Shorty Street star Theo Dāvid on playing Romeo - the original 'F-Boy' - fatherhood, and the theatre of WWE
Theo Dāvid is currently deep in rehearsals for Auckland Theatre Company’s Romeo and Juliet - and even if you’re not a Shakespeare geek, he shares some beautiful insights into why this 400-year-old writer and his works are still so relevant today.
A proud Samoan who grew up in South Auckland, Theo now lives in Mission Bay (his mates give him plenty of stick for that) with his beautiful partner and their two young boys. But the place closest to his heart is Huntly - and he explains why with real warmth and eloquence.
Plus, Theo reveals the harmless little white lie he told to land his gig as an ambulance driver on our much-loved Shortland Street.
*Note: this episode contains some strong language.
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59:55
Tanita Garnett beat cancer twice as a young girl - now she's chasing a Black Ferns jersey
Tanita Garnett is 22 years old and has already beaten cancer twice. She picked up a rugby ball at 14, and by 16, she’d made the Tasman Mako training squad.
Now recovering from a tough ACL injury, Tanita opens up about the physical and mental challenges of rehab - and what keeps her going.
She’s also a qualified joiner, choosing a trade to support herself while chasing her rugby dreams.
Tanita is a remarkable young woman. Her story - and the way she talks about her “why” - is nothing short of inspiring.
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56:21
Changing the fear around menopause - and why we must Fix Iron First: A conversation with Dr Libby
Today’s guest is Dr Libby Weaver - a thirteen-time bestselling author and internationally acclaimed nutritional biochemist.
For years, Dr Libby has dedicated herself to empowering people to take control of their health through education and practical insights.
Her current focus is on raising awareness about iron - one of the most overlooked yet essential aspects of wellbeing.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to better understand their body and take charge of their health.
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1:23:03
Zoe Hobbs - Oceania’s fastest woman - on getting even quicker, not being ‘showy’, and the drama of the call room
Aotearoa’s sprint queen, Zoe Hobbs, is the first - and so far the only - New Zealand woman to run the 100 metres in under 11 seconds, clocking a personal best of 10.96 s. She was also the first Kiwi in nearly 100 years - man or woman - to reach an Olympic 100 m semi‑final, finishing 14th overall and edging ever closer to a global podium.
In this episode, she lifts the lid on elite sprinting, sharing the science, mindset, body mechanics and determination that drive the world’s fastest people down the most‑watched straight in sport.
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1:08:29
Joe Daymond on being a sensitive people-pleaser and why Kiwi crowds are the toughest in the world for comedians
Joe Daymond is a comedian, writer, director and content creator, currently touring Australia with his latest show, Hope I Made You Proud. It’s a journey through his career - from living in his car, to cleaning caravans in the middle of the night, to performing on stages around the world.
I last caught up with Joe - a proud Fijian Māori from Wainuiomata - over Zoom in 2021, and let’s just say, putting us both in a studio for a proper chat was always going to be a bit dangerous.
We talk about his endgame, why he’s feeling a bit in limbo, and - fair warning - it occasionally feels a little like a therapy session.
Plus, we play a game about what to do when you bump into someone you hate at the supermarket, and Joe explains why Kiwi crowds are the toughest in the world.
Welcome to Kiwi Yarns - those yarns you have where you sit down, put the kettle on, pour a whiskey or crack open a beer I honestly don‘t mind. Anyway! We‘re sitting down and we’re yarning to some great New Zealanders, their back stories, their front stories, even stories where they went sideways, we will go there. It’s a place where we celebrate the great people of this glorious nation.
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