December 15, 2024 • 12 mins
Comedian Dai Henwood is looking back on a turbulent year - and the positive impact his work left.
Henwood documented his battle with cancer in his three-part documentary series Live and Let Dai, which aired on ThreeNow and Three in September.
He says getting the information out there was one of the most memorable parts of 2024.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks'd be follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Because it's our last week, we're introducing a new segment
for this week only Great New Zealanders of Christmas series,
and today we are delighted to welcome and Die Hendward, comedian, author,
documentary maker and all around goodkey. We get a die,
Yeah Die?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How did you guys beat Olympians, international rugby players, politicians
and warriors in the six hole Ambrose format at the
Royal Auckland and the Grange Golf Club. How the hell
did you win that one?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Die?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
Well?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
We were you say that the politicians would be easy beats,
but they were the team we were directly up against,
and we had politicians from all over the political spectrum,
from right to far right. We had John Key, David
Seymour and Max Key. John Key and Max lovely guys.
(01:07):
And for nominal golfers David Seymour. I was really intrigued
just to see how he swings at golf club and
having having done dancing with the start of him. He
was surprisingly more fluid than I was expecting. But basically
what we did is Jeremy Wells myself combined our powers,
(01:30):
threw them away and let Mark Richardson do all.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, there's something about an international sports person that makes
him very good at golf as well. No matter who
you are, you can be a funny guy that you are,
You can be you know, the sort of zombie that
sits beside Hillary Barry on a couch somewhere. But when
it comes to sports, they cross code, don't they.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Oh absolutely they, especially the cricketers and okay, sports sports
people really that ingrain competitive streak sinks in. You know,
like Mark Richardson had had a bit of a lot
of shaker off the tee, but he hit it out
of bounds and then he just dialed in and didn't
(02:20):
have a bad shot after that. Whereas I got there early,
I I was looking for Jerry. He was on the
range and you'd know this, Matt. I thought Jerry was
a very stiff mid sixties man when I saw him
from afar, He's got a very stiff gate about him.
(02:40):
And then up close I saw him and he was
really warming up and he played some amazing golf. So
I'd say I didn't let the team down, but I
was very much the vibe guy.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
But did Jeremy have some drinks on the course.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah, he was running quite a timed operation on it
as well. His caddy was mainly trying to keep I
think between point six and point eight on the breast
the entire time. He wasn't concerned about clubs. He was
concerned about Okay, we go two beers, then a hole off,
then one more beer. Is keeping him at a at
(03:19):
a perfect level.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And how it worked, Yeah, you won? Who had the
drive power?
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Die?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I take it you would have taken that on. You know,
Jerry's got the reach, but you're a powerful man.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Oh. That that's the thing. I I have sort of
quite a buff winning the Pooh type pH zeke and
I a low center of gravity, but I can really
smack it. And the best thing is a lot of
the people standing around the te box they weren't They
didn't know a lot about golf, so all they cared
(03:50):
was if you hit the leather off it. So I
hit my one of my drives, I think, a couple
of holes over over an entire forest of trees, and
they probably got the biggest applause of the whole afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, no one, kids, estraighted as and like when he
the Pooh you play with no pants on as well?
Hey ya, Die, what was your highlight for What was
highlight for you in twenty twenty four? Die?
Speaker 4 (04:16):
I like for me in twenty twenty four, I'd have
to say was making this cancer documentary and putting a
book out because it was something that was obviously very
close to me. I'm still going through a journey with cancer,
but it was unlike sort of just making stuff that's
purely comedy, that's me talking rubbish. This actually has turned
(04:38):
out to become quite a poignant sort of cancer resource
for people who are on a similar trial or have
loved ones going through it. And the feedback and love
I've got from all sections in New Zealand has massively
helped me on my journey, and I have to say
it's the bit of work I'm most proud of. Well.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I can thoroughly recommend your book and that documentary. It's
phenomenal stuff quality but will also rip your heart out.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Oh thanks mate, And yeah, it was so nice being
able to just get it out there. And also alongside
that just been traveling around New Zealand, going back to
the old school routes because, as you said at the beginning,
media isn't an interesting situation. There's a few less TV
bits and bobs than I normally do. So I've been
(05:30):
doing a lot of live shows like the old days,
and it's been awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, just on the feedback that you got, Die, I
imagine for a lot of families out there dealing with it,
it can be a bit of a lonely journey. Has
that been nice to you know, share your own journey
and get that feedback and say, hey, we're not alone
in this. We you know, there's other people that we
can learn in our own journey.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Oh, Bollie is so right, mate, because it's it's weirdly
is something that is a very lonely journey. However, so
many people are affected by it, you know, like it's
a disease that's everyone knows someone who's going through it.
And the best feedback I've had is wives of your
(06:13):
classic k WE males we're going through cancer. They don't
really talk about their feelings and why it's get in
touch with me going, hey, now I know what my
husband's going through because he keeps it tight lipped, he
keeps stoic, for me and the family, So being able
to provide a bit of understanding, and also every day
(06:34):
I'm getting emails from people all over the country and
it's amazing connecting with him so now, but I'm super
proud of that.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You and I are big fans of philosophy. We punish
each other quite really with it. What piece of feedback
or advice has resonated most with you this year.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It's weird.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
It's the piece of feedback that's always there and is
the hardest thing to do because every cancer patient goes
you know, the bit that you read that you passed.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
On and then I'm trying to do is the living
at the moment bit, right, because with when you're going
through cancer treatment, say you're doing chemo every second week
or something, that week off when you actually feel vaguely
okay can feel like so such a long time. So
if you can just live in the moment, which is
(07:28):
the hardest thing, and my sort of piece advice for
trying to live in the moment is to sit down,
just close your eyes and try and hear every single
sound that you can. And that's really worked for me.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean that's something and it sounds tripe for
someone that isn't going through what you're going. But that's
that's just true for everyone and in everyone, because everyone's
everything's fine out, everything's everything's here for a short amount
of time, and so yeah, if you can take a
second to enjoy what is here, it's phenomenal. Hey.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Well, also just quickly, everyone everyone thinks of their time
on this planet in years, like in terms of I'm
on it for so many years. But if you do that,
all you're comparing it to is the time you're not
on the planet, which is infinity. So it doesn't matter
if you're here for a short time or no matter
how long you're here, it's always a short time. Just
(08:25):
enjoyed today, that's all it matters.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, nice, she said.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So what does Christmas look like for the Henwood family.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Oh, it's a bit of a good looking Christmas. My
mom comes up from Wellington. She bases herself pee Har,
beautiful spot in west Auckland. My wife's family is sort
of west Auckland as well. So we just we just
trades our way through the wait Tuckertes, eating good food
and end up at it, end up about it, pee Har,
(08:54):
doing a find a little present unwrapping with the kids
and a big turkey feed. Then I inevitably I can't
stand Christmas pudding, so I just douse it with too
much brandy and try and burn the house down.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's like a good dime you.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Got someone to plug?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Die?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Have you got somebody to plug tour next year?
Speaker 4 (09:12):
I understand, Oh yeah, for next year. I've been trying
to do it to her, which has taken me so
long between cancer treatments. It's my die Hard show. You
saw bits and bobs of it in the in my
cancer documentary. And I'm going to Taranaki and apl with
the Hawks Bay. Actually I'm over in Hastings and down
(09:33):
at in the cargo and you can go to laugh
with die dot com for all the details.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Well, that leads nicely into the next question, Best Christmas movie,
Best Christmas song.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It's I mean, I've never been a big Christmas songs person.
For me, Merry Christmas brackets. I hope you don't fight
Tonight by the Ramones As a cracker of a June.
I love Pogue's fairy Tale of New York, which is
that's just that's the one to put on at the
(10:06):
end of Christmas whenever runs a bit sozzled and once
they have a single and listen to the words. And
the Christmas movie is the animated version of The Grinch
who came out twenty eighteen, and just my kids, both
of them loved it. And that's the one that we
tend to watch two or three times in the in
(10:28):
the lead up to Christmas, and it puts me in
the mood.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
You like that one over the Gymas You like that
one over the Ron Howard Jim Carrey one.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Actually I don't know. I never geled with the Jim
Carrey one.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well I see both of them in the top ten
on Netflix. So people love the Grinch and but.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
The state of the top ten on memph it's a
very good point.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Okay, finally you've got got a message for New Zealand
for twenty twenty five day.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Look, my message to the whole all of New Zealand,
and it needs to spread through the world, is we
need to bring a little bit more love to proceedings
and something I think we should all bring back the
civilized disagreement where you can just have a conversation with someone,
(11:26):
argue a point and then have a hug at the
end of it. We don't need to flame war each other.
Who cares if people believe different things. We can all
live under the same tent. And I mean I grew
up with My parents had friends on completely the opposite
side of the political spectrum, but they were best mates.
(11:46):
They'd have a few wines, have a spracking argument, and
then we'll be cooking bacon sandwiches together the next morning.
Love there so civilized disagreements. Bring them back and spread
a bit more love.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Bless you die. You're a great New Zealander. Thanks so
much for talking to us. Have a great Christmas and
look forward to hang out with you in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I love you all, celebrate well and take care
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For more from us to set b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks'd be follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Because it's our last week, we're introducing a new segment
for this week only Great New Zealanders of Christmas series,
and today we are delighted to welcome and Die Hendward, comedian, author,
documentary maker and all around goodkey. We get a die,
Yeah Die?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How did you guys beat Olympians, international rugby players, politicians
and warriors in the six hole Ambrose format at the
Royal Auckland and the Grange Golf Club. How the hell
did you win that one?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Die?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
Well?
Speaker 4 (00:46):
We were you say that the politicians would be easy beats,
but they were the team we were directly up against,
and we had politicians from all over the political spectrum,
from right to far right. We had John Key, David
Seymour and Max Key. John Key and Max lovely guys.
(01:07):
And for nominal golfers David Seymour. I was really intrigued
just to see how he swings at golf club and
having having done dancing with the start of him. He
was surprisingly more fluid than I was expecting. But basically
what we did is Jeremy Wells myself combined our powers,
(01:30):
threw them away and let Mark Richardson do all.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, there's something about an international sports person that makes
him very good at golf as well. No matter who
you are, you can be a funny guy that you are,
You can be you know, the sort of zombie that
sits beside Hillary Barry on a couch somewhere. But when
it comes to sports, they cross code, don't they.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Oh absolutely they, especially the cricketers and okay, sports sports
people really that ingrain competitive streak sinks in. You know,
like Mark Richardson had had a bit of a lot
of shaker off the tee, but he hit it out
of bounds and then he just dialed in and didn't
(02:20):
have a bad shot after that. Whereas I got there early,
I I was looking for Jerry. He was on the
range and you'd know this, Matt. I thought Jerry was
a very stiff mid sixties man when I saw him
from afar, He's got a very stiff gate about him.
(02:40):
And then up close I saw him and he was
really warming up and he played some amazing golf. So
I'd say I didn't let the team down, but I
was very much the vibe guy.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
But did Jeremy have some drinks on the course.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah, he was running quite a timed operation on it
as well. His caddy was mainly trying to keep I
think between point six and point eight on the breast
the entire time. He wasn't concerned about clubs. He was
concerned about Okay, we go two beers, then a hole off,
then one more beer. Is keeping him at a at
(03:19):
a perfect level.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And how it worked, Yeah, you won? Who had the
drive power?
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Die?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I take it you would have taken that on. You know,
Jerry's got the reach, but you're a powerful man.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Oh. That that's the thing. I I have sort of
quite a buff winning the Pooh type pH zeke and
I a low center of gravity, but I can really
smack it. And the best thing is a lot of
the people standing around the te box they weren't They
didn't know a lot about golf, so all they cared
(03:50):
was if you hit the leather off it. So I
hit my one of my drives, I think, a couple
of holes over over an entire forest of trees, and
they probably got the biggest applause of the whole afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah, no one, kids, estraighted as and like when he
the Pooh you play with no pants on as well?
Hey ya, Die, what was your highlight for What was
highlight for you in twenty twenty four? Die?
Speaker 4 (04:16):
I like for me in twenty twenty four, I'd have
to say was making this cancer documentary and putting a
book out because it was something that was obviously very
close to me. I'm still going through a journey with cancer,
but it was unlike sort of just making stuff that's
purely comedy, that's me talking rubbish. This actually has turned
(04:38):
out to become quite a poignant sort of cancer resource
for people who are on a similar trial or have
loved ones going through it. And the feedback and love
I've got from all sections in New Zealand has massively
helped me on my journey, and I have to say
it's the bit of work I'm most proud of. Well.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I can thoroughly recommend your book and that documentary. It's
phenomenal stuff quality but will also rip your heart out.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Oh thanks mate, And yeah, it was so nice being
able to just get it out there. And also alongside
that just been traveling around New Zealand, going back to
the old school routes because, as you said at the beginning,
media isn't an interesting situation. There's a few less TV
bits and bobs than I normally do. So I've been
(05:30):
doing a lot of live shows like the old days,
and it's been awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, just on the feedback that you got, Die, I
imagine for a lot of families out there dealing with it,
it can be a bit of a lonely journey. Has
that been nice to you know, share your own journey
and get that feedback and say, hey, we're not alone
in this. We you know, there's other people that we
can learn in our own journey.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Oh, Bollie is so right, mate, because it's it's weirdly
is something that is a very lonely journey. However, so
many people are affected by it, you know, like it's
a disease that's everyone knows someone who's going through it.
And the best feedback I've had is wives of your
(06:13):
classic k WE males we're going through cancer. They don't
really talk about their feelings and why it's get in
touch with me going, hey, now I know what my
husband's going through because he keeps it tight lipped, he
keeps stoic, for me and the family, So being able
to provide a bit of understanding, and also every day
(06:34):
I'm getting emails from people all over the country and
it's amazing connecting with him so now, but I'm super
proud of that.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Now.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You and I are big fans of philosophy. We punish
each other quite really with it. What piece of feedback
or advice has resonated most with you this year.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It's weird.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
It's the piece of feedback that's always there and is
the hardest thing to do because every cancer patient goes
you know, the bit that you read that you passed.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
On and then I'm trying to do is the living
at the moment bit, right, because with when you're going
through cancer treatment, say you're doing chemo every second week
or something, that week off when you actually feel vaguely
okay can feel like so such a long time. So
if you can just live in the moment, which is
(07:28):
the hardest thing, and my sort of piece advice for
trying to live in the moment is to sit down,
just close your eyes and try and hear every single
sound that you can. And that's really worked for me.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean that's something and it sounds tripe for
someone that isn't going through what you're going. But that's
that's just true for everyone and in everyone, because everyone's
everything's fine out, everything's everything's here for a short amount
of time, and so yeah, if you can take a
second to enjoy what is here, it's phenomenal. Hey.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Well, also just quickly, everyone everyone thinks of their time
on this planet in years, like in terms of I'm
on it for so many years. But if you do that,
all you're comparing it to is the time you're not
on the planet, which is infinity. So it doesn't matter
if you're here for a short time or no matter
how long you're here, it's always a short time. Just
(08:25):
enjoyed today, that's all it matters.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah, nice, she said.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So what does Christmas look like for the Henwood family.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Oh, it's a bit of a good looking Christmas. My
mom comes up from Wellington. She bases herself pee Har,
beautiful spot in west Auckland. My wife's family is sort
of west Auckland as well. So we just we just
trades our way through the wait Tuckertes, eating good food
and end up at it, end up about it, pee Har,
(08:54):
doing a find a little present unwrapping with the kids
and a big turkey feed. Then I inevitably I can't
stand Christmas pudding, so I just douse it with too
much brandy and try and burn the house down.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's like a good dime you.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Got someone to plug?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Die?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Have you got somebody to plug tour next year?
Speaker 4 (09:12):
I understand, Oh yeah, for next year. I've been trying
to do it to her, which has taken me so
long between cancer treatments. It's my die Hard show. You
saw bits and bobs of it in the in my
cancer documentary. And I'm going to Taranaki and apl with
the Hawks Bay. Actually I'm over in Hastings and down
(09:33):
at in the cargo and you can go to laugh
with die dot com for all the details.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Well, that leads nicely into the next question, Best Christmas movie,
Best Christmas song.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It's I mean, I've never been a big Christmas songs person.
For me, Merry Christmas brackets. I hope you don't fight
Tonight by the Ramones As a cracker of a June.
I love Pogue's fairy Tale of New York, which is
that's just that's the one to put on at the
(10:06):
end of Christmas whenever runs a bit sozzled and once
they have a single and listen to the words. And
the Christmas movie is the animated version of The Grinch
who came out twenty eighteen, and just my kids, both
of them loved it. And that's the one that we
tend to watch two or three times in the in
(10:28):
the lead up to Christmas, and it puts me in
the mood.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
You like that one over the Gymas You like that
one over the Ron Howard Jim Carrey one.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Actually I don't know. I never geled with the Jim
Carrey one.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well I see both of them in the top ten
on Netflix. So people love the Grinch and but.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
The state of the top ten on memph it's a
very good point.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Okay, finally you've got got a message for New Zealand
for twenty twenty five day.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Look, my message to the whole all of New Zealand,
and it needs to spread through the world, is we
need to bring a little bit more love to proceedings
and something I think we should all bring back the
civilized disagreement where you can just have a conversation with someone,
(11:26):
argue a point and then have a hug at the
end of it. We don't need to flame war each other.
Who cares if people believe different things. We can all
live under the same tent. And I mean I grew
up with My parents had friends on completely the opposite
side of the political spectrum, but they were best mates.
(11:46):
They'd have a few wines, have a spracking argument, and
then we'll be cooking bacon sandwiches together the next morning.
Love there so civilized disagreements. Bring them back and spread
a bit more love.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Bless you die. You're a great New Zealander. Thanks so
much for talking to us. Have a great Christmas and
look forward to hang out with you in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I love you all, celebrate well and take care
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For more from us to set b listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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