Sweetman Podcast

An in-depth conversation with Hawke's Bay jazz singer Margot Pierard. We talk about being born into a musical family and growing up with music as the "sport" in the house. We talk about the great jazz divas and falling under the spell of singers like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. We talk about performance and anxiety and the barriers to success when life and work gets in the way. We talk about communicating songs - selling the story of them while telling the song's history. And we talk through Margot's incredible passion and commitment to singing.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 253 - Margot Pierard

An in-depth conversation with Matthew Pender - he's the singer of Wellington band Odessa. But our conversation here is mostly about the influence of Prince and our shared Prince fandom; in fact our friendship was formed through mutual Prince appreciation. This conversation is our wee tribute to Prince, marking five years since his death.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 255 - Matthew Pender on Prince

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

A brief phone conversation with the legendary comic mind and author Ben Elton. We talk about his tour with a bit of looking back to when and how he made his name in the 1980s as a writer for legendary TV shows and creator of iconic characters.

Sweetman Podcast # 265 - Ben Elton

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

Episode 10 of Sweetman Podcast - an in-depth chat with Wellington-based comedian, Alice Brine. We talk about comedy and reviewing, about comedy-writing and the state of the NZ Comedy Industry, we talk about ADHD, we took about pursuing a creative life, about performance and performing.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 10 - Alice Brine

An in-depth chat with actor/writer/director/musician Aidee Walker. She's just finished the Wellington season of the play "Lungs" so we talk about that, and trace her career back through Step-Dave and Outrageous Fortune, the films The Locals and How To Meet Girls From A Distance and we talk also about her charity work, numerous short films and music videos and the days when she played drums in the bands Duchess and Handsome Geoffrey. She's working on scripts for short and feature films and developing TV shows also.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 39 - Aidee Walker

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.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 66 - Danny Mulheron

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

An in-depth chat with Jules Desmond - bass player, music reviewer, archivist, noise-maker...Jules and I know each other best through Facebook but we've known each other for a while. I was first aware of him as a music reviewer/writer but also as a member of Letterbox Lambs. He's gone on to play in several bands, release albums, run a label, make noise/improv music and meet Henry Rollins. We talk about that - and more. And this is just the first conversation - recorded a year ago...we go on to talk more (more recently) in a future episode of the podcast...

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 90 - Jules Desmond (Take 1)

An in-depth chat with Adam McGrath, lead singer and a songwriter for The Eastern, also a solo artist; prolific busker. We talk about his early years stealing cars and obsessing over music. We talk punk and the influence of The Clash and Henry Rollins and the move to making American music in America and then back in New Zealand. We talk about the rise of The Eastern, the setback of the Christchurch earthquakes and the relief work the band was involved in. He has a solo album due next year and a new Eastern album will be recorded late next year too...

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 94 - Adam McGrath

A second in-depth chat with Wellington-based writer and musician and curator/collector Jules Desmond. We catch up on the bits we missed in the first talk (ep.90) and discuss the Wellington music scene in the mid-90s as well as talking about music journalism and touching on many other tangents...

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 97 - Jules Desmond (Take 2)

An in-depth chat with Christchurch-based artist Marie Le Lievre. Marie is Katy's cousin so I first met her over a decade ago. We've watched her work, we're fortunate to have some of it on our walls; we've talked about Marie's art and approach over the years but this was a chance to sit down and talk through the work and some of the baggage that informs in. Marie talks through her reasons for painting, her technique and approach and the aspects of her life that have informed her work. She has an exhibition of her work at Bartley and Company Gallery in Wellington through until early March.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 102 - Marie Le Lievre

An in-depth chat with musician and venue-owner Roy Brown. Roy is a piano player, singer/songwriter and band-frontman. He grew up performing in venues around Hawke's Bay including the mighty Cabana. Now, after time in Auckland and Melbourne, he has returned to Hawke's Bay and is the owner of that legendary venue. We talk about Roy's life and careers - across performance, hospitality and retail - and we talk mental health, advocacy, and that time he met his hero: David Bowie.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 114 - Roy Brown

An in-depth chat with artist and musician Fane Flaws. We go back to his days in Blerta and from there through Spats, The Crocodiles and The Bend to these days with No Engine, as well as his work making ads and music videos, creating the opening credits for Radio With Pictures and his own art. We talk, too, about songwriting. And music. So much music.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 115 - Fane Flaws

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 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 American-born, NZ-residing "Kiwi" Marc Taddei. He's a conductor and the musical director and program organiser for both Orchestra Wellington and the Vallejo Symphony in America. He holds these posts concurrently. As a trombonist he was a member of the NZSO and worked on the ENZSO recordings among many other milestone moments. He has worked with many of classical music's biggest names and played on stages around the world. We talk through his passion and commitment to the art, from being in on the ground floor trying to raise funds and create innovative shows to his time at Julliard as a musician and through his focus as both a listener and an educator.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 151 – Marc Taddei

An in-depth conversation with Split Enz keyboardist, songwriter and arranger Eddie Rayner. We talk through his life and times including stints with Space Waltz and Crowded House. We talk through the career of Split Enz and to ENZSO, solo albums, recording with Paul McCartney and the many other highlights in Rayner's long musical career.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 172 - Eddie Rayner

An in-depth conversation with actor Sophie Hambleton. We talk about her role as "Carol" on popular TV show, Westside. Her training and work - to this day - in theatre. We preview the upcoming "Burn Her" theatre work at Circa and discuss here recent turn as Nora in an updated rendition of Ibsen's classic, "A Doll's House". We talk, too, of what it was like growing up with her actor dad, Peter Hambleton (The Hobbit).

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 175 - Sophie Hambleton

An in-depth conversation with journalist and broadcast Sean Plunket. From his early days in the press-gallery to stints on Fair Go and RNZ, including 14 years co-hosting Morning Report. We talk journalist, TV, radio and the changes over the years. We talk, too, of his move towards a more "entertainment"-style of talkback. And of course his stint near politics liaising for TOP (The Opportunities Party)

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 193 - Sean Plunket

An in-depth conversation with American guitarist and singer/songwriter Steve Gunn. We talked through his life and career and the harshness of solo touring. We had a big old geek-out over The Beatles and many other legendary songwriters and recording artists too.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 205 - Steve Gunn

An in-depth conversation with (Officer) Karen O'Leary; she of the TV show Wellington Paranormal and the movie What We Do In The Shadows. When is not portraying Officer O'Leary she is the head teacher at an early childcare facility, where she's been employed for the last 20 years. She fell into acting by a mistake of genius casting. We talk about her life and passions and the 'side-gig' of appearing in character at events and on stage and screen.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 215 - Karen O'Leary

An in-depth conversation with musician, poet, teacher and music therapist Ruby Solly. We talk about her life and work, he connection to music, her deep study and improvisation with the cello and on to Taonga puoro and other instruments, including her brand new album Poneke. Ruby is also a poet so we talk poetry, writing and influences too.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 220 - Ruby Solly

An in-depth conversation with writer and performance poet Ben Brown. Ben is Lyttelton-based and this chat happened recently in Wellington outside with the weekend noises happening about us. We talked through his life and work and had a deep discussion about alcohol, alcoholism and addiction. Also an even deeper conversation about poetry. And family.

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 225 - Ben Brown

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

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

off the tracks

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks