Talk Talk - Series Three

Episode One - Margaret Wilson, Nathan Haines
The third season of Talk Talk ofeatures an extended interview with former Labour Government Minister and Speaker of the House Margaret Wilson. Presenter Finlay Macdonald asks Wilson about life after a political career, the reality of governing and how a bout of cancer affected her life trajectory. Wilson handpicks a musical guest, jazz musician Nathan Haines and his band who perform composition 'Sign Wave'. 

Episode Two - Don McGlashan
Finlay Macdonald sits down in this episode for an interview with musician Don McGlashan, of iconic Kiwi bands Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds. McGlashan shares his experiences of picking up music in high school, playing with the Auckland Symphonia and observing the world through songwriting. Then he plays the title song from his 2009 album Marvellous Year, with his band The Seven Sisters. 

Episode Three - Rosie Horton, NZTrio
Philanthropist Rosie Horton is Finlay’s guest for this episode. Horton talks about her mother’s sudden passing of breast cancer when she was a child, and working in corporate library information management, before devoting herself to charitable work. Horton selects classical musicians NZ Trio to perform Mozart’s Piano Trio No.5 in C Major. 

Episode Four - Judith Tizard, Lawrence Arabia
Joining Finlay Macdonald this time is politician and ex Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard. Macdonald asks her about leaving parliament and life outside of politics. Tizard, the daughter of two politicians, talks about her political family and being a woman in politics. Then she invites Lawrence Arabia to play ‘Fire and Friends’ from his 2009 album Chant Darlings. 

Episode Five - Pita Sharples, House of Shem
Academic, politician and Māori Party co-leader Pita Sharples sits down for an interview with Finlay Macdonald in this episode to discus his journey into politics. He talks about staying out of central politics to work closer to his community, and fighting for educational change for Māori. Sharples' musical pick is reggae band House of Shem with 'Keep Rising'. Afterwards the pair chat with vocalist Carl Perkins.

Episode Six -  Mike Nock
Jazz pianist Mike Nock shares his life story ahead of the release of a 2010 biography. Finlay Macdonald asks him about working with writer Norman Meehan, and Nock talks about taking his music across the globe from small-town Ngāruawāhia to New York, and back again. He then takes to the stage to perform an original composition, ‘Song for the Children’.

Episode Seven - Graham Henry, Dave Dobbyn
Finlay Macdonald reunites with his old high school PE teacher, All Blacks coach Graham Henry to ask about his journey from teaching to coaching rugby. Henry reflects on the importance of encouraging both professional and personal development while coaching, and the pressures of leading the All Blacks. Then Henry's favourite musician Dave Dobbyn performs 'Howling at the Moon', from his 2008 album Anotherland.   

Episode Eight - Bill Hastings, Michael Houstoun
Canadian-born Chief Censor Bill Hastings is Finlay Macdonald's featured guest. He discusses his journey from teaching law at Victoria University to becoming Chief Censor, and the psychological tricks he uses to deal with disturbing material. Concert pianist Michael Houstoun performs two Beethoven compositions, then joins Hastings and Macdonald for a final chat.

Episode Nine - Ranginui Walker, AK Barok
Finlay Macdonald interviews Ranginui Walker, DCNZ, the esteemed Māori writer, teacher and academic. Walker talks about losing and regaining his Māori culture and how in addressing Tiriti O Waitangi claims Aotearoa can 'nation build'. Walker's choice of music is two pieces from Geroge Friderick Handel's Messiah performed by Auckland's AK Barok: 'Comfort Ye My People' and "Every Valley Shall Be Exalted'. et. Cellist Margaret Cook joins Walker and Macdonald for a final chat. 

Episode 10 - Rodney Hide, Kirsten Morrell
Politics and philosophy are the focus when Finlay Mcdonald talks to Act Party leader Rodney Hide. Hide also discusses dancing on TV, his health kick and how his politics turned from 'left' to 'right' to Act. The musical segment is ex-Goldenhorse singer Kirsten Morrell, who performs solo single 'Cherry Coloured Dreams'. Morrell joins Hide for the last, informal chat.

Episode 11- Gordon McLauchlan, LA Mitchell
Writer and presenter Gordon McLauchlan is the featured guest. He recalls the heyday of print journalism, and why he would no longer recommend the profession to younger people. McLauchlan's musical choice is Auckland songwriter LA Mitchell, who covers Duke Ellington's 'I'm Beginning to See The Light'. Mitchell joins McLauchlan and Macdonald for the last word.

Episode 12 - Mai Chen, The Tasman String Quartet
Finlay Macdonald interviews barrister Mai Chen, founder of Chen Palmer and public law expert. Chen talks about her childhood and the racism she experienced as the one of the first Taiwanese families in the South Island, in the early 1970s. She discusses her passion for 'natural justice' and human rights, and her demanding career. Chen's music pick is The Tasman String Quartet playing Barber's Adagio for Strings. 

Episode 13 - Sam Hunt, David Kilgour and The Heavy Eights
Charismatic poet Sam Hunt is Finlay Macdonald's featured guest. Hunt talks poetry, how he composes rather than writes his poems, how his first poem moved his mum to tears, and how he could have been a priest. Hunt's musical pick is poetic collaborator David Kilgour and his band the Heavy Eights. After they perform 'Talking of the Weather', Hunt joins in to perform his poem 'Wave Song'.

Episode 14 - Anne Salmond, Gareth Farr and Catherine Bowie
Author and Anthropologist Anne Salmond joins Talk Talk to discuss her new book Aphrodite's Island, an account of Europeans first exploring Tahiti. Her choice of musical refreshment is an original work by revered composer and percussionist Gareth Farr; 'Kembang Suling.' Farr performs the marimba alongside flautist Catherine Bowie, then stays on for a chat.

Episode 15 - Barbara Ewing, Wellington International Ukelele Ochestra
Actor turned author Barbara Ewing is Finlay Macdonald's guest. She discusses her acting career, starting with 'sexy' roles in English Hammer Horror films of the 1960s, and her 'favourite' role as Agnes Fairhead in 1980s soap spoof Brass. The conversation moves on to Ewing's work as a novelist. The Wellington Ukelele Orchestra perform 'Blue Smoke' at Ewing's request. Orchestra member Gemma Gracewood stays on for a closing chat by the bar.

Episode 16 - Peter Bromhead, Cherie Mathieson
Finlay Macdonald hosts cartoonist and furniture designer Peter Bromhead for a chat about his varied career, colourful life and being an older father. Bromhead selects jazz classic 'When and Where', sung impeccably by Cherie Mathieson. Mathieson then stays on with Bromhead and Macdonald to discuss their shared love of jazz.