The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Earlier this year I had the pleasure to read Robert Hardman’s book Queen of our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II, a biography on Her Majesty released in honour of the Queen’s Platinum jubilee.  Robert Hardman is a renowned royal biographer and has spent three decades covering the British monarchy.  And now, he’s here today to join us in light of Queen Elizabeth II’s recent passing. LISTEN ABO...

At 12:30 today, a ceremony is scheduled at Parliament to proclaim Charles III as the new King of New Zealand NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett is here to tell us about it as it unfolds. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last night New Zealand time Charles was formal proclaimed King by the Privy Council.   The new King, Charles III spoke from the historic ceremony. Here today to talk about it is royal correspondent Phil Dampier. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last couple of days many words have been spoken and memories shared about the extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Friday. Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth was a constant through times of unprecedented social change and challenges. She guided the monarchy into the modern era, where it not only survived, but renewed itself. She guided her family...

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.  Based on the life of Lucrezia de Medici who lived in Florence in the 16 th Century and was the subject of the famous Robert Browning poem My Last Duchess . At the age of 15 she was married off to the Duke of Ferrara who commissioned a marriage portrait of his new wife, inviting a renowned portrait artist to take on the job. Lucrezia though felt unwelcome...

Megan Singleton joins us in the studio to talk about the rooftop bars on offer- including social media sensation Bar Albert, adjacent to the new Voco Hotel! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have something special to offer all our listeners for Father’s Day. This week we launched our very own cast iron fry pans. They are called Engel Elzen and I want to give one away today valued at $295.00. The recipe this week is one from our EngelElzen website. It's a great little number and will enable any member of the family to be able cook it for their dad. In any pan!   goodfromscratc...

Masks- as we move closer to our current restrictions getting a review, will mask mandates be scrapped soon? Less people wear them out and about to public facing events nowadays, and whether or not they are still needed is facing debate. BusinessDesk investments editor and host of the Cooking the Books podcast, Frances Cook and producer and commentator Irene Gardiner share their thoughts on the cur...

If you had needed any reminder, the last couple of months have shown just how passionate we are about rugby in this country.   New Zealand Herald Feature Writer Greg Bruce has written a rugby memoir of sorts, looking at life growing up in a country obsessed by rugby.   Rugby Head is the name of the book, and Greg Bruce uses this book to share his favourite memories associated with rugby, as well a...

Erin O’hara is the co-founder, director, naturopath and yoga teacher at Golden Yogi.  She holds a bachelor of science (physiology) and a bachelor of natural medicine.  In honour of Father’s Day, she offers her insights into the state of men’s mental health. Men still struggle with sharing their emotions, especially when feeling low or anxious. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Foo Fighters pay tribute to Taylor Hawkins, former drummer who passed last March at age 50. This 5 hour concert experience took place at a packed Wembley Stadium and included Liam Gallagher, Nile Rodgers, Supergrass, The Pretenders, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Queen, among others. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have become the type of person who is checking the new multiple times per day or running a 24 hour news show in the background, it might be time to stop. New research published in the journal Health Communication has found that news obsessed people are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety and physical ill health.  Dr Michelle Dickenson explains that we’ve had an uptick in bad news ove...

New Zealand actor and producer Cliff Curtis up next to talk about his latest release – just before he heads back to Europe to film a new Netflix series. Crazy busy times for Cliff – but we couldn’t let him leave the country without coming in to talk to us about Muru – a really intense, action thriller which is in cinemas now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will be announced this week, replacing Boris Johnson.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey confirms that “we will expect to hear who’s won from the final two, after an original field of eleven contenders have been whittled down over the last six-seven weeks.” Gavin Grey also notes that the bookmakers have established a verdict ahead of the announcement, with Li...

The Government's attempt to add GST to Kiwisaver fees has been called a total mess. After a backlash, the Government swiftly dropped the policy the day after it was announced. Political reporter Thomas Coughlan says “This time every year, every government seems to put through an omnibus tax bill.” He says it is not unreasonable that if there is going to be a $200 million change to peoples KiwiSave...

It really feels like it’s time, doesn’t it. Time to ease mask requirements. Not because every lucky traveller returning to New Zealand bores you with stories about how the rest of the world has moved on – forgetting where it hasn’t. Not because you’re sick of rummaging in your bag for a half decent mask, through the ones that should have been disposed of long ago or are in need of a wash. And not...

Patchy, punitive and failing New Zealand's communities. That's how a new report commissioned by the Helen Clark Foundation and Drug Foundation has described the current approach to reducing meth harm. It proposes switching the focus from punitive action to a health-based approach - expanding access to holistic treatment, health-checks and information. Report lead author Philippa Yasbek says they a...

Blogger at Large.com Megan Singleton joined the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin to discuss Nelson and Tasman tourism.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever noticed that some of your best ideas come in the shower or when out for a walk rather than at your desk where you've been trying to solve the same problem for hours?   Well now science has a reason for it and it's published in the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308495745_Mind-wandering_as_spontaneous_thought_a_dynamic_framework   The res...

Editor at Flicks.co.nz Steve Newall joined the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin to discuss his picks to watch this week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Roth is an acting legend, BAFTA winner, and an Academy Award nominee. He first came to international attention in Quentin Tarantino's breakout movies Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction  Since then Tim has been in all sorts of movies and TV shows, most notably The Incredible Hulk, Planet of the Apes and more recently he’s reprised his role as Emil Blonsky in She-Hulk.  His latest film is in cinema...

Paula Bennett's new podcast with the Herald, which launches today, is called Ask Me Anything, but when Kim Knight sits down with the former politician, she discovers some things are still off-limits - even for a self-confessed oversharer. A few days before nominations for the Auckland mayoralty closed, Paula Bennett had regrets. "I said to my husband - we do not talk about Auckland. You do not get...

NZ Herald Political Reporter Adam Pearse joined the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin to discuss the Maria Dew QC review into Sam Uffindell, Gaurav Sharma's exile, and the protests that occured on Tuesday.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marked six months since Russia invaded Ukraine. It also marked Ukraine’s Independence Day, one that this year was possibly more significant than in previous years. President Volodymir Zelenskyy using the occasion to vow his country will fight to the end. British investigative journalist John Sweeney has been on the ground in Ukraine over the last six months and has detailed Putin’s presi...

When my just 16-year-old son asked me yesterday, who are you talking to on the show tomorrow, I started building a list of films and TV series in my head to explain to him who my guest is, Tim Roth.   But there was no need. “Mr Orange” was my son’s response. “Cool.”   Mr Orange is, of course, the character Tim Roth played 30 years ago in Quentin Tarantino’s debut feature film Reservoir Dogs , rele...