Sweetman Podcast

An in-depth conversation with comedian and podcaster, Gavin Hewitson. Gavin does stand-up and he also hosts "Gavin Learns", which I've been a recent guest on - in fact we've set up reciprocating podcast episodes this week. Here we talked about his motivations behind podcasting and the development of it - also his interest in comedy and what it's like to bomb on stage. We also talk about interviews and techniques and have a really good conversation that touches on a few subjects.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 249 - Gavin Hewitson

An in-depth conversation with the writer and journalist Steve Braunias. We plug his new book of crime reporting, Missing Persons. But we go back to how he fell into writing and talk about his life and work. We talk, too, of other writers; poets, journalists, novelists, the writers that he's met and interviewed, the role models and heroes.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 254 - Steve Braunias

An in-depth conversation with Mark Rogers - he's a DJ, publicist, promoter, music fan, bookstore owner and raconteur. From Wales, originally, Mark arrived in New Zealand over a decade ago via 20 odd years in London - some of them very odd: seeing Nina Simone live at Ronnie Scott's, meeting Johnny Cash, looking after Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris, compiling a seminal alt-country compilation. Amazing stories. And we got many of them here along with more recent reflections, including his weekly show on RNZ, Nashville Babylon and the time Jacinda Ardern visited his book and antique store, Bear Flag Books And Retro in Masterton's main street.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 256 - Mark Rogers

An in-depth conversation with Ben Tolich aka Mali Mali. We talk through his life and catalogue of music; discussing the need to work and be creative on the side. We also talk religion, mental health, Bob Dylan and many other things and to top it off there's a live performance of an as yet unreleased Mali Mali song.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 262 - Ben Tolich (Mali Mali)

A phone conversationw with TV host and comedian Dai Henwood. We've never met and this is our first ever chat, so we talk lockdown and covid, and rap music, and we talk about his father, the late, great Ray Henwood (a wonderful actor). We do talk comedy, a bit. But this was more a getting-to-know-somehow chat. And I loved it. I hope you do too.

Sweetman Podcast # 273: Dai Henwood

An in-depth conversation with repeat-guest, Megan Dunn. This time around we're talking about her memoir-in-essays, "Things I Learned At Art School". She was previously a guest, back in 2018 when her first book, "Tinderbox" was released. We talked parenting and pandemic and writing about art, writing about writing. We talked mermaids and the TV show, Alf. We talked about pop-culture stuff and generally nerded out a bit.

Sweetman Podcast # 274: Megan Dunn

We Crawl

My Mum

Humour Me, Badalamenti

You Definitely Need The Gloves

TwinPeaking

If I Was John Carpenter I’d Hammer Synths All Day Long

Tuatara

The Picton Killings

An in-depth phone conversation with Henry Rollins. We promo his upcoming NZ tour but talk about his move to Nashville, after 40 years of living in LA. We talk about his childhood, his recent return to travel, the Covid Lockdowns, his acting, his writing, his radio show. The works. Henry weighs in on America and politics, and previews the type of talk he'll be doing on the stage.

Sweetman Podcast # 275: Henry Rollins

Simon Sweetman's Album

Slow Ox

A late-night wash of ambient-techno scribbles.

Half A Cookie

Episode 1 of Sweetman Podcast - an in-depth chat with New Zealand blues guitar legend Darren Watson.  

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 1 - Darren Watson

Episode 2 of Sweetman Podcast - an in-depth chat with Wellington composer Rhian Sheehan 

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 2 - Rhian Sheehan

A little taste of what's to come...next up on Sweetman Podcast...Episode Three - Booga Beazley (check back soon for the full interview...)

Sweetman Podcast Tease: Booga Beazley

Another teaser/trailer for the full interview (upcoming) with Booga Beazley of Head Like A Hole 

Sweetman Podcast Tease: Trailer 2 for Booga Beazley

An in-depth chat with New Zealand's last great rock star, Head Like A Hole front-man, Booga Beazley

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 3 - Booga Beazley

An in-depth chat with 'Emily Writes' - mummy-blogger, journalist, writer, advocate and activist; creator of the initiative 'Ballet Is For Everyone' and total Twitter fanatic. We talk social media, journalism and blogging. We talk about nasty comments and creating communities online. We talk parenting and having our voices heard. 

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 14 - Emily Writes

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.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 52 - Emily Writes (Again!)

An in-depth chat with Janna Lapidus Leblanc. She was Stevie Ray Vaughan's fiancee at the time of his death; they met four years earlier in Wellington - she's a Kiwi, now based in America. She has recently written and published a book of photos that tells the story of their love affair. Janna and I talk about Stevie, his music, their relationship, her book. We talk too about her life, her upbringing, her career (professional model), her grieving of Stevie.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 73 - Janna Lapidus Leblanc

A chat with James Buttery - vinyl collector, record-nerd, he's the co-host of a new podcast called The Good, The Bad & The LP. He's the host of a YouTube channel where he effectively reviews his own record collection. We talk about his late start in life, music-wise, his travels between England, Australia and New Zealand and the aims and ambitions of his new podcast. We also talk collecting. And all things record-collection and record-collecting. We talk too about this podcast and some of my music writing. It's a big old music-nerd talk this one.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 108 - James Buttery

An in-depth chat with Barry Saunders, songwriter, lead singer of The Warratahs and solo artist too. Barry's a poet, and musician - he's written songs about the New Zealand landscape and mindset that are now seemingly a part of both. We talk through some of his solo records, The stop-start nature of The Warratahs, his early experiences as a rock'n'roller and adventurer and his latest project, a collaboration with Delaney Davidson.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 121 - Barry Saunders

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based, English-born guitarist, singer and poet Russell Self. Russell has lived in New Zealand for a quarter of a century before that his home was in various places in England and France - he's been a busker, had many jobs, has released an album of poems and music, has performed around the world and continues to think up and recite poems as well as learn the songs of others. We talked about all of this and some favourite writers and musicians too.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 125 – Russell Self

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based guitarist, guitar luthier, conservationist, former City Councillor and newly instated board chair for Wellington Orchestra. We talk art and culture, oh and that time Ray Ahipene-Mercer saw The Beatles in Wellington as a teenager. Oh, also that time he was asked to be a guitar tech for Led Zeppelin. Ray Mercer has a kind heart, a deep soul and a huge bag of stories. We unpacked a lot of that during this wonderful conversation.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 127 – Ray Ahipene-Mercer

An in-depth chat with Emily Writes. She's the first third-time guest of the podcast so for this conversation we talk about the toll of online writing, we talk social media beat-ups, mental health, wellbeing, family, community - friendship. And somewhere in all of that - and it gets pretty heavy, pretty quickly - there's a plug for her new book, "Is It Bedtime Yet" by Emily Writes & Friends.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 131 – Emily Writes (About Her Life!)

An in-depth conversation with rapper and writer Tom Scott. We talk about his new project, Avantdale Bowling Club as well as referencing his work from the past (@-Peace/Home Brew) and talking politics, music and writing.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 147 – Tom Scott (Avantdale Bowling Club)

An in-depth conversation with former TV host and Tall Black Brendon Pongia. We talk through his time playing basketball and on to sports broadcasting and then to where we first met, on the Good Morning TV show. (Brendon was the co-host I worked with most frequently). He's now working for Cure Kids, a charity he supported when he was a finalist on Dancing With The Stars. We talk through his various jobs and his life, from his childhood through to now being a parent.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 155 – Brendon Pongia

An in-depth conversation with Paul Crowther. As "Emlyn Crowther" he was the drummer in Split Enz in the mid-70s, playing on the classic debut album, "Mental Notes". When he was kicked out of the band he took his tinkering electronics hobby a bit more seriously and created the "Hot Cake" guitar pedal. We talk through his life from the drums to guitar pedals and back, to live sound engineering for The Mutton Birds and many other acts and having The Datsuns write their most famous song ('Harmonic Generator') about one of his pedals.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 162 - Paul Crowther

An in-depth conversation with GInette McDonald. We talk acting, we talk Lyn of Tawa, we talk OE - the early experience in London - and to recent theatrical successes ("Joan") and the upcoming Pink Hammer. We talk theatre, TV, movies - acting techniques - and I just generally enjoy being in the presence of a living legend of both serious acting and comedic monologues.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 182 - Ginette McDonald

An in-depth conversation with Ben Mulchin - owner/operator of Valhalla music venue in Wellington and a tour promoter (Valhalla Touring). Ben and I talked about his background outside and away from music (science), his love of the venue (then Hole In The Wall) and his decision to run a bar, and then get into promoting shows. We talk, too, of Covid-19's plans for 2020 and adjusting to lockdown levels and socially distanced, responsible gigging.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 228 - Ben Mulchin (Valhalla)

An in-depth conversation with Anna Dean, Nelson-born, Wellington-based, she is one half of the creative agency Double Denim, a co-creator of the Ace Lady Network. She is or has been a journalist, broadcaster, social media manager, event planner, PR guru and party organiser extraordinaire. We talk about the various roles and facets of her career/s and we talk trends in podcasts, social media and journalism. We talk about living online and broadcasting opinions and thoughts and the content mire of providing so much of your content to Facebook and other digital platforms for free.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 230 - Anna Dean

An in-depth conversation with Geoff Stahl, Media Studies lecturer and DJ. As TV Disko he puts on DJ sets in bars and via radio shows. As a lecturer he's interested in popular music and the "other social media" of coffee, craft beer and wine. We talked about his upbringing in Canada and his move to Wellington, NZ 15 years ago where he took up a teaching position at Victoria University. We talk pandemic and teaching through lockdown via video conferencing. We talk music and record collecting and the development of media studies as a subject.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 231 - Geoff Stahl

I sit down (with myself) and read poems from my debut volume of poetry - The Death of Music Journalism. I read from the book and discuss the process around it and some of the stories behind the poems. The book is out now (through The Cuba Press) and can be found in (or ordered from) all good book stores in NZ. We launch this Sunday, October 11, 4pm at Meow in Wellington. With readings also by Freya Daly Sadgrove and Rachel McAlpine. Music and poetry by Dr. Blue. And the book will be launched by Pip Adam.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 233 - The Death of Music Journalism

An in-depth conversation with Claire Mabey, co-director of Verb (Litcrawl) and organiser of many literary events, political talks and writing-related shows, festivals and ideas. Claire's been on the podcast twice before, with partner Andrew Laking. This time it was Claire solo - to talk about this year's upcoming Verb Festival and Litcrawl event and also to discuss the impacts of Covid-19 on event planning and the year of hell that 2020 has been in general and particularly from the point of view of an event planner. We also talk books. Loads of books. And Bob Dylan too.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 236 - Claire Mabey (Verb)

Simon Sweetman talks to musicians, writers, actors, comedians, people of interest. Creative types share their stories.

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