Category Archives: Podcasts

AmeriNZ 63 – Home from home

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Episode 63 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I’m back! Did you miss me? I missed doing my podcast, to be honest, and I’m certainly glad to be back. Today I’m going to tell you a bit about my recent trip to the US, then after comments I have a brief personal update and all the usual contact details.

I’ve called today’s episode “Home from Home” because I’m back home from my home. I tell you about that trip and some of my impressions and observations, since this was my first trip back to the US in eight years.

All things considered, the trip went pretty well (though I talk a bit about some things that didn’t). I got done what I needed to, and I spent time with friends and family, which was great. I even met a real, live podcaster!

I tell you what it feels like now, with this 12-year-old hold on my life now gone. There’s a lot more about the trip, including more observations, on my blog, www.amerinz.com, where photos will be posted soon.

Leave a comment, or you can email me at amerinz(at}yahoo.com or ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Links for this episode:

Creedance Clearwater Revival’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” iTunes USA Store, iTunes NZ Store, Amazon.com music.

Ramble Redhead Episode 184


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AmeriNZ 63 - Home from home [ 36:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 62 – Holiday Time

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Episode 62 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

This is my last podcast for the year, so I start today by describing what a New Zealand Christmas is like for us. Then, I’ll tell you a bit about my trip next week, and then after comments, I have a few special remarks.

It’s now summer in New Zealand, so Christmas is very different than what I grew up with in Illinois (no snow or cold). The Christmas we have isn’t necessarily the same as other Kiwis, but it’s not all that different from theirs, either.

I have all my arrangements sorted for my trip to Chicago next week.

After comments, I have some special remarks for this last podcast of the year.

I probably won’t have another episode until Tuesday, January 15, 2008. I’m hoping to be able to record some audio while I’m away, and maybe I’ll be able to post it before I get home to New Zealand, but don’t count on that.

Results for the poll question, “What’s your favourite Christmas/Holiday special?”: A Charlie Brown Christmas was chosen by 5 people, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by 2, Santa Claus is Coming to Town by 2 and None of these by 3.

Thanks for listening this year—I truly appreciate it! I’ll be back with more in the New Year.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Mentioned this episode:

My blog post form 2006 talking about Pohutukawa

Related reading: The Holiday Time (a blog post about what this holiday time is like)

ArcherRadio: AR592 Meet The Dems


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AmeriNZ 62 - Holiday Time [ 37:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 61 – Election Time Begins

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Episode 61 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

This is the last chance I’ll have for a political podcast before my big trip, and that also means it’s the last chance to talk politics before the Iowa Caucuses or New Hampshire Primary. Jason joins me today as we talk about events in the campaigns, including Romney and Huckabee trying to out fundamentalist each other. Aren’t they promoting a religious test for public office? Huckabee gets a a good look today, both for his call for quarantine of people with HIV/AIDS and is “fair tax”, which we think is anything but. A look at opinion polls and we wrap up for the day. I have a couple comments, a replay of my pretend commercial, and that’s it. Friday will be a normal podcast, and will probably be my last until January.

Check out Jason’s blog.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ #61 - Election Time Begins [ 39:15 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 60 – Back again again

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Episode 60 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

My last episode was ten days ago. I start today to tell you why that is: I’ve been incredibly busy with work. I have a big trip coming up, and that will again mess up the podcast schedule. In the meantime, I’ll have another political episode next week. Today I give some advice to would-be expats.

Then I go over comments, the results of a recent poll on my blog and finally, I talk a bit about Australia’s new Prime Minister.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ #60 - Back again again [ 29:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 59 – Politics here and there

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Episode 59 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

It’s now one month until the first real votes will be cast in the US Presidential candidate selection process, so I’m joined again today by Jason for a talk about all that. What’s up with Huckabee? Is his star rising at Romney’s expense? And does Romney stand for anything? On the Democratic side, the media should be more responsible in talking about falsehoods, especially those directed at Obama. Will Obama be hurt by such an early Iowa Caucus? Does the media shape what the campaign is about? In future episodes we’ll talk about candidates and the campaigns as events unfold. I recorded this early because I knew I’d be too busy to record this week.

Also, I’ll soon be attending a candidate selection meeting here in New Zealand for our elections, which are also next year. I’ll talk about that in an upcoming episode. Comments and the expat briefing will be on Friday.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ #59 - Politics here and there [ 40:40 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 58 – A Busy Friday

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Episode 58 is now available, and it’s free no matter where you get it from. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I have a lot of work to do right now, so this is just a short catch-up episode.

Differences are emerging following the Australian election. Australia plans on withdrawing combat troops from Iraq by the middle of next year (New Zealand has never had combat troops in Iraq). The new government also plans to formally apologise to Aborgines for the Stolen Generation, something that defeated Prime Minister John Howard steadfastly refused to do.

In talking about the Aussie elections, I compared Australia with New Zealand and I said that it was more likely that New Zealand’s Labour Party would be better positioned to form government than the National Party because Labour has more potential coalition partners. The next day, the New Zealand Herald published a front page story claiming that a new poll had found that if the election were held then, the National Party would win enough seats to govern alone—but does it really mean that? A week and a half earlier, a poll from rival Fairfax Media showed Labour up and National down.

All opinion polls are mere snapshots of one fleeting moment, but some are more worthy than others. For example, in the US the mainstream news media made a big deal out of a Zogby poll that claimed to show that Hillary Clinton would lose to any Republican. However, the poll was a worthless online poll and a Gallup poll released about the same time showed the opposite—that either Clinton or Obama could beat the Republicans. The Gallup poll was a real poll and had credibility, but the mainstream news media ignored it.

Since I’m an expat, it makes sense I should talk about that, so on Fridays I’m going to give you the Expat Briefing, telling you one thing about being an expat that I haven’t really talked about before. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, too.

Mentioned in this episode: Ramble Redhead

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ #58 - A Busy Friday [ 18:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 57 – Aussies and expats too

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Episode 57 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

The Australian election was held this past Saturday, and the changes were huge. But for GLBT people, the changes may not be so big. I also tell you a few more things about being an expat. Then, it’s on to comments, including an audio comment from Nik-in-Paris, then the results of the latest poll on my blog. Finally, a listener tells me about a new sweepstakes where US listeners can enter to win a trip to New Zealand.

The results from my latest blog poll are in, answering the question: Regardless of what you actually have, do you think Christmas is better in hot weather or cold? Among 22 responses, 2 people or 9% favoured Hot weather, Cold weather was chosen by 15 (68%), I don’t care by 3 (13%) and “What’s this, a trick question promoting New Zealand summer?” by 2 (9%).

Take part in the new poll question about NZ alcoholic beverages.

Also mentioned in this episode:
My blog post Election lessons UPDATED
My blog post Howard’s End
Nik-in-Paris Podcast #64.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ 57 - Aussies and expats too [ 29:48 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 56 – Kiwi Thanksgiving

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Episode 56 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I mostly tell you about my odd Thanksgiving Day in New Zealand, which was unusual, even for me. This gives me a chance to tell you about Auckland’s poor public transport system. The US Ambassador to New Zealand is a good one. Then there’s a visit to The Commonwealth: It suspended Pakistan until democracy is restored. Then, the Queen visited Uganda to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and visited people with HIV/AIDS. Finally, there’s even something about the Australian elections, which will be held tomorrow. No comments today, but those will return on Tuesday, along with a wrap-up on the Australian election.

The closing music today is “Regifting for the Holidays” by The Alice Project from the Podsafe Music Network.

Leave a comment or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.


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AmeriNZ #56 - Kiwi Thanksgiving [ 26:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 55 – Being an expat

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Episode 55 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

Today I talk about being an expat, based largely on my own experience. I tell you some things a new expat can expect to feel, both good and bad. I also tell you how it resolves itself, eventually turning into “home”. I also share some of my general feelings about being an expat and what that all means. After comments from Episode 54, I say a little about my Kiwi Thanksgiving. Finally it’s a slightly revised version of my 30 second podcast promo. There may not be a podcast on Friday. We’ll see.

Leave a comment here or send an email to me at amerinz{at)yahoo.com. You can also ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Mentioned in this episode, posts from my blog:

Twelfth Anniversary

Eleven Years an Expat

Ex but not ex-


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AmeriNZ #55 - Being an expat [ 29:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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AmeriNZ 54 – Big Giant Head

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Episode 54 is now available. You can listen to it or download it through the player at the bottom of this post, or subscribe for free through iTunes here (you must have the free iTunes player installed). You can also listen to it for free through the player on my MySpace page.

I begin with a few words about Tuesday’s podcast. Then a couple domestic news items. It’s confirmed: I’m a Big Giant Head, or I write like one. Then I talk a bit about the Australian election, and then how some Maori activists need to study public relations. I tell you about Episode 55, which will be largely based on a listener request. There probably won’t be a podcast on Fridayof next week.

Be sure to vote in the poll on my blog!

Leave a comment, send an email to me at amerinz(at}yahoo.com, or ring my US listener line on 206-339-8413.

Closing music: “Bill O’Reilly: The Legend of the Big Giant Head” by David Ippolito from the Podsafe Music Network.


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AmeriNZ 54 - Big Giant Head [ 23:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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