The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

If you’ve been traveling the country, or maybe just looking out the window, this week there is no mistaking autumn is well upon us. The changing leaves, cooler mornings and evenings and, of course, the return to New Zealand Standard time all mark the end of the golden weather.   And what a truly golden summer it has been.   Having two long weekends in this school holiday makes this first break in...

The Boy from Gorge River by Chris Long: 3rd book in a series about his family. There was originally A Life on Gorge River, and then A Wife on Gorge River and now the son of the family – he’s 30 – has written his story about growing up in such an incredibly remote location and what that was like and what it’s meant to his life. These people got off the grid long before most of the rest of us were t...

Cruise ships might be getting the green light to start coming back into the country.   Megan Singleton, bloggeratlarge.com, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, if there’s anyone that comes to mind if I wanted advice on living a natural life, it would have to be Wendyl Nissen.  Journalist, broadcaster and magazine editor … Wendyl gave up corporate life 20 years ago to live a more laid-back life in the Hokianga.  She’s the author of 11 books on chemical-free living and old-fashioned ways of life – her new one is called Natural Care – Taking Care of Y...

Lack of sleep is not the only reason you are feeling mentally or physically exhausted.  Other reasons why you might be feeling exhausted are low iron level, low thyroid function, post-viral fatigue, stress and feeling overwhelmed, depression and low moods, lack of motivation, unhealthy habits – not enough exercise, lack of water, too much alcohol, caffeine reliance, staying up late, too much sugar...

Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nz  Today I want to talk about making risotto. One of my most enjoyable dishes.   I get asked so many times what is your most favourite dish? Mushroom risotto is one of them!  But it's all about the process.  Super tasty mushroom risotto  Mushroom risotto  Prep time: 20 mins  Cooking time: 25 mins  6 tbsp grapeseed oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garl...

While some of us might want to live forever, realistically, humans on average live until about the age of 80.  Scientists have often wondered what determines how long a species of mammal lives for. What makes a South Asian rat only live for six months but a bowhead whale for 200 years?  Initially, it was thought to be to do with size or heart rate, with smaller mammals living shorter lives and hav...

Do you have enough fun in your life? True, free-spirited fun?  Catherine Price is a science journalist, author, speaker and screen/life balance expert.  Her new book is The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.  Catherine Price joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week an exciting new pathway was announced for New Zealand’s women sailors.  A star-studded team has been launched to race high-speed foiling catamarans, backed by two of the world’s best – Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.  Liv Mackay is the inaugural skipper of the Live Ocean Racing team, she’s joined by Olympians Jo Aleh Alex Maloney, Molly Meech and Erica Dawson.  The team are currently compe...

This might be one a few parents are sceptical about, but apparently, our high schools are flocking toward online gaming.  One of New Zealand’s leading eSports platforms, Victory Up is behind the move into schools, providing live competitive gaming.  Founder and CEO Henry Lawton joins me.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Herald senior political reporter and host of the On The Tiles podcast, Thomas Coughlan joined Francesca Rudkin to talk about Judith Collins and the Prime Minister’s upcoming travel plans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is well on the way to reconnecting with the world – this week we saw the first step in tourists returning, with Australians now able to enter the country.  But what challenges do we face reconnecting to the world and what has two years with the borders closed done for New Zealand’s global image?  The man in charge of resetting and branding New Zealand to the world is New Zealand Story...

Hope your Easter is going well. If you’re a traditionalist I hope you enjoyed your hot cross buns on Good Friday, and have been searching the house or garden for eggs this morning. Easter is a time to celebrate new beginnings and life, family traditions and, for many of us, a welcome break that acknowledges the start of the year is over and the middle awaits.   It’s also a time of confusing and bi...

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. Author of The Alice Network which I loved. She has a real knack for identifying actual real women who’ve played critical roles in the world wars, and then writing a fictional account of them. This one is set during WW2 about an aspiring historian, Mila Pavlichenko, whose life in Kiev revolves around her young son – until Hitler's invasion of Russia changes everything...

While the rest of the country is amazing and full of adventure, we often forget how brilliant and vibrant Auckland City can be. Last night, Megan was on the harbour and on Wednesday she went on a walking tour around K Road.  There were lots of renowned street artists and their murals went up to 3 stories high.  This was a fun 2-hour walk of awesome street art that you’d never know was here! Born o...

Will Smith has been given a 10-year ban from the Oscars and Netflix has shelved plans for an upcoming project he was attached to. Are we going too far or is this justified?   There has been a new division created by Covid-19; those who have had it and those who haven’t.  What makes a good hot cross bun? Can the new varieties still be called hot cross buns?  Businessdesk investments editor, Frances...

This week, I have learnt a lot about the Queen – I have read a new book, and I don’t think I am going to need to read another book on the Queen anytime soon!    A Queen of Our Times is a fabulous, comprehensive story of Queen Elizabeth the second, her life and the longest reign in British history.   The book was written by leading royal authority Robert Hardman. Robert was given unprecedented acce...

Neurotransmitters; what is the role these chemical messengers have on body and brain function?  Dopamine helps with focus and motivation.  Serotonin is the happy hormone.  Oxytocin is also known as the cuddle/love hormone.  GABA helps with sleep and mental clarity.  Noradrenaline decides your fight or flight response.  Erin is the co-founder, director, naturopath and yoga teacher at Golden Yogi. S...

This week I want to talk about a very special fruit which is only available for a very short time. It’s an orange but it’s not a normal orange, this is a blood orange.   I noticed them in our local supermarket this week for $6 per kg and most of us really don't know how special and just how hard they are to grow.   Blood orange, red staining caused by red pigments in the flesh and skin. Some peopl...

So, what do you think humans' favourite is?  Coffee? Freshly baked bread? The smell of rain after a long dry period? Petrol? Frangipani? Moss?   Scientists wanted to know whether scent preference was universal amongst humans or if there were cultural factors involved – their results are published this week in the journal Current Biology https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(22)0...

Will Smith has been banned from the Oscars for 10 years – does the punishment fit the crime  Zoë Kravitz stars in the new thriller Kimi, which is on Neon now.  Steve Newall, editor at flicks.co.nz, joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridgerton fans will be well aware of the saucy nature of some of the hit show's storylines.  Nowadays, these intimate scenes are very carefully constructed and managed.   For Bridgerton, the person overseeing the more racy and romantic moments is leading intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot.   Lizzy Talbot joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two weeks ago, New Zealand journalist Tom Mutch left Ukraine for the safety of Poland after what he described as the wildest, most terrifying, moving and tear-jerking month of his life.   Tom has now travelled back to Ukraine.  He joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why aren't we sending lethal aid to Ukraine? Has the Govt considered it?   Bloomfield’s bombshell. There's also been a mini exodus of staff – what's going on?  Poto Williams is under pressure at Parliament over police response times. Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last couple of years, parents have had an insight into our children's schooling and learning that we’ve never had before.  Home-schooling during lockdown, I'm sure some of us thrived. Others realised that we just simply weren’t made for teaching.  Many of us would have wondered – how can we help our children become really great learners?  A question that seems all the more important amid...