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Artwork for Black Sheep

Black Sheep

RNZ
New Zealand
Surafend Massacre
Elspeth Kerr
Anzac Mounted Division
New Zealand History
Robert Wallath
New Plymouth
Elsden Best
Thomas Kendall
World War I
Māori Culture
Wellington
Te Reo Māori
Māori
Mental Health Institutionalization
Surafend
Bill Sutch
Kelly Tarlton
Eugenics
Taranaki Rifle Volunteers

The shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainous characters of NZ history. Join William Ray as he explores history through the lens of Kiwi dirtbags in NZ's most awarded podcast.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes76Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Black Sheep

Latest Episodes

The founding father of West Auckland - Don Buck was notorious in the early 20th century for his hard drinking, hard living gum digging camp in the foothills of the Waitakere ranges. Black Sheep investigates the legend of this enigmatic and feared fol... more

YouTube

“Oh Mummy save me from Dr Gray, because teacher says he’s coming today, and if I’m stupid he’ll take me away”. William Ray looks at the life and legacy of Dr Theodore Gray, a staunch eugenicists who was head of New Zealand's Mental Hospitals Departme... more

YouTube

In part two, we look at the years Elsdon Best spent living in Te Urewera, attempting to preserve knowledge he believed was on the brink of being lost forever, the remarkable relatioship he built with Tūhoe leaders, and how that relationship fell apar... more

YouTube

Described in his own time as "the white Tōhunga of Tuhoeland" and by some today as a "structural rascist" who "stole" knowledge, it's fair to say Elsdon Best is a controvesial character. In the first of a two part episode, Black Sheep traces the earl... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Bob Harvey
Former West Auckland mayor, unofficial Don Buck fan club president
West Auckland local government
Episode: Original Westie: the story of Don Buck
Marianne Simpkins
Amateur historian, poet, school teacher; wrote Don Buck entry in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography; composed The Ballad of Don Buck's Hill
Independent historian
Episode: Original Westie: the story of Don Buck
Dave Simpkins
Marianne Simpkins' son; brought in Marianne's notes to the interview
Family/Research collaborator
Episode: Original Westie: the story of Don Buck
Dr. Hilary Stace
Disability researcher and advocate
Episode: Defective: the story of Dr Theodore Gray
Dr. Warwick Brunton
Historian who wrote about Dr. Gray for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Episode: Defective: the story of Dr Theodore Gray
Geoffrey Holman
Author of the biography Best of Both Worlds
Episode: Preservation and Destruction: the story of Elsdon Best (Part 2)
Hema Nawaaka
Produced a documentary on Elsdon Best for Whakata Māori
Episode: Preservation and Destruction: the story of Elsdon Best (Part 2)
Geoffrey Paparoa-Holman
Poet, historian and author of "The Best of Both Worlds"
Episode: Preservation and Destruction: the story of Elsdon Best (Part 1)
Hemana Waaka
Produced a video documentary on Elsdon Best
Episode: Preservation and Destruction: the story of Elsdon Best (Part 1)

Host

William Ray
Host and producer, passionate about exploring the complex, often controversial figures in New Zealand history, weaving stories that engage listeners in societal reflection.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Simply brilliant!

    I thoroughly enjoy Black Sheep and recommend the show to all thinking New Zealanders.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    B5PPJ
    New Zealand2 months ago
  • so good

    Thanks from London

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aaaalleeeeexxxxx
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Top podcast

    Still after years, this is my most favourite podcast. It’s so evocative- it puts me right in the middle of the story.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    heykuri
    New Zealand2 months ago
  • Really good

    It was so interesting to learn about nz history and crime and it was layed out and presented well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Olives15
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Brilliant

    I have listened to all the episodes of the 8 series so far, with my kids. The usual question at the end is: “Why we don't learn about these people at school or university?”. And in my opinion, that is the best compliment you can have. You guys have helped me in opening their curiosity into the importance of history and the importance of critical thinking. Please keep going!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fishaman NZ
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some express concerns over perceived biases in the narratives, highlighting the complexity of interpreting historical actions by modern standards.
Listeners find the storytelling engaging, often praising the depth of research and insights into New Zealand's history.
Overall, reviews indicate that many appreciate the balance of entertainment and education in discussing historical figures.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#155
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#120
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#13
New Zealand/History
Apple Podcasts
#29
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#113
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#152
Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Original Westie: the story of Don Buck
Q: How did Don Buck's camp function as a community and what made it controversial?
Buck's camp operated as a quasi-legal, labor-based enclave where convicted or down-and-out individuals worked in exchange for shelter and supplies, creating a rough but cohesive social system that stunned outsiders with its generosity at times and its brutality at others.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Sheep

What is Black Sheep about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the shady and controversial figures throughout New Zealand's history, this series offers rich narratives that highlight the complexity of these characters, often dubbed as 'black sheep.' The exploration ranges from well-known historical figures to lesser-known individuals whose actions had significant impacts on society. Each episode combines storytelling with an investigative approach, aiming to unpack both the admirable and repugnant aspects of its subjects' lives. The engaging style transforms historical accounts into relatable stories that prompt discussions about morality and perspective in the context of colonial New Zealand, making it appealing to anyone interested in historical narratives with a twist.

Where can I find podcast stats for Black Sheep?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Black Sheep. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Black Sheep and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Black Sheep get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Black Sheep, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Black Sheep?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Black Sheep, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Black Sheep have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Black Sheep has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Black Sheep?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Black Sheep:

1. The Detail
2. Gone By Lunchtime
3. No One Saw It Coming
4. Quarantine Nation
5. ABC Rewind

How many episodes of Black Sheep are there?

Black Sheep launched 9 years ago and published 76 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Black Sheep?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Black Sheep?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Black Sheep from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Black Sheep?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Black Sheep. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Black Sheep?

Recent guests on Black Sheep include:

1. Bob Harvey
2. Marianne Simpkins
3. Dave Simpkins
4. Dr. Hilary Stace
5. Dr. Warwick Brunton
6. Geoffrey Holman
7. Hema Nawaaka
8. Geoffrey Paparoa-Holman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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