Consume This podcast

About

Consume This is an award-winning podcast, brought to you by Consumer NZ, hosted by Jon Duffy and Sophie Stewart.

Meet the hosts

Season 4

This season we’re celebrating the power of you, the consumer. We’ll be launching our own shop – Consumer Mart, hosting a live political debate, going to the dispute's tribunal, and tons more. Make sure you follow and subscribe in your favourite podcast app to stay up to date.

Episode 9: Summer's Coming: Spot The Problem

Sophie Stewart unpacks why the sun is so strong in Aotearoa, and how we can protect ourselves. In this episode she's joined by: Christina Baldarelli, NIWA's Olaf Morgenstern, and University of Otago researcher Bronwen McNoe.

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Episode 8: Bernard Hickey Talks Bank Scams

Independent journalist Bernard Hickey joins Jon Duffy to discuss competition, scams, and why we all deserve better from our banks.

As part of this podcast for a limited time Consumer NZ members can get 50% off a full subscription to Bernard's independent media platform The Kākā.

Episode 7: Tooth School

Toothbrushing is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health. Doing it right can save endless pain, and thousands of dollars. Because let’s face it, the only thing that might be worse than the excruciating, eye-popping pain of a toothache is forking over an entire paycheck to the dentist.

On this episode, we take on the latest New Zealand Health Survey Data to understand where we are going wrong with our approach to oral health and what we’re doing about it.

Episode 6: Consumer Power

In 1947, the residents of the small west coast town of Greymouth united to protest against the rise in beer prices. Their boycott of the local pubs lasted four and a half months and ultimately achieved success. This became the first major consumer activism in New Zealand history. In this episode, Jon Duffy and Sophie Stewart reflect on the history of consumer activism in Aotearoa, examine how Consumer NZ played a part in it, and consider what might happen in the future.

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Episode 5: Dame Jenny Shipley - The full interview

In this exclusive episode, former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley shares her insights on the Bradford reforms, gentailers, and the need for a more sustainable energy future. She also weighs in on the controversial issue of nuclear power, and offers her thoughts on how New Zealand can meet its energy needs in the years to come.

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Episode 4: Politics & A Pint - The Election Debate

We hosted a pre-election panel debate featuring MPs from New Zealand's four biggest political parties. You'll hear ACT MP Damian Smith, Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter, Labour Party MP Ingrid Leary, and National Party MP Andrew Bayly go head to head on the cost of living crisis, the environment, transport, and more. This is a must-listen episode if you want to know what the major political parties are planning to do about the most pressing issues facing New Zealand.

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Episode 3: The Future Of Our Electricity Network

In this episode we attempt to understand what changes we should make to the structure of our electricity market to keep it functioning well into the future.

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Episode 2: The Bradford Reforms - 25 Years On

Twenty-five years ago, sweeping reforms of New Zealand’s electricity sector promised us increased competition and lower prices. We look back to assess what we were promised against what was delivered…

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Episode 1: Where Are They Now?

Jon Duffy & Sophie Stewart catch up with four of our favourite stories from previous seasons, starring:

• Rachel from Scammed: How I Lost $100k On A Dating App
• Toby Green from Bamboozled: Can We Kick The Plastic?
• Thomas Swain from The Bank Of Mum & Dad
• Vladimir Zdravkovich from My House Earns More Than Me

Read the transcript

Season 3

All the episodes are themed around health and well-being topics, brought to you with support from the Ministry of Health.

Transcripts

• Test Your Drugs: A Trip With James
• Land Of The Long White Vape Cloud
• Regulating natural supplements - A tough pill to swallow?
• Can You Trust Your Gut When It Comes To D.I.Y. Health?

Cyclone Gabrielle

A journey through the Hawkes Bay food supply chain after it was hit by a natural disaster. It’s a story of destruction, personal loss, and ultimately hope for the future.

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Season 2

This season takes a deeper look at hot issues like Plastic Packaging, e-waste, insurance and data privacy.

Transcripts

• Flight or Fight Part 1 & Part two
• The Bank of Mum and Dad Part 1 & Part 2
• Bamboozled: Can We Kick the Plastic? Part 1 & Part 2
• Cut & Chuck: Where Faulty Goods Go To Die Part 1 & Part 2
• A Home For Sensitive Information
• Flight Rights - What Are You Entitled To?

Season 1

Jon & Sophie cover topics ranging from the housing market and scams through to sex, death and sunscreens.

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