
After 33 years behind the Newstalk ZB microphone, Leighton can’t give it up completely. There were so many requests to continue his opinionated commentary that the prospect of podcasting was born.So, without restriction, Leighton continues to serve up on everything you want to hear about and some things you don’t. Stand by to be enlightened, educated and enraged!
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 387 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsPoliticsNews Commentary | |||

“Based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery since 1980, Barry Soper has covered every New Zealand Prime Minister since, earning a reputation for his sharp questioning, wit, and deep institutional knowledge of Wellington politics.”
Barry’s contributi... more
"Socialism is based on bureaucratic planning. This means a restriction of personal freedom. The dream of equality, a goal even of democratically dressed up socialism, can only be achieved by coercion."
Thorsten Polleit shows ways in which democrat... more
Leonard S. Hong arrived in New Zealand at the age of three.
His story is one of choosing the right parents, hard work, and applied effort to succeed.
At age 29 he has a Master of Science and has completed a Prime Ministerial Scholarship to Asia... more
An inventive way to encourage the understanding of the stupidity in New Zealand's governance...
Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative, has authored a novella, ‘The Martian Audit: Or, How New Zealand Repelled an Invasion... more
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Great podcast. Learn so much and Leighton has a great style when interviewing. He lets the guest speak without interrupting and covers a wide range of topics. Definitely worth listening to.
As of 25/9 Leighton Smith brings excellent international & local speakers every week on his podcast from a broad range of disciplines. He brings the best out of his guests, raises provocative issues, is well researched & actually discusses subjects intelligently and I cannot thank him enough for all he does!
Dr Marik from FLCCC today was particularly prescient visiting NZ with other eminent dissenting Drs like Angus Dalgliesh, lawyers & freedom oriented professionals for lectures in Christchurc... more
I look forward to this every week. I’ve learnt a great deal and found some essential websites and books to further my education. I am so happy to have discovered this podcast and regularly share episodes with friends. Spread the word!
I have listened to Leighton for more than 20 years, of course this is because I am on the same side of his opinions. However what makes the show stand out for me, is the fact he does take on opposite views. And while it is on occasion an echo chamber, the fact Leighton will Liston to both sides of a story and sometimes come to a different conclusion, shows the balance of opinion.
Very dull podcast by a jaded ex talkback hack. Don’t waste your time.
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.
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Apple Podcasts | #164 | |
Apple Podcasts | #177 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This show leans into opinionated, policy-focused conversation anchored by a long-running NZ broadcaster. Episodes routinely feature high-profile policy analysts, politicians, economists, and geopolitical thinkers delving into governance, health, energy, and global affairs through a skeptical, free-market lens. Noteworthy is a willingness to challenge mainstream narratives with deep-dive interviews, historical context, and long-form discussions that often critique institutions, policy processes, and media coverage. Listeners likely value direct, well-sourced critique, practical implications for public policy, and perspectives that question status quo narratives. This mix of rigorous analysis and provocative guests makes it a strong pick for ... more
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The Leighton Smith Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 387 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 The Leighton Smith Podcast include:
1. Thorsten Polleit
2. Leonard Hong
3. Oliver Hartwich
4. Rodney Hide
5. Lars Schernikau
6. Robert MacCulloch
7. Jim Allan
8. Shane Jones
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