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

Peter Janssen - Travel Writer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0463138b-031f-4b4f-84d1-b3bb018628a9/transcript

Greg is in his first term as the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie. He serves on the Māori Affairs Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Petitions Committee. In March 2024, the members’ bill in his name, the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, was drawn from the ballot, aiming to strengthen New Zealand’s response to human trafficking by increasing penalties for domestic trafficking offences to match those for international trafficking.

Born in Masterton, Greg attended Wairarapa College and gained a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career in London finance and is a student of te reo Māori.

In 1998, Greg left accountancy to address family fragmentation, leading Parenting With Confidence (now Parenting Place) through significant growth. He later co-founded The Maxim Institute and became Chief Executive. With 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector, Greg has helped build enduring community institutions and was appointed CEO of The Parenting Place in 2015. He has lived in Maungakiekie since 1998, where he and his wife Kirstin have raised their five children.

<p>Greg is in his first term as the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie. He serves on the Māori Affairs Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Petitions Committee. In March 2024, the members’ bill in his name, the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, was drawn from the ballot, aiming to strengthen New Zealand’s response to human trafficking by increasing penalties for domestic trafficking offences to match those for international trafficking.<br class="html-br"><br class="html-br">Born in Masterton, Greg attended Wairarapa College and gained a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career in London finance and is a student of te reo Māori.<br class="html-br"><br class="html-br">In 1998, Greg left accountancy to address family fragmentation, leading Parenting With Confidence (now Parenting Place) through significant growth. He later co-founded The Maxim Institute and became Chief Executive. With 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector, Greg has helped build enduring community institutions and was appointed CEO of The Parenting Place in 2015. He has lived in Maungakiekie since 1998, where he and his wife Kirstin have raised their five children.</p>

Greg Fleming - National MP for Maungakiekie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8aa2fea4-ef3e-4936-8c7e-b3eb007418bf/transcript

Liz Stokes is an Auckland-based songwriter and frontwoman of acclaimed indie rock band The Beths, known for her sharp lyrics, emotional honesty, and irresistibly punchy melodies.Across the band’s internationally celebrated albums — including Future Me Hates Me, Jump Rope Gazers, Expert in a Dying Field, and the recent Straight Line Was A Lie — Stokes has built a reputation for writing candidly about mental health, uncertainty, and resilience, often pairing heavy themes with bright, energetic hooks.After navigating several years of mental and physical health challenges, her recent work reflects a deeper acceptance of life’s cyclical nature and a desire to offer comfort to others going through ongoing struggles. With a devoted global fanbase and a growing presence on the world stage, Liz Stokes continues to be one of Aotearoa’s most compelling and relatable songwriting voices.

<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Liz Stokes is an Auckland-based songwriter and frontwoman of acclaimed indie rock band The Beths, known for her sharp lyrics, emotional honesty, and irresistibly punchy melodies.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Across the band’s internationally celebrated albums — including Future Me Hates Me, Jump Rope Gazers, Expert in a Dying Field, and the recent Straight Line Was A Lie — Stokes has built a reputation for writing candidly about mental health, uncertainty, and resilience, often pairing heavy themes with bright, energetic hooks.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="white-space: pre-wrap; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">After navigating several years of mental and physical health challenges, her recent work reflects a deeper acceptance of life’s cyclical nature and a desire to offer comfort to others going through ongoing struggles. With a devoted global fanbase and a growing presence on the world stage, Liz Stokes continues to be one of Aotearoa’s most compelling and relatable songwriting voices.</div>
</div>

Liz Stokes - Lead singer of The Beths

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bc16153c-4be4-4ae6-a5e5-b3e4007550fa/transcript

Patricia is a writer, anthropologist, and lifelong observer of faith, family, and belonging. Ordained ministry, grandparenthood, widowhood, and a remarkable return to university in later life have all shaped her unique perspective. After retiring from parish leadership, Patricia enrolled as a mature student in anthropology, completing a BA, Honours, and eventually a PhD, driven by a fascination with ritual, identity, and community. Her doctoral research, The Once and Future Cathedral, was profoundly influenced by the Christchurch earthquakes and the destruction of the Cathedral, an event that became both a personal and academic turning point. Patricia’s journey has taken her from Christchurch to Oxford and back again, weaving together grief, love, faith, scholarship, and resilience. She has had an extraordinary life story about reinvention, learning at any age, and finding meaning amid upheaval.

<p>Patricia is a writer, anthropologist, and lifelong observer of faith, family, and belonging. Ordained ministry, grandparenthood, widowhood, and a remarkable return to university in later life have all shaped her unique perspective. After retiring from parish leadership, Patricia enrolled as a mature student in anthropology, completing a BA, Honours, and eventually a PhD, driven by a fascination with ritual, identity, and community. Her doctoral research, The Once and Future Cathedral, was profoundly influenced by the Christchurch earthquakes and the destruction of the Cathedral, an event that became both a personal and academic turning point. Patricia’s journey has taken her from Christchurch to Oxford and back again, weaving together grief, love, faith, scholarship, and resilience. She has had an extraordinary life story about reinvention, learning at any age, and finding meaning amid upheaval.</p>

Rev Dr Patricia Allan ONZM

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/aec49ec7-eb55-4f8f-9902-b3dd0075d2d4/transcript

Peter Janssen - Travel Writer

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