The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

For the last couple of days, the NZ Herald and World Vision have been running a series on the Ukraine Crisis Appeal.   The appeal is highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis in and around Ukraine, one that is said to be the fastest-growing since World War Two.   As part of the coverage former journalist and World Vision aid worker, Kiwi Mike Bruce is in Romania.   Former Whanganui couple Kasia...

One of the many truths about us humans is that generally most of us don’t like change.   In theory, we appreciate that it may be good, required or even desperately needed, but often not enough to overcome our preference for just, well, not doing anything. Our comfort is in complacency.   Busy lives, stressful jobs, the joys and juggle of raising a family means the majority of us spend our time acc...

Reputation by Sarah Vaughan. She wrote a wonderful book celled Anatomy of a Scandal a few years ago which I believe is coming to Netflix in April. Can’t wait. It reminded me quite a bit of Apple Tree Yard which you must have read/seen? (and if you haven’t, you must!)  Emma is a British politician who knows that reputation is everything. So, having already sacrificed a great deal for her career, it...

So, 2 nights in Nelson, town is buzzing but I feel like – for the first time in my life – I’m an early adopter!  It’s like tourism is just starting but the businesses are being overwhelmed. We waited an hour for our dinner last night and a guy from the restaurant next door came in to help serve. They had no idea where everyone was coming from. Our hotel breakfast took half an hour to be cooked as...

Entrepreneur and educator Frances Valintine is the founder and CEO of The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab.  Her work is dedicated to understanding and preparing people for the future of work and helping them live full and successful lives.  Frances has used insights from her own career to write a new book – Future You.  Frances Valintine joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

Topic: The superpower of antioxidants  - What are antioxidants?   - How do they support your health? Health benefits?  - Natural Food sources of antioxidants?  - Foods vs Supplements?  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/listener for privacy in...

This week has been hard on us all! I especially feel for the food manufacturing industry.  Not only are our hospitality struggling to open the doors, but I have never seen our supermarket shelves so empty.   We are all trying our best, but when there's a bread shortage and supermarkets are limiting bread sales, it's a worry.  I can help with that!  Here’s my focaccia recipe, it's a super quick bre...

Where do you store your apples? In a fruit bowl? Apparently, that is where most of us store them.  What temperature is your fridge set to? 4°C? Apparently, it should be but most of us have it set higher.  This all comes from new research out this week looking into ways to help reduce food waste.  The 18-month study looked into five commonly wasted food items – apples, bananas, broccoli, cucumber a...

Semi-improvised Netflix murder mystery comedy series Murderville;  New Netflix thriller series Pieces of Her, starring Toni Collette.  Editor at flicks.co.nz, Steve Newall joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a week filled with dark and shocking news, it was gorgeous to see photos and videos of New Zealanders returning from across the globe and reconnecting with loved ones at airport arrival lounges. The long, smothering hugs said it all.  These Love Actually moments were a glimpse of pre-pandemic life (albeit with masks on). I’m sure there were a moments of sheer disbelief as loved ones drove away...

Hayley Sproull is everywhere; she’s taken over your television screen, she’s a breakfast radio host, a comedian and somehow, she’s found time for some theatre!  Her new show is going to be beaming into your lounges, it’s part of the Auckland Arts Festival, called Live Live Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors – Lockdown Edition.  Hayley Sproull joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

This week, Newshub Europe correspondent Lisette Reymer has spent time on the border in Poland as Ukrainian civilians flee the country.  Lisette has now crossed back into Western Ukraine and is in Lviv.   She joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is doing his state of the nation speech at 10.30am – has Luxon revealed the details of his speech?   What should we expect? He’s hinted at a police announcement.  NZ Herald political editor, Claire Trevett joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ground-breaking research into the long-term impact of concussion in sport has found chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE in the brains of more than half of donors.  The preliminary findings were released this week by the Australian Sports Brain Bank, which has studied donations from 21 former sports players since 2018.  Associate Professor Alan Pearce is the Research Manager at The Australian S...

Shelter by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins – a story of a relationship between a couple of gay guys – who are together, then apart and then together again – set in Auckland and with the author’s strong architectural knowledge and sensibilities the city really comes alive.  It’s his first novel.  Dark Horse is the 7th book in the Orphan X series. All set around Evan Smoak who was plucked from an orphanage at...

Megan Singleton joined Francesca Rudkin on the travel trends of 2022. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should MIQ go?   The anti-mandate protests – can you just do whatever you want now?    Tips for taking a RAT test.  Jo McCarroll and Nick Mills joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her books are so prescient and timely, author Sarah Vaughan has been asked if she has a crystal ball.  A news buff from way back, Sarah used to be a political reporter for The Guardian in the UK.  Now, the political news and her real-life observations are giving her inspiration for her novels, one of which has been turned into a show about to drop on Netflix.  Her latest novel is Reputation.  Sara...

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.  How to manage anxiety with COVID surge in the community:  With the covid numbers rising it can make us feel anxious. What causes anxiety and tips on how to approach uncertainty with clear-headedness?  Identify emotional triggers  Notice th...

Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nz    This week we have been watching loads of fishing boats leaving the shores of Muriwai and then coming back loaded with snapper and other fish.   Lucky them I say!   So, this week I want to tell you about a classic fish cake. We have made loads of them in the past and after talking to Bee tonight. I feel the classic fishcake is making a comeback    Fish cake...

Apple TV has a new series – “Severance”. Wouldn’t you like to forget your workday as soon as you leave the office?  A new tribute album Ocean Child highlights the songwriting chops of Yoko Ono on her 89th birthday.  Curated by Death Cab for Cutie frontman Benjamin Gibbard, Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono is set to drop on Ono’s 89th birthday. The collection features covers from Ono’s musical catalo...

Usually, when scientists carry out experiments, they have a good idea of what the outcome will be. However, they don't usually expect to be outsmarted by magpies!  The researchers attached tiny, backpack-like tracking devices to five Australian magpies for a study. The backpacks contained a GPS tracker system that interacted with a Magpie feeding table. When the birds landed on the table, the back...

Well, it’s been quite a week, hasn’t it?    Covid numbers are up, as expected. We moved to Phase 3 of the Omicron outbreak. Russia invaded Ukraine, and Wellington protestors have taken to wearing tin foil hats.    In between trying to buy RAT tests for people struggling to get to testing sites, supporting friends heading into isolation due to a positive result, and answering my daughter’s query ab...

Jo Morgan’s life has been incredibly varied, a life of fearlessness and determination.  Jo has lived in a house bus, travelled the world on a motorbike.  Her jobs have included diving instructor and bus driver.  She’s the wife of economist Garth Morgan and mother of four, including Trade Me founder Sam.  At the age of 57, Jo took up mountaineering and three years ago survived an avalanche that kil...

A cycling world championship is taking place this morning.  The course is in New York; however, competitors are racing from their own homes all over the world – one of those competitors is former New Zealand Commonwealth Games Mountain Biker Sonia Foote.  Sonia completed the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships from her Rotorua garage.  Sonia Foote joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omn...