Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - FULL SHOW: Healthy Obsession

Episode Date: February 4, 2025

ON THE SHOW TODAY We find everyday people who share their names with a celebrities You are kidding me - What childish thing do you still do? The price is right - find out how much we were paying for food back in the 2000's  PM Christopher luxon about memory about the early 2000s And Megan finally got the name of our security guard  Facebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganInstagram: THEHITSBREAKFAST   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jono, Ben and Megan podcast thanks to HelloFresh, your home advantage for delicious midweek dinners everyone will love. You do have your obsessions, your celebrity crushes over those years, people that you plot out life together with. They have no idea that you've, you know, destined to marry them and live to create babies with them. And Megan, you admitted yesterday you had three that you're obsessed with. I was obsessed with Hanson, particularly Taylor Hanson. He was the lead singer. Who were the other guys? Greg and...

Zach and Isaac. Zach and Isaac. They were a bit further down your priority list, were they? Yeah. Everyone had their favourite. Isaac wasn't really anyone's favourite. He was the older one. Oh, poor old Isaac.

He came into his own later in life. Do you know, I still have one of their birthdays, one of their, I don't want to give away my pin number,

but it's like a configuration of one of their birthdays as my pin number. Jeez, when Hanson starts getting into your day-to-day banking, you know you've got a problem. And when my daughter was born,

one of the first things I said was, oh my God, she's born on Zach Hanson's birthday. And that was only two years ago. You've just given life, and one of the first things you said was, oh my God, she was... Wow, you're really obsessed with Hanson. Yeah.

Why do we get so obsessed? What are their birthdays? No, I'm not going to say that. Oh no, because then we'll know you're pinning. The 22nd of October is Zach Hanson. Yeah. Why do we get some sex? What are their birthdays? No, I'm not going to tell you. Oh no, because then we'll know your pin. The 22nd of October is

Zach Hanson's birthday. Isaac's is the day before my brother's, the 17th of November I think. And Taylor's is

another one. Taylor's is your banking pin. So you've just given it away. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. There you go,

that's how the hackers get you. You love Hanson, eh? I'll tell you more about it. So we want to it away. Thank you. There you go, that's how the hackers get you. I love the change. I love the change. You love that today. So we want to know, out of the hits this morning, 4487, what were you obsessed with as a kid? You know, posters on the wall, listening to,

watching things. My dad got me into cricket and he had like Richard Hadley books and videos and stuff like that and so I was a kid but I'd watch a lot of those and get really nerd out in cricket. And apparently when I was really little, he saw Richard Hadley's brother.

And he was like, this would be great. Ben loves Richard Hadley. And he was like, hey, Ben, would you like to get a photo with Richard Hadley's brother? And I went, apparently, I went, no, I want the real Hadley. It was just really sad to Richard Hadley's brother. No, but I get that, I get that. As a five-year-old kid.

Like, what have you done? Yeah, but I apologise to Richard Hadley's brother on that one. No get that. I get that. As a five-year-old kid. What have you done? Yeah, but I apologise to Richard Hadley's brother on that one. No, yeah, I don't remember doing that. You didn't even bother learning his name. Yeah, I think it was Dale. I think it was Dale, I think, is his name. What's his name? Dale.

Dale Hadley. Yeah, Dale Hadley, who played cricket for New Zealand as well, apparently. Oh, rude. I know, rude as a five-year-old kid, so I apologise about that. But as a five-year-old, you're like, no, I won't. The real Hanley. Or successful one, is that what you're saying? What were you obsessed with, Jono?

Oh, God. I remember a period there where I was obsessed with Andre Agassi. Oh, yeah. Who was a famous tennis player. And he, I think the only thing we have in common is hair loss, to be honest. But he would play and he had like these Nike shorts, white Nike shorts, but then underneath he obviously was a shaper. And he had tights like as part of the short system.

Now, my mum Annie, bless her, she couldn't afford the expensive extravagant Nike tight short combo that Andre used. So she went to bloody, this is the mother's love, she went to TNT Children's Wear and purchased me some little girls' bike shorts and some white shorts as well, just some white sort of stubbies. She's like, they are, Andre, I guess. Yeah, because you had them sort of come out from the shorts. From underneath.

Yeah, I do remember that. Never once did I chaff in those little earrings and everything. John O'Bannon Megan. The podcast. The podcast. The hits. Friday, Megan, you are very vulnerable. Moment of vulnerability. Shared yours.

Your obsession was? Hanson. Hanson. Three brothers. This was not their only song, okay? They had, and are still making music to this day. Okay, no one was having a go, mate. No one was having a go.

I interviewed them before. That's my biggest peeve when people are like, they didn't have any other songs. They did. They were lovely. I've interviewed them before. They were lovely.

Have you interviewed them? Yeah, I did. And I started with it. And again, they didn't know my vibe and I started with the gag. And I went, how did you guys meet? And they all sort of looked like, oh my God, this guy has not done his research.

We're brothers. I went, no, just kidding. And after that, it was fine. They laughed and we carried on. They've got one other song. Where's the love? Where's the love? It's not enough.

There you go, two songs. I love the group. Now, that's who Megan was obsessing about. Yeah, well, not just you. Because we have someone else who is a huge Hanson fan. And I feel like a complete unprofessional tool. Because not but 30 seconds ago, I asked your name. And I've completely forgotten it.

It's Lauren. That's right. It was too. Lauren, you were obsessed with Hanson. Yeah. So I was 13 in 1997 when Mbop came out, which I feel like is just the perfect age to develop an obsession. Apparently it's their only song.

It's not their only song. They still release music, as Megan was saying, and I still hover over those reels when they come up on my timeline. But yeah, I was so obsessed. Posted all over the walls. I learned the drums because that was my fave. You learned the drums? Because I was at an only girls high school.

There wasn't that many kids learning the drums. And he was like, we need a drummer for the jazz band. So I ended up actually quite enjoying that. And there you go, you learned the drums like a your hero do you know our friend did the same she was obsessed with Bieber and Bieber can play the drums so she's like if I learn the drums and we ever meet each other we'll have something that we'll have something in common she like she was outside his hotel room she showed us a photo of her with him and he looks like a hostage victim. Thanks so much, Lauren.

Lauren, do you know how many children they have between the three of them now? Yeah, it's like 57 or something. 15. Taylor has seven children. We could never have been together. No. Big breeder. Big breeder.

Big breeders. Yeah, he's been on bopping up a storm. Sandy, morning to you Your celebrity obsession Well, the whole It was the movie Grease John Travolta was I quite fancied him I used to have a post of him above my bed

But my name is actually Sandra Dee And so apparently As my mum will tell it Any gathering that she has me at, Sandy used to walk around singing, look at me, I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity, and I must have been about eight years old.

No, you weren't lousy with virginity then, were you? Exactly. No, and never have you been, Sandy? No, definitely not. No, good on you. What have we got there? The Grease Megamix. This is a bloody classic. Classic at the weddings, isn't it?

Oh, yeah. So many weddings. They bust this out, right? Ah. You're still a fan of 2025 John Travolta? Yeah, I still think he's quite a hunk. A dish. I didn't realise he was wigging it up.

He had a wig on that whole time. I didn't know. No, hey, thank you so much Appreciate that We'll take one more Celebrity sessions From the last 25 years Bec

Hi How's it going? It's going well What was it for you? Leonardo DiCaprio Are you too old for him now? Oh definitely Yeah

A few years too old Yeah like 26 now or something Yeah Yeah that's the thing. You're right. Since you turned 26. What movie was your moment with him? I think it was between Romeo and Juliet and then Titanic. That was what took me over.

How far did your obsession stretch? Did you have like a museum, a shrine? Like if he walked into the room, he'd be like, ooh, okay. Yeah, not a single space in my walls, my doors, anything. Everything was covered. I even took a photo of my room just so that I could have it forever

so it wouldn't be breathing. So you just had Leo plastered all over the walls. Everywhere Leo. Yeah, you got the posters out of the Dolly and Girlfriend magazine. Yeah, TV hits. Pulled them out and then they'd do specials on him and magazines just about him and I just brought them up. And were they on your ceiling like when you lie at the dentist

and you can see images on the roof? Actually, no, the ceiling was the only spot I didn't do. Oh, you called yourself a real fan, okay. I had the ceiling covered so when I was in bed I could look up at them. Jono, Ben and Megan The Podcast The Hats Speaking of Waitangi I know I have a big day planned

It's my son's birthday He's born on Waitangi Day Oh is he? Yeah of course Oscar? Yeah And what happened I'll take you back a few weeks

A very windy weather where we live and I'm telling you about it and the basketball hoop that he plays on blew over. Gotcha. Smashed on the rim. The rim bent to the shape of a rugby ball. So it was hard to get the basketball through it.

The pole that holds the backboard bent. The base cracked. It was a nightmare. And I was like, I want to do a big rant about this on. And you're like, there's wildfires on in Los Angeles, mate. It's not the time. I was like, but the basketball hoop blew over. So I refrained from talking about this.

So we got him a new one for his birthday. Oh, nice. So it arrives yesterday and it's a big box. It's a big box and I have no skills or patience to assemble something like this.

But tomorrow I've got to do it. And I looked last night on YouTube. You can look on YouTube and it's just this guy and he's got a tool belt on. And he's like, you can do this in 63 easy steps. He said,

I guarantee 57 of them are going to be a giant. Yeah. And he's like, I got this done in 27 minutes. Really? The whole basketball system. Yeah.

Some people can do those sorts of things. We've got a friend, Jamie, loves it, doesn't he? Loves assembling flat packs and things. Trampolines, things like that. It took me two hours to do a fairy princess castle. It was just a tent. And it took me two hours. I was ready to throw this thing out in the rubbish.

You've got to have the time for it. Just got all your instructions. Do it all systematically. But sometimes the instructions are too vague. It was too vague. too vague yeah when they're going this is 28 easy minutes they're really underestimating my skills yeah when they come they should send a factory worker with the box inside the box you're like good day mate can you believe i just love that when they give you can take the one already made in the store i tried to do that the warehouse the other day it was like a little glass table

and I like took the whole thing to the counter. I put it on top of the counter. She's like, um, she's like,

there's no barcode on this. I was like, can you just do what you need to do? Sometimes they even give you a discount.

I'm like, oh, even better. How hard would that have been to assemble? She made me put it back. She's like, you can't take the display.

You're going to have to get the box. And I was like, oh, actually it only took me 15 easy minutes. She's like, you can't take the display. You're going to have to get the box. And I was like, oh, actually, it only took me 15 easy minutes. No, quite stressed out minutes to be honest. But I'll have a little

text sweepstake now. How many minutes do you think it's going to take me to assemble this basketball hoop? And on Friday, we'll give away a signed basketball.

Well, still, who signed it? Me. Don't say that because you won't even bring in a basketball. Signed basketball. I'll bring it in. What kind of incentive is that? in a basketball Signed basketball I'll bring it in

What kind of incentive is that? I'll bring it in I'll bring it in I'll bring it in The thing's not even assembled by Friday Yeah I was going to say Not assembled Unless you get someone to help you out on it

That's the thing I think You're going to give up My dad did the last one Because my dad was up And I was working So that was a dream scenario Jono, Ben and Megan

The podcast The hits But over the weekend I went out for dinner with some friends and we went to a Japanese restaurant. And my friend had lived in Japan. Like, he'd spent some time in Japan. So, you know, he was quite one of those people that, you know,

leading the charge in these sort of restaurant situations. Well, if anyone were to take control, yeah, you'd be like, this is your world. And he'd been there for a couple of years, so he'd obviously picked up some of the language and stuff as well. So we went to this restaurant and you know me i hate awkward social social settings you know when things are awkward i don't know why was that awkward well it was we got in the door with my friend as we arrived and he was like konnichiwa and he said

to the guy at the door who sort of was there and he didn't get much of a response back and we're like well that was a bit weird but konnichiwa is that yeah everyone knows he said hello and then he said something else afterwards because he knows some Japanese. And I was like, okay, cool. But I was like, well, that was a little frosty. But anyway, that's fine. Maybe it was just a busy night.

It was the weekend. And then we got a meal served, and then he was like, and my friend, again, another opportunity to use the language, which I think is quite nice if you can use the language. Normally that gets a good reaction. Are you impressed by it? Well, yeah, I was it was he was like arigato gozaimasu you know thank you and things like that saying all these things and the guy did said nothing just nothing just looked at him and the guy walked away two steps then turned back around and he's like

I'm not Japanese I'm Korean oh and we were like oh but then but then why are you working in a Japanese restaurant mate? This is my friend's defense You can work anywhere No you can't He should be in the Korean restaurant He's gone into a Japanese restaurant and he has assumed That you're working there as Japanese But my friend's response was like

But you're right mate Absolutely 100% correct We just ordered We're going to have to leave once was like, well, hey, but you're right, Meg, absolutely, 100% correct. And I was like, oh, God, can we leave now? Like, we just ordered. I'm like, we're going to leave. We're going to have to leave. Oh, my God. I would have loved to have been there just to see Ben. To make it even worse, they didn't even pay. They made all the food. Ben made them walk out as well.

Yeah, I was like, oh, jeez, those awkward situations. The poor Korean fella's like, hey, that was a wild ride, wasn't it? Yeah, and I mean, yeah, and you shouldn't assume, you shouldn't, all those, you're right, mean, yeah. You shouldn't assume. You shouldn't. All those. You're right, Megan. Absolutely.

Did he want him in the Korean barbecue restaurant next door, did he? I think so. Similar thing happened to my father who was doing, you know, learning Italian online. And we went to an Italian restaurant. And this guy, the waiter was, you know, magnificent, vibrant. And then my dad would like talk to him. Sorry for the offensive Italian. My dad would be talking to him and ordering an Italian.

And this guy. Wait, does your dad know Italian? Yeah. Yeah. He's retired, man. Nothing else to do. Sudoku and learning Italian. Damn right.

And he also researched us how to take down Putin as well. He's got a lot on his plate, John Boyce. Good hobbies. But then halfway through the evening, this was like 30, 40 minutes into a thing, and my dad had been ordering and speaking in Italian. This guy was like, Hey, ciao, ahezzi, obolone, ezza?

And then dad talked to McKinnon, and he's like, broke accent. He's like, can I come clean? I'm just a university student. They make us put on these accents, so it seems like an authentic experience. Oh, my God. It was good. it added to the

atmosphere. Was he quite as flabbergasted as you? He was better than I was, I would have been sure. Jono is awaiting you going and he's like ciao, ciao. Yeah, you're Tiffany. Jono, Ben and Megan. The Podcast.

The Hits. Now Ben, I want to just, we're going to talk about, you know, kids things that you still indulge in as an adult. Oh, 800, the hits. We're going to call it your kidding. You know, you just, whether it's eating cereal at dinner time. Is this about my figurines? What is this about? No, you do have figurines.

He's got a vast collection of Funko Pop figurines, don't you, at home? No, it's your backpack, which we have discussed before. Oh, my Bart Simpson backpack, yeah. We walk into adult meetings and boom, slam on the table goes a Bart Simpson backpack. Now, nothing screams don't take me seriously in this meeting like a Bart Simpson backpack. Yeah, okay, so this is what we want this morning. 0800 the hits, 4487 maybe you or someone you know is still enjoying some

kid things as an adult. Yeah. I mean, you had a My Little Pony one previous to that? Yeah, I did. Did you? It was a great bag, that one. The mockery he got for the My Little Pony bag. We were at the Rock at the time. I was at a Rock Radio station. I actually love that. Anything free from the movie company, he'll

put on his back, basically. He's got a mortgage. He's got his own kids. He's got a career. And he's got a backpack of a nine-year-old. But you've got a bit of an issue with someone from our management. And we've just got producer Grace to go and grab him. Here he comes.

Okay, welcome to a piece of ambush journalism. Our fearless leader. Kia ora. Good morning. Matt Anderson. Mando, welcome to a piece of ambush journalism, our fearless leader. Kia ora, good morning. Matt Anderson, Mando, welcome. This is an intervention of sorts. Now, listen, I don't have too much of an issue with it, to be honest. It's probably more the female stuff. Yeah, I'm fine with it.

I am front-footing an issue that tends to be a bit more female-focused. We have an issue with you eating yogurt pouches. To be honest, I don't have an issue with it. He sucks out of a child's yogurt pouch in meetings. I don't have a problem with it either, Matt. It's a convenient way to consume yogurt. Very convenient. I know exactly how many calories I'm getting.

I can have it on the go. I can drive and squeeze it with one hand. You don't have to bring a spoon to work all those things in a yoghurt bottle are you getting the character ones because my daughter's

got Moana ones at the moment hang on let me make this very clear I have a six year old and a three year old at home they have the Moana

have you noticed how they replaced the Cars one with the Moana one the vanilla flavour I'm okay with it I was okay with it Noah was not

anyway we've got them there so they've got those ones in one side of the fridge. And then on my side of the fridge are the Chobani Fit Greek Yogurt ones. Adult ones. They're big boy yogurts. Yeah, for adults. Designed for adults. Big boy yogurts.

Once you've, you know, like, I'm nice to enjoy mine. I know what I'm going to say. But, you know, but. You suck it on your big boy yogurts. That's right. And so Mando, we were in a meeting the other day. And's you know slurping away on the yogurt and i could feel that the ick was yeah you could feel it rising yeah yeah we just turned to you and i was just looking at you yeah there's no gracious way to do it is there's no like and i'm gonna i'm gonna like a catch 22 here because the pottles are a little bit too big for a single serving.

Oh, are they too big for you? Yeah. Too much yogurt. Too much yogurt. I see. So I just like my... I think the exact words you did used to me in the meeting, Megan, were, how unsexy is a grown-ass man sucking on a yogurt?

John O'Bannon, Megan. The podcast. That. Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon the lovable Reese Witherspoon yeah and Will Ferrell

they were doing an interview this week and they're talking about adults that are into Disney stuff she said it gives her the ick yeah something real real bad

has happened to you if you're doing that oh if you're so like I have a lot of compassion if you're dressed up as Cinderella walking through

the amusement park if you're like yeah your dream is to you know meet the Bugs Life cast. Yeah, so they were just, and I was like, oh. Ragging on you. You're a Disney guy. Yeah. You're like, I was Cinderella walking through there,

wanting to meet the cast of Bugs Life. Exactly. Well, you got the bit of a neck with our boss, Mando. He likes to eat those little yoghurt pouches. He just sucks on a little yoghurt pouch, which I give my children. I understand these grown-up ones, but it's just a little weird. He also sucked his riz right out of the atmosphere at the same time. He went to a meeting sucking on a yoghurt pouch.

I see the convenience, but there's something a little unsettling about watching a grown adult wrap their lips around a... Yeah, I see what you're saying, yeah. I see the convenience, but there's something a little unsettling about watching a grown adult wrap their lips around a, yeah, I see what you're saying, Megan. Brianna, we'll get you on. Good morning. Good morning. How are you? We're doing well.

You're kidding. What kid stuff do you indulge in? I absolutely love a full glass of milk with my dinner each night. Oh, you like a little up milk? Oh, cute. Yeah. No, I always get judged up milk? Oh, cute. Yeah, yeah. No, I like to get judged about it, but I love it. So it's a dinner thing?

It's not like a before bed, have some milk and cookies sort of thing? No, I'll just keep it to dinner time, yeah. Oh, okay. Jeez, I can't remember. It's like a weird dinner drink. I can't remember the last time I had a full glass of milk. We were at the football the other day and they were selling because Anka sponsored the team, don't they? And they sell milk there and that was

going like hot dogs. Yeah, well chocolate milk is great and things like that but yeah. That's impressive. You know what? I actually I love fish fingers. Oh boy, oh boy. I love fish fingers. I could have fish fingers. It's so basic in the food department.

The food bogan. I could have fish fingers not every night of the week, but at least three to four nights of the week I could eat fish fingers. I love them. How do you eat them? Is there a special way you do it? They're so versatile.

I guess tomato sauce, mayonnaise, those things. I love fish but I feel like you're really narrowing down how much fish is in a fish finger. And it's kind of grey and insipid looking. I'm like what is inside it? It's like minced fish. I haven't found

the perfect wine to pair with the fish fingers yet though. It's a work in progress. One day we'll get a jeez I love fish fingers yeah incredible great text here uh listen my partner and i we are both grandparents mid to late 50s and we xbox daily they play xbox every day that's cute gaming grandparents that's real cute that is cute i quite like coloring. So I colour in with my kids, but then they'll lose interest and go away and then I'm still like colouring in the rest of the book. But you can tell the pages I've done because

it's obviously way better. Yeah, and the lines. This is how it's done, kids. And then sometimes they'll go and try and scribble on your drawing and you're like, no, get out. You're ruining it. There's something quite comforting, isn't there, about doing child things. It takes you back. It does. Doesn't it?

Every time I chuck a fish finger in my mouth I'm like transported back to seven year old me. Cuts up all his vegetables as well

has a little saveloy on the little cherry on the side. Tell you what you think it's unsexy watching Mando suck on

a yoghurt pouch have a look at me chowing down on my fish fingers mate. You know they make fish slightly bigger as well that you could have as well. Like a whole fillet. You could have a look at me chowing down my fish fingers mate you know they make fish slightly bigger as well that you could have as well like a whole fillet you could have a whole fillet crumbed as well two little things i've never seen a fish with fingers either like

big boy fish fingers john o'bannon megan the podcast the heads uh comparing prices from the year 2000 to now uh we did this yesterday and sometimes it's best to just forget the past and be like, we're here now, nothing you can do about the past. But that would lose us three minutes of radio right now, so we're going to reminisce and we'll try and guess the prices.

The price is right! Megan Papaz! Although in Wellington, and I think Auckland at the moment, houses are cheaper than they were a couple of years ago. So that's got a bug in the trend. 24% in Wellington. Than the year 2000? Cheaper than the year 2000?

Well, three years ago. So basically, if you bought a house three years ago, you'd be like, ah, jeez. It's now a lot cheaper. But if you're about to buy a house, you'd be like, great. Great time. Yeah, love it. So I will tell you the product.

I'll tell you the average price that it is now, and you have to guess how much it was in the year 2000. Okay. Let's start with milk. Milk now, milk is around $3 for a litre of milk. I'm going to go half. I'm going to go half. $1.50 back in the day, 2000.

Okay, $1.80. Ding, ding, Jono, $1.50. Oh, I'm going to go half. I'm going to go half. $1.50 back in the day, 2000. Okay, $1.80. Ding, ding, Jono, $1.50. Half the price. Half the price. Yes. Bread. So a loaf of bread average about $3.28 now. How much was it back in 2000?

Oh, $2.50. I'm going to go $2. $1.20. Oh, wow. For a loaf of bread? You have to take a mortgage out almost I'm going to go $2 $1.20 Oh wow For a loaf of bread You have to take a mortgage out Almost for a loaf of bread Now not $3.20 but yeah

I remember when it was like Under a dollar For like a white bread $1.20 Back in the day Jeez I put my fish fingers In those ones Jeez I love fish fingers

White bread You ask me what I have it with That's what I have it with Alright eggs A dozen eggs We know they've gone up a price of about $10.88. On a good day. For a

dozen eggs. I'm going to say they're about $5. In the year 2000, half the price. Yeah, it feels like we could halve it. $2.50. What? For a dozen eggs in the year 2000. $2.50. We're moving on to better farming practices though, guys.

You know, like free range and stuff. Yeah, but, you know. More expensive farming practices as well. Yeah. Alright, toilet paper. I can turn a blind eye for cheaper eggs. I can't. Toilet paper roll.

Toilet paper. We were obsessed with it in 2020. How much? $11.99 for a 12-pack on average now. In the year 2000, how much was toilet paper? It for a 12-pack on average now. In the year 2000, how much was toilet paper? It was for 12-pack, is that?

Yeah. Well, if we kind of been halving it, we'd be kind of wrong, but oh, it's, yeah,

it's $6. Yeah, $5.50. $3.50. Oh my goodness. This does make us feel bad, eh? It does,

doesn't it? Why are we doing this? Alright, chocolate. Chocolate. $20.25, averaging $6.99, about $7 for a block of chocolate.

Nowadays. Three bucks. I'm going to go $3 as well. $2.50. Oh, my God. Take it. Get a time machine. Let's go back.

I reckon this one's changed a lot. Fish and chips. It used to be like a real cheap option. Sometimes now you're like, whoa, how much? Yeah, no, you could get a full meal for $5, couldn't you? So this is for one person if you were to order like a standard fish and chips for one person.

It's about $15 in New Zealand. Now? Now. How much was it in the year 2000? Okay, say seven? Yeah, go with that. Four bucks. Oh my goodness.

$4 for a whole meal. I mean, I know it's fish and chips. Well, to make you feel better, TVs are cheaper. Long distance calling basically free. TVs used to be a crazy amount of money for flash TVs. Took like nine people to lift them as well. Music's free now. Just bloody steal it off the internet.

Listen to the radio. Jono, Ben and Megan. The podcast. The Hatch. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joins us in the studio. Happy New Year to you all. Happy New Year.

Now I've got a question for you. Now I don't want to get too political or anything like that but there's a button that Donald Trump's got to get Diet Coke apparently.

Do you have anything like that in your office? No but I do go about through I reckon about four to six Pepsi Maxes oh so you could have a Pepsi Max Pepsi Max button

potentially in your office actually a really good idea there's no point having crawled your way through the bowels of political life to arrive at Prime Minister and not have a button

it's the only thing I can agree on with Trump if I was him I would have a Coke button absolutely it must be quite a place, eh? Because they talk about

they can just order up ice cream from the basement and from the kitchen. Have you been to the White House? I have, actually. What's it like? It's pretty special. I mean, like, it's pretty hard to get into, obviously. Yeah. Security checks, even for other leaders. And I was there for a dinner with NATO leaders, actually, which was quite cool.

Yeah, it was really good. Well, you met Biden, didn't you? Yeah, I did. did Yeah I met him A couple of times actually And I had a 20 minute Chat with President Trump So Do you still get Really excited

You know like Going into a place It must be surreal That like I'm sure you go To Buckingham Palace And things like that White House

And just go Oh my goodness I am here In this building Yeah the White House Was pretty cool Because it's just It's actually

Multiple levels And there's two levels In the basement And I don't know Where I was I was in Some reception room And we had a lovely dinner And yeah there's a lot of pomp and ceremony with it all and it was great no so it's pretty you do catch yourself at moments yeah on the balcony and

uh at the white house there where all the photos are taken and it's pretty pretty special can i ask you how similar is biden to jono is Biden to Jono. He probably looks a little younger, to be honest. More sprightly. A little dottery. I just got to say, Jono is one good looking man.

I reckon he's got it going on. He's got to stick up for the Ball Brothers. I won't have you have anything against Jono. Now, it's a big day here at the Hits because we're counting down the top 100 songs of the last 25 years. Because a quarter century now. So from 2000 to 2025. So we're going back to the early 2000s.

From my research, you look like you were in London maybe early 2000s and also USA. You were a uni leaver? I was in London and Chicago really. Right, yeah. So that first 10 years of the 2000s, which was a pretty cool time actually. Amanda and I just had our first child and then we had our second child and uh and it was pretty cool you know it was a great place to be at that time so yeah and before because before that ben was just mentioning you were everyone knows you worked at mcdonald's but you were a porter yes royal was that right

ark royal and christ how'd you find that out oh that's wikipedia i think it's always like a gamble like is this correct or if someone just added this in here? No, I was really pleased because I worked at McDonald's and Merivale and Christchurch. And then I managed to get a job as a porter concierge when the Park Royal Hotel started up. Right. And it was an awesome job because it's probably one of the best jobs I've ever had in my life because I just got paid to talk to people, Americans typically, organize their travel around the South Island.

And then I got to drive really nice cars and go park them. So they'd come up the front and I'd go park it. Just remember one of the other porters actually had a brake sort of accelerator confusion in the car park down at the Park Royal Hotel. Went forwards, hit the one on the right, went backwards, hit the one behind, then went forwards again, freaked out

and hit the one on the left and so four cars got rid of him. That's a get out of the car and just walk away situation. It was, yeah. What about music for you, looking back at the music you're into? Because we have talked to you about Taylor Swift, you and your daughter

and things like that. Oh, I love lots of different music, yeah. Oh, I mean, from that era, I reckon Mr Brightside, The Killers would be my favourite song. Oh, for the last 25 years? Yeah, I reckon that gets it going. It's still in the charts,

every sort of wedding you go to, everything like that. New Year's Eve. Yeah, that's brilliant. It's a banner of a Every sort of wedding you go to Everything like New Year's Eve Yeah this Brilliant time It's a banner of a song I'd say it would be It would definitely be right up there They saw them at the Victor Arena

Actually when they came When I was in When I was in London 2000 2003 Then I was in Chicago And then about 2009 10 we moved up to Toronto

And Amanda got into Nickelback Which is not cool now I know Although now people Are getting into them Because they've kind of been like, I don't know why, they're a good rock band, but for some reason people just love to hate them. They got cancelled a bit like James Blunt, didn't they, for a while.

Look at this photograph. Yeah, exactly, that's right. Every time I do it, it makes me laugh. But I refused to go to a lot of concerts. They actually said, I want to go to Nickelback. And I said, oh, look, honey, I really can't. And I went travelling. And lo and behold, she went off by herself. She went off by herself just as a single, you know, a watch, Nickelback and I said, oh look honey, I really can't and I went travelling and lo and behold,

she went off by herself. She went off by herself just as a single, you know, a watch Nickelback and even to this day, she just gives me so much grief about it.

It's the only thing in our marriage that causes any conflict. It's the one thing that sort of causes a great disagreement. It's Nickelback. Even today,

she'll just bring it up at the most inopportune and then you never came to me with Nickelback at all. It's like, well, 25 years ago, honestly, let it go. If Nickelback. It's like, well, 25 years ago.

Honestly, let it go. If Nickelback ever come back here, we are getting you two tickets. Oh, Amanda would go bananas. And I'd be redeemed. Prime Minister, thanks so much for coming in. We appreciate it. Good to be with you guys. Good to be with you.

Thanks so much. Jono, Ben and Megan. The podcast. The hits. So for the last couple of weeks, Megan, you've been on a mission to try and learn the name of the overnight security guard, the night agent, as we're calling him here at NZME where we work, because he's been greeting you every morning with your name, but you haven't got his.

Yeah, we were never formally introduced. So he's always like, good morning, Megan, have a lovely day. And I want to be able to be like, good morning, insert name here. So being the caring colleagues we are, sweeping another social mishap under the rug for you, Megan. Thank you. Trying to smooth over another incident. We've been trying to get hold of his name. Now, day one, we thought, well, let's just call.

Call, because he mans reception. Yeah. Hoping that he would say his name when he answers the phone. Morning, reception. Oh, morning. Who's this? How can I help you? And he didn't.

No. Day two got a little bit more convoluted didn't it where uh you sent megan in with a thank you card for me hoping that he would sign it with his name could i get you to we're doing this thank you card for jono do you reckon you could sign it yeah okay he's like yeah sure i guess i guess think of one of my thank yous. It's just a thank you for his, like, you know, just. That's the thing, no one can think of anything that Jono's done. It was a failure and humbling. Yeah, so what did he write on that one?

It was just like security team or something, right? The security team. Now then, day three, you came in with a hat. Yeah, for free hot drinks, you put your name in the hat, you pull your name out. I thought, this one's got to work. We're doing a draw. We've got like a week's worth of free drinks that we're doing. So everyone's putting their name in a hat and we're going to draw it out.

That does sound very convoluted. As long as it makes you happy, Megan. As long as it makes you happy, Megan. He's so lovely, eh? Again, he put security team, because he's not going to be here to receive the drink, so he's done it for the team. All these things are so vague.

They're doing a week of... Who's they? I don't know. We didn't think too hard about this, did we? And day four of harassing the poor overnight security guard, you just came in. This was thanks to Lisa, who phoned through and said, get him to put his name and number in your phone.

The creepiest of the lot. I was just wondering for security like in the mornings when I come in because it's like super early. Does sound like a pick up, doesn't it? Could I have your number on my phone just in case something happens?

And I can call you? And again, he put the name of the security company and their number. Yeah. Professional, humble. I was essentially hitting on him at that point. It did sound like you were hitting on him. Can I have your number on my phone? This morning though, when you arrived at work early, he had

a surprise for you. Yeah, he turned up in the basement by my car. Morning, Hickie. Morning. Hi, Jono and Ben. This video for YouTube. Hi, Miki. Hi.

Nice to finally meet you. Nice to meet you. Paul! So, Miki, my name is Paul. Oh, Paulie. But, Jono, I just want Miki to be here. I have a lovely day today. But sorry if I got a shot for you.

Paulie! He turned up with a sign and it said, hi, my name is Paul. It says Pauliasi. Pauliasi is his full name, but he will take Paul or Paulie. Oh, so awesome. So you've got his name. Yeah, we shook hands, officially met. Officially met a year and a half.

A year, yep. After officially meeting the first time. But anyway. Morning, security speaking. Good morning, Paulie. Hey, good morning, Megan. Hey. Megan's got your name now.

Be honest. Every morning when you were like, good morning, Megan, and I was like, good morning, you were like, she doesn't know my name. No. I can't do that. All I can do is just say, hey, you know, sometimes you just say some good things for people to make them happy.

Oh, you're so lovely. You're so lovely. You even were so lovely through all the unusual things that Megan's done, trying to get you signing cards, putting names in hats, her number in the phone, which seemed kind of weird, but thank you so much for everything over the last week and a half. So good. Oh, good, Dave.

There we are. Paulie Arce, the overnight security guard. The night agent. The night agent. You've got it now, Megan. Now don't forget it, Megan, all right? No, never.