Ask Me Anything with Paula Bennett

This episode of Ask Me Anything with Paula Bennett features entrepreneur and philanthropist Charlotte Lockhart, co-founder of the 4 Day Week Global movement. Charlotte opens up about her life, her years living in the Middle East, and the ideas that helped spark a worldwide rethink of productivity and work. She also speaks candidly about receiving an incurable stage-four breast cancer diagnosis after 17 years cancer-free, and the clarity it’s given her about what really matters. From reshaping workplaces to reshaping her own life, Charlotte shares insight, humour, and hard-won wisdom on how to live with purpose, protect your time, and focus on what counts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melodie Robinson is a force to be reckoned with. The former Black Fern, World Rugby exec and commentator joins Paula to talk ambition, identity and surviving in tough environments. Mel talks about growing up in a complicated household, fighting for basic resources in women’s rugby, breaking barriers at Sky Sport and building a career in male-dominated spaces. She shares her advice on bounce back routines, support networks, leadership and why intentionality matters more than ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne Paul is something of a national treasure. The pocket rocket first burst onto our screens in the 90s, promoting Natural Glow and its "thousands of luminous spheres." In the years since she's become a fixture on our screens and in magazines with a string of successes and a sprinkling of failures along the way. At nearly 70 she's launched a new podcast 'Fork's Sake' and is showing no sign of stopping. The infomercial queen joins Paula to talk about the difficult childhood that shaped her determined spirit, how she dealt with rejection after rejection and the advice that still guides her every day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Black Ali Williams sits down with Paula for a surprisingly candid chat about life after rugby, raising a blended family of five and why he thinks Auckland is “the best city in the world” yet held back by stagnant decision making. He shares how a shower conversation sparked Auckland FC, why the club recruits on character as much as talent and how he and Anna Mowbray keep their kids grounded. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson has built some of New Zealand’s most successful companies in Au Pair Link, My Food Bag and Tend Health. She joins Paula to talk about the key attribute of a true leader, juggling business and family life, the heartbreak of fertility struggles, and why she’s pushing for a ban on social media for under-16s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster, mum, and podcast host Toni Street joins Paula to talk about confidence, communication, and what balance really looks like. She shares how she builds self-belief, why she thinks balance is a myth, and the simple habits that help her keep it all together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is a little different and super exciting. We’re teaming up with ANZ to talk about something really important: financial confidence and KiwiSaver. But here’s the twist — Paula's not the one asking the questions this time! The amazing Hayley Sproull is stepping in to interview her about how she thinks about money, the future, and what she's learned along the way. Book your free KiwiSaver Check-in with ANZ and take a confident step toward your financial future. ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited is the issuer and manager of ANZ's KiwiSaver schemes. See advice statement, scheme guides and product disclosure statements at anz.co.nz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

English comedian, actor and musician Bill Bailey joins Paula Bennett for a wide-ranging chat about his lifelong love of performance, the chaos of early comedy gigs, and why he thinks everyone has rhythm. He talks about growing up surrounded by music and laughter, finding freedom in creativity, and how a teacher’s advice shaped his belief in human potential. And it wouldn't be an episode with Bill Bailey if there wasn't a little chaos: from his wild camping hair disaster to the backyard rooster that turned violent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two women whose lives were changed by the Pike River disaster open up about the real events that inspired the new film Pike River. Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse share their enduring friendship, the long fight for accountability, and what it means to see their story on screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the 100th episode of Ask Me Anything, and we're flipping the script! This week, Paula's in the hot seat as Heather du Plessis-Allan takes over hosting duties to ask the hard questions. Paula opens up about life in John Key’s inner circle, the grief that changed her and what she really thinks of Winston Peters and David Seymour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A social media ban for under-16s could do more harm than good according to Jazz Thornton. The mental health advocate joins Paula to discuss what she’s learned from time spent in psychiatric wards with young people, redefining what it means to be resilient, and the personal cost of sharing her own story of survival so publicly. Suicide and depression help services: If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111. For counselling and support: http://www.lifeline.co.nz, call www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline Youth services: YouthlineWhat's UpDepression helplineAoake te Rā For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service. The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand music icon Suzanne Lynch joins Paula to talk about how trusting her gut – and knowing when to say yes or no – has shaped a career that took her from teenage stardom in The Chicks to touring the world with Cat Stevens. She reflects on childhood mischief, the magic of the sixties, and the work ethic that’s kept her grounded for six decades in music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef, author and fisherman Al Brown joins Paula to talk food, family and finding joy in the simple things. Al discusses growing up on a farm, discovering his love of kitchens on his OE, and why he believes informality beats fine dining every time. He also opens up about dyslexia and the drive that’s pushed him through decades in hospitality, and the inspiration behind his new book Hooked! Learning to Fish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ignore the fear and just try it. That's the message from broadcaster, author and te reo translator Stacey Morrison as she joins Paula in celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Stacey shares her own “ugly, awkward, embarrassing” public learning journey, and why intent and aroha matter more than getting every word perfect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask Me Anything returns for a brand new season! And Paula's first guest is fellow former deputy prime minister, Grant Robertson. Once political adversaries, the pair sit down for a candid conversation about their shared experience as student protestors, the dangers of stress eating and why Grant was never interested in the top job. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final guest of the season, Paula is joined by 'That Guy' Leigh Hart. They dig into his intriguing childhood and early years dabbling in a variety of careers such as building the Channel Tunnel, and the troubles he got up to while overseas, before eventually breaking out on Sportscafe and Moon TV. And Leigh shares his advice for controlling your own brand and career, and how he's kept a handle on the various different fields he has worked in. Leigh's new show is Paid to Talk - live Fridays 3-4pm on Radio Hauraki, and as an extended podcast on iHeartRadio and all platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Paula is joined by children's entertainment legend, and recent King's Birthday honoree, Suzy Cato. They dig into Suzy's career in front of the camera and what impact that's had on her life, and get her advice for connecting with children. Plus, Suzy discusses how she got through some of the tough times in her life - including being made redundant at the height of her popularity - and insights into her life, including not knowing her biological father. Stream Suzy and Friends wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Paula's guest is Dr Ivor Popovich, an intensive care doctor in Auckland. He has worked across different hospitals and specialities for the last 10 years and will fully qualify as a specialist in August, but he has had first-hand knowledge of the state of our health system in that time. He has written a book - A Dim Prognosis: Our Health System in Crisis – and a Doctor’s View on How To Fix It - and joins Paula to discuss his career journey and what he thinks our health system needs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Paula's guest is Silver Fern turned commentator, broadcaster and Breakfast co-host, Jenny-May Clarkson. She discusses her new memoir, Full Circle, and her life story - from her rural upbringing, losing two of her brothers, her time with the Silver Ferns, moving into broadcasting, becoming a mum to twin boys in her 40s, and how she came to claim back her Māori identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Paula's guest is celebrity chef and businesswoman Nadia Lim. They discuss her successful career as a chef, author, farm owner and founder of My Food Bag, and how Nadia has capitalised on the opportunities in her life to get where she is today - and what she has learnt from the risks she took and the mistakes she made along the way. Easy Weeknight Meals - 10th Anniversary Edition is in bookstores this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.