The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Steve Newall, editor at flicks.co.nz, joined Tim Beveridge to discuss the Neil Young/Spotify saga and the new film Pam and Tommy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Hunt is a global superstar, one of New Zealand's most successful sports people.  He’s credited for changing the Martial Arts landscape and being one of the hardest hitters in the sport.  A new documentary is telling the story behind the fighter, it’s called Mark Hunt: Fight of his life.  The film is in cinemas this week.  Mark Hunt joined Tim Beveridge.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/liste...

School is back for most around the country this week, but what will school look like with the threat of Omicron?  Schools have been busy preparing for this.  Principal of Point Chevalier School and President of the Auckland Primary Principal’s Association, Stephen Lethbridge, joined Tim Beveridge.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM is self-isolating after finding out she is a close contact.   What is going on with the RAT scandal?  The National Caucus Retreat starts tomorrow.  NZ Herald Political Reporter Thomas Coughlan joined Tim Beverage.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi Journalist stranded overseas hopes the Government will look at whether the managed isolation system is fit for purpose.   Charlotte Bellis found out she was pregnant in Qatar, where it's illegal to be unmarried and pregnant.   She and her partner fled for Afghanistan – the only place they had visas for.   An emergency application for MIQ with 59 supporting documents was rejected.   Bellis t...

Anthem by Noah Hawley. Brand new, just out this week – this is a truly epic story set in the US post Covid where there’s an epidemic of anxiety plaguing the younger generation and young Simon Oliver is packed off by his very wealthy parents (made their fortune in something similar to OxyContin), to an expensive Anxiety Treatment clinic near Chicago where he meets a group of similarly affected youn...

Right, it’s time to open up, to talk about “the change” ... to normalise menopause.  Health journalist and author Nicky Pellegrino is leading the way looking to reshape how women experience menopause and how our lives can even be better for it,  Pellegrino has written the ultimate guide to menopause for the modern woman, it’s called Don’t Sweat it.    Nicky Pellegrino joined Francesca Rudkin.  LIS...

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.  Erin O’Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss whether you should pay close attention to the current wellness trends or if you should treat them as a trial and evaluate the situation yourself.  Current health and wellness trends of 2022   -...

Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nz  Welcome back people,   Hope we all had a great break!  This week I'm talking about plums! we have loads of them ready to go on the farm and have been featuring them in the classes. There's so many things you can do with plums like.  1. Bake them in some tin foil with star anise and cinnamon and serve with soft cream  2. Stew them down and turn into a puree t...

The big science news this week is xenotransplantation.  The transplanting of tissues or organs from animals to humans.  In a medical first, two weeks ago in the US we saw the first transplanted (genetically modified) pig’s heart into a human patient.  This isn't the first time that scientists have attempted to use animal organs to replace human ones, but previous attempts have failed.  Nanogirl, D...

Steve Newall, editor at flicks.co.nz, joined Francesca Rudkin to review Paul Thomas Anderson’s Oscar-contender Licorice Pizza, and the strange case of fans suing Universal for deceptive and misleading advertising – because of a trailer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever watched Forrest Gump and been tempted to run across America five times?  That’s exactly what British veterinarian Rob Pope did, he quit his job in pursuit of his dream – to be the first person to complete the famous Forrest Gump run.  Starting in Alabama he ran 15,621 miles in 422 days, that’s five times across America and he did it all dressed as Forrest Gump.  Rob Pope has written...

A study last year found two thirds of artificial intelligence experts do not believe the technology would be used for social good as soon as 2030.  A former Google scientist is tackling the problem – Dr Alan Cowen has founded Hume AI with the aim of making artificial intelligence more empathetic and human.  Dr Alan Cowen joins me now from California.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Jason Walls joined Francesca Rudkin to talk all things Omicron and the traffic light system.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A National Party MP has called on the richest man on earth to help Tonga get its communications up and running again.  A marine cable is expected to take weeks to repair, following last weekend's huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami.  Dr Shane Reti told Francesca Rudkin he decided to Tweet Elon Musk, who owns Starlink, an internet satellite network.  He says his message was retweeted rapidl...

Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of filling in on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame, and so left a short list of jobs for the family to complete. Nothing too taxing; get some washing on, pick up a pair of ballet shoes, and grab a few things at the supermarket.   When I got home after midday, everyone was exhausted. And it wasn’t the heat.   Turns out, quite a few people had taken Speaker of th...

Wish You were Here by Jodi Picoult. The story of two people in their 30s, living in NYC and planning a getaway trip to the Galapagos – where she’s sure he’s going to propose – when Covid arrives and spoils their plans. He’s a doctor and the hospital where he works cancels all leave, but he says she should go instead. The book is told in two parts – the first being that change to their plans and th...

I’m flying to Hawkes Bay on Sunday morning for my family Christmas lunch. I land at 11am and will work out to be somewhere with good cell coverage for my final segment of the year!  I’m excited NZ is 90% double vaxxed. I think this will bode very well for NZ being a huge draw for overseas tourists when we finally open our borders. I got my booster shot and I think those of us who want to travel ar...

Omicron – heading into summer are you worried about the new variant?   The Lowlights/Highlights of the political year   Christmas wish list for 2022  1News senior reporter Katie Bradford and political commentator Ben Thomas joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A HUGE Friday for kiwi band LAB.  They dominated the Aotearoa Music Awards, picking up four Tui’s – winning best album, best group, best roots artist and single of the year for Why oh Why.  It wouldn’t be summer without a new LAB album; on Friday they also released their fifth album in five years – LAB 5.  LAB lead vocalist Joel Shadbolt joined Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...

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.  Erin joined Francesca Rudkin to talk all things hayfever.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike’s website –  www.goodfromscratch.co .nz    Well, that's that! 2021 is almost over.  For the final Christmas segment, I want to run you through a recipe that uses that left-over Christmas ham.   But I've added a touch of greens too!! What! Kale on boxing day I hear you say!   Yes, give them a go as they are delicious and they might just help you feel a bit better after your Xmas day celebratio...

Good news to end the year – you are just as smart as a rocket scientist!  The phrases “it’s not rocket science” and “it’s not brain surgery” are often used to describe tasks that aren't very difficult or that don't require much thought.  However, the phrase also implies that these jobs require high-level intelligence, so are rocket scientists and brain surgeons smarter than the average person?  Ne...

Georgia Pritchett is a five-time Emmy award winning scriptwriter, she also has a Golden Globe, a Bafta and according to her official bio, a Trampolining Proficiency Level 1 Certificate.  You will absolutely be familiar with Georgia’s work, she’s written for some of the best TV shows in recent years, including smash hit show Succession, VEEP and Thick of It.   Her memoir is out now, it’s a story he...