Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Paul Henry on his top pick for US preisdent!

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

We chat to broadcasting legend Paul Henry: Why there was a space rocket over his house! How he has twins on the way. And how to keep people wanting more... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This John O'Bien podcast brought to you by HelloFresh, the experts and tastes that Kiwis love. Good morning. Great to see you again. You look more rested. Look at you guys. You barely age, actually. Oh, that's very kind of you to say. No, you barely age.

You're still young. I think it's fine. But you like barely age. Well, Ben's dyed his hair blonde now. Yeah, I think it's a midlife crisis. I think that's what I'm doing. I don't know. Maybe I am. Did you have a midlife crisis, so to speak? No. Yeah, I think it's a midlife crisis. I think that's what I'm doing. I don't know. Maybe I am.

Did you have a midlife crisis, so to speak? No. Well, you never recognise your own midlife crisis. The fact that you said you were having a midlife crisis probably is an indication you're not. Paul Henry, it's lovely to have you back. The Traders New Zealand is back on last night. Fantastic first season.

Our friend Sam ended up taking it out. He was a great winner. Yeah. He was a great winner Yeah He was a great winner I noticed this season Less probably well-known faces To start off I'm sure we'll get to know them Across the series

And that's the good thing about it That's what I mean the American franchise Only have celebrities The British franchise Never have celebrities So we went half and half For the first season

But I thought it was a bad idea Because if you've got a whole lot of strangers getting to know each other, it's great that the audience get to know them at the same time. It's a wonderful social experiment. It is a social experiment. That's what it is. It's a social experiment.

This one filmed in South Canterbury at the foot of Mount Horrible. Now, why is it called Mount Horrible? Do we know why? No. And that would have been something I could have found out. Is that a legit place? Yeah, it seems like a legit place.

It's a legit place. Well, it's a legit mountain. Mount Horrible is very New Zealand. We wouldn't come out and say, it's Mount Beautiful. We're not that arrogant. We'd have played it down. Someone says, this is nice. Oh, you think so?

I thought it was horrible. Anyway, next minute. Even tall poppy chopping mountains. Exactly. The thing I wonder, because you've been everywhere over the last few days. Everyone wants to talk to you. They send out alerts. Paul Henry's on Newstalk ZB now.

Tune in. Do they? So there's still so much demand for you, but you won't come back full time. No, but maybe that's why. You know, less is more. I wouldn't go back full time, but it is surprising. But I think it is that it's that whole thing with the house. I was watching Million Dollar List in New York the other day,

because that's what retired people do. Well, intelligent retired people watch that. Stupid retired people watch Tipping Point. Anyway, I was watching Million Dollar List in New York. I like Tipping Point. Yeah, I do too. Oh, did you see that one time? No, so I was watching Million Dollar List in New York, and the guy said, he got this new apartment listing, and he said, so what we do, we'll invite everyone, but just to a party there, and everyone will say,

oh, is it available? And it was on the market, but no, it's not available. Is it going to come on the market? Oh, you know, it might, but you couldn't afford it anyway. And they sold it straight away just based on that. So that's sort of me really, isn't it? Yeah, good. Where's Paul Henry now?

Oh, we're not entirely sure. I wonder if we'll ever find out. Do you know what? Half of the people listening now are thinking, oh God, I'd be happy if I never heard from him again. You've kind of put up your own paywall, haven't you? Like, pay more if you want more of Paul Henry. See, I'm liking this.

It's a Paul Henry paywall, yeah. I love it when you, because you spend a lot of time overseas, and I love it when you come back and you give us your little snapshot state of the nation. Because I know a lot of time in America as well. Now, America, interesting debate we've been talking about as well on Friday between the two. Where do you stand? Oh, jeez, I don've been talking about as well on Friday between the two. Where do you stand? Oh, jeez, I don't know.

I feel like... I don't stand with either of them. A country of so many people, it feels very much like surely there'd be some other options. Yeah, yeah. There were other options. Were they any good? Yeah. Well, yeah. Okay, so here's the thing.

I mean, who knows if Biden's going to make it to the finish line? The only way you can get rid of Biden without him throwing the towel in, the only way you can actually do it is to use the amendment which would then make Kamala Harris the President of the United States. She's even less liked than Joe Biden. She's absolutely bloody hopeless.

On paper, she's one of those people that on paper looks great. You'd employ her unless you met her. Really? Yeah. Better on paper. Better on paper. Better on paper. Their dream was to probably roll her out.

Originally, maybe. Originally. You know who they should have chosen? Mayor Pete. Who did you choose? Yeah. Great. You know, young, intelligent.

He would have been a great running mate for Joe Biden. And he's homosexual. So you wouldn't have as many people saying, oh, why haven't you got a woman? Do you think that's a hamstring for them though, given that he's homosexual in America? Do you know, I don't think so now. It would have been a decade ago, but I don't think so now. Maybe I'm overestimating them. But he would have been a brilliant running mate, but they're really stuck now. I mean, and your point, you know, you got, what, 340 million people,

and it's down to two old guys, one of them barking mad, and the other one clinically dead. I wasn't sure who was who. When I said clinically dead, you worked out which one I meant. It's almost like Weekend at Bernie's, isn't it? It's like, what's wrong about it? Is he still alive? I don't know. So back here, how do you think things are back here When you come back to New Zealand?

Okay if you'd asked me that yesterday I would have answered differently But you've asked me today And I have just travelled across town In rush hour I mean we joke about cones Honest to God That's the business to be in isn't it?

It's just ridiculous Homes everywhere It's not horrible if you're in the market For some meth though Good access to meth Actually that's an opportunity for Smith & Co. And the media, very sad that News Hub is coming to an end. I know you've got an affiliation with News Hub over the years. Are you surprised? No, I'm surprised that people are surprised. You know, why would people be surprised? I mean, I suggested that they close News Hub about five years ago to save the organisation. I said, you've got to shut it down. I mean, why would people be surprised? I mean, I suggested that they close News Hub about five years ago

to save the organisation. I said, you've got to shut it down. I mean, why are people surprised? Within the last week, one of my neighbours in Palm Springs sent a photograph of my swimming pool and the sky above it with a rocket launching. Now, you can't expect to see that and have everything else stay the same. Shut down what isn't working and get with the times. It's just they've waited too long to do it. And it's exactly the same with TVNZ. You know, they're in crisis talks now. I mean, seriously, that's how bad their management is. For the last decade. Oh, look, you've got me on a hobby. For the last bloody decade, society has been telling them

that the way they live is changing, the way they consume media is changing. They've done nothing about it but moan, oh God, it's hard to get people to watch the news now. And at the same time, they're feeding people the news by their phone 24-7. Did they think that all those people were going to just read it

but then want to hear it again and again and again? Idiots. So you're glad you're no longer doing news on TV? You know, you can see there's frustration there. Yeah, you need a podcast. That's what everyone's doing now, Paul. Exactly. That's why I don't do it.

That's my thing. Do you guys do a podcast? Of course you do. Well, the radio show gets made into a podcast. Oh, that's different. No skin off your nose exactly yeah do you get any extra money for it no no i don't think anyone listens to it but that's all right we're all yeah no and there's a rub with podcasts yeah and even if they do how

do you monetize it and i know some people do but it's the coins it's coins in the palm of your hand are you because radio is so kind of stuck in there. It's weird, eh? Weird. Radio has been a survivor. I mean, you look at Netflix, they're in real trouble. They've sort of bounced back because they changed their business model. But it is weird the things that survive, and radio is one of those. So new things that have come along subsequent to radio.

You remember that song, Video Killed the Radio Star? No, it didn't actually video killed itself um and and so there are a few things that are survivors and it's under threat but still people like a little bit they want to hear someone tell them the time it's weird isn't it well you shouldn't say that media yeah you are we're just hanging okay with that yeah bend and Ben tells the time. Oh, yeah. Sometimes I get it wrong, but not too bad.

Not too bad. But see, people like that. Yeah. If it was AI, it would never get it wrong. Although now it will start to recognize that people like it to be wrong sometimes. And just quickly, your daughter Bella, she had been twins. Is that right? Yeah.

Twins? Yeah. Did you predict it? Did you predict the twins? Well, yes. Yeah. i just thought i'm looking at you now bella there's more than one in there you're either having an adult or

please tell me you didn't tell her that she's good like that no she's good so she's in hospital now what are you? Papa? Grandad? Grandad. Grandad. I quite like it. Well, actually, they're all... Papa is quite conservative too, but no, I quite like grandad.

How do you feel about that? Well, I've got two grandchildren already. Oh, you've got two already? Look at me, for God's sake, John. You don't look grandad material. No, I don't act grandad material. But if you didn't know me and you just looked at me, you'd think, oh, look at that sorry old thing. You're coming here. And are you? No, you're't act granddad material, but if you didn't know me and you just looked at me, you'd think, oh, look at that sorry old thing.

You're coming here. No, you're a sprightly. I could barely open the door. You have to open the door for me. It's a heavy door. You're not Joe Biden just yet. It is a heavy door. Are you hands-on?

Do you like cuddles with babies? I'm not fussed on babies. Neither. I like it once they've got little personalities, but that's why Jesus made parents to look after them when they're really little. Oh, poor Henry. I know you've got a lot of other interviews. Love catching up with you.

That won't be as good as this. Traders, catch it. It's a great show. You can catch it on three and three now as well. Lovely to see you again. Brilliant. Lovely to come in here, guys. See you.

Thanks.