E98 | Petra Bagust
Episode summary | Petra Bagust
Petra Bagust has worked in TV and radio for 30 years as a host, presenter, and regular contributor, but her latest project is a podcast called Grey Areas.
She burst onto New Zealand screens in the mid '90s with the TV3 cult classic ICETV and became one of New Zealand's most recognised faces. Over her 20 years on screen Petra hosted a wide variety of shows reflecting her personality and passions - from travel and property, to food – then she walked away from hosting Breakfast on TVNZ at age 40.
Ten years later on her popular podcast, Petra climbs into topics that just aren't so clear-cut, and she journey’s her way through them with the help of others, sharing the wisdom that has been discovered along the way. More recently she has become the Anti-Human Trafficking ambassador for Tearfund, which has seen her travel to Nepal and Thailand to witness first-hand the atrocities of sex trafficking.
Petra is a smooth communicator. She seamlessly switches from a witty gag to a heartfelt piece of wisdom, and it will quickly become apparent why she was the most in-demand host on TV in New Zealand for so long.
Show notes | Petra Bagust
2:25 A taste of stardom: fan hugs with Petra
4:41 Podcast chat
12:44 Grey hair: a metaphor for freedom
18:03 Seamus owns his crush on Petra
24:26 Reflecting on 20 years on kiwi TV screens
27:42 ICETV and climbing the ladder
36:31 Being a 22-year-old in the spotlight
41:45 On-air chemistry
43:51 Petra the Christian Virgin
51:54 Travelling the world as a newly married couple
57:58 Sing Like a Superstar
1:00:39 Public recognition over the years
1:04:26 Juggling family life and work
1:09:30 Dealing with negative feedback
1:16:32 Leaving Breakfast, going on sabbatical, and Tearfund
1:22:59 Petra’s Te Reo Maori journey
1:29:27 Media chaplaincy and thoughts on the current media landscape
1:32:33 Last words from Steven, Seamus and Petra
