The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

US country singer Jelly Roll says it broke his heart to have to cancel his Auckland show last night due to illness. Some concert-goers - who had travelled from all over New Zealand - were already lining up at Western Springs when the news broke, just hours before it was set to start. Jelly Roll said he's probably missed three shows in the last decade and prides himself on showing up, but he just c...

It was really good on Friday to see the Government respond to the film industry’s call for help to remain globally competitive.   We’re a country full of talented, skilled, creative, innovative, hard-working people, who have created a vibrant and reputable screen industry. It’s a well-established sector which provides professional services from pre-production and shooting through to post-prod...

A new treatment is on the way for Kiwis impacted by OCD. Charity Open Closed Doors is bringing The Bergen Four Day OCD programme to our shores - the treatment is internationally recognised and has a near 70 percent success rate.  Clinical psychologist Dr Ben Sedley travelled to Singapore to learn about the programme first-hand, and he was impressed by the results. "Once you learn how to recog...

Treasury is nudging the Government to sell state assets that are underperforming or are no longer fit for purpose. It is continuing to sound alarm bells over the Crown’s finances being on an 'unsustainable' path forward. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A youth advocate says Oranga Tamariki's evaluation of the boot camp pilot tells us nothing we didn't know.  It's revealed six of the nine youth participants re-offended after being released - but less seriously than a cohort not included.  Kickback co-founder Aaron Hendry says these young people have experienced significant harm, including neglect, poverty and homelessness.  "It's a...

Satisfaction for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson in how they wrestled momentum back to clinch a 25-17 win over Scotland in Edinburgh. A late Damian McKenzie try and penalty secured victory after the home side came from 17-nil down to level the scores going into the final quarter. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says it was a tight game, with Scotland nearly managing to get ahead LISTE...

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 2 November. 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.

In the latest episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from multi award winning and delightful Australian author Trent Dalton on his latest book, Gravity Let Me Go. He also celebrated his theatre production coming to Auckland.  Francesca catches up with Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey. She's taking Hollywood by storm with a starring role in  Yellowjackets but came home to star...

UK comedian and actor Bill Bailey is set to start his next tour of New Zealand in the coming days, and he's spoken of his love for the nation.  His brand-new show Vaudevillian kicks off in Queenstown and he's revealed how excited he is to tour the 'beautiful country. "There's a lot about it that I love...the sort of things New Zealand offers are the sorts of things I would seek out in any cou...

Paul Henry's been a regular presence on New Zealand screens and he's come out of retirement to take on his most anticipated hosting job yet. He is set to host New Zealand's own version of The Chase - the long-running UK-based game show that Kiwis tune into every week. Ahead of this version dropping to TVNZ next month, Henry says it's 'daunting' taking on a project like this. "The show is already s...

Yesterday on Jack Tame’s show, I was talking about the new Springsteen film - Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - and Jack asked me why there have been so many music biopics recently? It got me thinking about how musicians and their origin stories and struggles with fame have always made for good films, and we’ve always made them.   But Jack is right, there have been quite a few biopics ab...

The Widow by John Grisham. Simon Latch is a small time, small town lawyer in Virginia, whose marriage is falling apart, his gambling is out of control, and his legal practice is on the verge of going under. Then an elderly widow arrives on his doorstep, to say that her husband left her millions of dollars in shares, which she wants to keep out of the hands of her estranged stepsons and as she no l...

The US Government shutdown is continuing on with no end in sight, and it's starting to impact travel. While essential services will continue, air travel and passport renewals are among the services being disrupted, meaning travel in and out of the US is set to get more complicated. BloggerAtLarge.com Megan Singleton unpacks the delays further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

This week on The Sunday Panel, 818 director Chris Henry and host of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Netball NZ recently confirmed  Dame Noeline Taurua will return as Silver Ferns coach. What do we make of this whole saga? And do we think Taurua's return will be smooth sailing?  Former US presidential can...

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 26 October. 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.

We've all faced the afternoon slump, but how can we get through it before the end of the day? The slump refers to the dreaded post-lunch, afternoon period where you hit the wall and find it hard to stay focused and productive. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all been told the same advice for decades: 'Eat more fibre if you’re constipated.' From breakfast cereals to bran muffins, fibre has long been the go-to remedy for getting things 'moving.'  But new research published in two major international journals, the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics and Neurogastroenterology & Motility has just turned that advice on its head. ...

Spring cola with honey, citrus and lavender  Cook time: 5 minutes  Prep time: 10 minutes  Serves: 10-12 drinks 2 oranges, cut in half   3 lemons, cut in half   2 limes, cut in half   2 cups water   1 cinnamon stick   4 star anise   1 small knob ginger   1 tbsp molasses   1 tbsp instant coffee   10 heads fresh lavender   1/2 cup runny...

Pike River , the film based on the 2010 West Coast mining disaster, has officially been released.  The film tells the story of Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne’s 15-year fight for justice following the deaths of the 29 men impacted. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall discusses the impact of the film. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its founding in 1990, the Trees for Survival Charitable Trust has encouraged schoolkids to plant one million trees and shrubs - and it's aiming for a million more by 2030. Through Kiwi schools, national environmental education and a restoration programme Trees for Survival has helped Kiwi kids learn more about the environment. Trees for Survival spokesperson Sally Clegg says the charity enco...

The Prime Minister heads to Asia today, for crucial meetings on trade and the economy. Chris Luxon's first travelling to Malaysia for the East Asia Summit and mark a milestone of 50 years of diplomatic ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Luxon will be meeting with other world leaders at APEC to discuss trade. LISTEN ABOVE See om...

Military tensions are escalating in the Caribbean Sea, as the US deploys the world's largest warship to counter drug-traffickers. The US says it has killed dozens of people in strikes on small vessels from Venezuela which it alleges carry 'narcotics' and 'narco-terrorists.' But US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Venezuela's fighting back. "The President of Venezuela, who's accusing the US of 'fa...

A refreshed sense of direction for the Silver Ferns amid Dame Noeline Taurua's return as head coach. Netball New Zealand's announced Taurua will resume her duties after the team's northern tour, with some revised operations. The sport's national body say they've agreed to changes that support wellbeing and performance, including strengthening the player voice. NZ Herald sports reporter Nathan Limm...

Jay Ryan made a name for himself by appearing in New Zealand TV classics like  Go Girls and Creamerie, but he's been able to take his skills overseas.  He's making an impact overseas, picking up international recognition for roles in Beauty and the Beast and  It Chapter Two.   His latest acting project sees him returning to New Zealand shores - to star in the new psychological...

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. An elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie. No one suspects foul play - until they discover that in the 1950's, Elsie’s name was Mabel, and she was the youngest person in Australian history to be convicted of murder – at which point the media circus arrives on her doorstep and the police take an interest, and she decides it might finally be time t...