Podcast appearances and mentions of paul casserly

The boys are joined by television producer and Straw People's, Paul CasserlySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oscar Kightley has brought his writing and performing talents to stage, television and the big screen. Along the way he has been a key player in bringing Pasifika stories into New Zealand's mainstream.Born in the Samoan capital, Apia, as Vai To'elau Osa Isa'ako Mase, Kightley emigrated to Aotearoa at age four, after the death of his father. He grew up with an aunt and uncle, one of eight children in the West Auckland suburb of Te Atatu.At primary school, Kightley was "one of the shy kids", a keen reader who "had a rep as a smart-arse, kind of wise-cracking class clown. But I was never one of the performing kids". By age 15 Kightley he knew he wanted to be involved in comedy. Early influences included Eddie Murphy and John Clarke, "the first New Zealander that cracked me up".As a reporter at The Auckland Star, Kightley was encouraged to change his name from Osa to Oscar. His four years at the Star and The Sunday Star-Times provided  "a university education on what Kiwis are like". After short stints in radio and as a TV3 publicist, he headed down to Christchurch in his 1969 Valiant, to start his first ongoing television gig: co-presenting teen magazine show Life in The Fridge. A trip back to Samoa in this period proved potent — it reminded him that Samoans could be doctors and lawyers, as opposed to the Samoan cleaners he knew back in New Zealand.Theatre was also entering the picture: he got "invaluable comedy training" acting as part of Christchurch-based Pasifika group Pacific Underground. Much of their material was issues based; but the group ensemble discovered that "the shortest distance between two people is laughter".Through the rest of the 90s, Kightley's career continued to combine stage and television. On TV, he was developing his writing and performing talents on Gibson Group sketch shows Skitz, Telly Laughs and Newsflash. Kightley was invited to write for Skitz after producer Dave Gibson saw one of his plays; Kightley soon began writing himself into sketches.In-between TV gigs, "the master of self-deprecating immigrant humour" (as Diana Wichtel called him) was honing his storytelling skills on a series of plays that explored Pacific Island characters, usually as they adjusted to life in New Zealand. His first play, 1993's Fresh off the Boat (co-written with Simon Small, and starring David Fane) was performed in Australia and Samoa. In the same period Kightley wrote and directed family tale Dawn Raids (not to be confused with documentary Dawn Raids), and won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.That same year Kightley launched The Naked Samoans, with original members David Fane, Mario Gaoa and Shimpal Lelisi. The group of New Zealand-raised Pacific Islanders mined comedy from their experiences of growing up brown and misunderstood, in the world's largest Polynesian city. Kightley argues that they had a devil may care, "kamikaze approach. We weren't the polite Polynesian group". Extended excerpts from the group's live shows (plus interviews) feature in this Tagata Pasifika episode, while this Living Room episode catches them at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 1999 Kightley was invited to work as a storyliner on Shortland Street, an experience that proved helpful when animated series bro'Town began, five years later. Shortland Street "gave me the discipline of writing stories and helped so much in the mechanics of writing 30-minute episodes. There are no schools that teach you those skills."After watching many Naked Samoan shows, Kightley's ex Auckland Star colleague Elizabeth Mitchell decided that the group's portrayal of polynesian teens might work as an animated TV series. bro'Town's portrait of un-PC Pasifika and Māori kids proved a major hit, spawning five seasons. Kightley played Vale Pepelo, brother to Shimpal Lelisi's character, and the most studious member of the five. Kightley shared the script table (and the recording booth) with Mitchell and fellow Naked Samoans Lelisi, Fane and Gaoa. Kightley calls Mitchell the show's "forgotten hero", who kept the team motivated and the machinery of an animated show on track. He talks in detail about bro'Town (and the complications of being expected to represent a minority) in this extended interview, shot for 2019 TV series Funny As. Midway through their bro'Town adventure, The Naked Samoans ventured onto the big screen with 2006 hit Sione's Wedding. Centred around four 30-something males with an urgent deadline to find a girlfriend, Sione was another breakthrough for Pasifika characters on screen; Kightley remembers appreciative audiences ranging from a Polish film festival, to a Pākehā student from a high decile Christchurch school. Sione's Wedding quickly became the most commercially-successful Kiwi comedy released on home soil (at least until the 2010 rise of Taika Waititi's Boy).Aside from being asked to co-write Sione with James Griffin, Kightley appeared on-screen as the bumbling but sensible Albert. "Oscar didn't want to be anyone, and had to be kind of slapped around a bit before he fell into Albert," says Griffin. "He was always destined to be Albert in my mind." According to Kightley, the character's naiveté means that he needs everything explained to him "in triplicate, with memos ... including which girl likes him, and which girl he likes ... if I knew I would be playing him I would have made Albert much cooler. I would definitely have given him better clothes." Sione's 2 - Unfinished Businessbecame a rare Kiwi sequel when it was released in January 2012.Kightley followed it by starring in gritty 2013 police drama Harry, which he co-wrote with director Chris Dudman and real life detective Neil Grimstone. Kightley plays a troubled Samoan-Kiwi detective dealing with a meth-fuelled crimewave, while raising a teenage daughter. To those questioning why he'd taken on such a serious role, Kightley maintained that he "got work in comedy because that was the work I was offered, but I'm quite a serious person generally". Calling the show great, gritty and grimy, The NZ Herald's Paul Casserly praised its lead actor. "Kightley is believable ... You buy him."After co-directing a video ('Just Roll') for hip-hop musician PNC in 2006, Kightley went on to helm video 'Walk Right Up', for rising talent Ladi6. In 2013 he wrote and directed short film Tom's Diary, which follows a Bob Marley-mad Samoan teenager in 80s-era West Auckland. It was nominated for four Moa awards, including Best Film, Script and Actor (for Mac Kaisuva). A movie version is in development. Kightley directed the second season of Madeleine Sami comedy Super City. In 2019 it was announced that he would direct feature-length documentary Dawn Raid, about the Otara-born, Polynesian music label of the same name.As a presenter, Kightley has fronted up for Elizabeth Mitchell directed Rooster Rooster Dragon Rat - Oscar's Guide to the Chinese Zodiac, in which he interviewed defenders and attackers of the zodiac. In 2019 he toured New Zealand in the path of American author Mark Twain, for TV series Following Twain. Other broadcasting gigs include TV3 rugby coverage, playing an old lady on comedy show Radiradirah, and breakfast presenting on Nui FM. Kightley has also been a frequent partner in crime to ex-Ice TV presenter Nathan Rarere. The two co-presented DNA-tracing documentary Made in Taiwan (which he talks about in this interview), sports show Sportzah, and quiz show Snatch Our Booty.In 2016 movie hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople, he won laughs as a bumbling policeman. He was part of the voice cast of Aroha Bridge in its second season, before joining the cast of 2020 Taika Waititi movie Next Goal Wins. A 2006 Arts Foundation Laureate Award winner and Qantas Award-winning journalist, Kightley was made a member of the NZ Order of Merit in 2009 for services to theatre and television, and a Senior Pacific Artist at the 2016 Arts Pasifika Awards. In early 2020 he began a three month Fullbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency in Hawai'i.

Annabelle is doing good in her own special way. Steve Hansen multi-tasks - fielding  an overseas call from an inspired player whist cooking up a treat By Jodi Molloy and Paul Casserly                       Voices - Toni Potter, Graeme Hill, Cohen Holloway, Paul Casserly Studio Engineer - Rangi Powick

Ken defends the sanctity of Santa's ... santa-ness. Annabelle weighs in with her support - and more. by Paul Casserly and Lee Baker Voices - Paul Casserly and Toni Potter Studio engineer -- Rangi Powick

M bovis reaches The Beehive. Ken apologises on air for his misinterpretation of some signage. By Paul Casserly, Lee Baker and Mike Sheils Voices - Toni Potter, Paul Casserly, Cohen Holloway, Graeme Hill Engineered by Rangi Powick

John feels the need to unburden himself after his move to radio, and Ken wants Christmas to be real. Written by Paul Casserly and Michael Sheils Voices - Cohen Holloway, Toni Potter, Graeme Hill, Paul Casserly Engineered by Rangi Powick

Ken is more than a little concerned about what he thinks is the fragility of the new coalition government. Voices - Darlene Mohekey, Graeme Hill and Paul Casserly Engineer - Rangi Powick

Why Video Marketing Is An Amazing Business Concept is what we are going to discuss with todays guest who is just getting started in business. My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is a man who connected with me on email, and told me such a powerful story that I just had to have him on the show. And unusually for Join Up Dots, he is just getting going on his entrepreneurial journey, but in a way that you can see he is giving it a go bigtime. He isn't sitting behind a story of woe, saying well it will never happen to people like me. So let's give you what he told me, and these are in his words My name is Paul, and I am the owner of Cassus Media LLC in Pennsylvania in the U.S.   I am a U.S. Marine veteran, and a professional musician.  Although I am 24 years old (I will be 25 on October 8th), I have been through quite a bit in my life. Cassus Media is a business that I officially registered in August 2017; it was free to register here in PA since I'm a veteran, although my service was cut short due to a stupid mistake that I made.   To be honest, I had something tragic happen to me when I was 15 years old by actions made by a trusted music teacher in my life (and my neighborhood).   I held this through my Marine training, and eventually cracked under my own mental pressure, and made a stupid decision. But this - this fall from grace, something that I do not entirely blame on myself, but by the sexual scarring that occurred and the man who did it to me - did not stop me from my dreams.   Many in my position would be ashamed and become a hermit, and feel as though they are an outcast.   I was given an Other Than Honorable discharge status, something solely determined by the Colonel in command at the time (another Marine that I trained with made the same mistake, but got a higher discharge status called General Under Honorable Conditions). I let this discharge status define me for a time, and I fell into the woodworks for a while.   I felt that having lost my mother to alcoholism (who I hadn't seen since I was 6, and while serving in the Marines watched her die when I was 22), not finishing my education, and having been discharged from the U.S. military was the end of me.   Citizens in the U.S. would view me as a failure, and of course this information could harm me if they didn't know my backstory. I realized something, though:  I was still alive.  I still had a talent, and dreams I wanted to pursue.   Why should I let my mistakes stop my entrepreneurial dreams? Surely, I don't want to work in a call center anymore (which really, really tears me up inside because it's nothing related to my dreams).   But I also found a way to use this job to my advantage in a number of ways. And that is the perfect place to start the show. So is he ready to battle his way through the entrepreneurs minefield with the skills built because of his history, or because of them? And where does he see the first step towards his dreams? Creating his business, or creating the intention? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Paul Casserly  Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Paul Cassarly  such as: How he praises the military for giving him the tools and willingness to keep moving forward in his life, even though his service finished in a way he wouldnt have wanted. Paul shares his vision of what he wants to achieve in his business, and why he inherently believes you must focus on customer service first and foremost. How he took him many years to shake off the feeling of failure, by making the decision to accept what has happened and move on to his bright future. and lastly…. How he now sees that the entrepreneurial spirit has always been in his family from such an early age, and finds inspiration from is family's hustle and drive.   

Ken encourages people to think before voting and Winston is in the studio making a political advert. Voices - Cohen Holloway, Rangi Powick, Paul Casserly Studio engineer - Rangi Powick

Maori Language Week, Maori seats and help for proactive parents with troublesome kids. Voices - Toi Iti, Darlene Mohekey, Graeme Hill, Tarun Mohanbhai, Paul Casserly Studio engineer - Rangi Powick

More advice from Helen, Ken assesses Steven Joyce's black hole and Peter Dunne admits to a degree of flexibility. Voices - Darlene Mohekey, Oliver Driver, Paul Casserly Studio engineer - Rangi Powick

Keeping it real, and John Campbell's worst nightmare. Written by Paul Casserly Voices - Darlene Mohekey, Cohen Holloway, Toi Iti, Rangi Powick, Paul Casserly Engineer - Rangi Powick

Helen Clark has some advice for Jacinda, and Gareth explodes.

Ken defends himself against accusations of political bias and takes on a tree-hugging caller. Voices - Toni Potter, Toi Iti, Paul Casserly. Engineer - Rangi Powick

Ken jumps onto the righteous-indignation, 'how-dare-she' bandwagon and Winston is interrupted by a helpful call from overseas. Voices - Paul Casserly, Cohen Holloway Engineer - Rangi Powick.

Ken tackles the Kim Jong Un problem and the Alistaire-'phoning-in problem. The Mad Butcher's cousin 'hocks' his services.

Secret tapes from Todd Barclay's office, Colin Craig in a very personal lawsuit, and Winston advocates slapping for the good of the nation. Voices - Toni Potter, Cohen Holloway, Toi Iti, Paul Casserly Engineered for RNZ by Rangi Powick

No smoking in the armed forces - really? And is the taxpayers' union a real force or just a lot of hot air? Voices by Toni Potter and Paul Casserly Studio engineering Rangi Powick (RNZ)

Unisex bathrooms and gender neutral tuckshops - the road to destruction for the family. And Winston is on the news with his thoughts about misleading 'baby on board' signs. Voices - Toni Potter, Cohen Holloway, Paul Casserly Engineered by Rangi Powick for RNZ .

Ken has been back to the farmers' market and found a flyer that sets him off. Bob Jones 'phones the Psychic Tui for advice, then takes his own. Voices by Charlotte Ryan, Graeme Hill, Paul Casserly RNZ studio engineer - Rangi Powick

The problem of revenge porn is occupying Ken's mind - he has some suggestions. Alistaire rings in with a little too much personal information on the subject. Voices by Paul Casserly, Toi Iti, Toni Potter.

Ken says it's time to get the state out of state housing and Annabelle rings in from Christchurch to kill time while she waits for the dog washer. Voices by Toi Iti, Paul Casserly, Toni Potter  

Ken puts us straight about 'millennials' and Steve Hansen does his bit to enhance the All Blacks' image. Voices by Graeme Hill, Noelle McCarthy, Toi Iti, Paul Casserly

Ken hits back over a lack of diversity complaint and gets a call from a well bred Christchurch lady who has a bone to pick. Voices by Paul Casserly, Toi Iti, Toni Potter

Going nuclear. Ken talks up the idea and Gareth Morgan explodes. Features Paul Casserly

Ken makes a stand on casual racism and an innovative station sponsor lends a hand with the launch of a special juice product. Features Paul Casserly, Graeme Hill, Mahoney Harris, Toi Iti         Engineered by Rangi Powick (RNZ)

Ken endorses a new cleaning product from a major station sponsor and the search continues for John Key's legacy. Features Paul Casserly, Lee Baker, Toi Iti                                 Engineer: Rangi Powick .

Ken is not too chuffed about the claim that talkback is dying and that non-commercial media stations like RNZ are claiming to be gaining ground and audiences. Features Lee Baker,Paul Casserly and Cohen Holloway Engineered by Rangi Powick

Ken has something to say about our drift towards atheism and Winston calls on the hotline to ask advice of a past prime minister. Features Paul Casserly and Cohen Holloway

Ken knows what we should like in modern art. Alistaire calls in with support and Helen seeks help from the Tui. Features Paul Casserly as Ken Oath with Anika Moa and Charlotte Ryan.

Ken has an opinion about the right to die issue but has to field a call from Alistaire who has an opinion on a foot-care product and its tendency to turn his feet into some sort of  meat product. Features Bill Kerton, Mahoney Harris, Graeme Hill, Paul Casserly Studio engineer Rangi Powick

Ken Oath on the real problem with P and how it affects real people. Winston accidentally calls the emergency number but manages to turn his mistake into a soapbox. Features Cohen Holloway and Paul Casserly

Bishop Brian, Colin Craig's poetry and getting the best honey. Produced by Paul Casserly for RNZ Features Lee Baker, Paul Casserly, Graeme Hill

Ken considers himself a bit of pundit where election results are concerned. Regular caller Alistaire has something to say about that.

Ken Oath rails at political correctness and Ringo Starr calls the Psychic Tui for reassurance. Features Toi Iti, Charlotte Ryan, Graeme Hill and Paul Casserly

John Key answers a 'phone survey about the state of the nation and Kevin Rudd, former Australian PM, tries to spoil Helen's UN party.

A hack of Helen's answerphone reveals a surprising ally in her quest for the top job at the United Nations and Gareth Morgan tangles with the cats. Features Anika Moa, Graeme Hill, Victoria Kelly, Tony Stamp, and Paul Casserly

We visit the office of the Race Relations Commission and Ken fields a call about the problems brought by the original 'boat people'. Features Victoria Kelly, Ally Xue, Charlotte Ryan and Paul Casserly

A very high-profile world leader calls in to try to retrieve some money from his NZ-based account. The Psychic Tui provides some much needed advice to a caller.

Helen, our own highly ranked powerful woman changes the message on her answer machine. Steve leaves Helen a message. Gareth meets the cats head-on.

John Campbell takes a call at home from a man in Nigeria acting on behalf of the estate of John's long lost uncle. Features Cohen Holloway and Paul Casserly

Ken talks about bees, Alistaire calls in, and there are challenges in the studio recording a commercial starring the client. Features Paul Casserly and Tony Stamp.  

Flicks contributors Steve Newall, Liam Maguren, Dominic Corry and Paul Casserly talk Tarantino's eighth film, and so does Tarantino himself in an interview from his Auckland visit for the film's premiere.

Ken Oath compares apples with Alistaire, John Key orders a pizza and David Lange calls the psychic tui from purgatory.

Ken Oath interviews the first of the new generation of high efficiency robotic newsreaders - Newsbots- that are set to take over our airwaves. But it all ends in a bloody mess.

Mr Talkback, Ken Oath with breaking news and a police interview about something that has been stolen from Whanganui, and John Key leaves a message on Steve Hansen's answerphone.

Talkback king, Ken Oath, waits in the wings as we hear his station's promo for the ground-breaking Psychic Tui segment, and we put in a call to Helen - who is not home.