The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Did you know it has been 7 years since the last New Zealand season of MasterChef?! I was quite blown away by that ...   The show is back on our screens tonight but not only does judge Nadia Lim have a new TV show out, she also has a new cookbook. This one is dedicated to feeding our children nutritious, delicious meals. And anyone with kids out there knows exactly how hard that can be.   The book...

Schools have called for compulsory mask wearing as we head into winter but Erin O’Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss this.  Even the World Health Organisation says the need to prevent Covid needs to be balanced carefully against “psychosocial development” when considering masks for six to 12-year-olds.  Erin is the co-founder, director, naturopath and yoga teacher at Golden Yogi. She holds a...

Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nz  I'm going to be in Wellington in the morning for the Wellington food show, which is somewhat nervous and exciting to be back in front of crowds after almost 3 years. So, I hope a huge crowd turns up! I'm on at 12.15pm (just saying).  This week we are back into one of me most favourite foods:  Crispy fried chicken, but this chicken is baked not fried. I love...

There is some big news in vaccine science this week.  The first human patient was dosed with a new experimental cancer-killing virus as part of a brand-new trial.   The vaccine contains a virus that has been genetically engineered to selectively kill cancer cells as well as amplifying the body's immune response to the cancer.  The vaccine, called Vaxinia, is an oncolytic virus which means that it...

Steve Newall, editor at flicks.co.nz, joined Francesca Rudkin on the Tate Music Prize 2022 and the winners of Cannes Film Festival 2022.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Horowitz is a prolific author; he’s written over 50 books … unbelievably he has three coming out in the next three months!  His books include the hugely successful Alex Rider series, Foyle’s War, Sherlock Holmes … he’s also a writer for TV and film and occasion journalist.  Back in 2014, Anthony was invited by Ian Fleming’s estate to write official James Bond books. The third in his Bond t...

We are big fans of Dancing with the Stars on this show.    While we would love to see our Kerre in the final tonight, we do have one of our regular panellists Brodie Kane to cheer on.    Brodie had promised if she made the final she would be performing to Proud Mary, so tonight is the night!  Brodie Kane joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Walmart has announced America’s largest scale roll-out of its new delivery service … and get this … it’s by Drone.  The company partnering with Walmart to make this happen is DroneUp.  To talk Francesca Rudkin through the future of drone delivery services, CEO of Drone Up Tom Walker joined the show.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB’s chief political reporter joined Francesca Rudkin to update us all on how the PMs US trip is going.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the moment it feels like our health sector is nothing but bad news – story after bad news story – staff shortages and long delays all made worse by the impact of Covid-19.   But there is amazing work being done in the health sector and I’d love to highlight one of those today.   Dr Samantha Holdsworth has created a world-leading research facility in Gisborne called Matai.   The focus is on adva...

This week I went to Top Gun: Maverick   I’m almost embarrassed to say but for the first time in many, many years I found myself whooping – yes, out loud – with delight at a scene or two in this long-awaited sequel.   The film is such good fun – a classic old school blockbuster presented in a modern, thrilling way. It's filled with nostalgia, humour, heart, stunning air acrobatics and Tom Cruise.  ...

Trust by Hernan Diaz. Terrifically clever novel – it’s four interlinked books, the first of which tells the story of a hugely successful 1920’s NYC financier; the second the memoir of Andrew Bevel, a similarly successful man who claims the first book was a fiction based on his life, and who believes his wife was misrepresented and wants to set the record straight – which he attempts to do by hirin...

I’ve had a wonderful week in Welly and working on a post about things to do that you may not have thought of.    I’ve found a place for a massage, rode an e scooter, had high tea at the QT, found a cafe for awesome plane spotting – and more!   Megan Singleton, bloggeratlarge.com, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Australian election result a warning to Jacinda Ardern? Do you think it will be hard for leaders of the last few years to hold their positions what with having to have put Covid protocols in place and now dealing with inflation?  Budget – what was one thing that impressed you, and one thing that disappointed you? Did it feel like this budget was cobbled together?  Business Desk Investments...

Joe Cole is most recognised for his role as John Shelby on the hit show Peaky Blinders.  Interestingly, it’s a role Joe left, with the show at its peak, to avoid being typecast.   Joe Cole’s latest role is spy Harry Palmer in Acorn TVs The Ipcress File.  Joe joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety Disorders are very common. Approximately 1 in 3 New Zealanders will be affected by an anxiety disorder at some stage in their lives. At any one time, 20% of the population will be affected.  Erin 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.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listene...

This week Mike wants to talk about a tasty little naked Italian.  Gnudi are an Italian favourite, consisting of Ricotta dough balls cooked simply with butter.   Which is where they get their name from. The English word Nudi or Naked.   Very similar to Gnocchi, however, they are a lot lighter as they are Ricotta based rather than a heavier potato or flour-based recipe.  Some say they are featherlig...

This week it's moon dust!  So, you may have heard of NASA's Artemis program which has a goal of returning humans to the moon within the next couple of years.  The last time we did this was, astoundingly, in 1972 with Apollo 17.  There are many goals with this new mission, one of them being to find out if we can live long-term on the moon, and eventually long-term on Mars!  For the last few years,...

Cannes Film Festival is underway – what’s been happening and what’s coming up?  The first ever Rolling Stone Music Awards announced for NZ.  Steve Newall, editor at flicks.co.nz, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multi-Grammy Award winner and member of Maroon 5 PJ Morton has released a new single.  The song is ‘Be Like Water’ featuring Stevie Wonder and Nas off his new solo album Watch the Sun.   The album is out now and PJ Morton joined Francesca Rudkin from New Orleans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week on the show we were talking to Lisette Reymer about former Defence Minister Ron Mark and his aid mission in Ukraine.   Ron couldn’t join us last week due to safety issues but is now back in New Zealand.  Ron joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern has congratulated Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.  He's become the 31st Prime Minister of Australia, after emerging as the frontrunner from yesterday's election.  But the Labor leader is likely to need the support of smaller parties and independents to form a government.  Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen told Francesca Rudkin Ardern called Albanese before...

Australia has a new Prime Minister.   The country has voted for change, here is their new leader, Labor’s leader Anthony Albanese accepting victory last night.   Coalition Leader Scott Morrison has conceded defeat and will stand down as Liberal Leader.   Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, what a week for being in the live TV business.   I’ve become a little addicted to Dancing with the Stars. I was first drawn to the show to support my colleague Kerre Woodham, who in a crazy turn of events has been recalled to the show and, in her own words, is going to crawl across the Covid corpses of her fellow competitors to try and get a hand on the Glitterball. But it didn’t take long f...

Lorna Subritzky and Nick Mills joined Francesca Rudkin for the Sunday Panel. On the agenda was the Nurses' Union claim our health system is 4000 nurses short, what constitutes a sick day and how much personal responsibility we need to take to reduce our emissions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.