Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - FULL: We Couldn't Interview Adele, So We Interviewed An Impersonator!

Episode Date: October 19, 2021

As that saying goes, shoot for the moon and if you miss, you'll land among the stars... So that's exactly what we did with Adele. But this impersonator is quite the woman! And if you listen closely, you'll hear Jono completely forget her name at the start haha. Adele has also continued to name her albums the age she was when she wrote them. One of them being called 21. So we thought, what would you tell your 21-year-old self? And with a bunch of wizardry and witchcraft, we spoke to our 21-year-old selves and gave them some sound advice. Enjoy the podcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jono and Ben, new to your mornings. Friends of Skinny, New Zealand's most recommended telco. Happy, happy, happy, oh, oh. Just when you thought you couldn't get enough of Jono and Ben, you can have them anywhere, anytime. Welcome to the Jono and Ben podcast. Hey, welcome to the podcast. It's the 19th of October.

You've got Benjamin over there. He's got his, is that the Krusty, the Krusty Burger hat you like? I like that. I've got the Krusty Burger hat, yeah. Have you been to the Simpsons Land Universal Studios? I have many years,

yeah, many years ago I went to that. It was like my, my happy place. It was really well done. That and Harry Potter World is something to behold, I tell you.

Now, it's not often we take a call in the podcast intro, but Belinda's phoning through. And that's why we don't take calls in the podcast intro. I just wanted to know what Belinda was calling for outside of usual operation hours, outside of business hours. But we'll never know, Ben. We'll never know.

How was the day today for you? How was the show? It was all right. Yeah? Yeah, it was all right for you. It was alright. Yeah? Yeah, it was for you. It was alright. My favourite bit was when you confidently introduced a guest that we'd recorded an interview earlier in the show and you were like, and her name is Jenny.

Now, we get all kind of, actually before we were about to play it, I was like, have you got the name? You're all sorted? And you, I don't know if you ignore me or whatever, but I felt like you had it under control. I don't know. Her name is Maria. And I couldn't find what was written down on the computer.

As we got close, I was like, oh, he's padding for time. We could just tell, but it was a bit too late. You're like, when you know something's going to happen, but you just pull the colors to stop it. Yeah, so her name was Maria, as it turned out. And I was like, please welcome the guest. Her name. And as soon as you chuck out her name is, that means you've lost her name.

Yeah, you were padding for time. But then you, everyone doesn't know, you sound very confident. Like, and her name is Jenny. And as you said, we went, oh, that's not Jenny. And Juliet was like, and her name is Jenny. And as you said, we went, huh? No, it's not Jenny. And Juliet was like, no, it's Maria. And then we had to awkwardly throw to Maria. Yeah.

But the thing is, I was like, Jesus, there's a lot of names in the world. I've got to pick. The arrogance to go, I'm just going to pluck a name out and hope it's the one. How many names are there in the world? Google that. Oh, okay. How many names in the world? Be a one in a bloody million charts.

In the world. How many names are there in total? Yeah. Oh, no. You'd say there'd be... Oh, 151,000. Surely there'd be more than that. That's a lot of names, though.

Bearing in mind people have the same name a lot of the time. And I suppose they kind of... But you feel like any word could be a name, but then I guess they stop some of that. Like, I'm just looking like you could be drink bottle or iPhone. iPhone, yeah. But they probably stop those sorts of things from happening, so yeah.

So I had a one in 151,000 chance of nailing her name. And I didn't. You didn't. But, yeah, you've got to love a gambler. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So it's a fun one. You would think there'd be more names than that.

Mohammed, the world's most popular name. Did you know? Oh, I think I have heard that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Most popular name in the world. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I'm pretty happy with it being. You're happy with it being?

Yeah, it's real. I always thought once in a while I'd be like, oh, I want something cool like Chase or, you know, someone of those cool, but I can't pull off a name like that. Oh, I lie. Sorry. Muhammad is third. Oh, okay.

Maria is the most popular name in the world. Nushi is third. Oh, okay. Maria is the most popular name in the world. Nushi is second. Muhammad third. Jose at number four. Oh, there you go. Those are some great names too. Yeah, I always wanted to be called Mark for some reason when I was a child. And I distinctly remember biking up to the dairy and being like, yeah, Mark.

Oh, no, because there was a show called Steel Riders. Do you remember Steel Riders? And these kids that would ride around on BMX bikes? Yeah. Steel Riders? No. And there was an evil guy on a motorbike with a helmet? Yeah. I think one of the kids was named Mark, so I wanted to be one of the Steel Riders. Mark with a K or a C? Probably a K,

I imagine. Yeah. I didn't have the BMX skills to be one of the Steel Riders because they, gee, I tell you what, they could do all sorts of stuff on their BMXs. Funny thing, someone I saw posted the other day, his name is Mark and he obviously spelt it out once going, for a coffee. He was like, Mark with a C

and they spelt the coffee C-A-R C-A-R-K and they gave him the coffee. Oh, it's Mark with a C and they put C-A-R-K. Cark. It was very good. But at that stage, you've got the coffee, so you probably go back and go, oh, what I meant was, yeah.

Yeah, it was very funny. This is the show, Steel Riders. I've just Googled it for you. Steel Riders. And it had a cool BMX with the gold spokes on it. I don't know if I've seen that. Have you never seen that? No.

It was a Kiwi show. Oh, right. Yeah. I remember it fondly. So much so I wanted to rebrand myself as one of the cast members. Well, enjoy Jono's little... Faux pas. Yeah, on the podcast.

Her name is... Jenny. Jenny. Not Jenny joining us on the podcast, but very interesting. She's an Adele impersonator. Yeah, the UK's number one Adele impersonator joins us on the podcast. Now, the hits and the rest of the world frothing over the new Adele album that's coming out very shortly.

She released a new single, and we're very, very excited. 60-something million views already on the YouTube video of Adele's new single. Incredible, eh? And this lady spends her day singing songs such as this. And this. Those are the only two I got. And I was, thank God. And other songs like that.

Just imagine the other songs that kind of sound the same. She sings these. And we're joined by a lady who has spent literally thousands and thousands of dollars trying to look like Adele. Yeah. And she travels around the UK as the number one Adele impersonator, full-time gig impersonating her. Her name right now is Jenny. Welcome to the show, Jenny. How are you?

Maria. Maria. Welcome, Maria. Hello. I'm well, thank you. Hello the show, Jenny. How are you? Maria. Welcome, Maria. Hello, I'm well, thank you. Hello, hello, hello. What a wonderful voice. I love it already. Thank you. I like your accent too.

The New Zealand accent's terrible, but I do appreciate it. Actually, speaking of accents, Adele, you know, the way Adele sounds, the way you sound, you guys grew up in similar parts of England, is that correct? We grew up in towns next door to each other. Born in the same hospital too. Were you?

Incidentally, yeah. All of your birth gunkers in the same building. Okay, okay. Would you believe that? What a connection. Hey, now, so you've dedicated a large part of your life to not only performing like Adele, but also transforming yourself to look like Adele. That's right, yes.

So when did it all start? When did you become... Drastic measures. Yeah, when did you first become sort of an Adele impersonator? So that was about five years ago. And when Adele was still? So that was about five years ago and when Adele was still a big girl herself. And so what measures have you taken

to look like her? Well, I was already planning on having weight loss surgery but after seeing Adele's transformation I sped the process up and paid privately to have weight loss surgery. Yeah, I mean, jeez, you'd be hoping she doesn't go changing her look drastically again.

It's starting to cost you a fortune, I imagine. It has cost her, well, yeah, a lot of borrowing. Now, you borrowed money. You said, yeah, you said borrowed money. You said borrowed money from a family member for the surgery. Is that correct? From my brother, yeah. He's doing quite well for himself at the moment.

So he was happy to help fund my drastic measures. Why is your brother doing so well? What's he involved in? He's gone into the world of hair transplant over in Turkey. Get more hair. So he's doing really well with that. Here we go.

Now, we haven't met before, Maria, but I'm follicly challenged. As soon as you said that, everyone looked at John O'Reilly and smiled. Ben's looking at me like, say what you need to say. It just feels so obvious. I feel like everyone can connect the dots except for Maria, who hasn't met you yet. Maybe I need to book a flight to Turkey, Maria.

Maybe you need to send me some messages privately, and I'll have a look at your pictures, and then I'll let you know whether you suit your baldness or whether we need to sort out some help with a transplant. Well, he's New Zealand's leading Pitbull rapper impersonator, actually. Yeah, you're Adele's impersonator. Oh, really? You're an Adele impersonator. I'm Pitbull, or I'm a Vin Diesel if Vin Diesel let himself go.

Oh, no, we'll keep with the board if you're like Vin Diesel. That's fine. Have you ever met Adele Maria? Oh, well, the closest I got to Adele was being in her audience at Wembley. So I've never met her. No, I've waved to her, and it looked like she was waving directly at me, but there were thousands of us. So I can't be sure.

You met her along with, you know, a hundred other thousand people. I was in the same room as Adele. Is this your full-time job? Is this what you do? Can you make a living out of being an Adele impersonator? Yeah, well, I was making a living until, you know, the big C word came along. I took everybody's work from them. But, yeah, I was making a living.

The world is opening up, isn't it, again? So the bookings are slowly coming in. The big C word came along, took everybody's work from them. But yeah, I was making a living. The world is opening up, isn't it, again? So the bookings are slowly coming in. And so... And now with her new music, the phone started ringing. Right, Maria, you must be frothing. I can't believe it. She's made us wait six bleeding years for this music. Yeah.

Six bleeding years. And what do you think of the new song? You know what I mean? Oh, I love it. Absolutely love it. Now, do you also go to the lengths of, you know, getting married, getting divorced? Do you follow her on a personal level as well? Well, I've been separated from my husband for about, God, 13, 14 years,

and we're still not divorced yet. Not following her past writing songs about the breakup. Yeah, well, you actually, I was reading, you want Adele to marry you, actually, because she can... Wouldn't that be great? Yeah. I think, yeah, for some reason she can take ceremonies, Adele, as well as performing. She can also marry

people, so that's what... I think she's ignored that request because I've not heard anything. She's a celebrant Oh Maria Well so lovely to talk to you I don't want to put you on the spot there But could you sing a little bit like Adele for us Or is that asking too much? Oh I can sing a little bit like Adele for you

If you want He's always asking too much But so you know Feel for it If it's getting awkward You can say it is Yeah I'll sing you a little bit of

Make You Feel My Love How about that? Okay that'd be awesome When the rain is blowing in your face And the whole world is on your case I could offer you a warm embrace To make you feel my love There you go.

Very good. That's awesome. Oh, very good. That's awesome. That's amazing. Do someone like you. Do someone like you. Do Rowling in the deep. Well, I'm going to meet someone like you if you look like Vin Bleed and Diesel.

I'm going to have to Google your picture. No, don't, don't. I actually think you look like Vin Diesel. I've really oversold it. It's like a dating app. I've over oversold it. It's like a dating app. I've oversold myself here. He's catfished you. I look nothing like Vin Diesel.

I look like Vin Diesel if Vin Diesel was about to walk into a rehab facility. Hey, Maria, so nice talking to you, and I hope that the gigs start back up again, because you sound incredible, and it's awesome what you do. Oh, listen, get me over there, and I can come and sing live for you guys. What, you want us to pay for your flight? Get me a gig over there. I want to come over there.

Yeah, come on. Let's try and do that. Let's shout it out. Let's get a tour over there, and I'll come in the studio and sing for you. Oh, that is a great idea. We could be your tour promoters. Yeah. Oh, I'd love that.

That would be great, wouldn't it? Lovely to chat with you, Maria. You're a hard case. You have a great day. Thank you very much. Bye, guys. Ben and Jono call this show Jono and Ben. Breakfast on the Hefts.

Now we've got a stalker roaming our property at the moment. Bit of dramatic effect there. I'll let you take it from here because I know what you're going to talk about, but it's well set up. Yeah, it's good set up. People are leaning in, as our boss Todd would say, leaning into the speakers. Oh, he's got a stalker.

That's a magpie. And now they lean away. Yeah, but they are magpies. Jeez, when they get protective, don't they? Oh, they're the gang members of the sky magpies, aren't they? And it's not black and white with them either, because they only start to flare up when they're nesting. members of the sky magpies aren't they and uh it's not black and white with them either because they only start to flare up when they're nesting which you can understand though right you don't

understand if they want to protect their yeah but they need to know we're no threat to their nest their nest is 50 meters up in a tree yeah like you've got a huge advantage over us yeah well that's true uh but yeah this is just a single magpie that sort of just parades up and down the lawn, and we're too scared to go out of the house. You know, they've had a bad brand damage over the years, haven't they, the magpies? It's a fairly aggressive bird. And Ben is trying to be turned me.

He's like, look at this sweet video of this magpie. I showed you as well. You've shown me it. It's very cute. A Kiwi guy who lives in Aussie found a magpie, a baby magpie. Obviously, it had been, you know, some monster like Jono had gone up, climbed up a tree and separated it from his brothers and sisters at the nest, which is what could happen.

And that's why magpies swoop. But anyway, found this baby magpie, took it home. And the magpie is now like his best friend. And it's so cute. Friends with the cat, hangs out with the cat. The cat and the magpie, they cuddle each other. and the magpie sits on the cat's back and he cat walks along the guy goes for a run and he's like he calls it swoop and he goes swoop and swoop just swoops down and runs with him around the block it's like he's trained the magpie like it's like

the magpie is very obedient and just loves this guy i'm not much of a bird person you know when you get close with birds there's something about birds with a beak. Yeah, you? Yeah, I quite like birds, actually. You like birds? We used to have two pet budgies when we were kids. But then we came home from a holiday and one of them had died. And it was really sad.

Traumatic for my brother. They were his pets. But, yeah, we've had some rogue pets. Like, I got a pet mouse for my birthday. And mum was like, I've got an eye that will have nothing to do with this pet mouse. And then I accidentally

killed that one, but that's another freaking other thing. You've got a bad track record. It's really sad. But the good thing is you've got disposable pets,

you know, mice, birds, they're kind of, no, they're not dogs, cats. You know, you can lose those. They don't last as long. Yeah, I mean, you're not going to spend days mourning their loss,

are you? But I was, I remember over New Year's I was running along the road in Whangamata. Humble brag, he runs. He loves the Obstegers running story. That's the end of that story.

He just likes to remember times when he runs. Do you wake up at 3.40 in the morning and go for a run? I was running the other day. That's the end of the story. Nothing to do with birds. But as I was continuing running there was a seagull. It started swooping on me. And then he got his mates, and there were three of them,

to hide under a shop warning. And another person walked along and said, what have you done to this guy? And I said, I don't know. And then I kept running because I was running. Great pace. How many k's did you run? About 22 k's. So I kept running. I was on the last many k's did you run? About 22 k's.

Huge run, huge run. So I kept running. I was on the last five k's or so, really digging it in, you know, getting the cardio up there. And the birds were like stalking me along. I was running along the beach and they were stalking on the rooftops of the houses.

It was like Liam Neeson with wings and all the way home. I don't know what I did to them. Did you aggravate them? No. I don't know what I did to them. Did you aggravate them? No. I don't know. I guess I'm kind of annoying. There's that ass off on the radio.

Yeah, they're probably more FM fans. Next on the show, we want to hook someone up with two weeks of Hello Fresh. If you know a lockdown legend, you can nominate anyone in your life. You could even live with this person. How long is this song?

About three minutes. Three minutes. I can get up for a quick life. You could even live with this person. How long is this song? About three minutes. Three minutes, I can get out for a quick run. We'll see you back soon. We'll do that next. That's the next gentleman. Now, Adele has just released her new album over the weekend. A lot of chit-chat about it, Ben Boyce. It's blowing up.

And what she's got and what she's managed to achieve over a number of years is a wonderful catalogue of number one international smash hits which also double up as some sort of beautifully sung diary about her life you know at 19 she had this one it's pretty quite good because you're like what was i doing when i was 19 oh let me just go back and listen to my album. And then 21, she had this one. And 25. And now 30. Show some good live mixing there, Juliet.

Thank you very much. Juliet will be at Rhythm and Vines mixing Adele songs. See me at the main stage from midnight, baby. Yeah, bring your vaccine passport. But yeah, no, not all of us have the advantage of being able to record monumental international smash hits as a reflection or a memory of our lives. Yeah. What would you go back and tell your younger self, Ben Boyce?

Like, definitely right now. I mean, I'm glad I did six months of travel, but travel more. Because right now, you know, you always go, oh, we'll get round to it, we'll get round. But right now, yeah, it I'm glad I did six months of travel, but travel more. Because right now, you know, you always go, oh, we'll get round to it, we'll get round. But right now, it's very hard to travel. So, you know, that's definitely something that, you know, I'm glad I did six months overseas.

But yeah, I would have done more travelling. One of my regrets is not doing an OE. I kind of got sucked into this soulless industry. That's what you do. And then you're like, oh, now you've got to take care of it. You can still pick it back up. Yeah, I know. That's what I would go back and tell them. Don't worry, mate. They'll still want you, but they probably wouldn't yeah i'd go back to my younger self and say put on sunscreen you pasty idiot yeah i tell my mum to tell me to do you know yeah because back in the day when we were little they were very fast and loose i'm getting

so many moles cut out of me now like just put on sunscreen you pasty fool yeah but now we have uh the technology it is 2021 ben where we can actually go back and uh we can phone ourselves and talk to our younger selves there's some sort of a bill and ted operation all right so you and me right now we can find we can phone our 21 year old selves and you know tell our younger selves something, some information. All right, let's make a call through to our old selves. What's up? Oh, Jono and Ben, it's Jono and Ben here. We're calling from 2021. Oh, 2021. What's up?

Guys, you've got to stop saying what's up. We're calling from the future Oh, the future What's up Jono, it's Jono here In a year or so, your hair is going to start thinning What, you mean like a bald dude or something? Yeah, but don't worry, there is a positive

Your friend Ben will get years and years of comedic fodder out of it. And Ben, you and Jono, you'll get to do a TV show together called Jono and Ben. Oh, yeah. But then it'll get cancelled. Oh, man, you got served, bitch. Will we still get to work on The Rock every day? Oh, no, no, no. You move to the Hits radio station? Oh, no, no, no.

You moved to the hits radio station. Oh, what, like the old lady radio station? No, no, no. It's for everyone. It's cooler. It's cooler. Whatever, old man. We're going to bounce anyway. My credit's running out on this Nokia.

And guess what? We just chucked all our money into Myspace. We're going to be rich. Peace out. There you go. That was us just talking to her. They just don't listen to you, do they? They don't, you know.

They don't listen to frustrating phone conversation. Trying to help them out. You're trying to help your 21-year-old self out, yeah. So what would you say to your younger self right now? 0800, that's the telephone number. 4487 if you want to text New Zealand's Breakfast. We've got some wild bean vouchers up for grabs. We'd love to hear from you in a few moments on the hits.

Now, because Adele has been releasing albums at various stages of her life, she's got the opportunity to look back at her 21-year-old self and kind of, I guess, you know, she probably wouldn't tell her too many things. She's Adele. She was successful at 21. But what would you tell your 21-year-old self is what we want to know this morning.

Maybe I'd like to tell your 21-year-old self, hey, don't go to that party in Takapuna. Might not be a good idea. Could end up on the news twerking. No one wants to be on the news twerking, bed boys. Let's go to Rebecca in Auckland. What would you tell your 21-year-old self, Rebecca? Hi. It was a couple of years before 21, but when I was 19,

I leased a brand-new BMW because I thought I would be cool as with it. I could only just afford the payments, though, and I ended up having to give it back, like, a year and a half after I got it. But, jeez, you must have looked like a boss for that year and a half as a 19-year-old in a BMW, Rebecca. Honestly, God, I felt so cold, but I did not feel cold when I had to give it back because then I had to pay for all the fixing fees of scratches and all that. So I had no money and no car. Yeah, don't lease BMWs.

That's what you tell your 19-year-olds. But then your 19-year-old self will be like, shut up no car. Yeah, don't lease BMWs. That's what you tell your 19-year-old. But then your 19-year-old self will be like, shut up, don't tell me not to lease BMWs. Exactly, because my mum tried to tell me not to get it, but I didn't listen, did I? No, good on you, mate. Georgia, we'll go to you in Palmerston North. What would you go and tell your 21-year-old self?

Oh, honestly, just to relax a wee bit more and enjoy student life. Yeah, that's probably the thing. You want to grow up so far. You always want to get older. Yeah. And then you're like, I want to grow up. And then you get older and you're like, oh, man.

You'll be younger. Yeah. Your 20s just disappear, Juliet. Oh, don't say that. I know, your 20s, it'll go. It goes quick. I know. I know.

I'm starting to think like I'm 23 now. The last three years have flown by I'm like oh my gosh I mean by the end of it You might be out of lockdown by the end of your 20s Hopefully Another one is six years away Collectively over my 20s

I've probably slept about a month Over an entire decade Another text here on 4487 is Just be very careful when you buy those roller skates at age 14 has said Tomlinson oh yeah must have been a severe roller skate accident don't buy the roller skates at age 14

and also a lot of stories about investments go and invest in various companies but you don't know back then though and also that's the thing you're like oh I should have bought three houses in Auckland I couldn't afford three you know that's the thing you're like I wish have bought three houses in Auckland, I couldn't afford three, you know that's the thing, you're like I wish I'd bought all those things, well you couldn't

Gary's texting from Christchurch saying I'd go back and tell my 22 year old self be very careful when you're applying deep heat to your thighs particularly the upper region so Gary obviously had an incident there as well and then if you rub your eye afterwards that's a whole thing you don't want

Some great life advice, Altero Thank you Really love this part of the show Where we hook up someone, a lockdown legend Someone who's been doing great work At home, in the community Just helping people get through these difficult times And it feels good to reward The nice people in the community, just helping people get through these difficult times. And it feels good to reward the nice people in the community.

Next week, we'll be rewarding the monsters in the community. I've had a few nominations for some twerking influences that have come through on 4487. You can nominate your... We'll do that next week. They need to be rewarded as well, those people. But at the moment, we're focusing on the positive Ben Boyce. And today, a teacher who's been nominated,

not only teaching the class that he teaches online, but also his own children as well. So we're going to go through to Adam right now. Hello. Hello, is that Adam? It is. He's a schoolteacher. He is, yeah.

He'll teach you a thing or two, Ben Boyce. Adam, not only are you teaching homeschooling 30 children from the comfort of your own home, you're also homeschooling your own children from the comfort of your own home. Yes, yes, just for a change, you know. A lot of teaching going on there. Oh, there is a lot of teaching and a lot of patience needed.

Yeah, yeah. How are you controlling 30 children on Zoom at the same time? It's not as bad as it sounds, actually. The mute button comes into force a wee bit, does it? Yes, definitely. Definitely, and we try and keep the chat to a minimum. I can imagine when you go, any questions, it'll be much like when the Prime Minister throws it to the floor

at the 1pm press conference and they're all talking over each other. Yeah, pretty similar so I don't normally ask for questions. Maybe that's what the Prime Minister should do less of. Yeah, then she doesn't have to answer all those questions. Jessica and then Tova. Jessica and Tova, yeah.

Same questions over and over again. Hey Debbie, who's Debbie to you? Debbie, she's my girlfriend. Oh, there, look. Yes, yeah. Same questions over and over again. Hey, Debbie, who's Debbie to you? Debbie, she's my girlfriend. Oh, there you go. You know who she is. Yeah. Well, she's...

No, not reasonably well, yeah. She has nominated you as a legend and winning you to... Have we said who we are? No, you haven't. I've got no idea. John, I'm Ben. Yeah, John, I'm Ben. Sorry.

I recognise the voice. From the Hits radio station. We just started babbling. Who is this? Why are they asking me about teaching and stuff? But you were very obliging, which I appreciate. You were very, yeah. Thank you for being so cooperative.

You've won two weeks of HelloFresh delivered to your door, so two weeks of meals have all sorted out for you. Oh, brilliant. By the way, it's Jono and Ben. We just want to insert that at the top of the conversation so you know what's going on. Oh, good. No, thanks for that.

Appreciate that. Ben's wise. She's a teacher as well. Yeah. In some ways, it's probably busier for the teachers, and they're busy at the best of times, but, you know, like with the online learning. It's different, that's for sure.

You've got to be careful not to spend your whole time online. So it's got its challenges, but it's challenging for everyone, isn't it? As an educational professional, what is one thing that me as a parent, I could be doing better? Go easy on yourself as a parent. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or your children. I think that's probably the biggest bit of advice I could give. Just go easy and don't try and force it down their throats.

Oh, that's good. I have been very hard on my own parenting, haven't I, Ben Boyce? I always pride myself on a high level of parenting, so it's been good. It's good to be told to just be easy on yourself. Just relax, you know. Hell of a relax. Go and have a few Heineken's. That's not what he said, but anyway.

Hey, lovely to talk to you. Apologies for not saying who we were at the top of that conversation. And thanks for everything you're doing. Awesome. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it. And if you want to nominate someone like Adam, you can head to thehits.co.nz,

and we could be hooking them up with two weeks of HelloFresh delivered to their door. It is the Hits. You've got Shona and Ben. Shona and Ben on the Hits. Scrolling through your feed. This is all the news you'll need in your day. That's if you don't put too much importance on the news.

Ben Boyce, take it away. Well, yesterday the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, had a 4pm press conference yesterday with an update, which was kind of just an update on an update, really. There wasn't... Well, they left it all out on the floor at the Vax-a-thon, mate. You know when you turn up to work after a giant party on Saturday, you're feeling a bit behind the eight ball, aren't you?

They were scrambling. Yeah, so it wasn't really much to report yesterday, really. I mean, Auckland and the Waikato staying in level three. Auckland for two more weeks. The Waikato will be assessed on Friday by the sound of it. And Northland is moving to level two as of 11.59 tonight. But apparently there's going to be an update on Wednesday, a plan for schools, and then on Friday,

a plan about something, some sort of plan. Some sort of announcement. Work function plan. They're talking about a traffic light system potentially or like a vaccination goal before Auckland may get out of this lockdown that may last forever and ever and ever. We were just saying during the song, I'm just fatigued of all the information.

I don't even watch them now. I just kind of see a thing flash up on your phone going, oh, another two weeks. Text 4487, rogue text poll. Do you even need the 1pm press conference? Well, they don't do them every day, actually. They often just do a press release. There's only key days, I think, they do it now.

So yeah, they've even decided that some days they're like, oh, we don't need to do it. I guess the 4 o'clock one yesterday was meant to be, here's the new announcement, here's the big thing. Now they're going, oh, we're going to do these throughout the week. Do you watch them, Ju? No, not really.

I'm a bit like, yeah, I just wait to see the numbers on my phone. That one was meant to be an important one. That was one of the four o'clock ones. You're like, okay, this is not just the COVID numbers. This is the one of the plan. But there was no real plan other than wait a few more days and we'll give you more of a plan. So they might as well just have cancelled that one and said we'll come back in a couple more days.

It's a bit, I think everyone's just like, oh, well, we'll just keep going through this shit that we're travelling through, I guess. Yeah, hopefully we'll get on this at some stage. Now there's a guy from the University of Auckland. He's awesome. You ought to have seen him on the TV. They call him Dr Joel. He's American. He's got a

moustache. He's got a mullet that I could only dream of having. I didn't realise he was American. I've seen him pop up on the TV when we were in here, but we've got it on mute. Is he American? I think so. I think I'll have to have him besmirch the good name of Dr. Joel there. Well, he's a respected man with a millet. You know, he can pull it off.

Trained. And he was talking yesterday about the Auckland, you know, the influencer party that they're calling it that happened over the weekend where people broke the level three protocol. He had a couple of things to say. Firstly about, you know, there was people kissing in the video that went around online. COVID aerosol does come from your mouth,

so sucking on another person's COVID hole is not a recommended way to prevent the spread of the virus. Not a COVID hole? What a way to say it. What a way to describe it. You wouldn't want to beep out the word COVID there, would you? And he also was talking about there was a little bit of sort of dry, I guess, dry humping.

Can I say that? Because I have, and he's going to. He was talking about that in the video. When we're talking about dry humping, I actually wouldn't recommend that behavior for partying with or without COVID. So there you go. There was some exceptional twerking going on at that party. Yeah. Like, it was almost like professional, you know, Cardi B music video, stop, whap sort of stuff going on there.

And I'm like, at some point you've had to practice that on your own. In your bedroom. You don't want anyone walking in on that, eh? Like, when you're in front of people and they're all like, yeah, that's fine. You don't want to bust out a twerk for the first time, eh? But you need to practice it. And that's done by yourself in a bedroom. And if I walked in on that, I'd be like, what are you doing?

What's going on here? You're right. What are you practicing right now? And that is scrolling to your feed this morning. It is the Hatsy Hot John. I'm Ben. Spy. The What's Up.

Spy.co.nz. Now to our lean, mean gossip machine, who actually doesn't have a mean bone in her body. Got wonderful bones, full of calcium, rich. Yes. Juliet, what's happening in Spy? So Ryan Reynolds has announced he's going to be taking a little sabbatical, as he calls it, from acting. He's still got one more movie coming out called Spirited,

which he's just wrapped filming, but he posted on Instagram that it's a perfect time now that that's finished and will be released shortly That's with Will Ferrell right? Yes Will Ferrell and Deadpool 3 is still in the works so maybe he's taking a break from everything, maybe he'll

still be working behind the scenes on Deadpool 3 but his wife Blake Lively commented on the post Michael Caine did it first. And basically what's been happening with Michael Caine was he, there were some rumours that went around saying that he has retired from acting himself. He's that British

actor. He's a Batman, wasn't he? He was Alfred. And these kind of rumours came around. Valid rumours though, because in his interview he said his most recent film, which is coming out this year, or it might have come out, but he filmed it two years ago, has turned out to be his last part.

And so everyone was like, oh, is he quitting acting? But basically, he's got a spine problem which affects his leg, and so he can't walk very well. So everyone's like, oh, well, Michael Caine's retired. But then he actually said, he tweeted, you know, I'm not retiring. I've just taken a little break. Ironically, he needs a cane. He's done 150 movies,

Michael Caine. Has he? Jesus! 150? He's like, I've done 150 movies. I think that's enough. He's done a good job, hasn't he? It's incredible, eh? I know, I know. Far out. That's crazy. I wonder how old was he when he got into acting? Probably quite young if he's got that many under his belt.

But yes, Ryan Reynolds taking a little break, but hopefully it's not too long. I'd love to take a sabbatical. What is a sabbatical? Is it just what? It's just an extended time away from work, is it? Yeah. What, so you're just unemployed for a period of time? Yeah.

What a luxury to have, eh? To be able to do that. The reason Ryan Reynolds is financially comfortable, I imagine. He's got his gin company on the side that he does as well. He can bear the weight of a sabbatical. You're right. Not us, though. Got to keep on charging.

Keep hustling. And you may have seen this yesterday. Kourtney Kardashian and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker are now engaged for dating for about a year. They used to be neighbours and friends for quite a while before they started dating, and this is K is Courtney's first time being engaged. She's never been

engaged or married. Oh, is she not? No. So she was dating Scott Disick for, you know, on and off for about nine years. Oh, were they not married? No, they were never married. Geez, he'll be filthy, won't he? I know. Oh, Barker slides on in. I know. Gets a marriage in a year. I know. I think Scott Disick did actually propose

to Courtney once, but she said no, I think. Okay. So she's had the opportunity to become engaged, but maybe it just wasn't quite right. It was a massive beach proposal with huge bouquets of roses in the shape of a love heart, a very Kardashian-esque proposal. That's interesting Scott Disick proposed and said no. Has that happened?

4-4-8-7. Have you been part of a proposal where it was a no? And did your relationship last beyond it? Because I imagine it'd be quite a kick in the old chops, wouldn't it? Yeah, but I imagine it might actually happen a few times where the timing's not right for one person. True. If you go too soon, you're like, yeah, well, we'd like to get married one day,

but not right now. Yeah, that's a good point. That's a good point. Because you'd think if that happened, the relationship would be over. Yeah. But maybe it's, yeah, you're right. I'm pretty sure I've heard of people before going, hey, it was the time of your life. It was too young, but it will

happen. Yeah, right. 4487, have you been part of a no proposal? A no-prosel? Oh, no, the pun doesn't mean anything. But they do seem like quite a good pair. Courtney and Travis, they flew to Italy, I think, earlier this year. And obviously, it was his first time flying in 13 years after he survived a plane crash

where he had burns to 65% of his body. So obviously he had PTSD from that and didn't want to fly. But for the first time in 13 years, they flew together. So, I mean, if Courtney can kind of get him to do that, they seem like quite a solid couple. Gee whiz, they really ripped the plaster off of the trip to Italy, didn't they? I mean, I'd maybe go to Rainbow's End and just go on a little plane there. Sort of like a circle around the airport. Yeah, all right.

I'm getting my confidence back. Yeah, that's a good point. Just go to Italy. Wow, okay. Yeah, big steps, big steps. But all the best for them. They both have kids, and so they seem like happy families. And that is your Spy Update for this morning.

For more, you can head to thehits.co.nz. After 7 o'clock on the show we're talking to a lady whose cat returned after 3 years. Where was the cat? We'll find out after 7 as well as that what would you tell your 21 year old self. We'll get to that after 7 o'clock on the show.

New Zealand's breakfast. This is Jono and Ben on the Hits. Just after 7 o'clock. You're with Jono and Ben on the Hits. $42 million. That's, you're with Jono and Ben on the Hits. $42 million. That's what Lotto was tomorrow night. Is that the biggest? Oh, no, they had bloody a $50 million.

Trevor won the $50 million. It was a $50 million that he won. He was from Te Kouwhara, wasn't he? Trevor was working in a supermarket. He won $50 million. I'm pretty sure he did. Yeah. So $42 million.

What would you do, first thing? Definitely continue the job here at the Hits Radio station every morning. But you'd have to to keep up the facade. Yeah, I would, yeah. You'd have to write out this contract. Yeah, you'd need to be sort of anonymous, wouldn't you? Ben's giving zero cares about this programme for the last three years of his contract. Thanks for running this thing into the ground.

And now I'm off. Good luck with your show, guys. He's not even turning his microphone on. Next on the show, we're going to show you some very exciting news after 8 o'clock. I'll tell you next. Jumping from that exciting news, we wanted to know what you'd tell your 21-year-old self. Yeah, what would you tell your 21-year-old self? Oh, we'll get to that next.

I'd say invest in Google and Facebook now. Yeah, yeah. 21-year-old John, and then 21-year-old John goes, shut up, old man, don't tell me what to do. I don't even know what those are. I'm twerking on a beer pong table at a party during lockdown. Leave me alone. We'll get to that next.

It is the hits. You got it, John O'Benn. It's the big news. Small town. Town, town, town. Town, town, town. We're looking at stories from small town New Zealand that are making big news right now on the radio.

Have you heard of the Tāmaki Makauvid? You know Tāmaki Makaurau? Yeah. They're calling it Tāmaki Makauvid. Oh, for Auckland's COVID. Yeah, that's what they're... Have you heard of that place? Well, I've heard of... Yeah, but I hadn't heard it said like that.

Yeah, no, a bit of a joke name they've done there. Oh, right, to have a dig at the Auckland's COVID problem. Mate, back off, mate. We're dealing with this right now. Hey, well, don't get all defensive about Auckland, OK? OK. All right, well, she's from Tāmaki Makovid. Welcome, Isabel.

How are you? I'm good, thanks. How are you? Oh, good. It's a pleasure to have you on, Izzy. Now, a great story involving your cat. Please explain further. So my cat went missing about three years ago,

and we, you know, thought the worst had happened. We'd never see him again. And we got a call the Friday before last saying he was alive and someone had found him. Yeah, so we went and picked him up and now he's home safe and sound after three and a half years. Three and a half years. It sounds like the plot line to a wonderful Disney Pixar film. It does.

Did he recognise you when he saw you? Yeah, definitely. He was very calm and cuddly when he saw me. I mean, obviously the cat can't tell you where he's been for the last three and a half years, but do you have any idea what's happened? The story's gained quite a lot of attention, which is

mind-boggling to me. I've had a few people... Hey, hold on. Let's just stop you there, Isabel. Are you calling us desperate for phoning you about your cat? Are you saying our show's desperate to fill your time with this type of content? Is that what you're saying, Isabel? Oh, I'm saying surely there's some more interesting people out there.

She's calling us desperate. A cat that went away for three and a half years. And this is your story, and you're even going to go at us putting it on the radio, Isabel. But have a lot of people got in touch? Yeah, I've had a few people reach out and say that they've had cats that look like Leo sleeping at

their house or they've been feeding him and they're sending me photos and it definitely moved around a bit and seen quite a few people throughout the years. The cat's gone and basically done its OE. Now, can I ask, who called you? Like, was there a caller on Leo? No, so he's microchipped so they got him scanned and the vet called you. Like, was there a caller on Leo? No, so he's microchipped.

So they got him scanned and the vet called us. Ah. Oh, wow. So the cat's still comfortable at home now? He's not going away anywhere else? Oh, no. He's locked inside still. A bit nervous to let him out.

Yeah, fair enough. Yeah. The thing with cats is they, it's a one-way street when it comes to our relationship with cats. They give zero craps about us, but we're just giving, giving, giving, and they're just taking, taking, taking. Case in point, I'll go away for three and a half years, and then when I return, I expect to be treated like a king.

Was the reunion like one of those ones where you see someone from the military reunited with their dog after five years. Was it that touching? It wasn't that emotional, no. No, was he kind of going, trying to scratch you and stuff? No, he was real calm.

He just came up for a snuggle. Well, I'm so happy that your cat is back. That must be an amazing feeling. You didn't get another cat in between thinking thinking, because it's a long time? We didn't. So when we got the call, we had to go out and get everything we needed to have a cat. Oh, you'd given it all away. Because he would have returned home and was like, oh, OK, I see you've thrown all of my belongings out.

You really moved on without me. Well, it had been three years. Yeah, three years is a long time to be without your cat. Now, you've spoken to a lot of media outlets, as you've said before. You're insisting almost too much coverage of this cat story, Isabel. Well, we've had three news articles.

Magic Talk on Friday. Oh, your Magic Talk beat us to the chase. Yeah, and then, yeah, now you guys. So, I think it's a bit ridiculous really. Well, I want to pitch you some cat-themed headlines to see

if the other outlets have done the same, and you get to choose. Oh, okay. Because the New Zealand Herald went with a pretty crazy story, missing cat returns home after more than three years. So that was their headline? No cat puns at all. Can I pitch Jono and Ben's headline to you? Sure.

Leo was just kitten around. Yeah, that's pretty good. Kitten around, because he's getting around the place. Kitten around. Works on a couple of levels. Cat says, pardon me, but I'm home.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Wrap it up now. This is where we meet peak embarrassment right now. What a catastrophe. Oh, yeah. Kat says, I will love you forever. Okay, I'm going to wrap this up now.

Isabel, thank you so much for talking to us. We're so happy that your cat is back. It's such a wonderful story. Cool, thanks, guys. Good on you, mate. You're only five words away from a massive payday. It's a simple game of word association, simple to play, but actually quite hard to match up five words with our five words,

but we'll see if we can give it a go right now and win someone $5,000. Yes, we're almost like an ATM machine, aren't we? All you need to do is slot your card inside, Ben, and pull out $5,000. We'll get Karina on from the Waikato. Morena, how are you? Good morning, Matt. Good morning, guys. Good to have you on, Karina. You're sounding quite breathy and fresh out of bed.

Are you just woken up? Yes, I have. I've been in and out of hospital, guys. So, yeah, I've been up and about. And, yeah, I've been listening to you guys on my little handset radio. So, I'm on the wall. And, yeah, so I'm feeling pretty confident this morning. Oh, good. I hope you're alright now. Are you out of hospital now?

No, I'm not. I'm actually going in for a CT scan at 9.30. So, yeah. You fellas have made my morning just by getting through. I'm sorry to hear about that. I hope it all works out. And I'm glad we got you on to play five words for 5K. Who do you want to pick, Jono, Ben, or Producer Juliet?

Can we go with Jono this morning? It shows the shakiest pair of hands. I like it. Jono, you're due a win. We're all due a win here right now. Karina, you know how the game works? Yes, I've listened to you guys. Oh, awesome.

Well, yeah, what pops into your head when I say the word mate? M-A-T-E, mate. Friend. That's exactly what I was thinking too. Same. Producer Juliet's nodding away. Gel is the second word. G-E-L, gel.

Hair. Hair gel. You're playing a good game, Corinne, I think. Speed is the third word this morning. Speed. Is that S-E-E-D? S-P-E-E-D. Yeah. Speed. Feed. Oh, that's a tricky one.

Can I come back to that one? Yeah, sure. No worries. Hanger is the fourth word this morning. Hanger, like, but A No worries. Hanger is the fourth word this morning. Hanger. But A-R. H-A-N-G-A-R. Hanger. Plain?

Yeah. Yeah. And the final word, of course, we'll come back to speed, but the final word is heritage. Heritage. Heritage. Heritage. That's a really tricky one. I'm looking at producer Bee Humps. He does the words. I'm like, what are you? Heritage. Heritage, that's a really... Another tricky one.

I'm looking at Producer Behums, who does the words, I'm like, what are you? Heritage. Family. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think you've done a good job on a really, really tough word, that one, that's for sure. But let's go back to speed.

Speed. Speed, speed, speed. Oh, golly gosh, there's so many meanings for that word. Yeah. What have you got in your head for that one, Producer Juliet? I've got one, but I don't want to say it. No, it's hard. You don't want to influence people, right?

Feed, feed. I'm thinking like feed. Feed as in food? thinking like speed. Speed as in food? Oh, it's no speed. Oh, speed. Yes. S-P-E-E-D. Oh, speed. Fast. Oh, yeah, there you go.

Oh, nice. There we go. We got a non-speedy answer for speed there. Sorry. I can see whyspeedy answer for speed there. Sorry. I can see why you're struggling so much there. All right, let's get Jono out of the sound booth right now. Jono, we had a bit of a confusion over one of the words. He's forgotten about me in there.

I know. Hey, I was just in there, Karina. Why don't we, what's your favourite restaurant in the Waikato? I like the iguana. Okay, we'll shout you along for dinner there, okay? Oh, thank you, guys. Before we even embark on this crazy journey. That's what you're thinking about, man.

You're making wild accusations. Who's going to clean up the... Anyway, that's the lovely thing. Someone will clean that mess up at the back end, Karina. You know it won't be me, but the good thing is you'll get a free dinner. And you look like a good person. The most important thing is I look like a champion. You do, right. They seem to look like more of a champ right now if you can win, Karina, $5,000.

First word this morning, mate. M-A-T-E, mate. You go friend. And you'd be correct. Well done. One from one, Karina. Gel. Gel. G-E-L. Hair gel. Yeah, well done.

We made no jokes. No jokes at all. I actually didn't even think about that until just now. Nothing at all. He says make no jokes, but then he's making a joke and not even mentioning the jokes, Juliet. I'm saying there's no jokes. Speed is the third word.

This is the one we had a few issues on just because we misheard the word. Speed. S-P-E-E-D. Dealer. No, I won't lock that in, pen boys. Speed, S-P-E-E-D. Dealer. No, I won't lock that in, boys. I nearly hit the buzzer. Speed.

Would you go fast? Yes, you would go fast. Speed camera was another one that was popped into my head, but you went with the right option there, matching three out of five with Karina so far. Hanger is the fourth word this morning. Hanger, H-A-N-G-A-R, hanger.

Is that different to the code, hanger? Because that would be... Thanks, Jono. Think Jono. Is it a different spelling, Ben? Yeah, it is. Alright, well then I'll go plain. Four out of five. Here we go. Come on, Jono. By the way, if you win the $5,000, you have to shout out Stunner.

Yes, I will. I will, Jono. Okay, the final word, and it's a word that none of us like because it just seemed an unusual word, but anyway, is heritage. Heritage. We'll put Corrine on hold right now because this is an important word. Heritage. Heritage.

Heritage. Heritage. Heritage. I'd go heritage building? Oh, Karina! Damn it. Where did you go? I went family.

Family heritage. Yeah. Makes sense. Heritage building makes sense as well. The only thing that didn't make sense was the word heritage. Oh, mate, I'm so sorry. So close. But anyway, you got the dinner. And we wish you all the best with your health, Karina.

Thank you so much for listening to the program. Hey, thank you, guys. And thank you for putting me on air. This just made my morning. It's going to make my morning in this boring other place. You're awesome, mate. Hopefully we get to do it again and take care of yourself, all right? Awesome.

Thank you, guys. Have a beautiful day. We've got some Spine Tamer news on the way. Yeah, Adele is going to be doing an Oprah interview. More details next. It is George Ezra's shotgun. It is the hits. Jono Benner, yesterday on the radio

show, I shed, you know, personal content. You know, something that happened. That's what they tell you to do. They bring some personal content, get people to know you better, Ben Boyce. My wife likes a scary movie. You know, she likes watching movies, and we're getting into the Halloween spirit, watching some movies, and the movie was too intense for me. It was a quiet place, and I even played you some audio that my wife secretly recorded of me basically not wanting to watch.

So, I can't watch. Open your eyes. No, I don't want to watch this movie. I can't watch. Open your eyes. No, I don't want to watch this movie. It's too intense. Open your mouth. You know there's something in there. Stop talking.

I'm in there. You're not at all. This did not... Shush. Open your eyes. Cheers, the trust is gone in your household. You're all secretly recording each other. It's like Big Brother, eh? There's a lot going on.

All knocking on each other. Must be like running some sort of drug empire. Who do you trust? Who do you not trust? We've all got lapel mics on. But you've been boys who've taken this, and you're deep-seated hatred of scary movies, isn't it? I just find them too intense.

I like a relaxing experience. Give me a rom-com any day. you know you like up don't you like all the disney pixar stuff the start of up is very sad yeah yeah but if you if you skip through the start of it you know wonderful movie after that so he likes it he likes a safe movie so what we've done is decided to take your anxiety and double down on it. All right. Halloween is fast approaching. Yes. Next Thursday, 31st is Halloween.

Well, I think it's Sunday. Oh, what date have I got next Thursday? Yeah, well, that's, yeah. Oh. Yeah. Well, anyway, I've put it in my. I'm working on Halloween day. Yeah, well, the thing I'm.

Sorry, I don't know what you're doing here, but I'm just letting you know the logistics of how the months work. Thank you. In my head, Halloween is next Thursday. Okay, okay, for the radio show as well. Yeah, because what we have planned is something incredible, Ben Boyce. The people are going to vote for the top five scariest movies of all time. No.

We're going to lock you in a room. No, I don't want to watch. You have to watch them all by yourself. No. Every fright you get, you will lose money from our $10,000 prize pool. Oh, don't put it on. What if I just turned it off? Money will be lost.

Money will be lost money will be lost so it's whatever is left over after all of your frights we give away the next morning on friday so this happens next thursday the 31st halloween don't tell me it's not okay if you do you'll ruin my dreams okay i see well next week is ha. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Oh, okay. So do you agree to win the fine people of the hits? Whatever money you can. You could walk away with $10,000 if you hold your own.

What, to give away on the show? Correct, on the Friday. It's all got to go. But I'm not good in those situations. I can try. I'll put myself out there. But I'm not a safe pair of hands. You know that.

So the audience need to put forward on 4487. The scariest movies of all time. We'll pick the top five. Like Bridget Jones' Diary and Love Actually. Those sort of stuff. Come on, don't be a wuss. It's frightening when her and Hugh Grant, they don't get together. Yeah.

That does give you a fright. Okay. Scary movies. Scary movies. Every fright, you lose money from the $10,000 prize pool. We give away the remainder the next morning. By the way, it happens at night. Oh, what?

We just keep going and watch? It's not scary during the day. If I said, by the way, it happens during daylight hours, you wouldn't be as, you know, but then I chuck night into the mix and it adds a layer of... So this is Thursday next week. Next Thursday. $10,000 could be won on the Friday,

or a little bit less, but still money. Like, surely it won't be zero, right? I can watch... Are you in? I feel like, well, you've gone to quite a little bit less, but still money. Like, surely it won't be zero, right? I can watch. Are you in? I feel like, well, you've gone to quite a lot of trouble, apart from looking at the calendar. Yeah, we have. We need to go past Mike McClung,

who's a boss above our boss Todd, to get this approves. So if you say no now, I'm going to look like a schmuck in front of the big boss. And I don't want to look like a schmuck. He'll be calling me, hey, here's schmuck prior. Remember that time you begged me for $10,000?

I did despicable things for this money, Ben Boyce. Unspeakable things. All right, I'm in. Only because I don't want you to look like a schmuck, okay? Yeah, great. Okay, so this is happening

next Thursday. In the meantime, you can text 4487, the scariest movies of all time. Ben will be watching them from five through to one next week. An exciting guest for you next.

It is the hits. You've got Jono and Ben. Mmm, coffee breath. Jono and Ben. Mmm, coffee breath. Jono and Ben, the hits. Yeah, on the hits, Jono and Ben, before nine o'clock this morning, we actually need to find our, we sent our US correspondent, John,

who's a Kiwi, he lives in Portland in America. He went to the 660 concert in New York. Now, when you say we sent him, it sounds like the show paid for him to fly there. He was going there anyway. But it makes the show sound bigger than it is. We sent our US correspondent over there. No, he foot his own bill, Ben. We know it.

He did. Don't try and say you paid for John's domestic US flight. We didn't pay for his concert tickets. He paid for those. But we asked him to take a sign into the concert of 660 with a wee message for Chris Mack from 660 from John O'Byrne. Now we're going to find out very shortly if he actually followed into the concert of 660 with a wee message for Chris Mack from 660 from Jono and Ben. Now, we're going to find out very shortly if he actually followed.

Did he follow through? I mean, we did a lot of it. I mean, we paid for him to. Yeah, we did there. We didn't even pay for the felts that he used to colour in the sign. But did Chris Mack see it? What was the response? Did he get invited backstage for a night of rock and roll?

We'll find out from Jon very shortly. You were seeing this, though, in the news yesterday. Really, really sad that Chiefs and Maori all-black player Sean Wainui has died yesterday in a car crash he had a young family and it just breaks your heart to see this sort of news our thoughts and feelings are with his family and friends and what must be a really really difficult time and he sounded like just the most amazing guy everyone I spoke to today couldn't say enough about how much of a leader Sean was at just 25 years old. He was passionate about his rugby,

passionate about his culture, passionate about Te Reo Māori, passionate about setting a good example for our young youth, which is why it's been so hard to take. A number of tributes are being planned as we speak. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sean and his friends and family. I know they say gone too soon a lot.

It's a cliche, isn't it? 25. It is really gone too soon. It's just so sad. And we're thanking everyone today that knows him and loves him. It is the hits. Now 660, New Zealand band on the middle of their big world tour at the moment, which is awesome to see.

LA last week and New York just a couple of days ago. Yeah, and we're going to go through to John Lovegrove, who is a friend of the show. We use him a lot as our US correspondent. He's our spy, our inside spy into the US. He went along to the show. We got him to take something, a sign, and we're going to call him now.

Hey, it's John. Johnny Lovegrove. How are you? Hello. Not too bad. How are you? Good. It's John. I've been here for an international dial. That was some quick answering. It was. I was looking at my phone when it rang. So there you go. Beautiful. I mean

didn't even get a full international ring. It was textbook. Yeah, it was. Champagne. So now John, we're phoning up for a couple of reasons. We want a critical review of the 660 show in New York. And we also want to know how the sign went down, the John O'Bien sign. Well, it was an amazing show. It was actually my first time seeing them. They've come to Portland twice in the last 10 years.

And I've been out of town both times. Oh, wow. I've never been able to see them. Was it full of Kiwis in New York or a mixed bag? It was. Yeah, no, it was totally Kiwis. Like in the line, all they were were Kiwis. I hung out with Kiwis.

There was probably about 500 Kiwis and a couple hundred plus ones. Well, I saw Rick Salizo, broadcaster, your sports cafe, he was going along there. I saw on social media Dave Gibson from Alamino P was going along there. And same in LA, I think Paris Go Gobel and people like that went along. So I think it's a great excuse for Kiwis in America to go along and see them. Yeah, we met some great people. I wore a Highlanders shirt. And as soon as the band came out, Matthew saw my shirt and just gave me a thumbs up right away.

So I felt at home right away. What a while. All these Kiwis abroad talking about Pavlova and what else do we talk about here? And you're a sheep. Yeah. COVID, but that's a world problem. We're going to navigate our way out of this COVID sit show. Just some wonderful Kiwi banter going on there. Oh, that's awesome.

So they were amazing to watch? Yeah, yeah. They were really good. Really, really tight band. Full professional show with all the back rub and everything. It was great. So I held up. So I made a sign that said, Jono and Ben really good. Really, really tight band. Full professional show with all the back rub and everything. It was great. So I held up a, so I made a sign that said, Jono and Ben say hi.

That's us. Hashtag friend of the show. Yep. And I was on the wrong side of the stage for Chris Mack, but he came over about song five, and I held up the sign, and he didn't see it that time, but from the back of the room, I heard, Jono and Ben suck.

Oh. We've been getting abused internationally. International abuse. Is that a proof? Some fans in New York. How do you feel? Because you've got a sign up there. And I imagine holding up a sign is always like a confidence thing.

You've got to be confident to do that. But as soon as you hear, not even your name, but Jono and Ben suck, it's on your side. Must take the wind out of your sails. Yeah. I just gave a little giggle to myself and kept holding it, you know. And then Chris Mack went back to his side. A couple of songs later, he came back and I held it up. And he saw it right away.

And his face lit up and he ran over and he tried to, like, reach out and give a high five. But there was, like, a six-foot barrier. And I tried to reach him. He tried to reach him. We did this terrible, you know, white boy fail. You grazed fingertips. Yeah, so I went out after the show and he was just standing there on the front steps of the theatre

so we got to hang out a little bit, held a sign and had a good chat and it was good. That's awesome because we messaged him as well saying that John, who's our US correspondent, could be at the show with a sign to look out for it. But I didn't think you guys are connected. That's awesome. No, yeah, we're totally connected.

I told him what bar all the Kiwis were going to afterwards, and he's like, well, I'm going to avoid that. I don't want a night of punishing, thank you. But anyway, Chris Mack saw the sign, and it opened up his eyes. He saw the sign. He saw the sign. Yeah, wonderful.

Great stuff. And Machu, I think it might have been Machu on the mic going, Jono and Ben suck. It might have been. It could have been, yeah. Hey, well, listen, Jon, thanks for taking the hit on our behalf. I know now you know what it's for. You get a little taste of what it's like to be Jono and Ben.

Just the abuse from the back of the room. And we appreciate you staying loyal and staying true to the campaign. I'm actually going to a taping of Stephen Colbert tomorrow night. Awesome.

That's cool. I'll take my sign and see if he has it. He'll be like what? He'll be like John Owen Ben

son. I love it mate. Well you stay safe. See you mate. See you John. See you. mate. See you, John. See you.