Best Kirsty Young Podcasts (2025)

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Christine McGuinness - ‘I don’t want to hold back anymore - I date women! So what?’ 52:31

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22m ago52:31

52:31

TW: discussions around anorexia and sexual abuse. In an incredibly powerful episode (and a How To Fail first), Christine McGuinness speaks publicly about her sexuality for the first time. She reveals she had a long-term relationship with a woman before her marriage to comedian Paddy McGuinness and that she’s now dating women again. She refuses to l…

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Science: How sitting shrinks your brain, crime from the cradle 10:11

5h ago10:11

10:11

Science commentator Allan Blackman looks at how sitting for hours can affect your brain - even if you're doing regular exercise. A major new study has tracked 80,000 Queenslanders, looking at how their path to crime was shaped early and differently, for men and women. Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland Universit…

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Against the Odds: The Kiwi women who fought to become doctors 19:33

6h ago19:33

19:33

This year Otago Medical School turns 150. Half of the graduates will be women. But it was not always the case, and a new book details the struggle of women to become part of New Zealand's medical fraternity. Against the Odds: New Zealand's First Women Doctors covers a 70 year period from the 1890s to 1967 - the year before a medical school would op…

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Around the motu: Amy Williams in Auckland 12:19

6h ago12:19

12:19

Auckland Museum partially reopens this week after asbestos was found in the nearly 100 year old building, a hearing is almost wrapped up for a new helicopter pad, Auckland's City Mission has held an art exhibition with a difference and they were also among foodbanks that pleaded for funding in the recent 2025 budget, and Auckland libraries are tryi…

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Book review: Never Flinch by Stephen King 3:58

7h ago3:58

3:58

Quentin Johnson reviews Never Flinch by Stephen King published by Hachette

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Clare Turnbull on her struggles with food 27:40

7h ago27:40

27:40

Wellbeing expert Claire Turnbull is known for her practical advice for those wanting to make positive health and lifestyle changes.

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Australia: Mushroom case, defence spending, wages up 11:52

1h ago11:52

11:52

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn for an update on the Erin Patterson case - the woman accused of killing three of her in-laws by death cap mushrooms - after she took the witness stand yesterday. PM Anthony Albanese is rebuffing a call from the US to up defence spending, millions of Australians are about to get a pay rise of 3.5…

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Closing the gaps for our tradies 9:15

8h ago9:15

9:15

Next, the call for a new national portal, to make it easier for trades apprentices to qualify and find placements.

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Transpower chair calls for major reform of electricity market 29:14

2h ago29:14

29:14

Departing Transpower chair Keith Turner says the country's electricity sector needs real reform and changes around the edges will not do.

1
Sports-chat with Joe Porter 10:42

23h ago10:42

10:42

Joe Porter has the latest in sport

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From a tragic accident to a sporting dream 16:25

23h ago16:25

16:25

Bailley Unahi talks to Kathryn about the career she never knew she wanted

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Business commentator Dileepa Fonseka 22:35

24h ago22:35

22:35

WorkSafe is given six months to pursue fewer 'novel' prosecutions or face deeper restructuring. A Road of National Significance north of Levin is cut down to two lanes, while Microsoft cuts its global workforce as concerns rise about AI taking jobs. Dileepa Fonseka is a Senior Correspondent with BusinessDesk…

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Around the motu: Alisha Evans in Tauranga 10:26

1d ago10:26

10:26

Tauranga based Local Democracy Reporter Alisha Evans has news from the region

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Book review: The Question of Palestine by Edward Said 4:55

1d ago4:55

4:55

Cynthia Morahan reviews The Question of Palestine by Edward Said published by Text Publishing

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Stuff and TradeMe to merge 8:34

1d ago8:34

8:34

Stuff and TradeMe have announced a merger, with TradeMe to take a 50 percent stake in Stuff Digital

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Two doctors, one diary and a health system in crisis 21:07

1d ago21:07

21:07

The reality of working in our under-pressure healthcare system is laid bare in Diary of a Junior Doctor - the new five-part docuseries which follows a group of junior doctors at Auckland's Middlemore hospital

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US correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben 8:12

1d ago8:12

8:12

President Trump's tariffs have been ruled illegal by a federal court, but the Oval Office is appealing. Meanwhile, Trump announced steel and aluminium tariffs would double to 50 per cent - and the court has not struck these down. Elon Musk is leaving as questions rise about his drug use, and the President's legislation to enact much of his agenda, …

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Needy data centres showing up in water-scarce areas 10:13

1d ago10:13

10:13

Big tech companies are operating data centres that use vast amounts of water in areas of the world where water is scarce

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PM's new science advisor John Roche 18:32

1d ago18:32

18:32

The Prime Minister's new chief science advisor, John Roche, is getting underway with his new job, a year after the position was vacated

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How vulnerable customers are handled by telcos 13:33

1d ago13:33

13:33

The telecommunications sector says more people are turning to Facebook and Snapchat

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EP.248 - LOYLE CARNER 1:07:21

1d ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Adam talks with British-Guyanese rapper Loyle Carner about Mums, Dads, being a parent, kids' music, bear attacks, managing ADHD, unwelcome thoughts and the value (vs the potential danger) of hope. Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 12th May, 2025 Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production support and additional conversation editin…

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Vicky Pattison - ‘You don't become old and wise if you haven't been young and daft’ 55:32

2d ago55:32

55:32

Vicky Pattison was 22 when her life changed and she was cast in reality TV show Geordie Shore. She was on the show for nine seasons between 2011 and 2014, during which time the cameras followed her falling in love, becoming engaged, then breaking up. Now 37, Pattison has rarely been off our screens - whether it’s as a finalist on Celebrity Masterch…

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The week that was with Irene Pink and Te Radar 11:24

5d ago11:24

11:24

Comedians Te Radar and Irene Pink tell us what's caught their eyes this week.

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Sports commentator Dana Johanssen 11:59

5d ago11:59

11:59

Dame Lydia Ko has her first shot at a career grand slam this weekend and Rowing NZ has launched an independent inquiry into a recent US tour.

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Around the motu: Robin Martin in Taranaki 11:35

5d ago11:35

11:35

Robin discusses the latest events in Taranaki including a new high-spec Pouakai Hut replacement built to withstand extreme winds.

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Book review: Gabriele by Anne Berest and Claire Berest 5:16

5d ago5:16

5:16

Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews Gabriele by Anne Berest and Claire Berest published by Europa Editions

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How we make things - and how we could do it better 25:28

5d ago25:28

25:28

Tim Minshall is the University of Cambridge's first Professor of Innovation and author of new book, Your Life Is Manufactured.

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Asia correspondent Ed White 9:25

5d ago9:25

9:25

Shanghai-based Financial Times correspondent Ed White discusses events in Myanmar, South Korea, and India.

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Government goes for gas stake 12:20

5d ago12:20

12:20

What will the Government achieve by setting aside $200 million to try and get a small stake in a new offshore gas field?

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Study finds link between low Vitamin D in babies 10:03

5d ago10:03

10:03

Babies born with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism later in life, according to a new study.

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FENZ complaints system neither independent, nor fair: Union 16:22

5d ago16:22

16:22

The Professional Fire Fighters Union says Fire and Emergency's complaints system is neither independent, nor fair.

1
Screentime: with James Croot, Stuff's film and TV reviewer 8:59

6d ago8:59

8:59

James reviews the new Wes Anderson film The Phoenician Scheme, the French Film Festival and Dept Q on

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Raising literacy among boys - one principal's secret 17:37

6d ago17:37

17:37

Teaching boys - how one principal turned around his school's academic performance

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New technology with Mark Pesce 19:18

6d ago19:18

19:18

Mark delves into ChatGPT sycophancy, faking adhd tests with AI and artificial intelligence hallucinations affecting lawsuits.

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Around the motu: Kirsty Pickett in Te Anau 5:55

6d ago5:55

5:55

Te Anau has hosted its first classic boat festival, Fiordland's wild wapiti herd is being considered for formal designation as a herd of special interest.

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Book review: Air by John Boyne 3:22

6d ago3:22

3:22

Phil Vine reviews Air by John Boyne published by Penguin Random House

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FENZ National Commander apologises for complaint failings 16:19

6d ago16:19

16:19

Fire and Emergency National Commander and Chief Executive Kerry Gregory talks to Kathryn about the apology made to a former volunteer firefighter, Sarah Hullah.

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The award winning film Southern Alps traverse 22:52

6d ago22:52

22:52

Waiatoto follows a seven-day east-to-west adventure across the Main Divide

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UK correspondent Hugo Gye, Political Editor of The i Paper 11:36

6d ago11:36

11:36

Hugo discusses the latest over the car attack in Liverpool, government spending rows and possible drought after a dry spring.

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Tracking apps and their use in coercive relationships 11:28

6d ago11:28

11:28

It's natural for parents to want to know where their children are and technology has made that easier with the use of tracking apps.

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OCR cut but warnings about inflation, unemployment 9:11

6d ago9:11

9:11

A cut to the official cash rate, but warnings about the strength of the economy from the Reserve Bank yesterday.

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FENZ apologises to volunteer firefighter after 10 year battle 17:02

6d ago17:02

17:02

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has apologised unreservedly to a former volunteer firefighter for failing to properly investigate a series of complaints.

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THE CHALK DOWN TRIO is a young up-and-coming jazz combo you need to hear 47:57

6d ago47:57

47:57

Text us about this show. There's no shortage of talent when it comes to jazz in NE Wisconsin and The Chalk Down Trio is proof of that. Guitarist Alec Riegsecker, bassist Andrew Wilson, and drummer Ryan Thomas are three very talented young men that have jelled together to make music that bridges the jazz and funk realms. What makes them the musician…

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Dannii Minogue - ‘I hit low points where I thought: “I just can’t take this any more.” 58:33

7d ago58:33

58:33

In her most revealing interview to date, Dannii Minogue talks openly about the pressures of fame, the relentless comparisons with her sister, Kylie, and navigating a divorce that left her broke. It’s an extraordinary conversation with a woman who found fame as a 10-year-old in her native Australia. As a teenager Dannii, signed a record deal and act…

1
Personal Finance with Liz Koh 9:24

7d ago9:24

9:24

Liz Koh discusses the changes the impact the Budget has had on retirement planning.

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"I'm retired and I don't know what to do with myself" 14:30

7d ago14:30

14:30

Many people prepare financial for retirement - but what about preparing psychologically? Clinical Psychologist Karen Nimmo on the big transition and how it impacts individuals and relationships

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Book review: The Buried City by Gabriel Zuchtriegel 9:45

7d ago9:45

9:45

Paul Diamond reviews The Buried City by Gabriel Zuchtriegel published by Hachette

1
The young grower winning awards 7:49

7d ago7:49

7:49

Jack Haddon, 22, has won the Pukekohe 2025 Young Grower regional title for his work managing 200 hectares of cauliflower and cabbage.

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NASA senior scientist Dr Nicky Fox 17:38

7d ago17:38

17:38

Dr. Nicky Fox joined NASA in 2018 as the director of the Heliophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and is now the associate administrator for NASA's SMD.

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Australia correspondent Bernard Keane 8:29

7d ago8:29

8:29

Bernard Keane discusses the Australian government and a new offshore gas project, the on-going stoush between the Liberals and its coalition partner, National, over climate change policy.