John Cowan hosts ‘Real Life’, a weekly nationwide chat show on Newstalk ZB featuring a different high-profile guest every week. John talks with them about their life, their upbringing, their passions and their view of the world.
He was the man who put the "pace" in New Zealand paceman. At his peak, Shane Bond was terrifyingly fast, clocking a blistering 156.4 km/h at the 2003 World Cup and dismantling the world’s best batsmen. Widely regarded as our greatest fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee, Shane’s career was a thrilling rollercoaster of immense triumph and devastating, career-threatening injuries. But his story is much more than just cricket statistics, it's a masterclass in resilience.
From patrolling the streets as a Christchurch police officer to winning IPL titles on the global coaching circuit, Shane has constantly had to reinvent himself when life threw a change of pace. This Sunday, he joins John Cowan to chat about the mental grit it takes to rebuild from physical ruin, the pressures of elite sport, and what happens when you have to find a new purpose after the childhood dream ends.
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11 Oct 2026
Sir Graeme Dingle - Adventurer and Youth Advocate
Before scaling the world's most unforgiving peaks—from Antarctica to the Andes and the Himalayas—Sir Graeme was a "painfully shy" child growing up in Gisborne who was afraid of everything. His life transformed when he discovered the outdoors, leading to historic feats like the first-ever winter traverse of the Southern Alps in 1971.
But his greatest legacy isn't written in the snow. Spurred by a challenge to "do good for others", Sir Graeme co-founded the Outdoor Pursuits Centre (now Hillary Outdoors) and established the Graeme Dingle Foundation, which has empowered over 400,000 young Kiwis over the last 30 years. Recently awarded the prestigious global Order of Magellan for his lifetime achievements in exploration and youth advocacy, Sir Graeme joins John for an unscripted look at his extraordinary life, his worldview, and his latest mission to "move mountains" for the next generation of New Zealanders.
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4 Oct 2026
Shane Jones - Deputy Leader of New Zealand First
This Sunday on Real Life with John Cowan, anything goes as we welcome one of New Zealand's most authentic, straight-talking leaders: Hon Shane Jones.
The New Zealand First Deputy Leader is joining John for a completely live and unscripted conversation. Known for his common-sense values, love for our regional communities, and refreshing refusal to stick to a political script, this is your chance to hear the real man behind the headlines.
John Cowan will dive straight into a genuine, spontaneous chat about faith, family, and what truly shapes Shane's worldview.
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Who has been a guest on Real Life With John Cowan
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tom Rutherford
Nicola Toki
Miriama Kamo
Alan Thorp
Brian Kelly MNZM
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
7,631,690
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
81
Contact Real Life With John Cowan
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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