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 on New Zealand’s booze culture, two years after achieving sobriety. Her honest and direct approach to sensitive topics has made her a significant voice in New Zealand media.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News talk S ed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio,
Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real life with John Cowen
on News talk S ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good and welcome to real life. And I'm so looking
forward to chatting with Pam Corkory tonight. She's been an
award winning broadcaster, a TV host, an MP an author,
documentary maker, and so much more. Welcome Pam.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I was thinking, who's he talking about? Yes, it is me, Hello, John.
It's quite nice talking to you now, rather than we
just kept meeting outside Wars every time. I'm back there.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
That's right. I had a fascinating chat with you the
last time outside wall with's, in fact, some of those
topics i'd like to talk about tonight. But how are
you doing, by the way, how are you keeping?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Apart? Oh, that's such a lovely term. How are you keeping?
I'm keeping very well. Well. It's been overly hot here lately.
We got to like thirty eight degrees and that's very hot,
and the humidity at ninety five. You know, it's just
that's been a wee bit trying. But apart from that,
(01:23):
I'm very very happy.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You're a dun and girl. How can I handle temperatures
like that?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well not very well. See um whining to you. I've
been whining to everything. No one's gone unscathed. And now
are you handling the department?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yep, Australia's got no surprises for you. You've been there
for what thirteen years now?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
In total, we've been here about eight years not even
in a half. But I did like nine or ten
in Sydney many years ago, working for Rupert Murdoch. And
I'm still waiting him for him to die, Just to
do it now, man, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Do you think that hastened the process?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Though he actually got me sacked from New York, He
did a visit through the large organization, the Outlehet and Sydney,
and I thought it was funny when I was introduced
to him, and I said, well, do I just you
you know, on your feet was the story. And he
(02:31):
just never took that.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, he didn't take that. Well okay, yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Now just beside of the point.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yes, yes, well, you have perhaps got off side with
a few people over the years. We might mention some
of those things at some stage, but I'd much rather
talk about how you managed to get on side with people,
because I was talking to someone who said, you are
the most compelling broadcast in New Zealand has ever had.
Mine it was Tim Roxbury who really enjoyed working with you.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Oh, I loved working with Tim.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
He was really talking you up here, saying that you're
absolutely the most intelligent person he's ever met, and so
loved working with you. So there you go. He's got
a different opinion from Rupert Murdoch. Whose opinion you're going
to go with.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I'm still worrying who's the dumbers? You know. That's very nice.
I mean sometimes I look back and think, how on
earth did I get that excellent job? Yeah, I mean
once I got it, and once it was and you'll know,
once I was listening to people and engaging with them,
(03:41):
it was just natural to keep asking questions or that's
sad to you And it was the most amazing job.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, the thing is, you know, you double the ratings
of that show, just as you had when you were
working with Paul Henry before and Radio Pacific and things.
You know, you really lift ratings and things. And I
think it's not only are you great at talking, you
are great at listening. I wonder if you're channeling your
mother when you do that.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Oh, you see, that's a whole No, I have to say.
In our family there were three a lot older than me,
or quite a bit older, seven ten years and then
me I was in the middle, and then another seven
years to my younger sister. And during that middle year thing,
(04:33):
Mum was just amazing. You know, we discussed politics. Was
I was arguing politics in parties we had at home
after rugby teams came home and when I was about eleven,
and she said, no, if you can, if you can
make it sensible, and if you're listening and you're telling
it in a respectful way, I'll always let you go,
(04:54):
which was horrified the rest of the family. But that's okay.
They said the term spoiled that I was spoiled.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Oh and yes, your mom might as well stay with
missus McNutt, your mom, and she was a keen Catholic
and packed you off to a convent school. And I'm wondering,
did you know, did that do any good? How was
Saint Philomena's.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
For you, I have to say, And Saint Peter Chanel
it was right from go five right through. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I don't think she was keen so much as you know,
that was the obvious place we were going to go
to all of us through Catholic schools. But because dad
(05:40):
was from Northern Ireland and her people from Southern Ireland,
there was still smargie bargie of priests came around saying
donate to this and that, and she said, don't push us,
you know, as a family here For me, the Irish
nuns were I got a very good education. Every person
(06:00):
I meet of my age who went to a Catholic
school says, says, but we had a great education.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But they put to put the button because there's the
other stuff as well.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Well you got that, you got the bash, yeah, you know,
and not so much in my time. I got a
good shaking sometimes that I think of my older sister
she I think she was strapped sixty times wow for
chewing gum or something like that. And increasingly I found
(06:33):
it just what are you doing? Women? You know, a
couple of them, you know, they always hide away and
you suddenly see that getting married somewhere else. I think
Catholicism was quite restrictive. Major field guilt and chain it's
based on guilt and shape, and you do your confession
(06:53):
and you know, once a week that was ugly. And
I didn't even know what to say. In the young years,
you know, I lied, I stole money from my mother.
They were just given as examples. I just said it
every week. I was just little. But as time's gone on,
I must say I've left Catholicism, yes holy, and leaving
(07:18):
big tie tracks. I think in my departure when I
look at the well, when I look at the money
and yeah, and all of that, and of course their
approach to gay people and people who divorce and all
of that, I just think it's another highway, another another show.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Right. The reason I sort of mentioned the convent thing,
Why did I mention that I had a reason, and
that is yeah. I saw you posting a while back
that you are very proud that of fourteen years of
being clear of what you've described as a fatal and
incurable disease in that in your in your you know,
(08:00):
your battle with alcoholism, and well done in fourteen years.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well and other drugs, and it's actually fifteen and a bit.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Now, was the fifteen I'm behind following your.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Posts and blame me ages ago, ages ago. But what
an amazing what an amazing Yet and my partner who you.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Know, Oh yeah, I must must help having an in
house addictions counselor.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
But he was an addict as well. That's where we met, right, Okay,
we met at meetings, And perhaps.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I should disclose I've known Kerry since he was a
little boy. But there his dad worked on how orchards,
so it was wonderful.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Making that connection.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
By the way, give him my warmest regards. And but no,
the reason I mentioned the convent thing was that I
can recall in one of the conversations we've had that
you were talking about the twelve step program and AA
and how useful that was for you. And when I
read through what the twelve steps are? The full of
God stuff, the full of spiritual stuff. And I'm just
(09:04):
wondering how your convent reflexes and the rejection of of
your Catholic faith gelled with something that you later on
found very useful.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
The big one for me is there's no mention of
hell from narcotics and alcohol is both the same drag.
Really that thing it is the fact that we need
humility that's the main kicker for me of it, you
(09:39):
tell a truth, make amends for everything it's done. But
the one for me is the higher power. It's called
in our thesis of bloody the thing. And to me,
that's keeping humble like and if I'm concerned, I will
(10:02):
largely like talk to the sky, just go out and
go not a bad day. You know that happened. I
marked up on that offers that tomorrow and just remember
that I'm not that important.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
So it's that humility thing.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Okay, yeah, right, is it is to me? It is
you know, various ones are different, but that's roughly the
thrust of it. I mean I remember someone saying to me,
I don't care if it's a palm tree, I'm staying
clean or just go and speak the palm tree that day,
and it's I mean, it's a great So it's a
(10:42):
great organization.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah. So it's a little bit different from the theology
that mother Eukaria would have taught you.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
It's a convention mother Ukyria. Yes, I did have a
mother Eukyria. Do you know that? Did I tell you that?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
No? I just dig around. I dig around. I remember
she had a great story about what happens if you
mark around with the host during during mass Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
On you putting stick on your tongue and going perhaps
thanks for bringing that up. Awful awful Yes, yes, yes, exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Okay, it's probably not even probably not even for broadcasting,
is it.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
But but she was the nicest, she was lovely, she
was nice.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, hey, I'm talking with Pam Corkery, as you've probably
figured if you've just tuned in, and afterwards, I'm going
to talk about her getting shot in Columbia and all
sorts of interesting things. So stick around. After these ads,
I'll be carrying on talking with Pam Corkory. This is
real life on news Talk.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
ZEDB, intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on
news Talk zed B.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Because you feel you feel.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Welcome back to real life on New Stork, said Bee,
I'm delighted to be talking of Pam Corkery. Who's chosen
happy and why did you pick that? Pam? I imagine
you are happy.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I am happy, But you know, no one's ever happy
all the time when you just want to slap them.
But I just I find around three in the afternoon,
because I work from home, I just get a bit morose.
And that's the song. I just get up and I
know it sounds tragic, but I get up and dance
around with the song.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Hey, that's not tragic. That sounds fantasy is a bit,
you know.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I feel like I feel like some for the sixties,
sixties housewife, you know, and Matt king Cole's on there
and they're swooning. You know.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Well, I saw you Tank going in ba bo guitar
and dancing with the stars. Obviously dancing has become part
of your world now.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, I haven't really carried it on apart from us
here in the lounge room, that happy happy, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Look, I was wondering what other strategies have worked for
you in a life that now doesn't need the props
of alcohol and drugs. What what strategies do you use
to keep yourself, you know, going as you have done
now for fifteen years without those props.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Well, just going back to the start, I nearly died, okay,
so mostly alcohol.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
So a fright, A fright is probably part of a strategy.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Then a fride is very good. And I had already
my children had come to me and said, Mum, this
is you know, not funny, and I'd say, yes, I'll
stop now lying, because you know, if you're compelled to
keep drinking. But now I just I suppose I'm clean
(14:06):
long enough. If you're a year clean, still difficult. If
it's three years clean, maybe still a little bit more difficult,
because you've got to uncover stuff about yourself that you
sort of I want to say bullshit, but I won't
bullshit it your way through life by just covering up
since you had done the night before or something. But
(14:26):
now I sort of you just live nicely and with
gratitude and laugh. I mean, I hadn't laughed like that
for a long time. And I remember going out with
a narcotics anonymous group. We're going out for a tree,
you know, a forest track triump trump tramp tramp, and
(14:50):
I was, look at this, there's trees. There's because most
of us stay indoors a lot. We look at that star.
What the hell the animals? And so all those things
were late coming. But I do feel very childlike at
(15:10):
the same time as being a grown up.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Well that must be quite it's wonderful, It must be
quite beautiful at times to actually encounter life like that.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Basically, it is even like Kerrie and I, for example,
we know enough. We've been together like fourteen coming up
fifteen years, and we know not to go too far.
And you know, there's a saying just for to day,
just as they carry once said to me, just for
the day, get left, and I laughed because it was
(15:45):
a great way to deal with an argument. But we
don't seem to. It's a funny thing I've learned. I mean,
because I've married a lot of times ridiculous amount, and
that now I know that I can give and receive love.
I just only ever took it. And it's just all
(16:09):
those things that have come with being sober.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
There's so many things I admire about Japan, but this
ability to continuously learn and learn about love and learn
about relationships and learn that there's even a world outside
of trees and sky and stuff. That's that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
That's nice of you to say.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I watched your incredible journey to Columbia this afternoon just
to prep for this, and wow, wow, that was just
incredible for a start. Getting shot in Colombia, it hurt,
not really hurts, just a bit of a backstory. It
(16:49):
was to test a bulletproof vest, which but even so
it left a massive great bruise on you.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Oh what, I just thought it was like I'm Italian,
it would bounce fast. And I didn't swear when it happened,
which I'm so proud of.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
No, because then they would have had to do it
again and over.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
My dead body. I loved going there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Well, But the thing is, what was there to love
when you're when you're an inside girl who doesn't do
outdoors stuff, who's terrified horses, and you spend five hours
on the back of a horse and then tracking, you know,
hours and hours up a river and a boat in
the middle of the Amazon with bugs and swimming and
rivers with piranha and things.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That was just incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
And you said you.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Had and a condas would come a swishing by. I
think there's enough showers and me to get over. I
don't to this day. I don't know how I did that,
but I thought that nice, go to Columbia, that'll bit nice.
And there was a very good looking guide.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Oh he looked like Fabio.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Oh yes, I know you're not telling us anybody.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So if you've got to be stuck in the middle
of it, if you're going to be stuck in the
middle of the Amazon with bugs and anacondas and things.
You may as well have a dishy looking guide, I suppose.
So that was part of the reason you got up
that mountain.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Well, it's just popped out of my mouth. Now I'm
going to have to explain it to others. You've got
to laugh, don't really. I mean, it's a grim time
in the world at the moment, it's not does it get.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
You down the world at the moment.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
It's yeah, yeah it does. But I just like to
think this is a cycle we're going through and I'm
and it possibly is. You know, it have been changes
as things have gone along, but no, it can. I
just I just sometimes stop reading it, but only for
half a day because it's as long as I can
(18:56):
go from not reading news. But yeah, it's it's it's grim,
but it's we'll learn from it. But a lot of
people are suffering from it.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Yeah. Now you're you're a socialist from well probably came
out of you at the worm as a socialist and
you stood with the Alliance Party and had a term
in Parliament and you stood for the Marity.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
You've still got more left, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
They're all towards the left. And do you still have
some political fire in your belly. Is there are some
issues that you want to engage with and change and
have you still got any fight left in you?
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I have in that. I don't do Anyone wants my
opinion now, but they say with I've got a good
group of friends here and we will discuss all of
that and as time goes on, you know, I'll go
and vote because I've still got my New Zealand tickets
and things like that. I don't know what else I
can do. I'm very sarcastic when I broadcast about the
(19:56):
current government in New Zealand. So I do have outlets
and I don't hold back.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Right, You're still doing a bit of broadcasting and a
bit of writing and corresponding. No sign of retiring or
anything like that. You're still you're still driven in that area.
You're still a journalist at heart.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Not so much a journalist, but I am taking on
a sort of writing job.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I've just think, I.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Tell you, I have to kill you.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, yeah, okay, I'm just sort of thinking. You've got,
you know, a career that said, You've hosted a TV show,
You've You've produced these wonderful documentaries on gangs and and
if we've got more time, we'll talk about that as well,
and politics and all these things. When do you feel
most like yourself? When? Is what niche do is you know,
if you're going to have to pull up one label
(20:48):
to stick on yourself, where would you feel most comfortable
as Pancorkry. That's a hard one.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Back now, over all the things I've been lucky to experience,
I think it comes back to family. Yeah, that's what
it's home down to. I can't fight the battle for everyone.
But now I've got these two gorgeous daughters who have
(21:22):
successful and blossoming. I've got Terry, I've got sister and
nieces here in Queensland. And I can sit with myself.
That's the thing I can because I'm here on my
own most of the day, and often i'll hide if
someone comes to the door, in fact, throwing myself on
the floor. But yeah, I think I'm relaxed, which when
(21:48):
you're using alcohol and other drugs, none of that evans.
So I'm still I suppose cherishing these years. But also
you know, I don't think I want to save the
world anymore. I'd just like to live a bit longer.
But holl if it happens, it will and all that
sort of stuff. Living to go to the barrack, I
(22:08):
go to just the last thing. I've gone to a
lot of marches here, especially for the average and the
Indigenous people's rights. I've been to lots of them, yep,
but I haven't signed up to anything.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Right. Well, living successfully with serenity and gratitude like you
seem to be doing, I think that's going to change
the world. Pen. I mean, it's probably going to be
to a slightly smaller audience than when you're broadcasting, but
they're still making a difference. I'm sure, Lovely. It's been
so nice talking to you, and I'm sure our paths
will continue to cross as they have occasionally over the years.
(22:42):
And wish you all the best and give my best
to carry as well. Hey, what song are we going
out on? What song? Is this?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
The High Woman? There's just four great singers, and I
love the song and it's about all the things he
could be and he won't die and all of that.
But I just love Johnny Cash. Call me crazy. It
goes from money into another yep.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Real life. On news Storks they'd be talking Corkrey looking
forward to being back for you Nick Sunday.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News talk S ed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio,
Real Conversation, Real Connection. It's Real life with John Cowen
on News talk S ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good and welcome to real life. And I'm so looking
forward to chatting with Pam Corkory tonight. She's been an
award winning broadcaster, a TV host, an MP an author,
documentary maker, and so much more. Welcome Pam.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I was thinking, who's he talking about? Yes, it is me, Hello, John.
It's quite nice talking to you now, rather than we
just kept meeting outside Wars every time. I'm back there.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
That's right. I had a fascinating chat with you the
last time outside wall with's, in fact, some of those
topics i'd like to talk about tonight. But how are
you doing, by the way, how are you keeping?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Apart? Oh, that's such a lovely term. How are you keeping?
I'm keeping very well. Well. It's been overly hot here lately.
We got to like thirty eight degrees and that's very hot,
and the humidity at ninety five. You know, it's just
that's been a wee bit trying. But apart from that,
(01:23):
I'm very very happy.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You're a dun and girl. How can I handle temperatures
like that?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well not very well. See um whining to you. I've
been whining to everything. No one's gone unscathed. And now
are you handling the department?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yep, Australia's got no surprises for you. You've been there
for what thirteen years now?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
In total, we've been here about eight years not even
in a half. But I did like nine or ten
in Sydney many years ago, working for Rupert Murdoch. And
I'm still waiting him for him to die, Just to
do it now, man, you know.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Do you think that hastened the process?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Though he actually got me sacked from New York, He
did a visit through the large organization, the Outlehet and Sydney,
and I thought it was funny when I was introduced
to him, and I said, well, do I just you
you know, on your feet was the story. And he
(02:31):
just never took that.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, he didn't take that. Well okay, yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Now just beside of the point.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yes, yes, well, you have perhaps got off side with
a few people over the years. We might mention some
of those things at some stage, but I'd much rather
talk about how you managed to get on side with people,
because I was talking to someone who said, you are
the most compelling broadcast in New Zealand has ever had.
Mine it was Tim Roxbury who really enjoyed working with you.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Oh, I loved working with Tim.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
He was really talking you up here, saying that you're
absolutely the most intelligent person he's ever met, and so
loved working with you. So there you go. He's got
a different opinion from Rupert Murdoch. Whose opinion you're going
to go with.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I'm still worrying who's the dumbers? You know. That's very nice.
I mean sometimes I look back and think, how on
earth did I get that excellent job? Yeah, I mean
once I got it, and once it was and you'll know,
once I was listening to people and engaging with them,
(03:41):
it was just natural to keep asking questions or that's
sad to you And it was the most amazing job.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, the thing is, you know, you double the ratings
of that show, just as you had when you were
working with Paul Henry before and Radio Pacific and things.
You know, you really lift ratings and things. And I
think it's not only are you great at talking, you
are great at listening. I wonder if you're channeling your
mother when you do that.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Oh, you see, that's a whole No, I have to say.
In our family there were three a lot older than me,
or quite a bit older, seven ten years and then
me I was in the middle, and then another seven
years to my younger sister. And during that middle year thing,
(04:33):
Mum was just amazing. You know, we discussed politics. Was
I was arguing politics in parties we had at home
after rugby teams came home and when I was about eleven,
and she said, no, if you can, if you can
make it sensible, and if you're listening and you're telling
it in a respectful way, I'll always let you go,
(04:54):
which was horrified the rest of the family. But that's okay.
They said the term spoiled that I was spoiled.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Oh and yes, your mom might as well stay with
missus McNutt, your mom, and she was a keen Catholic
and packed you off to a convent school. And I'm wondering,
did you know, did that do any good? How was
Saint Philomena's.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
For you, I have to say, And Saint Peter Chanel
it was right from go five right through. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I don't think she was keen so much as you know,
that was the obvious place we were going to go
to all of us through Catholic schools. But because dad
(05:40):
was from Northern Ireland and her people from Southern Ireland,
there was still smargie bargie of priests came around saying
donate to this and that, and she said, don't push us,
you know, as a family here For me, the Irish
nuns were I got a very good education. Every person
(06:00):
I meet of my age who went to a Catholic
school says, says, but we had a great education.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But they put to put the button because there's the
other stuff as well.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Well you got that, you got the bash, yeah, you know,
and not so much in my time. I got a
good shaking sometimes that I think of my older sister
she I think she was strapped sixty times wow for
chewing gum or something like that. And increasingly I found
(06:33):
it just what are you doing? Women? You know, a
couple of them, you know, they always hide away and
you suddenly see that getting married somewhere else. I think
Catholicism was quite restrictive. Major field guilt and chain it's
based on guilt and shape, and you do your confession
(06:53):
and you know, once a week that was ugly. And
I didn't even know what to say. In the young years,
you know, I lied, I stole money from my mother.
They were just given as examples. I just said it
every week. I was just little. But as time's gone on,
I must say I've left Catholicism, yes holy, and leaving
(07:18):
big tie tracks. I think in my departure when I
look at the well, when I look at the money
and yeah, and all of that, and of course their
approach to gay people and people who divorce and all
of that, I just think it's another highway, another another show.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Right. The reason I sort of mentioned the convent thing,
Why did I mention that I had a reason, and
that is yeah. I saw you posting a while back
that you are very proud that of fourteen years of
being clear of what you've described as a fatal and
incurable disease in that in your in your you know,
(08:00):
your battle with alcoholism, and well done in fourteen years.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Well and other drugs, and it's actually fifteen and a bit.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Now, was the fifteen I'm behind following your.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Posts and blame me ages ago, ages ago. But what
an amazing what an amazing Yet and my partner who you.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Know, Oh yeah, I must must help having an in
house addictions counselor.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
But he was an addict as well. That's where we met, right, Okay,
we met at meetings, And perhaps.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I should disclose I've known Kerry since he was a
little boy. But there his dad worked on how orchards,
so it was wonderful.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Making that connection.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
By the way, give him my warmest regards. And but no,
the reason I mentioned the convent thing was that I
can recall in one of the conversations we've had that
you were talking about the twelve step program and AA
and how useful that was for you. And when I
read through what the twelve steps are? The full of
God stuff, the full of spiritual stuff. And I'm just
(09:04):
wondering how your convent reflexes and the rejection of of
your Catholic faith gelled with something that you later on
found very useful.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
The big one for me is there's no mention of
hell from narcotics and alcohol is both the same drag.
Really that thing it is the fact that we need
humility that's the main kicker for me of it, you
(09:39):
tell a truth, make amends for everything it's done. But
the one for me is the higher power. It's called
in our thesis of bloody the thing. And to me,
that's keeping humble like and if I'm concerned, I will
(10:02):
largely like talk to the sky, just go out and
go not a bad day. You know that happened. I
marked up on that offers that tomorrow and just remember
that I'm not that important.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
So it's that humility thing.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Okay, yeah, right, is it is to me? It is
you know, various ones are different, but that's roughly the
thrust of it. I mean I remember someone saying to me,
I don't care if it's a palm tree, I'm staying
clean or just go and speak the palm tree that day,
and it's I mean, it's a great So it's a
(10:42):
great organization.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah. So it's a little bit different from the theology
that mother Eukaria would have taught you.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
It's a convention mother Ukyria. Yes, I did have a
mother Eukyria. Do you know that? Did I tell you that?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
No? I just dig around. I dig around. I remember
she had a great story about what happens if you
mark around with the host during during mass Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
On you putting stick on your tongue and going perhaps
thanks for bringing that up. Awful awful Yes, yes, yes, exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Okay, it's probably not even probably not even for broadcasting,
is it.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
But but she was the nicest, she was lovely, she
was nice.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, hey, I'm talking with Pam Corkery, as you've probably
figured if you've just tuned in, and afterwards, I'm going
to talk about her getting shot in Columbia and all
sorts of interesting things. So stick around. After these ads,
I'll be carrying on talking with Pam Corkory. This is
real life on news Talk.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
ZEDB, intelligent interviews with interesting people. It's real life on
news Talk zed B.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Because you feel you feel.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Welcome back to real life on New Stork, said Bee,
I'm delighted to be talking of Pam Corkery. Who's chosen
happy and why did you pick that? Pam? I imagine
you are happy.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I am happy, But you know, no one's ever happy
all the time when you just want to slap them.
But I just I find around three in the afternoon,
because I work from home, I just get a bit morose.
And that's the song. I just get up and I
know it sounds tragic, but I get up and dance
around with the song.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Hey, that's not tragic. That sounds fantasy is a bit,
you know.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I feel like I feel like some for the sixties,
sixties housewife, you know, and Matt king Cole's on there
and they're swooning. You know.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Well, I saw you Tank going in ba bo guitar
and dancing with the stars. Obviously dancing has become part
of your world now.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Yeah, I haven't really carried it on apart from us
here in the lounge room, that happy happy, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Look, I was wondering what other strategies have worked for
you in a life that now doesn't need the props
of alcohol and drugs. What what strategies do you use
to keep yourself, you know, going as you have done
now for fifteen years without those props.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Well, just going back to the start, I nearly died, okay,
so mostly alcohol.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
So a fright, A fright is probably part of a strategy.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Then a fride is very good. And I had already
my children had come to me and said, Mum, this
is you know, not funny, and I'd say, yes, I'll
stop now lying, because you know, if you're compelled to
keep drinking. But now I just I suppose I'm clean
(14:06):
long enough. If you're a year clean, still difficult. If
it's three years clean, maybe still a little bit more difficult,
because you've got to uncover stuff about yourself that you
sort of I want to say bullshit, but I won't
bullshit it your way through life by just covering up
since you had done the night before or something. But
(14:26):
now I sort of you just live nicely and with
gratitude and laugh. I mean, I hadn't laughed like that
for a long time. And I remember going out with
a narcotics anonymous group. We're going out for a tree,
you know, a forest track triump trump tramp tramp, and
(14:50):
I was, look at this, there's trees. There's because most
of us stay indoors a lot. We look at that star.
What the hell the animals? And so all those things
were late coming. But I do feel very childlike at
(15:10):
the same time as being a grown up.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Well that must be quite it's wonderful, It must be
quite beautiful at times to actually encounter life like that.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Basically, it is even like Kerrie and I, for example,
we know enough. We've been together like fourteen coming up
fifteen years, and we know not to go too far.
And you know, there's a saying just for to day,
just as they carry once said to me, just for
the day, get left, and I laughed because it was
(15:45):
a great way to deal with an argument. But we
don't seem to. It's a funny thing I've learned. I mean,
because I've married a lot of times ridiculous amount, and
that now I know that I can give and receive love.
I just only ever took it. And it's just all
(16:09):
those things that have come with being sober.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
There's so many things I admire about Japan, but this
ability to continuously learn and learn about love and learn
about relationships and learn that there's even a world outside
of trees and sky and stuff. That's that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
That's nice of you to say.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I watched your incredible journey to Columbia this afternoon just
to prep for this, and wow, wow, that was just
incredible for a start. Getting shot in Colombia, it hurt,
not really hurts, just a bit of a backstory. It
(16:49):
was to test a bulletproof vest, which but even so
it left a massive great bruise on you.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Oh what, I just thought it was like I'm Italian,
it would bounce fast. And I didn't swear when it happened,
which I'm so proud of.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
No, because then they would have had to do it
again and over.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
My dead body. I loved going there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Well, But the thing is, what was there to love
when you're when you're an inside girl who doesn't do
outdoors stuff, who's terrified horses, and you spend five hours
on the back of a horse and then tracking, you know,
hours and hours up a river and a boat in
the middle of the Amazon with bugs and swimming and
rivers with piranha and things.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That was just incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
And you said you.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Had and a condas would come a swishing by. I
think there's enough showers and me to get over. I
don't to this day. I don't know how I did that,
but I thought that nice, go to Columbia, that'll bit nice.
And there was a very good looking guide.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Oh he looked like Fabio.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Oh yes, I know you're not telling us anybody.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So if you've got to be stuck in the middle
of it, if you're going to be stuck in the
middle of the Amazon with bugs and anacondas and things.
You may as well have a dishy looking guide, I suppose.
So that was part of the reason you got up
that mountain.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Well, it's just popped out of my mouth. Now I'm
going to have to explain it to others. You've got
to laugh, don't really. I mean, it's a grim time
in the world at the moment, it's not does it get.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
You down the world at the moment.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
It's yeah, yeah it does. But I just like to
think this is a cycle we're going through and I'm
and it possibly is. You know, it have been changes
as things have gone along, but no, it can. I
just I just sometimes stop reading it, but only for
half a day because it's as long as I can
(18:56):
go from not reading news. But yeah, it's it's it's grim,
but it's we'll learn from it. But a lot of
people are suffering from it.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Yeah. Now you're you're a socialist from well probably came
out of you at the worm as a socialist and
you stood with the Alliance Party and had a term
in Parliament and you stood for the Marity.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
You've still got more left, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
They're all towards the left. And do you still have
some political fire in your belly. Is there are some
issues that you want to engage with and change and
have you still got any fight left in you?
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I have in that. I don't do Anyone wants my
opinion now, but they say with I've got a good
group of friends here and we will discuss all of
that and as time goes on, you know, I'll go
and vote because I've still got my New Zealand tickets
and things like that. I don't know what else I
can do. I'm very sarcastic when I broadcast about the
(19:56):
current government in New Zealand. So I do have outlets
and I don't hold back.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Right, You're still doing a bit of broadcasting and a
bit of writing and corresponding. No sign of retiring or
anything like that. You're still you're still driven in that area.
You're still a journalist at heart.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Not so much a journalist, but I am taking on
a sort of writing job.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I've just think, I.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Tell you, I have to kill you.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yeah, yeah, okay, I'm just sort of thinking. You've got,
you know, a career that said, You've hosted a TV show,
You've You've produced these wonderful documentaries on gangs and and
if we've got more time, we'll talk about that as well,
and politics and all these things. When do you feel
most like yourself? When? Is what niche do is you know,
if you're going to have to pull up one label
(20:48):
to stick on yourself, where would you feel most comfortable
as Pancorkry. That's a hard one.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Back now, over all the things I've been lucky to experience,
I think it comes back to family. Yeah, that's what
it's home down to. I can't fight the battle for everyone.
But now I've got these two gorgeous daughters who have
(21:22):
successful and blossoming. I've got Terry, I've got sister and
nieces here in Queensland. And I can sit with myself.
That's the thing I can because I'm here on my
own most of the day, and often i'll hide if
someone comes to the door, in fact, throwing myself on
the floor. But yeah, I think I'm relaxed, which when
(21:48):
you're using alcohol and other drugs, none of that evans.
So I'm still I suppose cherishing these years. But also
you know, I don't think I want to save the
world anymore. I'd just like to live a bit longer.
But holl if it happens, it will and all that
sort of stuff. Living to go to the barrack, I
(22:08):
go to just the last thing. I've gone to a
lot of marches here, especially for the average and the
Indigenous people's rights. I've been to lots of them, yep,
but I haven't signed up to anything.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Right. Well, living successfully with serenity and gratitude like you
seem to be doing, I think that's going to change
the world. Pen. I mean, it's probably going to be
to a slightly smaller audience than when you're broadcasting, but
they're still making a difference. I'm sure, Lovely. It's been
so nice talking to you, and I'm sure our paths
will continue to cross as they have occasionally over the years.
(22:42):
And wish you all the best and give my best
to carry as well. Hey, what song are we going
out on? What song? Is this?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
The High Woman? There's just four great singers, and I
love the song and it's about all the things he
could be and he won't die and all of that.
But I just love Johnny Cash. Call me crazy. It
goes from money into another yep.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Real life. On news Storks they'd be talking Corkrey looking
forward to being back for you Nick Sunday.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
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