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 sit...
Olympian & surfing champion Billy Stairmand on the ups and downs of 2024
Pro surfer Billy Stairmand is gearing up for a summer at home with his dog Obie at his beloved Raglan after a massive year of surfing, including competing at the Paris Olympics (in Tahiti).
Billy's been on the world stage for 14 years and still has the same energy and love for the sport, describing it as his dream job he's grateful for every day.
What's amazing about Billy is he isn't afraid to open up about his feelings, and the highs and lows of being a professional athlete.
He's a great role model for surfing, and an integral part of our sports culture.
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1:00:15
Former Miss World New Zealand, and style queen, Amber Peebles
Today’s guest is, in my opinion, one of the most stylish and sweetest women in Aotearoa.
Amber Peebles is a former Miss World New Zealand, television host, and professional make-up artist, and is now the co-owner of luxury homewares company Isle of Omni.
Warning: we use the words ooze (well I do) and moist in this podcast - in which if you didn't have a girl crush on Amber before, you absolutely will now!
*There is also the odd swear word in the episode too...
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58:51
A full Olympic debrief with silver medallist Hayden Wilde - including what The Seine did to him
Can you remember the emotion we all went through watching Hayden Wilde's triathlon at the Paris Olympics? Well, be ready to go there again with a fascinating insight into that race.
Our top triathlete has had a stonking year and we reflect on all the hard graft it's taken to reach the top.
We find out where Hayden's remarkable sportsmanship comes from and how the kid who grew up in Whakatāne got so ridiculously fast.
Also, find out how long I can keep up with him while he runs at race pace.
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1:14:30
The battle behind Ellesse Andrews' Olympic golds
What a ripper of an Olympics it was for Ellesse. The cycling superstar won two golds and a silver in Paris - only the second New Zealander (after Dame Lisa Carrington no less!) to win three medals at a single Games.
Hear how she had to fight every step of the way in that brutal week to win. It's an incredible story!
Fun fact: Ellesse was born FIFTEEN MINUTES before the year 2000.
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53:48
The man who killed cancer - David Downs
David Downs is one of those clever humans who can put lots of interesting words next to his name.
I will list a few for you: he is the CEO of New Zealand Story Group, he is a chairman, he is an ambassador, he is an author, he is a speaker, he is an actor.
He is also a genetically modified organism and an ex-comedian - find out what he means by the first with his pretty amazing cancer story, and also why there's an "ex" in front of comedian.
A really cool guy who will absolutely put a smile on your face.
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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