Advertise on podcast: The Next Bit Podcast

If you’re over 60 and have tried everything to sleep better, are you supposed to just accept it? Kirsten Taylor, a nutritionist, naturopath and sleep practitioner, and founder of SleepDrops, has spent 23 years helping people of all ages, including people in their 90s, get back to sleep. She tells Hannah McQueen why poor sleep is rarely one unfixable thing. They cover how your body clock works, simple changes that cost next to nothing, building a wind-down routine, magnesium, and why women and men switch off so differently. Kirsten also shares three things you can start this week. Free sleep resources from SleepDrops, including 23 sleep hygiene tips: https://sleepdrops.co.nz/resources/?srsltid=AU7gw4UNuypyJHozSQSTbd7Ppyon1_yjIxo7NAAXcky-fo9RrpabTd6P Book your whole-of-person Brightly Baseline+ assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz General information only. Talk to your doctor before changing any medication. Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Kirsten Taylor Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

“His body was here, but his mind wasn’t.” Dave Parish’s dad Graham was a Wellington plumber who loved his job. When he was made redundant in 2001, something shifted. Over the next two decades the warning signs built up: withdrawal, grumpiness, hearing loss, weight and diabetes, and odd behaviour that was easy to explain away. Then came the crisis that finally led to a dementia diagnosis. Dave talks openly with Hannah McQueen about the toll on his mum as Graham’s carer, the frustration of waiting for things to get worse in a health system built for emergencies, and the surprising closeness he found with his dad in his final years. His message to families noticing changes in a parent is simple: don’t wait for help to be offered. Ask early, because time is precious. Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Dave Parish Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

When my gran died without warning, my grandad became lonely almost overnight. Within days, a woman from across the road started turning up with cake. As his eldest granddaughter and self-appointed gatekeeper, I was suspicious. In this episode of The Next Bit, I sit down with Steve Taylor, a relationship counsellor and mediator with 25 years of experience helping couples and families through exactly this territory. We talk about the untidy reality of grief, why guilt shows up even when you’ve done everything right, and why 70-year-olds are suddenly learning what “swipe right” means. Steve also explains why he tells clients that no orgasm is worth the estate. We also look at the other side: what it’s like to be the adult child watching a parent fall for someone new. If you’ve ever side-eyed your parent’s new “friend”, or wondered whether you’re allowed to want more from your own life, this one’s for you. The big takeaway: loving again isn’t disloyal. It doesn’t replace the person who died or shrink the life you built with them. If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and tell us what you want to see in future episodes. Want to get practical about starting a new relationship later in life? Go back and listen to our earlier episodes on wills, enduring power of attorney and prenups. Learn more about how Age Brightly can support you and your family at agebrightly.co.nz. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Steve Taylor, relationship counsellor and mediator Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with Tracey Martin, chief executive of the New Zealand Aged Care Association, to respond to the comments you shared after our last episode on aged residential care. Tracey puts the rest home horror stories in context, explaining that only a small fraction of complaints to the Health and Disability Commissioner relate to aged care, and that most care beds are run by charities, not-for-profits and small owner-operators rather than profit-driven corporates. We explore how the needs assessment works, what the four levels of care actually mean, and why $187 a day in funding rarely covers what residents need. Tracey also explains the residential care subsidy, why the family home is protected for the spouse still living there, and her campaign The Long Drive, which highlights couples separated by a lack of local care. We also touch on the proposed reforms and the staffing pressures facing the sector. Whether you're weighing up care for a parent or simply want to understand the system before you need it, this episode offers a clear, honest look at aged care in New Zealand. Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with investment advisor Gretchen Williamson to discuss a common pitfall that many retirees face: the mismanagement of their investment strategies once the paychecks stop. We explore why the transition to retirement requires a different approach to investing, particularly with longevity in mind. Gretchen emphasizes the importance of understanding your financial landscape, especially the risks of keeping too much cash in the bank or giving away too much wealth to family while still alive. We also touch on how traditional investment strategies may need to evolve to ensure a sustainable income for the next 20 to 25 years. Whether you’re nearing retirement or already there, this episode offers crucial insights to help you navigate your financial future effectively.

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with Professor Grant Schofield, a leading voice in health and nutrition, to discuss his philosophy from his latest book, "Choose Your Hard." Grant emphasizes that every path in life comes with challenges, especially regarding our health. He argues for taking proactive control over our well-being by making informed choices today to avoid the hardships of poor health later in life. We explore the importance of health span over lifespan, debunk common nutrition myths, and discuss practical strategies for enhancing health, including diet, exercise, and sleep. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to reclaim their health and vitality.

Most people treat their enduring power of attorney as an afterthought to their will — if they think about it at all. Brendan Reidy, branch manager at Perpetual Guardian, has spent his career sitting across the table from families who didn't. In this episode, Brendan breaks down the two types of EPA — property, and personal care and welfare — and why so many people agree to act as someone's attorney without understanding what they're actually signing up for. We get into what happens when there's no EPA in place (think family court, six-month waits, and legal bills running into the thousands), the real liability an attorney carries if a sibling later challenges their decisions, and a case that shows how badly things can go when the role is left to chance: an elderly woman kept out of the care she needed, $50,000 unaccounted for, and a family blindsided by what they didn't know to ask. We also talk about the parts nobody warns you about — the unpaid, unglamorous hours of managing someone else's whole financial life, why attorneys can be personally challenged by an estate years later, and how a well-drafted document can protect both the person acting and the person they're acting for. If you've ever agreed to be someone's attorney without quite knowing what that meant, or you're the parent who hasn't gotten around to setting it up yet, this one's for you. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Brendan Reidy, Branch Manage at Perpetual Guardian Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

If your role disappeared tomorrow, would it really be a redundancy, or something else wearing a redundancy costume? Lisa Oakley is an HR and employment relations specialist who gets called in when things get curly: restructures, disciplinary processes, collective bargaining, exits. She calls these conversations sunset exits, and by her own account, she runs a handful of them every week, often with people who've given 20 or 30 years to the same organisation. In this episode, Lisa gets refreshingly direct about what's really happening when someone hears "not a cultural fit," "stopped being agile," or "we want fresh energy." Her argument isn't that ageism doesn't exist. It's that it almost never announces itself. We talk about: + Why relevance and experience aren't the same thing, and why that distinction matters more every year + Lisa's concept of RQ (relevance quotient), and the six pillars of her "relevance blueprint": learning, network, confidence, brand, exit planning and resilience + The My Kitchen Rules analogy that reframes how promotions and restructures actually get decided + "Change the people, or change the people": the phrase change managers use when adaptation isn't optional + Why a plan B (or C, or D) matters more in a job market that no longer guarantees a role for life + How to interpret AI-driven change as opportunity rather than threat, and what that mindset shift actually looks like in practice This one is direct, a little bit brutal, and genuinely useful if you're in your 50s, 60s or beyond and wondering how secure your role really is. This conversation is also why we built Age Brightly. Our whole-of-person baseline assessment looks at the factors that keep you cognitively strong and resilient for longer, so you're protecting more than just your career. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Lisa Oakley, Director of People Associates Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

Most people assume their will just carries on no matter what happens in life. It doesn't. Getting remarried cancels it outright. And if you die before making a new one, the law decides who gets what, not you. In this episode, Brendan Reidy, branch manager at Perpetual Guardian, takes us inside the estate planning conversations he has every day: sometimes calm, sometimes in the middle of a dispute that's already gone too far. We cover: • Why marriage revokes a will but divorce doesn't • What actually happens when someone dies intestate (without a will), and how long it can take to sort out • The real story of two brothers — a surgeon and an electrician — and the family conversation that headed off a painful surprise • Why the costliest fights in estates are so often about sentimental items, not money • How to challenge a will if you've been left out, and how long you have to do it • What testamentary capacity means, and why it matters for elderly parents making or changing a will If you've been putting off sorting your own will, or your parents', this conversation is the nudge to finally have that talk. If this episode has you thinking about a parent's decision-making and whether it's as sharp as it used to be, Brightly's Baseline+ assessment gives your family a clear, evidence-based picture of cognitive health, so the hard conversations happen with facts, not guesswork. Learn more at agebrightly.co.nz. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Brendan Reidy, Branch Manager at Perpetual Guardian Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

Our first episode on sex after 60 clearly struck a nerve, so Auckland sex therapist Edit Horvath is back for round two, and this time nothing is off the table. We talk about how to start a conversation about intimacy after years of silence, what happens when caregiving for a partner leaves no room for romance, and why later-life affairs, whether with a colleague, a sex worker, or a chatbot, are becoming more common than you'd think. Edith also unpacks why so many later-life divorces are being led by women, why some long-term couples choose to stay in separate homes, and a genuinely surprising fact about female anatomy that most doctors weren't even taught until 1998. It's honest, it's practical, and yes, it gets frank. Fair warning. Let's get into it. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Edit Horvath, Sex Therapist Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

One in four New Zealanders knows someone living with dementia. Which means the chances are, you do too. Lesley Harris didn't set out to become a dementia advocate. She became one the hard way, watching her father slowly stop knowing who she was, where he was, and slip back into his own childhood. That experience led her to study for a Diploma in Dementia Care, and eventually to build The Harris List, a navigation website she wishes had existed when her own family needed one. In this episode, Lesley shares the golden rule for talking to someone with dementia (they're always right), the real story behind a hospital "police" hallucination and what it taught her about de-escalation, why a man's nightly cutlery-throwing turned out to be about something else entirely, and why she believes your 50s might be the real turning point most of us miss. She's honest about the gaps in New Zealand's funding and care system, the danger of leaving enduring power of attorney too late, and her unfiltered take on the new blood tests that claim to predict Alzheimer's. It's a personal conversation, and an eye-opening one. If this episode gives you something to think about, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it — every share helps another family walk into this a little more prepared. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Lesley Harris, Founder of The Harris List Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

Imagine this: Mum has a fall and is admitted to hospital with a fracture. The doctors tell you she's no longer able to return home and now needs residential care. A fancy word for "Rest home". You are now faced with another challenge—finding a rest home bed. We all know beds can be hard to come by. But let's say you find one, and you are happy with it. Then come the questions almost every family asks: How are we going to pay for it? When do we have to start paying? And what happens if we can't afford it? The reality is that while most of us plan for retirement, very few of us plan for longevity—for what happens if our savings need to fund years of residential care. Understanding the system, isn't easy either. It spans multiple government agencies, relies on decades-old legislation and case law, and is complicated enough that even lawyers can get it wrong. That's why I'm delighted to be joined by Theresa Donnelly, Head of Legal at Perpetual Guardian and one of the few people in New Zealand who truly understands how it all works. Today she'll explain how the Residential Care Subsidy works, when fees start and who pays them, why trusts can sometimes work against you, what happens while you're waiting for subsidy approval, and the difficult financial decisions many families are forced to make when the money starts to run out. Let's get into it. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Theresa Donnelly, Head of Legal at Perpetual Guardian Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

She's 78. Smart, social, independent — and for six months, she's been in an "engagement" with a Hollywood actor she's never spoken to, never seen on a video call, and never met. He needs money for jet fuel. For a management fee. For a visa. She's sold her jewellery to give it to him. She's sold her wedding ring. Anita Gatley's mother was widowed after 56 years of marriage, and somewhere in that grief, she became exactly who a highly organised scam industry was looking for. What started as a comment on a Facebook fan page spiralled into WhatsApp, then Telegram, then encrypted apps built for scammers to control the conversation — 24/7 messages, iTunes gift cards traded for untraceable cash, and a family watching someone they love disappear in real time. In this episode, Anita takes Hannah through what happened when her family tried to get help — and couldn't. Netsafe said it wasn't their jurisdiction. Police said the crime wasn't happening on New Zealand soil. Mental health services confirmed she was delusional, then discharged her anyway. An enduring power of attorney protected the money, but not the relationship, and not their mother. This is a story about grooming, isolation, and a system with no answers — and a warning for every family who thinks it could never happen to someone they love. Content note: this episode includes a discussion of suicidal ideation in the context of a family managing a loved one's care. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to Lifeline Aotearoa on 0800 543 354, or free call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Anita Gatley Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

Health insurance can feel like one of those things you set up years ago and hope you never have to think about again. But once you hit your 60s, the reality can change fast: premiums rise, health risks shift, and the difference between public waitlists and private treatment can suddenly become very real. In this episode of The Next Bit, Hannah McQueen talks with Abby Woollaston, Risk Specialist at Redress Advice Ltd, about the big health insurance questions people need to ask as they age. Abby explains what private health insurance can actually do for you, from faster access to specialists, diagnostics and surgery, to more treatment options and support navigating the system. They also talk about public waitlists, hip and knee replacements, major diagnostics, non-Pharmac drugs, family members helping with costs, and the nasty surprises that can happen when people discover too late what their policy does, and does not, cover. They also unpack practical ways to reduce premiums before cancelling cover altogether, including increasing your excess, removing the bells and whistles, reviewing your policy, and getting proper advice before making a big decision. Health insurance after 60 is not just about money. It is about time, choice, independence, and avoiding the kind of surprises nobody wants when they are already under pressure. Live well and independent for longer. Get your whole-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Abby Woollaston - Risk Specialist at Redress Advice Ltd Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenextbitpodcast This podcast was written and produced by the amazing team at PodLab www.podlab.nz

One of the biggest questions families have about retirement villages is surprisingly simple: when do you actually get your money back? In this bite-sized episode of The Next Bit, Hannah McQueen and Mark Leishman talk with Jenny Baldwin, Partner at Anthony Harper, about what happens when someone leaves a retirement village, moves into care, or passes away, and the family is waiting for the unit to be resold. Jenny explains where to find information about resale timeframes, why the disclosure statement matters, what families should ask the operator, and why past resale times can give you an indication, but not a guarantee. They also touch on weekly fees after someone moves out, and how many retirement villages now stop those fees when the resident leaves. Because it’s one thing to understand the contract when you move in, it’s another thing to understand what happens when you move out. For more on this topic, listen to the full-length episodes, How to Choose the Best Retirement Village and What Are You Really Buying In A Retirement Village. Live well and independent for longer. Get your whole-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Hosts are: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Mark Leishman, Broadcast and TV Personality Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenextbitpodcast This podcast was written and produced by the amazing team at PodLab www.podlab.nz