Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Show Highlights: The 94 Year Old Kiwi Legend Still Working!

Episode Date: May 24, 2023

We talk to the oldest employees still working in NZ! Wayde Egan from the Warriors is launching our mascot race.. Jono's mate is painting the strip club... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hits with the Jono and Ben podcast. Thanks to Challenge. Putting the service back into service stations. Guy Pearce, a legendary Aussie actor. He's been in everything from Neighbours, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Iron Man 3. So many movies and TV shows. And he's got a new series called The Clearing about a cult. Looks also very spooky, very full-on thriller.

It's on Disney+. Yeah, we were caught up with Guy Pearce. Just make sure you've got your chat box open, please. Say your name and media outlet for the clapper, and the interview is ready to roll. The room's yours. Guy Pearce. We're Jono and Ben from New Zealand.

Oh, sorry, you didn't listen. I did listen? Yeah, Jono and Ben from New Zealand. Nice of us. Look at us, already bickering. Nice to meet you. Not in front of Guy Pearce, Jono. I want to see you bicker.

No, we're like an old married couple. We've been together too long. It's a loveless marriage, Guy. Now, the new show, a scary thriller, it's called The Clearing. Is it about Jono forgetting to do the clearing of his internet history? Because that's quite scary. Yes, that's exactly what it's based on. It's a really long show.

It's a long show. It goes on and on and on. There's a history there. There's a lot of history. I's a long show. It goes on and on and on. There's a history there. There's a lot of history. I watched it last night. It was terrifying. There's a kidnapping in the first 60 seconds. There's a cult involved.

Not your typical Disney, Disney Plus show, but very, very good. No, thank you. I mean, it is quite a harrowing show, and it looks at a cult that involves young children who are taken advantage of and you know all in the name of sort of creating a perfect society. It's run by a woman who takes on this kind of mother role to these children who have been either adopted out or were born to teenage mothers who abandoned them and the thing about this cult and this group is that there's a group of professionals who also believe in alternate ways of thinking and a better way of

life. So, you know, they're not just a group of hippies living out in the forest on their own. They're actually quite connected with some doctors at hospitals and some judges and some police. And so they were able to, you know hear they hear about a child that's at the hospital that's just been abandoned great bring him in straight into the cult so these kids had no choice yeah but to sort of grow up in this world and and and be cut off from the outside world we've got a place like that here in new zealand it's called gloria vale and we spoke to a guy who had escaped and he phoned us and he said he can't talk to his family. Like he'd been there for, I think, almost 18, 19 years of his life.

They would listen to our radio station and that was the naughtiest thing they would do. And if you knew the hits, it is completely the opposite of the naughtiest radio station you could listen to. You've had such an illustrious career. What do you think has been the one moment where you're like damn i cracked it oh well i don't know if there's i mean i've been part of some pretty great films so you know memento and priscilla and la confidential and you know the king's speech so i've sort of i've sort of had a few pretty lucky moments where i've gone pinch myself pinch myself kate winslet as well who's your friends with i

mean she was like she loves you she's a really good she used to skip school to watch you on neighbors back in the day she still does she still does she'll skip school to watch me on anything so her and i are really good mates and we share a birthday and you know she made me go and do mayor of east town which i was very happy to do but she rang me up and she said, listen, you're coming to do the show. This is the role you're playing. So she bossed me into it. When Kate Winslet bullies you into a role, I guess you've got no choice. Hey, listen, lovely to meet you, mate.

What a wonderful series you've got and a great career and a genuinely nice human being. It's been great chatting with you, Guy Pearce. Thank you, fellas. Good on you, Jono. Good on you, Ben. So legendary Guy Pearce. You can catch him in the clearing right now.

It's very good on Disney+. The Hits. The Jono and Ben Podcast. We were walking yesterday Ben there's a club down the road from work. A club where people take their clothes off.

Right yeah. And there was a guy Thank you producer Joel. There was a guy out the front and I'm gathering he's the maintenance gentleman for this particular club. And he's painting away.

Painting, painting, painting. Well, I guess it needed a lick of paint. Yeah. Yeah. Go back this morning, he's still painting. Wow. 24 hours. I don't know if he's had a break or he's come back.

Gone through the night, maybe. Yeah. It's a quite therapeutic painting. I painted a fence once and I got all cocky about my painting ability. Then I took my painting inside and it's a whole different ball game when you're painting inside compared to just

slopping paint on a wooden fence. Yeah, you're right. You've got to be a lot more careful outside. You can be a bit more blasé outside. Absolutely. It set me off on a wrong path because jen saw one of her friends on instagram she's like look lee's painted her doors white we should paint our doors white and i'm like jesus lee why'd you do this to me and so then it was on me to paint

the doors what there's paint all over the floor i look at the doors they're kind of half i should have given them another two coats drips running running down the dry drips. You can't imagine you'll just slop it on, get it done, move on. Probably like myself, and you've got to take your time. It's a patience game painting. I appreciate the people who do it really well, because it looks magnificent when it's done properly.

I remember my mate of mine, a few years ago, he got into a little bit of trouble and he had some community service he had to do and he spent, you know, he had three days, painted this fence along the property. It was awesome, painted it. And then the community service officer sort of came back, checked it three days later and he's like, look, this fence, amazing. He's like, you've done a great job.

Looks awesome, but it's the wrong house. And he painted the entire fence on the place next to the place it was meant to be painted. They would have been grateful. And no one alerted him over three days? No, for three days. I don't know if the people went home or whatever it was. Surely these bloody corrections officers should have come and gone, mate, you know, check up. At the start he was like, this is the, you know, and just pointed in that direction.

My mate's like, yeah, all good, mate. It didn't quite. Well, it still counts for service to the community. Even though that part of the community hadn't asked for the service, still a win. The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Yesterday we had a funny, we had to go and drop something off together.

Yeah. And it meant that we didn't have a car, so you went and jumped in an Uber and went home, and I had to make my way home as well. Yeah. Now I have an electric scooter that out of just pure laziness, I drive two blocks from where I park my car to work. Yeah, not far, not far, but you do.

You zip along there, mate. And you said, oh, are you ordering a taxi or any transport? I said, no, no, I'm going to electric scooter home. You gave me, there was a look in your eye of like, well, that's ambitious. Yeah, I did think that was very ambitious because I knew where we had this meeting, we were dropping off the stuff.

I was like, well, that's quite far from your house. My house was definitely closer. 10 k's away, probably. Yeah. 10 k's away. And so I set off on my scooter. A little bit of doubt in my head because I could tell you were like,

you're not going to make it. I mean, give it a shot. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Yeah, you're not going to go far as what was ringing in my head of your voice. I'm like, okay. I mean, give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen? You're not going to go far as what was ringing in my head of your voice. And the battery, jeez, it was disappearing quicker than my bloody hairline. It was flashing because it got four lights. Fourth one goes really quick.

I'm like, oh, okay, maybe still make it. I can still make it third, second. Probably about, I'd say, 11 minutes into the trip so how many k's you reckon have you gone one of five k's by that i've probably gone about two and a half kilometers right and it pulled over and i was like goddamn boys was right and i then had to result to fossil fuels to get me home i was trying to save the environment oh good on you trying Trying to go electric, but electricity's not the way. Well, I mean, it's,

but it's, yeah, you're really pushing that scooter to its max trying to get 10Ks. Electric scooters, they're kind of, they're like relationships. At first, there's a lot of energy, a lot of gusto,

then it quickly sort of peters out, doesn't it? And eventually grinds to a halt. The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Now, I was talking to a friend yesterday. He's a go-getter, right? Hustler.

Yeah. He said in the next nine years, so he's 41 years old, he wants to be retired by the age of 50. Oh, ambitious. He's very ambitious. What's he want to do? Does he have it like, like you know because retirement in theory for a lot of people sounds good but not for me not for me no i can't imagine you ever retiring

no although i was helping out some family at a retirement home the other day and i was like if you got in there and you got all these apartments early you maybe booked it next to all your mates there's a bar there's lawn bowls there's some activities even a barber i could use maybe not you john but there's you know we know, we could have a great time. Just set everyone up on the set. So you're pitching now to your friends. Let's say, hey, let's get in early. Book out a whole floor of the Ryman.

Yeah, 30 years time. We'll be in there. Whatever. Yeah, loving it. It'll be great. But he's quite an activities guy. Outdoorsy. Oh, gotcha.

Hunting, fishing, you know. So there's stuff that. So stuff he could be doing in his free time, yeah. But I'm afraid, like, if I look at, you know, my Christmas annual leave, if I take that as a little snapshot and what life would be like if I had no work to do, I'd be a bloody raging, chubby, just, you know, disgusting, unhygienic person. So I just need to keep up working

just for hygiene standards. Even if radios ceases to exist by the time I'm 50, I'll still do a radio show in the bathroom. I can imagine you would too. The acoustics are fantastic. Yeah, I think I will keep working. I think it's quite good to keep your mind,

give you some purpose, keep you active. My dad, he's meant to be retired, but he's semi-retired now. He just keeps going back. He was a teacher and a principal and now he goes back and still loves it. He said, I retired. I never said I'd be back. And then he'll go, I've just signed another one-year contract

or just another six months. He loves it, which is great. I'm afraid that if I had nothing to do, I'd be more of a pain in the ass For the people in my life Than I already am Yeah You've got a lot of free time on your hands I want to check this open Okay

Who is the oldest person still working in your life? Maybe it's someone you've got in the office Maybe it's someone in your family You can text 0800 the hits is the number 4487 is the text Are you 103 years old still running a CrossFit gymnasium? Probably not. Probably not.

Do you work with an 85-year-old gigolo? Specific market. Again, probably I'm throwing out examples that will never come to fruition. If you are, we'd love to hear from you this morning. 0800, the hits, 4487, the oldest person working in your life. We'd love to hear from you this morning. 0800 the hits, 4487, the oldest person working in your life. We'd love to hear from you next on the hits. And we've just got to talk about New Zealand's oldest employees, those that haven't hit the snooze button on life.

And Faye, you're with us. How are you? I'm good. Lovely to have you on the show, Faye. We're talking about New Zealand's oldest employees. Oh, I know. I'm not the oldest. There's a lot older than me that are working, and it's just amazing.

I love working. Yeah, so you're what? You're 24. So who do you work with? Oh, Johnny's a charmer, isn't he? He always is a charmer. I work for a lovely company, and it's called Trick or So Buses. Yeah, right.

And how old are you? Sorry, Faye. I'll be 78 next month are you glad you're still working is it out of necessity uh would you know hell you know i just i retired and then stayed retired for two years and it was just like prison you need to get out and feel valuable yeah keep yourself going go give purpose i imagine it's pretty awesome to have in your life you know something that you want to do and you're passionate about, meeting people as well

Are you planning on continuing? And we're going to get another 20 out of you Faye. Oh well I just replied for my P licence again so yeah, at least for another year. Good on you, what a fantastic, so you drive the buses? Yes. Fantastic, that's awesome And who are you driving around?

Patients for renal care. Oh, what a lovely thing you do, Faye. Anybody that wants to be picked up, we'll pick them up. Good on you, Faye. Thank you. How's he? How's he? Welcome after New Zealand's oldest employees.

How are you, mate? All right? Yeah, it's your mum. Yeah, my mum, who is 94. She still works, actually runs the Matamata Toy Library. So that's all the computer work, all the other stuff, lives by herself, drives to Cook's Beach from Matamata, drives over to Tauranga to see her. She's a legend in her own lifetime.

94, that is incredible. Has she always worked? Always. Yeah. Run the household. Very, very independent Italian lady. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, the Italians, they're hard asses, aren't they?

They are, mate. Loves the red wine. Now, do you think it has kept her young, consistently working and being active? Oh, most definitely. Like, I had my big party at my rugby club here, and she was still with me at the end. We were the last, we closed the doors. Oh, that's so cool.

Good on her. What a wonderful story, Halsey. Well, your mother's a special lady, and thank you very much, mate. Appreciate it. Yeah, you're welcome. Have a great day, guys. We're after New Zealand's oldest employee. Now, you may much, mate. Appreciate it. Yeah, you're welcome. Have a great day, guys. We're after New Zealand's oldest employee. Now, you may

work with them. You may be New Zealand's oldest employee. And in that case, if you are, 0800 THE HITS. Give us a call. Now, someone's actually texted in from Bunnings in Porirua. Oh, yes! Now, we've got the number. We've called him

up. And, And Alan our old mate How are you? I'm doing good When I say old I don't mean that in a derogatory term I mean it as in a term we haven't caught up with in a while We actually met you probably end of last year didn't we? That's right yes Has it lived on in your memory forever Alan?

To say so yes I was being recorded. Yeah, we did. We did record you. Yeah, we did. And was it consensual? Yeah, we recorded you. You were fine

because we talked to you at Bunnings. How long have you worked at Bunnings for? Since day one. That's 2004. Since the store opened. And if you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I'll be 92 in July.

Wow. 92 years old. Still asking how old are you? I'll be 92 in July. Wow 92 years old still working why are you still working why do you love it so much? I love being around people and it is actually that they're my family now. I unfortunately lost my wife three years ago. I'm on my own. I'm granddad to them. Yeah, they love you. The store that they were just, yeah, they were so proud of you and they love working with you. You could really tell you had a great connection with them. Yes, well, they've got a

great connection with me because they keep looking out for me and if I'm not there or I'm late, you know, they ring up and come round and find out if I'm all right. Oh, Alan. Jeez, they're working you hard, mate. You're 10 minutes late for work, Alan. Come on, Alan.

You're like, I'm 92. You're a breather. There's 10 kgs of bags of cement. I need you to lift those into the trailer. It's awesome. What sort of stuff do you do? What's your favourite job that you do at Bunnings well I'm

what I call meet and greet which is security on the door and I love that that I'm around people

all the time and I'm a people person oh good on you and do you do you have to strong arm anyone Alan anyone trying to

fleece any product no they take one look at me and run. For people listening right now, would you recommend working, you know, and not retiring, not stopping? If you're physically capable, do so. You've got a lot of experience on different jobs,

and you can pass that on to the younger ones, like, you know, and teach them work ethics. Oh, good on you. And let's talk about the younger generations, mate. The Gen Z is coming into the workforce nowadays. How do they compare to your generation? Well, we were taught in our younger days work ethics, that you did the job to the best of your ability.

You didn't Skype up onto your phones and that sort of thing. You turned up five minutes earlier than what you started your job. Yeah, good. Nowadays, what do they do? Are you TikTok dancing in the staff room? Oh, the whole Bunnings team are amazing. We've met many of them around the country, and everyone is just incredible.

Everyone knows where everything is at Bunnings too. Yeah. And now they tell me too that I'm the oldest member of Bunnings in New Zealand. Wow. RIP to the previous record holder. Lovely talking to you. You take care of yourself, and congratulations on all you do. Thanks very much.

The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Izzy, 11-year-old Izzy from Rotorua, came up with the Hitopotamus. Ben, it's been a wonderful, wonderful journey so far.

We've enjoyed it? The mascot, yeah, it's been great. It's been great, yeah, coming up with a mascot, very excited about having

a new hit mascot, the Hitopotamus. The name works well with a pun, I like it. Along with costumes. Yes. One of your loves.

You love costumes. I do love costumes. Yeah, you're right. Okay. Name some other loves of yours. Okay. Well, obviously, family given. Okay.

Family given. Wife, kids given. Right. Outside of that? Outside of that. Okay. Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. In the past, you've seen Dwayne The Rock Johnson over the family. Yeah, but let's not get into ranking things. I like to go to free movies To see Dwayne the Rock Johnson Free premieres What else do you want? It's not in the ballpark

Warriors Love the Warriors Love the Lakers Thank God you said the Warriors Because from the one New Zealand Warriors You might have heard of Wade Egan You might have heard of because from the one New Zealand Warriors, you might have heard of Wade Egan. Oh, yeah, yes, I have.

You might have heard of a phone. Yeah, I have, yeah. What would you say if I told you he has a phone and he's on it right now? Oh, awesome. Nice to talk to you, Wade. Hey, how you doing, guys? Hey, Ben, how are you, mate? Good, mate.

Big fan, big fan. Great hooker. You know, awesome. Nice to talk to you. Play it cool, play it cool. Play it cool, play it cool. I? Good, mate. Big fan, big fan. Great hooker. Awesome. Nice to talk to you. Play it cool, play it cool. Play it cool, play it cool. Great tattoos. Always plays for pretty much 80 minutes. Anyway, play it cool, play it cool. What's happening, Charlie? What's happening?

Well, Wade has a very special announcement regarding our mascot, the Hittopotamus and the Warriors. Thanks for that, mate. Just wanted to let you know that we're going to launch your new mascot at the Hittopotamus and the Warriors. Thanks for that, mate. Just wanted to let you know that we're going to launch your new mascot at the next home game at Mount Smart. The mascot race, I've heard. And the Warriors game.

And the Warriors game, mate. Next week against the Dolphins. Oh, my goodness. Wade and me, we've been back and forth on the old text. I slid into his DMs. However, we pulled some strings, and we wanted to make a little boy's dream come true. Take our hippo, the hippopotamus,

to his favorite team at home against the dolphins. Halftime, there's going to be a giant mascot race. Out on the field. Our hippo taking on other mascots that we haven't yet organised. Wade, I will leave that with you. Wade's got to worry about the game this weekend and next weekend.

It's a true honour to be doing this with the Warriors, so thank you so much for the Warriors helping us organise this. You must be loving the support of the country, Wade, at the moment. You guys are having a stellar run. Yeah, mate, it's awesome. You know, just walking down the street and stuff, you're running into people that sort of know the Warriors

and they, you know, they're all behind us and it's really cool at the moment. You know, we haven't had that support for the last few years. So to actually have the home, you know, home-grown advantage and the home fans and, yeah, it does feel like sort of the whole country's line.

It's awesome. There's some intense Warriors fans. Are you looking at me? Are you looking at me when you say that? I'm looking at Ben, uh are some of them a little too intense for you um yeah maybe a ton yeah on game day there's no you can't get um intense enough i reckon as as intense as you want on game day fire us us up. So yeah, even the wild ones, you can tolerate on game day there. I imagine you walk down the road, you get post analysis on games,

what you could have done better, what you did, you know? Yeah, every now and then, mate, at the coffee shop, if I'm getting a flat white, you know, the bloke next to me might say, you're going to go do this better. But yeah, you take it on board.

No, I'm a big fan. I've obviously got a couple of tops and also got a pair of Warrior shorts that I've always been a bit frightened about wearing out in public because my legs aren't good. I've obviously got a couple of tops. I've also got a pair of Warriors shorts that I've always been a bit frightened about wearing out in public because my legs aren't good. I've skipped a lot of leg days. I did show them to Jazz and Chance the other night, and they were like, maybe not wearing them,

but should I wear them to the game day halftime at the Warriors or not? Yeah, bring them out, mate. I know I'm sort of the same. You can't get much sun at the moment with the weather, so my legs aren't looking very white and pasty as well. So, yeah, bring them, mate. Bring them as short as they can go and as tight a jersey as you can get, I reckon. They look like two toothpicks dangling out of two circus tents.

His legs. Yeah, they do. Even the Warrior shorts, they're too baggy for me. It's like a parachute. You're right. Oh, wait. Hey, listen, well, thank you so much to you for your time and also for the Warriors letting us

debut the Hittopotamus mascot at a halftime mascot race next week. The Warriors taking on the Dolphins. Have a great day, mate. Nah, no worries, guys. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Thanks for that. That was awesome. That's pretty exciting. Yeah, very, very cool.