Open a refreshing window to the world of creativity with Dr. Selina Tusitala Marsh as we riff on creativity and poetry. Turns out you don’t have to give it up after high school. Selina, an accomplished poet, academic, and illustrator, shares profound insights and captivating tales from her journey, which includes becoming NZ’s official poet (aka Poet Laureate), an unconventional marriage break up, and being honoured as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. From the physicality of...

Hot on the heels of launching her new book Evolving, Judy Bailey sat down with Petra to talk all things ageing. At 72 years old, Judy has a sparkle that's infectious. Her credentialed career as a journalist, along with her natural curiosity and sense of fun make her an ideal guide to navigate the landscape of ageing, and explore the latest research on how to do it well. It’s exciting to hear that since leaving television, Judy is having some of the most fulfilling years of her life!...

We're kicking off Season 5 with our LIVE recording of a fun and fascinating panel discussion tackling pleasure, intimacy, and love in midlife and menopause with writer Niki Bezzant and relationship coach Meg Cowan. Niki Bezzant is a trained journalist whose book This Changes Everything: the honest guide to menopause and perimenopause has, for thousands of New Zealanders, shed light on the oddly overlooked experience of women and ageing. Diving into sexuality, intimacy and desire in her...

Kia ora! Petra here and we’re getting ready for Season 5! 5 feels like a milestone… off to school and all that, growing up literally - thanks for coming on this journey with me - hasn’t it been fun and also fascinating!?!  We have built up quite the collection of stories and questions to travel with us into our next season - hopefully with more compassion, humour and  courageous can-do. Let’s keep going!  Who would have thought we’d talk about vulval skin health, pelvic floors, boobs bones...

Film reviewer extraordinaire Kate Rodger joins Grey Areas for another laugh-filled chat about stepping outside of her ‘lane’, dealing with feelings of overwhelm, and the progress she's making on her personal goals. Kate brings her trademark humour and wildly generous way with words to a conversation about new challenges, making time for what’s important, and never being afraid to have a good ol’ cry in the staff loos. If you want to hear more from Kate check out her earlier episode The...

Iconic broadcaster Robert Rakete returns to Grey Areas, joining Petra for a candid and uplifting kōrero. Robert has been discovering more of his whakapapa as he continues to learn Te Reo Māori, and shares his love of embracing the beginner's mind, facing fears and embracing failure. Plus Robert catches Petra up on his recent prostate check-up! 👀 If you want to hear more scintillating stories from Robert check out his episode Recovering identity from Season 1! See omnystudio.com/listener...

Two years on from her first Grey Areas appearance, Petra catches up with journalist and TVNZ's Sunday host Miriama Kamo as she's rounded out her fifth decade. Turning 50 can invite introspection and casting new vision for your life. Miriama grabs this opportunity with both hands sharing the raft of intentions she has for this season from getting braces to studying te reo Māori. In the midst of goal-setting, Petra and Miriama reflect on how to sidestep shame and resource ourselves, even when...

Annie Crummer and Betty-Anne Monga along with Julia Deans and Boh Runga will be forming a powerhouse ensemble at this year's Auckland Arts Festival performance, Hear Me Roar! on March 8. Annie and Betty-Anne joined me for a korero all about creativity, collaboration and purpose. We riff on the power of music to accompany us through every season - the summers and winters of life. Music offers us a kind of hope when life gets bogged down in the grey areas and we explore how as women we can...

Add to your kete of understanding our bone health with this kōrero with Christine Gill, Executive Director of Osteoporosis New Zealand.  The life cycle of these living tissues from birth to menopause and beyond is fascinating. Christine talks us through the process of bone turnover, the often misunderstood osteoporosis, the importance of achieving maximum bone strength by age 30, and the myriad factors that can influence our bone health throughout life. The good news is that it's never too...

The magic of female friendships is pretty undeniable - as is the role they play in shaping us. Join us for an inspiring kōrero with long-time BFFs, broadcaster Stacey Morrison and fashion designer Kiri Nathan, who have been the epitome of friendship for over 25 years. From their first meeting at the Smoke-Free Fashion Awards to navigating marriages, children, and their respective careers, their journey is a testament to the power of enduring, intentional friendship. Stacey and Kiri also...

What does it take to become a legendary netball player? What's the journey like, and how does finding a new identity in a foreign land shape your life and an illustrious sporting career spanning over 20 years? Join me this episode for a kōrero with iconic netballer and Silver Fern, Irene Van Dyk. We hear about her experience as an immigrant athlete in New Zealand, her experience with the media, and the decisions she made around motherhood. Irene opens up about the conversation she had with...

Here's something a little special - a crossover episode with Charlotte Cook of RNZ's Hair and Loathing! Join us as we embark on a head to toe exploration of our relationships with hair - both on our heads and our bodies. Charlotte and I take a visit to Stephen Marr's salon for a kōrero over haircuts, we chat at my whare, and we also catch up with a few of you out on the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. This kōrero we deep dive into hair's cultural implications, societal double...

Ready for a hearty conversation with a trailblazer in women's sports journalism? We welcome Suzanne McFadden, an acclaimed sports journalist who's been championing women's sports in a male-dominated field. Suzanne's grit and determination have not only helped her break barriers but also led her to establish Locker Room, a platform dedicated to showcasing women's sports. She's also a Silver Sister and you know how much we love them! We dive into the heart of Suzanne's career, discussing the...

Ever wondered if you need to see your GP because you're experiencing discomfort or itching on your vulva? You're not alone. It turns out that vulval skin conditions are incredibly common and women in Aotearoa New Zealand suffer for an average of 10 years before working up the courage to see a doctor. We've got to change that! After all, skin is skin. So let's yarn about vulval skin health. The knowledgeable Dr Harriet Kennedy (MBCHB, FRACP, FNZDS) joins us for an informative, empowering and...

Family grief, the devastation of divorce, cross-generational friendships, learning Te Reo Māori and more - we talk about it all with Stuff journalist, Paula Penfold. We also discuss the challenges of the media world, the aftermath of job redundancy, and the importance of self-care in such a fast-paced profession. Paula opens up about her experience with perimenopause (and that one conversation we had about it in front of a mutual male friend), and how it ramped up her anxiety, the illusions...

It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in Aotearoa New Zealand so we chat with mental health speaker and educator and Tui-award winning artist, the talented Julia Grace. In this conversation, Julia openly shares her struggles with heartbreak and its accompanying disorientation, depression, and anxiety. We chat about recognising our coping mechanisms and the importance of compassion when looking back at our lives. We also delve into dating in her 40s and of course, her perimenopause journey...

It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in Aotearoa, New Zealand and so I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce you to a podcast called A Moment With. A Moment With is hosted by my friend Gen Mora, Co-Founder and General Manager of Voices of Hope, a not-for-profit organisation aimed to break the stigma around mental illness. In this podcast, Gen sits down with incredible individuals who have faced mental health challenges, delving into their personal lived experiences. They also...

In this episode, we have a kōrero with squash champion and former Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy (also of Celebrity Treasure Island fame!). We discuss her fight against stereotypes, the complexities of gender dynamics, and also touch on the influence of sports as a universal language and a powerful tool for fostering greater cultural understanding. Susan is a tenacious leader! But the conversation isn't just about Susan's public life. We also explore her journey through...

Welcome to our brand new season of Grey Areas! Can you believe we're already at Season 4?! And who better to kick it off with than the multi-talented, one and only Anika Moa. She's a māmā, a singer/songwriter, television presenter, radio host, all-round resilient wahine toa. Join us as we delve into Anika's world as she openly discusses her struggles with type 1 diabetes, depression, and the impact of ADHD on her relationships. From the highs and lows of managing her health conditions to her...

Kia ora. Petra Bagust here, and I have been thinking a bit about what makes up the ‘grey areas’ of our lives, because I think that’s a huge part of why this podcast works. To me, a ‘grey area’ is a tricky space. A delicate space. A space that can bring, maybe discomfort or discouragement, or cause isolation. Maybe a 'grey area' is something that has been talked about using ‘you should’ or ‘you ought’ - you know, obligation language. Or it’s an area that has simply not been talked about at...

Kia ora! I hope you are going well. Don't panic - Season 04 of Grey Areas is on the way (I promise!)  While we are between seasons, I want to share another episode from my other podcast, Sunday Sanctuary.  This one is called The Miracle of the Mundane and it's all about finding joy and wonder within the everyday-ness of life. If this is something you'd like to hear more of, join the Sunday Sanctuary community on Instagram at @sundaysanctuarynz, and catch a new episode every second Sunday...

Join me for the final episode of Grey Areas Season 03, where I am joined by renowned actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand, as we traverse her four-decade long journey in the world of theatre, film, and TV. Jennifer shares with us how a series of epiphanies and following her heart set her firmly on her path to becoming an actor. Listen in as Jennifer takes us on her personal journey of learning and committing to using Te Reo Māori, a task she undertook after being caught off guard by a mihi on a...

I sat down with the incredible Lotta Dann to unpick the tangled web of our relationship with alcohol. From the tricky task of moderation to the deeper complexities of addiction, Lotta and I unshroud the often unspoken battle with the bottle. As we both navigate the challenging season of perimenopause, we reflect on the importance of mindfulness and finding the ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to contentment. We explore the power of mindful drinking and setting intentions - it’s not about total...

Broadcaster, entertainer and my brother-from-another-mother Pio Terei joins me for a conversation about the privilege it is to age - because not everyone gets to. We talk about where he's at with his journey of grief following the loss of his son Teina in 2016, the role curiosity plays in ageing well, as well as swap stories on our intergenerational living set-ups. As serious as we tried to be, plenty of laughs were had - because how could you not when you're chatting with Pio Terei? If...