Michael is an independent economic commentator, blogger, and stay-at-home parent. His regular blog, Croaking Cassandra , focused on economics and public policy (especially in New Zealand) and am researching issues relating to New Zealand's longer-term economic performance. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him. Fo...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 9
Liam is a “general practitioner” of the law and has strong connections to the rural community. He is a trusted advisor to many farming families. He has also developed a strong practice advising start-ups and not-for-profit organisations. Liam also frequents national radio, television, digital and print publications as a political commentator. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business ...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode I interview Guyon Espiner, Investigative Journalist who has been working in the media industry since 1994 in newspapers, websites, radio and TV. He is also the author of The Drinking Game , an incisive analysis of how our drinking culture is influenced by the government, media and big business. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone el...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Anna Fifield is a remarkable and respectable journalist, columnist, author, and current editor of The Washington Post. I interviewed her about her book, The Great Successor: The Divinely Perfect Destiny of Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong Un. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him. For more information, or to get in touc...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Steven Joyce, former politician, filled the roles of Minister of Transport, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Minister of Science and Innovation, and then served as Minister of Finance and Minister for Infrastructure, to name a few. In this episode we discuss his book, On the Record . Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else a...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Professor Paul Spoonley has spent a lifetime in academia; as an academic, administrator as well as a prolific author and commentator. In his 2020 book, The New New Zealand Spoonley looks at our nation's recent demographic past and the challenges for our future. In this discussion we discuss his book and the policy implications of a falling populaitons in the regions and an accelerating growth in Auckland.
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of the NZ Initiative; New Zealand’s premier free-market think tank. In July he lead a delegation to Ireland with over thirty of his members, a group that included billionaires, knights of the realm and me. We discussed why we went, what we learnt in Ireland, and what the Hon Trevor Mallard is up to over in Dublin
Aug 30, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Max Rashbrooke is a conviction-driven academic who has written extensively on inequality and wealth in New Zealand. He is the author of a number of books and a regular contributor for The Guardian and a range of local news outlets. In this interview we discuss his 2021 book Too Much Money, and dive into our different understanding of Thomas Piketty’s work. An excellent and entertaining discussion.
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 2
Dr Paul Moon is one of this nation’s most prolific historians and authors. His books cover the years before the foundation of our country, a slew of our most important figures, and in his latest work our most vibrant and populus city. I interview Paul about his book; Auckland; the twentieth Century Story.
Aug 16, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 1
