The Leighton Smith Podcast

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...

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...

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...

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 “sa...

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 Joh...

The legal fraternity in this part of the world is delighted at the Supreme Court’s decision on Smith v Fonterra. But not everyone feels that way.

In his inevitable style, Professor James Allan critiques the decision and the direction a collection of un-elected ex-lawyers are “usurping power to themselves at the expense of the elected branches of government”.

As a specialist in constitutional law, Jim is in his element.

We also s...

Canadian Jonathan Roth, founder of Resource Wars, recently recorded an interview with the former Mossad Chief Efraim Halevy.

He did not get the answers he was expecting.

Roth maintains that "progress and wealth are impossible without resources. All empires rise and fall based upon access to resources.

He provides perspectives on investing, global politics, technology and the future.

We critique NZTA’s plans to restrict citizen'...

Bitcoin trail blazed the interest and development of digital money.

As a result, the drive for a cashless society with fiat currency being replaced with CBDCs is being pursued by an increasing number of countries.

Currently, that count is a worrying 130. The ultimate goal is a one world currency.

We discuss all of this with Aaron Day, author of “The Final Countdown, the People’s Last Stand Against Tyranny by Central Bank Digital...

If, like me, you love venturing into unknown territory and investigating challenges that are essentially beyond us, then here’s a question..

As we know, time goes forward, but can it go back?

Physicist Tom Sheahen explains how to expand human thinking and step up to a higher plane of understanding.

...

After six years of being mismanaged on so many fronts, New Zealand requires firm direction.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, opens up on our relationship with the U.S., the Middle East, China and Russia.

We discuss the Covid inquiry, the WHO, the state of the world and New Zealand’s place in it.

And we visit the first (very full) Mailroom of the year with Mrs Producer.

File your comments an...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

Three NZ academics have recently written that NZ’s Tertiary Education Sector is in deep financial crisis, and that our universities are losing their best people.

At the same time a new private institution, the University of Austin, Texas, is prepping for its opening.

We speak with Jacob Howland, Director of the Intellectual Foundation Pro...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

Ramesh Thakur, Emeritus Professor of the Crawford School of Public Policy.

He has held academic appointments in Fiji, New Zealand (Otago), Canada and Australia. He has also worked at the U.N.

We traverse COVID, the U.S. 2024 election, the W.H.O., climate, and the assault on liberties, freedoms and human rights.

File your comments and com...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

Professor James Allan returns to discuss our election, Jordan Peterson, The Voice, and Trumps legal challenges.

Jim encourages any so-called conservative parties to “fight the culture wars”.

Has any party in New Zealand got the required courage?

Is there “weaponised collusion” between The White House and the DOJ?

And what are the top un...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

In a world of lies, scepticism is your friend.

David Bell is a Public Health Physician and biotech consultant in global health.

What he has to say should be heard by every thinking person in this country, and every other “free” state on the planet.

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

Stephen Jennings is a Kiwi expat.

His first job after university was with Treasury in 1984, a noted time of economic and political change.

Jennings life has centred around change ever since. Working in Australia and NZ, followed by London and in 1992, Moscow until 2013.

Now he’s building cities in Africa.

His critique of New Zealand’s o...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

Science is in trouble.

Facts have taken a back seat to ideology, and political activism masquerades as scholarship. We live in an age of increasing unreason. Can science be saved?

John Staddon, Professor of Biology and Psychology and “battle-scarred” b...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2023.

AGAINST THE GREAT RESET; 18 THESES CONTRA THE NEW WORLD ORDER…

In one of the most informative and enjoyable interviews, we talk with editor and contributor Michael Walsh.

He and sixteen eminent writers contributed a total of eighteen chapters on the World Economic Forum.

Each author wrote on a different aspect; for example, the socialist...

The events in Israel on October 7 shocked the world.

The differing reactions from various countries, cultures, races and religions should have shocked just as much.

The lack of historical knowledge and perspective exposed the thin veneer of civilisation.

The similarities and differences of AD 70 to 2023 indicate that while some things change, human nature doesn’t.

Via the writing of Josephus, Simon Sebag Montefiore and Douglas ...

Daniel Hannan sat as a Conservative MEP for 21 years.

During that period he made countless speeches, usually berating the European Parliament itself.

He was arguably one of the best members of the European Parliament.

Daniel was keen to discuss matters Covid, the new government in NZ, and the Israeli crisis.

And we finish up in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz

Have...