The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

This week I have been reading Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger. The book marks the first time Elon Musk has given an author free reign inside SpaceX to speak with employees about the company’s early years, and Musk himself was generous with his time so that Berger could get an understanding of his leadership style. What you take away from this boo...

Collagen is one product that gets hyped up a lot as an anti-aging treatment, that can smooth wrinkles and renew your skin. But does it actually have those benefits - and do you need supplements to get more collagen in your life, or can you achieve that through your diet? Wellbeing expert and naturopath Erin O'Hara joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Most of us know that catnip makes cats go crazy - but did you know that it was a mosquito repellent. A new study has been released this week which explores why, and it all has to do with the iridoid compounds. And the same plant receptor combination has an interesting connection to humans and wasabi! Nanogirl Michelle Dickinson joined Francesca Rudkin to explain. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...

AP reporter Marcela Isaza reports on how the 2021 Grammy Awards will unfold I have covered the Grammy Awards for the Associated Press for 15 years. But this strange year feels like the first time. Built around performances, full of singing and shouting, and with the biggest crowd of any awards show, the Grammys seem uniquely wrong for a world still in the coronavirus pandemic. But organizers are t...

Its Bluff oyster time – and Mike van de Elzen has just been down south to mark the start of the season. This week, he wants to share a bit of the history of the popular seafood delicacy – as well as share a couple of ways he has served it over the years. Classic's Eaten raw with some finally sliced shallots and some sherry vinegar. Sherry vinegar is readily available now. It’s the preferred vinega...

Ben Elton has a truly packed CV. He first launched on to the comedy scene 40 years ago, and came to fame in 1985 as he hosted the UKs Saturday Live. Since then he’s had huge success as a stand-up comic, he’s the author of 16 books and he’s written smash-hit West End plays such as We Will Rock You. And there’s the screen career: he’s written shows such as The Young Ones, The Thin Blue Line, Blackad...

The Government this week faced criticism for a nearly 24 hour delay between making the decision on Auckland's latest alert level move and announcing it. Auckland moved back to alert level one on Friday at midday - which was announced at a 11:30am press conference. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the time said Cabinet made an in-principle decision on Thursday, pending test results overnight.  She...

Locked 3-apiece, Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa will be looking to the weather gods - and the possibility of strengthening winds - as a key factor in the coming days. The America's Cup rivals return to the Hauraki Gulf today for two more races and what could be a decisive day of foiling - they each need to win four more races in the best-of-13 series to lift the Auld Mug. The first six races have...

Up until a year ago Dr Richard Chen had been running an urgent care facility, treating broken bones and acute medical problems. All that changed when Covid-19 hit our shores. In February last year, Dr Chen signed on to help run quarantine facilities at the Whangaparoa Naval Base – the facility that dealt with returnees of Wuhan and then from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Since then he’s been o...

As Aucklanders slipped back into their second level 3 lock down in two weeks, and the rest of the country into Level 2, once again our hearts went out to those in hospitality and events industries, to retailers, and businesses unable to operate, to those who have important medical appointments or weddings postponed.   My heart also went out to parents. A level 3 lockdown means juggling the stress...

As Auckland moves out of Alert Level 3, many in the city are hoping to not find themselves in that position again - while counting themselves lucky it was only a week.  Auckland moved down to Level 2 this morning, and the rest of the country down to Level 1, after a week at higher alert levels due to the threat of Covid-19 exposure at various locations due to a positive case being out in the commu...

Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn The first book in the Regency-era romance series behind the hit Netflix TV show. Knock Knock by Anders Roslun It’s set seventeen years after a young girl survives a family shooting and is placed under witness protection, but now it seems the killers are back. There’s a break-in at the apartment where the original crime occurred and Inspector Ewert Grens is...

Alert level changes may have forced many to cancel plans for holidays or weekends away last minute, people are still being urged to commit to their plans. Travel blogger Megan Singleton joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss the ramifications of the latest lockdown but also why its important to still focus on travel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After another week of level 3 in Auckland, the country is once again reminded of how devastating Covid-19 and lockdowns can be for businesses. But in a time of despair for many, it was a time of pivoting and a time where entrepreneurial spirit shone. And it’s the focus of a new book written by two men who were very much part of the pivoting themselves. They are businessman, author and manager at N...

This week on March 4th, it was World Obesity Day, which aims to address the causes of obesity and how to medically treat. It is one of the world's fastest-growing diseases, but many still think of it as being the result of eating too much and not exercising enough - when in reality, there are a number of genetic, behavioural, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight. Wellbeing expert Erin...

Mikes Creamed Corn on Oat bread rolls 6 x fresh corn 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 tbsp creme fraiche salt and pepper Rolls 400ml warm water 2 tsp dried yeast 2 tsp brown sugar 100g wholemeal flour 500g strong flour 1 tbsp Himalayan salt 2 tbs oil 1 egg 1 tbsp milk2 tbsp oats to garnish Ensure your corn is peeled well and remove any treads from the cob. Using a coarse grater grate the corn from the hus...

Everyone around the world has learnt about social distancing over the past year - but some animals have been doing this naturally for years. New research published in the journal Science has highlighted some of the many non-human species that already practice social distancing to stop the spread of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. And, just like with humans in the last year, these anima...

In 2017 Julie Zarifeh suffered the most unimaginable loss. That November, Julie lost her husband Paul to pancreatic cancer. 16 days later her eldest son, 27-year-old son Sam, was killed in a white water rafting accident on the West Coast’s Landsborough River. As a clinical psychologist, Julie knew she needed to face her grief head-on by embracing the notion of active grieving. It began a journey w...

"Bugger it" were the Prime Minister's first thoughts when she was jolted awake by an earthquake on the same day she would decide whether Auckland's Covid outbreak was contained and the city could come out of lockdown. Ardern felt the 7.1 east coast quake which rattled many New Zealanders awake at 2.27am on Friday. She texted Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan at 2.29am. It sparked an eventfu...

The timing couldn't be worse for Harry and Meghan. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will finally get the chance to tell the story behind their departure from royal duties directly to the public on Sunday, when their two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey is broadcast. But back home in Britain, events have conspired to overshadow the tale of a prince and his American bride. On top of the pandemic and...

Auckland's latest community Covid cluster appears to have been brought under control. The city is officially out of lockdown -- with the Auckland region now in Level Two and the rest of the country moving back to Level One. No new community cases have been reported overnight -- meaning the city has gone six straight days without further cases. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Francesc...

Today marks one year since New Zealand saw it's first case of Covid-19 - and the country is back in lockdown.  Auckland is at Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand is at Level 2 - which is set to last for at least seven days.  New Zealand's latest community case of Covid 19 declared this evening is an older sibling of a Papatoetoe High School student who was a casual plus contact. The student...

Did you know more than a third of adults don’t get the recommended amount of daily sleep? Whether it be struggling to go to sleep or stay asleep – it can be awfully frustrating and it wreaks havoc on our lives. A lack of sleep alters mood, energy, productivity and impacts immunity. Bernice Tuffery struggled with insomnia for years but made it her mission to find a solution. She's written about it...

Community leaders say they understand frustrations at Auckland's plunge into lockdown, but are calling for people to focus on crushing the latest outbreak. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a man made a mistake by going to the gym when awaiting Covid-19 test results. Announcing the latest lockdown last night, she voiced frustration, but urged Kiwis not to pillory the 21-year-old who allegedly bre...

A Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago. Anne Turner and Frances Howard were real people who met in the Jacobean court of King James the First and were involved in one of the biggest scandals of that era. They began a friendship which both rewarded and endangered them, and their story highlights the perilous plight of women in those days who stepped out of line, and the consequences. The 100 Years of...