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Both Sides Now

Both Sides Now 50 Episodes Jun 27, 2026

Both Sides Now is a political podcast co-founded in 2022 by Eve McCallum and Finn Ross to combat political polarisation and engage youth. It features interviews with high-profile politicians and journalists from across the political spectrum, including six Prime Ministers. For the 2026 election year, the show returns with a new co-host, Alex Martin, and a focus on women in politics, aiming to share their stories and inspire other women.

Episodes

A beginners guide to our weird voting system MMP Jun 27, 2026 58:48 Ever wondered how New Zealand's voting system actually works? In this episode, we're joined by our old university lecturer, Professor Andrew Geddis, for a deep dive into MMP – the system that shapes every election and every government.We unpack how MMP works, why New Zealand adopted it, what your party vote and electorate vote actually do, and clear up some of the biggest misconceptions about our

Definition of a woman, Labour has some new policies and scrutiny week Jun 20, 2026 45:06 This week on the podcast, we begin by discussing our episode with Q Opportunity Party leader. We then unpacked the government's proposed Definition of a Woman Bill and looked at the legal, political, and social debates surrounding it. We discussed what the bill would actually do, why it has generated so much attention, and whether it has any realistic chance of becoming law.We also took a look at

Opportunity party leader Qiulae Wong on the new Opportunity Party, left v right divide and Mt Albert campaign Jun 13, 2026 51:20 She's the woman hoping to pull off one of the biggest upsets in New Zealand's MMP history. Qiulae Wong — known as 'Q' — is the new leader of the Opportunity Party, and she joins us on Both Sides Now to talk about what needs to change in NZ politics, why the left-right divide is holding the country back, and her mission to get Opportunity into Parliament for the very first time.We talk about her ca

Stalking, climate change litigation and do polls really matter? Jun 6, 2026 50:14 In this weeks episode we examine the Government's new stalking legislation, which will create a standalone stalking offence for the first time in New Zealand. We discuss why existing laws have often failed to adequately capture patterns of obsessive and threatening behaviour, what conduct the new offence will cover, and whether the proposed penalties and protections strike the right balance.We the

Budget breakdown - what is it, why is it important and what's in it for you May 30, 2026 53:41 It's Budget week, which means we've dedicated this episode to breaking down the Government's biggest announcement of the year.We talk through what the Budget actually is, why politicians and the media obsess over it every May, and what this year's decisions tell us about the Government's priorities. We look at the key spending announcements, where the money is going, and w

Breakdown of Nicole McKee, changes to family carers law, public service cuts and more! May 23, 2026 56:57 This week on the podcast, politics delivered another packed agenda and we covered it all — from our interview with Nicole McKee and what she had to say about ACT’s priorities in Government, through to the latest debates dominating Wellington.We unpacked the Government’s proposed changes to the family carers legislation and the difficult balancing act between recognising carers, managing costs, and

Hon Nicole McKee on firearms, family and her political career May 16, 2026 45:41 In this episode, we sit down with Hon Nicole McKee to discuss the issues that have defined both her political career and her personal journey. From firearm reform and the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque attacks, to the realities of being a Māori woman in politics, Nicole shares candid insights into some of New Zealand’s most debated topics.We talk about why firearms matter to many New Zealand

Fees free, breakdown of Desley Simpson, grievance driven politics and birth rates May 9, 2026 49:43 This week on the podcast, we covered a LOT — from the government’s surprise Fees Free announcement hot off the press, a breakdown of our episode with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and what the UK local council elections might signal globally as Reform makes major gains.We unpacked the new Helen Clark Foundation social cohesion report, including the striking finding that 28% of people feel alienated

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson on Leadership, Local Government, and Auckland’s Future May 2, 2026 50:08 In this episode, we sit down with Deputy Mayor of Auckland Desley Simpson to unpack the realities of local government, leadership during crisis, and why local politics deserves far more attention especially from young people.A key theme throughout the conversation is the disconnect between people and local government. While councils shape everyday life from transport to infrastructure many voters

Breakdown of Wayne Eagleson, Tova v the PM, FTAs and Shane Jones Apr 25, 2026 37:23 Big episode this week. We unpack the Wayne Eagleson interview and what it reveals behind the scenes, then dive into the leadership confidence vote and what it signals for the party moving forward. We also break down Christopher Luxon’s call to pull out of his scheduled interviews with Tova O'Brien and what that says about his media strategy. On the policy front, we get into the India FTA — wh

Former Chief of Staff Wayne Eagleson on the machinery of government, being a political staffer and what makes a great PM Apr 18, 2026 44:41 In this episode, we're joined by former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Wayne Eagleson, for a behind-the-scenes look at how government really works.We get into his career at the centre of power, what separates good PMs from great ones, and the real role political staffers play (beyond the headlines). Wayne shares how decisions get made under pressure, what loyalty and judgment look like

Breakdown of Barbara Edmonds Episode, public sector grad roles, Eve has watched Prime Minister and the cabinet reshuffle Apr 11, 2026 47:06 We unpack our takeaways from Barbara Edmonds’ latest interview, dive into the growing fuel crisis, and talk about the tough reality facing grads with fewer public sector roles available.Plus, Eve shares her thoughts after watching Prime Minister, and we break down the recent cabinet reshuffle — were the right calls made?Tune in for sharp insights and real talk on the issues shaping Aotearoa right

Hon Barbara Edmonds on family, election promises and working for National Mar 28, 2026 46:58 We are so excited for you to hear this one, we chat with Barb for a refreshingly honest conversation about life inside and outside Parliament. She opens up about raising a big family, her time working for National, and why community has always been at the centre of everything she does.She shares why she's not making big promises about “fixing the economy” this election, what she thinks voters

Breakdown of Nicola Willis' interview, petrol prices, COVID-19 Royal Commission and a super rugby update Mar 21, 2026 51:25 We begin by reviewing our interview with Nicola Willis. We unpack the growing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, and how it’s starting to ripple into everyday life here — particularly through oil prices, petrol costs, and the wider cost of living in Aotearoa.On the domestic front, we go through the newly released Royal Commission COVID-19 Lessons Learned Phase 2 report. We also touch on t

Hon Nicola Willis on Pay Equity, Mum guilt and how her leadership style compares with Jacinda Ardern Mar 14, 2026 58:17 Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins the podcast for a candid conversation about the pressures and priorities of political leadership. From the debate around pay equity to the reality of mum guilt while holding one of the country’s most demanding jobs, Nicola shares how she navigates family, finance, and public scrutiny.She also reveals the policy she believes every politician should be talking ab

2026 Preview and Predictions Mar 8, 2026 40:17 We are back and Eve is joined by a new co-host, Alex Martin.In this first episode, we share our predictions for the political year ahead and talk through stories and issues we think will shape the months to come. We also outline what we’re planning for the podcast this season and the kinds of conversations we want to have along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell Speed Round Apr 24, 2024 3:31 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell on his time working for Donald Trump, American politics and his work to help New Zealand Apr 24, 2024 58:27 This was an epic chat with the kiwi who spent 4 years having daily meetings with the most powerful man in the world. He chats about his time in the White House, politics in the United States and how he's helping to shape the future of New Zealand. Chris has done very little media in New Zealand so don't miss the chance to hear directly from someone who was once the most influential kiwi

James Meager MP Speed Round Mar 6, 2024 2:56 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New MP James Meager on his proudest achievement, his future goals in politics and his Maiden Speech Mar 4, 2024 51:09 This was an epic chat with new MP James Meager where we chatted about everything from climate change, to the treaty, to what his proudest achievements are outside of politics and the impact his new career will have on his personal life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eve and Finn share their thoughts on the campaign Oct 5, 2023 21:54 Catch Eve and Finn sharing how they think the campaign has gone and what we can expect in the coming weeks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TOP Leader Raf Manji Speed Round Sep 22, 2023 1:36 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raf Manji on TOP, what the polls don't show about their chances and the current MP who considered making the move Sep 21, 2023 34:53 Eve and Finn would both agree that theres many things in TOP they would both vote for. This was a great chat where we explored more about who TOP are, what they would bring to Parliament and why voting for them isn't a wasted vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Gower speed(ish) round Sep 8, 2023 10:38 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Gower on leaders debates, being in the press gallery and journalism in NZ Sep 7, 2023 59:05 We had an epic conversation with Paddy Gower, we covered everything from his career in the media, to how he prepares for the leaders debates, to many stories from throughout his career in the media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Tame Speed Round Aug 28, 2023 5:44 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Tame on the media, polarisation and elections. Aug 27, 2023 43:22 This week we changed things up and caught up with New Zealand journalist and TV presenter Jack Tame to discuss the state of the media in New Zealand and globally, their role in polarisation and elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Luxon Speed Round Aug 21, 2023 4:04 Listen to hear Chris's thoughts on police carrying hand guns, who he would give a knighthood too, Te Reo in schools and more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Luxon on his political philosophy, polarisation and the issues facing NZ Aug 20, 2023 43:44 We caught up with National Party Leader Christopher Luxon for the first episode of season 2. We covered just about every topic in this interview from polarisation, to climate change, to what Christopher does for fun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrap up of season one of Both Sides Now with Eve and Finn Dec 10, 2022 26:40 For the final episode we sat down and discussed some of the highlights of the first season of the podcast and what we have learnt from travelling around NZ and meeting all the politicians that we spoke too. We discuss things such as our favourite episode, where we think NZ should sit on the political spectrum and what surprised us most about each other! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m

Hon Nikki Kaye Speed Round Nov 15, 2022 10:57 Listen to hear the Hon Nikki Kaye's speed round(ish) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hon Nikki Kaye on being a liberal MP in the National Party, beating PM Jacinda Ardern in Auckland central and being a young MP Nov 13, 2022 32:55 The Hon Nikki Kaye was education minister under the John Key lead National Government and won the traditionally left seat of Auckland Central for the National Party for the first time. Throughout Nikki's time in the National Party she was known for being one of the most liberal MPs in the caucus. She talks about what it was like disagreeing with her own caucus. This is also a great yarn for

Metiria Turei Speed Round Nov 10, 2022 3:37 Listen in to hear Metiria's speed round! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Green Party Co Leader Metiria Turei debates greed, equality and racism in NZ Nov 9, 2022 47:44 Being a former co leader of the Green Party Eve found this interview one of the more challenging as Metiria sits on the complete opposite side of the political spectrum. However, Metiria’s openness to discussion and debate allowed both of us to learn a lot from the discussion. What was most apparent from her interview was her unrelenting drive to want to improve life for those who are struggling o

Sir Roger Douglas Speed Round Nov 7, 2022 2:26 Listen in to hear the speed round with Sir Roger! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Roger Douglas on Rogernomics, moving from Labour to ACT and NZ politics today Nov 6, 2022 52:01 Roger Douglas is one of the absolute legends of New Zealand politics, we would have loved to have the cameras rolling as soon as we arrived at his house because we were straight into some epic political conversations. Roger Douglas is most well known for Rogernomics, his suite of neoliberalism policies he enacted as finance minister that was relatively controversial in the 1980’s. Roger then went

Rt Hon Jim Bolger talks International Relations, Capital Gains Tax and the art of being PM Nov 2, 2022 50:45 We went and caught up with former National Prime Minister of 7 years the Rt Hon Jim Bolger. Finn particularly enjoyed this interview, ‘a man after my own heart’ with Jim answering the question on what is the biggest challenge NZ is facing the same as Finn, inequality and climate change. Jim told us some classic stories including talking Nukes with Bill Clinton on the back of a boat and about his e

Political Ideologies Nov 1, 2022 4:36 At the start of every podcast, we ask each politician what their political ideology is. Have a listen to hear what our 11 guests said to this question! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Te Ururoa Falvell Speed Round Oct 31, 2022 1:23 Listen in to hear Te Ururoa's answers to our 20 question speed round Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Te Ururoa Flavell on Co Governance, the Treaty and The Maori Party Oct 30, 2022 56:38 Was a great discussion this week with former Maori Party Co Leader Te Ururoa Flavell where we talked Co-Governance and learnt some new context for this discussion that there were more Maori than European when the Treaty was signed, now its the opposite. Te Ururoa was super open about how devastated he was about the loss post-2017 election and the work that New Zealand still has to do to honour the

Sir Geoffrey Palmer discusses rights, the RMA and threats to democracy Oct 26, 2022 34:44 We met with former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey at the gorgeous Wellington law building. Our cameraman Thomas said during the interview he was admiring all the books Geoffrey had collected in his big library when to his surprise he realised all the books were written by Geoffrey! This epitomises Geoffrey Palmer, he carries an incomprehensible amount of knowledge and has contributed more to legislat

Climate Change Minister James Shaw Speed Round Oct 24, 2022 2:10 Does James think we should have a sugar tax? Listen to his speed round to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw discusses his Green Party Co Leadership, Farming and the Environment Oct 23, 2022 39:41 James Shaw is well regarded on the right of politics despite being from NZ’s furthest left party, being the co leader of the Greens. We had some great discussion on how effective some of the key policies are that he leads as minister for climate change and how long he expects to be in office. Check out this awesome discussion now ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Jones Speed Round Oct 20, 2022 4:08 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Jones on leaving Labour, New Zealand first and Co Governance Oct 19, 2022 42:29 Shane Jones was the most straight up interview we had. This made for one of the easiest conversations of the series. Shane talked to us about his time in both the Labour Party and New Zealand First. He provided an insight into New Zealand First and his thoughts on the liberal movement that is becoming increasingly intertwined with New Zealand Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m

Dame Jenny Shipley Speed Round Oct 17, 2022 3:44 Will Dame Jenny share Sir John Key's answer about voting for Donald Trump in 2016? Listen to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Jenny Shipley discusses women in leadership, the Treaty and making decisions Oct 16, 2022 1:04:25 We were privileged to get to speak with Dame Jenny Shipley, New Zealand's first female Prime Minister. She talked openly with us about the challenges faced with being a woman in politics in the 90s. What was also of particular interest was her ability to make decisions. When asked about her decision to cut benefits in 1991 as Minister of Social Development, she unequivocally said that she got

Hon Chris Hipkins Speed Round Oct 13, 2022 1:17 As part of some of the episodes, we have a bonus speed round to go with them. Here is Hon Chris Hipkins! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hon Chris Hipkins on Labour, Democracy and Big Brother Oct 12, 2022 39:51 The Hon Chris Hipkins was our first current politician, we met him in the beehive for an awesome interview. As Minister for Education, Police and Covid Response Chris is one of the most influential politicians of our time and we thoroughly enjoyed this conversation. Chris exemplified what we are trying to achieve at Both Sides Now by having a book case full of political books from both the right a

Sir John Key Speed Round Oct 9, 2022 2:37 At the end of most of the episodes, we recorded a speed round where we asked the politicians 20 yes/no/short answer questions. Sir John gave us a few surprise answers in his, including a controversial opinion on Trump! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir John Key Oct 9, 2022 49:45 This was one of the most epic conversations both Eve and I have had. We could have talked to John for hours, we both came away with hundreds more questions we wanted to ask and a even more respect for John and his legacy. Finn got a chance to debate with John on tax and inequality and Eve was able to pull to the surface the polices John wished he had been able to get across. This was one of the in

Preview Oct 8, 2022 1:34 Have a listen to hear what Both Sides Now is all about! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Sides Now

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