Real Life With John Cowan

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.

Episodes

March 16, 2025 24 mins

Ruby Wax, born on April 19, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois, is a British-American actress, comedian, writer, and mental health campaigner. She gained fame on TV shows like Girls on Top (1985–1986) and The Full Wax (1991–1994) and worked as a script editor on Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012).

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Delaney Davidson, from Auckland, New Zealand, is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. The son of John William Davidson and Glyn Ellen Abbott, he grew up in Christchurch and was educated at the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School. His musical journey began in punk and blues bands before moving to Melbourne after being expell...

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Commissioner Janine Donaldson is the Territorial Commander for The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, and serves as the Chair of the Territorial Governance Board. With 38 years of experience in The Salvation Army, she has held senior leadership roles in New Zealand, Zambia, South Africa, Australia, and the UK. Janine's most recent r...

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February 23, 2025 22 mins

Peter Wolfkamp’s passion for carpentry began at the age of one and has only grown over the years. He is a Licensed Building Practitioner with extensive experience, including restoring historic properties and working on modern builds. His professional development includes NZGBC Homestar Home Coach training, and he’s also worked internationally, such as ...

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February 16, 2025 23 mins

K'Lee (Kaleena Renae McNabb, born 1984) is a New Zealand pop singer who rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like "Broken Wings" and "Can You Feel Me?" Her debut album, released in 2002, peaked at No. 4 in New Zealand. After a 10-year break, she returned in 2012 with the single "Tables Have Turned."

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February 9, 2025 21 mins

Nathan Haines is a renowned New Zealand jazz musician, born in 1972 in Takapuna, Auckland. Growing up in a musical family, with his father Kevin being a leading jazz bassist and his brother Joel a guitarist, Nathan was immersed in music from a young age. He moved to New York City in 1991 to study jazz, and by 1994, he had released his first solo album, Shift Left. Over the years, Nathan's career flourished, gaining internation...

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February 2, 2025 23 mins

Jonathan Fletcher has extensive experience in fundraising, partnerships, and business development, with a focus on supporting vulnerable children. Since March 2013, he has worked with World Vision New Zealand in roles including Head of Fundraising Partnerships and Head of Church Partnerships, where he managed church collaborations. Prior to this, Jonat...

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January 26, 2025 25 mins

Jack Tame is a New Zealand television and radio journalist. He is the host of TVNZ’s political show Q+A and a presenter at Newstalk ZB. Tame grew up in Christchurch as the eldest of four siblings and attended St Martin's Primary School, Cashmere High School, and the New Zealand Broadcasting School at CPIT.

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January 19, 2025 23 mins

Pam Corkery is a broadcaster and former MP, known for her roles on Dancing with the Stars and Intrepid Journeys, as well as hosting The Last Word in 2003. She also presented Inside New Zealand documentaries on topics like gangs, crime, and alcohol culture. In 2014, she made headlines after a controversial incident while handling press for the Internet Mana party.

In 2012, Corkery aired A Drunken State, a candid documentary ...

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December 22, 2024 24 mins

Dan, born and raised in Auckland, left high school at 15 and completed a butchery apprenticeship. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Auckland, and a Master of Public Policy in Economics from Harvard University on a Fulbright Scholarship.

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December 15, 2024 22 mins

Moko Tepania is a passionate leader dedicated to making a real difference in local government. With over a decade of experience in education, he understands the vital connection between teaching and governance. Motivated by a desire to influence change from within, Moko has embraced his role in local government to ensure that decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.
He believes that active community engageme...

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December 8, 2024 22 mins

Shamubeel Eaqub is the Chief Economist at Simplicity, with over two decades of experience in economics. He has held roles at leading institutions like ANZ Bank, Goldman Sachs, and NZIER. Shamubeel is known for making complex economic topics accessible and is a respected voice in media and business discussions.

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December 1, 2024 22 mins

Tim is the International Programmes Director at Tearfund New Zealand, overseeing the delivery of NZ$11 million in development and humanitarian support through local partners across the globe. Originally from New Zealand, Tim spent his childhood in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, before returning to New Zealand at 14. He holds a Masters in International Dev...

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November 24, 2024 22 mins

Annabelle White is a New Zealand food writer and author of eleven cookbooks, known for her approachable and fun approach to cooking. She was a long-time food columnist and also wrote the Food Detective column for the Sunday Star-Times. Annabelle served as the food editor for NZ House & Garden and joined New Zealan...

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Vanda Symon is a New Zealand author known for her Detective Sam Shephard series, which includes five novels, starting with her debut, Overkill, published in 2007. The novel was written amidst the challenges of raising a young family and inspired by a sleep-deprived state that influenced its prologue. In addition to her series, she has also written...

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November 10, 2024 23 mins

Mark Vette is an internationally renowned animal psychologist, zoologist, and founder of Dog Zen, an online dog training program. With over 40 years of experience, he has trained animals for iconic New Zealand commercials, Hollywood films like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, and TV series such as Purina Poun...

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November 3, 2024 23 mins

Maia Roos has rapidly ascended through the rugby ranks since debuting for the Auckland Storm in 2019. A talented athlete and leader, she served as Head Girl at Tamaki College and played two matches for the NZ Barbarians in 2020. Maia was also part of the inaugural Blues women’s team, further establishing her presence in the sport.

Roos made her Test debut for the Black Ferns against England in Northampton in 2021. As a key mem...

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November 3, 2024 25 mins

Jonathan Ogilvie began his creative journey in the post-punk music scene of Christchurch, producing moody music videos for Flying Nun bands like The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience and Headless Chickens. His iconic 1987 video for Straitjacket Fits' "She Speeds," filmed on a truck in the Lyttelton tunnel, was made for just $250. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Canterbury University, Ogilvie worked in special effects...

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Campbell Hill is the co-founder and Community Impact Manager of Good Neighbour, one of the Bay of Plenty's most prolific and impactful community organizations.
With the help of over 300 dedicated volunteers, Good Neighbour addresses critical needs in the community through a variety of initiatives. Their food rescue program diverts 580 tonnes of food from landfills annually, delivering it to homes in need. They provide practical ...

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October 13, 2024 23 mins

Ella Kumar is the current chair of Auckland’s Puketāpapa Local Board, and in 2010 she was the first Kiwi-Indian woman elected to a local board in the country. 

She's a qualified aerobics instructor, volunteer, marriage celebrant and is known for her passion for the community of Mt Roskill.

Kumar was recently awarded the Hall of Fame Award at the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Awards 2024 for her remarkable journey that inspires many...

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