Real Life with John Cowan

Owner of The Tasting Shed (the Cuisine Magazine's Best Restaurants of New Zealand and mentioned on Metro's Top 50 Restaurant list for the last five years), Ganesh has hosted his own television programmes on MTV Asia and ESPN for over a decade. He has also been featured on TVNZ's Good Morning, Family Recipes, and Neighbourhood. Ganesh was the recipient for two years running of Metro Magazine's Restaurant Personality of the Year, as well as live hosting renowned events like Taste of Auckland, Winetopia, and the Auckland Writers Festival. Ganesh is currently the co-host of TVNZ's Eat Well for Less NZ and host of his own channel The Humble Yum Yum on Youtube and TVNZ On Demand, and is all about serving Global Food that costs up to $20 for 4 people.

Rose was raised in Titirangi, Auckland, by her photographer father and artist mother. She studied Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Auckland.At the age of two, Rose began appearing in commercials and received the role of an angel in the film The Piano at age three. She has worked mainly for New Zealand television, from fantasy-based series like Maddigan's Quest to dramas such as Rude Awakenings, as well as two Disney Channel films.Rose's big-screen debut was in Peter Jackson's film, The Lovely Bones, playing Lindsey Salmon, the younger sister of the main character. She appeared in the 2010 film Predicament and the television film Tangiwai, based on the 1953 Tangiwai rail disaster. In 2014, she starred as Olivia Moore in the series iZombie, which ran for five seasons.Rose enjoys writing, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She is an ambassador for Emirates airlines.

Tenor opera singer Simon O'Neill has snagged two Grammy nominations for Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Album in Classical.Hailing from Ashburton, Simon received his musical training at the University of Otago and Victoria University, graduating with an honours degree in music. He received scholarships to the Juilliard Opera Center and the Manhattan School of Music, earning a Master of Music degree in 2000. In late 2016 he was awarded Doctor of Music (Honoris Causa) from Victoria University. He went on to be appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Born in Berkeley, California Karen studied ballet, acted in school plays, sang in the Baptist choir. She graduated from The University of California with bachelor degrees in 1965 in English and in Dramatic Art. She received a Fulbright Fellowship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London, and apprenticed at the Actor's Workshop of San Francisco in 1961–62.Karen played the role of the ma, Caroline Ingalls, in the Little House on the Prairie TV series from 1974 to 1983. Subsequently, she acted in the features Harry's War, a 1981 American film and Wyatt Earp, a 1994 film starring Kevin Costner. During this period, she lobbied for federal funding for shelters for battered women and appeared in many events to support the Equal Rights Amendment.She later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and became co-founder and artistic director of Santa Fe's Resource Theater Company. Later she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she performed with the company of actors at Actors Theatre of Louisville.Karen's memoir, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love from Little House's Ma was released on November 16th.

Tim Faulkner is the General Manager and Head of Conservation at the Australia Reptile Park in New South Wales, and Aussie Ark, a charitable organisation focused on creating a long-term future for threatened Australian species. He won the Australian Geographic Australian Conservationist of the Year 2015.In 2012, Tim began to appear regularly on reality television show Bondi Vet and his own show Outback Adventures with Tim Faulkner in 2014, which ran for two seasons.Tim is married to Liz and they have two sons.

Dame Cindy was born in Whangārei, the eldest of six children. She is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu and British descent, and was the first person in her family to achieve tertiary qualifications: a PhD in Social Policy and an MBA (Exec) in Business Administration.Much of Dame Cindy's career has been in the tertiary education sector, holding leadership roles at Massey University, Victoria University Wellington/Te Herenga Waka and the University of Auckland, where she was Director of the Starpath Project investigating the impacts of socioeconomic status on educational achievement in New Zealand. Her public sector roles have included Children's Commissioner and Chair of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group. She has also devoted time to voluntary and community organisations working on reducing child poverty, environmental causes to protect the natural world and addressing family violence.Prior to taking up her role as Governor-General in October 2021, Dame Cindy was Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.  Dame Cindy is the first Māori woman to be appointed as Governor-General. She was appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) for services to child wellbeing and education on the New Year 2021 Honours List.Dame Cindy is married to Dr Richard Davies, a GP at a low-cost general practice attached to the Auckland City Mission.  She is the mother of two sons, step-mother to two sons, and grandmother to two grandsons.

Hon Grant Robertson was born in Palmerston North and lived in Hastings before his family settled in Dunedin. He studied politics at Otago University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, and was the President of the Otago University Students' Association and Co-President of the New Zealand University Students Association.Grant joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1997 where he managed the New Zealand Overseas Aid Programme to Samoa. He was then posted to the United Nations in New York, working on global environment and development issues. On his return to New Zealand, Grant became an advisor to former Prime Minister Helen Clark. He has been the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central since November 2008. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the 2020 Labour Government, alongside Minister of Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Racing, and Minister for Sport and Recreation.He met his partner Alf in 1998 playing rugby and their family now includes four grandchildren.

Bernard is a leading financial journalist and editor with over 23 years' experience including roles with Reuters, the Financial Times Group and Fairfax Media.Bernard is a regular commentator on financial, economic and investment issues, regularly appearing on radio and television. He is host of the Spinoff podcast When the Facts Change. Bernard was heavily involved in the formation of Reuters UK, MSN and Stuff.Bernard is the founding editor of TheKākā, with commentary and newsletters covering politics and the economy in New Zealand.Bernard lives in Wellington.

Himali is a family doctor who works in a busy Auckland general practice and in the prison system. She is also a well-known writer of short stories, essays, articles, flash fiction and poetry, and was the inaugural Verb Wellington Writers Resident in October 2020.Last month Himali's book The Unexpected Patient was released and tells stories of life, death and unforgettable clinical cases in vulnerable communities.Himali lives in Auckland with her husband Ian McInnes, CEO of Tearfund.

Toby attributes his love of comics to his family having moved frequently for his father's army career. He started making his own comics at seven while off school with a broken leg.Toby is the author of The Spinoff's non-fiction comic series The Side Eye, which won the Voyager Media Award for Cartoonist of the Year for 2019. In 2020, his Covid-19 collaborations with Dr Siouxsie Wiles were shared around the world. He has published several books, including collections of his cartoons depicting daily life: Alledaags: A Year in Amsterdam and Don't Puke On Your Dad: A Year In The Life of A New Father; and two children's books: Capsicum, Capsi Go and The Day The Costumes Stuck.Toby lives in Auckland with his wife Sonya and their two sons.

Journalist and broadcaster Toni Street is one of New Zealand's most popular television and radio personalities. Former co-host of top-rating TVNZ current affairs show Seven Sharp, she is currently breakfast radio host on Coast. Toni hosted TVNZ's coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.Last month, Toni's book Lost and Found: My story of heartbreak and hope was released. The honest memoir tells her story of life-changing illness, losing three siblings, and surrogacy.Toni is married to former North Harbour rugby halfback Matt France and they have three children.

Kate Bowler PhD is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and associate professor of "The History of Christianity in North America" at Duke University in North Carolina. Kate has written four books including her monograph The Preacher's Wife: Women and Power in American Megaministry published in 2020 and Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel in 2013.At age 35, Kate was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer, causing her to think in different terms about the research and beliefs she had been studying. She penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved), which tells of how Kate navigated the aftermath of her diagnosis.Kate married childhood sweetheart Toban in 2002 and together they have a son, Zach.

Jessica grew up in Christchurch with her mother Aileen O'Sullivan, also a director. While studying performance, she realised she was more fascinated with observing actors than being one. Jessica began directing short films in her 20s, during an eight-year stint as an assistant director. After moving to Australia in 1994, she directed Heartbreak High and The Slap, which got her invited to the UK to helm British series Broadchurch.This week Jessica was awarded best drama series director at the 2021 Emmy Awards for her work on the Netflix sensation, The Crown.Jessica lives in London with her two children.

Pio Terei came to fame in 1995 when, after years as a truck salesman, he landed a comedy show Pete and Pio. He shared the show with fellow comedian Peter Rowley but later hosted his own show, with similar comedic skits, called Pio!. Twice judged best comedy performer at the NZ Film Awards, Pio has also acted in drama film No. 2, and written and acted for anthology series Mataku. In 2009, he took over presenting duties on iconic quiz show It's in the Bag. Later he set off to rediscover Aotearoa on foot, for Māori TV show Te Araroa: Tales from the Trails.Pio's latest endeavour is the show he's been dreaming of all his life: a weekly entertainment talk show Terei Tonight on Māori TV.Pio and his wife Debbie live in Auckland.

Dan Carter's latest position is as the co-founder new NFT studio and marketplace, Glorious.The highest point scorer in test match rugby, Dan played for Crusaders and the All Blacks. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 and won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.In 2015, Dan released his autobiography Dan Carter: The Autobiography of an All Blacks Legend and in 2019, Dan Carter: A Perfect 10, a documentary film about his personal life and the challenges he encountered on his road to winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup.Dan and his wife Honor have four sons.

John Cowan interviews ACT party deputy leader Brooke van Velden.

Australian psychologist and author Steve Biddulph joins John Cowan to discuss his latest book, 'Fully Human' and how we need to listen to our gut.

Born in Bangkok to a Thai Buddhist mother and Irish Catholic father, Tom spent his formative years at a Benedictine monastery school in Yorkshire, England before pursuing a career in film and television. After attending the Northern Film School in Leeds in 1995, he embarked on producing and directing his first feature film project Monk Dawson.Tom returned to Thailand in 2002 and produced multiple independent feature films through his production company De Warrenne Pictures, now one of Thailand's leading international production companies based out of Bangkok and Chiang Mai.After producing assignments in Thailand on foreign films, Tom decided to return to his passion for directing with Mindfulness and Murder. His Thai language cinematic directorial debut, the film was nominated for 5 Thailand National Film Association awards including Best Picture and Best Director. In 2014, he produced and directed The Last Executioner, an award-winning biopic on Thailand's last prison executioner.In 2019, Tom wrote and directed The Cave, the first narrative feature film about the dramatic Thai Cave Rescue that captivated the world in the summer of 2018. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival.Tom lives in Bangkok with his four children.

Matt is an actor, producer, radio host, sports commentator, columnist and musician. He played Danny Parker on Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television. He was guitarist and singer for the 2000s band Deja Voodoo.Matt hosts the Matt and Jerry Breakfast Show with Jeremy Wells on Radio Hauraki. He has been a columnist for The New Zealand Herald since 2014 and provides cricket commentary for The Alternative Commentary Collective.He has two children and lives in Auckland.

John Cowan interviews activist John Minto.

Born and raised in Auckland, former boardsailer Barbara has won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics, a silver medal in 1996, and a bronze medal in 2000. She was the first, and as of 2008, the only woman from New Zealand to compete at five Olympic Games.Barbara was the Oceania athletes' representative on the International Olympic Committee from 2005 to 2008 and was on the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes Commission until 2008. She is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the IOC Athletes' Commission and has sat on the Women and Sport Commission and Sport and the Environment Commission.Kendall's brother Bruce is also an Olympic Gold medallist and they are the first brother and sister to achieved this feat for New Zealand.Barbara officially retired from competitive board sailing in May 2010. Barbara and her husband Shayne have two daughters.

Studying in London at the Guildhall School of Music, Rae became an accomplished performer, winning the Sheriff's Piano Prize, the Victor Hoddy Memorial Prize and the Jubilee Scholarship.After returning to New Zealand in 1977, Rae was in high demand as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. She recorded for radio and television, and often played with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.In 2000 Rae accepted a teaching role at the University of Auckland where she is also enrolled as a PhD student.Rae is married to veteran broadcaster Bill McCarthy and together they have two daughters and a grand-daughter.

The sportswriter and broadcaster began his on-air career exactly 40 years ago on an Auckland breakfast show. Up until last month, Phil hosted an afternoon slot on Newstalk ZB alongside Simon Barnett. Phil is also a columnist for the New Zealand Herald and a regular commentator for Newstalk ZB.Phil is an author having published seven books under the name Loosehead Len, a satirical rugby character he created in 1973. He has also written rugby best-sellers including his book on Alex Wyllie, Grizz, The Legend, the biggest-selling New Zealand sports book of the 1990s.Last month, Phil left Newstalk ZB Afternoons, the show he hosted with Simon Barnett.Phil lives in Auckland with his wife Jan.

John Cowan interviews Black Caps cricketer Ross Taylor.

John Cowan interviews Black Caps cricketer Ross Taylor.

David's career has largely been in foreign aid, coordinating humanitarian aid programmes and initiatives for the United Nations and other organisations in a host of countries including Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Israel and Lebanon.In 1993 he was named “New Zealander of the Year” by the New Zealand Herald for his work in Somalia and awarded an MBE in the British 1993 New Year Honours List.David's first active role in New Zealand politics was as an advisor to Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff from 2000 to 2002. Elected MP for Mt Albert in June of 2009, David stood forward to lead the Labour Party when Phil Goff stepped down after the 2011 election. Since leaving NZ politics, he's been working with the United Nations, most recently in the South Sudan, where he was in charge of a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force.David is married to Anuschka and they have two children.

Mike Pero founded his mortgage broking business in 1991, and in 2011 established a real estate company under the same brand name. In 1999 and 2003, he won the New Zealand Pacific Business Award and was a founding member of the NZ Mortgage Brokers Association.Mike was six times National Motorcycle Road Racing Champion, from 1977 to 1982, twice 350cc & 500cc racing class as well as two times in the 410cc Production Series. He set the New Zealand land speed record for a 350cc motorcycle in 1979 and the record of 238 km/h still stands today.In July last year, Mike announced plans for a new airline, Jet Raro, connecting Christchurch and Rarotonga. He is the CEO of The Apprentice Aotearoa, a New Zealand reality television series currently airing on TVNZ 1.Mike and his wife Rachel live in Christchurch with their four children.

Wendyl Nissen is a journalist, broadcaster and former magazine editor who is the author of ten books, mostly about living a chemical-free, old-fashioned life. She gave up her corporate life 15 years ago and now lives in the Hokianga with her husband, her father, 20 chickens, two cows, two dogs and three stray cats.Wendyl's most recent book, My Mother and Other Secrets tells stories of mothers and daughters, ageing, the way deep family traumas echo down through the generations and how uncovering old family secrets led Wendyl to a better understanding of her mother.

John Cowan interviews The Casketeers funeral director Kaiora Tipene.

John Cowan interviews MP for Kaipara Ki Mahurangi Chris Penk.

John Cowan chats with political commentator Shane te Pou.

John Cowan interviews retired Judge and author Rosemary Riddell.

New Zealand netballer Sulu Fitzpatrick joined John Cowan for Real Life.

John Cowan chats with founding member of the band America, Gerry Beckley.

John Cowan interviews former Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Jerry Mateparae.

John Cowan interviews spokesperson for the NZ Jewish Council Juliet Moses.

John Cowan interviews triathlete & author John Hellemans.

John Cowan interviews politician Efeso Collins.

New Zealand actress Robyn Malcolm joined John Cowan in studio on Newstalk ZB.Unfortunately, it completely slipped John's mind to ask her about her latest venture, Robyn's Undies... It's an exciting new business partnering with The Aunties to support survivors of domestic violence. Check them out and grab a pair or six at robynsundies.co.nz!

John Cowan interviews Minister for Emergency Management, Hon Kiritapu Allan.

John Cowan interviews historian & author Rev Dr Hirini Kaa.

John Cowan interviews epidemiologist Michael Baker.

John Cowan interviews his very own wife & CEO of Equip Mental Health Services Naomi Cowan.

John Cowan interviews former police negotiator & author Lance Burdett.

John Cowan interviews author Steve Braunias.

John Cowan interviews Auckland City Missioner Chris Farrelly.

John Cowan interviews broadcaster Andrew Shaw.

John Cowan interviews journalist & author Jared Savage.

John Cowan interviews fashion designer, Dame Trelise Cooper.

John Cowan interviews Member of Parliament, Hon Willie Jackson.