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The Spinoff
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
From Hilary to Oprah: Everything you missed from Jacinda Ardern's whirlwind promo tour
Tara Ward watches the big interviews from Dame Jacinda Ardern's promotional book tour. Dame Jacinda Ardern's memoir A Different Kind of Power was released around the globe this week, and hot on its heels came Ardern's promotional book tour. New Zealand's former prime minister gave a series of interviews to a variety of national and international media outlets, speaking to everyone from Christine Amanpour and CBS to Seven Sharp to Oprah bloody Winfrey. Not only was it a chance for Ardern to answer questions about her early life, political career and style of leadership, but it was also an opportunity for the world to – at last – find out what the Dame's favourite emoji is. Here's what she had to say. Seven Sharp Ardern began her interview with Hilary Barry by announcing that this chat – and not the one with Oprah or the BBC – was the one she was most nervous about. The reception in New Zealand is the most important to her, Ardern said, and admitted to feeling 'a bit squirmy'. Later, she acknowledged that she knows she remains a reminder of tough times for a lot of New Zealanders, but that Aotearoa is still home. Barry and Ardern covered plenty of topics from Ardern's book – including a breast cancer scare and a positive pregnancy test during coalition negotiations – with Barry sometimes reading aloud from the memoir. They talked a lot about kindness, and while both women admitted to being bawlers from way back, Ardern reckoned we should embrace our overthinking and worrying. 'It's not often you get leaders talking about these common character traits as not weaknesses, but strengths,' she said. Not a single tear was shed in the 30 minute interview, but this writer/overthinker would pay good money for Hils Baz to read me a bedtime story every night. CBS Sunday morning The big revelation here was that Ardern's local cafe in Boston charges an extortionate $6USD ($10NZD) for a sticky bun. A Boston bun, no less! This short interview with CBS' Robert Costa saw Ardern reflect on the changes to gun control after March 15 ('if we really said we didn't want this to happen again, we needed to make it a reality'), and the place of empathy in politics. 'We teach our kids to be kind – why shouldn't we role model that in politics?' Sure, sure, but let's hear more about the time the barista mistook Ardern for Toni Collette? The Rest is Politics Ardern was at her most relaxed with The Rest is Politics ' Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, cracking jokes throughout the hour-long podcast. Her memoir became a springboard to dive into bigger themes, with the interview touching on personal vs political drive, the state of progressive politics today, and about how Ardern is too coy about describing fellow political leaders in the book. 'There's certain audiences for certain things,' Ardern explained, while I couldn't stop looking at the globe on Ardern's shelf which had Australia placed front and centre. Maybe Campbell noticed it, too. He asked Ardern to rank China, the US, the UK and the EU in order of the importance of their relationship to New Zealand. 'That's a terrible question,' she answered, arguing that this kind of binary thinking is the current problem with foreign policy. Undeterred, Campbell pressed on. Which did Ardern prefer, England or Scotland? Ardern is Scottish, which left Campbell with the only option left available to him: to bring up the controversial spear tackle during the 2005 Lions rugby tour of New Zealand. ABC News In-depth It's not often a 2017 clip from The AM Show is shown on Australian television, but Ardern's interview with ABC News' Sarah Ferguson (no, not that one) dragged that pointed Mark Richardson rebuke up from the deep recesses of our cultural history. 'For context, this is the day after I became leader of the Labour Party, seven weeks out from the election,' Ardern explained, as we relived the moment she unleashed the finger point to end all finger points in response to Richardson's argument that women should have to disclose their pregnancy plans to employers. Eight years on, Ardern had no regrets. 'There's a real sense for me in that moment of 'it's fine for me', but what about everyone else?' she said. 'I don't think anyone for a moment would assume that when an employer asks you your plans, it's because they're going to prepare a gift basket for you.' The Oprah Podcast Oprah Winfrey's podcast studio looks like a beautiful summer greenhouse, with lovely rattan furniture, lush green plants and… big microphones. What better setting for Ardern to have a hearty natter about imposter syndrome, pandemics and lockdowns with the one and only Oprah? Winfrey began by recommending Ardern's memoir for 'anyone wanting leadership in their own lives', and the conversation flowed easily from there. 'I am in awe of your ability to stand in such grace and such power,' Winfrey told Ardern, as they discussed putting power to empathy, Ardern's unexpected pregnancy and leading through a global pandemic. We saw clips from the upcoming documentary film Prime Minister, which gave an insight into the realities of leading a country while also navigating pregnancy and parenthood. We watched Ardern feeding baby Neve in parliamentary offices, pumping milk in the back seat of a car, reading documents late into the night. Breastfeeding wasn't easy; as a young woman in power, there was no room to fail. What did Ardern learn? 'You can do it all, but don't expect to do it alone.' Oprah sipped chilled water through a straw while Ardern talked about gun control, Covid-19 and Ernest Shackleton. Then, after 75 minutes and several American ads for weight loss injections, it was over. 'People say don't meet your heroes, but I'm so glad to meet my hero today,' Oprah said. 'Come back to New Zealand soon,' Ardern replied. 'There are plenty of people who want to go hiking with you.' RNZ There was not a garden fern in sight for Ardern's interview with RNZ's Jesse Mulligan, who appeared to be sitting inside in some sort of heavily curtained tomb. Mulligan took us on one giant hoon of a chat, veering from small talk ('where have you been?' he began) to misogyny in politics to the moment Ardern told Winston Peters about her pregnancy over a platter of club sandwiches. 'Do you still, according to the Mormon tradition, keep three months worth of groceries in your house?' he asked. Ardern does not. Mulligan was worried about how David Cunliffe came off in the book. 'He looks like – what's the RNZ word for this – a douchebag?' he continued, having looked off camera to presumably check the official RNZ style guide. Ardern, ever the politician, said something about having just put her own experience on the page. 'You don't talk much about Winston Peters, can you explain him to me?' Mulligan asked. 'No,' Ardern laughed. After 30 minutes, we came to the really important stuff: the quickfire question round. Ardern wasn't keen, but she got on with it, just like the Queen told her. 'What's your most used emoji?' Mulligan queried. (Cry laughing). 'When was the first time you drank too much?' (Mid 20s). Finally, Mulligan asked the question that was on nobody's lips: First kiss? 'Absolutely not,' Ardern replied. 'If it didn't make the book, it won't make this interview.'
The Spinoff
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Jacinda Ardern steps back into the global spotlight
As the former PM's memoir hits shelves, Penguin is hoping her enduring star power can turn A Different Kind of Power into a bestseller, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. A different kind of memoir Jacinda Ardern's long-anticipated autobiography, A Different Kind of Power, is officially released today. Framed as a deeply personal account rather than a political exposé, the memoir chronicles Ardern's rise from small-town Morrinsville to global leadership – and her abrupt, self-authored exit from the world stage. The book's launch has been accompanied by a major international publicity push. Ardern has appeared on CBS's Sunday Morning show, sat down for a reflective interview with The Guardian, and featured on the mega-popular The Rest is Politics podcast. At home, she's been interviewed by Seven Sharp's Hilary Barry and the NZ Herald's Kim Knight, among others. The media blitz is not just about selling copies, but reinforcing Ardern's core message: that kindness, empathy and even self-doubt have a place in leadership. More personal warmth than political revelation Early reviews suggest that A Different Kind of Power offers plenty of feeling but not a lot of drama. Frances Stead Sellers of The Washington Post (paywalled) praises the memoir as a 'clear and compelling case for compassion' that suffers at times from 'its author's earnestness', while The Post's editor Tracy Watkins describes the book as emotionally resonant but light on backroom revelations – especially when it comes to a post-mortem on pandemic decision-making. 'If, like me, you're looking for fresh insights, or signs of regret over some of the decisions her government made, you may be disappointed,' Watkins writes. Newsroom's Steve Braunias, in the most deeply read and incisive review so far, is more generous. Like other reviewers, he comments on Ardern's sometimes cloying focus on empathy throughout the book – but also highlights a 'pitiless' nine-page section on a certain New Zealand politician. 'Ardern introduces him to an American public who had hitherto never heard of the vainglorious sap and parades him as the villain of A Different Kind of Power,' he writes. Today is probably a very bad day to be former Labour leader David Cunliffe. A big bet for Penguin Commercially, A Different Kind of Power is a major gamble. According to a fascinating story, again by Steve Braunias at Newsroom, Penguin is rumoured to have paid Ardern an advance of $1.5 million, meaning the book will need to sell at least 140,000 copies globally to break even. Publishing experts believe it's possible, particularly with Australian rights in play and a high-profile North American book tour scheduled. Braunias speaks to writer and book editor Paula Morris, who points out that the advance may also include Ardern's upcoming children's book, Mum's Busy Work, due out in September, which will make earning it back a far easier task. Comparisons are already being drawn to Spare by Prince Harry, which reportedly required 500,000 print sales to recover its costs. As with Harry, Ardern is a polarising figure, and that may well help drive both publicity and sales. (As an aside, Newsroom is the place to be for Ardern-book completists this week, with not one but three reviews scheduled, from Braunias, Janet Wilson and Tim Murphy.) Not the first Ardern book, and not the last word This isn't the first time Ardern's life has been turned into reading material. Jacinda Ardern: A New Kind of Leader by The Spinoff's own Madeleine Chapman was a bestseller, as was Michelle Duff's Jacinda Ardern: The Story Behind An Extraordinary Leader, which in 2019 inspired the bizarre #TurnArdern campaign. The Covid-era tome Jacinda Ardern: Leading with Empathy earned a withering review from Toby Manhire, who said that 'it was written by two authors trying hard to tell the story of a country without visiting it'. At the time, Ardern said it was 'awkward' to have her life story told via unauthorised biography – perhaps she was thinking about her own authorised version even then. Ardern's book won't be the last word, either. Her story has also been told in Prime Minister, a feature documentary about Ardern's time in office, co-directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsey Utz. While no NZ release date has been confirmed, it will play in this year's NZ International Film Festival. Outside of the NZIFF programmers, few people here have yet seen the film, but a close reading of the trailer by The Spinoff's Alex Casey reveals mic drop, teary moments, and many obligatory Aotearoa-landscape drone shots.
Spectator
29-05-2025
- Spectator
Phone theft is out of control in London
It just happened to be my birthday. A Friday lunchtime at the start of November. Broad daylight. I had left Oval tube station and was about to turn onto my road. But as I strolled along the pavement, airpods in, replying to happy birthday messages on WhatsApp, the inevitable happened. Snatch. My phone was lifted straight out of my hand by a teenager on a bike. I suppose it served me right for listening to The Rest is Politics at the time. I immediately felt like a complete mug. Almost every friend of mine in London had warned me about the proliferation of phone theft. I'd read enough newspaper articles about it, too. As such, I was normally more cautious about where and when I used my phone in the capital.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gary Lineker: A sorry end to a BBC career
This is a sorry end to a long BBC career. Gary Lineker was among the corporation's highest-paid presenters for a reason - he is popular with audiences, knowledgeable and brilliant at his job. But it's an understatement to suggest he has also caused problems for his BBC bosses over the years, as their high-profile football host began to morph into a presenter with opinions that he voiced on social media. In the end, those two things were increasingly in conflict. This has always been about reputation management for the BBC. Lineker had already, in the eyes of BBC bosses, caused the corporation damage with previous social media posts. Mistakenly sharing a video about Zionism which included a rat emoji was the final straw. Live updates and reaction to Lineker's departure Lineker to leave BBC after social media 'error' From football sensation to headline-hitting presenter It was difficult to see how he could continue presenting for the corporation, particularly at a time when the BBC is enmeshed in another controversy surrounding a documentary about Gaza, which it pulled after discovering the child narrator was the son of a Hamas official. I think what's different is that on this occasion, Lineker regrets his actions. He has appeared bullish about previous posts, saying that while he regretted damaging the BBC, he didn't believe, for example, that comparing the language of a Conservative asylum policy to that of 1930s Germany was wrong. But last week he crossed the line. Lineker is genuinely upset by what happened. He is mortified that he reposted the video. His relationship with the BBC is coming to an end in circumstances nobody would have wanted, but some might have predicted. He seemed unable or unwilling to accept that his high profile might prevent him from voicing strongly-held views that many believed had an impact on the BBC's need for impartiality. We live increasingly in an age when people want to express their opinions, and often do. Social media has given everyone a platform, and high-profile media figures have huge followings. He could not keep quiet. In the end, it brought him down. But he is a successful podcast entrepreneur, owning a third of the shares in Goalhanger, the company behind hit shows including The Rest is History and The Rest is Politics. I would also not be surprised if he does appear in the future on TV, perhaps even as a presenter of the World Cup for another outlet. He has shown contrition, but it has been a damaging few days. Gary Lineker: A sorry end to a BBC career New Match of the Day presenters announced How Gary Lineker went from football sensation to headline-hitting presenter
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Aussie voters face big question after Canadian election
A centre-left party comes from behind in the polls to win an election fought over living costs and Donald Trump. Sound familiar? With just days until Saturday's poll, political insiders are dissecting the results of an election on the other side of the world. Canada's ruling Liberal Party - which shares a name with Australia's conservative party but occupies the other side of the political spectrum - has won enough seats to retain government. It's a remarkable outcome for the Liberals, who were 20 percentage points behind in the polls earlier this year. The progressive party looked headed for a crushing defeat until the US president started attacking Canada's economy and threatening its sovereignty, suggesting it should become the 51st state. Donald Trump's actions enraged Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the script and win a fourth-straight term. The opposition wanted to make the election a referendum on former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was waning in popularity as food, power and housing prices surged. But Mr Trudeau soon quit and was replaced as leader ahead of the election, with disaffected voters flocking back to his party as Mr Trump threatened annexation and a trade war. There are obvious differences between the Canadian experience and Australian election but also some parallels, including the upending influence of Mr Trump. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected on this trend during an interview with one of the world's most popular podcasts, The Rest is Politics. He described the US president's impact on the Australian campaign as far less than people believed, unlike in Canada, where it was "brutal". "It is more distant but certainly the uncertainty that is in the global economy and the world has an impact as well," Mr Albanese said. During the podcast interview, Mr Albanese referenced the US president in relation to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Mr Dutton was "channelling some other world leaders we're seeing" and "bringing a machismo" to politics, he said. Mr Dutton's campaign has suffered by association with the US president, with Labor accusing the coalition of adopting a Trumpian agenda through measures including public service job cuts. After lagging in opinion polls, Labor is considered in the box seat to form minority government, if not obtain power in its own right. Political strategist Jack Milroy, who has worked on progressive campaigns in Canada and Australia, said the US relationship would be less of a factor on Saturday but voters were still conscious of the global instability. "The Canadian example has kind of shown that a strong approach to the US seems to pay dividends politically," he told AAP. "The Labor Party is in a good position for our election, but it will be interesting to see how they relate to the US going forward." Mr Milroy will be looking to see whether support for Australia's two major parties increases in response to global headwinds, as happened in Canada. Published polling suggests Australian voters have drifted from Labor and the coalition in favour of independents and minor parties. "What will be very interesting is if we see a reversal of that trend to follow the Canadian example," he said. "And in that search for security, voters come back to the major parties." Mr Albanese will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will begin the day in Melbourne.
