Grey Areas with Petra Bagust

Tarryn Stokes won the 12th season of The Voice Australia at 40, making her the oldest winner in the show's history. But long before the blind audition that stopped the judges in their tracks, she'd spent years singing backing vocals for Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy, leading worship in churches, and quietly wondering if she'd already missed her moment.

In this kōrero, Tarryn opens up about growing up in a musical family with a grand piano in the lounge, and how singing has always been her native language. We talk about her ADHD diagnosis three years ago, the shame it lifted, the lightbulb it switched on, and why she thinks it's no coincidence that so many creatives share that wiring. Tarryn also shares what it actually takes to stand on a stage and sing in front of a nation when every nerve in your body is telling you to turn and run - the visualisation techniques that got her through The Voice.

We get into the dynamics of life after a win on reality TV, the manager who called out of nowhere, the record deal with Universal, and the realisation that nobody was coming to do the hard work for her. And we talk honestly about mum guilt, the juggle of touring with young kids, redefining what success looks like, and what it means to write a song for someone you love.

Tarryn's new single Rubies and Gold is out now. It’s a beautiful song about knowing your worth, written for her niece. It's upbeat, generous, and sounds exactly like her.

Support the show: greyareas.nz/support

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.
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Born in Aotearoa, raised in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, and transplanted to suburban Melbourne at age ten, Safina Stewart has spent most of her life figuring out where home is. As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist, educator, and storyteller, she's had to find that answer from the inside out.

In this kōrero, Safina opens up about growing up as a "bush pikinini," not learning to read until she was 18, and the quiet devastation of arriving in Australia as a child with no map for the path ahead. We talk about the 2023 Voice referendum, what it cost her community, and how it lit a fire in her art.

Safina shares, with remarkable honesty, the years she spent in a marriage marked by domestic violence and sexual assault, and how becoming a mother became both her anchor and the beginning of learning to love herself. We also explore perimenopause through an Indigenous lens, the power of community and the myth of the individual, equity scholarships, and the grief of losing her brother, musician and artist Stuart Fergie, to covid complications.

This is a conversation about survival, defiance, and the deep, generous kind of love that holds people together across generations and cultures.

This episode covers confronting topics including domestic violence, sexual assault, and suicidal thoughts. Please be kind to yourself as you listen.

If you need support:


Safe to Talk (sexual harm): 0800 044 334 or text 4334 — available 24/7


Women's Refuge: 0800 733 843 — available 24/7


Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text 4357 — available 24/7


1737 — Need to talk? Call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor, any time

Support the show: greyareas.nz/support

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.
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Kia ora e te whānau!

In the melee of mid-life - which can be dense, frantic and fabulous all at once - we need spaces to listen to each other and to ourselves, and it’s useful to navigate those gritty ‘grey areas’ together.

This season, we aren’t holding back - digging deep into topics that matter most to us right now like hormones, skin, aging parents, courage and keeping on keeping on (and we add a little sparkle for good measure)!


Hormone Health: Dr Lara Briden joins Petra in person to give us more hormone hacks and mid-life metabolism love.


Intergenerational Living: Sir John Kirwan and Francesca Kirwan share the realities of modern family life.


Skin & Body Wisdom: We tackle nore of the "unspoken" stuff—from GSM (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause) to skincare science with Dr. Iona Weir.


Taking Action: The powerhouse Brodie Kane joins us to talk about finding your voice and making moves.


Purpose & Determination: We sit down with Barbara Dreaver to discover what drives her.


Heart of the Matter: Real talk on the intersection of marriage and menopause.

Plus, so much more… don’t miss an episode!

Hit the Follow button right now on your favourite podcast app to get notified the moment Season 9 drops.

Grey Areas: Because life isn’t black and white, and the magic is in the middle.
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In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Lucy Lawless — actor, director, and all-round creative force — for a real conversation about what it means to embrace midlife - to dig into the surprise and delight of this season.

Lucy shares how her fifties have brought a renewed sense of drive and possibility. We talk about learning to take risks, staying open to being changed by others, and the freedom that comes from trying, even when success isn’t guaranteed.

From her role in Pike River to stepping behind the camera as a director and tackling bold creative projects, Lucy’s still challenging herself to keep saying yes to the things that scare us.

Support the show: ⁠greyareas.nz/support⁠

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.
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In our fast-paced, image-oriented world, it's no surprise that our relationship with food - especially as our bodies change in midlife - can sometimes be fraught. 

In this kōrero, Claire Turnbull, a seasoned nutritionist and author of, End Your Fight with Food, opens up about her personal challenges and provides insights into the complex world of eating, self-image, and holistic well-being. 

We dive into some of her key teaching to inspire and guide us toward a healthier relationship with our bodies, brains and plates. 

This episode tackles some confronting topics - if you need help, contact Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7). Or get in touch with Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand if you need help finding a private provider in your area by phoning Ph 0800 2 EDANZ or emailing [email protected]

Support the show: ⁠greyareas.nz/support⁠

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices