The Elephant

The New Zealand Herald

The Elephant is New Zealand's boldest new podcast and video series, fearlessly tackling the tough topics we often avoid discussing in a world where the risk of causing offence or risking cancellation can stifle open kōrero. Hosted by veteran journalists Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell, listen every week for diverse viewpoints, tough questions, open minded discussions and expert commentary.  To watch the video episodes, check out The Elephant on YouTube or www.nzherald.co.nz The Elephant is made with support from NZ on Air

  1. 10/12/2025

    Is equity killing excellence?

    In the final episode of The Elephant for 2025, we ask should the workplace reward fairness or flawless performance? DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusioin) promises opportunity for all. MEI (Merit, Excellence says only the best should rise. Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell bring together Alexia Hilbertidou, Kara Smith, Dr Oliver Hartwich, Katie Bhreatnach, and Yaron Brook to debate the clash dividing bosses, employees, and the culture of success itself. Who wins, who loses,  and what really makes someone succeed? The Elephant is made with support from NZ On Air See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  2. 03/12/2025

    Proud to be Pākeha?

    Proud to be Pākehā? Or carrying the baggage of history? From Kiwi grit and humour to the legacy of the past, what does it really mean to claim this identity today? Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell tackle the tough questions with Eliza McCartney, Tamati Rimene-Sproat, Dr Ella Henry, Andrew Judd, and Don Brash.   The Elephant is made with support from NZ On Air See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  3. 26/11/2025

    Free Speech

    Where’s the line between free speech and hate speech, and who gets to draw it? After years of cultural shouting matches, The Elephant asks the question at the core of it all. Free-speech defenders say cancel culture is killing debate, while others argue some of this so-called “speech” is really just bullying with bigger words. Joining Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell to break it down are filmmaker and actor Awa Puna, Free Speech Union and PILLAR’s Nathan Seiuli, Rights Aotearoa head Paul Thistoll, and Professor Simon Keller, co-author of Victoria University’s free-speech guidelines. The Elephant is made with support from NZ On Air See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min

  4. 19/11/2025

    What is womanhood?

    The question “What is a woman?” ignites one of today’s fiercest cultural clashes. Join Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell as they tackle this charged topic with former squash player and Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, psychologist and Women’s Rights Party member Linde Rose, teacher and journalist Debbie Hayton, and transgender advocate Mary Haddock-Staniland. From sport to safety, no viewpoint goes unchallengedThe Elephant is made with the support of NZ On Air. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  5. 12/11/2025

    Fleeing America

    Kiwi travel to the United States has dropped by 10%, and it’s not just about airfares. With phones being searched and politics at the border heating up, Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell are joined by expert guests to explore why so many New Zealanders are suddenly uneasy about visiting America. The Elephant is made with the support of NZ On Air See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  6. 05/11/2025

    Is NZ broken?

    After a winter of discontent, The Elephant asks the question everyone’s thinking... is New Zealand broken? Prices have soared, unemployment’s at a five-year high, and even with falling house prices, home ownership feels further away than ever. So what’s really driving the national mood, and what would it take to turn things around?  Joining Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell to unpack the issues are scientist Michael Bunce, economist Shamubeel Eaqub, community advocate Dave Letele and Psychologist Jacqui Maguire.  The Elephant is made with support from NZ On Air See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min

  7. 29/10/2025

    Drugs

    Drug busts are breaking records. Meth, coke, MDMA, you name it. But no matter how tough the crackdowns get, the flow just doesn’t stop. Now, the Drug Foundation says it’s time to ditch punishment and focus on health. This week a new survey from the Helen Clark Foundation and Otago University shows half of Kiwis agree: we should shift the money from policing to healthcare. Join Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell as they speak to Dr Rose Crossin from Otago University, former police officer and National MP Mike Sabin and journalist Russell Brown for a powerful conversation on whether or not we should legalise recreational drugs in Aotearoa New Zealand. The episode also features a kōrero with Tricia Walsh, who has lived experience as a drug user on the receiving end of a policing approach. The Elephant is made with support from NZ On Air. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  8. 22/10/2025

    ADHD

    ADHD’s having a moment, on TikTok, in doctors’ offices, and in nearly every conversation. Once written off as a kid’s disorder, it’s now being diagnosed in record numbers of adults, especially women. But is this a long-overdue reckoning, or the latest mental health fad gone too far? Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell dive into the hype and the backlash with Dr Sami Timimi, Dr Greg Finucane, Anika Moa and Guy Williams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
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The Elephant is New Zealand's boldest new podcast and video series, fearlessly tackling the tough topics we often avoid discussing in a world where the risk of causing offence or risking cancellation can stifle open kōrero. Hosted by veteran journalists Miriama Kamo and Mark Crysell, listen every week for diverse viewpoints, tough questions, open minded discussions and expert commentary.  To watch the video episodes, check out The Elephant on YouTube or www.nzherald.co.nz The Elephant is made with support from NZ on Air

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