Road Trips with Anna Thomas

One of New Zealand's top film directors, Rob Sarkies, joins Anna to share his ultimate road trip and the songs he'd play on the way. Rob's playlist: They Thought I Was Asleep - Paul Kelly; Talkin'… Read more Audio

New Zealand TikTok star Lisa Perese-Cullen joins Anna to talk about where she'd go on her ultimate road trip and the top songs she'd pick to listen on the way. Lisa's playlist: I Run - Haven If I Said… Read more Audio

Today economist Shamubeel Eaqub takes us on his ultimate roadie and his top music picks to play on the way. Audio

Our road trip guest today grew up in a working-class mining family in Nottingham and left school at 15. She trained and worked as a nurse before moving into academia. Five years ago, she took up the… Read more Audio

Rehette Stoltz is a name most New Zealanders will be familiar with. Unfortunately for the past few years it's usually when the Tairawhiti region is deluged or facing some sort of climate related… Read more Audio

Barnaby Weir, founding member of bands Fly My Pretties and the Black Seeds, joins Anna to soundtrack his perfect road trip and tells her what's in store for 2026. Barnaby is the penner of Kiwi summer… Read more Audio

Auckland's deputy mayor and Orakei ward councillor Desley Simpson is jumping in the car for a road trip. Read more Audio

Few of us are gifted with such a voice as Chris Bruerton's, who in 2012 joined the internationally successful vocal group King Singers. Over a decade later, Chris is about to sound his final note with… Read more Audio

Joining Anna for today's road trip is screenwriter Kate McDermott. Audio

Nigel Hampton KC joins Anna to soundtrack his perfect road trip. Nigel's selections: Johnny Cash - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down, Cleo Laine - He Was Beautiful, Leonard Cohen - Anthem, Don McLean -… Read more Audio

Today we hit the road with Rachel Taulelei, who has been awarded a New Year Honour in 2026 for her services to business, Maori and governance. Rachel's selections: Stevie Wonder - As Luther Vandross -… Read more Audio

The Commissioner of Police, Richard Chambers, selects tracks to soundtrack his ideal road trip. Richard's selections: Billy Joel - Piano man New Radicals - You Get What You Give Queen - Radio Ga Ga… Read more Audio

On our road trip today we catch up with Auckland based plastic surgeon, Dr Mark Gittos. Last year he travelled to Ukraine to help in an operation on a wounded soldier. Mark has spent extensive time in… Read more Audio

Our road trip guest today may have grown up in a castle but insists she's no princess. Sophie Barker is Dunedin's new mayor - just the second woman to wear the city's mayoral chains. She's led a… Read more Audio

Best known for leading New Zealand's COVID-19 health response as Director-General of Health, Sir Ashley Bloomfield joins Anna to talk about his ideal NZ road trip - including the must-have snacks… Read more Audio

From humble beginnings stocking supermarket shelves in Hamilton, today's road trip guest worked his way up to become CEO of Walmart in the U.S. before deciding it was time to come home. Read more Audio

Step into Dr Marc Shaw's office and you'll be immediately transported to far-flung places: fascinating items like masks, flags, and photos of him in remote and exotic places rubbing shoulders with… Read more Audio

Katie is a multi-talented director, writer and actor. She has won critical acclaim for her work, particularly for her most recent theatre piece The Haka Party Incident, which is about to hit the big… Read more Audio

Greg Cross, co-founder of AI innovator, Soul Machines, says we need to view AI as a tool, created by us, for us. He joins Anna Thomas for a road trip. Read more Audio

The founder of Simplicity KiwiSaver provider went from being motivated by greed to an industry disrupter with a social conscience. He joins Anna Thomas for a road trip. Read more Audio

World-renowned Kiwi actor Thomasin McKenzie is in the driver's seat picking the tunes, setting a course, and telling Summer Times all about her upcoming films. Read more Audio

Kiwi Dr Simon Talbot is a plastic surgeon at the world-renowned Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts - and a pioneer in hand and arm transplantation Read more Audio

Known for his deep dives into the psyches of criminals, troubled teens and parents, renowned psychologist and TV personality Nigel Latta is facing his own battle after a shock cancer diagnosis last… Read more Audio

Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin has been a regular voice on RNZ's airwaves, keeping us updated on the best times to view auroras and solar storms, and explaining the science behind it… Read more Audio

Mea Motu is the current IBO World Super Bantamweight Champion. Her record stands at 20-0, meaning she has not lost one of her pro fights - and that includes seven knock outs. Read more Audio

The Far North mayor has been making waves since he stepped into the big office - being both the first Māori mayor in the region, and one of the youngest, at 33. Read more Audio

Award-winning Kiwi comedian Melanie Bracewell joins Anna on the road today for a summer roadie, sharing her favourite summer holiday spots, tunes, books and ice cream ahead of her stand-up tour. Read more Audio

'First lady' Amanda Luxon joins Anna to share her passions, what she's been reading, and pick some of her favourite tunes. Read more Audio

Described as one of Aotearoa's finest up and coming original artists, Arahi is a name to remember.  Read more Audio

The award-winning television series 'The White Lotus' is about to embark on its third season of filming.  Read more Audio