
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.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 75 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | History | |||

“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
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
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
New Zealand's most awarded podcast is RNZ's own Black Sheep, and it's back with its 9th season. Hosted and produced by William Ray - he explores New Zealand history through the lens of real life, shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainou... more
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I thoroughly enjoy Black Sheep and recommend the show to all thinking New Zealanders.
Thanks from London
Still after years, this is my most favourite podcast. It’s so evocative- it puts me right in the middle of the story.
It was so interesting to learn about nz history and crime and it was layed out and presented well.
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!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #100 | |
Apple Podcasts | #42 | |
Apple Podcasts | #9 | |
Apple Podcasts | #149 | |
Apple Podcasts | #214 |
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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.
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.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Black Sheep:
1. No One Saw It Coming
2. Jane Austen's Paper Trail
3. The History Podcast
4. Between Two Beers Podcast
5. You're Dead to Me
Black Sheep launched 9 years ago and published 75 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Black Sheep include:
1. Geoffrey Paparoa-Holman
2. Hemana Waaka
3. Scott Bainbridge
4. Andy MacDonald
5. Peter Lyneham
6. Haami Piripi
7. Megan Wells
8. Terry Kinloch
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