We're back on January 21st 2019. Until then, here's a link to some of our favourite interviews from 2018.

 

 

 

On Christmas Eve Lynn Freeman presents a selection of highlights from this year:

 

09:05 Transgender New Zealand teen - being who you want to be

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Photo: http://docedge.nz/film/born-this-way-awas-story/.

Awa Puna is an openly transgender 18 year old from the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington. She talks about becoming her authentic self and the problems with getting gender reassignment surgery in New Zealand. She is joined by her Mum Caroline Beaufort-Puna who was the first person she told about wanting to transition, and who has helped support Awa throughout her journey. Here's the link to today's podcast.

09.30 Suzanne Vega: A Life in Music

US Singer Songwriter, Suzanne Vega

US Singer Songwriter, Suzanne Vega Photo: Richard Huber

In August US singer songwriter, Suzanne Vega was in New Zealand to play 2 shows as part of her Anniversary Tour celebrating two of her early albums. It had been 30 years since Solitude Standing was released featuring Luka and Tom's Diner,and 25 years since the album 99.9 F. Suzanne was in the studio to talk about her career, experimenting with music and to sing an A Cappella version of Tom's Diner.

 

10.05 Sam Hunt: Coming To It

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Photo: supplied

Sam Hunt is New Zealand's best known poet. He's been writing and performing his work for nearly 50 years, and has published a new selection of his work called Coming To It - which includes 19 new poems written this year. He spoke to Kathryn Ryan about life, love and working from his remote treetop home overlooking the Arapoa River in Kaipara.

10.35 Teeks: Heart and so much soul

Teeks

Teeks Photo: Supplied

That voice! That sound! Northland's chart-topping and heart-stopping Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi spoke to Kathryn Ryan about his humble approach to making music and the tunes that have shaped him.

11.04 Palin at Sea

Michael Palin

Michael Palin Photo: AFP / FILE

Comedian, broadcaster and history graduate Michael Palin's recent book chronicles the life of British naval ship HMS Erebus that circumnavigated the globe before disappearing for over a century under the waves. Palin became obsessed with the ship and journeyed round the world to write a biography of it, and the people who sailed in her. Here's the link to today's podcast.

11.25 Bret McKenzie: paying homage to Jim Henson & the Muppets

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Photo: Zachary Scott Photography

The Muppets came to Wellington in April. Kathryn Ryan spoke to Bret McKenzie and Jim Henson Retrospectacle organiser Nic Marshall, who organised the three-week long musical tribute to the genius creator of The Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.