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PODCAST

Real Life With John Cowan

John Cowan hosts ‘Real Life’, a weekly nationwide chat show on Newstalk ZB featuring a different high-profile guest every week. John talks with them about their life, their upbringing, their passions and their view of the world.

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All Episodes

22:59

Sophie Barker - Mayor of Dunedin

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/11/02

Sophie has been elected Mayor of Dunedin, becoming only the second woman to hold the role in the city’s history. An incumbent councillor, Barker secured 16,001 votes, finishing 726 votes ahead of runner-up Andrew Simms in the preliminary results. In her post-election message, Barker expressed gratitude to the community for their support, saying she was “humbled and honoured” by the trust placed in her and her vision for Dunedin. She paid tribute to those who paved the way before her,

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24:00

John Bishop - Comedian

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/10/26

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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23:57

Chris Carter

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/10/19

Chris has lived and worked in West Auckland for most of his life, serving the Te Atatū community for 15 years as its Member of Parliament and as a government minister. Well known for his commitment to representing all constituents regardless of their political views. His priorities remain focused on being responsive to community concerns and ensuring residents receive fair and effective Council services. He is committed to revitalising the suburb of Henderson, Auckland and looks to address the

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23:30

Nadia Lim - Cook, TV host and Author

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/10/12

Nadia Lim is a New Zealand chef, nutritionist, and farmer who lives and works on Royalburn Station — her family’s high-country farm on the Crown Range in Central Otago — with her husband Carlos and their three sons. At Royalburn, Nadia leads a regenerative approach to food production, growing grains and seeds, producing pasture-raised eggs, honey, and vegetables, and raising what she proudly calls the world’s best lamb. A qualified dietitian with a degree in nutrition and dietetics from Otago

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25:00

David Bussau - Entreprenuer

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/10/05

David Bussau, founder of Opportunity International Australia, began life in an Anglican boys’ home and started his entrepreneurial journey at 15 with a rented hotdog stand. After building several successful businesses, he turned to aid work following Cyclone Tracey and an earthquake in Bali, where he realised traditional aid didn’t break poverty cycles. Pioneering microfinance, he gave a $50 loan to Indonesian farmer Ketut Suwiria, who built a thriving business and created jobs in his community

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23:33

Creed Bratton - Musician and Actor

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/09/28

Creed Bratton is an American musician and actor, best known for playing a fictionalised version of himself on NBC’s The Office. A former member of the 1960s rock band The Grass Roots, he has also released several solo albums. He studied drama at the College of the Sequoias and Sacramento State College before leaving to travel and pursue music. His acting credits include films such as Mask and The Sisters Brothers, and TV shows like Grace and Frankie and Upload.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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24:54

Greg Murphy - motorsport icon

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/09/21

Greg Murphy is a NZ motorsport icon whose impact on V8 Supercars is indisputable. Known for his fearless approach and ability to perform against the odds, he has earned a reputation as one of the sport’s greats, with over 400 race starts, multiple Bathurst 1000 victories, and stints with some of Australasia’s top teams. Beyond the track, Murph has become a familiar voice and face as a commentator and motorsport TV presenter. He is also a passionate road safety advocate, promoting smarter driving and

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25:11

Alex Walls - TV host and interior designer

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/09/14

This week, John's guest will be Alex Walls co-host of Love It or List It.Alex Walls is a New Zealand interior designer best known as one half of Alex & Corban, co-founder of A&C Homestore (also known as achomestore), and a familiar face from The Block NZ and Love It or List It NZ. With over a decade of experience in residential design, Alex is also the founder of Walls Studio—a boutique interiors studio offering considered design and styling services across New Zealand.See

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25:17

Andy Robinson - World Vision Aid Worker

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/09/07

Andy Robinson is the Acting Head of Fragile and Developing Contexts, International Partnerships for World Vision New ZealandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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23:36

Sam 'The Trap Man' Gibson

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/08/31

Sam Gibson, better known asSam the Trap Man, grew up beside the Hamanatua Stream in Tairāwhiti Gisborne. From an early age, the bush was where he truly belonged—hunting, fishing, trapping and living wild. As a teenager starting to go off the rails, a unique deal between his parents and teachers let him swap school for the outdoors. It was a turning point that not only kept him out of trouble but set the course for a life built around hard work, adventure, and purpose. From shooting his first deer to

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24:18

Claire Mabey - Author and Book Reviewer

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/08/24

Author, literary advocte and founder of Verb Wellington, joined John on Real Life this week. Claire Mabey won the NZSA Best First Book at the recent New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults earlier in 2025, and spoke to John from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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25:36

Ian Foster - Former All Blacks Coach

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/08/17

Ian Foster is a New Zealand rugby coach and former fly-half born in Putāruru. He played a record 148 games for Waikato and 28 for the Chiefs, also appearing for the NZRFU President’s XV in 1995.Foster began coaching with Waikato before joining the All Blacks as assistant coach in 2012, helping win the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He became head coach in 2020, leading New Zealand to multiple Bledisloe Cup, Freedom Cup, and Rugby Championship victories, and a Rugby World Cup final in 2023.In 2025, Foster was

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24:23

David Squire - Music Director of the New Zealand...

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/08/10

David Squire (MMus (Hons), PGDipMus, BMus, DipTchg) is one of New Zealand’s leading choral conductors and Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Under his direction, the choir has toured internationally to high acclaim, with standout performances at Notre-Dame in Paris, Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, and major wins at the International Festival of Academic Choirs in the Czech Republic. With over 25 years in secondary music education, David has led award-winning choirs and orchestras,

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24:18

Br Guy Consolmagno

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/08/03

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

22:19

Jared Savage - Author of Underworld: The New Era of...

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/07/27

Jared Savage is an investigative reporter for theNew Zealand Heraldand has won more than a dozen national and international journalism awards, including being named New Zealand’s best reporter twice. He lives in Tauranga with his wife and children. He began reporting in 2004 after completing a Bachelor of Communications at AUT and landing his first job at an Auckland suburban newspaper. Since then, he has covered major stories including the Samoan tsunami, Christchurch earthquakes, political

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24:02

Fraser Grut - Filmmaker behind the '10,000 Dreams'...

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/07/20

Fraser Grut is the kiwi filmmaker behind the '10,000 Dreams' project, his plan to record and publish the aspirations of 10,000 individuals. The project started as a bet with a friend, and has now ballooned into a globe-trotting project. At age 27, Fraser was broke and going through a divorce when a call came from The Wiggles asking him to film a music video with them and Richie McCaw. That video led to the chance to make a documentary on The Wiggles, the project that helped lift him from "rock

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24:03

Jon Hartley - Kiwibank Board Chair and Ordained Priest

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/07/13

Jon joined the Kiwibank Board as Chair in November 2019. He has had a distinguished career and has held senior roles across a diverse range of commercial and not for profit organisations in several countries, including chair of SkyCity, deputy chair of ASB Bank and Sovereign Assurance Company, director of Mighty River Power and Air NZ, a trustee of World Vision New Zealand, CEO of Brierley New Zealand and Solid Energy, and CFO of Lend Lease in Australia. He retired in September 2019 after 17 years

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24:17

Tom Rutherford - MP for the Bay of Plenty

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/07/06

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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24:21

Nicola Toki - Chief Executive of Forest and Bird

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/06/29

Nicola Toki is a New Zealand conservationist and Chief Executive of Forest & Bird since 2022. Born in Invercargill, she grew up exploring the South Island, moving often for her father’s work as a ski-plane pilot. With a background in zoology, ecology, and natural history filmmaking, Nicola has held various roles at the Department of Conservation, including Threatened Species Ambassador and Eastern South Island Operations Director. She also co-hostsCritter of the Weekon RNZ and presentsEndangered

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24:11

Miriama Kamo - Author and 'Marae' host

Real Life With John Cowan ·

2025/06/22

Miriama Kamo is a Christchurch-born journalist, author, and TV presenter of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent. She’s spent over two decades telling powerful stories onSundayandMarae, earning top awards for her work in current affairs. She’s also a celebrated children’s author, known for her Matariki-inspired books, and co-founder of Kotahi Rau Pukapuka, a project publishing 100 books in te reo Māori. Miriama is a proud advocate for te reo, the environment, and social change. She lives in Auckland

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