by a challenge to "do good for others", Sir Graeme co-founded the Outdoor Pursuits Centre (now Hillary Outdoors) and established the Graeme Dingle Foundation, which has empowered over 400,000 young Kiwis over the last 30 years. Recently awarded the prestigious global Order of Magellan for his lifetime achievements in exploration and youth advocacy, Sir Graeme joins John for an unscripted look at his extraordinary life, his worldview, and his latest mission to "move mountains" for the next generation of New Zealanders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 4, 2026

This Sunday on Real Life with John Cowan, anything goes as we welcome one of New Zealand's most authentic, straight-talking leaders: Hon Shane Jones.

Sep 27, 2026

Known to Kiwi audiences as the co-host of TVNZ’s Eat Well for Less NZ and Cooks on Fire, Ganesh brings a wealth of energy, humor, and heart to everything he does.

Sep 20, 2026

This week on Real Life, John Cowan sits down with one of the most powerful minds in space exploration: NASA’s Head of Science, Dr Nicola Fox.

See all episodes →