January 5, 2025 • 40 mins
In this episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, British acting royalty Hugh Bonneville talks the latest Paddington film and his memories of Dame Maggie Smith.
Then we hear from New Zealand's own Madeline Sami - who had a massive 2024 with the second season of her show Double Parked.
And we get cooking inspiration from one of Australia's most loved cooks, Nagi Maehashi.
Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks ATB. The big names, the fascinating guests,
the thoughtful conversations, bringing you the best interviews from the
Sunday Session. This is Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, powered
(00:27):
by News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello and welcome to the summer edition of Great Chats.
I'm Francesca Rudkins and in this podcast we bring you
some of the best feature interviews from the Sunday Session
on News Talks HEB throughout twenty twenty four. Jazz, released
into cinemas, is the latest film from one of the
most beloved family film franchises of recent times, Paddington in Peru.
(00:49):
Hugh Bonneville stars as mister Brown and we caught up
just before Christmas to have a chat about this delightful
film last time I spoke to you. We spoke about
the film to Olivia and I feel like you have
been playing a real range of characters over the last
few years, and edgy characteres are good. But is it
(01:09):
quite lovely just to get back to this charming, wholesome
world of Peddington.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Well, absolutely, This Bear is so beloved around the world,
not at least in New Zealand, so it's great to
bring him back to the screen. Obviously, his reputation precedes
him and his egos got bigger, so he comes out
of his trailer fewer and fewer times. But when he does,
he bounces down and we've had standings, know, we work
with standings most of the day, and then suddenly about
four o'clock he arrives and says, I'm ready for my
(01:38):
close up. And it's always worth it because he's so charming,
and in this particular adventure, we go to the heart
of the jungle and to the heart of where he
came from. So it's not an origin story, but it
does make him reflect on where he's from and where
he's going.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So is he responsible for the reason why there's been
seven years between films.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yes, because he has so many other commitments. He does
a lot of work for charity, and then there was
a big stint in Marmalade rehab.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
But he's now out.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
He's fine, he's handling it all and he's back on
track and he's on the promotional trail.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I imagine it was very difficult because the cast is
it's an incredible cast in these films. I imagine it
was quite difficult getting everybody together to do a sequel.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Well, yes, it wasn't. It wasn't.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
There was a thing called the pandemic which really got
in the way initially, and then you know, issues to
do with budget and tweak. There's no point making a
movie unless the script is absolutely right. And so Doogle,
who's our director, and Rosie Allison, our producer, and the
writing team really worked hard on you right up. In fact,
even on the set we were tweaking bits and bobs
(02:48):
to make the stories rich and as tight and as
fun as the previous two movies.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
This film and of course the third film, knew some
new cast members and I'll get to them in just
a moment that you mentioned Doogle there, Google Wilson. This
is the first time he has directed a feature film.
I mean, this is quite a large project to take on.
This is not a straightforward feature film. He's done a
(03:16):
very good job.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Well he's done.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I think he's done a terrific job and also must
have been nerve wracking for him, you know, as he
himself has said, he had large shoes to fill. Paul
King did such a magisterial job on the first two
movies and set the tone and the color palette and
the look and the feel of the movies. But Google
has brought his own, his own taste to this third film.
(03:40):
But it's only developed what's already there. So he was
very nervous. You know, He's come from the world of
commercials and short music videos and so on, so to
take on a proper big movie was nerve wracking for him.
So in fact, most of the movie was spent reassuring
him that he was rather brilliant, which it wasn't a
(04:01):
task because he's a lovely guy and has the same
wonderful outlook on the world as Paddington.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
And I was thrilled to see that he's brought a
lot of creative sort of ingenuity to this film, because
that's what we expect. It's such a mix of live
action and animation and interesting visuals, and he's really stipped
that up, hasn't he.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Oh completely, And he's a great storyboarder. I've never met
a director who's so well prepared. Mind you, he did
have you know, several there were not full starts, but
there was several times when we thought we might go
and then couldn't because of various issues. So he's been
more prepared. He's had more time to be bad than
any other director I've ever met. But he's meticulous in
that preparation, but also inventive, and he's dogged at trying
(04:48):
to get the you know, the jokes right.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
The visual jokes.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Has a glorious reference to it as a Buster Keaton
reference for instance, which is anyone who knows those films
will will really enjoy. And the film is peppered as
the other two were, with visual references but also smart
verbal gags and greatcharacter development as well, with huge heart
at the center of it, and that's hugely down to
(05:11):
Google's input.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You're joined by some new cast members. Emily Mortimer stickson
to Sally Hawkin's role of Missus Brown and she, weirdly,
she was such a good fit that it took me
a moment to go Hugh's got a new wife.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Absolutely well.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
We were very sorry that Sally, for her own personal reasons,
stepped back and she was just taking a break, which
we all completely understand. And bizarrely, as Rosie the producer
was telling me this, the first image the first name
and face that popped into my head was Emily's and
I just blurted out, Emily Mortimer. And we were so
lucky that when Rosie and the team approached her, she
(05:51):
said yes, and it all fitted. She does fit in
absolutely seamlessly, and we felt like a family from the outset.
So it was a joyous thing to have her on
board as well.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
And the other person who fits them seamlessly as well,
and very much got the memo of you know, how
you know what to bring to a Pennington film was
Olivia Coleman. I mean she hit me and stitches immediately.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yes, So Olivia plays the reverend mother who runs the
home for Retired Bears, where of course Aunt Lucy as
we know, lives, and it was very much invested with
the spirit of Julia Andrews and the sound of music
and will burst into song with a guitar whenever she can,
and so hence you see roller skating nuns, nuns doing
cartwheels and you know, skipping through the hills of the
(06:39):
andes of Peru. She absolutely embraced the role and was
huge fund have around.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Because it's been a while since the two of your
work together.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
We did a show called twenty twelve, which is all
about setting up the twenty twelve Olympics. She played my
doggedly loyal secretary and she was genius in that. It
was great to be reunited on this.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, Antonio Bandiras of course joins him as well as
a cursed Amazonian river captain. Was he fun to work
with as well?
Speaker 5 (07:13):
He's great.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I mean he's a you know, maybe a massive, great,
big movie star, but he's a proper actor. He comes
from theater, so he he I always called.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
You know, people like that one of us.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
He gets it and knows about teamwork and in his case,
knows about having to play lots of characters. I think
he after a couple of weeks he said, I thought
it was going to be fun playing all these different characters,
but actually it's a lot of time in makeup.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Because there's a nice nod.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
To kind hearts and coronets, and that he plays various
ancestors who revisit him during the course of the story.
He's wonderfully, He's very funny and as I said, a
complete team player and committed to the team.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
He led from the front wonderfully.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
This is much more of an action film too, isn't it.
I mean, you know, the Brown family gets out of
London and they they've got to get their action boots on.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Yes, well, because we go back to visit Aunt Lucy
and then in the discovered that she's gone off on
her own adventures, so we need to follow her track
her down.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
That does lead us into the jungles of.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
South America, and you can imagine that we encounter all
sorts of adventures there, not least when you've got a
bear leading the way who thinks he knows the way,
but of course hasn't been there since he was a cub,
so relying on him for compass and navigational purposes is
probably a bit of a mistake. But we all have
to confront things, not least our own fear of spiders, which.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
You do brilliantly.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I have to ask and I don't want to give
away too much of the magic of making a movie,
but the integration of the animated Peddington is exceptional. So
I'm really curious to know when you're in the middle
of you know, a Peruvian rainforests and things, and it's
(09:00):
full on and you're acting, who is on set as Peeddington,
who are you acting to? Are you being the lines
and things?
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Well, I just will make absolutely clear to you and
to your viewers that the bear is real. But as
I said, sometimes he has to have a little lie down.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
If you ate that many mammonade sandwiches in a day,
you'd have to.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
So we do have assistance. We have an actress called
Lauren who has been on every movie. She is the
same height as Paddington, and she dons his coat and
hat and walks through the scenes with us, and so
we shoot with her first, and then then we might
do another pass without her there, but with our eyes
following in the direction where she's been. Sometimes it's a
(09:41):
bit more simplistic than that. It's a stick with a
bit of sticky tape at three foot six, which is
where his eyes are, and so it can be it's
a very busy and fiddley process, as I say. But
then when the star does emerge and steps into grace
us with his presence from the magic happens.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
J I must ask you while we have you with us.
This year we lost day Maggie Smith, and I kind
and allegiend and I'm just I don't know if you
could share with me, so you know what you've learned
from working with her over the years.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Well, strangely, my most vivid memory of her probably is
the is the last scenes we were filming with her
back in the end of the second Down to and
Abby film, And you know, while the cameras were setting up,
I was just, you know, sitting next to her, and
I just reflected on the fact that this was the last
time I was going to see her on screen, and
that I'd had the privilege of ten years calling her mum.
(10:34):
And I just thought back over the career and many
of the performances that I'd seen, some that I hadn't
you know, you go right in my memory bank, going
back to watching her on screen as Desdemonia, to Olivier's Othello,
to watching her on stage in the West End, and
not to mention her two Oscar winning performances in Plaza
Suite and The Prime and Miss Jane Brody and this
(10:55):
extraordinary range of this beautiful mercurial woman. And I'd been
lucky enough to work closely with her on and off
over that decade. So I've got that fond memory to
to hold on to, and luckily We've got the great
legacy of all her screenwork to cling onto. But you know,
she was her own toughest critic, and so you all
(11:17):
had to raise we all had to raise our game
when we were on set with her, because she didn't
take any prisoners, least of all herself.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So Pennington and pro is a wonderful way to start
twenty twenty five. What does the rest of the year
hold for you? I hear there is talk about a
third film from downtow neby Yes Dan.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
We finished that just a few months ago, and so
that's coming out I think in September, certainly in the UK,
So I'm not sure when it reaches you, guys. But
that was a lovely rounding off of the story really,
so I think those who followed the show since it's
beginning fifty two episodes and three films ago, will be
(11:56):
delighted to see the story coming into land.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
So that's on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
The biggest names from the Sunday session great Chats with
Franciska Rudkin on iHeart Radio powered by News Talks at BE.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
That was Hugh Bonnyville speaking about the film Paddington in Peru,
a charming film about belonging in family, told in a
creative and innovative way by an awesome cast who are
determined to live up to the idea that Padington be
actually exists. Very sweet, isn't it up? Next, a local
legend who had a really busy year, Madeline Sami, released
(12:30):
her second season of Double Parked, headed to OZ to
direct and star in the second season of Deadlock. So
we started off by talking about whether she enjoys a
busy schedule or not. Double Parked is out. Now you're
in the thick of promotion for that. You're heading back
to OZ to film season two of Deadlock. We had
to move this interview by day because you've been working
here in New Zealanders while picking up some more work.
(12:53):
I did read that you were the kind of person
who likes to have five projects on the go. We've
seen that that is the case.
Speaker 6 (12:59):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think it's like in our industry.
I don't know, you start, when you start out, you're
so desperate for work. You're so grateful for any work
you get because it's you know, it's a tough industry
to be and there's a lot of competition, and so
I feel like it's kind of a mentality from back
when I was like eighteen and starting out in the industry,
(13:19):
I was like, must take work because you never know
when the next job will come. So yeah, I probably
am a bit of a workerholic. I also do, definitely
probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I also do just like working
and I think when you get good opportunities, you got
to take them.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Ye, there's nothing wrong with that. I mean you'll say,
notice something you don't want to do.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Oh, definitely, definitely. I mean that's something I've learned the
older I've got.
Speaker 6 (13:43):
In fact, I think like the pandemic was really good
for that, sort of like sitting back and having a
bit of time out to be like, how do I
want to lead my life? And why do I want
to feel so tired all the time and not necessarily
doing the thing I love, you know, and sort of
taught me a bit to narrow things down.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
So how did that change? Were you just more discerning
about the project side shows?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
I think so, yeah, I think I was so, oh, look,
I don't just have to wear myself out and do
everything I can. I can pick the things that I
love more. And yeah, it's and for me, it's like,
you know, a variety. I love variety, and I love
you know, I love doing a bit of directing and
acting and writing. Having those it's also survival because like
sometimes one of those things is all right up and
(14:27):
the other things are going going good guns.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And you know, that was exactly what I was going
to say, you know, the acting, directing, writing, presenting, it's
it's do you kind of go through seasons of each
or can they often be sort of going at the
same time.
Speaker 6 (14:42):
I mean, I think often they're going at the same time.
Often I'm in a year. I mean some years I
do more acting than directing. I think last year I
probably did more directing than acting. And it's just nice
to have the it's just nice to kind of have
the variety. Really, I think that I love doing both
(15:02):
of those things. Obviously, acting is the first thing I
started doing, so it's always going to be my one
true love. But then it's really fun to be creative
in those other spaces as well.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Do you like directing yourself? Do you like acting and directing?
Speaker 7 (15:14):
It's very hectic.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, it's very hectic to try and have your brain
in two spaces at once and kind of be because
the director has to kind of be the center for
every other crew member, cast member on the set for
all their questions. And then when you're also trying to
think of a performance for yourself, You're like, oh, wait,
(15:35):
what do I want to do in the scene?
Speaker 7 (15:37):
How do I want to act in the scene?
Speaker 6 (15:38):
You know, like it's quite a lot, and I definitely
feel exhausted after doing that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Where's your priority at the moment? Are you in an
acting phase the directing phase? I mean, where would you
like to sort of as things progress or are you
very open to just carrying on taking whatever opportunities come?
Pretty open?
Speaker 7 (15:54):
I think it just sort of depends on the project.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
I think sometimes, like with acting, your really front and
center of something, and the kind of energy it takes
us quite different from from directing. Like directing sort of
feels like more behind the scenes, obviously more problem solving,
which in itself can be quite exhausting, but sometimes it's
less exhausting than actually being on camera yourself, which you know,
(16:18):
when you have to kind of delve into yourself emotionally
to create a character or you know, portray an emotion
like that itself can be so exhausting. So I think
I like the flipping between because sometimes it's nice just
to sit behind a camera in your own clothes and
you know, say cut.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Well just as you say, just think about one thing
on that particular job. Yeah, Now, am I right? Double
Parked Season two? It's released this week? It is such
a unique, fun concept. But am I right that you
were actually always going to direct, that you weren't going
to act in it, and then you've ended up in
one of the starting roles.
Speaker 7 (16:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (16:51):
I was asked to direct, and then it was like
do you want to act? And I was sort of
not sure about it, and I think I was on
another job at the time, so I hadn't really considered
it the acting of it. And then I finally got
my hand on a script before we were going into auditions,
and I sort of was like, I couldn't believe that
(17:11):
Chris had written this part.
Speaker 7 (17:12):
It felt like he had written me or a part
for me at.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
Least, and Antonio weirdly now looking back as well, but.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Has he ever denied that, has he ever said you
actually Girls nine didn't?
Speaker 6 (17:24):
NH Absolutely, It's like, no, I just wrote the characters.
And then it just felt like and I was like, well,
I have to play the character.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
It just feels so close to me.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
And also, you know this obviously its representation in diversity
is so much better these days, but it's still rare
to be able to make a show about a queer
couple and kind of think, I think maybe at that point,
Nat was the first queer character I had played on screen,
(17:52):
or I played a bisexual character in The break Rappers,
but like, so it was, you know, in a career
of over twenty years, it's like not a lot of
queer characters I've gotten to play, but in the last
few years it's you know, it's obviously getting better, but yeah,
I sort of had to take the opportunity.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
Really as well, it's.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Such a fabulous show, you know. If you look at
the end of season one, it ended with this hilarious
episode where the two of you are giving birth and things.
You come back in and to season two and actually
the first up is you know, and it was end
of season one. It was funny but moving as well.
You come back in and we're straight into full drama,
(18:32):
you know, And so I just love that there's all
this room there while there's this brilliant comedy, and there's
amazing cast and some hilarious cameos, Go Montgomery giving you
a epidural and things brilliant condis there is so much
room there for it to be more than just one thing,
which I love.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah, and I think that's what Chris has really got
his finger on, you know, Like he's such a funny guy,
and he's known as being such a funny comedian, but
he's just got a very brilliant mind and he's got
a really great kind of take on something that can
be you know, you can make something really funny and
(19:08):
moving as well. And you know, this show is very
heartfelt and it's made with a lot of love, and
it's written with a lot of love, and I think
that's what sort of comes across in the final product.
But yeah, this season, the stakes are a lot higher
because there's two new beings in this flat full of
chaotic people, and so yeah, there's a lot.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
It's a lot. It's just heavier.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Because it's it's harder.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
It's hard.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
You've been involved in another one of my favorite shows
from the last few years, the Ausie show, Deadlock, which
is just so wonderfully bold and it's humor and so
much fun. You're heading back to OZ now to start
filming season two. Am I right in saying once again?
You started out as a writer on that show and
then ended up starring in a sort of theme here
(19:55):
is I don't know what.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
The theme on the door.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
And then it's quite funny because I'm forty four and
I'm like, you know, this career has been sort of all,
you know, like a career of an act, sort of
all over the show. And I sort of diversified a
few years ago when I started getting into writing as well,
to kind of tell the stories I wanted to tell.
And you know, like I said before, I'm like, I'm
just grateful for the work. And I'd known the Kates
(20:20):
for a few years. They asked me to direct a
web series that they were doing, and we'd always just
kind of kept in touch, and then the opportunity to
write came along. I was like, I have to work
with these women. They're like too amazing, too funny, too clever,
too silly.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
And so I.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Started writing on the show, but it was through lockdowns
and pandemic and so we were sort of in virtual writers' rooms.
I was in Auckland in Lockdown and they were in
Melbourne and Lockdown and started writing on the show.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
And then.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
Yeah, it just it just I got asked to audition,
and I messaged one of the Kates and said, as
as a prank. I thought it was a prank that
ended up working on the show.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Yeah, and the first one mostly sat in Tasmania, and
the second one you're off to Darwin, which is apparently
an amazing city, but you know, one of quite extreme
temperatures and large amount of crocodile, A large amount of crocodile. Yeah,
but you've had your crocodile safety briefing.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I've been doing a lot of my own pre pre
production crocodile research. I've been watching a lot of Steve Rwin,
which is fun. Actually, it's nice to throw back to
watch with Steve viewin. But yeah, no, there's like one
hundred thousand crocks or something. They've grown all the crocs back.
It's hot, it's sweaty. I'm not sure I'm prepared from
this New Zealand winter to head into that. But I
(21:39):
am a half Fijian Indian, so I probably should be
able to handle it a little bit.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
It's in my DNA.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Surely here we go. You know, we're talking about two shows,
Double Parked and Deadlock, and both we see quite refreshing
perspectives on characters that we don't normally see on TV.
And you kind of alluded to this a little bit before.
Do you love what TV is kind of throwing our
way now, throwing audiences?
Speaker 6 (22:05):
I think it's just I mean, it's it's kind of
about time. But also, you know what's been lovely to
see is is I think for a long time TV
was just quite sanitized, was quite mono. You know, it
was a certain group of people that we saw all
the time, and a certain age group of people, and
(22:25):
it's just what passed as television for such a long time.
And for you know, like in my twenties, you know,
I'd always be like, how come I can't get on
without actually stating the obvious, you know, people that looked
like me weren't being cast? And then you know, through
time and probably like I would say, even in the
last like fifteen years, you know it shows I feel
(22:48):
like show like Orange is the New Black, where it
was just like women of all colors and races and
sizes and sexualities and genders and you know, like it
was just I feel like there was just this kind
of explosion of diversity, and I think, you know, there've
been all these massive movements that have contributed to the
knee to kind of share and projict more of what
(23:10):
society looks like.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
And so I.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Feel I feel like it was time and it just
it's crazy to be like in my forties and and
getting all this work. It feels like when I was
in my twenties, women and actors in their forties were
put out to pasture, you know, women especially, So.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
You're just entering your prime.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Now I am in my prime. Did lock on prime?
Speaker 2 (23:34):
There we go? Yeah, Hey, you're working across the New
zealandustrata quite a bit at the moment. How are we
doing in comparison with our local content?
Speaker 6 (23:42):
I mean, I don't know, it's a pretty I would
say it's a pretty skill. I mean it's a very
topsy TV time for the industry and general media TV.
Speaker 7 (23:52):
In the world, I think, not even just New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Like I feel like I feel like there's this little
bubble post pandemic where you know, everyone was out of
the bubble and making stuff and now there's been this obviously,
like you know, economic kind.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Of contraction across all all kind of.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
Across the world, and all industries, and the our industries
really felt that as well. So there's been a lot
of you know, a lot of great shows that have
been cut and and so I feel very lucky that
we're getting to do that. I get to do a
second season of these shows, and obviously there's an audience
for them, and that's great. And in terms of Australia
(24:32):
and New Zealand, like I don't know, I feel like
I'm always really proud of how much New Zealand has
been ahead of the game in terms of like champion
championing diversity and our you know and indigenous culture and
out within our sort of arts and media.
Speaker 7 (24:50):
And you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Always a sort of stark contrast when I go to
somewhere like Australia and.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
You've realized how.
Speaker 6 (24:58):
How sort of behind in some ways they are culturally
in terms of like where we're at with our race
relations and how that affects the flow and effect of
that into TV and to what gets made and all
that sort of stuff. So I always do feel like
a bit you know, kind of up myself when I
come back to New Zealand and go, you know, like
we are representing people and we're doing it better than
(25:22):
a lot of places, and we're telling stories from you know,
I just think about Kevin and co who I make
double part to it. You know, it's a queer story
about you know, two women who have babies together and
then they've got raised by refugees, which is a show
I directed with Paxacity who. You know, it's about a
refugee family. And then you know, you've got all these
(25:43):
kind of like people championing diverse voices. And I think
we've all we've got a history of that if you
go back to like the Top Twins, Billy t you know,
there's always been no matter what era we've been in
or government, we've had New Zealanders love each other. I think,
and I think that we're not afraid to kind of
(26:05):
just be ourselves. And I know I think I do
feel really proud. I do think we do it better.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Well, sorry Australia well said, Hey, look I wish you
all the best.
Speaker 6 (26:14):
I'm saying that did Locke is a very diverse show
and I think that's another thing that people have really
responded to us, just absolutely. You know, it's one of
the ones that sort of stands out.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
But hey, look all the best for the next four
months you're in. When will you get to see will
your daughter join you at all?
Speaker 7 (26:31):
I'm not going to be in down the whole time.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
I'm moving around a bit, so I'll probably get her
over when she's a bit closer. Because Darwin's basically like Bali,
So I'm like, it's so far away, she won't be
able to handle that flight. But if I'll get her
over when it's a bit close. Also, she has to
go to school, so she does. She must go to school.
She can't come out and have fun.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
With me and crocodiles just occasionally. Maybe that's pretty sure
every time. I'm Alan Sammy. Thank you so much for
your time.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Thank you bringing you the best interviews from the Sunday session.
Great chats with Francesca Rudkin on iHeartRadio Empowered by News
Talks It be that.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Was Madeline Sammy who enjoyed catching up with Madeline and
getting a feel for sort of weather industry is out
here in New Zealand. She is doing so well now,
but she has had to work incredibly hard to get
to where she is and be very proactive along the way.
She deserves all her success now. Both shows are worth
checking out if you haven't already. Double Parked is on
(27:25):
three now and Deadlocke is on Prime Up Next. The
best selling cookbook author in Australia and fast becoming a
favorite here in New Zealand as well. Nagi Mayhashi. Her
story is fantastic. She was an accountant, an auditor, and
now she is a very well known cookbook author. But
(27:45):
there is much more to her story, and I started
off by asking whether she was aware of the impact
she has had on home cooks.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I love hearing stories from people, to be honest, It
just it almost feels my fire. Does that sound a
bit odd? I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm
writing into into nowhere when I publish recipes, But then
when I actually hear from people in real life, Yeah,
it just it's really satisfying. It makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
You did say when we talked a year ago that
your huge success hadn't sunk in yet, has it now?
Speaker 5 (28:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (28:21):
I just more than ever, I think I just for me.
I just feel like nothing's changed. I just do what
I did ten years ago. It's just working in slightly
different landscape now. But from my perspective, I'm just doing
exactly what I did ten years ago. Does that sound strange?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It does sound strange. It does because Naggi, ten years
ago you had two people who visited your website, which
was you and your mum.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Yeah, I still Back then, I was posting recipes I
loved and I was explaining them why the way I
explained now. Yes, my photographies come. You know, I've improved
my photography and I've started doing recipe videos for all
my videos. But fundamentally, other than you know, improvement in
st it's the same kind of food, same flavor profiles,
(29:11):
same ingredients. Because I still shop at my boring regular,
you know, local grocery store. I don't go to gourmet stores.
So yeah, from my perspective, I do feel like I'm
still doing the same things.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
You now get half a billion visits every year, your
social media following is over five million people. Your last
book was Australian Book of the Year. You run a
charity that donates one hundred and thirty thousand meals a year.
But I actually really love the fact that through the
book you do say, you know, regardless of all that success,
you kind of feel uncomfortable talking about that. Why is that?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I just I just don't want I don't want fame.
I don't actually know what fame means, but I don't
want it, if that makes sense. I'm actually really happy.
I was always happy behind my keyboard, and then I
did a book and it forced me to come out,
and you know, come out from behind my keyboard, and
I do love that, but I don't I don't want
(30:06):
to be on TV. I really don't want ragnags to
talk about me. I enjoyed my privacy. I just want
to sit at home and just cook in my kitchen
and write recipes, take photos and publish them on my website.
That's just me. I don't want to go to you know,
all those those award shows and things that people go
to and you get photographed on the red carpet. I
(30:28):
can't think of anything worse than spending all afternoon getting
your makeup done.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Do you think? Do you think, Naggie, this is partly
because the success has come at a certain age and
stage of life. You know, like you're not someone who's
this is not your sort of your first foray into
a career and you're not out there to become, as
you say, famous and get those hits that you sort
of yeah, you know, maybe there's just a little bit
more wisdom and experience there.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Definitely, I think so I see it in. I hate
to say, but a level of maturity obviously comes with age,
and your priorities just shift. So you hit a certain
age and you just don't crave. I don't care about
going viral, for example. I've never cared about going viral.
For me, it's very much about organic growth and being
happy as well, doing what you enjoy doing and are
(31:18):
comfortable doing. And I'm not comfortable on TV. So yeah,
I'm in my happy place.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
But you are quite famous.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I think it's a stroke. I think I'm just in
people's kitchen because a lot of people use my spaghetti bolonnaise.
But it's not like a my famous movie star type famous.
It's very different. I'm all home, home body type, if
that makes sense, your friend in the kitchen. That's all.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So you mentioned before that what drives you is is
the feedback that you do get from people. But what
else sort of drives you? Who are you creating these recipes?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
For so, I think first and foremost for me, I
just I genuinely love cooking and creating new recipes, and I,
more so than ever, love eating good food. That kind
of metally is what drives me. And I think because
of that, because I truly love what I do, that's
(32:16):
what keeps me going through the rougher times or when
things get really busier, when I'm under a lot of
time pressure, just the fact that I love it. And
it's a bit strange because a lot of people, not
many people, are fortunate enough to work in a field
in which they love. I know a lot of people
in the professional food industry that cook for a living,
(32:36):
not because they love it. It's a job, not a passion.
So when people ask me what my hobby is and
what I do on Sundays, it's a really boring answer.
I actually cook, I try something new, or I read cookbooks.
It's really daggy.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Well, look, I'm not a great cook, and I could
probably guilty at times of cooking because I have to
feed my family. So these books have been amazing for me.
But I've gone one step further thanks to your books.
Now you know, I cook one new recipe a week
we all go yes, no, does it stay on the
(33:12):
roster or not? Like, I've definitely pushed myself because I
feel like I can and it's easy, and I'm going
to be able to whip up something gorgeous and tasty
and it's not going to take me all night and
I'm not going to go to three soup markets.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
And that's exactly the kind of feedback I love to hear.
And I've always said that, you know, when people say,
what's the best advice you can give someone who's starting
out in the cooking journey, my number one advice is always,
you know, enjoy it, don't get stressed out. As you've
become more confident, and as you start enjoying what you've
made because it's so tasty, you just gain that confidence
(33:49):
to go out and start exploring more new dishes. And
then it's just kind of like a snowball effect. You
start experimenting more, you gain more experience, you eat more
types to delicious food, and then all of a sudden,
you're a crazy obsessed food blogger.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Somehow, I don't think I'm quite going to get there.
But do you know the other thing about these cookbooks
is they're incredibly generous. There is one. They're massive, but
there is so much in here, so many recipes, so
many great tips, so many sauces and ways around things.
Incredibly generous.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I just think they're culled back versions of the manuscript
I originally submitted. Every time you have a fight with
the publisher for what I have to take out, good
I always have more than what I'm allowed to print.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
I did notice at the beginning of this book there's
a bit of a chat. Well it's not a chat,
it's very large capitals talking about salt. What are we
doing wrong with the salt we're using in our cooking?
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Yes, yes, So for me, salt is actually one of
the main things that will make a dish fail or succeed.
And I think so many people get it wrong because
a lot of people there's just such inconsistencies. So chefs
used typically they will used sea salt, and that is
a core of the weight and volume of table salt,
and a lot of people are still cooking with table salt,
(35:12):
and nobody understands that if you use a tea spin
of table salt in a recipe that calls for a
tea spin, the sea salt it's massively over salted and
it's not enjoyable. So yeah, so very I'm very very
I'm for every single one of my recipees use cooking
salt or coarse grain salt, and so I just constantly
(35:33):
hound that point home because it can be the difference
between make or break of a dish. To be honest,
under salted dishes taste bland. So you can have all
the spice levels, right, yep, but if you don't have
enough salt in it, it'll taste bland.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
That's interesting.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Yeah, it's really funny. Like you can make any of
my recipes and if you leave out the salt, you'll
complain that the dish is blanned. Then you put the
salt in and all of a sudden, it's perfect.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
That's the key. There we go. How's Dozer, your gorgeous
dog had a bit of a rough year.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
He did.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
He's going so well. I'm just so grateful he came back.
And yeah, I'm just very, very lucky. He's an older dog,
but I'm just trying to enjoy every day I've got
with him, and he's happy and healthy and bouncing around again.
And yeah, very lucky.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Well, because he's a large part of this journey, as
is your mum. Are you moving in with your mum?
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Oh I did, I did. I'm renovating my home, so
we are trying to move in together just while my
home's being renovated. We're twenty four hours in. We'll see
how we go. Because the last time I tried it,
I lasted five days and then I stormed out.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
So but litt all seriousness, your mama is actually a
huge part of the business, isn't she. She is.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
She's got her own website. She's part of the team.
I rely on her so much. So yeah, I mean,
I consider her my best friend. But there's no doubt
we are a mother and daughter and we definitely butt heads.
And I'm you know, I'm a bit past the age
of living at home. Left time at eighteen, so trying
to go back is a bit of a challenge. So
(37:11):
we'll see. Twenty four hours in. Project, we're doing okay
so far.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
I'm sending you strengths. Look, we should we should give
a shout out to your charity, Recipe ten Meals, as well,
because this is providing meals to those in need, which
you fully fund through the profit of Recipe ten eats.
How important is that side of the business to you.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
It's actually the most important part of my business. Everybody
in my team knows that, no matter what's going on,
if people calling sick and they need to they need
a hand in the kitchen, then if you get a
phone call at five thirty in the morning, you get
out of bed and you go. And it's made very
clear to everyone in my team, no matter what else
is going on. Even when I had my cookbook deadlines
to submit the manuscript, my publisher knew that if I
(37:54):
had to deal with the with my food bank, then
I would cancel interviews. And I have had to cancel
interviews to go help out. So yeah, it's the number
one priority because, to be honest, what I always say
to my guys is every day we have five hundred
people waiting for dinner and you can't not turn up.
(38:15):
You just can't not turn up.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Yeah are you are you noticing an increased need for it?
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Yeah? Absolutely will never fill the void. I mean, I
don't know what it's like actually in New Zealand, but
overhear the inflations has gone through this through the roof
cost of living is just higher than it's ever been,
so we're really noticing it.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Yeah, no same here. So all in all, Naggi still
no regrets from walking away from that corporate finance job.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Ah, missing my life as an auditor. I can pretty
safely say, I'm.
Speaker 5 (38:46):
Not so dear.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I ask because it's so unfair when you're just celebrating.
Sort of the end of all is hard work. But
what next?
Speaker 3 (38:59):
I know? Right now, I'm just focused on enjoying the
book tour because this is to be the reward for
all the hard work. And then next year, I really
want to bed down and start increasing the number of
meals we're producing it from our food bank. We've just
invested in some new equipment, so I want to start
pushing the boundaries of what we can do there to
increase efficiency and make more meals.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
The best guest from the Sunday session Great Jazz with
Francesca Rudgin on iHeartRadio powered by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
It'd be you are listening to Nagi Mayhatti. If you
have one of her books or use her website, you'll
know why she is so popular. Honestly, her recipes are
so easy and tasty. There's always something you can whip
up from What's in the Fridge, Low Maintenance, cooking, love It. Hey,
thank you for joining me on this newstalk's podcast. Please
feel free to share these chats. If you like this podcast,
(39:51):
you can follow us on iHeartRadio or wherever you get
your podcasts. We're releasing two new EPs a week Mondays
and Fridays throughout summer. I'll catch you next time on
Great Chats.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live use talks it Be from nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks ATB. The big names, the fascinating guests,
the thoughtful conversations, bringing you the best interviews from the
Sunday Session. This is Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, powered
(00:27):
by News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello and welcome to the summer edition of Great Chats.
I'm Francesca Rudkins and in this podcast we bring you
some of the best feature interviews from the Sunday Session
on News Talks HEB throughout twenty twenty four. Jazz, released
into cinemas, is the latest film from one of the
most beloved family film franchises of recent times, Paddington in Peru.
(00:49):
Hugh Bonneville stars as mister Brown and we caught up
just before Christmas to have a chat about this delightful
film last time I spoke to you. We spoke about
the film to Olivia and I feel like you have
been playing a real range of characters over the last
few years, and edgy characteres are good. But is it
(01:09):
quite lovely just to get back to this charming, wholesome
world of Peddington.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Well, absolutely, This Bear is so beloved around the world,
not at least in New Zealand, so it's great to
bring him back to the screen. Obviously, his reputation precedes
him and his egos got bigger, so he comes out
of his trailer fewer and fewer times. But when he does,
he bounces down and we've had standings, know, we work
with standings most of the day, and then suddenly about
four o'clock he arrives and says, I'm ready for my
(01:38):
close up. And it's always worth it because he's so charming,
and in this particular adventure, we go to the heart
of the jungle and to the heart of where he
came from. So it's not an origin story, but it
does make him reflect on where he's from and where
he's going.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So is he responsible for the reason why there's been
seven years between films.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yes, because he has so many other commitments. He does
a lot of work for charity, and then there was
a big stint in Marmalade rehab.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
But he's now out.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
He's fine, he's handling it all and he's back on
track and he's on the promotional trail.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I imagine it was very difficult because the cast is
it's an incredible cast in these films. I imagine it
was quite difficult getting everybody together to do a sequel.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Well, yes, it wasn't. It wasn't.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
There was a thing called the pandemic which really got
in the way initially, and then you know, issues to
do with budget and tweak. There's no point making a
movie unless the script is absolutely right. And so Doogle,
who's our director, and Rosie Allison, our producer, and the
writing team really worked hard on you right up. In fact,
even on the set we were tweaking bits and bobs
(02:48):
to make the stories rich and as tight and as
fun as the previous two movies.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
This film and of course the third film, knew some
new cast members and I'll get to them in just
a moment that you mentioned Doogle there, Google Wilson. This
is the first time he has directed a feature film.
I mean, this is quite a large project to take on.
This is not a straightforward feature film. He's done a
(03:16):
very good job.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Well he's done.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I think he's done a terrific job and also must
have been nerve wracking for him, you know, as he
himself has said, he had large shoes to fill. Paul
King did such a magisterial job on the first two
movies and set the tone and the color palette and
the look and the feel of the movies. But Google
has brought his own, his own taste to this third film.
(03:40):
But it's only developed what's already there. So he was
very nervous. You know, He's come from the world of
commercials and short music videos and so on, so to
take on a proper big movie was nerve wracking for him.
So in fact, most of the movie was spent reassuring
him that he was rather brilliant, which it wasn't a
(04:01):
task because he's a lovely guy and has the same
wonderful outlook on the world as Paddington.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
And I was thrilled to see that he's brought a
lot of creative sort of ingenuity to this film, because
that's what we expect. It's such a mix of live
action and animation and interesting visuals, and he's really stipped
that up, hasn't he.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Oh completely, And he's a great storyboarder. I've never met
a director who's so well prepared. Mind you, he did
have you know, several there were not full starts, but
there was several times when we thought we might go
and then couldn't because of various issues. So he's been
more prepared. He's had more time to be bad than
any other director I've ever met. But he's meticulous in
that preparation, but also inventive, and he's dogged at trying
(04:48):
to get the you know, the jokes right.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
The visual jokes.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Has a glorious reference to it as a Buster Keaton
reference for instance, which is anyone who knows those films
will will really enjoy. And the film is peppered as
the other two were, with visual references but also smart
verbal gags and greatcharacter development as well, with huge heart
at the center of it, and that's hugely down to
(05:11):
Google's input.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You're joined by some new cast members. Emily Mortimer stickson
to Sally Hawkin's role of Missus Brown and she, weirdly,
she was such a good fit that it took me
a moment to go Hugh's got a new wife.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Absolutely well.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
We were very sorry that Sally, for her own personal reasons,
stepped back and she was just taking a break, which
we all completely understand. And bizarrely, as Rosie the producer
was telling me this, the first image the first name
and face that popped into my head was Emily's and
I just blurted out, Emily Mortimer. And we were so
lucky that when Rosie and the team approached her, she
(05:51):
said yes, and it all fitted. She does fit in
absolutely seamlessly, and we felt like a family from the outset.
So it was a joyous thing to have her on
board as well.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
And the other person who fits them seamlessly as well,
and very much got the memo of you know, how
you know what to bring to a Pennington film was
Olivia Coleman. I mean she hit me and stitches immediately.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yes, So Olivia plays the reverend mother who runs the
home for Retired Bears, where of course Aunt Lucy as
we know, lives, and it was very much invested with
the spirit of Julia Andrews and the sound of music
and will burst into song with a guitar whenever she can,
and so hence you see roller skating nuns, nuns doing
cartwheels and you know, skipping through the hills of the
(06:39):
andes of Peru. She absolutely embraced the role and was
huge fund have around.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Because it's been a while since the two of your
work together.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
We did a show called twenty twelve, which is all
about setting up the twenty twelve Olympics. She played my
doggedly loyal secretary and she was genius in that. It
was great to be reunited on this.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, Antonio Bandiras of course joins him as well as
a cursed Amazonian river captain. Was he fun to work
with as well?
Speaker 5 (07:13):
He's great.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I mean he's a you know, maybe a massive, great,
big movie star, but he's a proper actor. He comes
from theater, so he he I always called.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
You know, people like that one of us.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
He gets it and knows about teamwork and in his case,
knows about having to play lots of characters. I think
he after a couple of weeks he said, I thought
it was going to be fun playing all these different characters,
but actually it's a lot of time in makeup.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Because there's a nice nod.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
To kind hearts and coronets, and that he plays various
ancestors who revisit him during the course of the story.
He's wonderfully, He's very funny and as I said, a
complete team player and committed to the team.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
He led from the front wonderfully.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
This is much more of an action film too, isn't it.
I mean, you know, the Brown family gets out of
London and they they've got to get their action boots on.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Yes, well, because we go back to visit Aunt Lucy
and then in the discovered that she's gone off on
her own adventures, so we need to follow her track
her down.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
That does lead us into the jungles of.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
South America, and you can imagine that we encounter all
sorts of adventures there, not least when you've got a
bear leading the way who thinks he knows the way,
but of course hasn't been there since he was a cub,
so relying on him for compass and navigational purposes is
probably a bit of a mistake. But we all have
to confront things, not least our own fear of spiders, which.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
You do brilliantly.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I have to ask and I don't want to give
away too much of the magic of making a movie,
but the integration of the animated Peddington is exceptional. So
I'm really curious to know when you're in the middle
of you know, a Peruvian rainforests and things, and it's
(09:00):
full on and you're acting, who is on set as Peeddington,
who are you acting to? Are you being the lines
and things?
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Well, I just will make absolutely clear to you and
to your viewers that the bear is real. But as
I said, sometimes he has to have a little lie down.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
If you ate that many mammonade sandwiches in a day,
you'd have to.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
So we do have assistance. We have an actress called
Lauren who has been on every movie. She is the
same height as Paddington, and she dons his coat and
hat and walks through the scenes with us, and so
we shoot with her first, and then then we might
do another pass without her there, but with our eyes
following in the direction where she's been. Sometimes it's a
(09:41):
bit more simplistic than that. It's a stick with a
bit of sticky tape at three foot six, which is
where his eyes are, and so it can be it's
a very busy and fiddley process, as I say. But
then when the star does emerge and steps into grace
us with his presence from the magic happens.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
J I must ask you while we have you with us.
This year we lost day Maggie Smith, and I kind
and allegiend and I'm just I don't know if you
could share with me, so you know what you've learned
from working with her over the years.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Well, strangely, my most vivid memory of her probably is
the is the last scenes we were filming with her
back in the end of the second Down to and
Abby film, And you know, while the cameras were setting up,
I was just, you know, sitting next to her, and
I just reflected on the fact that this was the last
time I was going to see her on screen, and
that I'd had the privilege of ten years calling her mum.
(10:34):
And I just thought back over the career and many
of the performances that I'd seen, some that I hadn't
you know, you go right in my memory bank, going
back to watching her on screen as Desdemonia, to Olivier's Othello,
to watching her on stage in the West End, and
not to mention her two Oscar winning performances in Plaza
Suite and The Prime and Miss Jane Brody and this
(10:55):
extraordinary range of this beautiful mercurial woman. And I'd been
lucky enough to work closely with her on and off
over that decade. So I've got that fond memory to
to hold on to, and luckily We've got the great
legacy of all her screenwork to cling onto. But you know,
she was her own toughest critic, and so you all
(11:17):
had to raise we all had to raise our game
when we were on set with her, because she didn't
take any prisoners, least of all herself.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So Pennington and pro is a wonderful way to start
twenty twenty five. What does the rest of the year
hold for you? I hear there is talk about a
third film from downtow neby Yes Dan.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
We finished that just a few months ago, and so
that's coming out I think in September, certainly in the UK,
So I'm not sure when it reaches you, guys. But
that was a lovely rounding off of the story really,
so I think those who followed the show since it's
beginning fifty two episodes and three films ago, will be
(11:56):
delighted to see the story coming into land.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
So that's on the horizon.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
The biggest names from the Sunday session great Chats with
Franciska Rudkin on iHeart Radio powered by News Talks at BE.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
That was Hugh Bonnyville speaking about the film Paddington in Peru,
a charming film about belonging in family, told in a
creative and innovative way by an awesome cast who are
determined to live up to the idea that Padington be
actually exists. Very sweet, isn't it up? Next, a local
legend who had a really busy year, Madeline Sami, released
(12:30):
her second season of Double Parked, headed to OZ to
direct and star in the second season of Deadlock. So
we started off by talking about whether she enjoys a
busy schedule or not. Double Parked is out. Now you're
in the thick of promotion for that. You're heading back
to OZ to film season two of Deadlock. We had
to move this interview by day because you've been working
here in New Zealanders while picking up some more work.
(12:53):
I did read that you were the kind of person
who likes to have five projects on the go. We've
seen that that is the case.
Speaker 6 (12:59):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think it's like in our industry.
I don't know, you start, when you start out, you're
so desperate for work. You're so grateful for any work
you get because it's you know, it's a tough industry
to be and there's a lot of competition, and so
I feel like it's kind of a mentality from back
when I was like eighteen and starting out in the industry,
(13:19):
I was like, must take work because you never know
when the next job will come. So yeah, I probably
am a bit of a workerholic. I also do, definitely
probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I also do just like working
and I think when you get good opportunities, you got
to take them.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Ye, there's nothing wrong with that. I mean you'll say,
notice something you don't want to do.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Oh, definitely, definitely. I mean that's something I've learned the
older I've got.
Speaker 6 (13:43):
In fact, I think like the pandemic was really good
for that, sort of like sitting back and having a
bit of time out to be like, how do I
want to lead my life? And why do I want
to feel so tired all the time and not necessarily
doing the thing I love, you know, and sort of
taught me a bit to narrow things down.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
So how did that change? Were you just more discerning
about the project side shows?
Speaker 6 (14:05):
I think so, yeah, I think I was so, oh, look,
I don't just have to wear myself out and do
everything I can. I can pick the things that I
love more. And yeah, it's and for me, it's like,
you know, a variety. I love variety, and I love
you know, I love doing a bit of directing and
acting and writing. Having those it's also survival because like
sometimes one of those things is all right up and
(14:27):
the other things are going going good guns.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And you know, that was exactly what I was going
to say, you know, the acting, directing, writing, presenting, it's
it's do you kind of go through seasons of each
or can they often be sort of going at the
same time.
Speaker 6 (14:42):
I mean, I think often they're going at the same time.
Often I'm in a year. I mean some years I
do more acting than directing. I think last year I
probably did more directing than acting. And it's just nice
to have the it's just nice to kind of have
the variety. Really, I think that I love doing both
(15:02):
of those things. Obviously, acting is the first thing I
started doing, so it's always going to be my one
true love. But then it's really fun to be creative
in those other spaces as well.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Do you like directing yourself? Do you like acting and directing?
Speaker 7 (15:14):
It's very hectic.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, it's very hectic to try and have your brain
in two spaces at once and kind of be because
the director has to kind of be the center for
every other crew member, cast member on the set for
all their questions. And then when you're also trying to
think of a performance for yourself, You're like, oh, wait,
(15:35):
what do I want to do in the scene?
Speaker 7 (15:37):
How do I want to act in the scene?
Speaker 6 (15:38):
You know, like it's quite a lot, and I definitely
feel exhausted after doing that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Where's your priority at the moment? Are you in an
acting phase the directing phase? I mean, where would you
like to sort of as things progress or are you
very open to just carrying on taking whatever opportunities come?
Pretty open?
Speaker 7 (15:54):
I think it just sort of depends on the project.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
I think sometimes, like with acting, your really front and
center of something, and the kind of energy it takes
us quite different from from directing. Like directing sort of
feels like more behind the scenes, obviously more problem solving,
which in itself can be quite exhausting, but sometimes it's
less exhausting than actually being on camera yourself, which you know,
(16:18):
when you have to kind of delve into yourself emotionally
to create a character or you know, portray an emotion
like that itself can be so exhausting. So I think
I like the flipping between because sometimes it's nice just
to sit behind a camera in your own clothes and
you know, say cut.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Well just as you say, just think about one thing
on that particular job. Yeah, Now, am I right? Double
Parked Season two? It's released this week? It is such
a unique, fun concept. But am I right that you
were actually always going to direct, that you weren't going
to act in it, and then you've ended up in
one of the starting roles.
Speaker 7 (16:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (16:51):
I was asked to direct, and then it was like
do you want to act? And I was sort of
not sure about it, and I think I was on
another job at the time, so I hadn't really considered
it the acting of it. And then I finally got
my hand on a script before we were going into auditions,
and I sort of was like, I couldn't believe that
(17:11):
Chris had written this part.
Speaker 7 (17:12):
It felt like he had written me or a part
for me at.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
Least, and Antonio weirdly now looking back as well, but.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Has he ever denied that, has he ever said you
actually Girls nine didn't?
Speaker 6 (17:24):
NH Absolutely, It's like, no, I just wrote the characters.
And then it just felt like and I was like, well,
I have to play the character.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
It just feels so close to me.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
And also, you know this obviously its representation in diversity
is so much better these days, but it's still rare
to be able to make a show about a queer
couple and kind of think, I think maybe at that point,
Nat was the first queer character I had played on screen,
(17:52):
or I played a bisexual character in The break Rappers,
but like, so it was, you know, in a career
of over twenty years, it's like not a lot of
queer characters I've gotten to play, but in the last
few years it's you know, it's obviously getting better, but yeah,
I sort of had to take the opportunity.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
Really as well, it's.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Such a fabulous show, you know. If you look at
the end of season one, it ended with this hilarious
episode where the two of you are giving birth and things.
You come back in and to season two and actually
the first up is you know, and it was end
of season one. It was funny but moving as well.
You come back in and we're straight into full drama,
(18:32):
you know, And so I just love that there's all
this room there while there's this brilliant comedy, and there's
amazing cast and some hilarious cameos, Go Montgomery giving you
a epidural and things brilliant condis there is so much
room there for it to be more than just one thing,
which I love.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah, and I think that's what Chris has really got
his finger on, you know, Like he's such a funny guy,
and he's known as being such a funny comedian, but
he's just got a very brilliant mind and he's got
a really great kind of take on something that can
be you know, you can make something really funny and
(19:08):
moving as well. And you know, this show is very
heartfelt and it's made with a lot of love, and
it's written with a lot of love, and I think
that's what sort of comes across in the final product.
But yeah, this season, the stakes are a lot higher
because there's two new beings in this flat full of
chaotic people, and so yeah, there's a lot.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
It's a lot. It's just heavier.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Because it's it's harder.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
It's hard.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
You've been involved in another one of my favorite shows
from the last few years, the Ausie show, Deadlock, which
is just so wonderfully bold and it's humor and so
much fun. You're heading back to OZ now to start
filming season two. Am I right in saying once again?
You started out as a writer on that show and
then ended up starring in a sort of theme here
(19:55):
is I don't know what.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
The theme on the door.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
And then it's quite funny because I'm forty four and
I'm like, you know, this career has been sort of all,
you know, like a career of an act, sort of
all over the show. And I sort of diversified a
few years ago when I started getting into writing as well,
to kind of tell the stories I wanted to tell.
And you know, like I said before, I'm like, I'm
just grateful for the work. And I'd known the Kates
(20:20):
for a few years. They asked me to direct a
web series that they were doing, and we'd always just
kind of kept in touch, and then the opportunity to
write came along. I was like, I have to work
with these women. They're like too amazing, too funny, too clever,
too silly.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
And so I.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Started writing on the show, but it was through lockdowns
and pandemic and so we were sort of in virtual writers' rooms.
I was in Auckland in Lockdown and they were in
Melbourne and Lockdown and started writing on the show.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
And then.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
Yeah, it just it just I got asked to audition,
and I messaged one of the Kates and said, as
as a prank. I thought it was a prank that
ended up working on the show.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Yeah, and the first one mostly sat in Tasmania, and
the second one you're off to Darwin, which is apparently
an amazing city, but you know, one of quite extreme
temperatures and large amount of crocodile, A large amount of crocodile. Yeah,
but you've had your crocodile safety briefing.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I've been doing a lot of my own pre pre
production crocodile research. I've been watching a lot of Steve Rwin,
which is fun. Actually, it's nice to throw back to
watch with Steve viewin. But yeah, no, there's like one
hundred thousand crocks or something. They've grown all the crocs back.
It's hot, it's sweaty. I'm not sure I'm prepared from
this New Zealand winter to head into that. But I
(21:39):
am a half Fijian Indian, so I probably should be
able to handle it a little bit.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
It's in my DNA.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Surely here we go. You know, we're talking about two shows,
Double Parked and Deadlock, and both we see quite refreshing
perspectives on characters that we don't normally see on TV.
And you kind of alluded to this a little bit before.
Do you love what TV is kind of throwing our
way now, throwing audiences?
Speaker 6 (22:05):
I think it's just I mean, it's it's kind of
about time. But also, you know what's been lovely to
see is is I think for a long time TV
was just quite sanitized, was quite mono. You know, it
was a certain group of people that we saw all
the time, and a certain age group of people, and
(22:25):
it's just what passed as television for such a long time.
And for you know, like in my twenties, you know,
I'd always be like, how come I can't get on
without actually stating the obvious, you know, people that looked
like me weren't being cast? And then you know, through
time and probably like I would say, even in the
last like fifteen years, you know it shows I feel
(22:48):
like show like Orange is the New Black, where it
was just like women of all colors and races and
sizes and sexualities and genders and you know, like it
was just I feel like there was just this kind
of explosion of diversity, and I think, you know, there've
been all these massive movements that have contributed to the
knee to kind of share and projict more of what
(23:10):
society looks like.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
And so I.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Feel I feel like it was time and it just
it's crazy to be like in my forties and and
getting all this work. It feels like when I was
in my twenties, women and actors in their forties were
put out to pasture, you know, women especially, So.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
You're just entering your prime.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Now I am in my prime. Did lock on prime?
Speaker 2 (23:34):
There we go? Yeah, Hey, you're working across the New
zealandustrata quite a bit at the moment. How are we
doing in comparison with our local content?
Speaker 6 (23:42):
I mean, I don't know, it's a pretty I would
say it's a pretty skill. I mean it's a very
topsy TV time for the industry and general media TV.
Speaker 7 (23:52):
In the world, I think, not even just New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Like I feel like I feel like there's this little
bubble post pandemic where you know, everyone was out of
the bubble and making stuff and now there's been this obviously,
like you know, economic kind.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Of contraction across all all kind of.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
Across the world, and all industries, and the our industries
really felt that as well. So there's been a lot
of you know, a lot of great shows that have
been cut and and so I feel very lucky that
we're getting to do that. I get to do a
second season of these shows, and obviously there's an audience
for them, and that's great. And in terms of Australia
(24:32):
and New Zealand, like I don't know, I feel like
I'm always really proud of how much New Zealand has
been ahead of the game in terms of like champion
championing diversity and our you know and indigenous culture and
out within our sort of arts and media.
Speaker 7 (24:50):
And you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Always a sort of stark contrast when I go to
somewhere like Australia and.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
You've realized how.
Speaker 6 (24:58):
How sort of behind in some ways they are culturally
in terms of like where we're at with our race
relations and how that affects the flow and effect of
that into TV and to what gets made and all
that sort of stuff. So I always do feel like
a bit you know, kind of up myself when I
come back to New Zealand and go, you know, like
we are representing people and we're doing it better than
(25:22):
a lot of places, and we're telling stories from you know,
I just think about Kevin and co who I make
double part to it. You know, it's a queer story
about you know, two women who have babies together and
then they've got raised by refugees, which is a show
I directed with Paxacity who. You know, it's about a
refugee family. And then you know, you've got all these
(25:43):
kind of like people championing diverse voices. And I think
we've all we've got a history of that if you
go back to like the Top Twins, Billy t you know,
there's always been no matter what era we've been in
or government, we've had New Zealanders love each other. I think,
and I think that we're not afraid to kind of
(26:05):
just be ourselves. And I know I think I do
feel really proud. I do think we do it better.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Well, sorry Australia well said, Hey, look I wish you
all the best.
Speaker 6 (26:14):
I'm saying that did Locke is a very diverse show
and I think that's another thing that people have really
responded to us, just absolutely. You know, it's one of
the ones that sort of stands out.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
But hey, look all the best for the next four
months you're in. When will you get to see will
your daughter join you at all?
Speaker 7 (26:31):
I'm not going to be in down the whole time.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
I'm moving around a bit, so I'll probably get her
over when she's a bit closer. Because Darwin's basically like Bali,
So I'm like, it's so far away, she won't be
able to handle that flight. But if I'll get her
over when it's a bit close. Also, she has to
go to school, so she does. She must go to school.
She can't come out and have fun.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
With me and crocodiles just occasionally. Maybe that's pretty sure
every time. I'm Alan Sammy. Thank you so much for
your time.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Thank you bringing you the best interviews from the Sunday session.
Great chats with Francesca Rudkin on iHeartRadio Empowered by News
Talks It be that.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Was Madeline Sammy who enjoyed catching up with Madeline and
getting a feel for sort of weather industry is out
here in New Zealand. She is doing so well now,
but she has had to work incredibly hard to get
to where she is and be very proactive along the way.
She deserves all her success now. Both shows are worth
checking out if you haven't already. Double Parked is on
(27:25):
three now and Deadlocke is on Prime Up Next. The
best selling cookbook author in Australia and fast becoming a
favorite here in New Zealand as well. Nagi Mayhashi. Her
story is fantastic. She was an accountant, an auditor, and
now she is a very well known cookbook author. But
(27:45):
there is much more to her story, and I started
off by asking whether she was aware of the impact
she has had on home cooks.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I love hearing stories from people, to be honest, It
just it almost feels my fire. Does that sound a
bit odd? I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm
writing into into nowhere when I publish recipes, But then
when I actually hear from people in real life, Yeah,
it just it's really satisfying. It makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
You did say when we talked a year ago that
your huge success hadn't sunk in yet, has it now?
Speaker 5 (28:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (28:21):
I just more than ever, I think I just for me.
I just feel like nothing's changed. I just do what
I did ten years ago. It's just working in slightly
different landscape now. But from my perspective, I'm just doing
exactly what I did ten years ago. Does that sound strange?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It does sound strange. It does because Naggi, ten years
ago you had two people who visited your website, which
was you and your mum.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Yeah, I still Back then, I was posting recipes I
loved and I was explaining them why the way I
explained now. Yes, my photographies come. You know, I've improved
my photography and I've started doing recipe videos for all
my videos. But fundamentally, other than you know, improvement in
st it's the same kind of food, same flavor profiles,
(29:11):
same ingredients. Because I still shop at my boring regular,
you know, local grocery store. I don't go to gourmet stores.
So yeah, from my perspective, I do feel like I'm
still doing the same things.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
You now get half a billion visits every year, your
social media following is over five million people. Your last
book was Australian Book of the Year. You run a
charity that donates one hundred and thirty thousand meals a year.
But I actually really love the fact that through the
book you do say, you know, regardless of all that success,
you kind of feel uncomfortable talking about that. Why is that?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I just I just don't want I don't want fame.
I don't actually know what fame means, but I don't
want it, if that makes sense. I'm actually really happy.
I was always happy behind my keyboard, and then I
did a book and it forced me to come out,
and you know, come out from behind my keyboard, and
I do love that, but I don't I don't want
(30:06):
to be on TV. I really don't want ragnags to
talk about me. I enjoyed my privacy. I just want
to sit at home and just cook in my kitchen
and write recipes, take photos and publish them on my website.
That's just me. I don't want to go to you know,
all those those award shows and things that people go
to and you get photographed on the red carpet. I
(30:28):
can't think of anything worse than spending all afternoon getting
your makeup done.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Do you think? Do you think, Naggie, this is partly
because the success has come at a certain age and
stage of life. You know, like you're not someone who's
this is not your sort of your first foray into
a career and you're not out there to become, as
you say, famous and get those hits that you sort
of yeah, you know, maybe there's just a little bit
more wisdom and experience there.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Definitely, I think so I see it in. I hate
to say, but a level of maturity obviously comes with age,
and your priorities just shift. So you hit a certain
age and you just don't crave. I don't care about
going viral, for example. I've never cared about going viral.
For me, it's very much about organic growth and being
happy as well, doing what you enjoy doing and are
(31:18):
comfortable doing. And I'm not comfortable on TV. So yeah,
I'm in my happy place.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
But you are quite famous.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I think it's a stroke. I think I'm just in
people's kitchen because a lot of people use my spaghetti bolonnaise.
But it's not like a my famous movie star type famous.
It's very different. I'm all home, home body type, if
that makes sense, your friend in the kitchen. That's all.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So you mentioned before that what drives you is is
the feedback that you do get from people. But what
else sort of drives you? Who are you creating these recipes?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
For so, I think first and foremost for me, I
just I genuinely love cooking and creating new recipes, and I,
more so than ever, love eating good food. That kind
of metally is what drives me. And I think because
of that, because I truly love what I do, that's
(32:16):
what keeps me going through the rougher times or when
things get really busier, when I'm under a lot of
time pressure, just the fact that I love it. And
it's a bit strange because a lot of people, not
many people, are fortunate enough to work in a field
in which they love. I know a lot of people
in the professional food industry that cook for a living,
(32:36):
not because they love it. It's a job, not a passion.
So when people ask me what my hobby is and
what I do on Sundays, it's a really boring answer.
I actually cook, I try something new, or I read cookbooks.
It's really daggy.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Well, look, I'm not a great cook, and I could
probably guilty at times of cooking because I have to
feed my family. So these books have been amazing for me.
But I've gone one step further thanks to your books.
Now you know, I cook one new recipe a week
we all go yes, no, does it stay on the
(33:12):
roster or not? Like, I've definitely pushed myself because I
feel like I can and it's easy, and I'm going
to be able to whip up something gorgeous and tasty
and it's not going to take me all night and
I'm not going to go to three soup markets.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
And that's exactly the kind of feedback I love to hear.
And I've always said that, you know, when people say,
what's the best advice you can give someone who's starting
out in the cooking journey, my number one advice is always,
you know, enjoy it, don't get stressed out. As you've
become more confident, and as you start enjoying what you've
made because it's so tasty, you just gain that confidence
(33:49):
to go out and start exploring more new dishes. And
then it's just kind of like a snowball effect. You
start experimenting more, you gain more experience, you eat more
types to delicious food, and then all of a sudden,
you're a crazy obsessed food blogger.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Somehow, I don't think I'm quite going to get there.
But do you know the other thing about these cookbooks
is they're incredibly generous. There is one. They're massive, but
there is so much in here, so many recipes, so
many great tips, so many sauces and ways around things.
Incredibly generous.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I just think they're culled back versions of the manuscript
I originally submitted. Every time you have a fight with
the publisher for what I have to take out, good
I always have more than what I'm allowed to print.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
I did notice at the beginning of this book there's
a bit of a chat. Well it's not a chat,
it's very large capitals talking about salt. What are we
doing wrong with the salt we're using in our cooking?
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Yes, yes, So for me, salt is actually one of
the main things that will make a dish fail or succeed.
And I think so many people get it wrong because
a lot of people there's just such inconsistencies. So chefs
used typically they will used sea salt, and that is
a core of the weight and volume of table salt,
and a lot of people are still cooking with table salt,
(35:12):
and nobody understands that if you use a tea spin
of table salt in a recipe that calls for a
tea spin, the sea salt it's massively over salted and
it's not enjoyable. So yeah, so very I'm very very
I'm for every single one of my recipees use cooking
salt or coarse grain salt, and so I just constantly
(35:33):
hound that point home because it can be the difference
between make or break of a dish. To be honest,
under salted dishes taste bland. So you can have all
the spice levels, right, yep, but if you don't have
enough salt in it, it'll taste bland.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
That's interesting.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Yeah, it's really funny. Like you can make any of
my recipes and if you leave out the salt, you'll
complain that the dish is blanned. Then you put the
salt in and all of a sudden, it's perfect.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
That's the key. There we go. How's Dozer, your gorgeous
dog had a bit of a rough year.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
He did.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
He's going so well. I'm just so grateful he came back.
And yeah, I'm just very, very lucky. He's an older dog,
but I'm just trying to enjoy every day I've got
with him, and he's happy and healthy and bouncing around again.
And yeah, very lucky.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Well, because he's a large part of this journey, as
is your mum. Are you moving in with your mum?
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Oh I did, I did. I'm renovating my home, so
we are trying to move in together just while my
home's being renovated. We're twenty four hours in. We'll see
how we go. Because the last time I tried it,
I lasted five days and then I stormed out.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
So but litt all seriousness, your mama is actually a
huge part of the business, isn't she. She is.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
She's got her own website. She's part of the team.
I rely on her so much. So yeah, I mean,
I consider her my best friend. But there's no doubt
we are a mother and daughter and we definitely butt heads.
And I'm you know, I'm a bit past the age
of living at home. Left time at eighteen, so trying
to go back is a bit of a challenge. So
(37:11):
we'll see. Twenty four hours in. Project, we're doing okay
so far.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
I'm sending you strengths. Look, we should we should give
a shout out to your charity, Recipe ten Meals, as well,
because this is providing meals to those in need, which
you fully fund through the profit of Recipe ten eats.
How important is that side of the business to you.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
It's actually the most important part of my business. Everybody
in my team knows that, no matter what's going on,
if people calling sick and they need to they need
a hand in the kitchen, then if you get a
phone call at five thirty in the morning, you get
out of bed and you go. And it's made very
clear to everyone in my team, no matter what else
is going on. Even when I had my cookbook deadlines
to submit the manuscript, my publisher knew that if I
(37:54):
had to deal with the with my food bank, then
I would cancel interviews. And I have had to cancel
interviews to go help out. So yeah, it's the number
one priority because, to be honest, what I always say
to my guys is every day we have five hundred
people waiting for dinner and you can't not turn up.
(38:15):
You just can't not turn up.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Yeah are you are you noticing an increased need for it?
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Yeah? Absolutely will never fill the void. I mean, I
don't know what it's like actually in New Zealand, but
overhear the inflations has gone through this through the roof
cost of living is just higher than it's ever been,
so we're really noticing it.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Yeah, no same here. So all in all, Naggi still
no regrets from walking away from that corporate finance job.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Ah, missing my life as an auditor. I can pretty
safely say, I'm.
Speaker 5 (38:46):
Not so dear.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I ask because it's so unfair when you're just celebrating.
Sort of the end of all is hard work. But
what next?
Speaker 3 (38:59):
I know? Right now, I'm just focused on enjoying the
book tour because this is to be the reward for
all the hard work. And then next year, I really
want to bed down and start increasing the number of
meals we're producing it from our food bank. We've just
invested in some new equipment, so I want to start
pushing the boundaries of what we can do there to
increase efficiency and make more meals.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
The best guest from the Sunday session Great Jazz with
Francesca Rudgin on iHeartRadio powered by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
It'd be you are listening to Nagi Mayhatti. If you
have one of her books or use her website, you'll
know why she is so popular. Honestly, her recipes are
so easy and tasty. There's always something you can whip
up from What's in the Fridge, Low Maintenance, cooking, love It. Hey,
thank you for joining me on this newstalk's podcast. Please
feel free to share these chats. If you like this podcast,
(39:51):
you can follow us on iHeartRadio or wherever you get
your podcasts. We're releasing two new EPs a week Mondays
and Fridays throughout summer. I'll catch you next time on
Great Chats.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live use talks it Be from nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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