Episodes
Saturday Jul 04, 2026
Saturday Jul 04, 2026
Trevor Noah is a world famous comedian. His memoir, Born A Crime, detailing his life growing up in South Africa. I've plucked some stories written in a way that's just as funny as his stand ups.
If you have any feedback or want to get in touch, email is:
vilipodcast@pm.me
Thursday Jun 25, 2026
Friday Jun 19, 2026
Friday Jun 19, 2026
"Slavery is terrible for men, but it is far more terrible for women"- Harriet Jacobs
Listen to the podcast to find out what it was like for a slave girl in the southern states of 19th century America. It's a sad insight into a time when the law sanctioned barbaric behaviour. For African men, but more importantly, for women, they had to endure unimaginable suffering.
Harriet's story is the first known memoir by a female of her life in slavery.
Listen to the podcast. And read the book too. I cried.
Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
No Excuses is the story of how Dave Letele went from being at one of the lowest points of his life, to in a few short years, helping thousands of New Zealanders every year with their health, among other things. He uses exercises as a foundation to get ones life back on track.
The book is inspiring. He lost everything. His businesses. His family. And he weighed over 210kg. But he turned his life around.
Listen to the podcast to find out how he did it.
Read the book too, it's a good one.
Thursday May 28, 2026
Thursday May 28, 2026
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States of America. He was the first African American in the job, the first African American elected as President of the Harvard Law Review, a former US and state senator, a former Law Professor at the University of Chicago, and a former community organiser.
His book, Dreams From My Father, is a story about finding out who is father was, who he was as a black man in America, and how he reconciled both. It's a story about identity, family, and purpose, and in the book, Barack eloquently gives us a glimpse into his mind, from his upbringing, all the way to his first visit to Kenya, the land of his father.
It's a great book. You should read it.

Saturday Apr 11, 2026
Saturday Apr 11, 2026
In this episode, we explore the "Upper Bound" concept, a simple strategy to prevent burnout and ensure long-term consistency. While most people focus on setting minimum goals, we discuss why setting a maximum limit on your daily efforts is actually the secret to sustainable progress.
You’ll learn how to stop overextending yourself on good days so you have the energy to keep going on the hard ones. Tune in to discover why doing less in the short term often leads to achieving much more in the long run.

Friday Mar 27, 2026
Friday Mar 27, 2026
I read an article by James Clear on saying "Thank You". James Clear is the author of the best selling book, Atomic Habits. He also writes articles at his website, jamesclear.com
This podcast I talk about James' article on saying "Thank You".
You can find the article here: https://jamesclear.com/say-thank-you
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Tupac Shakur was an American rap artist and is a legend in the rap world. He loved to read, he loved to act, he loved to express himself. He talks about the need to express himself to alleviate the pain of the poverty he was living.
A man who's life was cut very short, his impact is still felt today.
Listen to the podcast to hear what I learnt about Tupac from the book, Tupac Shakur: An Authorized Biography, by Staci Robinson.
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
One of the most remarkable Prime Ministers in New Zealand's history, Sir Robert Muldoon was ruthless and brutal to his opponents inside and outside the House, drank with gang members, offended U.S. presidents, hosted a radio show talking about gardening, and even performed in the Rocky Horror Show.
His Way, by Barry Gustafson is a comprehensive biography of the man that details his upbringing, his time in politics, and describes a more interesting man that what is portrayed in the media.
He had a tough upbringing, which made him a tough man. Listen to the podcast to find out and understand how Rob became the man many New Zealanders hated.
Friday Feb 13, 2026
Friday Feb 13, 2026
What does it mean to be an empathetic leader? What happens when you doubt yourself? How do you deal with being thin-skinned? And how do reconcile new beliefs with a religion you've always known? Dame Jacinda Ardern's book, A Different Kind of Power, answers these questions.
It's a great book. You should read it.


