Verbal Highs

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Dr Tennant's Verbal Highs is a weekly long-form interview podcast with people who create & innovate in their chosen art form, vocation, back shed, main stage, peer group, or shower cubicle. From a kitchen bench in Auckland, New Zealand, Lewis Tennant explores the lives & thoughts of the likes of mu…

Lewis Tennant


    • Oct 13, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 23m AVG DURATION
    • 145 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Verbal Highs

    Episode 145: Lewis Tennant

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024 85:49


    Lewis Tennant is a podcast producer, teacher, researcher, journalist, & competitive pinballer. He is the founder & organiser of the NZ Podcasting Summit. Lewis sometimes writes descriptions of himself in the third person. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 144: Devin Abrams

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 78:24


    Devin Abrams is a music producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member of Shapeshifter, before leaving the group in 2014. Devin once played basketball with Kanye West. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 143: Mazbou Q

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2024 80:13


    Mazbou Q is a Nigerian NZ hip hop artist, content creator, activist, and educator. Online he's dubbed ‘The Rap Scientist' for his analysis of rap flow. Mazbou does not own a lab coat. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 142: Welby Ings

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 74:38


    Welby Ings is an educational reformer, university professor, feature film director, author, teacher, designer, and activist. Until the age of 15 Welby could not read or write. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 141: Andrew Manning

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2023 59:12


    Andrew Manning is the GM of musical instrument importer Lyn McAllister Music. In 1997 he and six friends co-founded the Kog Transmissions label & studio. Andrew is the Tony Montana of New Zealand ukeleles. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 140: Jason Rockpig

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 99:05


    Jason ‘Rockpig' Hall is a fuel tanker truck driver, broadcaster, club DJ, live musician, 95 bFM alumni, and family man. He drives a 2019 Kenworth T610 towing a triple axle semi tanker. Jason enjoys having many routes across the North Island. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com.

    Episode 139: Dean Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 69:55


    Dean Young is the creator of Studio Stories, a podcast that talks to people behind some of New Zealand's best-known albums. In a past life, he made one of NZ's most popular song parodies. Dean once tried to do Homer Simpson in the back of a van. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 138: Vishal Vasan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 72:28


    Vishal Vasan is a music and culture promoter, networker and connector, man about town and deejay. His latest label release is a tribute to Fredrik Lager. You will find that release here: https://theelephantrecords.bandcamp.com/album/drw-future-red-astaire-dj-vadim-remixes / Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 137: Ant Timpson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 80:56


    Ant Timpson is a cinephile. He launched The Incredibly Strange Film Festival in 1994 and has a long & varied career in all facets of the film industry. Ant has a distrust of lobster consumers. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 136: Matt Burgess

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 119:52


    Matt Burgess is a London-based chef. His UK career began at Soho House, followed by Gordon Ramsey's Maze Grill, then Jamie Oliver's Threadneedle Street. Matt first encountered his father in 2021 via cleaning out a sugar bin. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 135: Evan Short

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2023 85:07


    Evan Short was one half of iconic drum & bass duo Concord Dawn. He now lives in Washington DC with his family, producing and performing as Evan Kiljoy. Evan's life is not like House of Cards. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 134: Adam Dudding

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 74:07


    Adam Dudding is an author, journalist, and podcast producer. His podcast portfolio includes Gone Fishing, True Story, Coronavirus NZ, and The Commune. Adam has a problem with underpant openings. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 133: Zoë George

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 73:28


    Zoë George is a journalist. She hosts Stuff's sports podcast The Podium, and focusses on telling stories about women, LGBTQI+, and minority communities. Zoë often attends toilet openings with The Honourable Grant Robertson. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 132: Manuel Bundy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 71:24


    Manuel Bundy is one of NZ's pre-eminent DJs, with a long & multifaceted career in music. Pauly Fuemana once told him ‘If I get big, I'll get you to DJ'. A few years later they were touring the world.

    Episode 131: Riccardo Ball

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 66:37


    Riccardo Ball is a music consultant, radio plugger, broadcaster, mentor, and heavy metal vocalist. He was Music Director at The Rock from 2006 to 2014. Riccardo once age shamed Ozzy Osbourne. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 130: Jane Yee

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 70:37


    Jane Yee is The Spinoff's head of podcasts. She is also known as a TV & radio presenter & producer, with credits including C4, Channel Z, & The Squeeze. When Jane left the telly she had to learn how to dress herself again. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 129: Martin Bosley (Pt.2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 86:06


    Episode 128: Martin Bosley (Pt.1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 86:10


    Martin Bosley is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and food pundit. In 2014 he was blindsided when liquidators suddenly seized his restaurant of 13 years. Martin introduced fancy cheese to Port Douglas. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 127: Leonard Powell

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 68:14


    Leonard Powell is a pro golf caddie, low budget short film star, broadcaster, journalist, and musician. He is currently a programme producer at RNZ. Leonard travels with an emotional support guitar. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 126: Israel Starr

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2022 74:12


    Israel Starr is a recording artist, record producer, and independent retailer. In 2012 he moved from playing sport in Australia to playing music in NZ. Israel knows barber pimpin' easy. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 125: Olivia Shivas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 63:24


    125: Olivia Shivas—along with two friends—made What's Wrong With You?‘, a podcast about disability that tackles the tricky questions disabled people are asked. Olivia was inadvertently locked out of her first big office Christmas party. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com.

    Episode 124: Phil Grey

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2022 72:17


    Phil Grey is the GM of Waikato community access station Free FM. A constant over his 19 years in the role is embracing change, as well as instigating it. Phil has Dewey Decimal-related PTSD. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com.

    Episode 123: Efeso Collins

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 63:45


    Efeso Collins is an Auckland Councillor, youth worker, mentor, and teacher. He is an independent candidate for Mayor of Auckland in the 2022 election. Efeso is the only mayoral candidate with a bean bag policy. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 122: Jake Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2022 74:42


    Jake Law is a Sinophile, teacher, culture co-ordinator, writer, & Auckland Council candidate. At 29, he is the youngest person in the 2022 mayoral race. Jake has serious street cred at Glenfield Intermediate.

    Episode 121: Kane Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 63:41


    Kane Power is a podcast producer, audio engineer, editor, and mentor. In 2017 he founded Precision Podcasting, a post-production & consulting service. Kane is probably a better drummer than you are. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 120: Hot Dub Time Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 102:34


    Tom Lowndes became a professional DJ at 35 and is now one of Australia's biggest touring acts. Hot Dub showcases songs from every decade & genre of music. In the year 2000 Tom and this podcast host shared a room in Soho, London. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 119: Julia deVille

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 66:56


    Julia deVille is an artist, jeweller, and taxidermist. She began including taxidermy in her art in 2002, before combining it with her jewellery making. Julia dreamt of being an Olympic roller-skater, but there was no roller-skating at the Olympics. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 118: Barnaby Weir

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 83:13


    118: Barnaby Weir is The Black Seeds' frontman & the musical director of Fly My Pretties. He also records and performs under his own name, and as Flash Harry. Barnaby once had to kick an office chair out of his band. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    weir barnaby fly my pretties
    Epsiode 117: Fraser McInnes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 99:40


    Fraser McInnes was the proprietor of Wellington music venue Bar Bodega. As a long-term advocate of craft beer, he later co-founded Tuatara Breweries. Fraser invented the flat white. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 116: Chris Graham

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 88:40


    Chris Graham is a director. His feature film debut was Sione's Wedding, and he recently directed the documentary series Scribe: Return of The Crusader. Chris saw Biggie in New York before Biggie was Biggie. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 115: Tim Provise

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 76:51


    Tim Provise is a content creator & commentator who hosts The Provise Project podcast & Bakery Run on YouTube. He Clark Kents as an intermediate teacher. Tim is the second most famous person in Clendon. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 114: Vaughn Davis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 98:23


    Vaughn Davis is the owner & creative director of advertising agency The Goat Farm. He is also an author, radio host, social media pundit, & plane pilot. Vaughn is from Lower Hutt, where they look down on Upper Hutt. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 113: A Cuban Brother

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 89:20


    Mike Keat is a singer, rapper, b-boy, comedian, and all-round entertainer. His alter ego Miguel Mantovani travels the globe fronting The Cuban Brothers. James Brown once insisted Mike have his wig groomed by Latonya (The Godfather of Soul's personal coiffure). Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 112: Simon Morse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 90:01


    Simon Morse is a comic book turned tattoo artist who has worked with Martin Emond, Kevin Eastman, Danzig, Rufus Dayglo, Illicit Clothing, & Hell Pizza. He is currently the proprietor of Dr Morse Tattoo. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 111: Reece Reilly

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 63:06


    Reece Reilly is a Hamilton-based podcaster with a global vision for his show. His podcast Kiwi Talkz invites guests to discuss their area of expertise. Reece gave up being a rapper owing to feeling unfairly stereotyped. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 110: Tom Broome

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 98:18


    Tom Broome is a drummer, producer, & recording engineer. His extensive performance credits include Home Brew, Tim Finn, TEEKS, Bailey Wiley & Aaradhna. Tom recently invented a new music genre: nappy gaze. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 109: Pete Get Flushed

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 83:54


    Pete Get Flushed produces and hosts the eponymous Get Flushed, the world's only sanitation industry pocast. He produces the show from a caravan in NZ. A night shift worker once left Pete an unexpected present in a urinal tray. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 108: Kris Holmes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 102:59


    Kris Holmes is a NZ-born music teacher, collector, & performer who lives in San Antonio, Texas. His green card was issued the day Trump came to power. Kris once made a 599900% return on a $1 investment. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 107: Chopper Reedz

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 85:35


    Scott Towers is Chopper Reedz, saxophonist extraordinaire for Fat Freddy's Drop. When not Freddying, he likes cooking from scratch & fishing from kayaks. Scott's mullet is not on his head, it is in his heart. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 106: Fiona Bourne

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2021 68:52


    Fiona Bourne—aka Miss Fee—hand built the 14-piece Housewife's Choice sound system, which she operates alongside her musical partner Yasmin Rupesinghe. Fiona's old boss thought she was on the run from the law. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 105: Jen Ferguson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 80:06


    Jen Ferguson and husband Glenn own and operate London-based craft beer, hot sauce, and vinyl record emporium Hop, Burns, & Black. In 2014 they opened their first shop in Peckham, SE. An errant night at orchestra camp in Dunedin saw Jen quickly lose interest in playing the violin. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 104: Chris Schulz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 81:32


    Chris Schulz is a freelance journalist, music fan, & storytelling aficionado. In 2006 he was part of the team that set up Stuff Media's Auckland bureau. Chris once felt great shame at a Macklemore concert. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 103: John Minty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2021 75:00


    John Minty is the festival director of Splore. He is a friend and affiliate of the Polynesian Panthers & was a member of the dawn raid-era PIG Patrol. His Panther friends affectionately dubbed him Sione Lolly. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 102: Nick D'Angelo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 109:14


    Nick D’Angelo is the alter ego of hip hop pioneer, nightclub promoter, broadcaster, former bFM station manager, & self-professed hustler Simon Laan. Nick once held a foam party with very little foam. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 101: Emma Wollum

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 74:33


    Emma Wollum is a competitive pun champion, award-winning accordion player, comedian, singer, & speech therapist. She performs pop classics in Klingon. Emma has sold out to the mayonnaise people. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 100: Jed Town

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 94:55


    Jed Town is a video artist & musician. From The Features to ICU, via Fetus Productions and the techno of early ‘90s London, Jed’s imprint spans decades. Jed does a convincing vocal rendition of ‘Energy Flash’ by Joey Beltram. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 99: Mu

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 72:59


    Chris ‘Mu’ Faiumu is DJ Fitchie, the founder & one-man rhythm section of Fat Freddy’s Drop. The band are one of NZ’s most successful musical exports. Mu was introduced to music via a brown bogan record collection. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 98: Yadana Saw

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 79:02


    Yadana Saw is a music journalist, radio presenter, & storyteller. In 2014 she pitched a documentary on student radio to RNZ, & has worked there ever since. Yadana is a dormant activist, ready to strike at any time. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    rnz yadana saw
    Episode 97: Gabriel Atkinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 109:59


    Gabriel Atkinson is a member of Weta, the band tipped as NZ’s next great rock band before ending in a halt. He now lives in country Victoria, Australia. Slim Dusty slips out of him every now & again. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com

    Episode 96: John Paul Moss

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 72:13


    John Paul Moss convenes AUM, a family-friendly three-day New Year’s festival that encourages art, creativity, ideas, & interactions. AUM just turned six. AUM holds the world record for the largest gathering of unicorns in one place.

    Episode 95: Orlando Stewart

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 75:41


    Orlando Stewart makes moving images The Spinoff once described as ‘weird TV genius’. In 2005 he was the manager of Wayne Anderson: Singer of Songs. Orlando’s work celebrates the sad splendour of the suburban dream. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com.

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