Brodie Kane is up for anything. The podcaster, journalist, marathon runner, and former contestant on The Traitors New Zealand and Dancing with the Stars has packed a lot into her 38 years.
From joining the army to sharing a sleeping bag with Richie McCaw, interviewing Ed Sheeran while he got his New Zealand tattoo, having an abortion, and even doing Paul Holmes’ hair and make-up when she forgot to book an artist for the TV legend, Brodie’s life’s been anything but ordinary.
She has now ticked off another milestone – becoming an author.
“I’m a serial oversharer!” Brodie laughs as she talks about her book, Woman Uninterrupted, which chronicles some of her many experiences. She also co-hosts the podcast The Girls Uninterrupted with Caitlin Marett and Gracie Hitchcock.
“We talk about anything and everything. I draw from hearing how other women deal with situations, so I want to be honest and relatable as that’s the type of person I look up to.”
A huge source of inspiration for Brodie is her mum Jo, 69. Earlier this year, the pair pooled their resources to buy a home in Auckland – the second time they’ve lived together.
“When people find out I live with my mum, they’re either like, ‘How cool!’ or, ‘How the hell?’” Brodie laughs. “But we’re such a great team. I’ll never stop being grateful for our relationship. We’re very honest with each other – if one of us is having a bad day, we just explain that it’s not personal, but we just need some space.
“Living with Mum works well because I’m too old for flatting. I’m single and I’m way too much of an extrovert to live by myself. So it’s perfect.”
Jo’s passed down many of her values to Brodie, including being unapologetically outspoken.
“Mum’s a strong woman who’s never afraid to speak her mind,” says Brodie. “Like me, she’s been called loud, bossy, overbearing – all those buzzwords used about powerful women.”
That fearlessness helped Brodie achieve her childhood dream of becoming a news reporter. Over the years, she’s covered major stories like the 2006 Kahui twins murder trial and the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
She’s also tackled deeply personal topics, including writing about her abortion in 2010, before it was decriminalised in 2020.
“That wasn’t exactly a highlight of my life, but speaking out about it was so important,” she explains. “It was such an invasive, confronting process that no woman should have to go through. I wanted to take away the stigma and reclaim the narrative for women’s reproductive rights. I wanted to discuss it publicly in response to the US Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade.”
Brodie knows her frankness might invite judgement, but she’s okay with that.
“I’m very open,” she says. “Sometimes I think, ‘Gosh, Brodie, stop talking!’ But everyone has things that go wrong, they just don’t tell everyone. Almost every time, someone reaches out and thanks me because my story has helped them.”
Her book, Woman Uninterrupted, is hilarious, inspiring, sometimes cringeworthy and always entertaining – just like Brodie.
When the Weekly catches up with her, she’s taking a quick break between recording the audiobook and filming her new show On The Ladder with Kiwibank, set to screen on Three and Three Now later in October, which helps first-time buyers navigate the housing market.
She also just finished training for the Sydney marathon, which she completed last week.
“I genuinely believe that running makes me a better person – it’s why I hold it so dear,” she explains. “It reminds me that life’s trajectory is always challenging. Runs can be hard, but if you pace yourself, you can climb out of the pits of despair.
“If you’d have told me at the beginning of 2024 I’d be doing all this, I’d have said that was stupid! But I’m realistic – I’m aware I could reach my use-by date at any time and I’m at peace with that.”
It’s a busy life, but Brodie loves it. As long as people are willing to listen, she’s happy to keep sharing.
“Sometimes I even make myself cringe!” she admits. “But then I remind myself I’m just a chick who talks on microphones and if it makes someone smile or laugh, what a privilege that is. I’m making small, positive differences in people’s lives. That matters.”
Quick fire questions
What’s been a life highlight?
I’m lucky that I’ve done some fantastic stuff, so there are a lot of highlights! There are a couple of things I’m very proud of, though. One is running my first 60km marathon in 2022, the other is telling my abortion story.
What’s your idea of the perfect day?
Saunas and ice baths, then coming home, putting on the biggest trackpants and hoodie, cooking chicken and chips before lying on the couch with a couple of gins.
Do you have regrets?
No! There are things I could have done differently or I didn’t do well, but I don’t lie awake thinking about them.
What’s on your bucket list?
To keep having adventures with friends and family. Time is precious, so I want to keep putting myself out of my comfort zone.
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