Sweetman Podcast

An in-depth chat with Colin Hogg - rock writer, Women's Weekly columnist, TV producer...Colin's done it all really...and we talk about his many book projects and documentaries and his journalism career that started nearly 50 years ago as a young cadet and saw him become the leading rock writer in New Zealand across the late 1970s and into the 1980s. A candid conversation with one of my writing heroes.

An in-depth conversation with writer Jeffrey Paparoa Holman. We talk a lot about Bob Dylan, in the context of Jeffrey's latest volume, "Dylan Junkie". We then work through Holman's life - arriving to New Zealand from England as a toddler, living on the West Coast of the South Island, discovering the music of Dylan and then off wandering, story-gathering, settling into poetry, casting off demons, moving, working, living...we talk too of his various roles now, poet and published historian, academic, and still Dylan Fanatic.

An in-depth chat with TV/Film/Theatre actor/director/writer Danny Mulheron. From his early days working with Peter Jackson to his recent years churning out TV documentaries and feature films Mulheron has worked - solidly - across the arts. He was a child star, a stand-up comedian, collaborator across musicals and cabarets, and then on through film and TV and theatre work. We talk about all of this but we talk, mostly, about passion and energy in the arts; about truth and authenticity; about criticism and its vital role.

An in-depth chat with Shelagh Magadza, Artistic Director of the NZ Festival, incorporating the Wellington Jazz Festival. We talk about her background, her commitment to the concept of Festivals, her work in both Australia and New Zealand and then we plug the upcoming Wellington Jazz Festival, previewing and profiling the great names involved from local talent to international stars including Dianne Reeves, Bill Frisell and Comet is Coming.

An in-depth chat with Patrick ("Paddy") Gower, TV3/Newshub Political Editor. We talk about his history as a journalist, from shoe-leather shuffling for the NZ Herald to crime reporting, freelancing in the UK, returning to NZ to work in the press gallery and then moving into TV. We talk about some of his big grabs and big interviews and we talk about our shared history, as friends from university. It's a big talk. Lots of great stories here.

An in-depth chat with Wellington DJ, Simon Bendall - aka DJ Bill E. For over 20 years he's been one of the mainstay DJs in and on the scene. We talk about the importance of Greg Churchill, we talk about Bill's two long-running club nights, "Atomic" and "24HourPartyPeople" - his Anglophile love of post-punk, punk and pop music; his upcoming Kiwi version of Atomic, "See Me Go", his record buying, listening and playing habits; his life obsessed with music.

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based writer Sarah Jane Barnett. She has two published volumes of poetry, is the literary editor for The Pantograph Punch and has published essays, reviews, literary criticism and interviews alongside her poetry and prose. She studied creative writing at Victoria University and Massey with an MA and PhD. We talk about her literary career and aspirations - we talk influences and motivations, and the drive to work full-time as a writer, balancing parenting and other commitments.

An in-depth conversation with Phil Judd, singer/songwriter, founding member of Split Enz, creator of "Mental Notes" - one of the greatest records to come out of New Zealand, painter and artist, record producer, film soundtrack composer, solo artist. He also created the Swingers and wrote "Counting The Beat" and the criminally underrated band, Schnell-Fenster. He's made a half dozen solo albums too. We talk about all of his work. And his life. The battles with mental illness, his struggle to maintain relationships, the graft and craft of his work. A rare interview from one of our greatest songwriters.

An in-depth chat with actor/director/acting coach Miranda Harcourt. We talk through her 50-year career from child-star to coaching child-stars. She still works in film - acting and directing - but also has a career as an internationally renowned acting coach. Whether you know her from radio plays or kids TV (narrating Hairy Maclary), from her early defining role on NZ TV's "Gloss" or for her film work such as 'For Good' and 'The Rehearsal' you surely know at least some of her fine work. There's also experimental theatre, being the head teacher of the national drama school (Toi Whakaari)and all of the stories of her generosity with time and skills to theatre practitioners across New Zealand. We talked through it all as well as giving a big plug to the upcoming film she and partner Stuart McKenzie have co-directed, an adaptation of the classic Margaret Mahy book, The Changeover.

An in-depth chat with my good friend Nik Jarvie-Waldrom. In particular we talk podcasts and podcasting, we look at her amazing series "Fathom" that recently played (and can still be heard) on RNZ. We unpack each episode and talk through her process of interviewing and story-telling. And to get to that we talk through her background as a musician, writer, drama student, as someone with background in performance (dance and music) and as someone who has worn many hats in the arts, a "Creative Generalist". We also talk about podcasts - she has plenty of tips of good must-listen shows. And we discuss the current hit, "S-Town" or Shit Town...

An in-depth chat with actor and director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford. We talk through her career from the farm in Feilding to acting school, via a whole lot of amateur theatre productions. From Am-Dram to TV ('Skitz'), some film work, voiceovers, ads - the works. She's been a mainstay at Circa Theatre in Wellington across most of the last 20 years, with acting work and directing too. We talk about the behind-the-scenes, pitching a show, rehearsals, those unplanned moments where things go wrong. And we give a good plug to the upcoming production of "Hand to God" - Circa Theatre, April 22 - May 20, 2017.

An in-dept chat with NZ-based, internationally busy drummer, producer, DJ, beat-maker Myele Manzanza. We talk about the recording and release of his brand new live album, his time with Electric Wire Hustle and his methods and pursuits as a dynamic musician with the confidence and drive to work internationally. We talk about his time touring with Theo Parrish, his work collaborations with the likes of Ross McHendry and Mark de Clive Lowe, his work with Jonathan Crayford and many others. And we talk drums. Lots and lots of drums!

An in-depth chat with Paul McLaney - lost in the archive and now, finally, found - presented for the first time despite being about 18 months old...we talk Gramsci and The Impending Adorations, we talk about his solo albums and contributions to the music industry as a player and publisher (Mushroom) as well as some deviations to discuss Dire Straits and Jethro Tull...

An in-depth chat with drummer/DJ/producer/beatmaker Riki Gooch. He's been behind the kid for Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy's Drop and out in front under the moniker Eru Dangerspiel - sometimes conducing a giant big band other times tinkering away in the studio making bedsit-beats. He's worked with Crowded House, Leila Adu and Bic Runga and is currently the drummer for Orchestra of Spheres while releasing music under the name Cave Circles, one of many nom-de-plumes. We talk about all of this music making and the toll it takes, we talk about mental health and focus and finding joy and heart and soul in music.

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based film review for Stuff/Dominion Post Graeme Tuckett. He's also a film maker and regular crew member on various video shoots and movie sets. We talk about his approach to reviewing, we geek out on favourite films, film score and all sorts of things to do with movies. We talk too about his documentary Barry Barclay: The Camera On The Shore and we talk about failed film projects, earnest endeavours and aims in film reviewing and film making around story-telling.

An in-depth chat with Auckland-based musician Anthonie Tonnon. We talk about songwriting and his approach and influences, we talk also about the development and evolution of his stage-show, craft and character, from leader of Tono and The Finance Company to Anthonie Tonnon solo performer and/or bandleader. We talk about the start of his new upcoming record as well as looking back at his solo debut and the EPs and album that he and the Finance Company made. We also talk a bit about Nadia Reid's ascent and his role touring with her and tour-managing her.

An in-depth chat with Emily Writes - the second time she's been on the podcast; this time the mummy-blogger, writer, activist, campaigner and public speaker is now a published author and the conversation is a catch-up on what's happened in the year since she was a guest the first time around (episode 14). This time we talk about her role as editor of Spinoff Parents - the popular section on the popular NZ news/culture website. And of course we talk about her book, "Rants In The Dark", a collection of her blog posts that mothers around the world have enjoyed, needed, taken to heart, trusted, engaged with, felt bonded to. We talk about the writing of the book, the promotion schedule, her work at Spinoff, some of her film review work and how she balances all of this in and around being a mum.

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based musician and composer David Long. We talk about his various roles in bands such as TEETH, The Mutton Birds and The Labcoats. And beyond that his 'serious composing' for TV, film and documentary. We talk about his Wellington life, growing up to attend formative gigs by the likes of Talking Heads, exploring records by XTC and Eno...

An in-depth conversation with singer/songwriter Sharon O'Neill. From her early days (solo and with The Chapta) to carving out a role as a singer/songwriter in an era when the industry was less than supportive of female talent. We talk about her writing process, so many of those key songs (and the soundtrack to Smash Palace) and to her work in recent years writing material for Robert Palmer, Jimmy Barnes, Dragon and others.

An in-depth chat with Paul Ubana Jones; since the mid-1980s he's been living in New Zealand and touring almost every town with his music and a range of covers. Before that he was living in the UK, he grew up in South East London where gigs by the likes of Bob Dylan made a huge impression. Paul and I talk about his live as a touring musician, the ups and downs and the way he evolved from band-member to solo artist. He's also supported some of the biggest names in popular music. Beyond that he's an educator and eternal student of music.