John Cowan hosts ‘Real Life’, a weekly nationwide chat show on Newstalk ZB featuring a different high-profile guest every week. John talks with them about their life, their upbringing, their passions and their view of the world.

Real Life With John Cowan

Julie Chapman - KidsCan Founder

Derek Lind has been writing songs and making music since the late 1970s, with seven albums to his name — including his latest, SOLO (2015). His songwriting has earned him two NZ Music Awards and a nomination for the APRA Silver Scroll, thanks to his honest, thoughtful lyrics that connect personal stories with bigger, universal themes. Critics have praised him for his humanity, compassion, and the depth in his work.

Alongside music, Derek is also a visual artist and Elam School of Fine Arts graduate. After years of teaching art and art history, he shifted his focus fully to creating — both through music and painting. Working from a small studio in the bushy hills of West Auckland, he continues to process life through his art, especially after the sudden loss of his wife in 2013. His recent paintings explore ideas of loss, grace, movement, and redemption.

Derek’s recent visual art explores spiritual and emotional terrain through bold colour, Te Reo Māori inscriptions, and layered symbolism. Living simply, he continues to create with passion and honesty—juggling bills, driving a $2000 car, and crafting new songs. With the support of patrons, Derek is preparing to record a new collection of songs and invites others to be part of the journey.

Derek Lind has been writing songs and making music since the late 1970s, with seven albums to his name — including his latest,&nbsp;SOLO&nbsp;(2015). His songwriting has earned him two NZ Music Awards and a nomination for the APRA Silver Scroll, thanks to his honest, thoughtful lyrics that connect personal stories with bigger, universal themes. Critics have praised him for his humanity, compassion, and the depth in his work.
Alongside music, Derek is also a visual artist and Elam School of Fine Arts graduate. After years of teaching art and art history, he shifted his focus fully to creating — both through music and painting. Working from a small studio in the bushy hills of West Auckland, he continues to process life through his art, especially after the sudden loss of his wife in 2013. His recent paintings explore ideas of loss, grace, movement, and redemption.
Derek’s recent visual art explores spiritual and emotional terrain through bold colour, Te Reo Māori inscriptions, and layered symbolism. Living simply, he continues to create with passion and honesty—juggling bills, driving a $2000 car, and crafting new songs. With the support of patrons, Derek is preparing to record a new collection of songs and invites others to be part of the journey.

Derek Lind - Musician

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d1e47d52-9583-422d-94bb-b2c5007a8a43/transcript

Rachel’s debut novel, See How They Fall, will be published this year by Hachette in Australia and New Zealand and by Penzler Publishers in the United States. The screen rights have been optioned by a Hollywood production company, and Rachel is part of the 2024/2025 International Thriller Writers Debut Authors Program.

She holds a Master of Creative Writing (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland, where she was awarded the Phoenix Prize for best creative portfolio. Before turning to fiction, Rachel built a successful international legal career, with degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Auckland. Her Harvard dissertation was cited as “influential” in a Wall Street Journal editorial.

Rachel spent many years in London as a law firm partner and was consistently recognised as a leading lawyer in global legal directories. She received the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award for her advocacy on behalf of women in law and for driving diversity and inclusion in the profession. She now lives in Auckland with her family.

Rachel’s debut novel,&nbsp;See How They Fall, will be published this year by Hachette in Australia and New Zealand and by Penzler Publishers in the United States. The screen rights have been optioned by a Hollywood production company, and Rachel is part of the 2024/2025 International Thriller Writers Debut Authors Program.
She holds a Master of Creative Writing (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland, where she was awarded the Phoenix Prize for best creative portfolio. Before turning to fiction, Rachel built a successful international legal career, with degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Auckland. Her Harvard dissertation was cited as “influential” in a&nbsp;Wall Street Journal&nbsp;editorial.
Rachel spent many years in London as a law firm partner and was consistently recognised as a leading lawyer in global legal directories. She received the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award for her advocacy on behalf of women in law and for driving diversity and inclusion in the profession. She now lives in Auckland with her family.

Rachel Paris - Author

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bed21b5b-7375-49de-ad90-b2da0084d80c/transcript

Buzz Moller is a New Zealand musician and actor, originally from Upper Hutt. He went to Upper Hutt High School, Rathkeale College and later studied at the University of Auckland. He met longtime collaborator Andrew “Mac” Macaskill, and the pair formed the beginnings of the band Voom after jamming at the Sweetwaters Festival in the early '80s. Since then, Buzz has led the band through decades of indie magic, releasing cult-fave albums like Now I Am Me and Hello, Are You There?—the latter named one of NZ’s 100 Essential Albums.
Fronting Voom, Buzz has delivered everything from long pauses, lineup changes, and surprise comebacks—yet Buzz’s ear for melody and heart-on-sleeve songwriting has kept Voom beloved by fans and fellow artists alike.
Outside of music, Buzz made three appearances in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, playing Cletis, Tyron, and Zachariah. Whether he’s singing about love, loneliness, or the strange beauty of everyday life, there’s always a spark of something real—and unmistakably his.

Buzz Moller is a New Zealand musician and actor, originally from Upper Hutt. He went to Upper Hutt High School, Rathkeale College and later studied at the University of Auckland. He met longtime collaborator Andrew “Mac” Macaskill, and the pair formed the beginnings of the band Voom after jamming at the Sweetwaters Festival in the early '80s. Since then, Buzz has led the band through decades of indie magic, releasing cult-fave albums like Now I Am Me and Hello, Are You There?—the latter named one of NZ’s 100 Essential Albums. Fronting Voom, Buzz has delivered everything from long pauses, lineup changes, and surprise comebacks—yet Buzz’s ear for melody and heart-on-sleeve songwriting has kept Voom beloved by fans and fellow artists alike. Outside of music, Buzz made three appearances in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, playing Cletis, Tyron, and Zachariah. Whether he’s singing about love, loneliness, or the strange beauty of everyday life, there’s always a spark of something real—and unmistakably his.

Buzz Moller - Musician

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3493f56a-f810-41e5-99a9-b2d30084a9c9/transcript

Julie Chapman - KidsCan Founder

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