The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

So, while we were on a break, I went to Christchurch to see my son for his 19th birthday. It was a fleeting visit. I flew down on a Friday and home on Saturday afternoon, but my goodness – Christchurch turned it on.   The weather was stunning, the views of the Alps made you want to drop everything and run for the slopes. People were out-and-about. The city was humming – Friday lunch time arou...

The Cut Throat Trial by S.J Fleet. I assume that the author’s name is a pseudonym as they’ve published previous books under the moniker of The Secret Barrister – I believe they’re a practising lawyer who in those books delivered some witty and interesting commentary on the state of the UK justice system. This novel is set in a courtroom, where three teenagers are on trial for the murder of an elde...

New Orleans was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, and the damage didn't stop there.  The levies around the city broke in the days after the Hurricane, flooding parts of the city and destroying countless buildings.  BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton has visited the city many times since, and says it's succesful recovery to a vibrant, musical city has been outstanding. LI...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast Day host Lorna Riley and Senior PR Consultant at One Plus One Communications, Damien Venuto , joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day - and more! Should the taxpayer be covering the Covid inquiry legal costs?  It is usual for the crown to cover legal costs of ministers and previous ministers – but should we be covering these costs? And how do...

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara covers in detail whether we need supplements and are multivitamins good for you? What are some of the supplements that can make a difference? How do we know what we need? How much is needed?  Erin breaks it down and gives her advice on what's best for your body. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi indie rock band The Beths have released their 4th studio album titled 'Straight Line Was A Lie.' Lead singer Liz Stokes and guitarist Jonathan Pierce joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss their new release. Stokes said that she hit a writers block during the making of this album, which makes it's release even more special. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian greens and Chinese greens are terms used for any number of leafy green vegetables that find their origins in Eastern Asia.  These are typically a staple of Asian cooking and have been incorporated into other diets worldwide.   Mike Van De Elzen from Good from Scratch joins Francesca Rudkin to discuss the use of Asian Greens in your cooking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

Scientists have debated over two main theories of how lightning starts for years.  Some say it's due to a build up of static electricity between particles in clouds, whereas others say cosmic rays are involved in the process. Dr Michelle Dickinson joins Francesca Rudkin to breakdown these two leading theories.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new documentary on musician Shayne Carter titled 'Life in one chord' has been described as one to watch in the cinemas by flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall. He told Francesca Rudkin that, "the need for volume in a Shayne Carter documentary is very important, and it's also beautifully filmed.' The documentary will be shown in cinemas around New Zealand next week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for (DAY DD Month YYYY), a few years ago, author Lee Child walked away from his Jack Reacher series but this week he hints a return might be on the Reacher might be on the cards. Kiwi indie rock band The Beths are having a great run at the moment, lead singer Liz Stokes and guitarist Jonathan Pearce chat about their new album and the ba...

Since the late 90s Lee Child’s name has been synonymous with Jack Reacher.  The books selling over 100 million copies worldwide and Reacher becoming one of the most loved and enduring fictional characters.  Lee has now handed over the Reacher series to his brother Andrew but has released his first ever autobiographical collection, giving insight behind the scenes of his novels.   He...

The women’s Rugby World Cup has entered round two in England.   The Black Ferns face Japan in their second cup match tomorrow morning.   Former rugby player Alice Soper is in England for the tournament. She told Francesca Rudkin that the competition has exploded in popularity in recent years. 'The last time England hosted this tournament was in 2010. They had sold 30,000 tickets total to...

NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor joins Francesca Rudkin to review this weeks' top local politics stories. Is it normal for the taxpayers to pay for the legal advice the government received during COVID? Will New Zealand follow suit with Australia and remove the Iranian ambassador following recent anti-semitic attacks? And what does the Government's new Business Investor Visa do for foreign...

Donald Trump’s vowing to fight the ruling that many of his imposed trade tariffs are illegal.  The US Court of Appeals has ruled Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to impose the sweeping import tariffs.  The tariffs remain in place until mid-October to allow a Supreme Court appeal.  Waikato University international law expert Al Gillespie says it's a 50-50 chan...

Almost three New Zealanders die from preventable drug overdoses every week.  That is twice the number of people that die from drowning.  New Zealand Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm said that the number of overdoses highlights New Zealand's shortcomings on tackling substance abuse. 'We're losing so many New Zealanders to preventable overdose, and we have very little little i...

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear the heart-wrenching but uplifting story of Timoti te Moke - who turned his life around and is now a doctor and role model to so many. And Francesca speaks with Dr Rachel Clarke about the fascinating world of organ donation - and the case that sparked interest around the world.  Plus we all know Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conc...

Richard Burton was a global icon best remembered for his memorable film roles and his passionate - and drama-filled - romance with Elizabeth Taylor, but a new release reveals where it all began. The new biopic Mr Burton will be out in theatres next week and it tells the story of Richard Burton's tumultuous early life - and the school teacher who helped propel him to global stardom.  Kate Burt...

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 relationship with his wife, Hannah. "It's funny, when you've been in a relations...

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah: Kristin Hannah is the author of several extremely popular books, including The Nightingale and The Women . They’re historical fiction, but this one is contemporary - about a broken mother and daughter relationship. Nora Bridge is a nationally syndicated talk show host who dispenses moral and spiritual advice to her legion of listeners, and whose daughter Ruby is a...

Japan is making significant changes to its tourism landscape, with new measures taking effect by late 2026. Japan will end tax-free shopping benefits for foreign visitors, estabish dual pricing and establish visitor caps at popular tourist spots. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton explains further - and reveals whether these will make a dent in Japan's tourism figures. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

This week on the Sunday Panel, b roadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and d irector at Capital NZ, Ben Thomas, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins has admitted his education spokesperson should have replied to the Minister over NCEA changes before the Government moved to scrap the qualification. What do we make of this! And w...

Consuming more fibre can be good for your health, but is TikTok's new FibreMaxxing trend the safest way to go about it? FibreMaxxing encourages people to load their diets up with extra fibre, but experts have voiced concerns that consuming too much could lead to harmful effects.   Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10th August 2025, Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie speaks ahead of the release of his new solo album Freak Out City.  He talks about writing for movies and inheriting 50 race horses. Actress Kate Burton is the daughter of global screen star Richard Burton, she tells Francesca why the latest biopic of her father...

Pea and ham soup with cheesy toast  Cook time: 60 minutes  Prep time: 10 minutes  Serves: 6  1 smoked pork hock   1 carrot, peeled and quartered   1 onion, peeled and quartered   2 bay leaves   1 ltr chicken stock   1 ltr water   2 cup green lentils   ½ tsp Salt   ¼ tsp white pepper  Gruyere toast   8 slices ciabatta   4 tb...

Did you know that the humble potato owes its very existence, and its global success as a food staple to an ancient genetic mash-up?  A recent study in the journal Cell  of over 100 wild and cultivated potato genomes has revealed a fascinating secret about the potato family tree.  The beloved spud and its 107 wild relatives all belong to a plant group called Petota. What sets Petota...