Toby Young is a British social commentator and the founder and director of the Free Speech Union in the United Kingdom, an associate editor of The Spectator, and a former associate editor at Quillette.

Toby recently visited New Zealand on invitation from the NZ Free Speech Union. In this Episode we talk about his book, How to lose friends and alienate people, his magnificently chaotic years in Manhattan, working for Vanity Fair, his redemption, his marriage, his brief period of abstinence from alcohol. We also briefly talk about the problems facing the United Kingdom before the upcoming elections.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

Evan Paul Moon is a New Zealand historian, a professor and author of New Zealand history and biography.

Moon is widely recognised for his study of the Treaty of Waitangi, and has published two books on the topic. More recently he published Ans Westra: A Life in Photography, the story of the photographer Ans Westra, who died in 2023.

Join me, Damien Grant as he interviews Dr Paul Moon, about the life, success and family of Ans. We also discuss what I got from the book. Something Dr Moon perhaps did not intend.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

In the podcast

Jonathan Rauch is an American journalist, philosopher and author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government.

He has also written on topics as widely varied as adultery, agriculture, economics, gay marriage, height discrimination, biological rhythms, number inflation, and animal rights.

Join Damien Grant as he interviews Jonathan Rauch, who is currently in New Zealand on behalf of the Free Speech Union. The discussion starts with Plato, later progresses to Cancel Culture and even takes a turn to Donald Trump.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

The Honourable Christopher Francis Finlayson is a New Zealand lawyer and former Member of Parliament, representing the National Party.

He practiced law in Wellington as a solicitor before going to the Bar in 2002. He was elected to Parliament in 2005 and became Attorney-General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations in 2008.

During his Ministerial career he also held a number of other portfolios. He was chair of the Privileges Committee of Parliament from 2011-2017.

Together with James Christmas, Christopher authored He Kupu Taurangi: Treaty Settlements and the Future of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Join Damien Grant as he interviews Christopher Finlayson about He Kupu Taurangi, the treaty settlement process and his views of the law in these matters.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

Steven Braunias is a New Zealand author, columnist, journalist and editor. He is the author of 13 books.

In his book, Missing Persons, which was winner of the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Non-Fiction, Braunias tells Twelve extraordinary tales of disappearance including former journalist Murray Mason, found dead in the Auckland Domain; the mysterious death of Socksay Chansy, found dead in a graveyard by the sea; the tragic disappearance of backpacker Grace Millane; the enduring mystery of the Lundy family murders.

Join Damien Grant as he interviews Steven about his book, delve into more details of the missing persons cases and and shed some light on the inclusion of Kim Dotcom and Colin Craig.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

Alex Calder is a professor at the Faculty of Arts, English and Drama, New Zealand of Auckland University. He also edited the book, Gallipoli to the Somme, written by Alexander Aitken.

Aitken began to write about his experiences in 1917 as a wounded out-patient in Dunedin Hospital. Every few years, when the war trauma caught up with him, he revisited the manuscript, which was eventually published as Gallipoli to the Somme in 1963.

Join Damien Grant as he interviews professor Alex Calder about the life and times of Alexander Aitken, the book, Gallipoli to the Somme, and why he put his time into reviving it.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender activist. He created or co-created the sitcoms Father Ted (1995–1998), Black Books (2000–2004) and The IT Crowd (2006–2013), and he has written for shows including Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye and The Fast Show.

Early in his career, he partnered with the writer Arthur Mathews. Linehan has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer, Comedy, for The IT Crowd in 2014.

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews Graham to discuss his early career, as well as his more recent emersion in the trans-gender debate.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

James Hollings is Programme Leader, Journalism, for Massey Niversity. He has worked in senior roles in news organisations, including as production editor and as a senior correspondent in health, agriculture, industry and the arts. His doctoral dissertation was on the decision-making processes of reluctant witnesses.

James Hollings, together with Kirsty Johnston, recently published The Crewe Murders
Inside New Zealand’s most infamous cold case.

The murder of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe in their Pukekawa farmhouse in 1970 remains New Zealand’s most infamous cold case. It spawned two trials, two appeals, several books, a film, and eventually a royal commission finding of police corruption.

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.

For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.