The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Travelling can get expensive, but Megan Singleton's unveiled a solution to keep track of costs. The Splitwise app can add up expenses and reveal a total of who owes what to whom when you're travelling in a group. Megan explained further - read more of her travel tips here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 8 March 2026, Sol3 Mio star Pene Pati has gone from singing in South Auckland rest homes to the grandest opera stages around the world. He talks about his journey and just how demanding the opera world is. Former foreign correspondent Charlotte Glennie suffered critical injuries in a fall in 2001, she joins Francesca to talk...

This week on The Sunday Panel, host of the Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, and Coast day host Lorna Riley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Luxon’s leadership has been questioned this week, but looking across the board - where is the leadership?  Are we stuck with our current political leaders because there is no one else to step up? Where is the...

Choline is an essential nutrient that is required for optimal health, and it plays a key role in healthy brain function, heart health, and liver function. Research indicates that over 90 percent of New Zealanders and Australians fail to meet the recommended daily intake for choline.  Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained the benefits of choline, and how we can add more of it to...

Flounder with burnt butter, capers and parsley Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 12 flounder fillets   1 cup seasoned plain flour with salt and white pepper   4 tbsp sunflower oil   100 gm unsalted butter, cut into small cubes   2 lemons   4 tbsp capers   1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped roughly Flaky salt and cracked pepper 1 dried chilli, crushed...

Have you ever wondered why some people seem particularly drawn to conspiracy theories, even when the evidence doesn’t support them?  New research suggests the answer may have less to do with intelligence or critical thinking, and more to do with how people naturally process information. A study published in the journal Cognitive Processing found that people who strongly prefer order, patterns...

It's been a big week for Harry Styles fans, with his fourth studio album Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally being released on Friday. As part of the album launch, Harry's sold-out show in Manchester's Co-op Arena has been recorded and will be available on Netflix for fans all over the world. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

War in the Middle East is also becoming a war of words - as the conflict enters its second week. Meanwhile, there's been reports Iran's new Supreme Leader could be chosen within 24 hours. The Economist's Middle East Correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom, says the narrative of this war is constantly changing - especially from US President Donald Trump. "A week ago, he was saying he wanted to give Iran bac...

Defence Minister Judith Collins says two Air Force planes will be heading to an undisclosed location in the Middle East to help any Kiwis who are stranded. The White House says the war could last four to six weeks - with Israel unleashing a new wave of strikes on Iran. A C-130J Hercules aircraft left Auckland's Whenuapai - and another was sent earlier to the Middle East, after being in Asia. Newst...

There's suspicions speculation around Chris Luxon's future won't be subsiding, even after he firmly ruled out stepping aside.  This week's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has National down to 28.4 percent, with Labour able to govern alongside the Greens and Te Pati Maori.  The Prime Minister's assured the public he had his MP's backing and won't be going anywhere. Taxpayers' Union Executive...

Well, it was an interesting end of the week when it comes to domestic politics.   With rumours swelling on Friday that the Prime Minister was considering his future over the weekend, he had to act quickly. There was absolutely no way he could go into the weekend with even the hint of speculation he was considering his future.   When a sitting Prime Minister signals they are “considering...

Amanda Knox was arrested for the murder of her flatmate, wrongly convicted, and spent four years in an Italian prison, and she's looking back on her journey in a new documentary. Mouth of the Wolf follows Amanda’s first trip back to Italy in years to face the people and places that shaped her story.  Amanda Knox and her husband, Christopher Robinson, worked on the project together and the pai...

Physicist professor Brian Cox is a bit of a rockstar in the science world. When he’s not hosting his BBC shows, Brian is touring the world making science engaging and accessible.  He performed his last show to over half a million people globally - and now he’s back and apparently bigger than ever, with his 'Emergence' show set to kick off in June. "The show really tells the story - it starts...

Kin by Tayari Jones - who was the author of a wonderful book called An American Marriage a few years ago, which I loved. In this new one, Vernice and Annie are both motherless, close as sisters, growing up in small town Louisiana during the Jim Crow years. Their lives take them in different directions - Vernice to Atlanta and college, whilst Annie heads to Memphis in constant search of the mother...

Megan Singleton recently took a staycation an hour and a half out of Auckland to check out the new Clements Hotel. The hotel is housed in the oldest commercial building in Cambridge and used to be the infamous old Masonic Hotel. Megan unpacked the new changes - check out the full review here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, director at 818 Chris Henry and resident economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! What do we make of IAWAI’s proposal to charge new builds a growth charge for water infrastructure maintenance and upgrades? Is that a fairer option than all ratepayers covering the cost? Or should it be spread mor...

Both matcha and coffee will give you a noticable energy boost in the morning, but which drink is really better for you Matcha is generally considered healthier than coffee due to its high concentration of antioxidants - and it give you a 'calmer' boost without the crash afterwards. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara compared the drinks to examine the health benefits of both. LISTEN ABOVE S...

Cook time: 40 minutes  Prep time: 60 minutes  Serves: 6-8 1 size 14 chicken  2 litres cold water 200 gm un-iodized salt 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 tbsp flour 1 onion, peeled and sliced 4 cloves garlic, crushed 500 ml chicken stock   1 tbsp dijion mustard 1 lemon, zested 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan 2 sheets puff pastry 1 egg Whisk the salt into the water until dissolved. Submer...

We’ve all grown up on the same story, from Romeo and Juliet to Titanic, from ancient myths to modern rom-coms, the message is pretty consistent: somewhere out there is The One. One epic love. One soulmate. One lightning bolt that strikes once in a lifetime.  But new research published in the journal  Interpersona suggests something a little less cinematic. A large study from researchers...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for 1 March 2026, rockstar physicist Professor Brian Cox is bringing his latest show to New Zealand, he joins Francesca to talk about breaking world records, misinformation and returning to his love of music. Wrongly convicted Amanda Knox and her husband Christopher Robinson have released a documentary about Amanda's return to Italy. &n...

It's been nearly 2 years since Charli XCX's Brat album launched - inspiring memes, a successful tour and festival run and more. The album put Charli XCX on the map as a main pop presence, but her newest project looks into the process of winning over the zeitgeist. The Moment premiered at Sundance and is set to arrive in New Zealand theatres later this week, and Steve Newall revealed whether it's w...

It's been revealed UK supermarket giant Tesco declined the Finance Minister's invitation for a meeting to discuss the issues in our grocery sector. Nicola Willis announced a request for information last year, aiming to explore what barriers prevented a new competitor from breaking up Woolworths and Foodstuffs duopoly. The supermarket opted not to participate in the process, alongside two other sup...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have issued a joint statement on the escalating tension in the Middle East. The US and Israel launched a massive assault on Iran overnight with reports of more than 500 targets hit. It's reported more than 200 people have been killed in the strikes across Iran and there's also claims the country's Supreme Leader is now dead. Form...

A suggestion new builds in Waikato should foot the bill for new water infrastructure, to protect existing households from rising costs. The new water services company IAWAI is proposing water supply and wastewater growth charges of $500 per year for 25 years on all new residential builds. Over ten years, the charges would generate $46.3 million dollars. Chief executive Peter Winder says it's impor...

Israeli officials have claimed Iran's Supreme Leader has been killed, following the US and Israel's major military operation on the country.  The Iranian Red Cross says more than 200 people have been killed in strikes, including 85 people at a girls' school. Iran has hit back in retaliation, launching missiles across the Middle East, including in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait - all of which...