A Tribute to Professor Des Gorman After interviewing Des Gorman for Podcast 105, this is what we wrote for the podcast email… “This week we drill down on the knowledge, wisdom and opinion of of Des Gorman, Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. Of course, Covid-19 but we talk about many other matters that affect us all. We discuss science, philosophy, education, intelligence, the shortcomings of governance and what binds us together. Sh...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Over the last few years there has been much scientific dispute. Climate dominated much of the last forty years, followed and outranked by Covid-19. Both remain very much in the headlines. Science itself has suffered in the battle over truth. "Settled science” is more fallacy than fact. Fortunately, there is an increase in push-back on false or unsubstantiated claims. Guy Hatchard was a senior manager at Genetic ID; a food safety testing and certification laboratory. He has a degree in Logic and ...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 35 min
Ramesh Thakur has a world of history, literally, in international affairs. He has taught at a number of Universities including Otago and the ANU, Canberra. But his time spent at the United Nations, culminating as an Assistant Secretary General, provides a wealth of knowledge. That makes his comments on Iran, Israel, and Donald Trump a must listen in Podcast 290. And after The Mailroom we offer some thoughts on multiculturalism. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 32 min
The similarities between Ukraine’s attack on Russian bombers and the Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites have been noted. But the parallels don’t stop there. The U.S. is involved in both conflicts and the script for each is flexible on a daily basis. The influence upon each is Donald J Trump. Geopolitical authority George Friedman opines on both wars, employing the theory of geopolitical cycles as explained in his book “The Storm Before the Calm”. And, finally, we see what you think in The Ma...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Romanians are still navigating the difficult path of building democratic institutions and a culture of transparency. At the same time, widespread perceptions of corruption and cronyism have caused many Romanians to see little change from communist leadership. Antonia Colibasanu, a lecturer on International Relations at the Romanian National University, backgrounds Romania’s position and future influence in Europe and analyses the difficulties the country is faced with. She also summarises the co...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 29 min
This week we talk with Patrick Basham on President Trump's approval ratings and the Democracy Institute’s latest poll, “Is Trump Fixing America or Breaking it?” Patrick gives a very good analysis on the most critical issues on the planet; Iran and nuclear developments, Ukraine and the drone strike on Russia and the South Korean and Polish elections. And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Ch...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 36 min
The rush of technology that is confronting us has gone unnoticed by most of the world’s inhabitants. That is, until now. The moment we, as individuals start to recognise the magnitude of A.I. is likely to rearrange our view of the future: both short and long term. The question is, how do we handle it going forward. Nigel Horrocks and Justin Matthews recently established a Substack, CREATIVE MACHINAS. Nigel has had an illustrious career in journalism, internet development and is a recent graduate...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 40 min
Consulting power supply engineer Bryan Leyland updates us on the dire straits confronting the nation. And why we should be very concerned. We address a second matter of public importance; New Zealand’s Gene Technology Bill fails the public interest transparency test, according to submissions from PSGR (Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility). Sociologist J. R. Bruning explains the need for that concern, including the threat to democracy. Should we shed tears over Biden’s prostate?...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 46 min
Prior to Covid-19, Dr Pierre Kory was an internationally renowned pioneer in the field of critical care ultra-sonography; equally so in other areas of medicine. In 2023 he published “The War on Ivermectin: The medicine that saved millions and could have ended the pandemic." The challenges that were to confront him over the next few years changed his life. He was confronted with deceit, corruption, threats and dismissal. Now, the tide has turned. Finally, we pay a visit to The Mailroom with Mrs P...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 45 min
Whichever way you look at it, Australia is in political turmoil after the May 3 election. There are plenty of theories as to why, and plenty of propaganda along with accompanying lies. The question is, what’s next? Nick Cater returns to analyse how a government with such a poor record in its first term could eliminate its opposition so decisively. What does it mean to important issues like free speech, taxation, defence, climate, energy supply and the cost of living? And we visit The Mailroom wi...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 26 min
Educated in India and Canada, Ramesh Thakur has had an amazing career as an academic, lawyer and government adviser. He has taught in universities in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. He offers broad commentary on judicial “adventurism" and growing tyranny, India, Pakistan, China, the U.N. and W.H.O.. His advice on global affairs would unquestionably aid the NZ Government in some of their misguided ideas. We share a medical professional’s submission to the second Covid Inquiry, and ...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 39 min
After a brilliant academic career, graduating with multiple degrees in various subjects, Kurt Schlichter joined the military and served in Operation Desert Storm, the Gulf War and in Kosovo. He co-founded a law firm in Los Angeles in 1994 and has been a freelance writer since 1984. Andrew Breitbart seconded Kurt to help establish Breitbart News and now writes three columns a week for Townhall.com. And all that is only part of the story. As always, the mailroom with Mrs Producer. And some words o...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 38 min
The Australian election on May 3 is just as important as the next New Zealand election in 2026. With the flood of Kiwis who have fled this country as a result of the Ardern devastation, most have moved to Australia. The outflow has been horrific and most of them will not return. Nick Cater covers issues of relevance to any prospective NZ emigrants that could influence how their future is affected. Following the Mailroom we address developments in science and climate that should influence present...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 36 min
The term “lawfare” is getting plenty of attention; basically it represents the corruption that’s becoming more widespread in the courtrooms of the Western world. Judicial activism and the politicisation of the law and legal system makes for a duo of issues that need addressing by the legislatures of countries which are the targets of the misuse of such activities. In what we think is a very productive discussion on a number of current democracy headwinds, Professor James Allan is arguably better...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 46 min
Matt Margolis is an independent author of books and editorial opinion. His first successful book was “The Worst President in History”. We talk at length about judicial activism and its proliferation, and other broader issues. We share the opinions of Ramesh Thakur and Kurt Schlichter, along with some very good correspondence in the Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Li...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 22 min
On March 16, the New York Times published “We Were Badly Mislead About The Event That Changed Our Lives”. It reports that 77 Nobel Laureates and 31 scientific societies were involved in the cover up that included deliberately planning to mislead journalists. (Actually, the NYT can be accused of failing to do its job). Guy Hatchard analyses what really took place in New Zealand and elsewhere under the heading of "A strange mental illness is spreading via infected information networks". It’s a mos...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Dr Michael De Percy is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Canberra. He graduated from both the Australian National University and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He was also appointed to the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts in 2022. Sound interesting? I can only say that if he’d been my lecturer at ANU, I might well have chosen a different career path. We have an excellent Mailroom with Mrs Producer and finish with a critique of Prime Minister Chris...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 40 min
Ex-politician Rodney Hide is fighting a battle. It began a couple of years ago, and it continues today. It involves the 'Relationship and Sexuality Education Curriculum' being taught in his daughter’s school. It’s actually taught in all schools. Rodney is not the only parent unhappy about what’s being taught, but he stands almost alone in trying to address it. To him it is a matter of principle. But we also discuss other matters- the RBNZ and Adrian Orr, Luxon and the National party, economic gr...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 56 min
James Roguski is a fighter for what he regards as the truth. He is a researcher, author, natural health proponent and activist. Three years ago, Roguski uncovered documents regarding proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations and contributed to them being rejected. But the battle goes on. The WHO, mRNA, and other controversial areas are his concern. Controversial, yes, but worth listening to. We contribute information you’re unlikely to hear elsewhere on Trump, Zelenskyy, and th...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 37 min
The unforeseen arrangements between China and the Cook Islands have induced greater interest in South Pacific geopolitics than we can ever remember. How we deal with this surprise confrontation will be fascinating to observe. One thing is obvious; the Kiwi's “benign strategic environment” has had its feathers ruffled. In 2019 George Friedman published “The Storm Before The Calm”, which suggested the sort of events we are now experiencing. George Friedman guests on Podcast 273. And, as ever, we r...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 20 min
New Zealand and the Cook Islands agreements require regular consultation on defence and security issues. But the Cooks have just signed a secret partnership with China, catching the NZ government unawares. If that’s not bad enough, there is a second cause for major concern. It includes our Parliamentary Sovereignty, ownership of the entire NZ coastline and an activist Supreme Court indulging its collective ego. Muriel Newman, an ex MP (nine years) and the founder of the New Zealand Centre for Po...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 47 min
Peter Boghossian resigned from his position as Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Portland State University, where he had taught for ten years. He left under pressure. His letter of resignation is on his website, and is compulsory reading. It is entitled, “My University Sacrificed Ideas for Ideology”. We interviewed him first in 2015. He now travels a great deal, gives speeches frequently, and writes and is published on numerous outlets. Let us know what you think of the interview, in The Mail...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 45 min
It’s no secret that New Zealand is confronted with numerous and problematic issues. There is a common belief that leadership is a major cause of those problems. And not just political leadership; it is widespread. There is a weakness that can only be confronted by strength of character and a determination that is in short supply. Deputy Leader of NZ First, Shane Jones provides “character” that may not please some, but is worthy of consideration by those who come up short of requirements. And, af...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. He began his tertiary education at the University of Auckland, continued it at London School of Economics and Princeton University, He was Director of the PhD Program at Imperial College London. He has been awarded numerous prizes along the way, and returned to NZ twelve years ago. He is Professor of Macroeconomics at Auckland University and publishes widely, including his own site, Down To Earth Kiwi. An...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. Ramesh Thakur is well known to this audience; he has appeared on the Leighton Smith Podcast more than once. There was much to catch up on. His views on the world and its various parts are substantiated by life experience. He taught at a number of universities including Otago and ANU Canberra and Rector at the U.N. University. He was also an assistant Sec-Gen of the U.N. As a result his commentary on world...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. Dr Paul Marik belongs to a group of physicians who have devoted their lives to their patients survival, and effectively been punished for it. How can a man with a reputation as the “most published and influential clinician and researcher in critical care medicine in the United States" be forced from his career? File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast be...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. The legal fraternity in this part of the world is delighted at the Supreme Court’s decision on Smith v Fonterra. But not everyone feels that way. In his inevitable style, Professor James Allan critiques the decision and the direction a collection of un-elected ex-lawyers are “usurping power to themselves at the expense of the elected branches of government”. As a specialist in constitutional law, Jim is i...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. An insidious phenomenon has become widely evident around the western world, and it is alive and well in New Zealand. The attack has been against every institution that props up the pillars of our democratic freedom. Retired Judge Anthony Willy justifies his accusations (from his essay “Blowing In the Wind”, NZCPR.com). It’s an important document that should be studied in every school. File your comments a...
Dec 31, 2024•57 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. Since 2020, the W.H.O. has orchestrated and condoned one of the most devastating assaults on individual and societal health the world has seen. At the behest of highly conflicted sponsors, this international bureaucracy promoted policies that overwhelmingly harmed the world’s disadvantaged. Lacking any contrition, the W.H.O. is now seeking increased public funding through misrepresentation of risk and ret...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024. One of the best and most interesting interviews we’ve done. Tony O’Brien was born and raised in New Zealand. His life has followed a fascinating path, working in Australia, Britain, Canada, Hungary and beyond in a variety of capacities. In his work he "did not have a plan, just took advantage of opportunities as they presented." He is intelligent, articulate and successful but also modest. We discuss many...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 5 min
