Teacher and writer Sara Qasem on being Palestinian and living with grief after losing her father in the March 15 terror attacks
Sara Qasem is a Palestinian teacher and writer who immigrated to Aotearoa at a young age and is now based in Ōtautahi.
In 2019, Sara lost her father, Abdelfattah, who was killed at the Al Noor Mosque by an Australian far-right terrorist who opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch - killing 51 people and injuring dozens more.
Through spoken word poetry, Sara advocates for and raises awareness of the Palestinian people.
Her story, words, and perspective are powerful, moving, and not to be missed.
--------
1:32:26
--------
1:32:26
Veteran activist Tāme Iti on racism, te reo Māori, protesting, and how art saved his life
For more than five decades, Tāme Iti has been at the forefront of the pursuit of Māori rights in Aotearoa.
From being silenced from speaking te reo as a child, to finding strength in protest and tackling challenges head-on in remarkable ways, he has never stopped questioning the status quo.
Tāme is as well known and respected for his art as for his activism, and says the former saved his life and played a vital role in his healing.
This conversation, alongside reading his new memoir Mana, came at an especially meaningful time for me. I hope you enjoy this kōrero.
--------
1:27:39
--------
1:27:39
Jon Bridges on the rising distrust in the media, being a middle-aged man in lycra, and the correct use of an apostrophe
I hope Jon Bridges takes this the right way when he reads it - he’s genuinely one of the good guys in New Zealand media.
With a television career spanning more than three decades, the comedian-turned-producer of some of the country’s biggest shows says it’s largely down to him saying “yes” to the jobs people ask him to do.
And who in the Gen-X/elder millennial age bracket could forget Bridges’ luscious locks on Ice TV in the late ’90s?
We talk about the dire state of the media and the public’s distrust, his passion for road cycling, fertility, and the proper use of apostrophes.
--------
1:17:34
--------
1:17:34
Rebecca Nelson: from street busking to singing for King Charles and being shoulder-tapped by the Navy - and the All Black who thought she was miming
Today’s guest shares an incredible story of never giving up on what you love.
Rebecca Nelson is practically on speaking terms with King Charles, having wowed him with her singing voice five times.
Most of her gigs - from performing the national anthem at Gallipoli to entertaining a sell-out, rugby-mad crowd at Twickenham - grew out of her time busking on the streets.
Rebecca now serves in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is the founder of Te Kiwi Māia, which provides rehabilitation, recovery, and respite for personnel and first responders who have sustained physical or psychological injuries while serving Aotearoa.
--------
51:17
--------
51:17
Slingshot founder Annette Presley on helping young women, ambition, Telecom battles and the cost of success
This week, we meet tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Annette Presley.
Annette started her first business at 24, co-founded one of New Zealand’s earliest internet providers, Slingshot, took on Telecom in the early 2000s (and won), and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and women.
Her latest mission? To support women and children through health, education, leadership, and wellbeing programmes via the Annette Presley Dream Foundation.
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.
New Zealand