The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 18 January 2026, Wikipedia turned 25 this week.  Founder Jimmy Wales joins the show to share how he started the site based on trust and what it has taught him about people and the internet. This week actor Wagner Moura made Golden Globe history as the first Brazilian to win Best Actor in a Drama. He joins Francesca to ta...

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The CTU is looking to ensure New Zealand establishes its own 'right to disconnect' laws. Do we think a change is needed?   Shock among sports fans last week after All Blacks coach Scott Robertso...

It's a new year and people are looking to lose weight and improve themselves, but one expert is urging caution. Restrictive dieting may seem tempting, but research shows locking off certain types of food as 'bad' can weaken our relationship with food - and result in more weight gain in the long run. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

Tomato Kasundi Cook time: 60 minutes  Prep time: 30 minutes  Serves: 4-6 3 tbsp sunflower oil   2 tbsp sunflower seeds   2 tbsp pumpkin seeds   1 tbsp black mustard seeds   1 tbsp turmeric powder   2 tbsp cumin powder  2 tbsp coriander powder   2 small dried chili, crushed   1 cup diced white onions   ¼ cup grated ginger   4 cloves garlic...

Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years - from ancient tree resins to modern spearmint sticks, the habit has endured across cultures and centuries. Now, research in the journal in the journal  Brain Science finds what gum-chewers have long suspected - chewing gum can really affect how our brains work.  The story of gum goes back at least 8,000 years. Archaeological evidence s...

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's Loop tour kicked off at Auckland's Go Media Stadium over the weekend, and fans have been thrilled so far. Sheeran recently finished two shows in Auckland, and he's set to continue in Wellington and Christchurch later this month. ZM's Georgia Burt was at the Saturday show, and she's spoken highly of the show's setlist and effects. "Just the way that he had the...

Culinary tour host Sarah Meikle is on mission to find a lawnmower mechanic for the trip of a lifetime. Meikle and her team are set to take part in the Rickshaw Run, a charity jaunt across India, in 2027, but they can't tuk-tuk without a proper mechanic on hand. She says she's looking forward to a real adventure that allows her to explore India fully. "It's all in the aid of charity as well, so it'...

The Twinning Project was originally launched in the UK in a bid to rehabilitate prisoners with the power of sport, and it's now making its way to New Zealand. The project is a collaboration between Auckland FC, FIFA Foundation and The Department of Corrections.  Auckland FC Foundation head Harry Ngata says the club has already had a significant impact on local communities, and this project is...

The 2026 election is set to take place later this year, and it's expected we'll see an election date by the end of next week. Speculation is growing as 2026 gets under way, with the economy and international concerns set to be the top issues impacting voters. Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says it's unlikely any 'dramatic' new policies will be announced at Luxon's upcoming State of th...

As workers across the country return to their jobs for a new year, there's growing calls to give people the right to ignore their bosses after hours. A new policy document by the Council of Trade Unions is advocating for an amendment to the Employment Relations Act, off the back of Australia implementing 'right to disconnect' laws in 2024. Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey says many Ki...

Typically, we think not much real news happens in January, but there’s normally one big story which grabs our attention - be it wild fires, the Jan 6th Capitol riots or Jacinda Ardern’s resignation.  I presumed the story this January would be US imperialism, with the strike against Venezuela and the capture of its president Maduro, and the on-going question of the US’s push to control Greenla...

From prison to med school: Dr Timoti te Moke opens up about rough upbringing that led him to healthcare Dr Timoti Te Moke became a doctor at age 56, but it wasn't an easy road to get into medical school. Before he started at Middlemore Hospital, he endured a childhood filled with abuse, time in state care, in prison and eventually gangs.  He detailed his journey in his new book, The Unlikely...

'It wasn't a difficult yes': Helena Bonham Carter talks new role in Four Letters of Love  Since launching into the spotlight in the 1985 film  A Room with a View, Helena Bonham Carter has gone on to lead a memorable acting career full of iconic roles. Between The Crown , Sweeney Todd , Fight Club , the Harry Potter franchise and Ocean's 8,  her film career has no shortage of iconic...

Cook time: 10mins Prep time: 30mins Serves 6 people INGREDIENTS:  6 eggs pinch of salt 250 gm caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla paste 10 tbsp plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 50 gm melted butter 2 punnets strawberries 300 gm fresh cream 1 tsp vanilla paste 2 tbsp icing sugar METHOD: For the Sponge: Whisk the eggs and salt until well combined, add the sugar and vanilla paste and turn up to high. ...

Amanda Knox talks new book Free: My Search for Meaning In 2007, Amanda Knox was arrested for the brutal murder of her flatmate while studying in Italy - and it was a case that captured international attention. Amanda was found guilty, convicted of the murder and spent four years in an Italian prison - but she was later found to be wrongly convicted. 10 years after she was officially exonerated of...

On the Sunday Session expert gardener Jo McCaroll joined Francesca Rudkin for Garden Hour to answer listeners questions about getting rid of stubborn weeds, growing peaches, safe pest control, and more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie unveils new album 'Freak Out City' Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week. Freak Out City  is a follow-up to his 2022 solo project Songs  Without Jokes . The lead off single is All I Need, and Bret McKenzie says it's inspired by his long-term relati...

Pike River: Actress Melanie Lynskey reveals why the story needed to be told New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast. A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week. Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of An...

Director Paul Feig joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about his new movie, coming to cinemas on Boxing Day, titled The Housemaid.  Previously Feig has directed Bridesmaids (2011), A Simple Favour (2018), and Last Christmas (2019), along with a number of episodes of The Office.  The Housemaid is a drama / thriller, based off the Freida McFadden book of the same name, following a struggling w...

Now that the GDP has been released, was the Reserve Bank decision to hold interest rates the right one? Should the rapidly growing streaming industry pay tax in New Zealand? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 21 December. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study published this week in the journal American Psychologist has said that swearing can make you physically stronger. Participants were required to do a chair push up and those who swore were found to perform better than those who didn't. Michelle Dickinson and Francesca Rudkin discuss the study and how it might help people push through the Christmas season. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.c...

New Zealand politics has been a whirlwind this year with RBNZ drama, Te Pati Māori's meltdown, the Treaty principles bill, and local body elections. 2026 will be another big year in New Zealand politics as parties gear up for the general election which will take place sometime in the second half of the year.  Political correspondent Thomas Coughlan share shares with Francesca Rudkin with pred...

At this time of the year it’s nice to reflect on some of the good things that happened throughout the year, and just days ago the nominees for the 63rd Halberg Awards were announced. There have been some huge moments in sport this year - from world championships to domestic and international recognition, and the annual Halberg Awards nominations provide a snapshot of the breadth of Kiwi achievemen...

Kiwi actor Julian Dennison's built up an impressive acting resume between Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Deadpool 2, and How to Train Your Dragon, but he's about to make the switch to music next. Dennison is confirmed to be playing a DJ set at the upcoming Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne at the end of December. He says he needed another hobby to keep him going between acting gigs, and he felt in...