Broadcaster Jeremy Vine, who disappointingly didn't make his way to the studio on a penny farthing is here in his capacity as an Agatha Christie loving author. Poppy Okotcha, the model-turned-horticulturist, has swapped Vivienne Westwood runways for an edible and medicinal garden. Dr. Jack Mosley, son of the late Michael Mosley, has shut out the fo…

One of Britain's best former art forgers, ‘brushstroke alchemist’ David Henty, has been called a Master Craftsman of his art with over 30 years' experience, producing near original copies. Sophie Pierce didn’t think she’d live to thirty but has just become the first person with cystic fibrosis to complete a world record breaking rowing challenge ac…

Oscar award winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice, the man behind some of the world's most beloved musicals. From Evita to The Lion King, he's currently on tour bringing his own life stories and hit-filled career to a stage near you. Novelist Sareeta Domingo joins Saturday Live, she faced her own life altering plot-twist, when she was diagnosed with cancer…

The writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth discusses his love of words and language. Lorna Tucker is the fearless and celebrated filmmaker who rose from homelessness and a life of crime on the streets of Soho to Sundance glory. And Paul Lamb the wagon-living-hedge-laying wizard, who weaves living masterpieces from nature’s tangle, restoring ancient…

The author Michael Morpurgo, whose stories have enchanted children across the world...he’s now turned to non-fiction with a book for adults proving that the most magical storytellers have very real lives. Journalist and writer John Harris is a music chronicler and critic of music and critic since the age of nineteen...music’s been a massive part of…

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.By BBC Radio 4

The career of BAFTA winning actor and funny woman Rebecca Front spans the stage, screen and now podcasting - she brings her unique blend of irreverence and being a ‘bit of a Pollyanna’ to the studio. Natalie Chandler swapped her boots for the pen as a former professional rugby player who’s now tackling the world as a thriller writer – guided by her…

Send us a text Here’s the third one from the beach walk! Does Nigel have fears about going into politics? After 46 years of surviving life, he explains why fear isn’t part of the equation. 🎥 Full video available here: https://youtu.be/-YY2k2WZdrw?si=qIpRo47u3CyTp2Lm Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity! If you enjoyed this episode, make s…

Send us a text Here’s the second one from the beach walk! In this episode, I share what it’s like living with ADHD—how it’s shaped my life, the challenges I’ve faced, and how I’ve learned to navigate the world in my own way. 🎥 Full video available here: https://youtu.be/e38vHZ5ZnRQ?si=aOGcrgm_2zU-Yn8o Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity!…

Send us a text Join me for a beach walk as I share how the Unity Party was created—born from a need for real change and a system that puts people first. I still have my camera stick learner license, so for those who don’t want to see me moving like John Travolta in Grease, here’s the audio-only version! 🎥 Full video available here: https://youtu.be…

Send us a text Here’s the fourth and final one from the beach walk! In this episode, I share my thoughts on Māori representation, why sudden political shifts create division, and how small wins lead to real progress. Unity isn’t about taking away—it’s about working together, respecting our differences, and building a better future for all of us. St…

Send us a text Why do people in poverty make choices that seem reckless? It’s not about bad decisions—it’s about survival. In this episode, Nigel McFall breaks down the science behind addiction, stress, and coping mechanisms, explaining how poverty rewires the brain and traps people in cycles of hardship. From dopamine deprivation to the impact of …

Actor Sally Lindsay has gone from stealing scenes as Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street to creating and starring in The Madame Blanc Mysteries - and is passionate about fighting for working class talents in her industry. Lorraine Kelly has been brightening our screens in the morning for decades with warmth, wit and her ability to put absolutely any…

Send us a text In this episode, Nigel McFall from the Unity Party explains why real justice starts long before a crime happens. It’s about fixing broken foundations, supporting kids and families before they fall through the cracks, offering real pathways out — and bringing hard accountability for those who keep choosing harm. From the Mana Restorat…

Send us a text Strong families build strong futures — but what happens when connection breaks down? In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall explores what happens when children lose connection with the people who matter most — whether it’s because of work, distance, family breakdown, or incarceration. He shares Unity’s vision for tur…

Send us a text School lunches should be simple — feed the kids, support families, and make sure no child goes hungry. But in New Zealand, even something as basic as lunch has been turned into a political weapon. In this episode, I break down the story of Ka Ora, Ka Ako, and how this Government is deliberately running the programme into the ground —…

Lindsey Burrow who inspired the nation caring for her late husband, the rugby league legend Rob Burrow, as he lived with MND, shares her story of love, loss, resilience and advocacy. At the age of sixteen, Connor Allen attacked his own mum and she reported him to police, but his life turned around thanks to support from his teachers at trial to bec…

Send us a text Small businesses drive New Zealand’s economy, but too many struggle to survive. In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall explores why businesses fail, how tax debt traps owners, and why the current system isn’t working. He lays out Unity’s vision for real change—making business ownership fairer, ensuring smarter financ…

Steven Frayne, better known as the illusionist and magician Dynamo, has made the impossible look effortless: walking on water, levitating above London and somehow keeping his secrets. His new show marks a new chapter, where he uses his magic to spotlight everyday heroes across the UK, returning to the street magic that first launched his career. Fr…

Send us a text New Zealand’s housing crisis isn’t just about high prices—it’s about a system that keeps people stuck. Home ownership is out of reach, rent is unaffordable, and Kāinga Ora is bleeding taxpayer money without solving the problem. In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall breaks down why government-led housing solutions ar…

Internationally lauded, bestselling novelist, Kate Mosse is celebrating big this year, with both the 20th anniversary of her iconic novel Labyrinth, and the 30th edition of the Women’s Prize for Fiction announced later this year. Maher Fattouh, a football loving student who was blinded by an explosion as he fled Syria in 2014 but discovered that tr…

Nisha Katona, former barrister now Mistress of Spices, Mowgli restaurant mogul, TV presenter and host of new show Home Kitchen - she’s described herself as a culinary Womble. Astronomer Mark Thompson is famous for unravelling the mysteries of the universe and the world of STEM., on TV and on tour, telescope in one hand and a sense of wonder in the …

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman who’s transformed the literary landscape, broken boundaries and redefined storytelling, brings her brand of honesty and unfiltered storytelling to the stage with Pig Heart Boy. Cat Burford, aka The Molar Explorer, navigates both teeth and tundras, balancing dentistry with daring polar expeditions - and ha…

Send us a text In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall explores the complex story of MP Golriz Ghahraman, her struggles with mental health, and the deeply human challenges of self-sabotage. Drawing from Golriz’s public reflections on a moment of self-conflict and shame, Nigel dives into the psychological and societal factors that of…

Cook, author, broadcaster and former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain knows how to turn up the heat in the kitchen and how to quietly contemplate life. Her new book is a love letter to her food and her religion. Dr Kate Hays helps us keep our cool under pressure, as the FA’s performance psychologist currently working with the Lionesses,…

Send us a text In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall takes a closer look at the challenges New Zealanders face every day—rising living costs, housing shortages, and the loss of community connection. He explores how the current political system often falls short by prioritizing division over collaboration and presents innovative, p…

Send us a text Nigel drops in to announce an exciting new addition to the podcast: Let’s Talk About. This series will dive into snapshots of issues from the news and explore how they connect to our policies. Stay tuned for meaningful conversations on the topics that matter most! Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity! If you enjoyed this ep…

Gardening Guru Monty Don, who’s sown seeds of sustainability, cultivated lawns of loyal fans, travelled the world and has grown his wise and warm reputation by sharing personal experiences. Beth Jones is a tattooist whose body-art is empowering breast cancer survivors, proving that inking can be therapeutic and transformative. Danny Gray has not on…

The literary alchemist Jackie Kay, poet, author and playwright, whose words dance between the very personal and the universal - she wants us to Coorie Doon. We’ve scored a bullseye in getting darts referee and LGBT+ ambassador Huw Ware on the show...so…game on! Sir Peter Murray, the visionary sculptor of landscapes and minds alike reveals how he we…

Send us a text In this episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall dives into the political spectrum, challenging the traditional left-versus-right divide. He shares what makes the Unity Party different, how it bridges the gaps between diverse perspectives, and why a new way of thinking is essential for New Zealand’s future. Join Nigel as he ex…

Send us a text In this first episode of Piecing Together Unity, Nigel McFall shares an overview of what makes him—and the Unity Party—different. Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Want to be part of the change? Visit www.unityparty.org.nz to…

Send us a text Nigel McFall introduces Piecing Together Unity and sets the stage for his journey to create the Unity Party. Discover what it takes to build a political movement focused on belonging, hope, and collaboration. Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe so you never mis…

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.By BBC Radio 4

Tiffany Murray grew up watching legendary rock stars eat her mother’s food...David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Ozzie Osbourne and Siouxsie Sioux, to name but a few. She shares what it was like to grow up at the iconic Rockfield Studios. Actor Sam Oladeinde gave up a career in law to become Aaron Burr, Sir, in the UK and Ireland tour of Hamilton. But wh…

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.By BBC Radio 4

Gordon Buchanan, the world-renowned wildlife filmmaker, takes us through the mud, sweat and tears, and lions, tigers and bears that have shaped his extraordinary career. Abby Furness, the singer-songwriter and social media influencer, has become an advocate for resilience after her harrowing experience with a cyber-stalker... Imam Emad Choudhary, t…

The hypnotic charmer and master of psychological illusion Derren Brown blurs the line between magic, psychology, and theatre and he’s won two Olivier Awards for that showmanship - as well as his latest show 'Only Human' Derren steps into Springfield for the Simpsons Christmas special. As a child, Abigail Tinnion was brought up on folk-stories and h…

The actress Tracy Ann Oberman is back playing Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice: 1936' - a version inspired by the life of her great-grandmother who stood on the frontline against the fascists at the Battle of Cable Street. Laura Henry-Allain also tells us how she was inspired by her Gran Gran and the stories she shared that helped Laura create th…

Amar Latif, the trailblazing adventurer who as a blind rambler and fearless globetrotter, treks paths that many of us wouldn’t dare, proving that vision is about perspective, not sight. Dirt detective Professor Lorna Dawson is armed with her trowel and cutting-edge forensic science, she’s revolutionised crime-solving from the ground up. James Middl…

Actor Martin Clunes, who although now has hung up his stethoscope, will forever be Doc Martin for some. But, these days he's busy meeting remarkable animals; from search-and-rescue dogs to mine-sniffing rats and therapy horses. The mighty Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is here, she’s a trailblazing ultra-runner, author and activist, who not only tackles gr…

Celebrated chef, restaurateur and TV star Rick Stein, is more than a master of seafood - he’s a well-travelled storyteller with a deep-seated love for food that transcends borders. He has a new heart and a fresh outlook on life. Andy Cato, best known as one half of the pioneering electronic duo Groove Armada, is equal parts DJ, musician and forward…

Phil Wang, who says he wouldn’t be a comedian if he wasn’t of mixed heritage, Malaysian and British, his latest Netflix special opens on the subject of reheating rice and how in the west we’re afraid to do that…so what does his dual heritage allow him to do A question we could also put to Chitra Soundar, the award-winning children’s writer, who gre…

The global explorer, TV presenter and author Simon Reeve makes programmes around the world which focus on people’s lives...and he’s been arrested by the KGB, chased by cheetahs and nearly died from malaria. Liz McConaghy spent seventeen years as a Chinook crewman with the RAF, the longest serving woman to do so, her deployments left scars on her so…

Lindsay Nicholson, who, after studying astrophysics, chose journalism as a career, became Good Housekeeping’s editor for two decades and is now a grief counsellor, equestrian coach and writer... none of which are rocket science. She talks about the loss of her husband and daughter to cancer, and the car accident that led to her life’s third act. Sk…

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.By BBC Radio 4

One of the world’s best known and bestselling authors Jodi Picoult is no stranger to controversy, some of her books have been banned in the US, and her latest novel might just ruffle a few ruffs here too as she looks to bust the myths we hold about the truth behind who wrote Shakespeare's plays. The actor and DJ Kristian Nairn, perhaps best known a…

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.By BBC Radio 4

Frenchman Fred Sirieix who's gone from front of house at the crème de la crème of London's restaurants, to fronting TV shows, to now writing a book on his love of Britain. We hear what sort of urge it was that took Shetland raised journalist Jen Stout over to Russia to study, then onto Ukraine to cover the war. Plus, screenwriter and playwright Jef…

Culinary maestro Yotam Ottolenghi, the man who’s transformed the way we think about Middle Eastern flavours, vegetables, and the art of home cooking joins us to chat 'Comfort' food. We welcome Livi Deane, a model and beautician, who’s written a book about living with lifechanging impaired vision and a prosthetic eye, as a result of a rare form of e…

Who better to kick-off Saturday Live's return than the historian by day and superstar DJ by night Dan Jones, who chats all things Henry the fifth and lay down a few beats as well. From Ace to Grace, Warren Furman reveals how his life has drastically changed from being homeless, to becoming a Gladiator and now a fully-fledged man of the cloth. And t…