Takatāpui Talk

Donald Hollingsworh

Takatāpui Talk is a living collection of stories — a weaving together of voices from our community, shared with honesty, care, and deep respect.Each kōrero holds a life lived — through love, loss, identity, whānau, and resilience — offering insight into what it means to be takatāpui in Aotearoa, both then and now.This series is not about explanation or justification. It is about presence. It is about truth. It is about us, speaking for ourselves.Created within a space of trust and connection, these conversations are a taonga — for our people, for our whānau, and for those who seek to understand us more deeply.Takatāpui Talk is a reminder that we are not new, we are not invisible — we have always been here. These kōrero are about resilience, laughter, truth, and love.

  1. 5d ago

    Paul Heard – Takatāpui Talk Final

    Send us Fan Mail 🐻🌈 MEET PAPA BEAR! This Sunday on Takatāpui Talk – Indigenous Voices, we're joined by Paul Heard, affectionately known as “Papa Bear.” From Auckland's legendary URGE Bar on Karangahape Road to the infamous underwear parties, bear culture, HIV/AIDS advocacy and decades of gay nightlife, Paul has lived through and helped shape an extraordinary chapter of our queer history in Aotearoa. But who is the man behind Papa Bear? We go back to his childhood, discovering his sexuality, finding his community, the people who shaped his life and the journey that eventually took him from the bright lights of K Road to a quieter life by the sea. There'll be laughter, memories, a little mischief and, as always, some wonderfully honest storytelling. 😂❤️ Because our history isn't just about the places we went. It's about the people who made those places matter. 🎙️ Sunday 25 October | 6PM 📺 YouTube | 🎧 Spotify, Apple Podcasts & other podcast platforms Takatāpui Talk – Indigenous Voices Our stories, told by us. #TakatapuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #PapaBear #PaulHeard #URGEBar #QueerHistoryNZ #GayAuckland #LGBTQHistory #Takatapui #QueerAotearoa #RainbowCommunity Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth. If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond. Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews. Our conversations. Our stories. Our voices. Arohanui.

    Paul Heard – Takatāpui Talk Final
  2. Oct 11

    Political Panel

    Send us Fan Mail TAKATĀPUI TALK: ELECTION SPECIAL — POLITICS, POLICIES & A LITTLE BIT OF FILTH! 🌈🗳️ Politics has never sounded quite like this! With the election approaching, Takatāpui Talk brings together a fabulous, outspoken panel for an unapologetically queer conversation about the issues affecting our communities across Aotearoa. Host Donald Hollingsworth is joined by Paul Heard, Steven Oates, Tiffany Wayne, Annah Pickering and Mihirawhiti Searancke for a lively discussion covering Te Tiriti o Waitangi, housing, homelessness, healthcare, social welfare, transgender rights and the political decisions shaping our lives. There are serious questions, differing opinions, personal experiences and moments that remind us why our voices deserve to be heard. And then, naturally, things get a little naughty! From outrageous political hypotheticals to our very own Fashion Police, no politician's wardrobe is entirely safe from scrutiny. It's political commentary with humour, heart, a healthy dose of cheekiness and absolutely no shortage of personality. Because politics affects all of us, and being informed doesn't have to be boring. Whatever your political persuasion, we encourage you to listen, question, investigate the policies and make your own informed decision at the ballot box. Our voices. Our stories. Our future. 🎙️ Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices Listener discretion advised: Adult humour, colourful language and frank political discussion. #TakatapuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #NZElection2026 #Takatapui #RainbowVoices #MaoriVoices #PoliticalPanel #YourVoteMatters Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth. If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond. Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews. Our conversations. Our stories. Our voices. Arohanui.

    Political Panel
  3. Sep 6

    Macau Johnson Takatāpui Talk

    Send us Fan Mail 🌈 TONIGHT AT 6PM | MACAU JOHNSON Tonight on Takatāpui Talk, Macau Johnson shares a kōrero filled with the highs and lows of life. From his childhood and studying Film and Television, to working on a recycling truck and becoming a Drag Race commentator, Macau speaks openly about the experiences that shaped him—including his extraordinary hauora journey. Honest, funny and real—this is Macau’s story, told in his own words. 🎥 Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TakatapuiTalk 🎧 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0f7P5M6L4IYgR1Qe2k5qgM 🎙️ Listen on Buzzsprout https://takatapuitalk.buzzsprout.com 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TakatapuiTalk 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/takatapuitalk 🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@takatapuitalk Please follow, share and help us carry these stories further. Our conversations. Our stories. Our voices. #TakatāpuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #MacauJohnson #Takatāpui #MāoriPodcast #Hauora #DragRace #QueerMāori #RainbowWhānau #Aotearoa Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth. If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond. Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews. Our conversations. Our stories. Our voices. Arohanui.

    Macau Johnson Takatāpui Talk
  4. Aug 23

    Dr Huhana Hickey Takatāpui Talk

    Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of **Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices**, Donald Hollingsworth sits down with **Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM** for an intimate conversation about an extraordinary life. Dr Hu is Māori, disabled, lesbian, a lawyer, academic, human rights advocate and internationally recognised voice for disability rights. But behind those achievements is a deeply personal story of identity, whakapapa, adversity, resilience, humour and an unwavering determination to create change. From her childhood and the discovery of her Māori whakapapa, to living with disability, finding her place within our rainbow communities, studying law and becoming a formidable advocate for others, Dr Hu speaks openly about the experiences that have shaped her. And amongst the serious kōrero, there is plenty of laughter — including the wonderful story of a moko that apparently likes to dance like Michael Jackson. For Donald, hearing Dr Hu tell her story was an experience he won't forget. This is more than an interview about achievement. It is the story of a wahine who has continually challenged the spaces that weren't designed to include her — and helped make those spaces better for the people coming behind her. **An extraordinary life. An honour to share.** 🎙️ **Takatāpui Talk — Indigenous Voices** Hosted by Donald Hollingsworth #TakatāpuiTalk #IndigenousVoices #HuhanaHickey #Takatāpui #WhānauHauā #Māori #DisabilityRights #LGBTQIA #Aotearoa Thank you for listening to Takatāpui Talk with Donald Hollingsworth. If this kōrero resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps these stories reach more people across Aotearoa and beyond. Follow Takatāpui Talk on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for episode updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming interviews. Our conversations. Our stories. Our voices. Arohanui.

    Dr Huhana Hickey Takatāpui Talk

About

Takatāpui Talk is a living collection of stories — a weaving together of voices from our community, shared with honesty, care, and deep respect.Each kōrero holds a life lived — through love, loss, identity, whānau, and resilience — offering insight into what it means to be takatāpui in Aotearoa, both then and now.This series is not about explanation or justification. It is about presence. It is about truth. It is about us, speaking for ourselves.Created within a space of trust and connection, these conversations are a taonga — for our people, for our whānau, and for those who seek to understand us more deeply.Takatāpui Talk is a reminder that we are not new, we are not invisible — we have always been here. These kōrero are about resilience, laughter, truth, and love.