Silver Ferns to Breakfast: The Full Jenny May Clarkson Story

Many of you may know Jenny-May Clarkson as the lady from Breakfast TV –but that chapter of her life is just a very small part of the Jenny May story. After nearly 20 years in media and six years hosting Breakfast, Jenny-May stepped away at the end of 2025 without a clear next move, entering a terrifying new season of her life: uncertainty and reinvention. This kōrero is 2 and a half hours long… but just scrapes the surface of the incredible life (so far) of an inspirational Kiwi. We talk about: Why she walked away from a 20-year TV career. And the impact today from losing a sibling when she was 6 years old. Why she loved playing with Dame Noelene Taurua but HATED her as a coach, And why she hates her Commonwealth Games silver medal (spoiler: its because it’s not a gold one). The intensely personal decision to get her tā moko (kōwhai) and why doing full immersion te reo Māori was the hardest thing she’s ever done. What success means to her now and so much more. I would love to say this is Jenny-May like you’ve never heard her before, but the truth is Jenny-May is always just Jenny-May – unapologetically herself- unfiltered, honest, warts n all. I already loved J-May before this…. but this definitely gave me an even deeper appreciation for her. *** Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate. If I could ask you to do one big favour — for me and for yourself — it would be to consider getting KiwiSaver advice from Generate, like I did. The decisions you make with your KiwiSaver now could have a big impact on how much you have to live on in retirement. And if you’ve never had KiwiSaver advice before, you could be missing out. Generate has a strong track record of long-term performance — You can check out their latest returns on their website. They also have advisers who can come to you and help you figure out the right KiwiSaver setup for your goals — no pressure, just good advice. I met with one when Generate came on board as a sponsor back in 2023 — and honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner. Head to generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom to book a chat The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And just a reminder — everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions. *** 0:00 Introduction: Talking about her brother's cancer diagnosis 0:50 Acknowledging Generate KiwiSaver sponsors 1:18 Welcome and background: From netball star to TV host 4:07 Life after stepping away from Breakfast TV 7:09 Coping with uncertainty and finding new meaning 8:25 The reality of balancing family life and mental health 18:18 Embracing change and being comfortable with herself 19:08 Early memories: Growing up in Pīvlle 39:08 Lessons on mindfulness and te reo Māori 45:50 The challenge of full immersion te reo Māori 55:43 Reflecting on personal growth through experiences 56:25 The personal significance of her tā moko 1:08:20 Early days and lessons in the New Zealand Police 1:13:04 Dealing with trauma and dark humor in the force 1:22:31 Dealing with public perception and focusing on personal life 1:23:13 Getting the call up for the Silver Ferns 1:41:33 Experiences on Treasure Island (2005) 1:48:16 The intense reality of hosting Breakfast TV 1:53:12 The importance of research and curiosity in journalism 1:56:13 Working with John Campbell 1:56:55 Reflecting on her book Full Circle and vulnerability 2:09:52 Defining success: Flipping the narrative and appreciating the moment 2:13:24 Reflecting on personal pride and the next season of life 2:16:50 The power of journaling and gratitude 2:21:25 Having uncomfortable but necessary conversations 2:25:04 Words she wants friends and family to use to describe her 2:28:10 The constant drive to get better and be a better person 2:30:10 Final reflections