Smart Talk

Ever wondered why the heart is associated with love, how it beats relentlessly without thought of mind, or why your physical fitness changes your resting heart rate? Understanding how the body works is "physiology" and Julian Paton is a passionate physiologist who insists "Fizziology is phun". Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is there life out there beyond Earth? And why does it matter? Join former NASA researcher and University of Auckland astrobiologist Professor Kathleen Campbell. Is there life out there beyond Earth? And why does it matter? Join former NASA researcher and University of Auckland astrobiologist Professor Kathleen Campbell as she explores the quest for extraterrestrial life in our Solar System, past a...

A hundred years after Katherine Mansfield died at the age of 34, six writers and performers share their personal connections to the New Zealand writer's life and legacy. A hundred years after Katherine Mansfield died at the age of 34, six writers and performers share their personal connections to the New Zealand writer's life and legacy. Listen to Miranda Harcourt, Stephanie Johnson, Karl Ste...

To engage young people accustomed to visual storytelling, historian Monty Soutar wrote Kāwai: For Such a Time as This as if it were a movie. To engage young people accustomed to visual storytelling, historian Monty Soutar wrote Kāwai: For Such a Time as This as if it were a movie. In this 2023 Auckland Writers Festival event, he discusses the book with Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu). Listen...

Dr Qu Mai Nguy n Phan's latest novel Dust Child sets out to subvert Hollywood movie stereotypes of Vietnamese women being subservient and passive. She talks to Paula Morris in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Dr Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's latest novel Dust Child sets out to subvert Hollywood movie stereotypes of Vietnamese women being subservient and passive. She talks to Paul...

Gaylene's Take is the autobiography of an influential director who created a style of cinema unlike that of male directors of her generation. Dame Gaylene Preston talks about her career at the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Gaylene's Take is the autobiographical memoir of an influential director who created a style of cinema unlike that of male directors of her generation. Dame Gaylene Prest...

Richard Fidler speaks with Jack Tame about The Book of Roads and Kingdoms, bringing to life the dazzling cosmopolitan culture of Baghdad during Islam's Golden Age. A highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Hear Richard Fidler talk to Jack Tame in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival The Book of Roads and Kingdoms brings to life a dazzling culture of science, literature, ph...

The world of AI has leapt into focus recently, fuelled by interest in ChatGPT. Prof. Toby Walsh talks to Toby Manhire about its future, in a highlight from the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Hear Toby Walsh in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival There are approximately three million robots working in factories around the world, and another 30 million in people's homes. Soon...

Three Booker Prize winners, Eleanor Catton, Bernardine Evaristo and Shehan Karunatilaka share their experience of being awarded the world's most esteemed literary prize with Karyn Hay at the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Hear Eleanor Catton, Bernardine Evaristo, Shehan Karunatilaka and Karyn Hay in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival It's the Oscars of the writing world - w...

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Colson Whitehead has written The Underground Railroad, The Nickel Boys, and Harlem Shuffle. He talks to Kim Hill at the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Hear Colson Whitehead in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival In his novel John Henry Days, the author Colson Whitehead includes moments of humour which appeal to Kim Hill. She says, "this...

In Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, Louisa Lim captures the city's untold history, just as it is being erased from the official record. A highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Hear Louisa Lim in this highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival In the opening to Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, Louisa Lim is torn between journalistic ne...

MasterChef UK judge and restaurant critic William Sitwell joins Richard Fidler for a conversation about a life in food.. A highlight of the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. William Sitwell is a British food and travel writer, MasterChef UK judge and restaurant critic for The Telegraph. Known as much for his love of authentic cuisine as his witty, sometimes provocative and occasionally controversial...

An analysis of racism from Dr Mahdis Azarmandi at the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Dr. Mahdis Azarmandi in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 What do we mean when we say racism? And how do we fight and challenge it? Dr. Mahdis Azarmandi discusses why it's difficult to talk about racism and how to make...

Antibiotic resistance has been creeping up for 70 years. Prof. Jack Heinemann, discusses how its doomsday scenario in this highlight of Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Jack Heinemann in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 The Doomsday clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has been set closer to midnight than ever before in its hist...

Assoc. Prof. Elsamari Botha looks at how AI, and language models like ChatGPT, have the potential to revolutionise the way businesses operate, at Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Elsamari Botha in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 AI, and language models like ChatGPT, are increasingly being integrated into business processes to improve...

Is Science making our food safer? Kim Hill talks with a panel of experts at the annual seminar of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre Hear Kim Hill chair this highlight of the annual seminar of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre Is science helping or hindering the seemingly unending challenges with our modern food production systems? Issues such as the emer...

Professor of Marketing Ekant Veer argues that online 'trolling' need not be a form of bullying, but something playful which is also good for society. From Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Ekant Veer in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 When we hear the word 'troll' or 'trolling' it usually conjures up negative assoc...

Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum explore the digital landscapes that young people occupy today. A highlight of the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Cheryl Brown and Kathryn MacCallum in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 Digital tech dominates our world, from the devices we use every day to elements that gov...

What is going on with transport in Aotearoa? Prof. Simon Kingham explores what the evidence tells us about transport now and in the future, at Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023. Hear Simon Kingham in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 There are as many questions about transport as there are questioners, and what they ask about can reveal a lot...

Assoc. Prof. Heather Purdie explains why glaciers are the perfect barometer of climate change. A highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 series. Hear Heather Purdie in this highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar Christchurch 2023 Are you still uncertain about climate change? Go and visit a glacier - if you can find one. Glaciers d...

Economist Stephen Hickson explains how inflation rises, why it's bad for us and how we got rid of it. (A highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar series) Economist Stephen Hickson explains how inflation rises, why it's bad for us and how we got rid of it. (A highlight from the University of Canterbury's Raising the Bar series) Listen to Stephen Hickson's talk De...

Vietnamese author Dr Nguy n Phan Qu Mai's Dust Child tackles the difficult subject of Amerasian children, left behind when the American military fled after the Vietnam War. Vietnamese author Dr Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's Dust Child tackles the difficult subject of Amerasian children, left behind when the American military fled after the Vietnam War. In this, Quế Mai's second novel past and pr...

The 2022 Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Panui features the eminent writer Dame Fiona Kidman talking about her life as a reader and writer. The eminent writer Dame Fiona Kidman gives this year's annual lecture for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Listen to Dame Fiona Kidman's lecture The heart of the matter Dame Kidman's talk spans her own personal reading journey to her job as founding secretary o...

Fifty years ago, the Polynesian Panthers Party led a revolution against what it argued was the rampant racism of 1970s Aotearoa. Dr Melani Anae explores its impact. Fifty years ago, the Polynesian Panthers Party led a revolution against what it argued was the rampant racism of 1970s Aotearoa. Dr Melani Anae explores the impact of the Panthers movement on herself and New Zealand society. Listen to...

By looking to the stars we can understand where we came from and how we came to be. Dr Jan Eldridge explains how the different death throes of stars create what's needed for life. By looking to the stars we can understand where we came from and how we came to be. Dr Jan Eldridge explains how the different death throes of stars create what's needed for life in a talk at the University of Auckl...