Rephonic
Artwork for The Hoon
Climate Change
New Zealand
Aotearoa
Electricity Prices
Gaza
Methane
Ukraine
Disinformation
Geopolitics
Bangladesh
Orcas Deal
Contact Energy
New Zealand Politics
Health Crisis In New Zealand
Housing Affordability
United States
Poverty
Trans Issues
Carbon Offsets
Global Warming Potential STAR

Bernard Hickey's discussions with Peter Bale and guests about the political economy in Aotearoa-NZ and in geo-politics, including issues around housing affordability, climate change inaction and child poverty reduction. thekaka.substack.com

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes191Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Hoon

Latest Episodes

This week I hosted a ‘Hoon’ on Substack Live previewing The Reality of Everything symposium to be held at Victoria University of Wellington on June 26, which will examine the interconnected crises of climate change, energy, water & food constraints, ... more

This week a speculative post on Substack by Citrini about ever-faster AI tools creating a self-reinforcing doom loop of fewer jobs & lower wages for humans -- while AI owners win big -- shook global stocks. A link to the post is below.

So I decided ... more

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Elaine Monaghan about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and pol... more

Independent economist David Skilling gave a stark public presentation to Treasury officials and others yesterday that painted a brutal picture of New Zealand’s labour productivity and real wage catastrophe since 2010, pointing out our economy remaine... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Ben Reid
Runs Memia, a Substack analyzing technology trends from an Aotearoa perspective
Memia
Episode: A Mini-Hoon with Ben Reid on Citrini's report about AI that unnerved global stocks
Associate Professor Polly Atatoa Carr
Works with the Te Ngira Institute for Population Research at Waikato University
Waikato University
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Good climate policy better for economy & affordability; Housing the homeless better than hiding them
David Skilling
Independent economist with 25 years of experience in New Zealand economic policy
Independent Economist
Episode: A Mini-Hoon with David Skilling on productivity
Scott Caldwell
Spokesperson for the Coalition for More Homes
Coalition for More Homes
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: An intensification U-Turn in Auckland & Trump's coercive diplomacy in Iran
David Farrar
Political commentator discussing New Zealand's potential alliance with Australia
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Insurance retreat; Gugong deaths; NZ becoming a 7th Australian state & critical minerals
Jane Kelsey
Emeritus professor and expert in global trade and globalization
University of Auckland
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: A rupturing world order, a changing climate & an election
Philippa Yasbek
Spokesperson for Gun Control New Zealand and a leader in Doyen, Jews Against Occupation.
Episode: The final Weekly Hoon of 2025
Professor Lee Feinstein
Former US ambassador and head of the Hamilton Lugar Institute of International Affairs.
Indiana University Bloomington
Episode: The final Weekly Hoon of 2025
Terry Baucher
Tax policy expert and accountant
Baucher Tax
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Govt's climate change mask drops

Hosts

Bernard Hickey
Co-hosts discussions focusing on political economy and social issues relevant to Aotearoa-NZ, bringing expertise in economics and journalism.
Peter Bale
Co-hosts and contributes insights on the intersections of media, politics, and economics, enhancing discussions with journalistic professionalism.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 33 ratings
  • Better without Bale

    Peter Bale is the absolutely most annoying aspect of this otherwise excellent podcast. Please ditch the pompous and verbose Bale - his constant interruptions and opinionations drive me crazy. He always interrupts the natural conversation or interview flow with his version of “witty comedic” observational interjections. I also despise his casual and offhanded treatment of regular guests. Peter Bale is clearly far more suited for the written word, rather than the podcast format. Stick to writing c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ximonde
    United States19 days ago
  • Valuable access to experts

    In this current climate and with many media organisations controlled by suspicious players, I have come to rely on independent media sources such as The Hoon for intelligent perspectives and debate on what is happening in the world at both a domestic and international level. Thank you so much Bernard and Peter for providing such a valuable service.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TaraSheree89
    New Zealanda month ago
  • Better without Bale

    Peter Bale is the absolutely most annoying aspect of this otherwise excellent podcast.

    Please ditch the pompous and verbose Bale - his constant interruptions and opinionations drive me crazy. He always interrupts the natural conversation or interview flow with his version of “witty comedic” observational interjections.

    I also despise his casual and offhanded treatment of regular guests.

    Peter Bale is clearly far more suited for the written word, rather than the podcast format. Stick to wri... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ximonde
    United States4 months ago
  • Oct 25th episode

    I still can’t really believe that some well respected scholars and the Media treat this Republican (MAGA) Candidate as ‘Normal’. He is anything but!

    Take a look at the Really American podcast/youtube ‘Shrinking Trump’ hosted by psychologists John Gardner and Harry Segal. It will explain all about Trump’s rapid Cognitive Decline.

    Enjoyed the episode. 🙂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scbubaby
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Brilliant Pod

    Incredibly interesting relevant educational on topic interviews & discussions - love this pod I get so engrossed I respond out loud in agreement- Brilliant 🤩

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flick Harris
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There are challenges noted in the co-host dynamics, with some expressing frustration over interruptions during conversations.
Listeners appreciate the thought-provoking discussions and expertise of the hosts and guests.
Overall, the podcast is praised for its relevance and engagement with pressing societal issues, making it a compelling source of information.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Weekly Hoon: Insurance retreat; Gugong deaths; NZ becoming a 7th Australian state & critical minerals
Q: What do you think is going on with the critical minerals meeting in Washington?
Robert Patman explains that it's crucial for New Zealand to carefully navigate its relationship with both the US and China regarding rare earth minerals and trade agreements.
The Weekly Hoon: Insurance retreat; Gugong deaths; NZ becoming a 7th Australian state & critical minerals
Q: What was your thinking on New Zealand joining Australia?
David Farrar posits that New Zealand may need to consider joining Australia for economic and security reasons amidst a changing international landscape.
The Weekly Hoon: A rupturing world order, a changing climate & an election
Q: Will there be a real debate about the future of the nation in the upcoming election?
No, likely due to the lack of momentum for meaningful political discourse.
The Weekly Hoon: A rupturing world order, a changing climate & an election
Q: What alternatives exist to the current failing model?
We need to consider diverse local value systems and production methods instead of relying on globalization.
The Weekly Hoon: A rupturing world order, a changing climate & an election
Q: What should we do if the ships stopped coming?
We should focus on food sovereignty and increasing local production.

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 The Hoon

What is The Hoon about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging discussions focus on the intersection of political economy and pressing social issues within Aotearoa-NZ and the broader geopolitical landscape. Core topics frequently examined include housing affordability, the inaction on climate change, and child poverty reduction, indicating a commitment to understanding and addressing systemic challenges. The podcast often hosts experts and commentators to provide insights, bringing a wealth of knowledge to each episode, which likely enriches the conversation and provides listeners with a well-rounded perspective on both local and international matters.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Hoon?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Hoon. 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 The Hoon and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Hoon get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Hoon, 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 The Hoon?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Hoon, 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 The Hoon have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Hoon 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 The Hoon?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hoon:

1. Gone By Lunchtime
2. Desert Island Discs
3. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
4. Empire: World History
5. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

How many episodes of The Hoon are there?

The Hoon launched 2 years ago and published 191 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 The Hoon?

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 The Hoon?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Hoon 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 The Hoon?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Hoon. 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 The Hoon?

Recent guests on The Hoon include:

1. Ben Reid
2. Associate Professor Polly Atatoa Carr
3. David Skilling
4. Scott Caldwell
5. David Farrar
6. Jane Kelsey
7. Philippa Yasbek
8. Professor Lee Feinstein

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days