The Leighton Smith Podcast
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!Social links:
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Leighton Smith Podcast #323 - April 8th 2026 - George Friedman
George Friedman, from Geopolitical Futures guested on Podcast 318, five weeks ago. As the Iran war has developed into a longer and much more serious event, it was appropriate to muster his knowledge and expertise for an update. Knowing that there were threats for ever greater expansion of the con…
1:13:26
Leighton Smith Podcast #322 - April 1st 2026 - Louise Clegg
“The phrase ‘unintended consequences’ rarely passes the lips of our most senior lawyers, judges, or academics. Like many in the professional classes, lawyers have become cheerleaders for most fashionable progressive causes, abandoning the caution and prudence that once defined the discipline. Wor…
1:22:00
Leighton Smith Podcast #321 - March 25th 2026 - Ramesh Thakur
"The Right to Health Sovereignty concludes that the restoration of trust in international health governance depends on rediscovering the moral foundations of medicine and public health, and the sovereign responsibility of the nation state. An International Health Organisation built on sovereignty …
1:33:30
Leighton Smith Podcast #320 - March 18th 2026 - Patrick Basham
In the 13 years since I first interviewed Patrick Basham, Director of the Democracy Institute in Washington DC, he has shown himself to be an outstanding analyst and commentator. He is erudite on many fronts. His opinions on the war with Iran may not please you. But whether you’re a Trump suppor…
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Leighton Smith Podcast #319 - March 11th 2026 - Robert MacCulloch
The recent announcement by the Reserve Bank focused on the availability of cash and ATM’s, and commercial bank branches. The Reserve Bank is currently seeking feedback on these possible changes from the public. Professor Robert MacCulloch, (who once worked at the Reserve Bank), is forthright in h…
1:12:31
Leighton Smith Podcast #318 - March 4th 2026 - George Friedman
Media around the world has been engrossed with reporting, speculating, and arguing the case over the war with Iran. While it may have been ‘out of the blue’ for many, the conflict came as no surprise to those following the developments in the Middle East. George Friedman, Chairman and Founder …
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Leighton Smith Podcast #317 - February 25th 2026 - Jim Allan
For some considerable time, in countries with judicial systems like New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the U.S., the senior courts have been expanding their power. Professor Jim Allan was commissioned to write an appraisal of a new 600+ page book for a U.S. law journal. In summary, he concluded w…
1:32:35
Leighton Smith Podcast #316 - February 18th 2026 - Dr Mike Schmidt
There are numerous approaches to management: Legacy, Ideological, Corporate, and Political Management. These combine to produce a system that cannot sustain long-term strategies. “Cultivation Management is the alternative.” According to Dr Mike Schmidt, it is also the approach that Christopher L…
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Leighton Smith Podcast #315 - February 11th 2026 - Shane Jones
Having spent two weeks in Australia, post New Year, Leighton & Carolyn are pleased to be home. Sydney was sweltering as is the political scenery. Nevertheless a good time was had. Now it’s back to business for 2026, the eighth year of the podcast. Interestingly there was much inquiry about two po…
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Leighton Smith Podcast - Best Of: James Bovard - February 4th 2026
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2025. James Bovard is a Libertarian Journalist and Author. Thirteen books published. In his first ’The Farm Fiasco’ (1989) he referenced NZ as a world leader in farming. In 1994 came ‘Lost Rights; The Destructio…
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