Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

I played the trombone in high school.    I know what you’re thinking: squeaky-voiced Jack running through a few scales on his big brass slide? Hello Ladies...    But honestly the fact that my instrument was seen as a bit quirky was kind of an attraction for me at the time. What the trombone wasn’t —at least back then— was very cool.   To my mind it was good for jazz band a...

Maren Morris is a country music superstar.  She’s a Grammy Award Winner and a five time winner at the Country Music Awards, breaking records and writing songs for iconic artists like Kelly Clarkson and Tim McGraw.  And now she’s entering a new era in her life and career with her latest album ‘Dreamsicle’.  She’ll be heading to New Zealand next year to ride the country music wave tha...

The release coming as a surprise to his fans, Swag is the seventh studio album of Justin Bieber – his first release in four years.  With a range of guest appearances, the album returns to Bieber’s favoured R&B sounds after his backslide into generic pop with 2021’s Justice.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new album.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystud...

"Steeped in Roman heritage and swooned over as Britain’s premier spa destination, Bath’s architectural flourishes and all-encompassing grandeur underpins my love affair with the city. I recently reacquainted myself with its atmospheric charm in a whistle-stop romp around Blighty with Trafalgar’s Real Britain tour. Adeptly helmed by travel director Selene, this is Trafalgar’s fastest-paced UK tour,...

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell   He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.    Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at...

Globally, around 460 million metric tons of plastic is produced every year, and it’s estimated that 20 million metric tons of plastic litter ends up in the environment.   To try and mitigate some of the damage, Plastic Free July was launched in 2011.  It’s a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation, which aims to work towards a world free of plastic waste.  Founder and Executiv...

Technology has improved in leaps and bounds over the years – going from landlines to brick phones to smartphones in relatively quick succession.  However, as technology has improved, it’s also become increasingly difficult to repair for one reason or another. Gone are the days when you can pop your battery out of your phone and put a new one in.  Kevin Milne recently tried to buy a new b...

Winter dormancy is the best time to shift a tree or a shrub (or plant a new one), especially when they originate from a “temperate climate” (the kind that shed their leaves and hail from UK, Europe, North America, etc).  When considering shifting a sub-tropical/semi tropical one, wait a little to just before spring sets in (mid-end September).  These sub-tropicals do not really like to b...

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for 12 July 2025, country music superstar Maren Morris joins Jack to discuss bringing her Dreamsicle tour to New Zealand, and just what a dreamsicle is...  The latest Superman has hit big screens, and Francesca Rudkin shares her thoughts on this iteration of the classic .  Nici Wickes shares a recipe for the perfect pie and makes a...

Wine: Thomas Barton Reserve Saint-Emillion 2023 RRP $36.99    This is a classic wine option targeted at red wine drinkers who like a wine with some firmness yet plenty of fruit and lots of style. A bouquet and palate of Doris plums and blackberry, baking spices suggesting clove and vanilla, a lick of smoky oak (with a hint of bacon), then clay earth suggestions.    The tannins...

The US Secretary of State was impersonated using AI   Concerning news this week as it was revealed that at least three foreign ministers, a US governor, and a member of Congress all received outreach from the fake Rubio, according to a State Department cable.   The impersonator reached out to people using Signal, an app that allows you to choose any username you want – the impersonator u...

Too Much   Jessica, a New York workaholic is reeling from a broken relationship. She takes a job in London, where she plans to live like a Bronte sister. When she meets Felix, a walking series of red flags, their unusual connection is impossible to ignore (Netflix).    Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story    Interviews, outtakes and never-before-seen footage provide insi...

Superman   When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it's too late?     Heads of State   U.S. President Will Derringer and...

I’ve been eating too many of the Daily Bread lamb pies lately as our local coffee hut here at the beach has started stocking them. They are too good, but they’ll send me broke, so I’ve worked on recreating one at home and it’s sensational! Meltingly tender lamb and a mix of spices that just hum with flavour.   Makes 4-6 single serve pies      Ingredients  2 tablespoons oli...

Last month we set a new household record.   Blame the baby, the extra washing, the old house, the cold weather, the dehumidifier, and whatever else. But despite booking in hours of free electricity across the month, between the gas heating and electricity, our family energy bill for June 2025 was the highest it’s ever been: $540.    I know we’re very comfortable relative to so many...

Mike Yardley travels a lot. He's the resident traveller on Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, always trying something or some place new. As a result, he's tried out many of the apps available for travellers, and has a few he would call his favourites. Read his full article here . LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new twist on a classic tale.  Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an iconic tale of star-crossed lovers, and in just a few weeks, it will be brought to life once more by Auckland Theatre Company.  Although if you’re expecting a classic performance, you’re in for a shock – instead you’ll witness a fast-passed thriller set in 1960’s Milan, complete with Kiwi accents.  The titular char...

Her first album released as an independent artist, Period is Kesha’s sixth studio album.  With her taste for experimental pop on full display, the album is a return to Kesha’s wilder, hedonistic, “hot mess” era, filled with brash and unfiltered music.  The popstar says her goal was for it to create a safe space for people to feel fully embodied and liberated, unfiltered, and fearless.&nb...

Kevin Milne is encouraging people to spend a little more time outside this weekend.  The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey ends this weekend, which aks people to record the number of birds they see in their garden over the span of an hour.  Last weekend saw Kevin take part in the Whale Count, but he thinks most people will have better luck with the birds.  LISTEN ABOVE   See...

The White Crow by Michael Robotham   As the daughter of a London crime boss, Police Constable Philomena McCarthy walks a thin blue line keeping the two sides of her complicated life apart.  On patrol one night she discovers a child in pyjamas, wandering alone. Taking Daisy home, Phil uncovers the aftermath of a deadly home invasion, as three miles away a prominent jeweller is found strap...

During the cold and wet winter months, people often spend a lot less time in the great outdoors.   This can be a bit of a problem, as recent research reveals that spending time outside can have quite a few psychological benefits.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into the findings.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investing isn’t always easy, and while you may think you can afford to buy a new house or investment property, can you really?  Ed McKnight recommends that before you take on those payments, try living with the decreased income before taking on that debt.  He joined Jack Tame to delve deeper into the ‘Can I Invest’ Test.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

So far, this winter of ours has been pretty wet. Yes, complaining might not help at all, but it pays to do something about the soaked soil.   Inundation is a health hazard for plants: constant wetness causes a range of diseases, many of which will be fatal. Drowning roots stuff the oxygen balance, causing severe stress, discoloration of leaves, blisters on stems and leaves, leaf-fall, and die...

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 5th of July 2025, Theo David and Phoebe McKellar join Jack as stars of ATC’s fast-paced 60s twist on the original tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet.  Jack considers his French sporting viewing picks for this weekend.   Mike Yardley shares his favourite apps for anything you may need while travelling.&nbsp...

Open AI’s talent is being poached for eye-watering numbers  Being paid $100 million to join a team sounds like something from the NFL or NBA, but it’s happening in Silicon Valley too. OpenAI’s talent is being poached by other tech giants, with Meta reportedly offered signing bonuses that large to steal talent and offering salaries in the millions.    Could website and content owners...