You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio, Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real Life with John Cowen on News Talk z EDB.

You're listening to a podcast from News Talk SEDB. Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio, Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real Life with John Cowen on News Talk z EDB.

Good day, Welcome to real life. I'm John Cown and I've done this many times, sitting down and having a good chat with my very good friend and broadcaster and author Rob Harley. It's usually just other people in the cafe listening and Rob, but tonight there might be a few thousand listening in as well. And it's always good because I don't know anyone who's done as many interesting things as as you, and someone who has reflected as deeply upon them. So it's great having you on the show. Rob.

Good day, Welcome to real life. I'm John Cown and I've done this many times, sitting down and having a good chat with my very good friend and broadcaster and author Rob Harley. It's usually just other people in the cafe listening and Rob, but tonight there might be a few thousand listening in as well. And it's always good because I don't know anyone who's done as many interesting things as as you, and someone who has reflected as deeply upon them. So it's great having you on the show. Rob.

What an absolute pleasure to see you again, my friend.

What an absolute pleasure to see you again, my friend.

All right, So many of the people listening may remember you as the fresh faced report and journalist tripping around the planet making gritty TV journalists on television. They might be shocked to learn that you're now seventy. Were you shocked?

All right, So many of the people listening may remember you as the fresh faced report and journalist tripping around the planet making gritty TV journalists on television. They might be shocked to learn that you're now seventy. Were you shocked?

I wrote a series of articles on Facebook called Sobering Thoughts on turning seventy, and I talked about everything from the decay in my teeth, to my regard for my father who wouldn't let me get him on the internet, right through to the things that I was grateful for as I look out at my lovely view now over the Kuipra Harbor.

I wrote a series of articles on Facebook called Sobering Thoughts on turning seventy, and I talked about everything from the decay in my teeth, to my regard for my father who wouldn't let me get him on the internet, right through to the things that I was grateful for as I look out at my lovely view now over the Kuipra Harbor.

Right, so you've ended up sort of saying, oh, well, it's seventy, but it's not too bad.

Right, so you've ended up sort of saying, oh, well, it's seventy, but it's not too bad.

I don't know what seventy is. They say it's the new sixty, but it feels pretty darn good. You know, you'd remember when you're about eighteen, forty seems ancient. Seventy is slightly scary. I mean, you realize someone used the phrase the last third, the third third of your life. I'm well into the third third. My allotted span is up, and how many years I've got to go who knows. But it's good to feel that you can make the most of them and that people are still interested in what you have to say.

I don't know what seventy is. They say it's the new sixty, but it feels pretty darn good. You know, you'd remember when you're about eighteen, forty seems ancient. Seventy is slightly scary. I mean, you realize someone used the phrase the last third, the third third of your life. I'm well into the third third. My allotted span is up, and how many years I've got to go who knows. But it's good to feel that you can make the most of them and that people are still interested in what you have to say.

And it's a time, I guess, for doing sensible, mature growing up things like going on a ride on a biking gang of a bunch of Harley's. Yeah, that's right.

And it's a time, I guess, for doing sensible, mature growing up things like going on a ride on a biking gang of a bunch of Harley's. Yeah, that's right.

I had an old mate called Dazz and he called me up last year and said, we'd like you to be the honorary rider on a tour of the South Island, and I couldn't resist. He used to be in a church I used to pastor. He was there when he was eight years old, and he went to prison a few times, and he ranked me up in Wellington years ago and said, hey, I've reformed.

I had an old mate called Dazz and he called me up last year and said, we'd like you to be the honorary rider on a tour of the South Island, and I couldn't resist. He used to be in a church I used to pastor. He was there when he was eight years old, and he went to prison a few times, and he ranked me up in Wellington years ago and said, hey, I've reformed.

I'm now.

I'm now.

I think he was almost a millionaire at that stage. And he said, come with us with a bunch of bikes called the Redeemed. We're going to go through the South Island and raise some money for a good cause. And I thought, look, that's the most fun you can have with all your clothes on. So I went to christ Church. Hadn't been on a bike for a number of years, shakerly yet, but we got back on a beautiful Harvey Softail heritage and off I went.

I think he was almost a millionaire at that stage. And he said, come with us with a bunch of bikes called the Redeemed. We're going to go through the South Island and raise some money for a good cause. And I thought, look, that's the most fun you can have with all your clothes on. So I went to christ Church. Hadn't been on a bike for a number of years, shakerly yet, but we got back on a beautiful Harvey Softail heritage and off I went.

All right. Now, those guys also were telling lots of stories, and they had stories to tell. Offened have changed lives absolutely.

All right. Now, those guys also were telling lots of stories, and they had stories to tell. Offened have changed lives absolutely.

I mean, these are guys who've all got a past. And I heard them speak in little community groups and open air campaigns and churches up and down the country. I mean. One woman that absolutely blew me away was a little lady called Anna, and she talked about you know, having seen her son hanging from a tree. You know, he was a deeply depressed young man. She went and she thought he was dead. She cut him down. She got on her knees and she said, to God, give him back to me, and I'll see if I can make something of his life. Well, she's, you know, joyfully telling me about this at some barbecue and in Vicicago we'd gone down to the Monroe Classic, and she said, guess what, he's thirty four now, and he's about to have his first child. And stories like that just came tumbling out. These were guys that got on the stage, jump and down the country with incredible confidence. Gentlest guys she could meet, big leather clad boys and girls.

I mean, these are guys who've all got a past. And I heard them speak in little community groups and open air campaigns and churches up and down the country. I mean. One woman that absolutely blew me away was a little lady called Anna, and she talked about you know, having seen her son hanging from a tree. You know, he was a deeply depressed young man. She went and she thought he was dead. She cut him down. She got on her knees and she said, to God, give him back to me, and I'll see if I can make something of his life. Well, she's, you know, joyfully telling me about this at some barbecue and in Vicicago we'd gone down to the Monroe Classic, and she said, guess what, he's thirty four now, and he's about to have his first child. And stories like that just came tumbling out. These were guys that got on the stage, jump and down the country with incredible confidence. Gentlest guys she could meet, big leather clad boys and girls.

I saw the pictures. They didn't look like gentle but they looked like a bunch.

I saw the pictures. They didn't look like gentle but they looked like a bunch.

Of they look they look slightly scary, but they were gentle giants.

Of they look they look slightly scary, but they were gentle giants.

Yeah, and then amongst them is this seventy year old Parker having the time of his life.

Yeah, and then amongst them is this seventy year old Parker having the time of his life.

Well, I learned all sorts of things. I learned that. I mean, every day I've got a hug a hony auricus. And that felt pretty done good. I thought, I'm going to do this again, but a great entree into your eighth decade.

Well, I learned all sorts of things. I learned that. I mean, every day I've got a hug a hony auricus. And that felt pretty done good. I thought, I'm going to do this again, but a great entree into your eighth decade.

Now, these guys their lives were changed around by Christianity. You've been a Christian since your teens, and it's not unusual as decades go by for the some of the crisp bages to get worn off in a person's Christian faith, and they can be a bit cynical, bit crusty. Did something like this sort of change your own attitudes and ideas about spiritual life.

Now, these guys their lives were changed around by Christianity. You've been a Christian since your teens, and it's not unusual as decades go by for the some of the crisp bages to get worn off in a person's Christian faith, and they can be a bit cynical, bit crusty. Did something like this sort of change your own attitudes and ideas about spiritual life.

I've always been lucky in that the contact I've had through both my journalism and my years. I've spent fifteen years as a pastor of a church, I've had the privilege of getting to know real people. When I did a TV series the late nineties called Extreme Close Up TV, and Z indulged me and said, yeah, you can do a series about faith.

I've always been lucky in that the contact I've had through both my journalism and my years. I've spent fifteen years as a pastor of a church, I've had the privilege of getting to know real people. When I did a TV series the late nineties called Extreme Close Up TV, and Z indulged me and said, yeah, you can do a series about faith.

Actually they went to three series.

Actually they went to three series.

It did and it got up approximately without Scotty and got with all the repeats, got about four million views. And when I pitched this through, I said, we're not going to go inside churches. We're going to go on street level and see people whose faith changes things. And in doing that, you know, I'd sometimes come back to the office with the videotape in my hand from an interview we've done, and I talked to my co producer and said, this is this is just gold, It's real gold.

It did and it got up approximately without Scotty and got with all the repeats, got about four million views. And when I pitched this through, I said, we're not going to go inside churches. We're going to go on street level and see people whose faith changes things. And in doing that, you know, I'd sometimes come back to the office with the videotape in my hand from an interview we've done, and I talked to my co producer and said, this is this is just gold, It's real gold.

And so that's so you've always been exposed, I guess to the idea that people's lives can be turned around.

And so that's so you've always been exposed, I guess to the idea that people's lives can be turned around.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, warts and all. And that's the thing about it. You know. I grew up in a fairly fundamentalist church to begin with, where I sort of gained the idea you had to be perfect. But the more I went on, I realized that people are frail, and if you have a concept of God, God's actually okay with that. You know. I was in a prison in Canada with the former Great New Zealand a rockstar, Bunny Walters, and Bundy was heavily into drugs and booze, and he'd transformed so radically. He was going into Canadian prisons and he was turning around the lives of rapists and murderers. I was sitting there filming this and I asked him at a critical point. I was down on Fort Street with him in Auckland City and I said, dude, be honest with me, have you beaten the drugs? And the booze totally yet, and he said, nah, I'm still working on it. And I thought, isn't that amazing that that guy's still being used and effective around the world while he's still on the journey.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, warts and all. And that's the thing about it. You know. I grew up in a fairly fundamentalist church to begin with, where I sort of gained the idea you had to be perfect. But the more I went on, I realized that people are frail, and if you have a concept of God, God's actually okay with that. You know. I was in a prison in Canada with the former Great New Zealand a rockstar, Bunny Walters, and Bundy was heavily into drugs and booze, and he'd transformed so radically. He was going into Canadian prisons and he was turning around the lives of rapists and murderers. I was sitting there filming this and I asked him at a critical point. I was down on Fort Street with him in Auckland City and I said, dude, be honest with me, have you beaten the drugs? And the booze totally yet, and he said, nah, I'm still working on it. And I thought, isn't that amazing that that guy's still being used and effective around the world while he's still on the journey.

What do they call that, wounded soldiers or something? There's a phrase for it. I guess. Wow, there was a great wounded healers. Yeah, there was a.

What do they call that, wounded soldiers or something? There's a phrase for it. I guess. Wow, there was a great wounded healers. Yeah, there was a.

Great song back in the seventies, you know, back in the early Jesus People era, guy called Chuck Gerard and he wrote a song called Don't shoot the wounded. Don't shoot the wounded. They need us more than ever. And that's what I found, that wounded people are sometimes the best healers.

Great song back in the seventies, you know, back in the early Jesus People era, guy called Chuck Gerard and he wrote a song called Don't shoot the wounded. Don't shoot the wounded. They need us more than ever. And that's what I found, that wounded people are sometimes the best healers.

Or you had a fairly deep word yourself, I mean inflicted by surgeons a few years ago, I guess it'd be eight years ago.

Or you had a fairly deep word yourself, I mean inflicted by surgeons a few years ago, I guess it'd be eight years ago.

Now, eight and a half years ago. I was wheeled into an operating theater at Auckland City Hospital on the seventh floor, where one of the best liver transplant surgeons in the world I was lucky enough to have, went to work on me, pulled my old diseased liver out and gave me a new one. Afterwards, you said, Rob, you had two weeks to live, and we got you just in time. Yeah, man, was I grateful never found who the donor was, but you'd know yourself from your own life experience. What the value of someone having that word donor on their driver's license is it is.

Now, eight and a half years ago. I was wheeled into an operating theater at Auckland City Hospital on the seventh floor, where one of the best liver transplant surgeons in the world I was lucky enough to have, went to work on me, pulled my old diseased liver out and gave me a new one. Afterwards, you said, Rob, you had two weeks to live, and we got you just in time. Yeah, man, was I grateful never found who the donor was, but you'd know yourself from your own life experience. What the value of someone having that word donor on their driver's license is it is.

I'd encourage everyone not only just to put it on your license, but to talk to your family too to We just need more and more donors. There's people that need them. My wife's life's been my wife's livee's being saved and changed by a lung transplant, and absolutely those donors that are so vital. But I remember seeing you not long before that, and I've seen dead people looking healthier than you were looking at the time.

I'd encourage everyone not only just to put it on your license, but to talk to your family too to We just need more and more donors. There's people that need them. My wife's life's been my wife's livee's being saved and changed by a lung transplant, and absolutely those donors that are so vital. But I remember seeing you not long before that, and I've seen dead people looking healthier than you were looking at the time.

You told me I looked like Homer Simpson. You also accused me of swearing at you, of which I have no recollection. I had a condition caught out in carefully, which is where you live, a sinzemonia to your brain, and you're absolutely out of your mind.

You told me I looked like Homer Simpson. You also accused me of swearing at you, of which I have no recollection. I had a condition caught out in carefully, which is where you live, a sinzemonia to your brain, and you're absolutely out of your mind.

Oh god, I'd hardly agree with that diagnosis that you are. You were lively, shall we say that? Yeah? No, that was a very very dramatic time. Were planning such a wonderful funeral for you. Rober and we never got around to having it. You've had this extension and now I'm just wondering reflecting on that. And you were talking before about people's lives changing and things like that. Has it changed your perspective on things at all? Oh?

Oh god, I'd hardly agree with that diagnosis that you are. You were lively, shall we say that? Yeah? No, that was a very very dramatic time. Were planning such a wonderful funeral for you. Rober and we never got around to having it. You've had this extension and now I'm just wondering reflecting on that. And you were talking before about people's lives changing and things like that. Has it changed your perspective on things at all? Oh?

Of course, I mean at a slightly humorous level. I think I must have got the liver. I would love to have met the family of the person who gave me that liver. It must have been a young fit buck. Because my hair started going My hair started going black again. It was totally gray. And my sister in law pointed out to me on my brother's sixtieth birthday, Hey, bro, your hair's gone black again. But no, look, I've had unbounded in induce since then. And modern modern medicine isn't just a flaming miracle. You know. I'm on a pillar in the morning and a pillot night, a little drug called tacrolamus. It's an anti rejection drug, and you know it's a present and I'm as right as rain.

Of course, I mean at a slightly humorous level. I think I must have got the liver. I would love to have met the family of the person who gave me that liver. It must have been a young fit buck. Because my hair started going My hair started going black again. It was totally gray. And my sister in law pointed out to me on my brother's sixtieth birthday, Hey, bro, your hair's gone black again. But no, look, I've had unbounded in induce since then. And modern modern medicine isn't just a flaming miracle. You know. I'm on a pillar in the morning and a pillot night, a little drug called tacrolamus. It's an anti rejection drug, and you know it's a present and I'm as right as rain.

Yeah, that's fantastic, And may you continue to do that and then look forward to interviewing you just after your eightieth Perhaps can we put that in the Sam, can you just put that in the pull up diary if I'm spared? Yeah. Now, I'm glad your body made it through all that trauma. But you've been subjecting your mind to a fair bit of trauma over many years, hauling yourself off to places like Kosovo and Cambodia and Africa and wherever there's strife and misery and everything like that. There's Rob Harley with a camera. For decades, you were doing that type of stuff and that's got to take a toll. It did.

Yeah, that's fantastic, And may you continue to do that and then look forward to interviewing you just after your eightieth Perhaps can we put that in the Sam, can you just put that in the pull up diary if I'm spared? Yeah. Now, I'm glad your body made it through all that trauma. But you've been subjecting your mind to a fair bit of trauma over many years, hauling yourself off to places like Kosovo and Cambodia and Africa and wherever there's strife and misery and everything like that. There's Rob Harley with a camera. For decades, you were doing that type of stuff and that's got to take a toll. It did.

In fact, Christmas last year, I had a bit of a meltdown. I clocked up fifty years is what I call a scribbler, a journalist, and most of it on the end of a television camera in front of a TV camera. And I got together with some mates and we'd been to war zones and we started reflecting on you know, places we've been where you know, I remember Cambodia. We were at a water festival filming a couple of women working for an aid organization. We just got out in time before four hundred people were trampled to death in a stampede. We got out the next morning. A guy called Scotti McKinnon and I we both had cameras an almost robot like we went into the grounds of a hospital and we just filmed were the bodies of fifty to sixty dead teenagers with toe tags on, with people trying to identify them. That stuff never came back and bit me on the bum till years later. In fact, it did at the end of last year, along with so much other stuff I've seen. It gets into your head and at some point the payment falls due.

In fact, Christmas last year, I had a bit of a meltdown. I clocked up fifty years is what I call a scribbler, a journalist, and most of it on the end of a television camera in front of a TV camera. And I got together with some mates and we'd been to war zones and we started reflecting on you know, places we've been where you know, I remember Cambodia. We were at a water festival filming a couple of women working for an aid organization. We just got out in time before four hundred people were trampled to death in a stampede. We got out the next morning. A guy called Scotti McKinnon and I we both had cameras an almost robot like we went into the grounds of a hospital and we just filmed were the bodies of fifty to sixty dead teenagers with toe tags on, with people trying to identify them. That stuff never came back and bit me on the bum till years later. In fact, it did at the end of last year, along with so much other stuff I've seen. It gets into your head and at some point the payment falls due.

It really does. Hey, I'd like to talk to you more about what actually helps you get over that. How do you build resilience back into yourself? How do you And you've been with people going through really really tough times and you've seen them bounce back. You've bounced back yourself to a large extent. I would to find out a few tips about what works for you. We'll do that after the ad break. I'm talking with Rob Harley, journalist and author. He's working on a seventh book. Now I'm going to talk to him about that and more about what he's done and what he's doing. This is real life on News Talks EDB.

It really does. Hey, I'd like to talk to you more about what actually helps you get over that. How do you build resilience back into yourself? How do you And you've been with people going through really really tough times and you've seen them bounce back. You've bounced back yourself to a large extent. I would to find out a few tips about what works for you. We'll do that after the ad break. I'm talking with Rob Harley, journalist and author. He's working on a seventh book. Now I'm going to talk to him about that and more about what he's done and what he's doing. This is real life on News Talks EDB.

Intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on News Talks EDB.

Intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on News Talks EDB.

Welcome back to real life. My guest's eyes are glazing over with passion. Rob Harley is my guest tonight. And you think some Pink Floyd there.

Welcome back to real life. My guest's eyes are glazing over with passion. Rob Harley is my guest tonight. And you think some Pink Floyd there.

Yeah, coming back to life. I talked before about having surgery, you know, and I had my headphones on as I was being wheeled into surgery on fourth of January twenty sixteen, and I wanted a song to inspire me. And I'd been a Pink Floyd and not for years. In fact, I'm making a documentary at the moment on a band called The Pink Floyd Experience. I've been following them around New Zealand for a year. We did a twelve camera shoot with them at a constant recently blows my best tribute band on the planet.

Yeah, coming back to life. I talked before about having surgery, you know, and I had my headphones on as I was being wheeled into surgery on fourth of January twenty sixteen, and I wanted a song to inspire me. And I'd been a Pink Floyd and not for years. In fact, I'm making a documentary at the moment on a band called The Pink Floyd Experience. I've been following them around New Zealand for a year. We did a twelve camera shoot with them at a constant recently blows my best tribute band on the planet.

Anyway.

Anyway.

That's just a very quick plug. But coming back to life. There's a line in it which is I took a heavenly ride through our silence. I knew the moment had arrived for killing the past and coming back to life. That's like become anthemic for me. David Gilmour wrote it. It's about to some extent him coming out of the time when Roger Waters left the band for Pink Floyd and for Shannados who understand that stuff and about just rebuilding, and it was so appropriate for me coming back to.

That's just a very quick plug. But coming back to life. There's a line in it which is I took a heavenly ride through our silence. I knew the moment had arrived for killing the past and coming back to life. That's like become anthemic for me. David Gilmour wrote it. It's about to some extent him coming out of the time when Roger Waters left the band for Pink Floyd and for Shannados who understand that stuff and about just rebuilding, and it was so appropriate for me coming back to.

Life, right, And that's what you've done since you live a transplant. But it's not been an easy road getting back to health again. And you were mentioning before about how your mind had a bit of a hammering too, And I'm just going to ask you you don't give that impression now. And I've seen you a lot lower than you are now and now there's you can I can see that there's joy in you, that you've got some exuberance back and everything like that. So what's hauled you back up out of your Basically you were depressed?

Life, right, And that's what you've done since you live a transplant. But it's not been an easy road getting back to health again. And you were mentioning before about how your mind had a bit of a hammering too, And I'm just going to ask you you don't give that impression now. And I've seen you a lot lower than you are now and now there's you can I can see that there's joy in you, that you've got some exuberance back and everything like that. So what's hauled you back up out of your Basically you were depressed?

And yeah, yeah, I was in the black Dog for about four years. I was in communicado. I look back at my messenger page because I'm a prolific facebooker, I look back at my messenger page from twenty seventeen twenty eighteen, and I just shut down. Sometimes happens with transplant patients.

And yeah, yeah, I was in the black Dog for about four years. I was in communicado. I look back at my messenger page because I'm a prolific facebooker, I look back at my messenger page from twenty seventeen twenty eighteen, and I just shut down. Sometimes happens with transplant patients.

I'm very often.

I'm very often.

I'm now, something happens to your head and I lost it. I pulled myself back through several ways, and I'd recommend in New Zealand's public health systems. When it works, it works well. I know it's stuffed in some places, but when it works, it works magnificently.

I'm now, something happens to your head and I lost it. I pulled myself back through several ways, and I'd recommend in New Zealand's public health systems. When it works, it works well. I know it's stuffed in some places, but when it works, it works magnificently.

I let people in it.

I let people in it.

I had good care, I had good drugs and good mates around me. I had a bloke who would call me every second day and say, nought to ten, how you're doing. He knew I was suicidal and some days I'd say minus fifteen. He said, okay, bro, let's get you up to two tomorrow saved my life. You've got to have good people around you.

I had good care, I had good drugs and good mates around me. I had a bloke who would call me every second day and say, nought to ten, how you're doing. He knew I was suicidal and some days I'd say minus fifteen. He said, okay, bro, let's get you up to two tomorrow saved my life. You've got to have good people around you.

That's part of it. Yeah, okay, And getting back into work after being off work for a long time. I think that's what a bit more spring in your step too, well.

That's part of it. Yeah, okay, And getting back into work after being off work for a long time. I think that's what a bit more spring in your step too, well.

It has, I mean, following the liver transplant, things were really cascaded downwards. I'd had a very successful documentary making business went well, but a couple of couple of things happened that just went bad. I had bad advice on tax ended up with a horrendous tax bill, and then I had a documentary series which was incredibly successful on TV, but it absolutely stripped me bare financially and we went bankrupt. We walked away from a beautiful little farmlet in West Auckland and we were basically gypsies for the next eight years. And in the middle of it all, I sent out probably one hundred job applications and somebody did me a favor, a young woman that I'd mentored at TV and Z. Yeah, I suddenly called me up and said, hey, there's a job going at little More Hospitally interested. I said, out my what I was sixty eight, you know, the average age of the other people there was, you know, in their thirties and forties. You know. The new boss was a forty year old dude. I went out there and got interviewed and they said, we love you, come on board. Transformational for a man aged sixty eight to be re employed and told you've got the goods. Yes, I can't describe how mind changing and boggling that was.

It has, I mean, following the liver transplant, things were really cascaded downwards. I'd had a very successful documentary making business went well, but a couple of couple of things happened that just went bad. I had bad advice on tax ended up with a horrendous tax bill, and then I had a documentary series which was incredibly successful on TV, but it absolutely stripped me bare financially and we went bankrupt. We walked away from a beautiful little farmlet in West Auckland and we were basically gypsies for the next eight years. And in the middle of it all, I sent out probably one hundred job applications and somebody did me a favor, a young woman that I'd mentored at TV and Z. Yeah, I suddenly called me up and said, hey, there's a job going at little More Hospitally interested. I said, out my what I was sixty eight, you know, the average age of the other people there was, you know, in their thirties and forties. You know. The new boss was a forty year old dude. I went out there and got interviewed and they said, we love you, come on board. Transformational for a man aged sixty eight to be re employed and told you've got the goods. Yes, I can't describe how mind changing and boggling that was.

Okay, I think that'll be switching the light sime for some people listening tonight. I mean, I think you posted a thing about Norman Kirk a while back and about the today. Yeah, it was it today, and it was what people need and they don't need much. A place to live, Well, you've got a place to live now, yeah, and something to do. That was a big one as well, and you've got something to do, someone to love. Was that someone loving you? Yeah, it's all there.

Okay, I think that'll be switching the light sime for some people listening tonight. I mean, I think you posted a thing about Norman Kirk a while back and about the today. Yeah, it was it today, and it was what people need and they don't need much. A place to live, Well, you've got a place to live now, yeah, and something to do. That was a big one as well, and you've got something to do, someone to love. Was that someone loving you? Yeah, it's all there.

That's what Norm stood for but died at fifty one and what a rate lass.

That's what Norm stood for but died at fifty one and what a rate lass.

Yeah, incredible. But I'm just it's great seeing so many things coming into inter line for you thee and and you're back with you these passions like following around this tribute band and that that's going to and you're back writing again too.

Yeah, incredible. But I'm just it's great seeing so many things coming into inter line for you thee and and you're back with you these passions like following around this tribute band and that that's going to and you're back writing again too.

Yeah right, And as you said, my seventh book, and it's the one I'm most excited about. It's called The Courage of Women. I suddenly realized while I was in the quasi asylum at Christmas, I had two doctors looking after me, a Polish psychiatrist and a Serbian psychologist names I could barely pronounce, but I suddenly realized as they were treating me, I thought, my life's been so impacted by good women, your wife chief amongst them, during during hard days, and I was great, she's a saint. And I went back through in my memory banks the women who've actually impacted me. I started with remembering a beautiful Mari Couia from the east coast of the North Island called Julymen that was her name, July, and we followed her for a year with her journey with lung cancer because we wanted to do a story exposing the damage that tobacco was doing to the health of Mardy woman highest rate of lung cancer in the world at that stage. And we did something and we campaigned, and to some extent we worked alongside Helen Clark who was trying to introduce legislation into parliament and things changed. And that's the first story in the book.

Yeah right, And as you said, my seventh book, and it's the one I'm most excited about. It's called The Courage of Women. I suddenly realized while I was in the quasi asylum at Christmas, I had two doctors looking after me, a Polish psychiatrist and a Serbian psychologist names I could barely pronounce, but I suddenly realized as they were treating me, I thought, my life's been so impacted by good women, your wife chief amongst them, during during hard days, and I was great, she's a saint. And I went back through in my memory banks the women who've actually impacted me. I started with remembering a beautiful Mari Couia from the east coast of the North Island called Julymen that was her name, July, and we followed her for a year with her journey with lung cancer because we wanted to do a story exposing the damage that tobacco was doing to the health of Mardy woman highest rate of lung cancer in the world at that stage. And we did something and we campaigned, and to some extent we worked alongside Helen Clark who was trying to introduce legislation into parliament and things changed. And that's the first story in the book.

What other stories are there? Because I love your stories, So tell us a story, Uncle Rob.

What other stories are there? Because I love your stories, So tell us a story, Uncle Rob.

Yeah, well, there's so many favorites. I mean, one of them concerns my son's mother in law. I met her in two thousand and two, back when the Sunday program started. She called out of the blue from Auckland Airport and said she's I think she's Bungladeshi born or Indian born, and she said, you've got to get out heeud of the airport. Something tragic's happening. And we sent a researcher and a cameraman out there and a woman was on a stretch of being loaded and through the side door of a plane, obviously completely comatose. She'd been force fed methodone by a madman husband and she was being The health system in New Zealand didn't want her anymore. They sent her back to Malaysia. I went up there with a camera and I filmed a five hours before she passed away, absolutely reaching in my chest and gave my heart to squeeze. I picked that story up again a few years ago and I met up with Faredi Sultana, the woman who was the head of Shakti, the Asian Woman's Refuge organization. I picked up with her again and I said, we've got to tell the story. She said, it's gotten worse, and she introduced me to women from Asia all over the country who had been beaten and abused and rejected and their families in India and places low that didn't want them back. And I had such a passion for telling that story, and it's in this book. And I'm so proud of my son's mother in law because he ended up serendipitously meeting her daughter. And so now we have an even stronger bond and I'm just gagging to get that story out in front of people.

Yeah, well, there's so many favorites. I mean, one of them concerns my son's mother in law. I met her in two thousand and two, back when the Sunday program started. She called out of the blue from Auckland Airport and said she's I think she's Bungladeshi born or Indian born, and she said, you've got to get out heeud of the airport. Something tragic's happening. And we sent a researcher and a cameraman out there and a woman was on a stretch of being loaded and through the side door of a plane, obviously completely comatose. She'd been force fed methodone by a madman husband and she was being The health system in New Zealand didn't want her anymore. They sent her back to Malaysia. I went up there with a camera and I filmed a five hours before she passed away, absolutely reaching in my chest and gave my heart to squeeze. I picked that story up again a few years ago and I met up with Faredi Sultana, the woman who was the head of Shakti, the Asian Woman's Refuge organization. I picked up with her again and I said, we've got to tell the story. She said, it's gotten worse, and she introduced me to women from Asia all over the country who had been beaten and abused and rejected and their families in India and places low that didn't want them back. And I had such a passion for telling that story, and it's in this book. And I'm so proud of my son's mother in law because he ended up serendipitously meeting her daughter. And so now we have an even stronger bond and I'm just gagging to get that story out in front of people.

Okay, so your book has got to be called the Courage.

Okay, so your book has got to be called the Courage.

Of Women subtitled Journeys to the Crossroads of Resilience.

Of Women subtitled Journeys to the Crossroads of Resilience.

Right, Okay, well, I'll keep an eye out for that. And as I say, this will be your seventh book. Have you reatten a book about yourself?

Right, Okay, well, I'll keep an eye out for that. And as I say, this will be your seventh book. Have you reatten a book about yourself?

Well, a couple of the books that My first book was called Brave Maid Memorable and it was about ten really interesting journalistic experiences, everything from going to India to find a missing backpacker right through to nine to eleven in New York where I went five days with or after the nine to eleven, the Twin Towers thing. That was a lot about me. So is another book called The High Voltage Edge, of which I wrote, and that's your story. It's it's stuff that's impacted me. I like telling the story of my life through the stories I've told.

Well, a couple of the books that My first book was called Brave Maid Memorable and it was about ten really interesting journalistic experiences, everything from going to India to find a missing backpacker right through to nine to eleven in New York where I went five days with or after the nine to eleven, the Twin Towers thing. That was a lot about me. So is another book called The High Voltage Edge, of which I wrote, and that's your story. It's it's stuff that's impacted me. I like telling the story of my life through the stories I've told.

Okay, well, you're about to write the next couple of decades of your life. Okay, As you're writing the next chapters of your life, what would you like them? How would you like them to read.

Okay, well, you're about to write the next couple of decades of your life. Okay, As you're writing the next chapters of your life, what would you like them? How would you like them to read.

I'd like them to read mostly with an emphasis on gratitude. What I've discovered through the journey that I've been through is that if you wake up each day with something to be grateful for At the moment, I seem to be a de facto suicide counselor. I don't know how that's happened. Maybe it's because I have stamped on my medical record suicidal ideation.

I'd like them to read mostly with an emphasis on gratitude. What I've discovered through the journey that I've been through is that if you wake up each day with something to be grateful for At the moment, I seem to be a de facto suicide counselor. I don't know how that's happened. Maybe it's because I have stamped on my medical record suicidal ideation.

It's a harsh phrase.

It's a harsh phrase.

And somehow I've got the reputation of being someone who can help. And so every week I am next to people who are on the edge, and people say, boy, that sounds good. It's that sounds tough, but I love it because you actually you teach people the art of something as simple as gratitude. I was told to this woman the other day and I said, get in the shower in the morning, because she doesn't want to live. I said, get in the shower in the morning and tell yourself three things that you are proud of yourself for having done. And it's starting to work. It's starting to actually, you know, along with a bit of humor and a bit of distraction, I can see the lights going on. And there is nothing in the world like the experience of actually building something into the life of a hurting person.

And somehow I've got the reputation of being someone who can help. And so every week I am next to people who are on the edge, and people say, boy, that sounds good. It's that sounds tough, but I love it because you actually you teach people the art of something as simple as gratitude. I was told to this woman the other day and I said, get in the shower in the morning, because she doesn't want to live. I said, get in the shower in the morning and tell yourself three things that you are proud of yourself for having done. And it's starting to work. It's starting to actually, you know, along with a bit of humor and a bit of distraction, I can see the lights going on. And there is nothing in the world like the experience of actually building something into the life of a hurting person.

Right, And it makes so much more sense coming from someone who's lived it, and right, Yeah, and so you've got the book project. You've also logic a podcasts that how's that coming a lot?

Right, And it makes so much more sense coming from someone who's lived it, and right, Yeah, and so you've got the book project. You've also logic a podcasts that how's that coming a lot?

My family say, hey, slow down, bro, you know there's too much. Yeah, I've got an absolutely wonderful web designers. I've had a website on hold for years and I tested. I just did a bit of a field test.

My family say, hey, slow down, bro, you know there's too much. Yeah, I've got an absolutely wonderful web designers. I've had a website on hold for years and I tested. I just did a bit of a field test.

A while ago.

A while ago.

I did a series called The Vagabond Philosopher, and I went through the stories of ten people who absolutely inspired me, including a man wu survive four concentration camps that I met, guy called Max Mannheimer, right through to a guy from America who builds hospitals for Palestinian kids who transformed my life in twenty twelve. And I said to people, would you buy into something like this if I did it as a podcast? People said absolutely, we want to hear those stories. So that's where I'm going next.

I did a series called The Vagabond Philosopher, and I went through the stories of ten people who absolutely inspired me, including a man wu survive four concentration camps that I met, guy called Max Mannheimer, right through to a guy from America who builds hospitals for Palestinian kids who transformed my life in twenty twelve. And I said to people, would you buy into something like this if I did it as a podcast? People said absolutely, we want to hear those stories. So that's where I'm going next.

Okay, there's no holding your back. And hey, unfortunately we've run out of time and I can hear Lady Gaga playing in my headphones. I was surprised to see this one come through as us you a pick of songs. It's always Remember Us this Way by Lady Gaga.

Okay, there's no holding your back. And hey, unfortunately we've run out of time and I can hear Lady Gaga playing in my headphones. I was surprised to see this one come through as us you a pick of songs. It's always Remember Us this Way by Lady Gaga.

Yeah, somebody said you've got to watch A star is born with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I'd never been into Gaga. I'm an old rock and roller and I see this woman playing a piano saying, Arizona sky burning in your eyes. You look at me and Babe, I want to catch on fire. And it's a story about a man whose life is spiraling out of control with alcoholism, but he finds someone along the way that he builds into, he builds up. It's a woman called Ali played by Lady Gaga, and she says, I'll always remember us this way. You found me and you rescued me. I've been found and rescued. I'm so grateful that song, so manyful I wanted at my funeral, Rob.

Yeah, somebody said you've got to watch A star is born with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I'd never been into Gaga. I'm an old rock and roller and I see this woman playing a piano saying, Arizona sky burning in your eyes. You look at me and Babe, I want to catch on fire. And it's a story about a man whose life is spiraling out of control with alcoholism, but he finds someone along the way that he builds into, he builds up. It's a woman called Ali played by Lady Gaga, and she says, I'll always remember us this way. You found me and you rescued me. I've been found and rescued. I'm so grateful that song, so manyful I wanted at my funeral, Rob.

I hope it's going to be a long long time in the future before we hear at your Feudral But it's a beautiful song. It's been great talking if you're Robert, always is and wish you all the best for whatever is coming up next.

I hope it's going to be a long long time in the future before we hear at your Feudral But it's a beautiful song. It's been great talking if you're Robert, always is and wish you all the best for whatever is coming up next.

John, It's away is a pleasure.

John, It's away is a pleasure.

This is real life on news Talk ZEDB.

This is real life on news Talk ZEDB.

For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,

For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,