Kiwi Yarns

I'm joined by an absolute legend of the Aotearoa drag scene in the bach this week. 

Edward Cowley, better known as the iconic Buckwheat, joins me to mark a massive milestone: the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.

From the secret nightclub stairs of the 80s to being a Samoan father of three, Edward shares it all with heart and a bit of sparkle.

We dig into the grit behind the glamour, why Pride is still so vital in 2026, and the power of a really good headpiece.
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This week we're joined by Olympic gold winning coach Bev Priestman for a deeply personal conversation. Bev opens up about the 'survival mode' she had to endure following the Canadian football team drone scandal at the Paris Olympics.

We talk about finding peace in North Canterbury, the challenge of leading our Wellington Phoenix, and why she’s ready to earn back the trust of the game she loves.  
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Welcome back to Kiwi Yarns, and welcome to our new bach!  We're kicking off 2026 with a man who has clocked up billions of views just by being his gorgeous self. 

Louis Davis opens up about the 'delusional confidence' his parents gave him, and how he navigated the jump from a small town in the Far North to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars like Jason Momoa.  

We also speak about the dark side of social media, and Louis shares his mission to change the stereotype of Māori men. 
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What a year it’s been. A huge thank you to all our incredible guests for joining us and sharing their stories. The kōrero throughout 2025 has been raw, real, uplifting, entertaining and inspiring.

In this bonus Best of episode, we revisit some of our favourite moments from the past year, featuring Samantha Hayes, Matt Watson, Tami Neilson, Eru Kapa-Kingi, Martin Guptill, Sara Qasem, Jo Kane, Russel Norman, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Paul Henry.

We can’t wait for more outstanding yarns in 2026.

Mā te wā.
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For the final episode of the year, I thought it fitting to invite someone whose job is literally to explain things, and ask him to put it all into context.

Not all of it is good news, but it’s important we reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly in this tumultuous world.

Fear not, though - award-winning journalist, good friend and Stuff’s Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr joins me for plenty of laughs, a dose of therapy, some wisdom and advice, and a proper go at brioche buns.

Thank you, as always, for your wonderful support. Look out for Kiwi Yarns highlights over the next few weeks, and I’ll see you for more yarns with brilliant Kiwis in 2026.

Mā te wā!
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