Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Gardening in a dry, hot time Always tricky; evaporation and transpiration really take it out of the ground and the plant’s system. Water when it gets cooler (late evening or better still: really early morning). Try not water all over the plants – it needs to end up in the root zone, so aim for that. Water on leaves causes burning and that hurts the plants. Droplets can act as a microscopic lens th...

Our resident doctor Bryan Betty chats to Jack Tame about the year of Covid and how successful we have been with the vaccination program. He also talks about why there's the issue with Māori vaccination rates, Covid in the community and the emergence of Omicron. Bryan Betty is a GP and medical director for the College of GPs. He’s also on the Covid-19 advisory committee.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Amazon showed just how big it is again Not only are they so big they can get around the global supply chain crunch by building their own containers and putting them on their own planes, but they also take down thousands of web services when their cloud hits a grey patch. Their 'US-East' region of Amazon Web Services went out for hours this week crippling a wide range of apps likes Tinder, Coinbase...

Tara Ward joined Jack Tame and shared her picks for this week: And Just Like That: It’s the Sex in the City revival that follows Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda once again as they navigate friendship, love and relationships through their 50s, with New York City as the backdrop (Neon) The Investigation: a six-part documentary series that follows the investigation into the death of Swedish journalist...

Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most accomplished mountaineers and adventurers in the world. He’s climbed Mount Everest, reached the top of the tallest peaks on each of the seven continents and paddled the entire 445 kilometres of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River.  But what makes Erik’s achievements so unique is that he’s blind.   Jack Tame chats to Erik about his expeditions and his latest a...

‘Tis the season to be jolly and this dessert is jolly good! A choux pastry wreath is a stunning dessert for the festive table and it is absolutely delicious. Serves 8-12 Choux 130g chilled butter, chopped 250mls water 145g plain flour 4 large eggs (about 230g in the shell), lightly whisked ½ teaspoon sea salt 3 teaspoons sugar (optional) 150g white chocolate ¼ cup cream 4 tablespoon fruit compote,...

Francesca Rudkin gives us the lowdown on Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch and a sobering documentary about Covid called The First Wave. "The French Dispatch" is inspired by New York magazine and is set in France. Rudkin says it's an incredible lineup with stars, a lot of them familiar with Wes Anderson fans. "The First Wave" is a National Geographic documentary that looks at the first wave of Co...

Kevin Milne is celebrating the 23rd birthday of an icon of the entertainment industry but it's not quite who you think!  He told Jack Tame the Big Mouth Billy Bass is set to tragically spend its birthday on Thursday once again high and dry and out of battery in some dark places in garages. "I urge all our listeners who have a Big Mouth Billy Bass in their shed or loft release him like you would an...

Let’s get one thing straight: It would be fantastic if New Zealanders didn’t smoke. Our Smokefree 2025 aspirations, although perhaps a smidgen optimistic, are excellent. The steps we’ve taken over the last few decades, from advertising restrictions to plain packaging laws, excise tax hikes to the recent ban on smoking in cars, have made a massive difference to the number of New Zealanders who smok...

Estelle Clifford has been listening to US indie singer-songwriter Julien Baker and her new album, Little Oblivions.  She told Jack Tame this album can be confronting at times.  "What I loved about this album is it's so well produced and in-control-sounding and it's about a whole lot of stuff when you're not in control...It's quite clever." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Book expert Catherine Raynes has been enjoying Jodi Picoult's new novel Wish You Were Here and acting legend Stanley Tucci's memoir Taste: My Life Through Food.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Common problems and questions 1) Compost bin or worm farm is full of little white worms and more I often see a compost bin as a miniature version of a perfect ecosystem. Anybody who’s job it is to break down organic matter will live there – first the “shredders” of waste material: millipedes, slugs/snails, slaters, roaches, beetle larvae, some maggots – even mice and rats. Their waste (excrement)...

Steven Dromgool share his tips for remembering missing loved ones at Christmas with Jack Tame. Covid restrictions can hit people hard at Christmas but there are ways to make space for the loss and still celebrate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley gives us the lowdown on the Catlins - from Curio Bay to Nugget Point. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance expert Hannah McQueen talks about how to make 2022 a more fruitful one financially. While we can’t control Covid, she tells Jack Tame, there are other things within our control that people can focus on amid high inflation and rising interest rates. "Depending on your problem, there's a particular strategy that's appropriate." She said there are easy fixes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

How would you feel if your phone's camera was always watching?  Qualcomm's latest processor will have this capability - which means it could be coming to Android devices as early as next year. Here's how they're pitching it.. it makes it easier to unlock your phone because it will unlock the moment you look at it. You can then quickly look over at your phone to see notifications instead of needing...

Acting legend Melanie Lynskey is a true Kiwi success story. She rose to fame as Pauline in Peter Jackson’s 1994 film Heavenly Creatures and has since starred in the likes of Two and a Half Men, Togetherness and Mrs. America.   The 44-year-old now has a starring role in new thriller series Yellowjackets which has rave reviews so far. Jack Tame catches up with the actor.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol: Based on the 2009 Dan Brown novel of the same name, The Lost Symbol is the story of a young Robert Langdon (Ashley Zukerman) being tasked by the CIA to solve a number of puzzles when his mentor (Eddie Izzard) is taken (Neon, from Monday 6 December) Heels: A new American drama about two brothers and rivals - one a villain, or "heel," in the ring; the other a hero, or "f...

Using frozen bananas as a base for ice cream creates a beautiful creamy texture! Add to it 2-3 cups of other frozen fruit (store-bought is fine) and about a third of a cup of liquid, either coconut cream, pouring cream or maple or sugar syrup. It’s great to use a high-powered blender for a smooth, gelato texture but a food processor will do the trick too, just stop and scrape down the sides freque...

Francesca Rudkin's been watching Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog and a documentary called Burning, about the Australian bushfires. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of all the political speeches that have been made this week, Kevin Milne speaks to Jack Tame about an interview Jack did with Jim Bolger which impressed him the most. "In my mind, the interview was remarkable." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

107 days. Maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome. Maybe I’ve found a few more freedoms but lost my mind. I dunno. I never thought I would say this, but there actually a few things I’m going to miss about lockdown life. I only considered it last weekend, on what it transpired was my last lockdown picnic. Saturday was a glorious, warm summer night in Auckland. A whisper of a cool evening breeze. It was the s...

Catherine Raynes has been reading Mercy by David Baldacci and the marvelous Miriam Margolyes' memoir, This Much I Know is True.  She joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley gives Jack Tame the lowdown on the magic of Fiordland.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago, Taranaki-born woman Jane Wynyard swapped her high-profile PR career in London for the arid plains and tropical climate of Kenya. She went from high heels, designer dresses and celebrity parties to jandals, shorts and a camera.   Jane now works as a communications consultant for various conservation groups, while roaming all over Africa to film and photograph wildlife. She speaks to...