Real Life

David Walliams tells John Cowan about finding success in multiple careers and his new show coming to NZ

David Walliams is a renowned English comedian, actor, and author, celebrated for his collaborations with Matt Lucas on BBC’s Little Britain and Come Fly With Me....

Former Olympic rower and new mayor of Tauranga, Mahé Drysdale, tells John Cowan about the new job

Mahé was raised in Tauranga and attended Tauranga Boys' College before moving to Auckland for his sixth form and university studies. He took up rowing at university...

Ant Timpson - Filmmaker

Ant Timpson, born April 21, 1966, in Auckland, New Zealand, is a prominent film producer and director. In 2003, he founded the 48 Hours film contest, a significant...

Social Ethics Professor Miguel De La Torre talks to John about his work and America's style of Christianity

Rev Dr Miguel A. De La Torre is a Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He has held prominent roles,...

Musician Dave Baxter (Avalanche City) talks to John about his return from a 5 year hiatus

Since debuting in 2011, the band Avalanche City, the project of Dave Baxter, has enchanted New Zealand with its light and energetic indie folk-pop tunes. Born in...

Author Alan Duff talks to John Cowan about his upbringing and the 30 year legacy of Duffy Books in Homes

Alan Duff, a prominent New Zealand novelist and advocate, is best known for his influential debut novel Once Were Warriors (1990), which won the PEN Best First Book...

'The Forest Maker' Tony Rinaudo talks to John Cowan about his years of re-forestation work in Africa

Meet Tony Rinaudo, also known as ‘The Forest Maker’! As World Vision’s Principal Climate Action Advisor, Tony has revolutionized reforestation with his groundbreaking...

Fern Sutherland, star of The Brokenwood Mysteries, talks her rural roots and what she loves about acting

Fern Sutherland, born in New Plymouth, began her acting career as a lead artist in short films produced by the UNITEC Performing Arts School. She gained early experience...

Kiwi musician, Georgia Lines, on opening for Brooke Fraser and how she's handling a career on the up

Georgia Lines has quickly risen to prominence in New Zealand's music scene with her infectious personality and R&B-infused pop sound. In 2022, she won Breakthrough...

‘I had two weeks left’: Top NZ doco maker on journey back from brink of death

Warning: This article discusses suicidal ideation. One of New Zealand’s most experienced journalists has opened up on his brush with death – and how a subsequent...

Director Kevin Denholm tells John Cowan about the need for chaplaincy support on film sets

Kevin has been a fixture in the Aotearoa New Zealand film industry for over thirty years. He directed the highly successful Air New Zealand Nothing to Hide Brand...

Mark Richardson fills John Cowan in on his latest career move

Mark Richardson is a former professional cricket player who represented New Zealand in 38 test matches in the early 2000s. After his cricketing career Mark found...

Adventurer and author Sequoia Schmidt on how BASE jumping has helped her process trauma and loss

Sequoia Schmidt is a celebrated author, adventurer, and speaker renowned for her compelling personal resilience and exploration narratives. Her debut book, "Journey...

Wayne Brown joins John Cowan to discuss his vision for Auckland

Wayne Brown is a seasoned leader with experience in business and public service, from steering large New Zealand businesses to serving as Mayor of New Zealand’s...

Listen back to the celebration of John Cowan reaching 20 years as host of Real Life

Sunday the 9th of June marked a big milestone for John Cowan as he reached 20 years of hosting Real Life on Newstalk ZB! Over 963 shows, John has spoken to 835 different...

NZ's youngest Mayor tells Real Life about surviving a vote of no confidence and why he won the election

Ben grew up in Otaki and went to Paraparaumu College. He is a self-taught computer coder and at the age of 12 those skills saw him inventing a GPS wristband that...

Comedian Melanie Bracewell pays homage to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman

A popular contestant on Have You Been Paying Attention, comedian Melanie Bracewell has also appeared on The Project, Triple J, and Thank God You're Here. She was...

Founder of KidsCan, Julie Chapman, tells Real Life about the reality for families experiencing material hardship

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck talks to Real Life about Rocket Lab's beginnings

This week John's guest will be Peter Beck. Peter is a Kiwi entrepreneur who founded the aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider Rocket Lab.  Peter grew...

RSA CEO Marty Donoghue talks to Real Life about ANZAC Day in 2024 as well as his own service

Marty Donoghue, based in Wellington, has been Chief Executive of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RNZRSA) since October 2020. Marty has a...

Judy Bailey joins John Cowan to unpack her new book all about ageing well

Judy joined the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1971, working as a reporter on news and current affairs programmes. She presented the regional news with...

Founder of The Spinoff talks with Real Life about the future of NZ's media, life as a postie and working with the WHO

Former Mercy Ships NZ director, Graeme Walls, tells Real Life about his legacy with the organisation

Graeme has recently retired as the New Zealand director of Mercy Ships, an international faith-based organisation that operates hospital ships that sail worldwide...

The Ven. Dr. Lyndon Drake explores the intersection of his Christian faith and academic study on Real Life

Archdeacon of Tamaki Makaurau Until 2010, Dr Lyndon Drake was a Vice President at Barclays Capital, trading government bonds and interest-rate derivatives. Since...

Nelson Labour MP Rachel Boyack’s brush with ‘cult-like’ religious sect

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack says she “nearly ended up in a cult” as a teenager, but escaped after just a few weeks after growing suspicious with the group’s “dodgy”...