An emotional Simon Barnett has returned to Newstalk ZB today, his voice breaking as he thanked listeners for their love following the death of his wife Jodi.
He said he hoped Jodi was “listening somewhere else now” - she’d been his biggest supporter for 35 years, listening to every show and offering advice and guidance.
“I don’t know if I will get over her loss. I don’t want to,” said Barnett, his voice trembling.
He said he wanted to laugh and joke again, but also wanted people to know that Jodi would never be far from his mind.
“It’s actually lovely to be back. I didn’t know how I would go,” he said, as he kicked off the second hour of his 12pm-4pm Afternoons show on ZB, with co-host James Daniels.
He said he’d had a terrible sleep overnight, as he prepared for what seemed like the first day at school.
In the first hour of the show, he said it was “weird to be back but good to be back”.
“I have been on the cusp of tears all day,” the Afternoons host told his listeners, as he opened his first show of the year - the first time he’s been back on air after a six-month absence.
For the first time in 35 years his biggest supporter was not listening on earth, he said. His routine was now a lot different.
Jodi died in October following a long battle with brain cancer.
Daniels welcomed back Barnett - “I have got goosebumps” - and said he was missed: “Nau mai, hoki mai,” he reiterated.
Barnett, Daniels and producer Tyler Adams had caught up over pizza in Sumner on Saturday night.
Barnett had shouted the pair - Daniels joked that he had asked for Dom Perignon at the pizzeria on that basis.
Barnett thanked the hundreds of ZB listeners who had shown their love and support for him. He joked that the love texts might well turn to hate in the following hours as he opined on various news topics.
In a feature interview with the NZ Herald at the weekend, Barnett spoke of his return to the airwaves, saying he would not shy away from speaking about the loss of Jodi.
He described her as his biggest supporter and an unofficial content director, listening to every show and offering guidance and advice over many years.
Simon and Jodi Barnett: 'I look at her photo, I kiss her every night before bed.'
“Since I started broadcasting, I’ve always wanted to be an authentic broadcaster - just tell it how it is, no fake news,” said Barnett.
“To some extent, I will mention it, not at length, but it will come up, I’m sure, and I’ll acknowledge it. I won’t have any issues with acknowledging it or talking about it.
“Hopefully it will make me a more empathetic broadcaster. I will be mindful that Jodi just used to love to listen.
“I’m not going to go into a monologue. I’m not going to write an editorial about it, I don’t imagine, but just when it comes up, I won’t shy away from it.”
Reconnecting with his listeners will play a critical role as Barnett deals with the grief of losing Jodi.
“The listeners have always been exceptionally good to me. Whether it’s in music radio or whether it’s in talk, they’ve always been very kind to me.
“I have really appreciated that kindness.”
Barnett, 56, has been back reading and watching the news in recent weeks.
“It’s a pretty broken world, I have to say. I find it challenging because I’m struggling to perk up anyway.
“And then I look at the world and I look at Israel and Palestine - it beggars belief what’s happening there. You’re aghast at the suffering and then the Russian-Ukrainian war is still going. How does this happen?
“I find that challenging, but thankfully I’m the midday-to-4pm host and I’m not doing Breakfast. I can still have some levity in our show with James, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Barnett speaks to Jodi “all the time”, through the power of prayer and God.
“Our faith is paramount. I always go through God. I say, ‘God, can you get Jodi for me’. I chat away.
“I look at her photo, I kiss her every night before bed. I look at her every morning when I wake up and I say ‘Good morning love’.”
Jodi will be at the forefront of his mind as he returns to radio.
“People say, ‘How are you doing?’ I don’t know how to answer that ... I suppose I’m doing okay,” Barnett says.
“I am stronger than I was three months ago, definitely. Three months ago, I couldn’t stop crying. Every moment of the day I was right on the cusp of tears and it was awful.
“Now it does come in waves. I don’t imagine that the waves will ever end.”
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Ever fancied your skills as a vet, dentist or phone screen repair specialist?
A story about DIY dentistry in a Northland town with no dentist prompted Simon Barnett & James Daniels to ask the question what have you had a go at yourself in an effort to save some money?
Some callers' efforts were super enterprising.
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Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors.
He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer listeners' employment related questions.
Today saw questions on non disclosure agreements, an employer not paying waiting time and a question from someone who was worried after just having failed a drug test.
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This week on the Highlight Reel, Si & James debate the concept of no body no parole and take a very revealing call from a former prison inmate.
They also discussed the prospect of congestion charging.
Adding to that – they discuss the continued issues with the Defence Force Boeing.
Plus, we get a touching insight into sleepover night for the grandkids at Simon's place, the proposed changes at TVNZ, and what food is James hanging out for this week?
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Shane Reti believes the new health targets will help bring a greater level of focus back to the sector.
The Government's implementing five key targets it says will drive better outcomes for all New Zealanders.
This includes for cancer treatment, child immunisation rates and hospital wait times.
The Health Minister says these targets are ambitious, but achievable.
He says some of the targets are just looking to stem the bleeding in some areas, such as ED wait times.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Director of Policy & Research Harriet Wild joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to unpack the announcement.
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Minister Mark Mitchell spent his early years living on Whenuapai Air Force Base where his father was a Flight Lieutenant.
After leaving school he worked in the farming sector before joining the New Zealand Police during which and was a member of the Dog Section and Armed Offender’s Squad.
He then went on to work in international political hotspots, including the start-up of his own company specialising in hostage rescue, security, and risk management.
He first entered parliament in 2011, and is now the Minister for Police, Corrections, and Emergency Management and Recovery.
Mark Mitchell joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels for Six and a Song.
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A 71 year old has gone viral this week after CCTV caught her getting swept up by a rolling door, the store posting the video on its Facebook page.
Susie Nordqvist ran Si and James through the story today on the News You Never Knew You Needed To Know.
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Video via Best One - Tonteg Stores on Facebook
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Have you ever had a flight cancelled or delayed in a situation that really peeved you?
Si and James spotted a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) about a woman whose flight to Dunedin was delayed at such short notice she missed a fair chunk of Pink's show last night. She was not happy and thought she should have been given more notice.
When the boys brought this up on the show the phones and text machine just lit up with people who have had similar experiences.
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This week on the Highlight Reel, Si & James debate whether it’s bullying or banter to hang a clock around a young worker’s neck when they are late for work.
They also discussed how important is having a driver’s licence to get people off the dole and into a job.
Plus, we get an update on James' gout, the pair ask how much you would pay for a dating app, and is 98 octane fuel a have?
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World Vision is reporting a 56% increase in 12 months in the cost of a selected food basket that includes things like rice, bananas, chicken, and eggs.
Australia, in the same period (2022 to 2023) saw a 29% drop for the same basket.
So how are we affording it?
The Wellington City Mission says the reality is many of us aren't.
Missioner Murray Edridge says demands on its Social Supermarket is unprecendented and they are seeing people they've never seen before.
He joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels on the show.
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Theresa Gattung is one of New Zealand’s most successful business people.
She made waves in 1999 becoming CEO of then Telecom at just 37 years old.
After leaving Telecom she has started several immensely successful businesses, been a board member on some of world largest organisations, and been involved with a number of not-for-profit and philanthropic interests.
Among her many accolades she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and philanthropy in 2015, has been inducted into the RNZSPCA and New Zealand Business Hall of fame, and been named as one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes magazine.
Her latest venture Compatico, a premium match maker service, has created a lot of buzz already.
It’s was a great privilege to welcome Theresa Gattung on for Six and a Song.
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