June 9, 2024 • 43 mins
Sunday the 9th of June marked a big milestone for John Cowan as he reached 20 years of hosting Real Life on Newstalk ZB! Over 963 shows, John has spoken to 835 different guests in an effort to find out what makes each one of them tick. Listen back to the celebration of John's 20 years on Real Life.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Twenty twenty twenty twenty twenty. Twenty years ago, a much
younger John Cowen stepped up to the mic to host
his very first edition of Real Life, and now nine
(00:29):
hundred and sixty three shows later, John has reached the
twenty year mark. Real Conversation, Real Connection. Welcome to the
special twentieth anniversary edition of Real Life with John Cowen.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
There's a very special hour of radio. We have John
Cowen and the studio Jacks and I are going to
be seeing you through the next hour as we celebrate
twenty years. And twenty years is quite a stretch. I've
been involved in radio for just over twenty years, but
to know that someone would stick it out for twenty
years on one show is impressive. Before we go any further, John,
(01:04):
we had a very serious text message through which alludes
to the fact that there might be something that you're
not telling us. The text asks, is John married to Sue?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Don't mention if she is, especially since my wife Naomi
could think she's my wife sitting out here watching.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
For she was my mother's midwife, and I am named
after her. So can we categorically say you're not married to.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Any other good suit, no extra family.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
My regards and respect to whoever sue count is. Midwives
are wonderful.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you in the studio, John,
and to be in the same studio together usually in
the night. You have interviewed me. Haven't interviewed Jacks yet,
so I'm looking forward to that happening sometimes future.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yes, gosh, what an expose.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
That will be, Jack, Anything could happen. Well, I'm at
that stage they say that if you stick around long enough,
you get comfortable in the skin. You're in mind starting
to sag. So I don't know what to do now. Look,
I just want to throw some statistics out there, because
twenty years is one thing. But listen to this. Nine
hundred and sixty three shows, eight hundred and thirty five
unique guests, one hundred ten repeat guests, two no shows,
(02:11):
twenty four suits, thirteen dames, twenty eight guests named John.
It's like they convey about from the generation game. That's amazing.
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Oh look, all I had to do is keep breathing,
and you know, not die, keep your head down, not
get fired, and anyone can do twenty years.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
It's well, look you say that, but it's interesting to
me that I think you're a little bit nervy tonight.
Do you get nervous before you interview other people or
is it just that you're in the receiving seat tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
The two most nervous people I have interviewed with, Paul
Holmes and Layton Smith, who are I think scared that
they were going to get toasted the same way they
toast other people in their interviews. And so yeah, the
idea of getting interviewed by you guys is a little
bit rattling.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Cove.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
We spin it around, Jax, tell us how you started
off and made a.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Very short show no chance not tonight.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I say this a little bit that I don't know
whether this is going to go. I mean, hearing those
promos at the start, I was thinking that's a bit
over the top. But yeah, no, Look, I always have
a sense of privilege. I've been able to do this.
It's fantastic that a name comes down the shoot to
me and they say you'll be speaking to this person.
I thinking wow, and they just keep on lining up
(03:27):
all these interesting people for me to talk to.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So yeah, and there are loads of interesting people. I mean,
you say it was a little bit over the top,
but twenty years is a great stretch. And if you
go through the sort of people that you've interviewed, we're
talking about people like Sir Cliff Richard. You've got Kevin Rudd,
who was the Prime Minister of Australia in there. You've
got Nick Jones, You've got Glenn Campbell, barz Aldrin, Judith Durham,
(03:52):
Andre rue Ben Carson. There's a like you go through
the list and it's really impressive. So with that in mind,
I thought we'd playing montage of some of the famous
guests that you've interviewed.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
He's the leader of the Opposition, David Cunliffe.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
My first ever political act was to go and pick
Rob Muldo and he was I had a Commonwealth Heads
of Government meeting in London. I came up to London
especially the way of play hard and I'm that was
me as an eighteen year old very long here at
the time too.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
My guest tonight is Lorraine Downs.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
It's fine in what your essence is, what just what
makes you special? What makes you shine and then then
moving into the physical thing and what is your style
and what your style is about is really who you are.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Graham Henry, Welcome to real life.
Speaker 8 (04:35):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
There's a big competition coming up later in the year
with the worldcap Is it something which is very stressful?
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Not really is something we're looking forward.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
To, actually, Honey, Harrawa, did I hear that you had
a twenty minute date with your wife at Kaitaia Airport
once when you hit a.
Speaker 9 (04:52):
Do you say good research?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Tonight I have an interview with Hailey Western. Are you
a social person or do you tend to withdraw back
into your your flat and Chiswick and just hide from
the world.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
Sometimes you don't really have much choice.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That's the thing speech, you know, when you sort of
on tour and it's just stuck in hotelers by yourself.
My guest is the Vodafone Warrior number nineteen, the inimitable
Sir Peter Leach, Good evening, Peter.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
John good evening.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Listen, it's not a good day if you're at Warrior then.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Oh im my commiserations, My pleasure tonight to be speaking
to Joy Cowley. Delight us all by telling us that
you're still writing.
Speaker 10 (05:25):
Oh, yes, you know.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
I don't know what how to deal with the ideas.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
If I stopped Andrerea the Waltz King, you could have
a huge crowd anywhere much closer to home. Why do
you still travel the world?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Because it's nice to travel the world and to see
every night other audience before me in the hall and.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Acting legend, Sir Ian McKellen. You've spent quite a bit
of time here. Do you find New Zealand an easy
place to settle down in for a while.
Speaker 9 (05:53):
It's ten years since I first came here and I
can still find my way around Wellington.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
It doesn't seem to have changed too much. That's quite
a list of guests right there. When you think back
through the nine hundred and sixty three shows that you've done,
are there any names that really stand out for you?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Or Ian McCallum, the last one that we spoke to there,
I was supposed to do about a half hour interview.
I just kept the machine running and talked and talked
and talked with him because he was just so fascinating.
I would hate to have had to been the person
that edited back down to fit into the show, and
we ranged over all sorts of things, especially as childhood
(06:31):
and his parents. And honestly, if there's a theme that
keeps on coming back, it's how much people talk about
their parents. And I think that's part of the reason
people go away from the show thinking thinking they enjoyed
it because it gave him an opportunity to speak about
the people and that were especially influential so often their
(06:52):
upbringing in parents.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Well, I'll tell you what, You're not the only one
that enjoys the conversation. John. I often will drive home
end up sitting in my cart. Now I'm hungry for dinner.
I've been doing my job here. Often I'm busting to
go the laboratory. But I'll sit and I'll listen because
I really enjoy your conversations with those interesting people. I'm
certainly not alone in that. If you like to text,
(07:15):
if you've been a listener and you've enjoyed these conversations,
you're welcome to text through someone's text. Congratulations John Cowen
for twenty years so far. He's the kind of guy
you know would be great value at a dinner party,
able to chat to anyone about anything. He's always well
researched about his guests and they often ask how we
found out something obscure about them? Great show, John, I
(07:38):
hope you feel very proud of your contribution and longevity.
And that's not sign Sandy, but thank you whoever sent
that through. And if you have got a message for John,
please feel free to text.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
You can text nine two ninety two. And we are
going to talk about that research a little later in
the show. But can I ask, because you don't have
a massive radio background, what made you say yes to
the show in the first place. The show had been
running for about a year, which makes it twenty one
years old, So I've got the Yardie under here if
you have a go I'm kidding, but what made you
say yes to doing the show?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Because it sounded like a great idea. The show Real
Life started off as a program that Ian Grant was hosting.
I was working with Ian Grant at the time, and
it was an issues based program dealing with issues like
depression or your relationship problems and things like this. And
then they're wanting to change. Ian was wanting to step
(08:30):
away from it, and so they thought, well, let's just
keep the name, but changed the format to an interview program,
and I just loved the idea of it, and especially
the idea that it was an in depth interview. Radio
doesn't have them now. Occasionally you'll get them on some
other networks, but not very often, and so the opportunity
to talk about that, especially to be able to talk
(08:50):
about the things that make them tick, their motivations, their faith,
their upbringing, the things that are special important to them,
and I just, you know, I just love the idea
and it's proved to be for me anyway. You know,
the best time of my week listening researching these people
are talking to them fantastic.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I think it's a great exploration of humanity as opposed
to any sort of gotcha interview, which I think is
why you get yeses as well. I mean, they're saying yes,
the news talks 'd be, but knowing that it's just
going to be an exploration of their humanity rather than
anything that's going to get them in trouble.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think that I've discussed to some interviews on the
radio and the interviewer is basically saying, you're an idiot. Really,
aren't you tell us to get our idiotic you are?
I always re ensure reassure people it's not a slice
and dice interview. It's more like the type of chat
you'd have with someone over a barbecue and yeah, and
we keep it friendly and often we have a chat
(09:48):
beforehand and afterwards, and what goes to air is just
a slice of that conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
It's good. We're celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on
Real Life. If you want to text the message through
to John, you can text nine two nine two, And
throughout the show we have messages from well known key
we see. Here's a message for you, John from tear Radar.
Speaker 11 (10:09):
Hello, John, it's me to rate our Hey, look, congratulations
twenty years asking the questions of people that listeners want
to hear. But most importantly, I think a rare skill
that you have to ask us a question as a
subject that we really have to think very deeply about,
and actually that we continue to think about in the
days and the weeks and the months afterwards. I think
(10:32):
that's just an exceptional skill up. So all the very best,
here's to another twenty years. It's always a pleasure, my friend,
to talk to you. I'm always richer for it.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Nine hundred and sixty three shows twenty four sirs and
thirteen games. It's twenty years of Real Life on News Talks.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Be did you pick the songs this evening, Joe.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, that was picked by the most number of guests,
only because we ask the guests to pick two pieces
of music that means something to them or just something
that they like, something that they can segue into a
story with, and so many people pick that song, possibly
because they know that one of the topics that we
often go into on Real Life is people's belief and
(11:30):
spirituality and things, and so they think that song, you know,
fits the bill for them and where they're at, and
so yeah, that one comes up very very often.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Magnificent. If you've just changed in you're wondering why John's
now rather than coming on at seven thirty. We're celebrating
twenty years of John Cowen hosting Real Life for twenty
years as a solid stretch, and we're extremely grateful for
his presence in New Zealand radio and specifically eron News
Talks Z'DB, and there are some other people are grateful
as well. We've had some text messages in what have
(12:00):
we got Jackson?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Ah, Yeah, I'm fielding the fan club texts here on
nine two nine two, This Texas says, congratulations John on
a one full career. I've enjoyed listening to all of
your interviews. Thank you for sharing your gift to speak
and bring out the person's personality. Beautiful text. Thank you.
Another one here from oh someone you might know John.
It says I've been listening from day one because Mum
(12:24):
made us at the start. Very proud of the dedication
and insightful interviews over the last twenty years. Lots of
love from your son, Guy.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Oh God, that's very kind of you. I will actually
sometimes get a text from Guy afterwards saying that he
enjoyed an interview, so that's very That means a lot
to me.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
That's nice. I know my wife listens to my show.
I'm looking forward to the day then when my daughter
listens and sends a text afterwards. So I'm going to
go and say that to her. Now that there's a
bar been set by Guy.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Well, I'm grateful to my wife who listens every week.
My mother in law listens every week. So hello Francis,
thank you for being a loyal listener.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Isn't it nice to know that we've got at least
three listeners. Yeah, it's wonderful. Hey, very special guest in
the studio for you at the moment, John. It was
the first producer that you work with for the show.
Filled guy in and we've brought Philan because we know
that Phil's going to have stories that will embarrass you.
Speaker 12 (13:14):
Hate Well, I've got some stories sorry, the ones that
that embarrassment well.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
But anyway, if anyone should be embarrassed, to be Phil
for just lining me.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Up for this.
Speaker 12 (13:27):
All right, first up, but congratulations twenty years, very impressive. Yeah,
I've got a few stories. Here's one is as the producer,
I'm in charge of finding well, was in charge of
finding the guests each week, and one week we had
the Wiggles lined up that we're pretty excited about having
the Wiggles lined up as all of the Wiggles, all
(13:48):
of them all at once, Australia's most successful entertainer, entertainers
certainly the richest, and at the last minute they pulled
out and we're like, oh, this is the nightmare. Is
a producer who we're going to get And we managed
to find a relatively unknown, brand new recently elected MP
who was in his hotel room in Sydney at the time.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
John Key, John Key, Yeah, MP for Helen's.
Speaker 12 (14:13):
Vult We're basically responsible for the cack starting of his career.
He's gone on to be the most frequent guest.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
He's been on five times, right, And I remember listening
back to their first interview. I was just sort of
preparing to interview him again, and I sort of blushed
a little bit because multiple times during that first interview
I apologized, I'm sorry. We had hoped to have the
Wiggles on tonight, but instead we've got John Key.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Then we've got the future Prime Minister.
Speaker 12 (14:42):
Another one was when Dame Melvina Major was our guest
and she'd completely forgotten and she was out at a
restaurant with friends, and so she did the whole show
from the restaurant on her phone, surrounded by a friend.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
There was the rattle of knives and forks on plates
in the and a restaurant ambience, and so it was
a nice show. Actually sort of was that I had
dinner with Melvina Major. He didn't sing, but it was
nice to have a meal with Melvina.
Speaker 12 (15:09):
Then there was Winston Peter's sixtieth birthday. It was the
day before he turned sixty, so we bought a Caken
to celebrate that with him. It was good fun.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
I got charming Peter Winston Peters. I got charming Winston.
He can be so delightful and friendly. I have had
a different Winston Peters subsequently, but that interview in particular,
he was so. He really shared about a lot of
his early influences and things, and about his faith and
(15:39):
all sorts of things. This is actually one of the
most common experiences I sometimes, I must admit, I sometimes
grizzle about the guests coming up to Naomi and I say, oh,
I've got so and so I don't like their politics
or something like that, and I'll come home, Oh, not
really good. I'm like a pillow. I retained the image
of who sat on me last, and I almost invariably
(16:01):
go home actually having liked my guests.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Well, I think this again is because of the nature
of your show. You're not there to grill them about politics,
not there to uncover something that nobody else is uncovered
in terms of some truth that everybody needs to know.
They're very human interviews. So these people who have personas
to win in politics, for instance, are human beings. And
you draw out their humanity.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Yes, rest of the time. Now, I just got a
text through from someone who says congratulations on twenty years,
and then they've asked a question. Are your conversations with
friends as interesting as real life interviews? Do you delve
deeply when you sit around the dinner table with your
nearest and dearest.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
John, I prefer listening to my friends because I've got
such wise, good friends. But no, I sometimes when I
meet people because I'm and people find this difficult to believe.
I am a shy person. And actually one of the
features of our broadcasters, in particular, that I've spoken to us,
they often confess to being shy. And I see Frank's
(17:03):
nodding his head here, and that the techniques that we
learn to overcome our shyness serve as well as broadcasters.
And so actually, when I meet someone in a social situation,
I often find myself falling back into almost like an
interview style. And people do enjoy talking about themselves, So yeah, yes,
I do talk to the end up interviewing people sometimes socially.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Hey, we're here celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on
real life. If you'd like to send John, A text
will be here until eight o'clock nine two ninety two
is the number two text. And we've got some messages
from some very well known key we So here's a
message for you John from Judge Andrew Beecroft.
Speaker 9 (17:41):
Warm congratulations John. It's Andrew Beecroft here. Twenty years faithful
service to real life. What an effort. You've been a
great interviewer, a wonderful host. You've got a real ability
to draw people out. In fact I've been on the
receiving end myself. So reflect on twenty great years and
maybe twenty great more years to come. Well done and
(18:02):
have a great night.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It's twenty years of real life with John Cowen on
you his talk Siddy.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Well we.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
Gama once in.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
We're celebrating the twenty years of John Cowan on real life.
And who was that artist.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
As brudder is? I mean, he's got a a name
Israel and actually you've got it written in front of
you probably there. I can't well if I if I
had it written in front of you, I could ever
create it was Look.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Is okay? He's got a gorgeous Hawaiian name and that
is a beautiful.
Speaker 13 (18:55):
Beautiful version they described his voices have it is the
voice with a tear drop in it, and when he died,
all of all of Hawaii went into morning because he
was such a famous there, and many of the guests
have requested that. I think I'll probably request that one myself.
And as I said, we use music that the guests
(19:16):
have picked to sort of bookend the second half of
the show, and it often tells you a lot about
the guests that you're that you're listening to.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
It's always just another little insight. And that's what I
love about your interviews is you just you have little ways.
We have the avas, but you have ways of just
getting a little bit more of that person out, and
that's one of them. That musical question is very very cool.
I'm not alone in sitting and listening to your interviews.
There's definitely lots and lots of people loving them. Another
(19:45):
couple of texts here on nine two nine two. This
says congrats, John, Always tune into your show, keep on
going as long as you can. And this text says,
superb interviews with interesting guests makes my sundays. Thank you
so much. John.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
One of the things that I often feel torn about
John Is when your guests don't turn up, and I
feel torn about it because I feel for you, because
I know that's hard thing to have to work through
and the panic that can often occur when a guest
doesn't show.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
My sympathy goes for the host before me hers fell
for another half hour. Thank you for doing that.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
See that's where I'm torn, because I'm all about more radio,
So getting that extra half hour always feels like a
little gift. But you've only had in nine hundred and
sixty three shows, You've only had two no shows.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Two no shows. The first time you weren't available to fill.
I had to fill for half an hour, basically just
doing patter because we couldn't really do We did do
some talk back and everything like that, but with zero prep.
So I was sweating in the Mary Lambee, bless her heart,
(20:50):
she suddenly realized she was supposed to be in the studio.
We gave recall about ten minutes to the hour, and
she raced in from her home, still dressed in her
marathon gear. She'd run a marathon that day and did
a brilliant interview. What a professional able to got here
just as the news was finishing and so she came
close to be a notion, but no, she ate it
and she was. She did really well.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
There are a few of those guests who are last
minute shows. But the one way you had to fill in,
you were filling for at Phil Keegan.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yes, he was supposed to be online from America, so
I guess time zones and things tripped him up there.
We'll give them the better of the doubt.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And of course the last one was Melanie Bracewell. But
she made up for it. She did it once.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
She did a lovely interview in my closet. Some people
are normally in this nice flash in z me studio here,
but if I do record pre records, which I do,
I don't know about once every three or four they
are in my closet, surrounded by shirts and my wife's
dresses and things and shoes.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And let's make it clear you are recording in the closet.
Melanie was not in the closet.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
No, no, But it is a video link and they
often quite amused, you know, to see my selection of
shirts and things hanging up next to me. Acoustically, it's
a wonderful little studio, but especially it leaves a little
bit to you get to desire and smell. Wise, it
probably needs a little bit to be desired to.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
It's one of the wonders of radio though, because nobody
can see us, so we could be anywhere, so in
a closet, damp and sound wonderfully. It's one of those
little tricks of radio. Yep, we have a word from
a very special, mysterious guest for you.
Speaker 14 (22:22):
Hey, John, congratulations on twenty years. Hopefully you know who
this is. It's Naomi, your wife, and I've watched you
over that twenty years, put in heaps of time and
energy to try and find little known facts about your guests,
to make the program interesting and to slightly surprise them
(22:43):
at times. And you surprise me when you interviewed me
one time when I got my Queen's Service Award, so
that was a completely different experience for me. But hey,
I'm proud of you, all your family are proud of you,
and just hope you're enjoying tonight.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Love you, Thank you, dear. That was so embarrassing because
the voice started and I'm spinning around to filgaing who's
that that is? It's a voice I should know that, Yes,
thank you, Love that's very kind. She's giving me the
thumbs up through the glassroom in the next studio. But yeah,
(23:18):
honestly interviewing my wife. It was meant to be on
Valentine's Day and they thought it'd be a nice idea
to do something like that, and unfortunately that was the
very night that Auckland went into lockdown, and so we
had to put it back to the next week. And
it's probably one of the more interviews where I could
(23:38):
do a lot of preparation, but I still felt a
bit nervous about it. You do want to.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
How we like? Our husband's just a little bit nervous. Excellent, excellent,
keep going, nam are you doing a good job?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Oh? She was great talent.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
What is the what is the requirement John for making
it onto the guest list? What do you look for
when you start searching for someone to interview?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Well, we did have a sort of a rule of
thumb a woman's weekly cover or better. As regards profile,
we wanted people with profile, but who people would know,
but know in a certain way and in real life
you could get to know them in a more personal way,
to know the human being behind the public face. But
(24:27):
we also have guests that I think should be hurt,
people that are involved in charities, people involved in research
and scientists, people involved in the arts, and people that
may not necessarily have that high profile but should have profile.
So it's a mix between very high profile politicians and
(24:49):
sports stars and entertainers and musicians, but also people that
are leading charities and doing good work and people that
we think should be known about.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
And I love it in New Zealand and Alto and
New Zealand because we are such a diverse nation. When
we talk about the arts and the culture, there is
so much color, diversity and beauty to be brought out there.
So you go through your nine hundred and sixty three shows,
and the diversity of those people and the beauty of
those people is wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Hey, we've got another
(25:21):
shout out for you, because of course we're taking messages
from people well know and New Zealanders who have given
messages for you. So here's one from Michelle A.
Speaker 8 (25:28):
Court.
Speaker 15 (25:29):
John Cowan, It's me, Michelle, Michelle A.
Speaker 8 (25:33):
Court.
Speaker 15 (25:33):
We've met many times. Congratulations on your twenty years of
real life. That is an amazing thing in this media
world to be someone we can count on every Sunday.
I have loved our chats over the years on your
beautiful program, and I look forward to more. Well done you.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Eight hundred and thirty five you need Guess, one hundred
and ten repeater Feddis and two no shows. It's twenty
years of Real Life on News Talks.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
At b.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Again House of the Rising Sun, by the Animals, It's Newstalks.
Z'd be you of Frank and Jackson and John Cowen
who would normally be on right now doing real life
with celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on Real Life
and John, it is a pleasure to celebrate with you.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Oh, it's great fun. I'm just overwhelmed by the sense
of privilege I have of having done this and just
very grateful to the people that enable it because I
just turn up. No, actually I do a bit of preparation,
but I just am so much aware of the people
that have done the production over the years. You know,
Phil who is here was the first producer, but Angus
maybe and Josh Couch and Sam Doncan who's on the
(27:03):
panel now, and Phil Yule who did a lot of
production work over the years, and they just helped make
the show professional. I'm a bit of an amateur, but
that's been sort of hauled in to do this, and
I'm just very grateful for their professional input.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
One of the things that I really appreciate about your show.
And I'm speaking here from the perspective of my role
as a church minister and as a man of faith,
someone who's interested in spirituality. I think our nation is
still highly spiritual. I think the statistics say we're running
away from organized religion, but we're still people who like
to talk about spirituality. But there aren't many public spaces
(27:40):
where I think that happens. Well, now, it's one of
the things I've appreciated about your show.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
It's been to be one of the distinctives of the
show that we'll talk about those spiritual issues if it's
something that is important to the person. It's not always
the case of people, but so often it's surprising that
people will refer to, if not an active faith, at
least a spiritual influence in their life. And over the
(28:06):
years I used to make account of about fifty percent
of people that would talk about it being significant in
their life, and over the years, I think it's shifted.
I've sort of thought of it becoming less institutional and
more constitutional, meaning perhaps a little less involved in churches,
but they are more appreciative of the influences and motivations
(28:29):
that have come from a church background, or faithful parents
or something like that motivating them into the good works
that they do.
Speaker 16 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Are there any of that stand out to you? Just interested?
Speaker 8 (28:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yeah, lots of them. Peter Linum Professor Peter Linum spoke
so graciously and clearly about her faith. A woman called
Kate Bowler from Canada. She was so oppressive as well.
I must admit sometimes North American's variety of spirituality doesn't
(29:00):
impress me, but she just spoke so eloquently about it.
A lady called Sharon Kohane. She was a Jewish lady.
I think she was a lawyer, New York lawyer, but
she'd given that all up to go and rescue women
from sex slavery in Asia, and she was so impressive.
(29:22):
That's what it impresses me, both when it translates not
just from an intellectual agreement with something that they've been taught,
but rather it translates into heroic action. Dr Edric Baker,
in some senses, he was my worst guest. I remember
asking him a question he thought carefully and then nodded
(29:46):
an answer. That's not great radio, you know, But honestly,
he was running the only diabetes clinic in Pakistan, deeply
motivated by his Christian faith, and so heroic in that respect,
even if he wasn't particularly a natural broadcaster. But Brooke Fraser,
(30:06):
she spoke very eloquently and clearly about her faith too,
a Fiso Collins. He impressed me in so many different
ways is wonderful hearted politics, but also the way that
he was applying his love of God through to love
of people. So yeah, I've often been blind away by
people speaking very very eloquently, clearly, passionately about their faith,
(30:30):
and where else on radio to hear that.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Yeah, And one of the things that faith helps scrapple
with is our mortality, which is something that we spend
a lot of time running away from. So there's a
number of guests as well. After nine hundred and sixty
three shows, sadly a number of the people that you've
interviewed have passed away as well.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
That's right. I think we've got a bit of a
list there of people that have passed away. John Clark
David Longi, Paul Holmes, Afisa Collins, Rob Guest, Orgie Our,
Mike Moore, Jim Anerton, Ray Columbus, Howard Morrison. We could
probably just run a whole year of real life shows,
just as the in memoriams of people that have passed away,
and sometimes the station here have taken clips from the
(31:13):
interviews I've done to play in news announcing that Mounts
company passing and so yeah, it's it's it's it's sad
to think that these people have passed on, but wonderful
to have their memories preserved in a certain way.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Well on that. One of the biggest names in that
list there is David Longie, and we have some clips
from David Longie from your interviews. Here we go.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
So you see, real Christianity has been worked out more
in the soup kitchen and in social action than in
churches and worship and that nature.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
I think the church provides the strength in the fellowship
within a chance for people to do the work of God.
I a'm to see the work of God to be
sitting in a church, and I think that they were
going to provide all the super food you like, and
they were there having belief in God.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
You won't get rid of David, you're closer to death
now than to birth. Do you think about heaven, about
life after death? And what are your thoughts about them?
Speaker 5 (32:11):
They they have no I have a sense of ease
about it, because I mean, one of the funny things
about life is that I had a pretty good one.
I've heard mid Fieller that I've had a number of
lives rolled up and won. And there is a need
(32:36):
for a place.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
In my mind where there is calm and.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
There's peace, and where there is an.
Speaker 8 (32:45):
End to this clamor. And that is the type of
way in which some people would define heaven. I can't
place being close to God.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
It's very deep thoughts there from David Longey, and of
course you've got to facilitate that. We're going to keep
this conversation going. We've got John Cowan in the studio
for about another fifteen minutes. We're celebrating John Cowen's twenty
years on real life, and we've been playing messages from
people for you, John. So here's a message from Kevin Miln.
Speaker 16 (33:17):
Hi, John, Kevin Miln here, congratulations on twenty years of
real life. It's been a pleasure to be part of
that and always given a fagure.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Congratulations to John Cowell on twenty years of real life
on News Talk Zip.
Speaker 10 (33:35):
Beyoo and Fie.
Speaker 17 (33:48):
Fish and Sea. You know happy the running tree, you know,
happy blossom on the tree. You know happy. It's a
d it's a new day, it's a new life.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Nina Simone feeling good. It's News Talks, heb You're Frank
and Jackson interviewing John Cowen this evening because we're celebrating
twenty years of John Cowwen on Real Life.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Now.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
One of the things that guests often bring up with you, John,
as your research. Let's listened to this.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
You've seen your good research, John, You've done some very
good recepts in this here. You've done your homework, haven't you.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
You've done your research, haven't you?
Speaker 15 (34:39):
You've done your reading.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
You're very good.
Speaker 12 (34:42):
Were getting this stuff from your your genius, evil genius.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
What how did you know that?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
I dig around, me dig around?
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, you know it's the camera in the corner of
your kitchen.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That's impressive, John.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
I just am always gobsmacked because it's often something you
hear during your interviews on Real life and has been
over the years. So what are your goals when you're
setting up an interview with someone? What do you hope
to achieve from the conversation and what strategies? What are
your strategies How do you get that goal?
Speaker 3 (35:19):
Well, part of my warped personality is that I'm a
show off, and so I so enjoy it when people
say things like that. But no, I do like to
dig around because it gives me the opportunity to shape
shape the conversation, knowing the types of areas that are
going to be interesting to talk about. It has changed
(35:40):
over the years. I used to spend a lot of
time in libraries. North and South magazines and Metro magazines
often had wonderful interviews with the people that I was
going to be interviewing, so i'd be digging back through
back copies. Recent years, it's all on the internet and
I can dig through. There's a thing called news text
(36:01):
which has copies of every newspaper article printed throughout the country,
and I can dig through those, and it's often got
stories about these people from when they were kids, because
it'll have results from the local high school prize giving
or something, and so yeah, I can dig through that
of course Google. But sometimes, and because I love gadgets
(36:25):
and think I'm an early adopter of technology, I used
AI to interview David Seymour and it gave me all
the wrong information. It gave me a whole load of rubbish.
It was the most embarrassing interview. And I'm saying things like, oh,
so you did your master's degree in Chicago University. No,
(36:46):
I've been to Chicago, but I haven't done that. Oh okay,
and so and you're part of this particular trust. No,
no I'm not. And it was just everything was wrong
and I have never blushed so much. You must have
thought it I was an absolute idiot. So yeah, sometimes
I don't get it right AI.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
I'm guessing a lesson was learned.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Oh yes, yeah, you have to do very, very colse
so that the technology is getting better. But oh no,
that was too soon, too soon.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It's amazing how it just makes things up.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Yeah it is. It made it made stuff up and
put me completely wrong.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Just out of interest. Afterwards, did you fess up to
David Seymour what it happened?
Speaker 3 (37:24):
I sent an email to him because I wasn't doing
it to face to face. He didn't reply, but its
press secretary did very graciously, but he must have thought
what a plonker, not at all. I've made other mistakes too,
and the worst one that I've probably ever done was
I was told that I was going to be interviewing
(37:45):
Fran Walsh and somehow my brain heard fran Wild. Fran
Walsh is a very respected and journalist and I, you know,
it would have been a great interview, except I was
preparing for Fran Wild the MP.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Were you preparing for fran O'Sullivan?
Speaker 3 (38:03):
Sorry? Did I say?
Speaker 8 (38:06):
What did I say?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Did I say?
Speaker 8 (38:10):
That's what I mean?
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I've got it completely wrong again.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Brando Sullivan, one of the friends was there.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Yeah, sorry, I'll just crawl under the desk and die
all over again. But yeah, I know, and I didn't
realize until she was in the studio and we just
had to pull the plug on it. And it was awful.
It was truly truly awful, and I just need to
apologize again.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
And there was another situation two well known brothers in
the media. Oh can you remember that one?
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yes, the Dan brothers, and I got I prepared for
the wrong one.
Speaker 8 (38:44):
I prepared for.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Corran Dan and it was actually Liam Dan that was
coming into the ones. One was a great economics journalist
and the other is a news journal and I had
a great, great interview prepared for the wrong Dan Brother.
But fortunately that was I had enough time to be
able to pull herself out for that pull out some
questions for that one. But honestly, yeah, those those experiences
(39:09):
have aged.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Be across the nine hundred and sixty three shows, John,
What have been your highlights? This is the last couple
of minutes. What have been your highlights? And things that
will live with you forever?
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Oh, I guess it's the depth of intimacy that you
can actually achieve of radio people being so unguarded sharing
about their hearts. Tell you who surprises me the most comedians?
Comedians we see them being clowns, but they've often got
(39:44):
incredible depth to them. People like Jeremy Corbett and to
Radar are so delighted that we had a clip from
to Radar before. Incredibly impressive Die Hanward. He spoke very,
very passionately about his spirituality and aspects of life, and
(40:05):
so yeah, it's the fact that we often conduct our
interaction as humans at a very superficial level, and yet
people are deep. They do have depth of emotions and stories.
Speaker 15 (40:21):
And.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
So that's been the greatest privilege to be able to
hear people's heartbeats and passions and basically what makes them teck.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Just as one last little glitch, Richard Prebble's dad.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
Yeah, Richard Prebble's dad is a fascinating character. He was
an Anglican minister who became an actor on Shortland Street
and all sorts of things. Unfortunately, I talked to Richard
Prepple a bit too much about his dad and who said,
perhaps you should interview him. I thought he'd be proud
to talk about his dad, but he wanted to talk
about himself.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
A John Yo show is going to keep going for
quite some time. I would imagine we're celebrating twenty years
this evening. Thirty seconds, thirty seconds, you have the last word?
Is there anything you liked.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
To thirty seconds? Again, it's the huge seeds of privilege.
Thank you to the guests that have been so willing
to talk about their hearts and their lives and the
things that are important to them. Huge important gratitude to
the team at CBA that have produced this over the
years and given me the opportunity to sit in front
of the microphone and interview these people. So yeah, just
(41:28):
a sense of gratitude and privilege.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Well, John, as in an age of high cynicism. I
want to say thank you for your presence in New
Zealand media. Your work on News Talks EDB a show
that draws out the best of our humanity and I
think continues to show us what we can be and
how good people can be. So thank you for your
twenty years hosting Real Life, This is News Talks EDB
(41:51):
and here's Iggy Pop with Passenger is.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
A Writer.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Sleep It is You, I Love It.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
Sold for more from News Talks at B, listen live
(43:02):
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 ed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Twenty twenty twenty twenty twenty. Twenty years ago, a much
younger John Cowen stepped up to the mic to host
his very first edition of Real Life, and now nine
(00:29):
hundred and sixty three shows later, John has reached the
twenty year mark. Real Conversation, Real Connection. Welcome to the
special twentieth anniversary edition of Real Life with John Cowen.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
There's a very special hour of radio. We have John
Cowen and the studio Jacks and I are going to
be seeing you through the next hour as we celebrate
twenty years. And twenty years is quite a stretch. I've
been involved in radio for just over twenty years, but
to know that someone would stick it out for twenty
years on one show is impressive. Before we go any further, John,
(01:04):
we had a very serious text message through which alludes
to the fact that there might be something that you're
not telling us. The text asks, is John married to Sue?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Don't mention if she is, especially since my wife Naomi
could think she's my wife sitting out here watching.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
For she was my mother's midwife, and I am named
after her. So can we categorically say you're not married to.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Any other good suit, no extra family.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
My regards and respect to whoever sue count is. Midwives
are wonderful.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you in the studio, John,
and to be in the same studio together usually in
the night. You have interviewed me. Haven't interviewed Jacks yet,
so I'm looking forward to that happening sometimes future.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yes, gosh, what an expose.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
That will be, Jack, Anything could happen. Well, I'm at
that stage they say that if you stick around long enough,
you get comfortable in the skin. You're in mind starting
to sag. So I don't know what to do now. Look,
I just want to throw some statistics out there, because
twenty years is one thing. But listen to this. Nine
hundred and sixty three shows, eight hundred and thirty five
unique guests, one hundred ten repeat guests, two no shows,
(02:11):
twenty four suits, thirteen dames, twenty eight guests named John.
It's like they convey about from the generation game. That's amazing.
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Oh look, all I had to do is keep breathing,
and you know, not die, keep your head down, not
get fired, and anyone can do twenty years.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
It's well, look you say that, but it's interesting to
me that I think you're a little bit nervy tonight.
Do you get nervous before you interview other people or
is it just that you're in the receiving seat tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
The two most nervous people I have interviewed with, Paul
Holmes and Layton Smith, who are I think scared that
they were going to get toasted the same way they
toast other people in their interviews. And so yeah, the
idea of getting interviewed by you guys is a little
bit rattling.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Cove.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
We spin it around, Jax, tell us how you started
off and made a.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Very short show no chance not tonight.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I say this a little bit that I don't know
whether this is going to go. I mean, hearing those
promos at the start, I was thinking that's a bit
over the top. But yeah, no, Look, I always have
a sense of privilege. I've been able to do this.
It's fantastic that a name comes down the shoot to
me and they say you'll be speaking to this person.
I thinking wow, and they just keep on lining up
(03:27):
all these interesting people for me to talk to.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So yeah, and there are loads of interesting people. I mean,
you say it was a little bit over the top,
but twenty years is a great stretch. And if you
go through the sort of people that you've interviewed, we're
talking about people like Sir Cliff Richard. You've got Kevin Rudd,
who was the Prime Minister of Australia in there. You've
got Nick Jones, You've got Glenn Campbell, barz Aldrin, Judith Durham,
(03:52):
Andre rue Ben Carson. There's a like you go through
the list and it's really impressive. So with that in mind,
I thought we'd playing montage of some of the famous
guests that you've interviewed.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
He's the leader of the Opposition, David Cunliffe.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
My first ever political act was to go and pick
Rob Muldo and he was I had a Commonwealth Heads
of Government meeting in London. I came up to London
especially the way of play hard and I'm that was
me as an eighteen year old very long here at
the time too.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
My guest tonight is Lorraine Downs.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
It's fine in what your essence is, what just what
makes you special? What makes you shine and then then
moving into the physical thing and what is your style
and what your style is about is really who you are.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Graham Henry, Welcome to real life.
Speaker 8 (04:35):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
There's a big competition coming up later in the year
with the worldcap Is it something which is very stressful?
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Not really is something we're looking forward.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
To, actually, Honey, Harrawa, did I hear that you had
a twenty minute date with your wife at Kaitaia Airport
once when you hit a.
Speaker 9 (04:52):
Do you say good research?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Tonight I have an interview with Hailey Western. Are you
a social person or do you tend to withdraw back
into your your flat and Chiswick and just hide from
the world.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
Sometimes you don't really have much choice.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That's the thing speech, you know, when you sort of
on tour and it's just stuck in hotelers by yourself.
My guest is the Vodafone Warrior number nineteen, the inimitable
Sir Peter Leach, Good evening, Peter.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
John good evening.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Listen, it's not a good day if you're at Warrior then.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Oh im my commiserations, My pleasure tonight to be speaking
to Joy Cowley. Delight us all by telling us that
you're still writing.
Speaker 10 (05:25):
Oh, yes, you know.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
I don't know what how to deal with the ideas.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
If I stopped Andrerea the Waltz King, you could have
a huge crowd anywhere much closer to home. Why do
you still travel the world?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Because it's nice to travel the world and to see
every night other audience before me in the hall and.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Acting legend, Sir Ian McKellen. You've spent quite a bit
of time here. Do you find New Zealand an easy
place to settle down in for a while.
Speaker 9 (05:53):
It's ten years since I first came here and I
can still find my way around Wellington.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
It doesn't seem to have changed too much. That's quite
a list of guests right there. When you think back
through the nine hundred and sixty three shows that you've done,
are there any names that really stand out for you?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Or Ian McCallum, the last one that we spoke to there,
I was supposed to do about a half hour interview.
I just kept the machine running and talked and talked
and talked with him because he was just so fascinating.
I would hate to have had to been the person
that edited back down to fit into the show, and
we ranged over all sorts of things, especially as childhood
(06:31):
and his parents. And honestly, if there's a theme that
keeps on coming back, it's how much people talk about
their parents. And I think that's part of the reason
people go away from the show thinking thinking they enjoyed
it because it gave him an opportunity to speak about
the people and that were especially influential so often their
(06:52):
upbringing in parents.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Well, I'll tell you what, You're not the only one
that enjoys the conversation. John. I often will drive home
end up sitting in my cart. Now I'm hungry for dinner.
I've been doing my job here. Often I'm busting to
go the laboratory. But I'll sit and I'll listen because
I really enjoy your conversations with those interesting people. I'm
certainly not alone in that. If you like to text,
(07:15):
if you've been a listener and you've enjoyed these conversations,
you're welcome to text through someone's text. Congratulations John Cowen
for twenty years so far. He's the kind of guy
you know would be great value at a dinner party,
able to chat to anyone about anything. He's always well
researched about his guests and they often ask how we
found out something obscure about them? Great show, John, I
(07:38):
hope you feel very proud of your contribution and longevity.
And that's not sign Sandy, but thank you whoever sent
that through. And if you have got a message for John,
please feel free to text.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
You can text nine two ninety two. And we are
going to talk about that research a little later in
the show. But can I ask, because you don't have
a massive radio background, what made you say yes to
the show in the first place. The show had been
running for about a year, which makes it twenty one
years old, So I've got the Yardie under here if
you have a go I'm kidding, but what made you
say yes to doing the show?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Because it sounded like a great idea. The show Real
Life started off as a program that Ian Grant was hosting.
I was working with Ian Grant at the time, and
it was an issues based program dealing with issues like
depression or your relationship problems and things like this. And
then they're wanting to change. Ian was wanting to step
(08:30):
away from it, and so they thought, well, let's just
keep the name, but changed the format to an interview program,
and I just loved the idea of it, and especially
the idea that it was an in depth interview. Radio
doesn't have them now. Occasionally you'll get them on some
other networks, but not very often, and so the opportunity
to talk about that, especially to be able to talk
(08:50):
about the things that make them tick, their motivations, their faith,
their upbringing, the things that are special important to them,
and I just, you know, I just love the idea
and it's proved to be for me anyway. You know,
the best time of my week listening researching these people
are talking to them fantastic.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I think it's a great exploration of humanity as opposed
to any sort of gotcha interview, which I think is
why you get yeses as well. I mean, they're saying yes,
the news talks 'd be, but knowing that it's just
going to be an exploration of their humanity rather than
anything that's going to get them in trouble.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think that I've discussed to some interviews on the
radio and the interviewer is basically saying, you're an idiot. Really,
aren't you tell us to get our idiotic you are?
I always re ensure reassure people it's not a slice
and dice interview. It's more like the type of chat
you'd have with someone over a barbecue and yeah, and
we keep it friendly and often we have a chat
(09:48):
beforehand and afterwards, and what goes to air is just
a slice of that conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
It's good. We're celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on
Real Life. If you want to text the message through
to John, you can text nine two nine two, And
throughout the show we have messages from well known key
we see. Here's a message for you, John from tear Radar.
Speaker 11 (10:09):
Hello, John, it's me to rate our Hey, look, congratulations
twenty years asking the questions of people that listeners want
to hear. But most importantly, I think a rare skill
that you have to ask us a question as a
subject that we really have to think very deeply about,
and actually that we continue to think about in the
days and the weeks and the months afterwards. I think
(10:32):
that's just an exceptional skill up. So all the very best,
here's to another twenty years. It's always a pleasure, my friend,
to talk to you. I'm always richer for it.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Nine hundred and sixty three shows twenty four sirs and
thirteen games. It's twenty years of Real Life on News Talks.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Be did you pick the songs this evening, Joe.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, that was picked by the most number of guests,
only because we ask the guests to pick two pieces
of music that means something to them or just something
that they like, something that they can segue into a
story with, and so many people pick that song, possibly
because they know that one of the topics that we
often go into on Real Life is people's belief and
(11:30):
spirituality and things, and so they think that song, you know,
fits the bill for them and where they're at, and
so yeah, that one comes up very very often.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Magnificent. If you've just changed in you're wondering why John's
now rather than coming on at seven thirty. We're celebrating
twenty years of John Cowen hosting Real Life for twenty
years as a solid stretch, and we're extremely grateful for
his presence in New Zealand radio and specifically eron News
Talks Z'DB, and there are some other people are grateful
as well. We've had some text messages in what have
(12:00):
we got Jackson?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Ah, Yeah, I'm fielding the fan club texts here on
nine two nine two, This Texas says, congratulations John on
a one full career. I've enjoyed listening to all of
your interviews. Thank you for sharing your gift to speak
and bring out the person's personality. Beautiful text. Thank you.
Another one here from oh someone you might know John.
It says I've been listening from day one because Mum
(12:24):
made us at the start. Very proud of the dedication
and insightful interviews over the last twenty years. Lots of
love from your son, Guy.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Oh God, that's very kind of you. I will actually
sometimes get a text from Guy afterwards saying that he
enjoyed an interview, so that's very That means a lot
to me.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
That's nice. I know my wife listens to my show.
I'm looking forward to the day then when my daughter
listens and sends a text afterwards. So I'm going to
go and say that to her. Now that there's a
bar been set by Guy.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Well, I'm grateful to my wife who listens every week.
My mother in law listens every week. So hello Francis,
thank you for being a loyal listener.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Isn't it nice to know that we've got at least
three listeners. Yeah, it's wonderful. Hey, very special guest in
the studio for you at the moment, John. It was
the first producer that you work with for the show.
Filled guy in and we've brought Philan because we know
that Phil's going to have stories that will embarrass you.
Speaker 12 (13:14):
Hate Well, I've got some stories sorry, the ones that
that embarrassment well.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
But anyway, if anyone should be embarrassed, to be Phil
for just lining me.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Up for this.
Speaker 12 (13:27):
All right, first up, but congratulations twenty years, very impressive. Yeah,
I've got a few stories. Here's one is as the producer,
I'm in charge of finding well, was in charge of
finding the guests each week, and one week we had
the Wiggles lined up that we're pretty excited about having
the Wiggles lined up as all of the Wiggles, all
(13:48):
of them all at once, Australia's most successful entertainer, entertainers
certainly the richest, and at the last minute they pulled
out and we're like, oh, this is the nightmare. Is
a producer who we're going to get And we managed
to find a relatively unknown, brand new recently elected MP
who was in his hotel room in Sydney at the time.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
John Key, John Key, Yeah, MP for Helen's.
Speaker 12 (14:13):
Vult We're basically responsible for the cack starting of his career.
He's gone on to be the most frequent guest.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
He's been on five times, right, And I remember listening
back to their first interview. I was just sort of
preparing to interview him again, and I sort of blushed
a little bit because multiple times during that first interview
I apologized, I'm sorry. We had hoped to have the
Wiggles on tonight, but instead we've got John Key.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Then we've got the future Prime Minister.
Speaker 12 (14:42):
Another one was when Dame Melvina Major was our guest
and she'd completely forgotten and she was out at a
restaurant with friends, and so she did the whole show
from the restaurant on her phone, surrounded by a friend.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
There was the rattle of knives and forks on plates
in the and a restaurant ambience, and so it was
a nice show. Actually sort of was that I had
dinner with Melvina Major. He didn't sing, but it was
nice to have a meal with Melvina.
Speaker 12 (15:09):
Then there was Winston Peter's sixtieth birthday. It was the
day before he turned sixty, so we bought a Caken
to celebrate that with him. It was good fun.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
I got charming Peter Winston Peters. I got charming Winston.
He can be so delightful and friendly. I have had
a different Winston Peters subsequently, but that interview in particular,
he was so. He really shared about a lot of
his early influences and things, and about his faith and
(15:39):
all sorts of things. This is actually one of the
most common experiences I sometimes, I must admit, I sometimes
grizzle about the guests coming up to Naomi and I say, oh,
I've got so and so I don't like their politics
or something like that, and I'll come home, Oh, not
really good. I'm like a pillow. I retained the image
of who sat on me last, and I almost invariably
(16:01):
go home actually having liked my guests.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Well, I think this again is because of the nature
of your show. You're not there to grill them about politics,
not there to uncover something that nobody else is uncovered
in terms of some truth that everybody needs to know.
They're very human interviews. So these people who have personas
to win in politics, for instance, are human beings. And
you draw out their humanity.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Yes, rest of the time. Now, I just got a
text through from someone who says congratulations on twenty years,
and then they've asked a question. Are your conversations with
friends as interesting as real life interviews? Do you delve
deeply when you sit around the dinner table with your
nearest and dearest.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
John, I prefer listening to my friends because I've got
such wise, good friends. But no, I sometimes when I
meet people because I'm and people find this difficult to believe.
I am a shy person. And actually one of the
features of our broadcasters, in particular, that I've spoken to us,
they often confess to being shy. And I see Frank's
(17:03):
nodding his head here, and that the techniques that we
learn to overcome our shyness serve as well as broadcasters.
And so actually, when I meet someone in a social situation,
I often find myself falling back into almost like an
interview style. And people do enjoy talking about themselves, So yeah, yes,
I do talk to the end up interviewing people sometimes socially.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Hey, we're here celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on
real life. If you'd like to send John, A text
will be here until eight o'clock nine two ninety two
is the number two text. And we've got some messages
from some very well known key we So here's a
message for you John from Judge Andrew Beecroft.
Speaker 9 (17:41):
Warm congratulations John. It's Andrew Beecroft here. Twenty years faithful
service to real life. What an effort. You've been a
great interviewer, a wonderful host. You've got a real ability
to draw people out. In fact I've been on the
receiving end myself. So reflect on twenty great years and
maybe twenty great more years to come. Well done and
(18:02):
have a great night.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It's twenty years of real life with John Cowen on
you his talk Siddy.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Well we.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
Gama once in.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
We're celebrating the twenty years of John Cowan on real life.
And who was that artist.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
As brudder is? I mean, he's got a a name
Israel and actually you've got it written in front of
you probably there. I can't well if I if I
had it written in front of you, I could ever
create it was Look.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Is okay? He's got a gorgeous Hawaiian name and that
is a beautiful.
Speaker 13 (18:55):
Beautiful version they described his voices have it is the
voice with a tear drop in it, and when he died,
all of all of Hawaii went into morning because he
was such a famous there, and many of the guests
have requested that. I think I'll probably request that one myself.
And as I said, we use music that the guests
(19:16):
have picked to sort of bookend the second half of
the show, and it often tells you a lot about
the guests that you're that you're listening to.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
It's always just another little insight. And that's what I
love about your interviews is you just you have little ways.
We have the avas, but you have ways of just
getting a little bit more of that person out, and
that's one of them. That musical question is very very cool.
I'm not alone in sitting and listening to your interviews.
There's definitely lots and lots of people loving them. Another
(19:45):
couple of texts here on nine two nine two. This
says congrats, John, Always tune into your show, keep on
going as long as you can. And this text says,
superb interviews with interesting guests makes my sundays. Thank you
so much. John.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
One of the things that I often feel torn about
John Is when your guests don't turn up, and I
feel torn about it because I feel for you, because
I know that's hard thing to have to work through
and the panic that can often occur when a guest
doesn't show.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
My sympathy goes for the host before me hers fell
for another half hour. Thank you for doing that.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
See that's where I'm torn, because I'm all about more radio,
So getting that extra half hour always feels like a
little gift. But you've only had in nine hundred and
sixty three shows, You've only had two no shows.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Two no shows. The first time you weren't available to fill.
I had to fill for half an hour, basically just
doing patter because we couldn't really do We did do
some talk back and everything like that, but with zero prep.
So I was sweating in the Mary Lambee, bless her heart,
(20:50):
she suddenly realized she was supposed to be in the studio.
We gave recall about ten minutes to the hour, and
she raced in from her home, still dressed in her
marathon gear. She'd run a marathon that day and did
a brilliant interview. What a professional able to got here
just as the news was finishing and so she came
close to be a notion, but no, she ate it
and she was. She did really well.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
There are a few of those guests who are last
minute shows. But the one way you had to fill in,
you were filling for at Phil Keegan.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yes, he was supposed to be online from America, so
I guess time zones and things tripped him up there.
We'll give them the better of the doubt.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And of course the last one was Melanie Bracewell. But
she made up for it. She did it once.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
She did a lovely interview in my closet. Some people
are normally in this nice flash in z me studio here,
but if I do record pre records, which I do,
I don't know about once every three or four they
are in my closet, surrounded by shirts and my wife's
dresses and things and shoes.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And let's make it clear you are recording in the closet.
Melanie was not in the closet.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
No, no, But it is a video link and they
often quite amused, you know, to see my selection of
shirts and things hanging up next to me. Acoustically, it's
a wonderful little studio, but especially it leaves a little
bit to you get to desire and smell. Wise, it
probably needs a little bit to be desired to.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
It's one of the wonders of radio though, because nobody
can see us, so we could be anywhere, so in
a closet, damp and sound wonderfully. It's one of those
little tricks of radio. Yep, we have a word from
a very special, mysterious guest for you.
Speaker 14 (22:22):
Hey, John, congratulations on twenty years. Hopefully you know who
this is. It's Naomi, your wife, and I've watched you
over that twenty years, put in heaps of time and
energy to try and find little known facts about your guests,
to make the program interesting and to slightly surprise them
(22:43):
at times. And you surprise me when you interviewed me
one time when I got my Queen's Service Award, so
that was a completely different experience for me. But hey,
I'm proud of you, all your family are proud of you,
and just hope you're enjoying tonight.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Love you, Thank you, dear. That was so embarrassing because
the voice started and I'm spinning around to filgaing who's
that that is? It's a voice I should know that, Yes,
thank you, Love that's very kind. She's giving me the
thumbs up through the glassroom in the next studio. But yeah,
(23:18):
honestly interviewing my wife. It was meant to be on
Valentine's Day and they thought it'd be a nice idea
to do something like that, and unfortunately that was the
very night that Auckland went into lockdown, and so we
had to put it back to the next week. And
it's probably one of the more interviews where I could
(23:38):
do a lot of preparation, but I still felt a
bit nervous about it. You do want to.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
How we like? Our husband's just a little bit nervous. Excellent, excellent,
keep going, nam are you doing a good job?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Oh? She was great talent.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
What is the what is the requirement John for making
it onto the guest list? What do you look for
when you start searching for someone to interview?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Well, we did have a sort of a rule of
thumb a woman's weekly cover or better. As regards profile,
we wanted people with profile, but who people would know,
but know in a certain way and in real life
you could get to know them in a more personal way,
to know the human being behind the public face. But
(24:27):
we also have guests that I think should be hurt,
people that are involved in charities, people involved in research
and scientists, people involved in the arts, and people that
may not necessarily have that high profile but should have profile.
So it's a mix between very high profile politicians and
(24:49):
sports stars and entertainers and musicians, but also people that
are leading charities and doing good work and people that
we think should be known about.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
And I love it in New Zealand and Alto and
New Zealand because we are such a diverse nation. When
we talk about the arts and the culture, there is
so much color, diversity and beauty to be brought out there.
So you go through your nine hundred and sixty three shows,
and the diversity of those people and the beauty of
those people is wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Hey, we've got another
(25:21):
shout out for you, because of course we're taking messages
from people well know and New Zealanders who have given
messages for you. So here's one from Michelle A.
Speaker 8 (25:28):
Court.
Speaker 15 (25:29):
John Cowan, It's me, Michelle, Michelle A.
Speaker 8 (25:33):
Court.
Speaker 15 (25:33):
We've met many times. Congratulations on your twenty years of
real life. That is an amazing thing in this media
world to be someone we can count on every Sunday.
I have loved our chats over the years on your
beautiful program, and I look forward to more. Well done you.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Eight hundred and thirty five you need Guess, one hundred
and ten repeater Feddis and two no shows. It's twenty
years of Real Life on News Talks.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
At b.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Again House of the Rising Sun, by the Animals, It's Newstalks.
Z'd be you of Frank and Jackson and John Cowen
who would normally be on right now doing real life
with celebrating twenty years of John Cowen on Real Life
and John, it is a pleasure to celebrate with you.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Oh, it's great fun. I'm just overwhelmed by the sense
of privilege I have of having done this and just
very grateful to the people that enable it because I
just turn up. No, actually I do a bit of preparation,
but I just am so much aware of the people
that have done the production over the years. You know,
Phil who is here was the first producer, but Angus
maybe and Josh Couch and Sam Doncan who's on the
(27:03):
panel now, and Phil Yule who did a lot of
production work over the years, and they just helped make
the show professional. I'm a bit of an amateur, but
that's been sort of hauled in to do this, and
I'm just very grateful for their professional input.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
One of the things that I really appreciate about your show.
And I'm speaking here from the perspective of my role
as a church minister and as a man of faith,
someone who's interested in spirituality. I think our nation is
still highly spiritual. I think the statistics say we're running
away from organized religion, but we're still people who like
to talk about spirituality. But there aren't many public spaces
(27:40):
where I think that happens. Well, now, it's one of
the things I've appreciated about your show.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
It's been to be one of the distinctives of the
show that we'll talk about those spiritual issues if it's
something that is important to the person. It's not always
the case of people, but so often it's surprising that
people will refer to, if not an active faith, at
least a spiritual influence in their life. And over the
(28:06):
years I used to make account of about fifty percent
of people that would talk about it being significant in
their life, and over the years, I think it's shifted.
I've sort of thought of it becoming less institutional and
more constitutional, meaning perhaps a little less involved in churches,
but they are more appreciative of the influences and motivations
(28:29):
that have come from a church background, or faithful parents
or something like that motivating them into the good works
that they do.
Speaker 16 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Are there any of that stand out to you? Just interested?
Speaker 8 (28:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yeah, lots of them. Peter Linum Professor Peter Linum spoke
so graciously and clearly about her faith. A woman called
Kate Bowler from Canada. She was so oppressive as well.
I must admit sometimes North American's variety of spirituality doesn't
(29:00):
impress me, but she just spoke so eloquently about it.
A lady called Sharon Kohane. She was a Jewish lady.
I think she was a lawyer, New York lawyer, but
she'd given that all up to go and rescue women
from sex slavery in Asia, and she was so impressive.
(29:22):
That's what it impresses me, both when it translates not
just from an intellectual agreement with something that they've been taught,
but rather it translates into heroic action. Dr Edric Baker,
in some senses, he was my worst guest. I remember
asking him a question he thought carefully and then nodded
(29:46):
an answer. That's not great radio, you know, But honestly,
he was running the only diabetes clinic in Pakistan, deeply
motivated by his Christian faith, and so heroic in that respect,
even if he wasn't particularly a natural broadcaster. But Brooke Fraser,
(30:06):
she spoke very eloquently and clearly about her faith too,
a Fiso Collins. He impressed me in so many different
ways is wonderful hearted politics, but also the way that
he was applying his love of God through to love
of people. So yeah, I've often been blind away by
people speaking very very eloquently, clearly, passionately about their faith,
(30:30):
and where else on radio to hear that.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Yeah, And one of the things that faith helps scrapple
with is our mortality, which is something that we spend
a lot of time running away from. So there's a
number of guests as well. After nine hundred and sixty
three shows, sadly a number of the people that you've
interviewed have passed away as well.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
That's right. I think we've got a bit of a
list there of people that have passed away. John Clark
David Longi, Paul Holmes, Afisa Collins, Rob Guest, Orgie Our,
Mike Moore, Jim Anerton, Ray Columbus, Howard Morrison. We could
probably just run a whole year of real life shows,
just as the in memoriams of people that have passed away,
and sometimes the station here have taken clips from the
(31:13):
interviews I've done to play in news announcing that Mounts
company passing and so yeah, it's it's it's it's sad
to think that these people have passed on, but wonderful
to have their memories preserved in a certain way.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Well on that. One of the biggest names in that
list there is David Longie, and we have some clips
from David Longie from your interviews. Here we go.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
So you see, real Christianity has been worked out more
in the soup kitchen and in social action than in
churches and worship and that nature.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
I think the church provides the strength in the fellowship
within a chance for people to do the work of God.
I a'm to see the work of God to be
sitting in a church, and I think that they were
going to provide all the super food you like, and
they were there having belief in God.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
You won't get rid of David, you're closer to death
now than to birth. Do you think about heaven, about
life after death? And what are your thoughts about them?
Speaker 5 (32:11):
They they have no I have a sense of ease
about it, because I mean, one of the funny things
about life is that I had a pretty good one.
I've heard mid Fieller that I've had a number of
lives rolled up and won. And there is a need
(32:36):
for a place.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
In my mind where there is calm and.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
There's peace, and where there is an.
Speaker 8 (32:45):
End to this clamor. And that is the type of
way in which some people would define heaven. I can't
place being close to God.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
It's very deep thoughts there from David Longey, and of
course you've got to facilitate that. We're going to keep
this conversation going. We've got John Cowan in the studio
for about another fifteen minutes. We're celebrating John Cowen's twenty
years on real life, and we've been playing messages from
people for you, John. So here's a message from Kevin Miln.
Speaker 16 (33:17):
Hi, John, Kevin Miln here, congratulations on twenty years of
real life. It's been a pleasure to be part of
that and always given a fagure.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Congratulations to John Cowell on twenty years of real life
on News Talk Zip.
Speaker 10 (33:35):
Beyoo and Fie.
Speaker 17 (33:48):
Fish and Sea. You know happy the running tree, you know,
happy blossom on the tree. You know happy. It's a
d it's a new day, it's a new life.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Nina Simone feeling good. It's News Talks, heb You're Frank
and Jackson interviewing John Cowen this evening because we're celebrating
twenty years of John Cowwen on Real Life.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Now.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
One of the things that guests often bring up with you, John,
as your research. Let's listened to this.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
You've seen your good research, John, You've done some very
good recepts in this here. You've done your homework, haven't you.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
You've done your research, haven't you?
Speaker 15 (34:39):
You've done your reading.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
You're very good.
Speaker 12 (34:42):
Were getting this stuff from your your genius, evil genius.
Speaker 4 (34:47):
What how did you know that?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
I dig around, me dig around?
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, you know it's the camera in the corner of
your kitchen.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That's impressive, John.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
I just am always gobsmacked because it's often something you
hear during your interviews on Real life and has been
over the years. So what are your goals when you're
setting up an interview with someone? What do you hope
to achieve from the conversation and what strategies? What are
your strategies How do you get that goal?
Speaker 3 (35:19):
Well, part of my warped personality is that I'm a
show off, and so I so enjoy it when people
say things like that. But no, I do like to
dig around because it gives me the opportunity to shape
shape the conversation, knowing the types of areas that are
going to be interesting to talk about. It has changed
(35:40):
over the years. I used to spend a lot of
time in libraries. North and South magazines and Metro magazines
often had wonderful interviews with the people that I was
going to be interviewing, so i'd be digging back through
back copies. Recent years, it's all on the internet and
I can dig through. There's a thing called news text
(36:01):
which has copies of every newspaper article printed throughout the country,
and I can dig through those, and it's often got
stories about these people from when they were kids, because
it'll have results from the local high school prize giving
or something, and so yeah, I can dig through that
of course Google. But sometimes, and because I love gadgets
(36:25):
and think I'm an early adopter of technology, I used
AI to interview David Seymour and it gave me all
the wrong information. It gave me a whole load of rubbish.
It was the most embarrassing interview. And I'm saying things like, oh,
so you did your master's degree in Chicago University. No,
(36:46):
I've been to Chicago, but I haven't done that. Oh okay,
and so and you're part of this particular trust. No,
no I'm not. And it was just everything was wrong
and I have never blushed so much. You must have
thought it I was an absolute idiot. So yeah, sometimes
I don't get it right AI.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
I'm guessing a lesson was learned.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Oh yes, yeah, you have to do very, very colse
so that the technology is getting better. But oh no,
that was too soon, too soon.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It's amazing how it just makes things up.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Yeah it is. It made it made stuff up and
put me completely wrong.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Just out of interest. Afterwards, did you fess up to
David Seymour what it happened?
Speaker 3 (37:24):
I sent an email to him because I wasn't doing
it to face to face. He didn't reply, but its
press secretary did very graciously, but he must have thought
what a plonker, not at all. I've made other mistakes too,
and the worst one that I've probably ever done was
I was told that I was going to be interviewing
(37:45):
Fran Walsh and somehow my brain heard fran Wild. Fran
Walsh is a very respected and journalist and I, you know,
it would have been a great interview, except I was
preparing for Fran Wild the MP.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Were you preparing for fran O'Sullivan?
Speaker 3 (38:03):
Sorry? Did I say?
Speaker 8 (38:06):
What did I say?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Did I say?
Speaker 8 (38:10):
That's what I mean?
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I've got it completely wrong again.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Brando Sullivan, one of the friends was there.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Yeah, sorry, I'll just crawl under the desk and die
all over again. But yeah, I know, and I didn't
realize until she was in the studio and we just
had to pull the plug on it. And it was awful.
It was truly truly awful, and I just need to
apologize again.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
And there was another situation two well known brothers in
the media. Oh can you remember that one?
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yes, the Dan brothers, and I got I prepared for
the wrong one.
Speaker 8 (38:44):
I prepared for.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Corran Dan and it was actually Liam Dan that was
coming into the ones. One was a great economics journalist
and the other is a news journal and I had
a great, great interview prepared for the wrong Dan Brother.
But fortunately that was I had enough time to be
able to pull herself out for that pull out some
questions for that one. But honestly, yeah, those those experiences
(39:09):
have aged.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Be across the nine hundred and sixty three shows, John,
What have been your highlights? This is the last couple
of minutes. What have been your highlights? And things that
will live with you forever?
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Oh, I guess it's the depth of intimacy that you
can actually achieve of radio people being so unguarded sharing
about their hearts. Tell you who surprises me the most comedians?
Comedians we see them being clowns, but they've often got
(39:44):
incredible depth to them. People like Jeremy Corbett and to
Radar are so delighted that we had a clip from
to Radar before. Incredibly impressive Die Hanward. He spoke very,
very passionately about his spirituality and aspects of life, and
(40:05):
so yeah, it's the fact that we often conduct our
interaction as humans at a very superficial level, and yet
people are deep. They do have depth of emotions and stories.
Speaker 15 (40:21):
And.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
So that's been the greatest privilege to be able to
hear people's heartbeats and passions and basically what makes them teck.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Just as one last little glitch, Richard Prebble's dad.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
Yeah, Richard Prebble's dad is a fascinating character. He was
an Anglican minister who became an actor on Shortland Street
and all sorts of things. Unfortunately, I talked to Richard
Prepple a bit too much about his dad and who said,
perhaps you should interview him. I thought he'd be proud
to talk about his dad, but he wanted to talk
about himself.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
A John Yo show is going to keep going for
quite some time. I would imagine we're celebrating twenty years
this evening. Thirty seconds, thirty seconds, you have the last word?
Is there anything you liked.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
To thirty seconds? Again, it's the huge seeds of privilege.
Thank you to the guests that have been so willing
to talk about their hearts and their lives and the
things that are important to them. Huge important gratitude to
the team at CBA that have produced this over the
years and given me the opportunity to sit in front
of the microphone and interview these people. So yeah, just
(41:28):
a sense of gratitude and privilege.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Well, John, as in an age of high cynicism. I
want to say thank you for your presence in New
Zealand media. Your work on News Talks EDB a show
that draws out the best of our humanity and I
think continues to show us what we can be and
how good people can be. So thank you for your
twenty years hosting Real Life, This is News Talks EDB
(41:51):
and here's Iggy Pop with Passenger is.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
A Writer.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Sleep It is You, I Love It.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
Sold for more from News Talks at B, listen live
(43:02):
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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