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The Leighton Smith Podcast

Newstalk ZB
The Leighton Smith Podcast
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390 episodes

  • The Leighton Smith Podcast

    Leighton Smith Podcast #334 - June 24th 2026 - Nick Cater

    24/06/2026 | 1h 19 mins.
    Proven favourite Nick Cater turns up for the first time this year.
    Unsurprisingly, the Australian economy leads the discussion.
    We focus on the trio of hopeless politicians at the absolute peak of state power.
    Nick shares his reaction to Pauline Hanson, and Angus Taylor, the new leader of the Liberal Party.
    We touch on housing, jobs, tax, cost of living and mass immigration.
    We discuss AI and the difference it will make to the political landscape.
    And finally he addresses a most important question; is Australia still the place for Kiwis when they leave New Zealand.
    His response might surprise you.
    And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
    File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz
    Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.
    Listen here on iHeartRadio

    Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
    To subscribe via iTunes click here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • The Leighton Smith Podcast

    Leighton Smith Podcast #333 - June 17th 2026 - Dr George Friedman

    17/06/2026 | 1h 18 mins.
    Depending on perspective, it’s not difficult to agree with George Friedman’s interpretations of “how the world turns”.
    I first met George in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1983 where he was a Professor at the United States War College.
    It was instantly obvious that the professors knowledge in his field was second to none.
    George’s most recent book “The Storm Before the Calm” (2020) set the stage for the era we are now navigating.
    This interview with Dr Friedman on the current Middle East crisis is one of our best discussions of how, when, where and why such events happen and how they play out.
    Whether or not you agree, the founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures is at his best.
    And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
    File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz
    Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.
    Listen here on iHeartRadio

    Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
    To subscribe via iTunes click here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • The Leighton Smith Podcast

    Leighton Smith Podcast #332 - June 10th 2026 - Dr Ramesh Thakur

    10/06/2026 | 1h 44 mins.
    Dr Ramesh Thakur is well known on the Leighton Smith Podcast.
    He is an Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University.
    He is also a former United Nations Assistant Secretary General, and a Senior Scholar at the Brownstone Institute.
    Since the birth of Covid-19 he has been tenacious in investigating the truth… and, in our opinion, very successfully.
    As a contributor to “Canary in a Climate World: Climate Realism vs the Net Zero Myth,” volume three, his chapter exceeds over 6000 words and exposes eleven shared agendas of Climate Change and Covid.
    He is at his very best.
    And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
    File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz
    Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.
    Listen here on iHeartRadio

    Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
    To subscribe via iTunes click here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • The Leighton Smith Podcast

    Leighton Smith Podcast #331 - June 3rd 2026 - Barry Soper

    03/06/2026 | 1h 17 mins.
    “Based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery since 1980, Barry Soper has covered every New Zealand Prime Minister since, earning a reputation for his sharp questioning, wit, and deep institutional knowledge of Wellington politics.”
    Barry’s contribution to New Zealand journalism saw him recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, where he was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
    He’s had a long and fascinating career and continues it still as Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent.
    His book, ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister’, now in its fourth print, was our excuse to have a most enjoyable conversation in episode #331.
    And as always, we finish in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
    File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz
    Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.
    Listen here on iHeartRadio

    Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
    To subscribe via iTunes click here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • The Leighton Smith Podcast

    Leighton Smith Podcast #330 - May 27th 2026 - Thorsten Polleit

    27/05/2026 | 1h 4 mins.
    "Socialism is based on bureaucratic planning. This means a restriction of personal freedom. The dream of equality, a goal even of democratically dressed up socialism, can only be achieved by coercion."
    Thorsten Polleit shows ways in which democratic socialism moves toward a globally planned state.
    His book ‘The Global Currency Plot’ looks at the way money is used as a political tool, unpacking the agendas of those who wield political power.
    Polleit guests on this episode of the podcast to unpack his stance, and of course, we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
    File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz
    Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide.
    Listen here on iHeartRadio

    Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
    To subscribe via iTunes click here

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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About The Leighton Smith Podcast
After 33 years behind the Newstalk ZB microphone, Leighton can’t give it up completely. There were so many requests to continue his opinionated commentary that the prospect of podcasting was born.So, without restriction, Leighton continues to serve up on everything you want to hear about and some things you don’t. Stand by to be enlightened, educated and enraged!
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