Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

For the years I lived in New York, I always had visiting Kiwis crashing on my couch. And more often than not, when they came to town and were listing off the things they wanted to do in the Big Apple, they’d make it a priority to try and get into the audience at one of late shows.    I went to Letterman and Colbert. I actually bumped into Jimmy Fallon at his studio when I interviewed the...

Elizabeth Knox is one of the country’s most esteemed authors, known best for her novels ‘Vintner’s Luck’ and ‘The Absolute Book’.  She’s also a dab hand at essay collections and young adult stories, though it had been over a decade since she last wrote for a younger audience.  That changed with the release of ‘Kings of this World’, a young adult novel focused on the sole survivor of a cu...

Ed Sheeran has released his eighth studio album: ‘Play’. It’s the first of a new series of themed albums, with titles based on electronic media buttons – ‘Pause’, ‘Fast Forward’, ‘Rewind’, and ‘Stop’ set to follow.  Although there’s plenty of new influences and stylistic changes, with traditional Indian percussion, Hindi and Punjabi vocals, and a guest appearance from Bengali singer Arijit Si...

Having arrived home from holiday a short few weeks ago, Kevin Milne's recent travel experiences are still fresh in his mind.  Every time you travel, you learn something new, and this time around he learned that there’s a better way to book your flights.  He joined Jack Tame to pass on the tips and tricks he learned.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

"Magical, golden, and steeped in mystique, “The City of a Hundred Spires’ is one of my favourite European capitals. Prague lays on a smorgasbord of stunning architecture, from Gothic, Renaissance and baroque to neoclassical and cubist. Unshackled from the claws of Communism, the capital of the Czech Republic’s rock-solid status as a powerhouse tourist destination continues to shine." Read Mike's f...

The Vanishing Place by Zoe Rankin    A child who ran from the forest.  A woman who must return to it    Growing up with her younger siblings in the unforgiving New Zealand bush, Effie believed their parents had cut them off from civilization because they loved Nature. She never suspected that their reasons might be more menacing. After witnessing a terrifying episode of vi...

Ever wondered why you can’t stick to an exercise routine or why you hate the gym when everyone else seems to love it? You could be doing the wrong type of exercise for your personality type.   A recent UK study looked at how personality types could predict how enjoyable people find different exercise routines and who can stick to them.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss th...

Typical time of the year – we need to get on with Gardening in many different parts of the garden!   My tunnel house has to be prepared for spring and summer: the plastic cover is absolutely dirty and covered with algae and grime. That means that the sunlight is reduced, and plants will struggle to get into photosynthesis.   I usually grab my Wet-and-Forget Rapid to weaken the winter loa...

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 13 September 2025, legendary Kiwi author Elizabeth Knox joins Jack to discuss how to approach complex subjects with young readers and what drew her back to young adult fiction after 12 years away.  Waste not, want not... Nici Wickes has two recipe ideas for those leek tops that seem to sit around before being thrown away.&n...

Wine: Tiki Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2024, North Canterbury RRP from $26.00   A distinctive colour with hues of orange and red that leads to a bouquet of ripeness and freshness, complexity and style. A sense of site with stone and mineral then red tea and roses, raspberry along with some tropical fruit ideas. A satin touch with a backbone of acidity and red berry fruit flavours. The win...

A new iPhone to add to the mix: the iPhone Air.   Is it really the thinnest iPhone? The body is, but not the camera area!   The announcement that caught my eye: eSIM is now the standard. It makes it much easier to change providers or grab a data plan when you're overseas. There's no need to try and track down a packet and remember where you put your old SIM card, you can subscribe fully...

Task   An FBI agent heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Neon).    The Girlfriend  Laura's picture-perfect life starts to unravel when her son brings home a new girlfriend named Cherry; she becomes convinced that Cherry is a manipulative social climber -- or is she just being paranoid? (Prime Video)    Ne...

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale  A final hurrah for the stately saga. In the summer of 1930, the Crawleys grapple with the threat of social disgrace when Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble.      Sketch   Fantastical creatures come to life when a young girl's sketchbook falls into a strange pond. As the town starts to...

With the price of food we can’t afford to waste even a bit! Leeks are fat right now and if you’re someone who discards a lot of the green part, listen up. Here’s some fab ways to use them.          Crispy Leek Topping    Thinly slice the green leek tops. Rinse in a bowl of cold water to get any dirt out. Transfer to a towel and pat dry.     Heat a pan t...

Tell you what, when I saw the latest migration statistics this week and the net 47,000 New Zealand citizens who’d decided to move overseas in the last year, I had an instantaneous reaction.   You sure about that? I wondered. I know our economy isn’t exactly thriving, but have you checked any news headlines lately?   Israel had just bombed Qatar. Russian drones were being shot down in Pol...

After an extensive career in Hollywood and beyond as the star of blockbusters like The Hobbit and TV series like BBC’s Spooks, Richard Armitage has pivoted.  He’s turned his hand to the written word, releasing his first novel ‘Geneva’ in 2023, his second novel, ‘The Cut’ released just this month.  The story is inspired by a conversation he had in a cemetery, and the novel is unique in th...

Summer is nearly upon us, bringing with it the array of music festivals that call New Zealand home. The line ups are beginning to be announced, but what acts are worth making the trip?  Music connoisseur Estelle Clifford has compiled a list of artists and bands she thinks is worth shelling out to see. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Pint-sized Bratislava has the unique distinction of being the only capital city in the world wedged by three countries. Just inside the border of Slovakia, the city is also sandwiched by Austria and Hungary. You can lay your eyes on those three countries from various perches around town." "Bratislava’s old town is a little bon-bon, a perfectly formed tangle of twisting cobbled streets, studded wi...

Kevin Milne is back from overseas, where he was visiting his sons over in London. While he was, there was an incident at a Premier League football match in London where he left with his heart swelling with pride even though their team West Ham got thrashed 5-1. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelling can be a busy and challenging time, and making more sustainable choices can sometimes fall by the wayside.  But Kate Hall has a few tips and tricks on how to make travel a little bit more sustainable, both before you go, and while you’re away.  Before you go:   Switch off appliances at the wall, empty fridge/freezer if away for longer, manage heating/cooling.   Plan...

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 6 September 2025, actor turned author Richard Armitage joins Jack to discuss his new novel ‘The Cut’, how audiobooks are changing, and the differences when writing for a story that’s to be heard instead of read.  Jack reflects on an ailing body.   Kevin Milne is back from his trip abroad and shares a touching family ex...

Ed McKnight has been working in personal finance for a fair few years and although he typically tries to be encouraging when giving advice, he does have some more brutal truths to tell.  He joined Jack Tame to offer up the three brutally honest pieces of money advice that most Kiwis will need to hear.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frosty by Mark Winterbottom   The incredible true story of the boy from Doonside who became a Bathurst king.   Mark Winterbottom's story is unlike any other in motorsport. It's not about privilege or million-dollar sponsors - it's the tale of a working-class kid with a dream so big it defied the odds.   Frosty's story is a motorsport fairy tale that is also proof that with heart, hu...

OpenAI is coming for LinkedIn   The company announced it'll be expanding and applying its AI knowledge to new applications. First up, matching employers and job seekers.   The "Jobs Platform" is designed to match those with AI skills to employers who want those skills. They're working on a certifications program too. There are also reports they're working on a web browser and a social me...

This is a regular complaint from gardeners: Lichen on the stems of our shrubs, trees and bark. In this case: Julie’s treasured Magnolias.  It kind of makes sense as the shrub or small tree often appears to have more lichen than leaves – mostly smallish buds, not large, impressive flowers. And few leaves that often look small and somewhat discoloured.  No wonder gardeners are concerned ab...