Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - FULL SHOW: Megan’s Plan to Become a Professional Stilt Walker

Episode Date: November 3, 2025

On today’s show: Jono gets told off in a restaurant for showing his tattooed bum, before even ordering a drink Ben’s wife accidentally opens her Christmas present early…  Megan dusts off her stilts and considers joining the Santa Parade We hear about bungee yoga, goat yoga, and a sport called Sepak Takraw (yes, it’s real!) Jono spots a man on a mobility scooter trying to merge onto the motorway Dear Megan: My girlfriend and I have been great for two years, but politics is now causing constant arguments, and she says our values don’t align. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The John O'Ben and Megan podcast, thanks to Dilma. Goodness really does taste great. Dilma, making the world a better tea. Hey, welcome to the podcast on a Tuesday morning here. Jeez, you've been following this measles outbreak. I mean, I just, what's on the news. Sometimes you're like, are they just making it... Dramatic, you say.

The only thing with measles is it's really contagious. Yeah, right, yeah. And it's airborne. So if you're not... if you're not immunised and you're around someone you're pretty much guaranteed to get it so get immunised would that be the send a lot of kids home from some of the schools right

if they're not immunised and stuff like that as well yeah have you ever had chickenpox yeah I think I had them more when I was younger yeah I never had apparently a million times worse if you get them as an adult oh yeah someone I used to work with got them as an adult and they can make you like especially guys like infertile wow really yeah and like was really painful

what did you did you have dots all over here yeah I don't really remember it I was very young but I did know I had it yeah don't they aminised for it now I think probably yeah because they used to do like chicken pox parties when you're little yeah that's right yeah I really don't think I ever had it to get it and stuff so yeah chicken pox party doesn't sound like the great

the greatest party you want to attend does it no what's the difference between that and measles can you do a perplexity check on that um yeah is it the same sort of vibe I think measles is a bit more serious. Let me check. This is champagne banter from you guys. That's right.

I need some filibenta. What's the sickest you've been, you reckon? Glangia fever was tough. That was a teenager. That was pretty rough. But my problem about elbow I had a couple years ago, that was really bad. My infected elbow. Oh, you did have an infected elbow.

I was on a drip and stuff. And yeah, that was pretty bad. What happened there? Yeah, I don't know. Something got into my blood system. And then, yeah, so, and it just affected. That went on for months. Yeah, it did.

It really, like, yeah, it took so long for it to really get out of my system, whatever it was. So, yeah, they were filling me with all sorts of stuff on the trap to try and try and fight it. It's amazing. Yeah, it's just one of those things you can just get into your system and then you're not good. No, yeah. It's just like that. It's going to pale in comparison. I just remember when the kids were really young, sort of three, you know, under five.

And the whole household was out, you know, when everyone is down with gastro. Oh, yeah. I was just sitting on the couch with my son. Oscar was just on my chest and we're just, I couldn't move. And he just went all over me. I couldn't even be bothered moving. You're like, well, I've got it too. I just sat there marinating in it.

I was like, I did not even have the energy. But you know, there's those tent pole moments of illness that you remember, aren't there? What do they say? So they're both very similar. One has a, well, they both have fevers and stuff. But chicken measles is more severe, higher risk of pneumonia, brain inflammation, even death, especially in young children and the unvaccinated. Oh, jeez.

This is what it says in perplexity. Be careful out there. Yeah, and just, like, highly contagious is the issue. Yeah, right. I don't know why I started talking about it. I already bought the voice. I know you did. Like, were you scrolling.

Is it in your algorithm or something? Why were you? You're like, are you all over the measles? It was like, yeah, like, why is this? Just the first thing that came up here. I mean, it's not great to have around, but it seems like a big concern of yours. What are your thoughts on the plague? Hopefully we don't get it.

You get a comeback? Yeah, well, hopefully not. But yeah, who knows? Anyway, I got told off in a restaurant, and it was very embarrassing. Have a listen. John O'Benn and Megan. The podcast. The hits. Really embarrassing moment as an adult, isn't it, when you get told off?

Yeah. God, I hate it. Yeah, you don't quite know what to do. No. Especially if it's a stranger, because you can't, like, rebut. Yeah. So I went to, it was like a restaurant bar sort of place. Okay.

I was meeting a bunch of friends, okay? And I walked in, stone cold soap. I hadn't even had one drink, okay? Now I walked in and I... Yeah, yeah, we're not believe. No one's believing. No one's believe in this. Firstly, no one's believe in this.

It was like 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Again, no one's believed in this. Okay, it was like 10 o'clock in the morning. Maybe, yeah, okay. But anyway, the party train had departed. Okay, so I arrive and spirits are medium to high. And they're like, I were just talking about tattoos. And I was telling everyone about you've got a tattoo of Nick and Rod.

She used to host the breakfast show on the rock. You've got a tattoo of them in a love heart on your bottom cheek. Yeah, right. Do you? If you haven't been in radio, mate, your butt cheek is just a blank canvas, isn't it? For Franks, Ben Boyce is not much to be a real estate on that thing. No, there's not, you know. On your bum?

Yeah, my bum's covered in all sorts of tattoos. Is it? Have you got a clear one, have you? I've only got one little tattoo. Maybe you need to get your bum tattoo. I don't know, 2025, that stacks up. 2026, maybe that's another year. We'll talk about that later.

Pull yourself in your dealer radio host. So anyway, and he's like, oh, go on, show everyone the tatter. So then I tastefully pull down my trousers. Is there a tasteful way to do that? Well, I just wanted enough to cheat to show the artistry. Yeah. Okay. And then I sit down.

Again, haven't had one drink. Three people come over, half my age too. And they go, we're going to have to cut you off. from drinking. I was like, I haven't even started. I haven't started. You can tell they're going, well, that's even worse. Because this is a family restaurant, sir.

And I said, what's going on? They're like, you just got your butt out. And I was like, yeah, I did. And I was like, because, you know, you become numb in this job to get your body parts that, we get changed in public. And then I was like, I'm a 44-year-old man with children. And I'm getting told that I have to be fully closed in a restaurant. That was a humbling moment.

So did you actually have to leave? I just had to sit there having zeros. I was like, to smell my breath. I was like even going, I was like, test me. You never know how it's going to go down those things. I have the same thing with the Dwayne Johnson's signature on my behind, you know. And everyone's like, show it, but you never know in the environment who's going to appreciate it and who's not. Yeah, no.

Well, it turns out not everyone. You really got to read the room. You're right here. I asked you to show it in the confines of the studio and you said no. but then you went to a public restaurant. Oh, get it out. Oh, no, I'll get it out of here for you. Have I not shown you?

No. Oh, listen, yeah. Do you want to see it? Sure. I'll show you what I did, okay? Okay. This looks weird when you're undoing your belt. Granted.

Okay, he's undoing his belt now. You have to wait. He's turned away. Turn away. Turn to this being filmed by Grace. It's a non-it-it-of-that. You know I just went like that. See?

Thank you. How much butt-hicks are you seeing, Megan? You got quite a lot of butt out for the size of the tattoo. Yeah, I could see what they asked you. to cut you off. And it's a big white one too. A big white cheek. I wasn't going to say anything about your pastiness.

Yeah. A couple of white beef cheeks there. John O'Ben and Megan. The podcast. The Hits. It is Melbourne Cup Day today just after 5 o'clock, the main race. At Flemington in Melbourne will be taking place and Maddie and PJ on the radio on the hits.

They'll be making attempt to commentate the race live. Sounds like a fiasco I'll be tuning in for. We actually spoke to six o'clock this morning. We're like, does anyone know anything about horses? Who do we put our money behind? And Aaron, legend in Toong, are running a building site called through. Yeah, I think Bakaroo is looking pretty good in my eyes. Recent form, Craig Williams, the jockey, outstanding jockey.

He should weigh in around 57 kilos, so that's definitely my pit. Most masculine man will ever have on this show. Even those that weight of the jokey. Now, I wanted to play a quick game right now, pun-based game. but the Melbourne Cup dot dot dot dot of coffee now we each need to pick what we think would be the price

of a cup of coffee somewhere in Melbourne we're going to call Cafe live on the radio somewhere close to Flemington racecourse and we'll see who's the closest to win our own Melbourne Cup of coffee Hello Gidey, is that Melbourne?

Yeah Hey it's John O'Ben and Megan we're calling from a radio station in New Zealand Hi, good morning Lovely to have you on, you're excited for the big day today Yes Going to be busy Insane

In the morning In the night maybe not so much Oh in the morning Hey we don't get to have the Melbourne Cup in New Zealand But we wanted to play a quick game with you Is it okay Well I'm actually at work So I can't do it

I'm sorry We just want to guess the price of a cup of coffee It's the Melbourne cup of coffee We're each going to guess And see how close it is to a flat white Okay so you go first Ben Okay I'll go $560 Okay I'm going to lock in

I'm going to say $4.95. Okay, and Megan? I'm going to go $5. Okay, the Melbourne Cup of Coffee at your place. How much is it? It's $5.50. Oh, I was 10 cents off. I win the Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup of Coffee is coming by way. That was close. Yeah, you sound like you don't need this in your morning. Well, today's a bit more expensive because we have a surcharge to compensate for the higher wages. Oh, because there's a public holiday there, isn't it? It's an industry awards. So there you go, it played in your favour. I did play my favour.

Maybe that's the luck I need for the Melbourne Cup. Are you going to place a bit on the race today or is it not your thing? No, no, it's on my thing, I'm sorry. That's all right. Coffee's his thing. Yeah, that's right. He's got his thing. Hey, well, listen, thank you for tolerating us.

No, it's just as long as you need. That's right. As long as we need. Oh, okay. Okay, let's go. Oatmilk, no, no, no, fine. John O'Benn and Megan, the podcast. that

Now Megan we must flag a video that we saw of you yesterday there was a lot to download from this particular video that she played

all of us we'll put it up on the Hits Breakfast story right now because yeah explain it to us so I was mentioning I've mentioned it

a few times in passing that I can still walk stilt walk yeah stilt walk and I also Not still walk

she's not old tilt walk and I also played roller derby so I went up into my attic and I found my derby stuff, and I found my stilts.

So, first of all, I put my roller skates on, put all my derby gear on, all my pads and everything, and gave that a crack. Then I decided I'd get up on my stilts. Now, it has been probably like 15 years since I've got up on those. But the imagery we saw, so you're on stilts, and you're doing a great job. You can hold your own on a pair of stilts. No one looks fully confident on stilts, do they? Because anything could go wrong at any stage.

Well, you've got to keep your legs moving. Some prankster comes along and you're really. Just whack it out from underneath you. But then you've got sort of elbow pads and you've got a helmet on and you're looking unique. You're looking unique, is what I would say. I wouldn't put you in Sir La, that's here right now. I wouldn't put you in there. Oh, what do you mean?

Well, not with a helmet and stuff. You have a lot. And then you can like slowly hobble over, stilt over to your gutters in your house. Start cleaning out the leaves of the gutter. Well, because everyone who was watching was like, can you just get that out of the gutter. And I was like, you know what? I can. That's a good business.

I know. The gutter cleaner who's on stilts. There's a lot in there I mean yeah No one's heard of a ladder You know Oh that's true Oh yeah

That's true I love it I love the entertainment I'm nothing more than to enjoy Drink your beer while you Clevergaras And roll a derby gear I know but with a ladder

You have to get down And move it along Is she gonna fall? Oh oh no she's still there But I was like I need to practice this Because maybe I could walk Beside our hits float

In the sand parade Oh you should Please do Please Oh shut up Why are you laughing That's great Yeah, you should

And can we dress you up And we choose a costume Yeah, that's great Well yeah I mean I'm limited So I have to have very long pants It has the helmet on No, I don't have to wear the helmet

A good question Why don't you put the stilts on You're obviously doing that on the ground How do you actually get up? We have to sit on something high And then someone will pull you up Okay Well that's great

That's great for Farmers Christmas Parade We talked about before Oh God I've said it out loud She's still walking baby John O'Ben and Megan The podcast The heads She of course

In a relationship right now With her former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Do you see his Halloween costume No So he spent some time with his son His son was kind of like a surfer That'd been bitten by a shark

And he was in the flatable shark A bit of a throwback And he was like on the left On the left in the photo And then she was left He had the left shark In her Super Bowl performance right Yeah left shark

That was kind of like Not quite into the choreography Yeah Became a voice viral sensation. I was like, that's a nice little nod there. Did his son get bin by a show? Well, no, that was the Halloween costume. Oh, sorry, everybody.

Sorry. I'll Google. I'll go to explain a lot. There's a lot to download. It's a digest. Anyway, we want to know, 0800 the hits, 4487. What is the unusual sport or sporting activity that you've taken part in? Yeah.

Well, Megan, you did stilt walking. You did roller derby? What else have you done in your illustriest sporting career? I tried kite surfing. Oh, yeah. You're supposed to practice with the kite, and it blew me down the hill, so I gave that up before I actually got to the board. They make it look a lot easier than it actually is that sport.

We did a whole thing, a show called Good Sports, and it was basically just going around the country, competing in really niche sport. There was one we did with, there's a whole family in Otaki, who have built a lake, and they all do barefoot water skiing, and then they all live around the lake, and beerfoot water skiing is as terrifying as it sounds. Yeah, yeah, and they go fast.

I think I remember you guys eating it. Oh, yeah. Like 360 somersaults into the water. And it's like all your limbs are attached by Velcro as you've, like, do cartwheels along the top of the water. And they got like a five-year-old out there doing it, like showing us up. It's like, oh, wow, incredible. That poor guy got concussed. He's like, oh, we're good.

Oh, we're right. And he got back out there. That's the attitude when it comes to beerfoot water. Their son's like huge in the US. He's on ESPN all the time and stuff doing beerfoot water skiing. But yeah, that's a niche sport. And we've got Bryn Rudkin, who hosts the night show here on the hits. You competed.

in a niche sport on the weekend? Yeah, well, it started because we needed to clean the windows at my flat, and the only way that we could do this is if we set up an activity afterwards. Do you know what I mean? Like, it was an incentive. To reward yourself.

I thought it were related to, like, cleaning windows. So what, so you, this was the incentive for cleaning. What was it? Bungee yoga. I wanted to do something different, and I'd seen all over TikTok, it must be very popular over in the States right now to do yoga whilst attached to a bungee.

And so you've got a harness on and then obviously there's resistance from the bungee cable pulling you back as you're trying to... Yeah, so the bungee cable is like tied into the ceiling and there are different levels depending on how high you are. And so you get strapped into this harness and the spongy cable and you're doing this full on workout session. I didn't actually think it would have been as full on. It was full on, wasn't it? Oh, yeah. You should see my downstairs. Oh, really?

What's wrong with it? Is it okay? It's changed color. you know like when you get frostbite is that because of the harness is it yeah it was a bruised it was really like what colour it's like a deep purple yeah okay because it reminded me of that

iconic scene of Mission Impossible singing on your Instagram you know when Tom Cruise drops down and he's just above the ground and stuff I got told off because I was messing around too much pretending I was swimming as you would you should be like well you guys invented bungee yoga don't tell me off It does look fun though.

You showed me a video and it kind of looks like it's more aerobic than yogery. There's high-energy music, pop music that you're doing the workouts too. But apart from like squeezing your bits and giving you bruises, do you feel like you've got a workout? Because it kind of looks to me like you're just kind of jumping around. Like, it just looks like a bit of fun. She did say sort of your core should have felt a bit sore afterwards, but mine didn't. You're like my groin does?

Yeah. She didn't mention that. She didn't go. You downstairs or be like purple. for the next week. No, they kept that off the way. Do you think yoga needed bungee? No, no.

Sometimes I ask, so do we even need yoga? Yes, we need yoga. But you also have done other weird yoga. Oh, did the goat yoga. Yeah. What's that? That is yoga at someone's farm, and there are just a few goats hanging around.

I like that. Well, the best part was I got to milk one of the goats afterwards, which was a very familiar feeling. I have no more questions on that I don't want to know how you milk the goat oh dear

okay Jono Ben and Megan the podcast The hits Good luck to those taking part in the NCEA starts as of today

and goes today this week and next week as well so good luck for that I'm sure they love you reminding them yeah I know

actually speaking we're speaking about unusual sports and things and activities you do one of my my daughter

she wanted to take like a sports science thing this year And I was like, one of the big draw cards for the year was learning how to unicycle. Oh, that is great. I'm like, what stage you've a life is that ever going to be something? And she's like, I don't know, it just seems like a good skill. This is why the government's looking at the ESA, hey, guys.

It's part of it. I mean, they do look at a lot of stuff about the way the body works and all that sort of stuff. It's not like a whole year on unicycling. That would be a great way to spend a year, though. I'd love to learn to unicycle. Day one of her unicycling issues, she's great. She loved it. She got one of the few that got up, and then the next time she came back,

with huge grazes up her legs. Day two, unicycling, not so good. Did they have like training wheels on the unicycle? I don't think so. I think it's just all or nothing. It feels like there needs to be an interim. Yeah. Like there's nothing in between.

From zero to 100. When it goes bad, it goes real bad. Like you're stilt walking. Has that ever gone bad for you? Yeah. What's happened? I tripped up a curb and hit my shins. Oh.

I actually collected myself on a fence too. Because you kind of, they teach you how to fall, but I hadn't quite nailed that. Because you're falling from a great height. Yeah. So when you fall, you're supposed to lean back. so you land on your knees, like on your knee pads. Oh, really? Yeah, because your instinct is to, like, put your hands down in a pancake,

but you're supposed to, like, lean back and let your knees catch you. Oh, gee. How on earth did you get into stilt walking? Well, I was doing clown college, and then the, like... That's what they call radio school. I heard that out loud. I was doing clown college, and then once you kind of did that, they gave you the opportunity to, like, move up into...

Oh, great. Spread out. Oh, wow. Get you. Yeah. What else did you learn at Clown College? Like how to hold people's entertainment and play The Fool? It's actually quite an art.

Oh, no, it is. It's absolute art. Maybe we should have gone there. I was raised in Nelson. Yeah, true. Dream catchers and stilt walkers. Our unusual sports is what we're talking, unusual activities. Nathan, what do you play?

Oh, hey, I play Zipata Crowell. It's a popular sport in Southeast Asia So how I would describe this sport It's like kick volleyball So it's like a combination of volleyball and football But you don't use your hands You use your knees and foot and head and chest And you're kicking it back and forth over a net are you

Yes Yep That sounds like it requires a lot of skill Yes yes indeed It's a bit of a tough one Because like you're going to make sure that the ball doesn't hit the floor so jeez how's the following in new zealand for sepick to crore um did i did i butcher that one nathan

did i butcher the pronunciation of that um sort of yeah yeah thank you for rolling i'm looking at some pictures online it's like people are doing the splits in the it's like looking like it's almost like kung fu or something kicking the ball back over a net it's incredible yes yeah yeah like that is there any tournaments or anything that people can go and watch in new zealand um no but there's There is a group who made, who basically founded a New Zealand Sepat Sarka Federation Incorporated. And they do try to invite communities wanting to try this new sport every Thursdays in Auckland at the Otahou Regration Centre from 6.30 to 9 p.m. Oh, there we go. Good plug. Good plug.

Well, hey, listen, I'd love to come. Yeah. Sounds too hard. Sounds too hard for me. But I'd love to come watch. Yeah, a lot of stretching, that's for sure. Yeah, well, someone's texting saying I was part of the New Zealand Quidditch team from Harry Potter, they send a team over to the Quiddish Nationals. We met them.

It was actually really fun to play. It was really fun. I got all swept up. It was like, if you're putting into skills, the kids will love it, you know? That's right. You want it in the education system. But it's the snitch, right? And the snitch flies in the air.

They've got some, yeah. They've got a little workarounds with it. Just run around with a broom sticking between your lead, don't you? Yeah, but you can, like, you can ball. They've got larger sort of almost like volleyball you to play with as well. And you can get people out of the game by throwing you at them and stuff. It's quite fun. Yeah.

Didn't you invent a sport In the office We had nothing to do And you had to try and hit a golf ball Into the top of a wooden circular Yeah we spent a long time for that Like weeks on that one as well We're all making a TV show as well

And then Andy who we were with finally got it After all And he filmed it Because you knew no one would believe it It took us like a ping pong ball Into a large cylinder With a golf club

Did you not have a TV show We should have been working on the TV show Yeah Why did that end What they decided to do too much focus on the sport that was fun we don't know much about golf

but what it needed to be was more frustrating John O'Benn and Megan The podcast The Hits Myrari's All I Want for Christmas You can happily enter this competition I've got to say that

because yesterday we started Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas game where we all started yesterday and trying to avoid listening to the song If you hear the song It's an honesty thing

If you hear the song anywhere You're out of the game Whether it's social media going into a store, maybe it pops up on the TV, whatever. If you hear it, you're out. Now, we are talking about the original recording of the track. I thought you were going to play it. Yeah, you're looking at the screen and pressing a button.

Yeah. We got there. No, no, no version. Don't take two. I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need. Don't care about the present. Okay, so there's a version no one wants to hear.

No? That's lies. Everyone wants to hear. We pitched hard last year for that to be the float song. Well, that's going to be, that was, yeah. What I loved about that recording, it was like, it was one take, one take only, and it sounds like it. It does, yeah. You've got to use a lot of auto-tuned, a lot of timing issues.

Anyway, the game started yesterday. You know, you hear those wonderful industry stories of they just ralts into the studio and did it in one take and walked out. Well, that's what happened. I think the original of Mariah Carey was quite quick. Her's a lot better than mine. But anyway, we're trying to avoid my song and her song. But people already out of the game. Now, you need to let us know if you're still in, 4487.

That's our text number. We'd love to know if you're playing our game with us. Now, some are very close to us. A purveyor of Fine Radio. Matt Anderson, our boss. Welcome on. Good morning, good morning. The game hasn't been gone for 24 hours and you're already out.

It's early November. I lasted three and a half hours in the game. So how did this happen? We got a text yesterday from you saying I'm out of the game. What happened? So I was going for an innocent scroll on Instagram last night. As we know, social media can be a real danger zone. And one of our NZMe executives who shall remain nameless, but it was Katie Mill,

our chief marketing officer posted a reel to her story. And it was a woman walking towards a record player. And it's here come November 1st. And I don't know why. Maybe I'm still tired from Kids Campbell. But in a moment of weakness, I clearly. to unmute it. Yeah, self-inflicted,

self-inflicted and was met with the dulcet tones of a version much better than Ben's. What was the reaction? Just shock, disbelief? It was. Well, I said a word. I had my two kids in the lounge

and I said a word I probably shouldn't have said. And then I realised, and then I text you guys because I went, this is an honesty system and I'm out. I couldn't believe that. I was about to say to you, you know better than to scroll, not on mute, but you were even scrolling on mute.

Yeah. Oh, no, it was 100% self-inflicted own goal. I can own this one. That's the thing you just don't expect it. Not at this time of year, but it's out there. We're trying to avoid being caught like bloody Jason Bourne. It's a tough loss, a casualty, an early casualty on the team, but not the only one. Some early players already out on the text, yeah. After day one.

Day one. She's, that's how powerful the song. It's actually Mariah herself. She did a thing on social media, and her base. her basically saying I keep watching her like about to click buttons Do you know what you're playing? Yeah, I do, I do

No take back, no take two Oh, I go She did the thing saying it's not time yet, listen Not yet Not yet I said not yet Not yet It's not time yet

Not yet See even Mariah's not ready She's not ready for you Make me nervous Yeah okay so 4487 If you're still in the game Or if you're out of the game We'd love to hear from here this morning

Someone is texting and said I'm playing the game They listen to us. Now where the station is on in the truck, so I hope you guys don't play it. Why not? The station is not playing. Until everyone is out of the game that's playing, we'll play it then.

But right now... John O'Ben and Megan, the podcast. The Hats. Barrett and Jordie Barrett both were all out of the All Blacks for Sunday's game against Scotland at Murrayfield, which is a bit of a shame with her injury.

They must be clocking up the old airports. Off Chicago, off the Scotland. Doing a bloody whirlwind. That's a big OE for the All Blacks, isn't it? That Chicago game was packed. Yeah. A lot of people look pretty epic over the weekend. Now, my wife at the moment, as I said, my wife?

No, I don't know. No, it's very hard not to do the bore out. So my wife's at home at the moment because she had a back operation. She had spinal surgery. And so she's recovering understandably at the moment. And, you know, it means that, you know, normally she would be working in the evenings and stuff until about six or, as I say, six, seven, six, seven. There's another one.

So many great references. Yeah. Too many. And that is kind of messed up the systems, just a little bit. You know, obviously I understand. She's recovering, but... It would throw your day out. And she's at home.

She is incapacitated. She's just... Well, she's messed up the system. She's doing small walks. She's been in a lot of pain. Yeah, and I get it. And she's had complications. And Ben's like, you've messed up my day.

You know, I was actually thinking about you on the weekend. And this exact scenario. I was like, I wonder how he's handling. having people at home all day. Well, this is what happened. So I'm not like, I am an organised person, but I don't get my Christmas shopping done too early or something, but I did see something the other day.

And I was like, oh, this will be cool for Amanda, one of the presents, so I'll get her. And we got, you know, long story short, we got engaged at the Treveeufth Fountain. Now again, over Christmas, we have done in the past, put together some Lego stuff. You have a couple of drinks. You put together Lego packs.

And there's a Trivy Fountain Lego. Oh, that's pretty cool. A Lego piece. It's quite expensive, a couple hundred bucks. I was like, oh, this would be cool for a present. for her for a Christmas present. As, you know, we'll sit together, we'll do it over summer in the evenings as well. Like, we, you know, I mean, basically probably more for me, you're right?

It's 100% is a gift for it. But she gets into it as well, and it's sentimental value, you know, like, yeah. But more than the Home Alone house or the Batman face than I've done in the past. Did you build the Home Alone out? Yeah, that was tricky. That was tricky. I just don't know what you do with them after they built. We put it up, you know, as well.

And I was like, well, this one's sentimental value as well. So I got an order and put it, and it arrived, and then I get a. text going oh thank so much for the Lego and I'm like oh and this is Christmas it's a Christmas now you're going to have to get another Christmas you're open it up because you're at home and I don't know what mixed communication is so thoughtful while I'm at home go recovering from my back operation this will be great she thinks it's a time filler and I'm like well it is a great time filler and I had I thought of that that would have been good too but right now I was like damn that was a that was a Christmas present you didn't tell her it was a Christmas present I did yeah

I did say oh that was meant to be for Christmas You've ruined Christus. You had a chance to look like such a good guy. Behind the scenes, you're like, she's ruining my to do list. I've got stuff to do. And then you looked like such a good guy giving her a tree-be-founded Lego. I should have. I should have.

But it messed my system. It messed up. And Megan, you get early on Christmas presents. You do it early. I don't normally do it. And for this reason, don't do it early. Well, that means you get to now buy the Simpsons Lego house for Christmas. Exactly.

As someone who does do it early and parcels get sent to my door, you always say when something arrived, leave it, and that means it's a present. So you should have said if something arrives, leave it. Oh no, yeah, I know. It's a way costume for me. But be honest, the main thing that is annoyed you is that she's probably

going to do the Trevi Found and Lego set without you. Yeah, exactly. She'll be chipping away and come home and it'll be done. And she's intercepting all of your online costume orders too. Messed up my whole system. This whole thing is messed up my whole system. John O'Ben and Megan, the podcast. The hits. New Zealanders

urged to check their passports as thousands set to expire by the end of the year so that's a bit of a piece of for those this thing right now i guess probably just in timing wise they just worked out the whole lot are going to expire big cluster yeah oh yeah you don't really look at it do you no it's not something you go and read through regularly um now yesterday saw something quite interesting i felt a bit sorry for this old fella so it's the on ramp to uh the motorway there's a gentleman there on his mobility scooter i'll try to get onto the moment getting on the He was up the side of the on ramp and trying to get on to the motorway.

Obviously, it's a quicker route. That's why they designed them. Wow. But then they had another motorist who kind of like moved their car in front of him. So he couldn't get on to the air. So he was on teetering on the actual motorway. He was, I'd say, 95% up the on ramp. I guess, well, yeah.

How fast? Don't they, can't some of them go up to like 50K? Like, some of them can go quite fast. Some of those electric ones can go really fast. Yeah, but I don't think they're quite desired for the motorway, are they? But I don't think they're putting, you know, a 95-year-old ray on an electric scooter that goes 90Ks an hour. Oh, yeah. Yeah, but the poor fella just took a wrong turn.

Oh, my God. But then I did call 1-1-1 and I said, I'll listen on the motorway. And they said, the old man on the mobility scooter. I was like, that's the one. We're on it. Oh, it's good that everyone was on top of that. It were, yeah. And he looked a little bewildered.

It seems like something that I would be doing, maybe in two years' time. You'd be purposely doing it, though. You all think it would be like, oh, it's quicker this way. You can just go down here and whip down there. And you're going to be... As Megan always says, your privilege will be like, yeah, I can go down here.

I pay my taxes. White man privilege. I can go down here. It's a faster route to get to my place. I'm surprised you haven't done it on a lime scooter. Do you know I read an article on Instagram? Those who break road rules, Consistently make for better husbands

Science Why? Why? Well, jeez, now going to have to get me there. Yeah. Like what correlation could they be for that? Megan, you can look it up. I don't know you like to defect shit. So you have great rules on one thing.

Yeah. Yeah. How does it? I would assume maybe just willing to do what he needs to do to keep the relationship alive. What? Sounds like he just doesn't like being told what to do. Yeah, it sounds like the opposite.

He doesn't like to tell what to do. He doesn't like... I didn't write the article. We'll do things on the sly that people will... Hopes he doesn't get caught. Oh, yeah. He sounds like a worse, hasn't it? Yeah.

Well, you're just, you know, you're twisting the article that I read for five seconds as I was scrolling through Instagram. Yeah, I'll go, do people... Let me ask my mate chat GPT. Okay. She's always... There is no scientific evidence supporting the idea that men who break road walks make better husbands.

Like who is Yeah Feels like you've made up that article It feels like you just made up the thing you're reading there No This is AI Well turns out there isn't Signific it is

No, no what site John O'Ben and Megan The podcast The Hats The Chase New Zealand got underway last night Well accounts Paul Henry did a wonderful job Getting some great reviews As you're listening to old people

phoning into talk back radio Driving into work Megan Yeah a lot of people were very happy said that he was just as good as Bradley, which is high praise. Interesting, because Paul Henry very confident and very skilled accomplished broadcaster. But yesterday, off-air, when we had him in the studio, even he was saying, he's like, I'm a little nervous to know how it's going to be taken, doing a version of a very popular show.

Yeah, the most popular show in New Zealand, right? Yeah. So, yeah, great to see. It's been well received, but right now... DM, Megan. Someone has slid into your DMs, Megan, with a bit of a dilemma. We like to put it to you. You can weigh in and help this person out on our...

800 the hits or you can text this 4487. Yes, it reads, Dear Megan, my girlfriend and I have been together for two years and it's been great, but lately politics has come between us. We've always known we see things differently, but now every news story turns into an argument. She's really passionate about certain issues, and I respect that, but I don't always agree.

Now she's saying she's not sure she can be with someone whose values don't align. I didn't think politics had to be a deal breaker, but now I'm not so sure. Has anyone ever broken up because of political differences? I guess I just want to know if we can get through this or if it's over. Interesting. Depends what you're disagreeing on, I reckon.

Like if it's, you know, tax cuts and school funding and stuff or if it's human rights situations. One is just purely political. The one's probably the core values of what a human believes in. Yeah. So it depends what you're disagreeing on. Surely you would have figured out if your core values align before now. surely do that on the first date

producer grace said when she did start dating her partner jack she said what party do you vote for he's like this is an intense question on the first day so you know I've been with Amanda for many years and I don't know who she votes for and she doesn't know who I vote for

like I'm without a word of a lot we talk about stuff and we talk about but I don't disclose that to anyone and she doesn't disclose it to anyone but you don't talk about politics yeah we would talk about politics and we might talk about tax cuts and things like that we might go about those things but in the day it's like

well that's her business that's my business But some people love telling you who they vote for And some people love telling you on Instagram Yeah, they do And that's fine and that's each to their own You know, and I think depending on what stage of life you are You do go through various stages Maybe

Where certain parties become more appealing to different stages of life But that's not as certain We know you love the Greens at the moment, mate, 22 years old But it's an interesting situation Because if you're going to constantly disagree on this Then what other areas of your relationship Does it slip into? Is it just really bad at the moment

because there's so much going on politically maybe? Like maybe you don't watch the news together. You're right, it does depend on what they're disagreeing on. Is it fundamental core values? Then I think it's, I don't know how you get past that.

I don't know how you move on. But there's some famous couples that have Bush and Laura Bush. George Bush, Laura Bush, completely different. She was a Democrat, yeah. He was Republican. He was president. He was president doing all sorts of wild stuff.

maybe that is a true testament to a good relationship where you can go, hey, we are okay to disagree on politics but we can put that aside for the love of our relationship. How do you get past that when your husband's the president? Like you're bound to talk about politics. You're like like, dude, why did you do that? I'm not voting for you. I'm not voted for you. She's like, we said we'd never talk politics.

She's like, I'm living in the White House. Yeah, yeah. I mean, each year I don't in each relationship but it sounds like in this particular one, it's quite, you know, Like, there's quite opinion. It's quite opinionated. Yeah, and even if he thinks he can get past it, it doesn't sound like, it sounds like she's, I don't know if she can. John O'Ben and Megan, the podcast, the hits, here, Megan.

Someone is still into your DMs with a bit of a dilemma, and it's to do with their partner's political views, Megan. Yeah, so they've been together for two years. It's been great, but lately politics has come between them. We've always known that we see things differently, but now every news story turns into an argument. She's really passionate about certain issues and I respect that but I don't always agree. Right now they want to know, does politics, is it a deal breaker?

Have you been, have you broken up with someone because of your political differences? And they want to know if they can get through it or if it's over. My old, same as Ben and his wife, man, had never, never known through their entire marriage, which either of them vote for. Yeah. It's kind of become the thing where they bait each other too. Oh, really? they enjoy it. But, oh, 800, it hits the telephone,

and we've actually got Lisa on hold for Lewis Capaldi tickets. Lisa, are you still there? Yes, yes, I am. Still in the running. Okay. What are your thoughts on this? I can't agree with you guys. Like, if it's like a small, minor thing, you know,

text, that kind of thing, I think it's quite minor, but if it's affecting sort of like how you live your quality of life and sort of bigger values and how you're our person and treat other people, then that could be a different story. They're wearing a mega hat around and stuff like that. You might be like, oh, wow. You guys get never. when I wear my red hat

says Las Vegas on it with white riding It's the white and red It feels like right and red It's very much branded from that You know When we're on our way to Sri Lanka We had gold suits on

And I had my red cap on He kept wearing a suit In that red hat And we're walking through Changi Airport And he's like you look like a Raving Drass Now the rep

The rep that was with us From the agency He's like he looks like Such a I'm like yeah I know Love that hat Love that hat

I love that hat for the confusion it causes. Kyle, morning to you. Morning, morning. Great to have you on. Okay, opposite politically, can you survive in a relationship? Well, to be honest, mate, I've been in mind for 11 years. We have our ups and downs.

Like, I'm a dairy farmer, so I've always been up and four kids. So we have our ups and downs, but love takes time, love takes fucking effort from both parties. That's what I said. he's a romantic he's a romantic Kyle no you're right Kyle and that's what a long-term relationship is it takes effort you've got to put effort into it like you out there milking the cows at 4 in the morning

that takes effort doesn't it yeah mate and my wife's at home looking after kids getting kids ready for school right now so it's a team effort and if you're going to let something like a political difference to ruin everything I'm sorry but you know if this is a male that sent through the message

and think he just needs to harden up and bite his tongue every now and then, you know, because I think that's how most males get through life. No, good on you, Kyle. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I was really nervous letting Kyle continue to talk him. We all were, but haste.

It's a wonderful thing. That's really sad, though, saying a lot of men hardened up and bite their tongue to get through life. I think his sentiment is no when it's worthwhile to have a conversation. He was just saying it in Kyle language. Morning, Carol, how are you?

Good things. How about yourself? We're doing well. Politics. Does it end a relationship if you don't believe in the same? I don't think. It sounds to me like she's just nitpicking, you know. Whether you draw the line at politics, then what, can I? For you cool, Carol?

Are you and your partner, you believe in the, you vote for the same parties? Oh, I got ditched ages ago, so I don't have to worry about that. You do, you, Carol. Right, Megan, what are you going to summarise this? Well, there was a message on our Facebook page from Anita and she says politics shouldn't be the breaking point for a relationship, but it's never the politics as such as the issue, rather the underlying values that the parties align with.

So if you don't have the same values, your relationship probably can't carry on. Fundamental values. Appreciate everyone's calls and text. John O'Ben and Megan, the podcast. We're starting to focus in on Christmas. It's not too long. to go now. We're already in November

and our favourite game that we kick off every year is to see how long we can avoid listening to Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas. Now we're all in the game we all started yesterday here on the hits and we're all trying to avoid it for as long as possible. Yeah we can we can play you other versions

I don't want a lot for Christmas there is just one thing and I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree I don't need to hang my son. Sing it, Ben. The backing vocalists that work at their arson.

I'm trying to help you out at the front lane. You're right. Anyway, yeah, who can last the longest not hearing Mariah Carey's all I want for Christmas? And it's an assault, isn't it? Anywhere it can get you out there in the wild. Accidentally, though. Because last year, Tash, if you heard it, sabotage, we ended up calling her because she got all of us out by sabotaging us.

So this year, we said that couldn't happen if someone does it purposefully. Yeah. So 800 of the hits, 4487 are you already out? Arnica. Oh, hi. You playing the Mariah game? Yes. Now, you thought yesterday that you may have started

and you may have been out straight away on day one. Yep, 30 minutes into the game and out. Well, yes, because we in the morning said this is the last time it was going to be played on the hits. But then Maddie and PJ in the afternoon, And Mattie was like, he's a huge Moray fan. He's like, I'm not ready. No.

I'm not ready yet. So he said it was homophobic, us not letting him hear it. So he wanted to play it one more time. So that one didn't count. Okay, we're saying that didn't count. Ah, okay. That's good to hear. So you're still in the game.

So from now on, from today, it's a safe space, the hits, and we won't be playing it. How did you get out, though? So my friend was recording a voice note yesterday morning. Around about the time you guys were talking about the same. competition and playing the song for the last time. So it was around about 8.30. I got busy the morning and couldn't really listen to a voice note

and I only listened to the voice note at 930 and then towards the end of the voice note she's like oh wait wait wait hear the song and there it was all I want for Christmas Okay well maybe you're out then maybe you're out. Maybe you're out but it was still within the time zone

so it's before the afternoon we'll let you keep playing. No, we'll let you say it's officially started. Oh, voice memo. I never thought about voice memos might trip you up, because you're just going to play those, aren't you? Well, does she do it innocently, Anika? Innocently, she didn't know it was going on. She knows about it now.

Like I phoned her after which we had a good laugh about it. She wasn't aware of it going on and starting at 9. And, yeah, she's like, next time listen to my voice notes earlier. Yeah, there we go. And who goes, hey, hey, listen to this specific song. Have you heard this song for quite a while ago? Who does that? Well, yeah, she's meaning obviously like,

well, I've already got Christmas songs. Yeah, you're right. It's out of November. Really niche situation you were dealing with there. Well, it's good to have you playing the game, and you're back in, all right? You're back in. Cool.

Good to know. Thank you. All right, but let us know again if you're out of the game and how that happens. Hannah, you think you might be out. I am bloody out because of my child. Oh, what happened? We're on in the car, on the way to school this morning.

and you're explaining the game and she's like oh what's this game so I told her and so then she's like oh mum look at this and she pulls up Mariah Carey's it's time on her phone reel which was released two days ago and it's playing it to me

and I'm like no you can't turn it up turn it off turn it off and she wouldn't turn it off and I couldn't grab it off her because I'm trying to drive down the road Is this just that was worth Does that sound like sabotage? Is it intentional if it was an intentional It was totally intentional You're still in the game.

You're still in the game. Oh, yeah, I'm such a big Christmas person. We're talking Christmas dresses, Christmas bedding, like, and I'm like, I can't even listen to Christmas songs yet because I've got to win the game. Yeah, okay, well, you're still in the game. Yeah, we've been new role this year, you can't this. You can't be sabotage to out of the game.

So, yeah, you're still in. Awesome. Great, real, too. Just maybe watch it without the time. You've got to enjoy it. That's a good PSA. Yes. Mute Mariah on your social.

Filled that bucket, and now you can move on with the competition. Well, let us know, if you're a real. Brenda, you're out and we'd love you to take part now, Mariah Carey game this Christmas.