Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Is Watching the Warriors at a Wedding Actually a Crime? | FULL SHOW

Episode Date: September 13, 2026

On today’s show: (00:00) Producer Grace explains why she removed the new boss from the show’s WhatsApp group just hours after he was added...  (03:50) The listener verdict: who committed the bigger group chat crime?  (07:40) Megan discovers ChatGPT can read tarot cards and predict her future  (10:10) Producer Troy gets caught watching the Warriors while emceeing a family wedding.. We debate if it's acceptable. (20:40) The internet reacts to Jono’s Town Crier train station appearance... (24:40) An awkward conversation leaves Jono saying “good to see you” a few too many times  (29:45) Ben’s parenting frustration after his daughter ignores some practical clothing advice    Join the Itty Bitty Hitty Committee HERE!Instagram:  @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & Megan 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. Now, we're just going to get into chat group etiquette now because we're welcoming to the microphone, our Gen Z producer, Grace. Hi. Lovely to have you on here, Grace now. Don't act all sweet.

Hi. Hi. Hi. We're just going to pull back the curtain here a bit. We've got a new boss now. His name's Ben, boss, Ben. And, yeah, we had a meeting. Not me.

Not me. That was the first. That was one of the first order of affairs. It's like, who gets the email? Yeah, he could have all that. And so we had a meeting with boss Ben and he said, oh, how do you guys communicate as a show online? Because he's like, he's been texting us.

We've got like a group texting. But he was like, as a boss, and I get it. He's like sometimes it's quite, he doesn't want to feel like outside of hours. If he sees something that might be of interest, he doesn't want to send that too late and stuff and feel like, oh, the boss is sending this. He's like, have you got like a WhatsApp?

Yeah, are you part of a WhatsApp group? I said, yeah, we've got a WhatsApp group. So he can send that without, like he's really bugging us and you see something of interest for the show. It doesn't make a difference to me because I get notifications. Oh, yeah. See, I don't, so I see his, I see his working. I see his rationale, yeah.

And so I said, yeah, let's know I'll add you to our group. Megan doesn't reply either way, so that's fine. That's why it doesn't make a difference. Yeah, email the WhatsApp text, doesn't matter. That's all the same to her. She wants to reply. It's all just noise. White noise coming in.

Yeah. So we have a group called Divas that producer Grace. Our Gen Zee producer has labeled Divas for the show. For the show on WhatsApp. And so I added, boss been to Divas? And then he sent a screenshot that afternoon. Well, like, it's sad crying emoji.

It said, John O'Pryor added you to Divas. However, you're no longer a member in the group. And it says, Grace Hylium removed you. Producer Grace, Gen Z, Producer Grace. Brutal execution. New boss. No conversation. No comments.

He's just in and then he was out. Do I get my defence now? No, I get you all working as well, but you can explain yourself. So we have a text group chat and then the divas WhatsApp is for me to send the videos to you guys because it's hard off over text and it's just for like our group show it's like the one for our just us us fine and i saw ben got added and i went john are you silly boy i went he's already in a group chat like why do we he doesn't even be in this one that's so ridiculous so i just went remove i would not at age 25 i would never week one of the boss being

oh no new boss would you go on is this a generational thing yeah without a conversation or anything they go hey guys i just that you've explained why and no apology from you either i just Don't think it's a big deal. Like going, hey, Ben, I just want to keep this one for this one. No explanation. You want. Yeah. I understand the explanation totally because we have a lot of, well, you guys have a lot of chat.

You sometimes, don't. I see it ping off. But you don't want the boss to be involved in all that mundane chatter. I don't even want to be involved in it. Yeah, Megan's like, remove Megan, if anyone. So this is why we want to chuck open. text poll 4487 Who's committed the crime here?

Me for adding, without alerting grace, or grace for removing? What do you think, Ben? Because I know what I think. What do you think? You, you committed the crime. By adding someone on and not consulting the group? Absolutely.

You don't just, if you have a group chat, you don't just rogue at anyone. It's a consultation. He's not anyone, he's the boss. He's the boss of the show. It's like, it's just like inviting someone to like, say you're all going out for dinner and you just bring some random.

Oh, well, welcome to the Hats, Ben. You've got to consult. Okay, 4487 on the text. Okay, so who's in the wrong? Do you have to consult when you're adding someone to a group chat? And can you just savagely remove them? John O'Ben and Megan, the podcast. The Hats.

No, we're talking about to group chat. Who is in the wrong? Each have pled their case to why they're not in the wrong. It's producer Grace and my... myself. We have a show group chat. We have a new boss, Ben. He was like, how do you guys communicate? Get information across. And we said, oh, we've got a WhatsApp group. I'll add you to it. That's what I said. I added without any consultation with Grace. Within, I would say, three hours, Grace savagely removed our brand new boss. Ben, no consultation. No, so you just see

the group chat. It's like, Ben was added. Grace removed Ben. Yeah. Didn't even have time to mute the notification to the poor guy. He just got removed. and producer grace not apologetic for the savage removal I just don't think it's a big deal guys he's the boss no remorse no regret he didn't need to be there so I just removed him but yeah it's been a conversation without something I wouldn't do but you don't have just

John oh you don't just add someone to a group chat John I obviously not thinking it was a big deal either not the thing is big deal so she's a young woman with admin privileges and a vision that's our that's our producer grace and we love her we love her for it So tell you what, this is one of the more popular topics we've ever done.

Group chat so everyone can relate. I love this one here. So both you're at fault for not communicating. Oh, we're going to get them on. Okay. Blue joins us. Good morning to you. Blue.

Happy New Year. Kiyoda. How are you guys? Kiyoda. Lovely to have you on Blue. Okay. Who's at fault here? Yeah, I think that I'm, sorry, I'm completely forgot your names, but I think that you guys are at fault,

all of you for not communicating. But the Gen Z person is clearly the divest. but she's just exempt from any criticism in my opinion. Oh, exempts from criticism for being a div. Our names are Nancy and Stephen, by the way, Joanne. We'll just call it diva. She is the diva. She is a diva.

I feel like diva behaviour, but she's a, yeah. The thing is, though, she's carved this out for herself. So now everyone just, like, knows that she acts like that and it's not a big deal. I'm kind of envious. A power move on the boss, and a power play. Absolutely power play. Setting dominance. And then you said you sort of went to half-hearted,

apologize, even though you're not sorry, but he was involved in another conversation. Yeah, he was having another combo and I tried to apologize. I was like, oh yeah, by the way, I'm sorry about that, but then I don't think he heard me, but it still counts. Because he was talking to someone else. No, but Grace is like, I apologize, it's his fault, he wasn't listening.

You know what would have been a perfect platform to apologize on? Probably there was some sort of group that we could do it. Ollie, good morning to you. Who's in the wrong here? Me for adding without consulting or Grace for removing? You, John. Yeah. Seems to be a general consensus.

You can't really just add someone without saying you're going to add them. Like, I wouldn't add anyone to my good chat with my mate. Someone said, if you're a teenager, would you just add your parents to the chat? Is that what you've done? Have you added the parents to the chat? Oh, yeah. Also, there kind of has to be an announcement because what if we're like, oh, Ben, blah, blah, blah, blah. And we didn't notice that he'd been added, you know?

Like, you need to make an announcement. The boss is suddenly here, guys. Megan loves those spaces for bad-mouthing their bosses, doesn't she? So yeah, it's true. She never replies to those chats. Who knows what she thinks? I'm not making any kind of reference because I don't even reply.

No, it's true. Well, there we go. Seems like we're both guilty. I apologize to you, Grace. I'm not apologising. Both of you just need to calm down. You're too nice. You're too ruthless.

So what do we have to set up a separate group, I think, for the bosses to be added to it. John, I can do that. Separate. Well, do you know what, Grace, instead of deleting the boss, we could have just made another chat that didn't involve him.

No, but that chat has all the, law of our us, like us five. It's so much law. I don't want to, like, he doesn't deserve to be in that law. He doesn't deserve to be on that platform. He can have another. He runs as a station. I know, but we can start fresh with him. There we go. End of the store.

Thank you for all your texts and feedback on that. John O'Ben and Megan. The podcast. A.I. might have jumped the shark. There's been a lot of news this week from the tech. The guy that was a part of creating it. Didn't he come out and say, look, I quit because it's going to take over. It's going to be hacking all the bank accounts.

It's going to be hacking the nuclear codes. Feels like that horse has bolted. Yeah, a long time ago. They offered him $2 million to sign a contract to not say anything. He didn't take the money, that guy. Well, why didn't he get a moral compass like four years ago? That's why I saw someone on the internet going, this is great that all these people are feeling bad about life now.

Yeah. But for 10 years you've been creating this monster. Yeah. You could have pulled out at any time. But in the meantime, let's have fun with it. So I went to a movie pre-meet for Practical Magic, that movie that I was very excited about. On Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock. Yeah, the witchy one.

And they gave us tarot cards. Now, I don't know how to read them. I have some friends who do, but I... Everyone's got a tarot card person in their group. Yeah. There's always one. But me and my friend are sitting there and we'll have no idea what we're doing here. And she was like, do you know what?

I'm going to ask chat. Chat, GBT. So she pulls up. she was like, can you talk me through reading some tarot cards for my friend? It's like, yes, absolutely. So we just ran through the whole thing with chat GPT. And it's telling my fortune, just from what we're giving it. We're like, pulled this card, pulled the sun card.

Oh, so then you just type into chat GPT. Yeah, and it reads it for you. It's like a very unfortunate teller. All the people in the robes with all the scarves and things. They were out of work too, thanks to AI. I would have thought that would have been an AI-proof industry. Rubbing the big ball Yeah

It was Like accurately vague You know Like I could apply Everything it said to my life In a certain way Yeah I know what you're saying Yeah

But then people are like Oh that's so me You're like Yeah So I was like This is genius I would have thought That was a skill

That you wouldn't necessarily Be able to get from AI But you can You can get that too now It can also You can also You can also You can also

It can also things are going to go really bad I find that with Star Signs sometimes in The Herald I flick into the star signs And you're like they do a great job of going Today's a Monday You're like yeah That relates hard

Have a long week ahead of you John O'Ben and Megan The podcast The Hits Now what we want to open up Is a couple of crimes that we know of took place Over the weekend But are they crimes

Producer Troy You are emceeing a family wedding Yeah, my partner's sister's wedding. Okay, emceeing too. Yeah, I didn't know this. And so you tell us what you did at the wedding. Well, my role was kind of, I had two jobs, hand out the booklets and emcee the reception.

I screwed up the booklet handing out. A lot of people didn't have booklets. And I also screwed up the emceeing because I missed a cue. You know, when you're kind of listening for when things happen, like the course one was supposed to come out and then I was supposed to announce who the speech was. But I missed that cue because I was watching the while's on my phone. So you, like you had it like,

It's happened to a friend of mine over the weekend as well. Now, he was also at a wedding, and he was like, oh, terrible timing. I was like, well, who was it on that? That was going to happen. The last game was that he was the same as you. He had his phone on the table. And he said, by the end of it, there was quite a lot of people all sort of crowd. Gathered around.

Watching on the little screen. But trying to not look like they're watching. And his partner not happy about the fact that she kept going to put away. He's like, look, all these people are around and watching it. Look, people want to watch it. Same thing happened. The servers of the, of the, of the, of the, of the way to do it. of the food at the reception kept like slowly walking behind me,

almost like going out of their way to walk behind me with their plates just to look over my shoulder. Must have ended up being a really sad wedding by the end. For the time that final whistle blue. For most people, yeah. Yeah. So this is why we want to chuck out there. 0800 of the hits. Is it a crime to watch sport at a wedding?

Yes. Megan, you've been married. Twice. Twice. And if someone was watching the war, so the Warriors are in the finals, not just a round robin game. Yeah. If someone's watching that under a napkin.

The thing is, if you're doing it on the sly, and then especially, like, imagine if everyone's doing it. You're either all in, you either go, okay, we're all watching it, or you shouldn't be watching it. What if it's F1? I know. Well, I said, if I was getting married, I'd be pissed off if someone else did it. But if the F1 was on and I was at someone else's wedding, I'd probably do it. I'm a hypocrite. That's fine.

I would definitely be watching it on my phone. Okay, 0800 of that, so I want to chuck out there. Is it a crime to watch sport, a sport of significance, at a wedding? Has this happened? Have you been married? We actually had one on our wedding night as well. It was like a big, like a big rugby game many years ago. And, you know, everyone was talking about, going to have the rugby, I'm going to.

I was like, oh, I think it's going to be because it was an Australia raptor. You know, the main part by then, so people can watch it afterwards. And my wife Amanda, she's like, you're not going to watch it. You're not going to watch it. We got back to hotel room later. She was, she hates me telling the story. She was, you know, that big day. She went to sleep.

I'm like, well, I'm here now. I can. For the weekend. There was a couple of instances of people watching sports while at weddings. Particularly on a Saturday night, Warriors, would they kick off 605? Prime wedding, probably reception conditions. The wedding's probably happened. You're right.

And the Warriors were on. He's wronged. It's picked up by Schneider. Yeah, just last 20, unfortunately, for the Warriors. Last 20 minutes the game. But hey, as Megan said, that's to be positive this weekend, Sunday night. we need everyone to get there, Eden Park, cheer them on against the nights.

Yes, stay positive. When do the tickets go on sale? I think today for members and then tomorrow for non-members. It'll still out. Yeah, hopefully. Yeah, but is it a crime to watch the Warriors or any sport of significance? Let's just go like important games. Not just your run-of-the-mill week-week season round-robin games.

Can you watch it at a wedding? Here's the thing. As someone who watches my favourite sport delayed almost every single time, because Formula One happens mostly in the middle of the night. Can't you just watch it afterwards? If anyone goes to talk about it at the wedding, be like, I don't know. It's hard in that environment because a lot of people would be, you know.

Because the wedding, you have to live in that moment. You can't watch the wedding delayed afterwards. They're not going to play that game again, though, Megan. And to be fair, that your wedding night, you watch the game delays. But you know, but you know the result of the wedding. You know, you know what's going to happen. I do, I do, all right. Not always.

my first one. At that point, though, you know the result. You don't know the Warriors' result. I mean, it's going to be really controversial if one of you says no, Megan's probably like I should have said no. The first one. Do you say I do, I don't? Vicki, morning to you. Happy New Year.

Good new year, guys. How are you going? Show catchphrase. We're doing well, mate. It's lovely to have you on Monday morning. Is it a crime to watch sport at a wedding, Vicky? No, I don't think so. So you're okay?

So you're getting married and you look over there and then there's a table out there and everyone's huddled around a phone. How are you feeling? Well, I just think that you need to plan it better. I mean, you know the schedule's the sporting before you pick your date. Are you saying look at the Warriors' calendar year and the All-Blacks and the motor racing? No, but I picked my wedding dates both times like a year and a half out. You need to play a little bit better. Sometimes you don't know when the NRL going to announce the finals, you know, what day of the week.

Maybe you need to consult with the NRL, Megan. When it's going to be. It's sort of the same time each year. I see what you're saying. So if it's league season... My sister was going to get married on Bathurst weekend. And me and my dad both said, well, we need a big screen at the venue then so we can watch the car racing.

So she changed the day of her wedding. Gotcha. All right. For Bathurst? You made your sister change your wedding for Bathurst. Well, yeah. I wasn't going to miss it. Fair enough.

That's kind of fair. I'd like if it's that far out and you know. I'd love a big screen of V8 supercars just behind a couple standing in an altar. It is brilliant, Vicki. There you go. She's on the side of look at the sporting calendar. And Fantasia, morning to you. Oh, good morning.

This happened to you. Yeah, yeah. So I attended a wedding, and where I was sitting in the reception, there's about 100 guests. It's so flash, and then suddenly the projector screen comes down. And they put on the Bulldogs game. Oh, did they? And everyone sitting there in the reception watching the Bulldogs game.

And when the groom walked in, he had his Bulldogs flag going, and everyone's getting changed into their bulldogs, sure. There you go, turn it to a watch party. There you go, love it. Yeah, yeah. And then the speeches started and the game's still playing

and then the mother of the bride stood up and yelled and screamed, get that game off. It's a wedding, not a sport match. Oh, and so they have to turn the bulldogs off the big screen? Yeah, yeah. I can kind of understand

where she's coming from when the speeches are happening. He runs higher just above. But you're in charge of the timeline. Couldn't they just, They've committed to putting it on. Just push the speeches out. John O'Benn and Megan.

The podcast. The Hats. And all the Warriors took place. A tough one against the dolphins. It's picked up by Snyder and its playoffs have gone. Yeah. The Christian Wolf and his team. Felt live for 60 minutes.

It was pretty good. And then at the end, things didn't quite go our way. But they've got a big game this weekend, Sunday night. Eden Park against the nights, around about 6 o'clock, kickoff. So we win that, beat the Knights, beat the Panthers, win the grand final, done. Yeah, that's right.

Simple as that. Yeah, simple as that. And the toughest competition around. It's a long hour season. I don't like the negative undertone, Ben. No, hey, no, I'm fully behind. I'll be buying my tickets. I'll be going along to support the...

I know, but you're saying it was like, oh. Oh, no, hey, we're behind. Up the last. It's almost like another season within the season, the finals, isn't it? Injuries and all sorts are going on. You're like, oh, just stay healthy. Stay healthy, guys, after the hardest season. and there is. But a lot of people were

watching the Warriors over the weekend and many other sporting events that were going on, but a couple on Saturday night people watching on phones. I had a friend and so, producer Troy as well, was watching on a phone at a wedding. Both at different weddings. And getting frowned upon too. I mean, Warriors at a wedding. Troy also emceeing

the wedding too, which is a whole other. Yeah, well, because he missed one of his MCQs because he's sitting there watching his phone. Yeah. And it was like a family member. We have been talking this morning. Can you Can you watch significant sporting events at weddings? It seems like it's a hard yes from this audience.

Lady got her sister to change the date of her wedding because Bathurst was on. She said, do you have a big screen with Bathurst on or I'm not coming? Emma, good morning. Good morning. Sport weddings, yes or no? I'm a marriage celebrant and I had exactly this on Saturday night. Oh, it happened in another wedding. There's two that we know of, so now a third.

What happened? Yeah, so there was a little table. and a tiny, tiny little phone, and there was about 10 people crowded around it watching the Warriors. And, like, honestly, we'd done the speeches, we'd done dinner, I think dessert was being served. The bride and groom were drinking. I don't see a problem with it as a professional in the industry. Okay. It didn't throw the proceedings off?

No, not at all. It was late enough that everything was done and dusted. If it was during speeches, that's a different situation. But no, not at all. What about the cake or the dance or? It was before the dance, the cake had been done. I don't even think the bride and groom were in that particular room either. I think they were outside on the balcony.

Oh, Ben, they obviously didn't seem place. During the ceremony, if I sort of brought the phone up during the ceremony. You know the answer to that, Ben, because the stupid smile on your face. Okay, good, bad question. Sorry, Megan. Don't answer that one. Don't answer that one. What's the wildest thing you've seen at a wedding, Emma?

Drunk auntie that fell backwards out of a floor to ceiling window. Oh, no. Was she okay? She was fine. Thankfully, they weren't that high, but there was one stage that she was also carrying a baby, and we were like, who the heck gave her a baby? Oh, my goodness.

Did she break the glass? No, no, it was like a fully open kind of situation, but she just, I don't know if she went to lean on it, and it wasn't there, but she was the same one that was singing to herself during the ceremony as we were trying to do that I do. Does she turn up? Boozed?

Yeah, I think so. It's a big day for some people, wouldn't it? It's a long day, though. I still think weddings are a long day. You've got to pace yourself, don't you? Oh, that's ever. So, Emma, as an official word from the industry, doesn't have a problem with it, but the timing does matter.

Okay. 100%. All right. Hey, thank you so much. Jono Ben and Megan, the podcast. The Hits. The first day of the Auckland City Rail Link. It feels like a long time in the making.

And if you're at Auckland, it's going to save you a lot of time. But just when you come to Auckland from all around the country, it's going to be something that I've imagined. I imagine a lot of people will end up using. Yeah, it's a wonderful piece. Wonderful piece of transport history and engineering. I was unwittingly made a part of this. Forever in a day.

They're going to go back. There's going to be some idiots dressed in colonial clothing as a town crier. Mayor Wayne Brown, long story short, he really loved this idea where he pitched it to him. Not for the York City Rail Link, but he wandered it there. And he made this happen in front of the Prime Minister and a whole lot of dignitaries. and now unfortunately a lot of the footage that's gone out there is just a view and people are like what was that all about yeah um although wayne to be fair mayor brown he predicted this last week when we said this is going to be a train wreck uh yeah but but you'll be famous

and so i don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing count the comments don't read them yeah so there's the engagement we're going to get him to read johnno to read some of the comments because on its own uh if you take it away from the porphyty and the wonderful speeches and stuff that happened beforehand, it looks really odd and out of place. It does. And I just honestly, it was that I said before.

It's the most nervous I think I've ever been in our 25 years of doing this job. Sitting in a train cab, looking out, having hot flushes, cold flushes, all the flushes. I never needed to go to the toilet so badly and have nothing leave my body. I don't know what was happening. So you haven't looked at some of these,

but here we go. Producer Troy has found some feedback online for you to read out about your job is the town crier, town prior. What are the people got to say on social media? Well, firstly, Paris. That seemed unnecessary. And you're right, Paris.

You're right, Paris. It was. So did the whole costume. Who's the guy in the outfit, writes Danny. And why? Question mark, question mark, question mark. Someone then replied to Danny and said, John O or Ben.

Don't link me up into it. Danny then replied, that makes a lot of sense. George writes Does CRL stand for crusty, robed lunatic? That's good, that is really good. That is nice from George. Seb types in the comment section,

I'm British and live in New Zealand and I'm confused. Imagine if that's how you felt, Seb. Imagine the guy in the costume, how he felt. Chris, is this why my rates went up 29%? Yes, Chris. You have to keep buying that bloody costume. 28% for the railway, 1% for my costume high-reach.

Okay, Captain Feather Sword. Says, damning. You did look like you're a Captain Feather Sword, dog off. From the wiggles for those who don't know who that is. Oh, that's funny. Oh, my God. What in the Epstein is going on here? What in the Epstein?

How has Epstein been born in the conversation? Followed up by what in the coloniser is happening here. Yeah, that's a very good point. Wow, there we go. Guys. I mean, they definitely could have been worse. Yeah, user 4538 says here, I'm offended. I think that sums it up for everyone.

Oh dear, well, Mayor Brown wants you back, mate. What did he message you said? Get over the trauma. Yeah, there's more work to be done. I don't know what that means. He's the only one that wants more of that. Exactly. He's tasked the council with finding more events for Auckland's official town prior.

Oh, no. I'm just, I'm going to put it out there and say, I think there might be better things that they could be doing. Exactly. And it doesn't cost to me, it's not like you do, but still, you're right, Megan. John O'Benn and Megan. The podcast. The Hits.

City Rail Link are going about, we went and saw it on Friday when they had the opening before it was open for the public. And amazing, eh? Like, it was really incredible. Yeah, it is a very major phantom engineer. and that doesn't usually get me jazz. But it's like really big under the city. Yeah, it's beautiful.

Everyone keeps going, it feels like an international city. But then to international people, we are an international city, you know. It's very New Zealand comment. New Zealand is like, do we deserve to have something this nice in New Zealand? I look so international.

It's so wow, it doesn't look like it should be here. No, because usually we're just like cultural cringe, we'll just, you know, get what we're given. I know, it's really flash. It is flash. You can see why it was over budget. We're all expecting just to pop up 10 from the warehouse he's the train station, but they've outdone themselves.

Anyway, I was asked along by Oklahoma Mayor, Wayne Brown, to be the town crier. The traumatic event. Now Brownie's saying get over the trauma. We've got more to do. We've got work to do, mates. You're on the campaign trail with Brownie. Is it a campaign for him?

It feels like you're part of his... I'm running on Brownie now. Browntown, downtown Brown. There's a Brown Pryor for 2026, Electric. Is it you running together? Code Brown. Yeah. Code Brown.

It's going to be the name of our campaign. But yeah, we did this on Friday in front of every person who makes important decisions about this country. Prime Minister, leaders of every party, they're all there, right? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, God, it gives me like flashbacks. You know, when you're gone to those poor fellas who went to Vietnam and they get triggered by flashbacks. Please don't compare that.

No, don't. What it feels like. But this is what it feels like to me. It was like I'm in a war zone out there. Oh, God. Okay, Captain Felon. the sword, that's what they're saying in the comments. There's some really colonial comments.

A lot of people like really the cosplay of what you're doing, James Cook. I thought James Cook was killed in Hawaii. How's he ended up back here? You know, stuff like that. So you really are the face of, yeah. Colonization. I mean, that's fine.

I mean, if you're going to pick a great face for colonizing Ben, what about this one? Yeah, well, yeah. So afterwards, that went down. We're all a little shell-shot and rattled, and we'd sort of talk to. There was a few leaders going past and stuff. Winnie?

Winston. He witnessed it firsthand. He was only a meter away from the town prior. Winston, how's the town prior? He did a very good job. He said that but he wouldn't stop to talk. He was busy. He was a walking and talking situation, Winston.

So I don't think he wanted to be seen with the town prior. He didn't actually look impressed when you were doing it. I don't know if you've glanced at Winnie's face. I am not watching that video back. You can rest assured. But then you said something even more horrific happened after the town prior. Yeah.

No, you talk about it. I don't even want to talk about it. I don't even know what you're talking about it. So I can't talk about it. Well, there's a guy that we have, we've run into her a couple of times before. We've talked and he's visually impaired, right?

And we had a, you remember, had a conversation with him afterwards. I know what you're going to say. He has a guide dog with him. Yeah. Yeah. I know what you're going to say.

Don't worry. I knew what was happening. And as you sort of went up and said, hello, did you know what's happening? You said, and I get, you know, you, this was, with all good, you didn't mean to say this. The intention was not there, but you said, good to see you, mate. And we all went, oh, did he just, like, in our heads, we all went, oh, did, is that what I did

say to say? Yeah, but did you, because at the end of it, Megan and I were like, is John are going to realize what he has done? Yeah, I thought, surely, in that moment you'd be like, oh, foot and mouth, I'll just carry on and then I'll just say, you know, bye. And then at the end, when we were saying goodbye, you were like, it was great to see you, mate. I think it's three times, I think we counted. See you again?

I mean, it's at that moment. It was at that moment, like I did clock it actually, now you mention it. And I was like, geez, you really don't, you really don't factor how many times you say, good to see you in a conversation to people. Well, you especially, even after the first time I was like, he's going to say something else at the end, like catch you later or something else. But no, three times, three times in the one conversation. Yeah, I, yeah, I was getting, yeah, there was a lot of trauma happening there,

and I was probably not on my A game when it came to the conversation. And I, yeah, I did realize three times I did say. I made reference to visualness during that conversation. And there was no, you know, the intention was not there to, you know, like it was, but, yeah. Yeah, it did feel a little bit like you were. But, I mean, technically, I could see it. Yeah. So I'm not lying.

Oh, true. Like, I'm not saying, I must be good for you to see me. Yeah, yeah, true, yeah, true. Sometimes just say less, like, hey, mate. Hey, mate, yeah. That's it And then start the conversation And see you later, mate

I know I know Could this day get any worse Well but yeah I don't have a good You guys left without me We're going to get away We went in a different exit

Yeah I carried a hugely heavy table Just to get out of there John O'Benn and Megan The podcast The Hits A frustrating conversation I had over the weekend

You got young kids and obviously you're deciding on their clothing. And as they get older, that's their department. But every now and again, you know. Sometimes it's your department on social media too. You put their clothes on you. Yes, that's right. Yeah, true.

Yeah, true. Yeah. Don't just say it's their department. Well, yeah, it's true. But they'll mean, as far as what they choose to wear. I'm like, that's their department. But then every now and again as a parent, you sort of go, oh, hey, you know, you should probably wear this.

And this happened over the weekend. My daughter was going out, nice, wholesome walk with a couple of friends on Saturday morning. I was like, cool. And it was one of those days. It was like, it was raining and it was sunny and it was raining. I was like, take a jacket. Take a light jacket. And the wind was really cold.

I said wind as well. They were going up this sort of white bar hill, sort of mountain area. I was like, take a light jacket. Because you're coming with experience. You've just, you've existed longer than these people. And yeah, and my daughter, Andy, she is like, what jacket? What do you recommend? So I found her a light jacket.

She's got a sort of windbreaker jacket, good for rain, a little bit of wind. And then she's like, puts it on. She's like, just looks goofy. I'm like, no one cares about it. The point of the jacket. It's not the point of the guy. She's like, she puts it on a look at the bird. She's, looks goofy.

I'm like, you're out in a walk. No one's going to be looking at you. You're just going to that. You just take it, wrap it around your waist. Not doing that. Okay, well, just hold it then. And then if you need it, you've got it there for you. Put it a little bag, whatever it was.

None of these suggestions were working as well. That's just like, and then she has the jacket behind. She left the jacket behind. Was she caught out in the elements? Yeah, well, she came out. I'm a little wet, and I'm like, hmm. Did you say anything? No, I didn't say anything at all.

looks goofy now. It was in my head, but I didn't know. Unless you got it away on the radio. Yeah. But that's the frustrating thing. I mean, she still had a jumper and stuff on, but it's just like... Oh, she had a jumper on? Yeah, she had a jumper on.

He's worried about the rain. The rain. The rain. It was rainy. Like, it had, the rain was coming through. She had to like a... Oh, bra. She had a jumper on. Oh, come on, Megan.

Chill. I think she was wearing like a singlet top or something. Oh, she's fine. Oh, okay, Megan. All right. This is not what he needs from you right now, Megan. No, she's trying to look cute. He needs you to be on his team.

Be an ally. I bought like for the school jacket. That's the thing. It's part of the uniform. They refuse to wear it. Refused to wear it. What, the school jacket? Yeah.

Because if it's like, it's not, it's not, you know. You wouldn't know this because you won't call it school. But, um, even when you've got a school uniform, there's a way to wear it. Yeah, that's the thing. She's like, the people that wear the jacket are not the sort of people that, yeah. And she's like, I'm like, oh, really what? I'm here for the girls. Practical jacket.

Who implemented like making the, the, really, the. rules around the school uniform as well. That's the leveler. Everyone's in it together. You can all just wear the uniform, you're right. That's why we have uniforms. And then they didn't tell me there's a hat because I keep banging on about they need a hat in summer. There is a hat. There is a hat.

They're not wearing the hat. It's not a big wide-brown. It's not a fuck a hat, is it? No, it's a cap. It's a cap. And I was like, this is great. No. And they're like, no dad. No dad at all. They're like, but you buy it. We're not going to wear it. So I'm like, oh, I'm not going to waste my money on a hat.

There's no practicality in fashion. Even when it comes to school uniforms, Ben. Geez, the poor old board of trustees must be just really throwing stuff at the wall with the school merch. They're like, I don't know if this is going to fly or not. Who knows how these rules are made? Are we going to wear this goofy jacket? I reckon they will, but no. John O'Benn and Megan.

The podcast. The Hats. We're at a platform of a new train on Friday. Trying to find a connection there. Good connection. With the Auckland City Link opened up about 10 years. Everyone has to be banging on about it. this new underground train system.

$5.4 billion. It went slightly over budget. Well, quite a lot over budget. Went slightly over time. Quite a lot over time. But anyway, it's here. And it was big fanfare on Friday. And to quickly bring you up to speed,

we had an idea a while ago after talking to a town crier in Australia that we were like, well, New Zealand hasn't had town criers. And maybe, you know, of late, and maybe Auckland should have one. And we thought the last name of Jono being prior could mean the town prior slash crier.

So we got you out there on the store. streets of Auckland a few weeks ago and sort of musty colonial gear as you described it. Just look really loud and intrusive. And that's all it was ever meant to be. Exactly bit.

Town, prior, cryer. Even then I don't think the team here at the Hipsra were fully on board with it. If anything, they were like, you paid how much to hire the suit? Oh, was it really worth it? No. They were questioning that. But Auckland Mayor, Wayne Brown, he was suddenly a big fan of it and he just

a couple of weeks ago that he wanted you at the opening. The prestigious opening. Now, think of the who's who of New Zealand politics and dignitaries and stuff. We had the Prime Minister. We had Winston Peters, Clos Warbrook, the Mayor. It was just everyone, right? Everyone. Local, Iwi, distinguished guests.

And we said to Wayne, when he came in last week, because I've got to cross the line, guys, and we're like, what? He said, you're the town crying. We're like, dear God, this is not a good idea. Yeah, but you'll be famous. That's what he wants And I love that I'm a fame hungry

So that was That was Wayne's response He knew He knew it was going to be a train wreck We knew it was going to be a train wreck And honestly I would say professionally Probably the most

nervous and anxious I've ever been in my career Well that's saying so Because no one really knows I get it Because no one really knows There on the day What it's all about

No No they don't know the context And more importantly The people on the internet Don't know the context So they had you hiding in one the carriages and just as they're about to cut the ribbon, they had you come out and do that.

The Prime Minister there, the Mayor there, everyone there. The train driver was in there with me. He was just had to keep an eye over me to make sure I wasn't going to go rogue and pushing your buttons and stuff. He's like, you look white as a ghost. I'm so, I want to vomit. Ben and I could tell that you were genuinely very nervous about this. Because I was staring out of the cabin.

I could see the Prime Minister, Nicole Willis, Wade Brown. Cameras, all sorts of stuff. There's all the important people who run the car. country. I'm about to come out dressed as an absolute moron. I know. So you did come out and here is it

on Friday if you missed it. Here you design the town crier! Welcome to all of our esteemed guests and not so esteemed guests lacking in steam

hair just making up numbers. Now you may be wondering who is this obnoxious man and musty-smelling colonial clothing from the costume higher store? Anyway, it goes on. You got some laughs. You got some laughs.

It goes on. So you can text, what can you text? Train. Train. Town. Text town. Sorry. I thought I remember that, but I didn't. Okay. Towned, 4487, you can see the video.

Yeah. And we need to get into what, our reaction at the time and the other reactions of the dignitaries and stuff afterwards. Because you made national news. You made, like, it went everywhere. And me, and Wayne Brown, these things like he wants you to do more. To be also, I've still. coming to terms with the psychological damage of the whole thing. Well, I need to read you next what the mayor has responded to you.

And how does this make you feel? Well, you should end with the mayor because there are the comments that he's going to get. Yeah, a dot good. Not good. No one really loved it except for the mayor. John O'Ben and Megan. The podcast. The hits.

Trying to unpack what went on on Friday, the big opening of the Auckland City Rail Link, many years in the making. It's first day today. commuters are making the way into work. Mayor Wayne Brown, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, requested I attend as the town prior. Humiliating exercise where I had to welcome all the dignitaries

just before they cut the ribbon. Had to hand the scissors over to the Prime Minister and to the Mayor to cut the ribbon. All I was thinking I was doing that was Annie Pryor really hammered it into me. Handles first. Handles first when you're passing over the scissors. And you did a good job with that.

I had no idea that you were going to have such a key role. I thought you were going to just be off to the side as a little bit part. I wish I didn't. I wish I didn't. You were in front of everyone, in front of the news cameras, and you were handing it over and introducing the Prime Minister. Yeah, you know, as I'm doing this,

I'm trying to not look anyone in the eyes, because I'm like, I'm trying to look over them. And then I just, I turned to the left, and I see, without a word of a lie, probably about 50 media, all with cameras on me. And I'm like, dear God. They were wondering what the heck was going on. This thing, because you didn't really have much of a challenge.

to explain yourself in that moment. Just had to come out. And on the internet, it's been put out there as well. And again, you know, there was a beautiful porphyry and an opening ceremony and stuff that went on. But a lot of people haven't seen that. They've just seen your bad. And they've been very much struggling to come to terms

with what's going on. Before we get to the comments. I mean, if there was going to be a face of colonisation, you'd pick me, wouldn't you? Some rough comments after 7 o'clock, we're going to get you to read out. But you were really nervous, and you did really well

because you stuck to the character and you didn't have cue cards, you memorized that. Yeah. So like, you know. And your boots were shining and there's fun some other compliments. Good on you, babe.

You didn't faint. No, it's true. You looked white, but you pushed through. Extra white. Extra white. Yeah, extra white. Couldn't have looked white. So Megan and I, thank goodness,

we were not down with all the hundreds of people. We're up above. Well, because it was voted by the audience that you don't give me an introduction. I just come out cold. This is all that you. You listening. Thank God.

This is us watching from above. This is just a little... This is taken longer than the actual railing took the speech. The laughter. Yeah, like, make, wrap it up. He's handing scissors. Handle first. Oh, he's got to clap.

Oh, my God. And then he's gone back in. He will be just like, oh, my God. And I was. And I was. And then they hid me back in the cab of the train. And then they're like, you have to go at the back. So I had to degradingly walk down the back of the train and get out

because the Prime Minister was going in for some bloody pretending to look interested in buttons. We'll get to some of the social media comments after 7 o'clock. Some of them not favourable. Most of them probably not favourable, unfortunately for the town cry. But here was one of the dignitaries reactions. Oh, Winston, yeah. We were filming a bit at the end when he walked past.

Winston, how's the town dryer? He's been a very good job, actually. That's how do you mean that, or not? I thought there's no one guy to see him. Yeah, right, yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know if he'll get more gigs, but hey. He's available if you need it. I think for Winston it was a full circle moment

because he actually came in to go upstairs to news talks here be Friday morning at 6 o'clock, and he saw me dressed as the town crier. And he was probably going, that's weird. And then when he saw me at the thing, it probably was connected a lot of dots for Winnie. Yeah. Now, I just want to end this little bit on what Auckland Mayor,

Wayne Brown has said. Who was obviously the big backer of the town cry? The biggest cheerleader. Yeah, biggest cheerleader. He loves it. He loves it. He loves it. His face lit up when you came out.

And he has said to you, replied to one of your comments going, you did great. It's good. But get over the trauma. We've got more work to do. This is the start of your new job as Aucklandstown Cryer. I've tasked counsel with finding more opportunities for you to lend your skills. Oh, dear God.

You know what? I don't know. I don't know what it is, but he's really jazzed by. I don't know if it's something. I've said in the people. passed about Waydo and this is just punishment that he's just delivering, executing at a professional level.

John O'Bennon and Megan The podcast The Hits. Morning producer Grace wanted to come on in. She's like, can I come in and do my bit to producer Troy and he's like absolutely no one knows what he bit is. And then there was laughter from the producer booth. But they're in a soundproof

booth so we don't know what the laughter was a bit. All of us made us all feel a little nervous. This break we've done before about two years ago we did exactly what this break is about to be and I've got beef with you guys because Megan knows what it is now, because she's realized. I just, I just, I say myself, momentarily. Just before the break, we don't have beef.

If you were to look at me right now, there is something different. Oh, yeah, okay. I dyed my hair and the boys didn't say a thing. What color you told your hair? You even gave us a heads up on the, yesterday, by sending a photo going, what color will my hair be tomorrow? You did, yeah. It's pink.

Oh, to be fierce. No, but the side bits. You can totally see the side bits. And when you say pink, I would say more Auburn. Yeah, I went for like a peachy. Yeah, I can see as a lighter, yeah. Grace just had to lift her hair up. It's like where you would give yourself an undercut.

You've died that bit. It's called a peekaboo. Yeah, so. But you can obviously see the front birds, guys. I mean, it does look light. Yeah, sorry. Yeah, I should have acknowledged it. I'm so gross.

I ran into Jono at the door and we walked together and he's like, asking about my weekend. I was like, do I mention I died my hair? No, he's probably going to be nice. Like, give me a compliment. Nothing. I'm sorry, Grace. It doesn't, like, you say pink, there's no part of it looks like.

No, I'm with you on that one. Can we please put a picture on our socials and be like, would you have noticed? Thank you. It's a toned, it's a toner pink. Yeah, I wouldn't have said pink. I don't know why we keep saying pink, it's not pink. Well, it's a tonal. The toner said pink toner.

Light brown. It's not like brown. Aubin. I thought you were going to go like pink, pink. You teased us on the chat and you're like, what colour am I going to have? Blue, purple, pink. and I voted pink. I think you guys all did.

You do know me because pink's my favorite color, so I went pink. But I wouldn't say that your hair is pink.