The Leighton Smith Podcast
After 33 years behind the Newstalk ZB microphone, Leighton can’t give it up completely. There were so many requests to continue his opinionated commentary that the prospect of podcasting was born. So, without restriction, Leighton continues to serve up on everything you want to hear about and some things you don’t. Stand by to be enlightened, educated and enraged!
Episodes
Ramesh Thakur is well known to this audience; he has appeared on the Leighton Smith Podcast more than once.
There was much to catch up on.
His views on the world and its various parts are substantiated by life experience. He taught at a number of universities including Otago and ANU Canberra and Rector at the U.N. University. He was also an assistant Sec-Gen of the U.N.
As a result his commentary on world issues is superb.
And fina...
Estonia is gifted with the world’s most efficient and balanced tax regime.
Co-founder of the New Zealand Taxpayer’s Union, Jordan Williams suggests our Prime Minister should look seriously at that system for New Zealand.
It’s easy to argue it is way better than what we have.
We have a different perspective on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, from Geopolitical Future’s founder George Friedman.
And we visit The Mailroom w...
One of the best and most interesting interviews we’ve done.
Tony O’Brien was born and raised in New Zealand. His life has followed a fascinating path, working in Australia, Britain, Canada, Hungary and beyond in a variety of capacities.
In his work he "did not have a plan, just took advantage of opportunities as they presented."
He is intelligent, articulate and successful but also modest. We discuss many different aspects of NZ’s ...
James Bovard is a Libertarian Journalist and Author. Thirteen books published. In his first ’The Farm Fiasco’ (1989) he referenced NZ as a world leader in farming.
In 1994 came ‘Lost Rights; The Destruction of American Liberty’ We interviewed in April 2021 re Covid.
Now thirty years after Lost Rights, comes ‘Last Rights; The Death of American Liberty”.
We arranged the interview moments before the 1st Presidential Debate.
Between th...
Leighton is off this week, so we are highlighting one of his favourite guests from the podcast.
Dr Tim Ball Part 2 on the politics behind the climate change alarmism.
As I have said so often, there is new information almost every day, some of it vital. However, it rarely appears in the mainstream media.
Two examples since I spoke with Dr Ball. On September 6, the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Society says he does no...
Sociologist Jodie Bruning has produced a paper, ‘Don’t Be Mislead - Judging the Risk From Central Bank Digital Currencies in Isolation is a Rookie Mistake’.
That paper is associated with a much bigger, ninety page production, regarding democratic risks that arise when Digital ID’s are coupled with CBDC's.
It’s an area where most of us are ill-informed, which if concerned about your personal sovereignty we should not be.
This is an ...
The New York Times, the UK Daily Telegraph and the British Medical Journal are just some (if not the most prominent) publications to adjust their thinking and publication regarding the effect of Covid vaccinations.
Guy Hatchard of the Hatchard Report has been one step ahead. It’s a fascinating and informative interview, especially considering what is yet to come.
We reference David Bell’s “Bird Flu, Fear, and Perverse Incentives”, ...
Oliver Hartwitch, from The New Zealand Initiative, discusses the 2024 Budget and why it might take fifteen years to get the New Zealand economy to where it should be.
We look at what Switzerland could teach us, the future of the Tory Party in England, and the Reserve Bank.
We make comment on Trump and “The Lost Generation” a 2009 article in which a psychologist predicted today’s issues.
And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
Manisha Grazula is not just a primary school principal and teacher. She is extraordinary in that role.
The changes she has wrought in her school in Liverpool, Sydney make for an ideal model for almost any school in NZ.
And the return of NZ author A.I.Fabler after the one hour twenty mark, with talk on his book “AGENDA 2060 Book Two, AI and the View from Outer Space”.
This is the future as it happens, a world where Artificial Intell...
Muriel Newman and her organisation NZCPR (New Zealand Centre for Political Research) have a long standing campaign to prevent a tribal takeover of NZ’s foreshore and seabed.
With Muriel, we cover the danger to the governance of NZ ie, the Marine & Coastal Area Act, a common electoral role, media, radicalisation and its growth and the danger of a return to the Dark Ages.
Share 240 with as many as you can.
A sceptical knowledge-seeking society will always welcome controversy, criticism and inquiry, even about ostensibly long-settled ideas.
And free expression plays an indispensable role in society, sorting truth from falsehood.
Jonathan Rauch is a journalist, and author of a number of books.
While a very pleasant interviewee, it will be interesting to see how many of you he will agitate.
We make comment on Pope Francis; again, he is ...
We have an extensive interview with David Bell, on the expansion of the World Health Organisation’s powers and influence.
He has worked for twenty years in biotech and international public health in numerous capacities, with over 120 research publications.
David explains why New Zealand, and other countries, should stand their ground and refrain from signing on. It’s a very important discussion.
In Podcast 238 we take a look at cri...
"Never before has New Zealand faced a constitutional contest like the one being played out right now.” The opening words to “Guns drawn as Waitangi Tribunal tangle whips up storm.”
So began a column from The Australian. We discuss this scenario with retired judge Anthony Willy, and venture that it’s time to ditch the Waitangi Tribunal. But there's more.
Also, separate comment on decline of the West, political and editorial bias in ...
We received a record number of comments and questions after John Alcock’s discussion on Bitcoin in podcast 234.
So in Podcast 236 he makes a return for a question and answer session and we remind you that this is not a promotion, but an attempt to inform.
After the Wet and Forget sale, we reminisce and discover the benefits of hard work with Rod Jenden.
And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.
In 2007, Documentary maker Martin Durkin produced “The Great Global Warming Swindle”.
With 17 more years of predictions, Durkin has released “Climate: The Movie, The Cold Truth”.
By utilising facts, statistics and some of the world’s leading scientists, Durkin shows why the science is still not settled. (Judge for yourself by searching the movie title free on line).
UN climate official warns only ’two years’ to save the world from...
John Alcock has a BSC and MSc from Otago. He also has an LLB from Auckland Uni of Technology.
His time is presently devoted to matters crypto. He talks with us about Bitcoin, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC’s), and the progress by our own Reserve Bank.
What he has to say in podcast 234, needs to be heard by all who care about freedom.
There’s also comment on the approaching age of Neo Feudalism and the “take away” from the la...
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand seems intent on establishing itself as WOKE Central, a centre of "diversity, equity and inclusion".
In other parts of the finance industry, there is growing realisation that this DEI is not a good investment.
Dr Mike Schmidt argues that DEI is an ideological program, and we see from numerous examples, both local and international, that the results are mixed and in most industries inappropriate.
It is...
Roger L Simon is a writer of books, both fiction and non-fiction.
He was the founding CEO of PJ Media, but he is also a screenwriter of standing, a political commentator and columnist with the Epoch Times.
We talked about his column, “What it Means That We are Not Reading Books”, but it became a wide ranging discussion.
We have commentary on Natan Sharansky and the murder of Alexei Navalny, and Covid: what we should never forget.
A...
The Jim Allan commentary on the NZ Supreme Court’s Smith v Fonterra decision (Podcast 229) encouraged considerable reaction from the 'court of the pen’.
Foremost was correspondence from Gary Judd KC, who not only communicated to us but published a corresponding article in The Law Association’s LawNews.
Gary Judd expands on his views in podcast 231. Even a legal novice will find interest in it.
Elsewhere we have commentary on “savin...
George Friedman, founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures, is in the studio with us this week.
And there’s plenty to discuss; wars and rumours of more wars. Possible peace in Ukraine, Star Wars, politics and crises, and the part New Zealand has to play.
Also, George’s book “The Storm before the Calm” which predicted the 2020’s would be turmoil for America. Are his predictions on target?
And a new analysis of the death of John F...
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