Show Notes
What does it mean to be a modern All Black, expected to perform at a mental and physical peak when player body mass has increased by 30% since the 1960s and new research is showing the horrifying impact of head injuries on rugby player brains? All Black 1000, Carl Hayman, wrote Head On after discovering his injuries had led to early-onset dementia. He joined his co-author Dylan Cleaver to talk about the new realities of the sport we love. This episode was recorded at the 2024 Featherston Boo...
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As we find ourselves in the throes of an election year, in an increasingly crowded attention economy, at a time when the very notion of truth is constantly called into question, Aotearoa's media landscape is more crucial than ever. To parse that landscape, TVNZ's Māori Affairs Correspondent Te Aniwa Hurihanganui, The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive and former Newshub anchor and NBR Te Ao Māori Editor Mike McRoberts joined journalist Michelle Duff for a conversation t...
2017-2023 was one of the most momentous and unpredictable periods in our country's history - between Covid, the Christchurch terrorist attack, Jacindamania, He Puapua, the National Party's implosion, an unprecedented MMP victory, and more. How have those years shaped us? Moderated by Toby Manhire (The Spinoff), a panel comprising former National Party Minister Chris Finlayson, Former Speaker of the House Sir Trevor Mallard and political journalists T...
Triplets, amusement parks, and controversial scientists are at the heart of two Aotearoa novels longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Just one of these overlapping elements would have been an amazing coincidence, but all three is nothing short of astonishing. Mary McCallum talked to Catherine Chidgey and Tracy Farr about The Book of Guilt and Wonderland and attempted to unearth what feeds the fertile imaginations that dream up such wonders. Recorded at the 2026 Featherston ...
Visionary psychological coach Gilbert Enoka changed the way the All Blacks played. Having the highest winning record of any professional sports team in history is only possible because they leave nothing to chance. Their winning mindset and resilience are as important as their training, and Gilbert Enoka was their secret weapon. Bob Francis joined Gilbert on the couch to discuss his new book, Become Unstoppable, reflect on his unparalleled career, and distil his essential lessons so that we c...
A small book called Imagining Decolonisation has been a notable bestseller in New Zealand. People want to know more about decolonisation and colonisation, but often don’t know where to start. Our expert panel came together for a fascinating kōrero on this topic: Papawai Marae Kaumātua Paora Ammunson (Ngāti Moe, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitāne, Te Arawa); writer and Te Tiriti o Waitangi policy advisor Tῑhema Baker (Raukawa te Au ki te Tonga, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti ToaRangatira)...