E137 | Sonia Gray

Episode summary | Sonia Gray

Sonia Gray is one of New Zealand’s best-known faces, most recognisable for being the host of Lotto for the last 15 years.

But she's much more than that; she’s a model, actress and writer who has starred in shows like Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess, Young Hercules, and acted in Sione’s Wedding, Love Birds and the Netflix film The Royal Treatment.

Most recently, Sonia has turned her attention to the world of neurodiversity. She has a neurodivergent daughter and was recently diagnosed with ADHD herself. In 2022 she was executive producer and presenter of the TVNZ documentary Kids Wired Differently, which offered an insight into the lives of families with neurodivergent children.

She’s also released 10-part podcast series called No Such Thing As Normal that analyses her lived-experience of neurodiversity to better understand how we can support and celebrate those whose brains are wired differently.

Show notes | Sonia Gray

0:00 Sonia Gray and the Alternative Commentary Collective

3:57 A love of cricket

9:46 Growing up with Tana Umaga

12:58 How Tana Umaga helped Sonia out in South Africa

17:50 A Sale of the Century rabbit hole

21:57 James McOnie gets put on blast

24:42 Life as a Shortland Street villain

31:41 Pulling the curtain back on Lotto

41:59 Working with Ryan Gosling

44:23 DNA Detectives: Going back to Zimbabwe

47:26 Kai Safari and Te Ao Māori

48:56 A neurodiversity journey that starts with twins

52:44 The reality of when your child runs away

55:42 Becoming the face of parenting neurodiverse kids

1:01:32 What do you do if you think your child might be neurodiverse?

1:04:28 The stigma of neurodiversity

1:10:53 Kids Wired Differently: an insight into life with a neurodiverse child

1:11:40 Operating with empathy

1:16:00 Joining the podcast game: No Such Thing as Normal

1:19:38 Go large and leave

1:21:22 What’s next for Sonia Gray?

1:24:23 The power of storytelling

1:26:21 Last words from Steve, Seamus, and Sonia