Tim Minchin changed my life: An unfunny interview with a comedic genius
Who is the real comedic genius? Greg Bruce makes friends with a very famous performer and turns the celebrity interview on its head. Tim Minchin as you’ve definitely never read him before.
Wellington’s fashion darlings Kowtow on finding their dream team, going plastic-free and their blueprint for the future
“Their goal is eye-wateringly ambitious: to infiltrate a million people’s wardrobes with just one item, replacing something plastic with Kowtow’s Fairtrade organic cotton.” If you’ve ever been guilty of thinking fashion is frivolous, you haven’t read Julia Gesler’s deep dive into the Wellington label that’s changing the world, one zip-free, nut-buttoned garment at a time.
Black Ferns Chelsea and Alana Bremner on New Zealand rugby’s biggest moment
Eden Park and the opening game of the women’s Rugby World Cup: “For those at the ground, or even those watching on television, it was clear that something big was happening,” writes Greg Bruce in this interview with Black Ferns siblings Chelsea and Alana Bremner. “The feeling around the ground was love, pure and simple … To feel that love from the grandstand was deeply moving. To have felt it as part of the team must have been something else again. To have been able to share that feeling with your sister? Only two people in the country have any idea what that was like.”
What is bouldering? Inside NZ’s cool, cultish climbing sport with actor Celine Dam
As Celine Dam casually hoists herself upwards, writer Madeleine Crutchley imagines gravity defeatedly shrugging its shoulders. In March, Viva launched a new series “How I Move” exploring sports in a league of their own and hobbies that do more than keep us moving – beginning with bouldering.
Celine Dam, Auckland-based actor and boulderer, who was interviewed for Viva’s How I Move series.
William Fitzgerald’s circular design is ‘shoddy’. The Mindful Fashion award-winner on why that’s a good thing
“In Ōnehunga, there is a factory where fashion goes to die.” So begins Madeleine Crutchley’s profile on design student (and former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer) William Keane Jung-Ying Fitzgerald, winner of the Viva editorial prize at last year’s Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards. His textile of choice? Removal company blankets, made from cotton and wool – also known as wool shod or “shoddy”.
The Beauty Chef’s Carla Oates wants you to unlearn everything you know about wellness
Not every chef is serving burrata and raw fish. Viva’s beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti meets Carla Oates, the refreshingly frank founder of The Beauty Chef. Sample quote: “There’s a lot of pressure for people to tick all the boxes. You have to eat this way. You have to do yoga, Pilates, infrared saunas, the list goes on. Wellness means different things to different people, and it would be good if it was a little bit more individualised. For me, I love doing crosswords. People ask me: ‘How does that have anything to do with wellness?’ Because it takes me away from my work and any daily stresses. It’s my kind of meditation.”
How to end power struggles at the family dinner table, according to a parenting coach
Weight gain, weight loss and body confidence. It’s the trickiest of topics to navigate with adults, let alone children. But what if there was an expert with 10 top tips for raising competent eaters? Joanna Wane meets an Arrowtown parenting coach and takes a look at how our obsession with “healthy food” can cause more problems than it solves.
Bubbah: Tina From Turners and Taskmaster tattoos are just the beginning
Greg Bruce sets out to interview an icon of car sales, a chilled-out comedian and a walking Taskmaster television show billboard – and discovers a true crime podcast. Or does he?
Comedian and actor Sieni Leo’o Olo, known as Bubbah, and Tina from Turners. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
My Style: Toni Street’s journey through fashion, from Canterbury jerseys to frothy frocks
She grew up wearing home-sewn tracksuits. Today, her favourite piece of clothing is the bright pink dress she wore to MC the New Zealander of the Year awards. Viva’s Dan Ahwa takes a look in Toni Street’s wardrobe and asks what she’s learned about herself through fashion. (Hint: Not everyone can wear mustard).
Architects on the New Zealand houses that changed their lives
Is there a house that changed you? That got under your skin and into your heart? Viva’s Johanna Thornton asked eight local architects and received responses that went well beyond the front door of some of the country’s most thoughtful and beautifully designed homes. “How a house can capture the sun, circulate the air, frame the view and encourage people to gather; these seemingly simple propositions require skill to execute, and the houses in this story, and the architects who chose them, do all those things and so much more,” writes Thornton.
After James Wallace’s sex convictions: What next for Pah Homestead and $50m art collection?
Anita Tótha is the recently appointed director of The Arts House Trust, the new owners of a 10,000-piece art collection started by convicted sex offender James Wallace. In her first interview, she talked to Kim Knight about moving forward from a tainted past.
Will the real Karen Walker please stand up? What’s next for the leading fashion doyenne
The Karen Walker empire started with a floral shirt and an illustration of the world-famous fashion designer as a kind of alternate Colonel Sanders. Jessica Beresford takes afternoon tea with Walker and delivers a considered and highly visual look at the evolution of her business — from attention-grabbing campaigns and New York Fashion Week shows to today.
Skincare founder Katey Mandy takes on the NZ Government
“Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should access to protection,” skincare founder Katey Mandy told Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti in this interview that heralded the launch of a nationwide petition to bring New Zealand into line with Australian practice – and potentially save lives in the process.
3000 oysters and 4800 eggs: Behind the scenes at an epic Auckland hotel buffet
In which Kim Knight spend 24-hours at a luxury hotel buffet and discovers the secret to feeding 700 diners a day (may or may not contain gluten; definitely contains eggs).
NZ surgeon Ineke Meredith’s memoir On Call reveals her bold and bizarre operations
“Elbow-deep in her abdomen.” “She performs her first amputation, with a consultant explaining the procedure to her over the phone.” “A man in his 30s is admitted after swallowing 35 fish hooks.” It’s hard to pick the best sentence from Joanna Wane’s profile on Samoan-born and Paris-based surgeon Ineke Meredith but perhaps save this one for after breakfast.
Fashion designer Kate Sylvester announces the closure of her business after 31 years
When Kate Sylvester announced she was shutting shop after more than three decades, it was Viva’s Dan Ahwa she shared the news with first. The pair talk about the hard work, famous frocks – and why it’s someone else’s time to shine.
Actor Sophie Hambleton returns as Dame Jacinda Ardern in new Covid play
“Ardern is cancer.” The ferocity of the Dame Jacinda Ardern backlash is explored in this interview with actor Sophie Hambleton, who channelled the Prime Minister in a verbatim stage script two years into the Covid-19 pandemic – and again, in this year’s follow-up. “This time, it’s going to get ugly,” writes Joanna Wane.
Tom Hardy on his love letter to London, his dog Blue and the cologne he’s always asked about
An interview with an actor about a movie about a perfume inspired by his father and a love of London. Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti covers plenty of territory in this Q&A with Tom Hardy (Inception, Peaky Blinders, etcetera), a companion piece to an earlier interview with fragrance queen Jo Malone. Could you list your own personal palette of memories evoked by smell? Hardy’s includes a dusty pillow, a dry barn in the sunshine – and the forearms of his mother and father.
Matt Heath on self-help, self-awareness and self-abuse
Recently, Matt Heath asked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon if he sleeps in the nude. He also asked him if he had pre-ordered a copy of his book – a 13-step self-help guide to loving the life you’ve got. Greg Bruce was there, recording a day in the life of the man who went on to advise the PM that “if you feel like you’re stressed, go and make some people some coffee … ”
US writer Ann Patchett’s long-awaited Auckland Writers Festival debut
This year’s Auckland Writers Festival was one for the record books. An 85,000-plus attendance, across 167 events, showcasing 240 participants – including author, Ann Patchett. Joanna Wane zoomed her for a conversation on luminosity and love, noting: “At the core of Ann Patchett’s novel Tom Lake is the difference between the wild, heady love you experience in your 20s and the deeply satisfying love you can have, if you’re lucky, in your 50s.”
Can New Zealanders walk in six-inch stilettos? Christian Louboutin, the most famous shoe designer in the world, thinks so
In a never-ending parade of activations, openings and parties, how does a designer stay true to themselves? Christian Louboutin shares the surprising insight he learned from his woodworking father with Viva’s Dan Ahwa. (Plus shoes. Really great shoes).
Dai Henwood’s cancer battle: New book The Life of Dai on living (and loving) with a stage-four diagnosis
“I was so scared of cancer,” Dai Henwood tells the crowd. “Then I had to do this crash course … cancer has been an amazing teacher. I feel I am a better man, better husband, father, comedian and member of society because I’ve had to deal with cancer.” The comedian, television personality and ice bath owner talks candidly to Kim Knight about the worst possible news.
NZ musician Hollie Smith on infertility, her new tour and art exhibition
Last year, Hollie Smith made an estimated $180 in global music streaming sales. And if that’s not shocking enough, wait until you see her newest project. Kim Knight sat down with the musician who bared all (literally) ahead of a new music tour and an unexpected art exhibition.
Singer and painter Hollie Smith with her artwork, which she exhibited in June at a Grey Lynn gallery. Photo / Jason Oxenham
NZ actor Jodie Rimmer talks ageing and new solo play Nicola Cheeseman is Back
Is it time women started acting their age? Joanna Wane put the question to actor Jodie Rimmer (aged 50) as she prepared for a new solo stage show that skewers the idea that women tumbling towards menopause are obsolete.
Juliette Hogan has dressed politicians, Grammy winners and everyday New Zealand women. What next?
For two decades, Juliette Hogan has been one of our more consistent fashion designers, shaping the way New Zealand women dress. But how much do we know about her? The designer, mother and industry leader talked to Dan Ahwa about navigating the business of fashion, dressing everyone from Taylor Swift to Jacinda Ardern, and the type of future she envisages for our local fashion industry.
“Juliette has what many fashion designers don’t — business savvy,” Dan wrote. “She’s built a brand that plays to her strengths of adapting quickly to the market, while delivering clothes New Zealand women rely upon for every facet of their lives.”
Thinking of getting a vasectomy in NZ? Kiwi men share what it’s really like
When the head of the Alternative Commentary Collective, Mike Lane, decided to have a vasectomy, he knew it could make for a landmark moment in both broadcasting and vasectomies. After discussing it with fellow ACC commentator Jeremy Wells, he scheduled it to take place during that summer’s one-day international between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park.
The broadcast, which made global news, was billed as the first live sporting commentary to be delivered during a vasectomy, but for Lane it was far more important than that.
Sonia Gray and her daughter, Inez, with the family’s corgi, Baxter. Photo / Michael Craig
‘I love it now’: Sonia Gray on why ADHD is the best part of her
Sonia Gray has battled anxiety and depression, and was diagnosed with ADHD after a psychologist working with her daughter Inez suggested she and her husband, Simon, get tested. Her mother told her it explained Gray’s entire childhood.
“My big thing was that I couldn’t trust my brain, so I had to be hypervigilant and would get into absolute panics if things weren’t exactly right,” says Gray, Lotto presenter and host of the podcast No Such Thing as Normal. She knew from an early age that there was something different about her.
Medication has helped calm the chaos in her mind – “not completely, but just enough so it’s not 15 voices all speaking at the time and at the same volume”.
All seasons of Beverly Hills 90210 are available to watch on Prime Video. But should you devote your long weekend to a rewatch?
Beverly Hills 90210: Is the TV show that defined the 90s worth a rewatch?
The clothes! The cars! The side burns! The most famous zipcode in modern television is back, with all episodes available to stream on Prime Video, and we have thoughts. Beverly Hills 90210 screened from 1990 to 2000 and made household names out of actors Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, and Luke Perry (RIP). Writer Sarah Pollok wasn’t even born when the show started. Kim Knight was in her first journalism job. Dan Ahwa just wanted to live in Casa Walsh. In this story, the Gen X, Y and Z trio went back to where it all began to ask: Does 90210 stand the test of time?
Is it really possible to reverse your biological age?
Can science unlock the secret to eternal youth? Joanna Wane took on a 12-month challenge to dial back her biological age and in this story, she revealed the final results.
“The answer is… it’s complicated,” Wane wrote. “That’ll teach me to be smug after the results of my initial DNAage test looked pretty damned good. So did a follow-up six months later.
“The final 12-month report, on my ‘significant birthday’, produced far more mixed results… maybe turning 60 really does take it out of you.”
In this entirely subjective story, Bruce ranks 15 of Tāmaki Makaurau’s malls, from best to worst. Useful reading if you’re heading out for Labour Weekend sale shopping this weekend.
Webb’s to refund art photography auction purchases after ‘misunderstanding’
It’s one of the most sought-after pool views in the country – but are all Slim Aarons prints created equal? And why is Webb’s auction house offering refunds for reproductions of the society photographer’s work? Kim Knight reported on this curious art story – and her investigation brought about real change.
Just broken up? Here’s how to handle the rough first days
No matter your age, life stage or general level of robustness – the early days of a breakup can knock you off your axis. Outside perspective can be invaluable. Enter Wellington-based journalist and mother of three Sarah Catherall who has literally written the book on breakups. Her manual How To Break Up Well: Surviving and Thriving After Separation details lessons learnt the hard way following the dissolution of her own marriage in 2009. She talked to Tyson Beckett and shared big-sister-style tips on how to practically and philosophically navigate your own breakup, from day one.
Richard Osman’s new book We Solve Murders is out now. Photo / Connor O’Leary
Jonah Lomu’s Thursday Murder Club cameo – author Richard Osman explains
There is a theory that New Zealanders subconsciously seek out the letter “Z”. When it appears on the printed page our eyes, apparently, leap to the familiar. Are we there yet? Can the world see us now? In the fourth book of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club series, we are definitely there.
Page 342: “There was a rugby union player, Jonah Lomu, a New Zealand Tongan, who rewrote the rules of the game, because of his size and speed. No one had seen anything like him before. This hulk, this oversized tank, who moved with such grace and pace.”
How did a Jonah Lomu cameo end up in a book about four senior citizens who solve murders? Kim Knight asked television funnyman turned Thursday Murder Club novelist Richard Osman to explain.
The rise of male sex toys: How technology is removing the stigma and increasing the pleasure
This story begins with a warning: “contains sexual content and is suitable for adults only”. Where it goes from there, is surprising, sometimes shocking and very funny.
Greg Bruce takes a deep dive into the world of male sex toys to find out what’s available and how technology – especially AI – is helping men to work out what they want. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Emerging designers on their favourite moments of Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa
Youth-focused community fashion week called Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa took over the moody studio of Raynham Park on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd in September. The event brought together young creatives from across the country.
Each evening of the five-day schedule saw the space booming with DJ sets and a crowd spilling on to the streets, for a fashion-focused celebration in a year where New Zealand Fashion Week had announced a postponement. The attendees ranged from local industry to established academics and fashionably focused peers.
After taking a weekend of rest, creatives from behind the scenes of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa shared with Madeleine Crutchley their favourite moments and reflected on what the week-long celebration meant for them.
In his darkest hour, Shihad’s Jon Toogood doubted he’d get through. Here’s what saved him
As he prepared for the launch of his first solo album, Jon Toogood took Greg Bruce through the bad times. And there were many.
The death of his mother, while he was stuck in Melbourne during Covid lockdowns. Being stuck in New Zealand the following year, away from his wife and children, again, due to Covid lockdowns. His brother-in-law being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Debilitating symptoms caused by, you guessed it, Covid.
How did he get through? And how did making his album act as medication?
Richard O’Brien talked to Joanna Wane ahead of touring his new musical The Kingdom of Bling.
An audience with the queen: Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien on the monster behind his new show
It’s been 50 years since The Rocky Horror Show became a global phenomenon. Now, creator Richard O’Brien is heading back out on the road and he says the world has a lot more to worry about than some sex-crazed, cross-dressing aliens.
O’Brien told Joanna Wane about the inspiration behind his new show – Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch and the state of the world, which distresses him intensely. “If all you’re going for is greed and a celebration of wealth and isn’t it great that I’ve got so far and f*** you, it’s not good enough,” he says. “You’d think character would count for something. But that’s where we are at the present. It’s a very scary time.”
Can I fix my menopausal face without needles? A $2250 skincare experiment
In this revealing, funny and in-depth story, Kim Knight writes about how, aged 54, she realised that her low maintenance skincare routine was suddenly no longer enough.
“Marilyn Monroe is said to have glowed in photographs because of the way the camera flash caught her facial fuzz,” Knight wrote. “As a woman on her way to developing a full menopausal beard, even candlelight is dangerous. Like, literally, a fire risk.
Waterview’s Te Whitinga bridge follows a curved line linking Mt Roskill/Puketāpapa with Mt Albert/Ōwairaka. Photo / Supplied
18 great Auckland walks because the city isn’t just bars, restaurants and shopping
Auckland is a treasure trove of walks. With its 53 volcanic cones, beaches, parks and sprawling suburbia there are endless pockets of the city to explore. While classic walks like Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay will always be a joy on a sunny day, this roundup highlights some of the lesser-appreciated corners of Auckland, some of which have been slowly regenerated to create more urbane environments, with shared paths for walkers and cyclists, native planting and signposting.
Some walks take you through swathes of towering trees and urban waterfalls, mere metres from dense housing, others weave under motorways and on to overpasses and emerge into a city park. It’s this sense of contrast that makes an exciting walk, whether you’re in it for fitness or pleasure.
From Charles Leclerc to Liam Lawson, why Formula One drivers are the new fashion influencers
While the concept of sport and fashion has been well documented, the glamour factor is hard to ignore in the world of Formula One, writes Dan Ahwa, in this deep dive into the new breed of F1 stars who are accelerating their earning potential outside of racing.
“The circuits alone take place in some of the most moneyed towns on the planet – including the glitz of Miami and Las Vegas to the sport’s blue ribbon showcase of the Circuit de Monaco,” Dan wrote. “Despite the impracticality of the course, the tiny principality on the French Riviera offers the perfect backdrop for luxury: superyachts, good-looking people watching and some of the world’s best F1 cars in all their glory.”
Tim Minchin changed my life: An unfunny interview with a comedic genius
Who is the real comedic genius? Greg Bruce makes friends with a very famous performer and turns the celebrity interview on its head. Tim Minchin as you’ve definitely never read him before.
Wellington’s fashion darlings Kowtow on finding their dream team, going plastic-free and their blueprint for the future
“Their goal is eye-wateringly ambitious: to infiltrate a million people’s wardrobes with just one item, replacing something plastic with Kowtow’s Fairtrade organic cotton.” If you’ve ever been guilty of thinking fashion is frivolous, you haven’t read Julia Gesler’s deep dive into the Wellington label that’s changing the world, one zip-free, nut-buttoned garment at a time.
Black Ferns Chelsea and Alana Bremner on New Zealand rugby’s biggest moment
Eden Park and the opening game of the women’s Rugby World Cup: “For those at the ground, or even those watching on television, it was clear that something big was happening,” writes Greg Bruce in this interview with Black Ferns siblings Chelsea and Alana Bremner. “The feeling around the ground was love, pure and simple … To feel that love from the grandstand was deeply moving. To have felt it as part of the team must have been something else again. To have been able to share that feeling with your sister? Only two people in the country have any idea what that was like.”
What is bouldering? Inside NZ’s cool, cultish climbing sport with actor Celine Dam
As Celine Dam casually hoists herself upwards, writer Madeleine Crutchley imagines gravity defeatedly shrugging its shoulders. In March, Viva launched a new series “How I Move” exploring sports in a league of their own and hobbies that do more than keep us moving – beginning with bouldering.
Celine Dam, Auckland-based actor and boulderer, who was interviewed for Viva’s How I Move series.
William Fitzgerald’s circular design is ‘shoddy’. The Mindful Fashion award-winner on why that’s a good thing
“In Ōnehunga, there is a factory where fashion goes to die.” So begins Madeleine Crutchley’s profile on design student (and former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer) William Keane Jung-Ying Fitzgerald, winner of the Viva editorial prize at last year’s Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards. His textile of choice? Removal company blankets, made from cotton and wool – also known as wool shod or “shoddy”.
The Beauty Chef’s Carla Oates wants you to unlearn everything you know about wellness
Not every chef is serving burrata and raw fish. Viva’s beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti meets Carla Oates, the refreshingly frank founder of The Beauty Chef. Sample quote: “There’s a lot of pressure for people to tick all the boxes. You have to eat this way. You have to do yoga, Pilates, infrared saunas, the list goes on. Wellness means different things to different people, and it would be good if it was a little bit more individualised. For me, I love doing crosswords. People ask me: ‘How does that have anything to do with wellness?’ Because it takes me away from my work and any daily stresses. It’s my kind of meditation.”
How to end power struggles at the family dinner table, according to a parenting coach
Weight gain, weight loss and body confidence. It’s the trickiest of topics to navigate with adults, let alone children. But what if there was an expert with 10 top tips for raising competent eaters? Joanna Wane meets an Arrowtown parenting coach and takes a look at how our obsession with “healthy food” can cause more problems than it solves.
Bubbah: Tina From Turners and Taskmaster tattoos are just the beginning
Greg Bruce sets out to interview an icon of car sales, a chilled-out comedian and a walking Taskmaster television show billboard – and discovers a true crime podcast. Or does he?
Comedian and actor Sieni Leo’o Olo, known as Bubbah, and Tina from Turners. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
My Style: Toni Street’s journey through fashion, from Canterbury jerseys to frothy frocks
She grew up wearing home-sewn tracksuits. Today, her favourite piece of clothing is the bright pink dress she wore to MC the New Zealander of the Year awards. Viva’s Dan Ahwa takes a look in Toni Street’s wardrobe and asks what she’s learned about herself through fashion. (Hint: Not everyone can wear mustard).
Architects on the New Zealand houses that changed their lives
Is there a house that changed you? That got under your skin and into your heart? Viva’s Johanna Thornton asked eight local architects and received responses that went well beyond the front door of some of the country’s most thoughtful and beautifully designed homes. “How a house can capture the sun, circulate the air, frame the view and encourage people to gather; these seemingly simple propositions require skill to execute, and the houses in this story, and the architects who chose them, do all those things and so much more,” writes Thornton.
After James Wallace’s sex convictions: What next for Pah Homestead and $50m art collection?
Anita Tótha is the recently appointed director of The Arts House Trust, the new owners of a 10,000-piece art collection started by convicted sex offender James Wallace. In her first interview, she talked to Kim Knight about moving forward from a tainted past.
Will the real Karen Walker please stand up? What’s next for the leading fashion doyenne
The Karen Walker empire started with a floral shirt and an illustration of the world-famous fashion designer as a kind of alternate Colonel Sanders. Jessica Beresford takes afternoon tea with Walker and delivers a considered and highly visual look at the evolution of her business — from attention-grabbing campaigns and New York Fashion Week shows to today.
Skincare founder Katey Mandy takes on the NZ Government
“Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should access to protection,” skincare founder Katey Mandy told Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti in this interview that heralded the launch of a nationwide petition to bring New Zealand into line with Australian practice – and potentially save lives in the process.
3000 oysters and 4800 eggs: Behind the scenes at an epic Auckland hotel buffet
In which Kim Knight spend 24-hours at a luxury hotel buffet and discovers the secret to feeding 700 diners a day (may or may not contain gluten; definitely contains eggs).
NZ surgeon Ineke Meredith’s memoir On Call reveals her bold and bizarre operations
“Elbow-deep in her abdomen.” “She performs her first amputation, with a consultant explaining the procedure to her over the phone.” “A man in his 30s is admitted after swallowing 35 fish hooks.” It’s hard to pick the best sentence from Joanna Wane’s profile on Samoan-born and Paris-based surgeon Ineke Meredith but perhaps save this one for after breakfast.
Fashion designer Kate Sylvester announces the closure of her business after 31 years
When Kate Sylvester announced she was shutting shop after more than three decades, it was Viva’s Dan Ahwa she shared the news with first. The pair talk about the hard work, famous frocks – and why it’s someone else’s time to shine.
Actor Sophie Hambleton returns as Dame Jacinda Ardern in new Covid play
“Ardern is cancer.” The ferocity of the Dame Jacinda Ardern backlash is explored in this interview with actor Sophie Hambleton, who channelled the Prime Minister in a verbatim stage script two years into the Covid-19 pandemic – and again, in this year’s follow-up. “This time, it’s going to get ugly,” writes Joanna Wane.
Tom Hardy on his love letter to London, his dog Blue and the cologne he’s always asked about
An interview with an actor about a movie about a perfume inspired by his father and a love of London. Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti covers plenty of territory in this Q&A with Tom Hardy (Inception, Peaky Blinders, etcetera), a companion piece to an earlier interview with fragrance queen Jo Malone. Could you list your own personal palette of memories evoked by smell? Hardy’s includes a dusty pillow, a dry barn in the sunshine – and the forearms of his mother and father.
Matt Heath on self-help, self-awareness and self-abuse
Recently, Matt Heath asked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon if he sleeps in the nude. He also asked him if he had pre-ordered a copy of his book – a 13-step self-help guide to loving the life you’ve got. Greg Bruce was there, recording a day in the life of the man who went on to advise the PM that “if you feel like you’re stressed, go and make some people some coffee … ”
US writer Ann Patchett’s long-awaited Auckland Writers Festival debut
This year’s Auckland Writers Festival was one for the record books. An 85,000-plus attendance, across 167 events, showcasing 240 participants – including author, Ann Patchett. Joanna Wane zoomed her for a conversation on luminosity and love, noting: “At the core of Ann Patchett’s novel Tom Lake is the difference between the wild, heady love you experience in your 20s and the deeply satisfying love you can have, if you’re lucky, in your 50s.”
Can New Zealanders walk in six-inch stilettos? Christian Louboutin, the most famous shoe designer in the world, thinks so
In a never-ending parade of activations, openings and parties, how does a designer stay true to themselves? Christian Louboutin shares the surprising insight he learned from his woodworking father with Viva’s Dan Ahwa. (Plus shoes. Really great shoes).
Dai Henwood’s cancer battle: New book The Life of Dai on living (and loving) with a stage-four diagnosis
“I was so scared of cancer,” Dai Henwood tells the crowd. “Then I had to do this crash course … cancer has been an amazing teacher. I feel I am a better man, better husband, father, comedian and member of society because I’ve had to deal with cancer.” The comedian, television personality and ice bath owner talks candidly to Kim Knight about the worst possible news.
NZ musician Hollie Smith on infertility, her new tour and art exhibition
Last year, Hollie Smith made an estimated $180 in global music streaming sales. And if that’s not shocking enough, wait until you see her newest project. Kim Knight sat down with the musician who bared all (literally) ahead of a new music tour and an unexpected art exhibition.
Singer and painter Hollie Smith with her artwork, which she exhibited in June at a Grey Lynn gallery. Photo / Jason Oxenham
NZ actor Jodie Rimmer talks ageing and new solo play Nicola Cheeseman is Back
Is it time women started acting their age? Joanna Wane put the question to actor Jodie Rimmer (aged 50) as she prepared for a new solo stage show that skewers the idea that women tumbling towards menopause are obsolete.
Juliette Hogan has dressed politicians, Grammy winners and everyday New Zealand women. What next?
For two decades, Juliette Hogan has been one of our more consistent fashion designers, shaping the way New Zealand women dress. But how much do we know about her? The designer, mother and industry leader talked to Dan Ahwa about navigating the business of fashion, dressing everyone from Taylor Swift to Jacinda Ardern, and the type of future she envisages for our local fashion industry.
“Juliette has what many fashion designers don’t — business savvy,” Dan wrote. “She’s built a brand that plays to her strengths of adapting quickly to the market, while delivering clothes New Zealand women rely upon for every facet of their lives.”
Thinking of getting a vasectomy in NZ? Kiwi men share what it’s really like
When the head of the Alternative Commentary Collective, Mike Lane, decided to have a vasectomy, he knew it could make for a landmark moment in both broadcasting and vasectomies. After discussing it with fellow ACC commentator Jeremy Wells, he scheduled it to take place during that summer’s one-day international between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park.
The broadcast, which made global news, was billed as the first live sporting commentary to be delivered during a vasectomy, but for Lane it was far more important than that.
Sonia Gray and her daughter, Inez, with the family’s corgi, Baxter. Photo / Michael Craig
‘I love it now’: Sonia Gray on why ADHD is the best part of her
Sonia Gray has battled anxiety and depression, and was diagnosed with ADHD after a psychologist working with her daughter Inez suggested she and her husband, Simon, get tested. Her mother told her it explained Gray’s entire childhood.
“My big thing was that I couldn’t trust my brain, so I had to be hypervigilant and would get into absolute panics if things weren’t exactly right,” says Gray, Lotto presenter and host of the podcast No Such Thing as Normal. She knew from an early age that there was something different about her.
Medication has helped calm the chaos in her mind – “not completely, but just enough so it’s not 15 voices all speaking at the time and at the same volume”.
All seasons of Beverly Hills 90210 are available to watch on Prime Video. But should you devote your long weekend to a rewatch?
Beverly Hills 90210: Is the TV show that defined the 90s worth a rewatch?
The clothes! The cars! The side burns! The most famous zipcode in modern television is back, with all episodes available to stream on Prime Video, and we have thoughts. Beverly Hills 90210 screened from 1990 to 2000 and made household names out of actors Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, and Luke Perry (RIP). Writer Sarah Pollok wasn’t even born when the show started. Kim Knight was in her first journalism job. Dan Ahwa just wanted to live in Casa Walsh. In this story, the Gen X, Y and Z trio went back to where it all began to ask: Does 90210 stand the test of time?
Is it really possible to reverse your biological age?
Can science unlock the secret to eternal youth? Joanna Wane took on a 12-month challenge to dial back her biological age and in this story, she revealed the final results.
“The answer is… it’s complicated,” Wane wrote. “That’ll teach me to be smug after the results of my initial DNAage test looked pretty damned good. So did a follow-up six months later.
“The final 12-month report, on my ‘significant birthday’, produced far more mixed results… maybe turning 60 really does take it out of you.”
In this entirely subjective story, Bruce ranks 15 of Tāmaki Makaurau’s malls, from best to worst. Useful reading if you’re heading out for Labour Weekend sale shopping this weekend.
Webb’s to refund art photography auction purchases after ‘misunderstanding’
It’s one of the most sought-after pool views in the country – but are all Slim Aarons prints created equal? And why is Webb’s auction house offering refunds for reproductions of the society photographer’s work? Kim Knight reported on this curious art story – and her investigation brought about real change.
Just broken up? Here’s how to handle the rough first days
No matter your age, life stage or general level of robustness – the early days of a breakup can knock you off your axis. Outside perspective can be invaluable. Enter Wellington-based journalist and mother of three Sarah Catherall who has literally written the book on breakups. Her manual How To Break Up Well: Surviving and Thriving After Separation details lessons learnt the hard way following the dissolution of her own marriage in 2009. She talked to Tyson Beckett and shared big-sister-style tips on how to practically and philosophically navigate your own breakup, from day one.
Richard Osman’s new book We Solve Murders is out now. Photo / Connor O’Leary
Jonah Lomu’s Thursday Murder Club cameo – author Richard Osman explains
There is a theory that New Zealanders subconsciously seek out the letter “Z”. When it appears on the printed page our eyes, apparently, leap to the familiar. Are we there yet? Can the world see us now? In the fourth book of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club series, we are definitely there.
Page 342: “There was a rugby union player, Jonah Lomu, a New Zealand Tongan, who rewrote the rules of the game, because of his size and speed. No one had seen anything like him before. This hulk, this oversized tank, who moved with such grace and pace.”
How did a Jonah Lomu cameo end up in a book about four senior citizens who solve murders? Kim Knight asked television funnyman turned Thursday Murder Club novelist Richard Osman to explain.
The rise of male sex toys: How technology is removing the stigma and increasing the pleasure
This story begins with a warning: “contains sexual content and is suitable for adults only”. Where it goes from there, is surprising, sometimes shocking and very funny.
Greg Bruce takes a deep dive into the world of male sex toys to find out what’s available and how technology – especially AI – is helping men to work out what they want. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Emerging designers on their favourite moments of Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa
Youth-focused community fashion week called Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa took over the moody studio of Raynham Park on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd in September. The event brought together young creatives from across the country.
Each evening of the five-day schedule saw the space booming with DJ sets and a crowd spilling on to the streets, for a fashion-focused celebration in a year where New Zealand Fashion Week had announced a postponement. The attendees ranged from local industry to established academics and fashionably focused peers.
After taking a weekend of rest, creatives from behind the scenes of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa shared with Madeleine Crutchley their favourite moments and reflected on what the week-long celebration meant for them.
In his darkest hour, Shihad’s Jon Toogood doubted he’d get through. Here’s what saved him
As he prepared for the launch of his first solo album, Jon Toogood took Greg Bruce through the bad times. And there were many.
The death of his mother, while he was stuck in Melbourne during Covid lockdowns. Being stuck in New Zealand the following year, away from his wife and children, again, due to Covid lockdowns. His brother-in-law being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Debilitating symptoms caused by, you guessed it, Covid.
How did he get through? And how did making his album act as medication?
Richard O’Brien talked to Joanna Wane ahead of touring his new musical The Kingdom of Bling.
An audience with the queen: Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien on the monster behind his new show
It’s been 50 years since The Rocky Horror Show became a global phenomenon. Now, creator Richard O’Brien is heading back out on the road and he says the world has a lot more to worry about than some sex-crazed, cross-dressing aliens.
O’Brien told Joanna Wane about the inspiration behind his new show – Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch and the state of the world, which distresses him intensely. “If all you’re going for is greed and a celebration of wealth and isn’t it great that I’ve got so far and f*** you, it’s not good enough,” he says. “You’d think character would count for something. But that’s where we are at the present. It’s a very scary time.”
Can I fix my menopausal face without needles? A $2250 skincare experiment
In this revealing, funny and in-depth story, Kim Knight writes about how, aged 54, she realised that her low maintenance skincare routine was suddenly no longer enough.
“Marilyn Monroe is said to have glowed in photographs because of the way the camera flash caught her facial fuzz,” Knight wrote. “As a woman on her way to developing a full menopausal beard, even candlelight is dangerous. Like, literally, a fire risk.
Waterview’s Te Whitinga bridge follows a curved line linking Mt Roskill/Puketāpapa with Mt Albert/Ōwairaka. Photo / Supplied
18 great Auckland walks because the city isn’t just bars, restaurants and shopping
Auckland is a treasure trove of walks. With its 53 volcanic cones, beaches, parks and sprawling suburbia there are endless pockets of the city to explore. While classic walks like Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay will always be a joy on a sunny day, this roundup highlights some of the lesser-appreciated corners of Auckland, some of which have been slowly regenerated to create more urbane environments, with shared paths for walkers and cyclists, native planting and signposting.
Some walks take you through swathes of towering trees and urban waterfalls, mere metres from dense housing, others weave under motorways and on to overpasses and emerge into a city park. It’s this sense of contrast that makes an exciting walk, whether you’re in it for fitness or pleasure.
From Charles Leclerc to Liam Lawson, why Formula One drivers are the new fashion influencers
While the concept of sport and fashion has been well documented, the glamour factor is hard to ignore in the world of Formula One, writes Dan Ahwa, in this deep dive into the new breed of F1 stars who are accelerating their earning potential outside of racing.
“The circuits alone take place in some of the most moneyed towns on the planet – including the glitz of Miami and Las Vegas to the sport’s blue ribbon showcase of the Circuit de Monaco,” Dan wrote. “Despite the impracticality of the course, the tiny principality on the French Riviera offers the perfect backdrop for luxury: superyachts, good-looking people watching and some of the world’s best F1 cars in all their glory.”
After playing the role of attorney-at-law Diane Jobson in the Bob Marley: One Love movie, Sundra Oakley – a Jamaican-born actress living in the United States (US) – knew she had to return home to implement a strategy that would train aspiring actors.
That came in the form of Inside Hollywood: The Business of Being an Actor, which is a get-together event for both local and overseas actors and aspiring actors to share information and concerns about the acting industry.
“I am back home to have the second staging of an event that I created called Inside Hollywood: The Business of Being an Actor. I created this earlier this year, around late February is when I had the idea for it because, as an actor, I’ve been in the industry for 20-plus years. I realise that there has always been a deficit in our career trajectory, and that tends to be after you get that wonderful education at university like I did, or in a conservatory programme,” Oakley told The Sunday Gleaner on Wednesday during an interview at the Bob Marley Museum.
“We’ve never really been taught about the business side of the career and what [it] entails. So, because I’m a person [who] loves to educate, I love to empower, especially when I’ve seen how much we can be so disempowered or disenfranchised as actors, I wanted to do something to give back to the actors of Jamaica. Because there is so much talent, there is so much possibility,” she said.
Oakley said she wanted to bring the knowledge she has gained in the US acting industry to Jamaicans, and it is for that main reason that she started Inside Hollywood: The Business of Being an Actor.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be a working actor for as long as I’ve been, and said to myself, ‘What if I do this?’ We talk about the nitty-gritty things. We talk about the state of the industry. We talk about what’s needed to be in the industry in this era, especially with self-taping, which is the means of how we audition primarily now,” Oakley told The Sunday Gleaner.
Oakley also aims to teach about contracts and what is needed on set.
“I assembled a team of people, friends of mine, colleagues who were casting directors, writers, producers and said, would you be willing either to come to Jamaica or share your knowledge with us via Zoom, and they did. The first one was so successful, beyond my expectations,” Oakley said.
“I don’t even know if I knew what to expect. I just wanted it to go off without a hitch and to have the participants feel like they walked away with more knowledge than when they walked in the door, and it surpassed that, so much so that I was asked not to wait until next year. [And] I had planned to do it again, but to do it again before the end of the year,” she said.
SECOND STAGING
As such, Oakley returned to Jamaica quicker than originally planned with the second Inside Hollywood: The Business of Being an Actor event with other international actors in tow, such as Emmy Award winner and renowned American actor Sterling K Brown; Nia Ashi, an actress who was born and raised in London to a Jamaican mother and Guyanese father; and Quan-Dajai Henriques, the Jamaican who played a teenage Bob Marley in the Paramount movie, Bob Marley: One Love, alongside Oakley.
In the movie Bob Marley: One Love, Oakley played Bob Marley’s lawyer, Diane Jobson.
During the interview, she said the proudest moment of her career was booking the role of Jobson, a woman she sought to meet before filming and actually spent time with at her house.
“She’s a rebel, which I’ve always felt was a part of my soul. Intelligent [and] funny. Don’t mess with her. You can’t mess with that woman, and she was so important to the life of Bob, which people did not know. She handled his money. She was the one who founded Tuff Gong distribution and [the] printing pressing of the records,” Oakley told Lifestyle.
“Because, one: to be a part of the movie, the biopic of one of our most prolific persons coming out of this country. He’s passed 43 years. It had never been done. I knew I had to be a part of this movie somehow, and I told my agents, ‘Any little role you can find, even if it’s a waiter serving coffee, I have to be a part of this’,” she said.
Oakley said she knew after auditioning for the Bob Marley movie that there was no other role that she could fit in better than that of Jobson.
“I knew I couldn’t audition for Rita, obviously, and I couldn’t audition for the I Three, obviously, and it’s like I was stuck in-between worlds… As a Jamaican, that was the ultimate, to know that I would be a part [of it],” Oakley said.
One fun fact about Oakley many people do not know is that she could have been Ghost’s wife in the popular drama and television series, Power.
“It was down to me and the actress who got the wife. It was down to the two of us and… I did my research before… and I looked at the project, and I saw that the actress who plays the girlfriend, she was cast already, and I looked at her, and I said, ‘Dem naago cast mi if dem cast her already because we would [look] aesthetically too much alike,” Oakley said.
“Can you imagine if dem have di brother with two brownin? Hell wuda raise, so me know seh dem wasn’t going to do that. I looked at it, and I said it wasn’t a sense of feeling defeated. It was just like I know this industry. They’re not going to cast two people weh look similar, especially like us, [from] two love interest [in] de,” she said.
After this thought, Oakley said she still went to the final round of the audition and did her best “because you never know”.
Outside of acting, Oakley has also authored a book, is a dancer and a marshal artiste, wife and mother, and now wants to spend more time giving back to Jamaica.
“I’ve always known, but never knew how I would do it, that I wanted to be able to contribute and give back to my country. I’ve felt that from the time I was a child,” Oakley, who was born and spent time in Montego Bay, said.
“I always say I feel like being Jamaican is growing up the child of celebrities. It’s just a cool factor that you say, ‘Wow, I just got lucky’. I have always felt like that,” she said.
Oakley says coming up for her is a project with Disney Plus, a limited series called Washington Black on Hulu, based on a novel with the same name and produced by Selvin Hinds, a Guyanese who went to her first seminar. Sterling K Brown serves as one of the executive producers. Oakley plays a Jamaican in that series.
She will also be a part of a Netflix show called Lonely Planet that was filmed in Morocco, one of the countries she had been wanting to visit, and will also be a part of an audiobook with Jamaican stories.
With expertise in movie reviews, celebrity gossip, sports, and political updates, it has become a go-to digital hub for a diverse audience.
Published Date – 9 October 2024, 04:25 PM
New Delhi:Spottoday, a prominent platform under WideEyes Digital, has carved a niche as a comprehensive source for entertainment and current affairs. From Bollywood buzz to business insights, Spottoday delivers a mix of content that keeps readers informed and engaged. With expertise in movie reviews, celebrity gossip, sports, and political updates, it has become a go-to digital hub for a diverse audience.
Bollywood Buzz and Celebrity Gossip Spottoday offers unmatched coverage of Bollywood, giving fans instant access to the latest industry news. Whether it’s new film announcements, box office reports, or celebrity interviews, the platform keeps Bollywood enthusiasts in the loop. In addition to official updates, Spottoday brings its readers closer to their favorite stars through juicy celebrity gossip and behind-the-scenes revelations, making it a top choice for Bollywood fans.
In-Depth Movie Reviews Movie lovers can count on Spottoday for its detailed and well-rounded film reviews. Covering a variety of genres and both Bollywood and Hollywood releases, the platform offers insightful critiques. The reviews go beyond just analyzing performances; they discuss the film’s direction, story, and cinematography, helping audiences decide which movies are worth their time. Spottoday has established itself as a trusted guide for movie buffs who want genuine and thoughtful reviews.
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Expansive Coverage Beyond Entertainment Spottoday’s strength lies in its diverse range of content that spans far beyond entertainment. The platform covers key political developments, keeping readers informed on major global and national issues. For sports enthusiasts, Spottoday offers timely coverage on major sporting events, especially cricket, bringing fans closer to their favorite athletes. Additionally, the platform offers valuable insights into lifestyle trends, including health, fashion, and travel, catering to those looking to stay updated on the latest fads.
Spottoday doesn’t stop at entertainment and lifestyle content. Whether it’s corporate mergers or stock market analysis, Spottoday ensures its readers have access to relevant and important updates from the business world.
In summary, Spottoday, under WideEyes Digital, is a well-rounded platform that delivers a blend of entertainment, politics, lifestyle, sports. With engaging, timely, and insightful content, it serves as a comprehensive destination for readers who want to stay informed and entertained across a range of topics.
Akam Al Rajhi Developments is a real estate development firm established through a partnership between Akam Developments, which operates in Egypt’s real estate development sector, and Alrajhi Saudi Group, which is involved in agriculture and food production.
With Alrajhi Group’s desire to enter the real estate development sector, it was essential for the group to approach this vast and competitive field robustly. Thus, the Alrajhi Group partnered with Akam Developments, one of the leading real estate development companies in the Egyptian market since 2017.
The founders of Akram have over 25 years of experience in the Egyptian market. The primary goal of this partnership was to expand Akram’s investment volume and continuously bring new members to the company’s board of directors with fresh ideas, alongside injecting significant investments into new and distinguished projects.
In the heart of the North Coast, with joint Egyptian-Saudi investments exceeding EGP 8bn, the aim is to expand the group’s investments in the Egyptian market, capitalize on the strong investment opportunities available in the Egyptian real estate sector, and participate in the boom that has occurred in development and real estate in Egypt.
The project site has been carefully selected to embody a luxurious lifestyle with a contemporary entertainment style, spanning an area of 125 feddans and featuring a beachfront of up to 450 meters. The project includes a diverse range of tourism units to meet all customer needs.
A strategic and exceptional location has been chosen for the D.O.S.E North Coast project, situated at kilometre 174, near the most famous projects and tourist villages, as well as key roads and main routes.
The project benefits from its proximity to Ras El Hikma Bay, the New Alamein City, the Dabaa Axis, the New Fouka Road, and the Sidi Heneish area, in addition to its closeness to Wadi El Natron and the New Alamein Airport. The advantages of the project’s location are countless, which Akram Al-Rajhi Group ensured for the D.O.S.E North Coast project, as it facilitates access to the project via several important roads and main routes.
The project features a wide range of water surfaces, covering approximately 9 feddans, providing stunning water views for all units, even those further from the sea. Over 60% of the units have sea views, 30% have full sea views, and only 10% overlook lakes and swimming pools. The design emphasizes a world-class project on a beachfront with a 450-meter facade, surrounded by extensive water areas and open spaces representing 70% of the project’s total area.
The project offers a comprehensive and diverse array of services and facilities, including premium hotel units and a luxurious 5-star hotel, a shopping mall, a private beach, a central kitchen, and dedicated areas for children’s activities to enhance their skills through play and innovation. Additionally, there are several restaurants and cafes, with seven lagoons stretching across the project, swimming pools, and a gym with a sea view. The project also includes a fully equipped medical centre to meet all client needs and offers a variety of units in different sizes to accommodate all customer requirements.
The D.O.S.E North Coast project offers a strategic location with easy access from main roads, distinctive architectural designs reflecting the surrounding natural beauty, high investment returns due to increasing demand in the area, and a stunning natural environment with beautiful sandy beaches for relaxation away from city noise.
Akam Al Rajhi Developments is a real estate development firm established through a partnership between Akam Developments, which operates in Egypt’s real estate development sector, and Alrajhi Saudi Group, which is involved in agriculture and food production.
With Alrajhi Group’s desire to enter the real estate development sector, it was essential for the group to approach this vast and competitive field robustly. Thus, the Alrajhi Group partnered with Akam Developments, one of the leading real estate development companies in the Egyptian market since 2017.
The founders of Akram have over 25 years of experience in the Egyptian market. The primary goal of this partnership was to expand Akram’s investment volume and continuously bring new members to the company’s board of directors with fresh ideas, alongside injecting significant investments into new and distinguished projects.
In the heart of the North Coast, with joint Egyptian-Saudi investments exceeding EGP 8bn, the aim is to expand the group’s investments in the Egyptian market, capitalize on the strong investment opportunities available in the Egyptian real estate sector, and participate in the boom that has occurred in development and real estate in Egypt.
The project site has been carefully selected to embody a luxurious lifestyle with a contemporary entertainment style, spanning an area of 125 feddans and featuring a beachfront of up to 450 meters. The project includes a diverse range of tourism units to meet all customer needs.
A strategic and exceptional location has been chosen for the D.O.S.E North Coast project, situated at kilometre 174, near the most famous projects and tourist villages, as well as key roads and main routes.
The project benefits from its proximity to Ras El Hikma Bay, the New Alamein City, the Dabaa Axis, the New Fouka Road, and the Sidi Heneish area, in addition to its closeness to Wadi El Natron and the New Alamein Airport. The advantages of the project’s location are countless, which Akram Al-Rajhi Group ensured for the D.O.S.E North Coast project, as it facilitates access to the project via several important roads and main routes.
The project features a wide range of water surfaces, covering approximately 9 feddans, providing stunning water views for all units, even those further from the sea. Over 60% of the units have sea views, 30% have full sea views, and only 10% overlook lakes and swimming pools. The design emphasizes a world-class project on a beachfront with a 450-meter facade, surrounded by extensive water areas and open spaces representing 70% of the project’s total area.
The project offers a comprehensive and diverse array of services and facilities, including premium hotel units and a luxurious 5-star hotel, a shopping mall, a private beach, a central kitchen, and dedicated areas for children’s activities to enhance their skills through play and innovation. Additionally, there are several restaurants and cafes, with seven lagoons stretching across the project, swimming pools, and a gym with a sea view. The project also includes a fully equipped medical centre to meet all client needs and offers a variety of units in different sizes to accommodate all customer requirements.
The D.O.S.E North Coast project offers a strategic location with easy access from main roads, distinctive architectural designs reflecting the surrounding natural beauty, high investment returns due to increasing demand in the area, and a stunning natural environment with beautiful sandy beaches for relaxation away from city noise.
Balancing finances while indulging in online entertainment can be a bit of a juggling act. The internet offers endless ways to relax and have fun, from streaming services to online casinos, but the ease of access also comes with its financial pitfalls. Achieving a healthy balance between enjoying online entertainment and maintaining your finances requires some thoughtful planning.
Here’s how you can manage your money and still enjoy a bit of online leisure without post-fun financial regrets.
Create a Budget for Entertainment
The foundation of balanced financial management starts with setting up a solid budget. According to a 2023 study by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 60% of individuals who set up and stick to a budget feel more in control of their finances and stress less about money. To enjoy online entertainment responsibly, allocate a specific portion of your monthly income for leisure activities. This approach gives you the freedom to enjoy your favorite pastimes, such as streaming movies, gaming, or even a little online gambling, without jeopardizing your financial health. By clearly defining a budget for entertainment, you avoid the trap of impulsive spending that can quickly spiral out of control.
Choose Affordable Entertainment Options
Not all online entertainment has to come with a hefty price tag. The digital space is loaded with affordable—or even free—options. Platforms like YouTube, for instance, provide endless hours of free content, from educational videos to comedy shows and DIY tutorials. If you’re into gaming, there are free-to-play games and subscription-based models that offer a range of choices without the need to break the bank. In fact, a 2024 survey by Statista revealed that over 70% of gamers in the United States prefer free-to-play games or subscription models over pay-to-win formats. By opting for budget-friendly entertainment options, you can enjoy more activities without putting a strain on your wallet.
The Role of Credit Card Casinos in Budgeting
Online gambling, particularly through credit card casinos, has become an increasingly popular form of entertainment. While this offers convenience and quick access to various games, it also requires careful management to prevent overspending. A study by the UK Gambling Commission in 2024 noted that 40% of online gamblers use credit cards, with 20% of them acknowledging that it’s easy to lose track of spending. To avoid falling into this trap, consider setting strict spending limits on your credit card, or use prepaid cards that allow for controlled spending. By using credit cards responsibly, you can enjoy the excitement of online casinos while keeping your finances in check. Remember, the aim is to enjoy, not to chase losses or spend beyond your means.
Plan for Big-Spending Moments
Sometimes, it’s perfectly okay to splurge a bit, as long as you plan for it. If you enjoy activities like online casino gaming or purchasing that latest movie subscription, incorporate these expenses into your financial plan. The key here is to treat these moments as special occasions rather than everyday habits. For example, if you decide to try your luck at online gambling, set a specific amount of money you’re willing to spend, and once it’s gone, don’t be tempted to dip into your savings or other essential funds.
This kind of planning can help keep those splurge moments fun and guilt-free. Data from the American Psychological Association shows that people who plan their discretionary spending tend to feel happier about their purchases and experience less buyer’s remorse.
Invest in Subscriptions Wisely
Subscription services are a double-edged sword. While they offer access to vast libraries of content—whether it’s movies, music, or games—they can also add up if you’re not careful. According to a 2023 report by CNBC, the average American spends over $200 per month on subscription services. The trick to managing these expenses is to evaluate your usage. Are you really using all those platforms? If not, cut down on the unnecessary ones and keep only those you truly enjoy. Additionally, take advantage of bundled services that offer more value for your money. For example, some streaming services offer student discounts or bundle packages that can save you a decent amount in the long run.
Keep Track of Your Spending
One of the most effective ways to maintain a balanced lifestyle is to keep a close eye on your expenses. Use budgeting apps to monitor your spending on entertainment. Many modern apps categorize expenses, making it easier to see how much you’re allocating to online fun. A study by NerdWallet in 2024 found that 62% of people who use budgeting apps reported improved financial habits and a greater awareness of their spending. By tracking your expenses, you can quickly identify when you might be overspending on entertainment and adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts: Balance is Key
Online entertainment is meant to be fun, not a financial burden. By setting a budget, choosing affordable options, planning for splurges, and using tools like credit card casinos responsibly, you can enjoy a balanced lifestyle. Remember, the goal is to find joy in your leisure activities without sacrificing your financial health. Stay informed, keep track of your spending, and make smart choices that let you indulge in entertainment while securing a solid financial future.
Balancing finances while indulging in online entertainment can be a bit of a juggling act. The internet offers endless ways to relax and have fun, from streaming services to online casinos, but the ease of access also comes with its financial pitfalls. Achieving a healthy balance between enjoying online entertainment and maintaining your finances requires some thoughtful planning.
Here’s how you can manage your money and still enjoy a bit of online leisure without post-fun financial regrets.
Create a Budget for Entertainment
The foundation of balanced financial management starts with setting up a solid budget. According to a 2023 study by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 60% of individuals who set up and stick to a budget feel more in control of their finances and stress less about money. To enjoy online entertainment responsibly, allocate a specific portion of your monthly income for leisure activities. This approach gives you the freedom to enjoy your favorite pastimes, such as streaming movies, gaming, or even a little online gambling, without jeopardizing your financial health. By clearly defining a budget for entertainment, you avoid the trap of impulsive spending that can quickly spiral out of control.
Choose Affordable Entertainment Options
Not all online entertainment has to come with a hefty price tag. The digital space is loaded with affordable—or even free—options. Platforms like YouTube, for instance, provide endless hours of free content, from educational videos to comedy shows and DIY tutorials. If you’re into gaming, there are free-to-play games and subscription-based models that offer a range of choices without the need to break the bank. In fact, a 2024 survey by Statista revealed that over 70% of gamers in the United States prefer free-to-play games or subscription models over pay-to-win formats. By opting for budget-friendly entertainment options, you can enjoy more activities without putting a strain on your wallet.
The Role of Credit Card Casinos in Budgeting
Online gambling, particularly through credit card casinos, has become an increasingly popular form of entertainment. While this offers convenience and quick access to various games, it also requires careful management to prevent overspending. A study by the UK Gambling Commission in 2024 noted that 40% of online gamblers use credit cards, with 20% of them acknowledging that it’s easy to lose track of spending. To avoid falling into this trap, consider setting strict spending limits on your credit card, or use prepaid cards that allow for controlled spending. By using credit cards responsibly, you can enjoy the excitement of online casinos while keeping your finances in check. Remember, the aim is to enjoy, not to chase losses or spend beyond your means.
Plan for Big-Spending Moments
Sometimes, it’s perfectly okay to splurge a bit, as long as you plan for it. If you enjoy activities like online casino gaming or purchasing that latest movie subscription, incorporate these expenses into your financial plan. The key here is to treat these moments as special occasions rather than everyday habits. For example, if you decide to try your luck at online gambling, set a specific amount of money you’re willing to spend, and once it’s gone, don’t be tempted to dip into your savings or other essential funds.
This kind of planning can help keep those splurge moments fun and guilt-free. Data from the American Psychological Association shows that people who plan their discretionary spending tend to feel happier about their purchases and experience less buyer’s remorse.
Invest in Subscriptions Wisely
Subscription services are a double-edged sword. While they offer access to vast libraries of content—whether it’s movies, music, or games—they can also add up if you’re not careful. According to a 2023 report by CNBC, the average American spends over $200 per month on subscription services. The trick to managing these expenses is to evaluate your usage. Are you really using all those platforms? If not, cut down on the unnecessary ones and keep only those you truly enjoy. Additionally, take advantage of bundled services that offer more value for your money. For example, some streaming services offer student discounts or bundle packages that can save you a decent amount in the long run.
Keep Track of Your Spending
One of the most effective ways to maintain a balanced lifestyle is to keep a close eye on your expenses. Use budgeting apps to monitor your spending on entertainment. Many modern apps categorize expenses, making it easier to see how much you’re allocating to online fun. A study by NerdWallet in 2024 found that 62% of people who use budgeting apps reported improved financial habits and a greater awareness of their spending. By tracking your expenses, you can quickly identify when you might be overspending on entertainment and adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts: Balance is Key
Online entertainment is meant to be fun, not a financial burden. By setting a budget, choosing affordable options, planning for splurges, and using tools like credit card casinos responsibly, you can enjoy a balanced lifestyle. Remember, the goal is to find joy in your leisure activities without sacrificing your financial health. Stay informed, keep track of your spending, and make smart choices that let you indulge in entertainment while securing a solid financial future.
