Claim OwnershipThe Leighton Smith Podcast
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© 2024 Newstalk ZB
Description
After 33 years behind the Newstalk ZB microphone, Leighton can’t give it up completely. There were so many requests to continue his opinionated commentary that the prospect of podcasting was born.
So, without restriction, Leighton continues to serve up on everything you want to hear about and some things you don’t. Stand by to be enlightened, educated and enraged!
So, without restriction, Leighton continues to serve up on everything you want to hear about and some things you don’t. Stand by to be enlightened, educated and enraged!
306 Episodes
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Education in NZ has long been controversial. It’s not incorrect to suggest that a Labour Education Minister has an easier task than a more ‘conservative’ party minister (i.e. National’s Merv Wellington in the 1980’s.) Similar circumstances apply in other countries. Donald Trump returns to the Presidency with intent to eliminate the Department of Education and return the responsibility to the States. There are some valid reasons for doing so. Are there lessons for other countries? Dr Michael Johnston has been consulting NZ Education Minister Erica Stanford. After years of experience, most recently at Victoria University, Wellington, Michael is now with the NZ Initiative. His podcast contribution is very informative. Following the Mailroom there is further comment on other matters, including AI and democracy. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 return on investment to entrench this response. The past, present and future of the World Health Organisation, addressed with David Bell, former medical officer and scientist at the W.H.O. And is Shane Jones right to be concerned about New Zealand’s participation? Finally, we visit 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When we wound up our election day discussion, I suggested to Patrick Basham that we do a follow up "if warranted". It was warranted in multiples, so around midnight on election night we recorded the interview for 264. There is insight that you won’t hear elsewhere. Have a listen. And following we have included comment from elsewhere that is worthy of a hearing. Oh, and at the last second we received an email headed “Most accurate US presidential election pollster” ! File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Free Speech Union is proving its worth with a number of successful international speakers to New Zealand. The latest is Professor Nigel Biggar, who amongst a number of contributions to the cause wrote “The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2021". He proved to be a most interesting, informative and entertaining guest. Patrick Basham provided exit poll numbers from his Democracy Institute and the Daily Express. 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? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Power supply issues are challenging much if not most of the world - why? Could it be the recklessness of net zero? Power engineer Bryan Leyland expresses serious concern, as shortages translate into higher prices. At the same time, Australia is talking increasingly about Nuclear power - shouldn’t we? Meanwhile, a Telegraph article in London suggests that the young are fleeing Britain. Christian Smith updates his views on life in the old country. We attend to aspects of the Presidential election, and visit 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1An 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. We have comment on the Presidential election, with only two weeks to go. 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? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Who Makes the Law? Reining in the Supreme Court”. This report by Roger Partridge, lawyer and Chairman of the NZ Initiative, challenges the Supreme Court’s overreach or activism in recent cases and the constitutional implications. Judicial activism is in a word, dangerous for democracy. This is a most important matter and it needs the attention of Parliament. And we venture into 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we have responded to enquiries as to whether Patrick Basham will make a return before the Presidential election He brings some new polling numbers from Democracy Institute, along with his exceptional analysis. We proffer our thoughts on multiculturalism, and share what we have in common with Jeremy Clarkson. And we delve into 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two years ago, in podcast 151, we interviewed Ashley Rindsberg on “The Gray Lady Winked”, his book critiquing the New York Times. At the time he was domiciled in Israel. The interview was peppered with the occasional sound of rockets. With the recent outbreak of conflict, talking with Rindsberg again was an obvious decision. We visit a very good Mailroom this week with Mrs Producer. Thanks, as always, to all of you who contribute. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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? And we introduce a simple but useful addition to the podcast, after 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kamala Harris, the Democrat contender for the U.S. presidency was the most socialist member of the Senate. Further left than Bernie Sanders, she has more recently been tagged a Marxist. But is she? In fact, what is she? That is the most asked question amongst undecided voters. For answers, who better to consult than a Professor of Marxism. Michael Rectenwald was a devout Marxist until he saw the light and recanted. After guesting on podcasts in 2021 & 2022, Rectenwald returns to give us answers to the above, and what a Harris administration would be like. And, of course, 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sir John Graham Lecture 2024 guest speaker was Professor Nicholas Aroney, from the University of Queensland. The speech was entitled “The Compass of Character”. It explored law, education and religion, and their roles in the formation of character. In a most interesting conversation we covered the talk and, amongst other things, the threat on democracy. There’s a brief analysis of Kamala Harris and yet another great 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Zealand men and women are being encouraged to pay attention to the court decision in the case of “Tickle v Giggle”. Why be interested in a comedic sounding Australian judge's decision? Well, the ruling has been labelled “dystopian" and "distorting key concepts of sex and discrimination, while dodging Australia’s human rights obligations vis a vis women. If unchallenged this decision would set a dangerous precedent”. New Zealand is in danger of falling into the same human rights trap. The incomparable Professor James Allan analyses the Tickle case as only he can. And as always, we finish 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Without an anchor in biological reality, laws based on ’sex’ become meaningless and justice cannot be served.” So wrote evolutionary biologist Colin Wright. Jill Ovens, National Secretary and Co-Leader of the Women’s Rights Party, responds to the ruling of an Australian Judge that sex is changeable in a case involving ‘gender identity’. And common-sense rules mightily in her favour. Plus, exactly five years to the day after we interviewed Behnam Ben Taleblu on the Middle East, Iran in particular, he returns with much insight into the current crisis – or should that be crises. As always, Mrs Producer joins us in the Mailroom. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last Friday Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the new Chief of the Human Rights Commission. As always, there will be disagreement over the appointment. Dr Stephen Rainbow brings broad experience to the task before him. Controversy is no stranger. After an hour of discussion, you’ll have a good idea of Rainbow’s stance on some critical issues that, like it or not, influence the society in which we live. We make comment on corporate involvement in social activism; for example, "diversity, equity and inclusion”, which has become a minefield for companies. 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? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Robert MacCulloch has a resume to be envied. 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. And in spite of his career success he appears modest, but with the ability and intent to ruffle feathers. This was a wide ranging and very enjoyable discussion. And we finish of with 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Over the last few years, three men (two New Zealanders and a South African) have researched the “science” of global warming. They are not “climate scientists”, rather they are laymen. Unrestricted by career threats, they published “CLIMATE ACTUALLY, AND SOME TAKEAWAYS’. They are now about to release volume two. Further details are in the interview with retired geologist Andrew Hollis. Separately, we talk electricity supply, and the crisis we face with consulting engineer Bryan Leyland, who has experience in all aspects of the power industry. 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? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patrick Basham returns to The Leighton Smith Podcast with the Democracy Institute’s polling for the 2024 Presidential election, in association with the Daily Express. Patrick has built a reputation with us as being arguably the most articulate researcher and commentator on electoral matters. He also answers the question as to whether “diversity, equity and inclusion” is advancing further on its progressive path. Or has the tide turned? And Ramesh Thakur in part two of our 80 minute interview. We discuss equity versus equality, human rights, the dangers of a cashless society and Julian Assange (on which he has an interesting position). And we finish up 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 issues is superb. And finally, we delve into 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. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Estonia is gifted with the world’s most efficient and balanced tax regime. Co-founder of the New Zealand Taxpayer’s Union, Jordan Williams suggests our Prime Minister should look seriously at that system for New Zealand. It’s easy to argue it is way better than what we have. We have a different perspective on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, from Geopolitical Future’s founder George Friedman. 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? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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fantastic!
The bigger the rich prick , the bigger the Xmas break. And that was one hell of a long Xmas break
why does it jump when you get to defining Indigenous people? .... Dodgy! good work!
Hi Leighton, I appreciate your podcasts, I think that I have listened to them all. NZRB equates $4,500 in 1972 as equivalent to $57,000 in 2020. This would mean a similar service provided for $12,000 today would have efficiencies of four times or 400%. That would be extraordinarily good. Had Sir Roger already accounted for inflation? Regards Grant
What a rambling mess this podcast series is. I'm out.
Good to have him back! even better without adverts.
Price of subscription.?