The News In You

Grief has a way of changing you. In this deeply personal episode of The News In You, I share my own grief journey and the unexpected way loss led me to write a children’s book. I’m joined by the incredibly talented illustrator Eleanor Sherson as we go behind the story of Where Is Pillar?, exploring the grief, love and hope that shaped it, and our dream for helping children navigate loss. Sometimes, from the deepest places of grief, something beautiful can emerge. Where Is Pillar? is a beautifully illustrated children’s book created for ages 3 to 8, designed to gently open conversations around grief and help children understand that although someone may no longer be physically with us, love does not disappear. This is my grief story. BUY THE BOOK  📖 Where Is Pillar?  Amazon Barnes & Noble New Zealand Book Stores: -Little Unity  -Telling tales -Books & Co -Schrödinger's Books The book is available in internationally including USA, UK and New Zealand, with online ordering and distribution available through major retailers. Please get in touch if you are parent, teacher, school counsellor, principal, hospice, charity or organisation supporting children through grief. For more information about the book, publishing, bulk orders or opportunities to work together, email Wish Upon a Word Books - wishuponwordbooks@gmail.com Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com 

In Part II of The News in You, the conversation moves beyond policy and power… and turns inward. As AI continues to reshape the world around us, what is it quietly changing within us? This episode explores the human cost of convenience, the erosion of critical thinking, and the subtle ways artificial intelligence is influencing how we see truth, identity, and ourselves. Featuring leading AI ethics advisor Elle Farrell-Kingsley, may this conversation challenge you to confront a deeper question: not just what AI is becoming… but who we are becoming because of it. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com 

On this episode of The News in You, Eleisha dives deep with AI strategist Elle Farrell-Kingsley to explore the high-stakes world of AI governance. They discuss how AI is shaping geopolitical conflict, the risks of oversharing data with platforms like ChatGPT, and what the U.S.–China AI race means for the future of technology. Elle also shares her insights on why AI advancement may soon hit a critical slowdown. Don't miss Part 1 of this conversation. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

In this episode of The News in You, we move beyond the hype to examine what AI truly is, how it functions, and why governance, power, and sovereignty now shape our collective future. Because AI is not neutral. It mirrors the values and blind spots of those who build it. Host Eleisha Foon sits down with Eteroa Lafaele, software engineer, founder, Young New Zealander of the Year 2025, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, whose work through DigiTautua and Fibre Fale has opened pathways into tech for Pacific and underserved communities. If we are building the future, who gets to belong and how do we make sure indigenous and marginalised communities are part of shaping it? Justice in the AI era begins with sovereignty and with ensuring no one is coded out of tomorrow. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

The future of AI will not be determined by machines, it will be shaped by the values of those who build, regulate and use them.  Artificial intelligence is shaping our economies, our politics, our media and our private lives in real time. And it is advancing faster than many institutions can regulate or fully understand. In this episode, Eleisha sits down with AI expert Dr Andrés Domínguez Hernández to examine the ethical architecture behind the systems increasingly influencing our world.  Who is accountable when AI causes harm? How do algorithms replicate and amplify existing social inequalities? And what happens to privacy, truth and even the environment when models are trained on our data at scale? This conversation moves beyond hype and fear. It confronts corporate power, regulatory blind spots and the shared responsibility of developers, governments and users. Ethical AI is not simply a technical challenge. It is a moral one. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

The finale is here. From teacher to TikTok star, this is the story behind Paloma Diamond, the internet's favourite actress. In part two of this exclusive interview, Eleisha Foon asks Julian Sewell to spill the tea, going beyond the character and into the realities of Hollywood and red carpets.  He also opens up about his personal definition of success and how it has shaped every chapter of his career. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

Who is Paloma Diamond, really? Meet the man behind the diva. Julian Sewell, in an exclusive conversation. Beyond the wigs, the punchlines and the millions of views lies a story of grit, reinvention and the search for belonging. This episode explores the years before the spotlight, the four-year grind behind the virality, and what it truly took for Julian Sewell to turn content creation into a full-time career. In this episode, we also highlight support for Julian’s hometown of Hong Kong following its second-deadliest fire disaster. If you’d like to help, you can support the migrant community through Mission for Migrants: https://www.migrants.net/to-donate Follow Julian's content: Tiktok Instagram Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

In part two of Eleisha Foon’s conversation with New Zealand journalist Cole Martin, who spent six months of 2025 in the Occupied West Bank, they confront the Church’s role in the conflict. How has scripture been used to justify violence in Gaza? Why do so many Christians stay silent? And what does faith look like in the face of genocide? This episode exposes a moral reckoning within the Church and the cost of choosing neutrality when humanity bleeds red. Want to know more about the Palestine and Israel conflict - check out these resources: Books on the conflict Christ in the Rubble - Munther Isaac is a Palestinian pastor, author, and theologian based in the West Bank Across the Divide Podcast Follow news outlets like Al Jazeera, Guardian Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

In this episode of The News in You, journalist Eleisha Foon speaks with Cole Martin, the only New Zealand reporter to spend half a year in the occupied West Bank.  He risked his safety to tell the truth and now, he’s sharing what he saw. From the front lines of Aida Camp to the rubble of Gaza, Cole describes the fear, faith, and resilience of those caught in the crossfire, and what it means to tell stories when truth itself is under attack. According to the United Nations, at least 248 journalists have been killed in Gaza, more than in any other conflict in modern history. As the world debates headlines from afar, this conversation brings you closer to the reality few have seen. This episode is part one of the raw, unfiltered interview with NZ Journalist Cole Martin. 🎙️ Hosted by Eleisha Foon — journalist, storyteller, and creator of The News in You #TheNewsInYou#Gaza #Journalism#Gazagenocide Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

Choosing not to have children remains one of the most controversial and personal decisions of our time. In this episode of The News in You, Eleisha explores the growing global conversation around being "childfree" — speaking with Kiwi creator Danni Duncan, founder of The Others Club, a community that connects people without children across more than 70 cities worldwide.  Danni Duncan has chosen to be childfree alongside her husband and she's made that choice public by sharing her story online which has garnered support from hundreds of thousands of individuals embracing the same choice. From cultural expectations to online backlash, this episode unpacks why the choice to live childfree still divides opinion and reveals how we define womanhood, purpose, and freedom. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Follow Danni Duncan: https://www.instagram.com/theothersclub_/ Join The Other's Club: https://www.instagram.com/danni___duncan/ Is Parenthood for you? Take the Ann Davidman quiz: https://www.motherhoodisitforme.com/  References: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/brief-certain-age-related-dna-mutations-are-less-common-human-eggs https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/not-just-women-men-too-have-a-biological-clock-that-starts-ticking-at-/articleshow/124402854.cms  Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

What does it mean to find home everywhere you go? In this episode, Eleisha Foon speaks with nomad Mika Insuasti, an Afro-Ecuadorian woman who grew up in the Amazon rainforest and now lives as a full-time nomad. From burnout to boldness, and from chronic illness to carrying her life in a backpack, Mika’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and connection. She shares how travel became both her teacher and her healing — and why she hopes her journey inspires others to dream bigger and live fully, right now. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

Beneath Guam’s postcard beauty lies a hidden story of nuclear fallout, militarization, and survival. Guam, the largest of the Mariana Islands, has been a strategic U.S. territory since World War II, with nearly a third of its land under military control. The island has faced ecological devastation, shrinking homelands for their indigenous Chamorro people, and the lasting health impacts of nuclear tests and military take over. This episode uncovers the scars left by decades of nuclear testing, America’s military buildup, and the ongoing fight of Guamanians who are U.S. citizens to protect their land, culture, and future. Through the voice of atomic war veteran Robert Celestial, founder of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors, we hear the truth America tried to bury including his decades long fight for compensation for nuclear fallout survivors. This is not just history—it’s a battle still being fought today. (Congress speaker Mike Johnson has been approached for comment). Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

Cancel culture promises accountability, but what’s the hidden cost? In this episode, part 2 on a mini-series on Cancel Culture, we continue the conversation with author, journalist and former Megachurch Pastor Carrie Lloyd to explore how social media has changed the way we see community.  What used to be the village that raised us is now a global audience quick to judge. We talk about how past mistakes posted online can come back to haunt you, why misinformation spreads faster than truth, and what happens when activism becomes so tied to identity that people are lost in the cause.  As a society is it time to re-think cancel culture and find a healthier way forward? Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

What happens when allegations of abuse, financial mismanagement, or even unlawful practices surface inside a church? In this first episode of our mini-series on Cancel Culture, we follow the journey of British author and pastor Carrie Lloyd, who stepped away from the pulpit of a thriving U.S. megachurch. She shares first-hand experience of what it was like being on the receiving end of cancel culture and being let down by the faith-institution she dedicated a decade of her life to.  Through the voices of those who’ve lived it, we uncover what drives church leaders and members to walk away from these powerful institutions.  Can megachurches reckon with its failures, or does real change mean dismantling the very foundation it’s built upon? After all, Jesus did flip tables in temples that had turned into marketplaces.... Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

What happens when empowerment becomes exploitation?  On this episode, I speak with former OnlyFans recruiter Victoria Sinis, who exposes the hidden underbelly fueling the platform’s empire — from grooming barely legal girls to AI-driven catfishing and virtual brothels. We uncover the truth behind a $90 billion fantasy, where desire meets deception, and the line between choice and coercion blurs. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

What happens when empowerment becomes exploitation?  On this episode, I speak with former OnlyFans recruiter Victoria Sinis, who exposes the hidden underbelly fueling the platform’s empire — from grooming barely legal girls to AI-driven catfishing and virtual brothels. We uncover the truth behind a $90 billion fantasy, where desire meets deception, and the line between choice and coercion blurs. Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

On this episode, Fox News Anchor Bianca Peters is exposing beauty standards, pulling back the curtain to show us real truths behind 'fake' faces. She shares her journey into broadcasting, discussing the pressures of the industry and the impact of social media on self-image. She reflects on her personal experiences with cosmetic procedures and the influence of pageantry on her self-perception.  We unpack the importance of transparency and authenticity in an industry often dominated by unrealistic beauty ideals and how it is seeping into culture and influencing young girls.  Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

MK Hill is a modern day Mother Theresa of in Memphis Tennessee. She's a single woman who has adopted six children - is raising them on her own and she's also the Founder of The Arrow's Nest.  More than 50 children have come through her home and she's taking her message to the world to encourage people to support the needs of young people in their neighbourhood. She says so often adoption or fostering is reserved for wealthy couples who are struggling to get pregnant and believes this needs to change. MK wants people to be open to helping children in need whether it's for a weekend a couple of months or a lifetime.  "Instead of adding a child to your family see it as a giving a family to a child." Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

Six years on from New Zealand's darkest day, the March 15 2019 mosque attacks have not been forgotten. Around 1.40pm, on a warm autumn day, a lone gunman carried out the worst terror attack in the country's history, killing 51 people across two mosques, while live streaming for the world to see. On this episode, Eleisha Foon speaks to Farid Ahmid a survivor of the Al Noor Mosque shooting. He famously forgave the gunman for killing his wife. His resilience, strength and will to turn the terror attack into an opportunity to promote peace and highlight the good in humanity resulted in an international peace prize and a chance to spread his message about the power of love and forgiveness with world leaders like members of the British Royal family and President Donald Trump. Read the book he dedicated to his wife Husna: USA - https://www.amazon.com/HusnaS-Story/dp/1988547482  NZ - https://aotearoabooks.co.nz/husnas-story/  More on Eleisha Foon's reporting of March 15 attacks and aftermath: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018738071/mosque-attacks-survivor-farid-ahmed-talks-of-pain-one-year-on https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018760954/father-of-mosque-shooting-victim-forgives-killer https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/middayreport/audio/2018761197/final-victim-impact-statements-read-at-mosque-gunman-sentencing https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/411559/farid-ahmed-renews-call-for-love-peace-and-harmony https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018738257/a-year-on-a-dad-dreams-of-his-son-playing-football-in-paradise https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018705691/mosque-attack-survivor-proud-to-represent-nz-at-white-house Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com

On this episode of The News in You, I speak with internationally acclaimed barber and Co-founder of the anti-domestic violence movement 'She Is Not Your Rehab' - Matt Brown. He grew up in a home where he watched his mother be abused by his father. He's also a survivor of sexual and domestic violence, but turned his story around by healing from his childhood trauma. He now leads a global movement that is changing prison systems around the world and impacting millions alongside his powerhouse wife Sarah Brown.  Matt believes his true calling lies in his work to redefine society's view of masculinity and to help end the cycle of domestic violence plaguing families. Click for more about She Is Not Your Rehab -Get the book -Hear the Tedx Talk Support the show Welcome to The News In You, presented by award-winning international journalist Eleisha Foon. Sign up now to the Patreon to support the podcast: Eleisha Foon Follow the podcast on instagram: @thenewsinyou For more about the host, visit eleishafoon.com