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Both Sides Now
by Both Sides Now
Both Sides Now was co-founded in 2022 by Eve McCallum and Finn Ross, who could see the increasing polarisation and the decreasing youth engagement in politics. They wanted to show that you could disagree politically and still be great mates. The show interviewed a range of high-profile politicians and journalists from across the political spectrum, including 6 Prime Ministers, 4 party leaders and 2 journalists. The show is back for election year 2026, and with Finn now being based in the UK, Alex Martin is stepping up to fill the left-leaning co-host role. Not only will the show continue its work to break down political polarisation and increase youth engagement, but it will do so with a new focus on women in politics. Eve and Alex have both seen the unfounded, increased vitriol towards female politicians in recent years, and we want to give them a chance to share their stories and educate and inspire other women to step up and become politicians. </p
Episodes
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A whistlestop tour of the NINE new policies announced this week
This week on Both Sides Now, we’re doing a political whistlestop tour because all the parties decided to do a policy dump this week. We start with the Green's KiwiMart. We then run through Labour and ACT's climate change and policies. TPM and ACT’s plans for the Waitangi Tribunal, what do these...
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Student loans, women's health policy and climate change
This week on Both Sides Now we kick things off with National’s student loan policy. What is National actually proposing, who stands to benefit, and does it meaningfully change the picture for young New Zealanders trying to get ahead? Then we turn to health, with a particular focus on women’s…
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Mike Casey on what politicians can do to make your petrol and power bills cheaper
We sit down with Rewiring Aotearoa's Mike Casey for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the biggest costs facing New Zealanders: energy. We get into power and petrol, and ask what can politicians actually do to make your power bill and petrol bill cheaper? We talk about the practical policy...
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Te Pāti Māori, an adult conversation on tax (is that even possible?) and leaders debates
This week on the podcast, we get stuck into Te Pāti Māori’s decision to campaign for the candidate vote only and what it means for MMP, the Māori electorates and the wider election campaign. Then we attempt something that seems increasingly difficult in politics: having an adult conversation…
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Leadership coup round 2, Opportunity on 8%, and Labour who?
This week on the podcast: leadership coup round two. And somehow, it was even more of a mess. If you are feeling overwhelmed by it all, don't worry, so are we! We unpack what actually happened inside National, why Chris Penk decided to make a move, who knew what and when, and what the whole saga...
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Laura McClure on AI deep fakes, voting Labour and the manosphere
This week on Both Sides Now we sit down with ACT MP Laura McClure for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey into politics and some of the issues she’s been pushing since entering Parliament. We chat about her bill tackling AI-generated deepfakes, why she thinks the law needs to catch up...
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Youth unemployment and the future of work, ruling out Opportunity and AI data centers
It's a slightly longer episode this week, but there was no shortage of topics to cover. We start by briefly discuss Winston Peters' latest remarks before turning to one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand: youth unemployment. We discuss why more young people are struggling to find work,...
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A beginners guide to our weird voting system MMP
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…
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Opportunity party leader Qiulae Wong on the new Opportunity Party, left v right divide and Mt Albert campaign
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…
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Stalking, climate change litigation and do polls really matter?
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...
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Budget breakdown - what is it, why is it important and what's in it for you
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...
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Breakdown of Nicole McKee, changes to family carers law, public service cuts and more!
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...
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Hon Nicole McKee on firearms, family and her political career
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…
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Fees free, breakdown of Desley Simpson, grievance driven politics and birth rates
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...
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Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson on Leadership, Local Government, and Auckland’s Future
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…
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Breakdown of Wayne Eagleson, Tova v the PM, FTAs and Shane Jones
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…
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Former Chief of Staff Wayne Eagleson on the machinery of government, being a political staffer and what makes a great PM
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...
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Breakdown of Barbara Edmonds Episode, public sector grad roles, Eve has watched Prime Minister and the cabinet reshuffle
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 —...
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Hon Barbara Edmonds on family, election promises and working for National
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...
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Breakdown of Nicola Willis' interview, petrol prices, COVID-19 Royal Commission and a super rugby update
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...
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Hon Nicola Willis on Pay Equity, Mum guilt and how her leadership style compares with Jacinda Ardern
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,...
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2026 Preview and Predictions
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...
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Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell Speed Round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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
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…
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James Meager MP Speed Round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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New MP James Meager on his proudest achievement, his future goals in politics and his Maiden Speech
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.
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Eve and Finn share their thoughts on the campaign
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.
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TOP Leader Raf Manji Speed Round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Raf Manji on TOP, what the polls don't show about their chances and the current MP who considered making the move
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.
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Paddy Gower speed(ish) round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Paddy Gower on leaders debates, being in the press gallery and journalism in NZ
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.
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Jack Tame Speed Round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jack Tame on the media, polarisation and elections.
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.
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Christopher Luxon Speed Round
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.
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Christopher Luxon on his political philosophy, polarisation and the issues facing NZ
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.
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Wrap up of season one of Both Sides Now with Eve and Finn
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...
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Hon Nikki Kaye Speed Round
Listen to hear the Hon Nikki Kaye's speed round(ish) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Hon Nikki Kaye on being a liberal MP in the National Party, beating PM Jacinda Ardern in Auckland central and being a young MP
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....
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Metiria Turei Speed Round
Listen in to hear Metiria's speed round! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Former Green Party Co Leader Metiria Turei debates greed, equality and racism in NZ
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...
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Sir Roger Douglas Speed Round
Listen in to hear the speed round with Sir Roger! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sir Roger Douglas on Rogernomics, moving from Labour to ACT and NZ politics today
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...
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Rt Hon Jim Bolger talks International Relations, Capital Gains Tax and the art of being PM
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…
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Political Ideologies
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.
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Te Ururoa Falvell Speed Round
Listen in to hear Te Ururoa's answers to our 20 question speed round Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Te Ururoa Flavell on Co Governance, the Treaty and The Maori Party
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…
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Sir Geoffrey Palmer discusses rights, the RMA and threats to democracy
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...
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Climate Change Minister James Shaw Speed Round
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.
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Climate Change Minister James Shaw discusses his Green Party Co Leadership, Farming and the Environment
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.…
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Shane Jones Speed Round
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Both Sides Now was co-founded in 2022 by Eve McCallum and Finn Ross, who could see the increasing polarisation and the decreasing youth engagement in politics. They wanted to show that you could disagree politically and still be great mates. The show interviewed a range of high-profile politicians and journalists from across the political spectrum, including 6 Prime Ministers, 4 party leaders and 2 journalists.
The show is back for election year 2026, and with Finn now being based in the UK, Alex Martin is stepping up to fill the left-leaning co-host role. Not only will the show continue its work to break down political polarisation and increase youth engagement, but it will do so with a new focus on women in politics. Eve and Alex have both seen the unfounded, increased vitriol towards female politicians in recent years, and we want to give them a chance to share their stories and educate and inspire other women to step up and become politicians. </p
HOSTED BY
Both Sides Now
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Both Sides Now have?
Both Sides Now currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Both Sides Now about?
Both Sides Now was co-founded in 2022 by Eve McCallum and Finn Ross, who could see the increasing polarisation and the decreasing youth engagement in politics. They wanted to show that you could disagree politically and still be great mates. The show interviewed a range of high-profile politicians...
How often does Both Sides Now release new episodes?
Both Sides Now has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Both Sides Now?
You can listen to Both Sides Now on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Both Sides Now?
Both Sides Now is created and hosted by Both Sides Now.
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