The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Israel says it will strike 'every site and every target' of Iran as the conflict escalates. The two countries continue to exchange air attacks after Iran launched waves of missiles in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran plans to threaten everyone. Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom says this initial strike appeared to be a warning....

This week marks the end of an era for two classic Kiwi brands - department store Smith & Caughey’s announced it will shut their doors for the last time at 4pm today, and hosiery manufacturer Columbine that they’re closing their Gisborne factory in August.   These are both sad events. Smith & Caughey’s has been part of Queen St for 145 years, and Columbine has kept me in opaque tights...

Annabel Langbein, the famed Kiwi cook behind many iconic recipes, is on her own adventure in France. She and her husband Ted have bought a farmhouse in the south of France, and are currently staying there while they renovate their home. She says it was a 'stressful' journey trying to secure a place in France, but it was worth it. "All of France is foodie, but what I really love about this particul...

World-renowned circus company Cirque du Soleil will bring one of its longest-running and most beloved touring shows to Auckland’s Spark Arena this October. Corteo, which premiered in Montreal under a Big Top tent in April 2005, has wowed more than 12 million spectators in 30 countries with a mix of comedy, performance art, music, illusions and acrobatics. Artistic director and long-time circus per...

The Names by Florence Knapp. Cora is married to Gordon, a highly respected doctor, but what goes on in their own home is something entirely different. When she has a baby son she heads off to register his birth, with instructions from Gordon that she’s to name the baby after him - but her nine year old daughter has another idea, and Cora has her own preference. The story then splits into three dif...

The school holidays are coming up in a few weeks, and BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton has unveiled a fun travel hack powered by AI. Using ChatGPT or similar platforms, parents can now easily create scavenger hunt lists for any location, be it Rotorua or Sydney or even Ireland! Read more about Megan's ideas here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist and producer Irene Gardiner and s enior PR consultant at One Plus One Communications, Damien Venuto, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!  The Trump/Musk relationship imploded this week, with the pair taking to social media to snipe at each other. Who wins here? Was anyone surprised by this? More retailers have...

Men's health week is coming up - and it sparks discussion every year about how men can avoid stress and burnout. Research indicates long-term stress can impact men's mental health and these issues are often compounded by our nation's infamous 'She'll Be Right' attitude. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sundy 8 June 2025, Artistic Director for Cirque du Soleil's Corteo, Olaf Triebel, shares insights into just how his artists pull off their high risk stunts. Much loved Kiwi cook Annabel Langbein has a new home ... in France. She tells Francesca just how hard it was to buy a house in France and why she's made the move. South Island b...

Sauteed broccoli with white cabbage and chili garlic butter  Cook time: 5 minutes  Prep time: 10 minutes  Serves: 6  1/2 large white cabbage, cut into small wedges   10 heads sprouting broccoli   150 gm butter cracked pepper   1/4 cup curly parsley   1 red chili  2 cloves garlic   sea salt   2 tbsp sunflower oil   1 lemon   1 cup fre...

Most of us think clapping is just about two hands hitting each other, but new research out this week in the journal Physical Review Research found that the clap that we hear actually comes from the air being squeezed out between our palms.     When your hands come together, whether flat or cupped, they trap a tiny bubble of air. That bubble escapes through small gaps, like the one betwee...

Kiwi music legend Neil Finn is putting his weight behind a bid to bring music to Auckland's Western Springs stadium.  He's supporting the bid by CRS Records to develop a music venue there.  It's among options out for consultation - competing with a plan for a multisport venue put forward by Auckland FC's owners.  Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says submissions are open until June...

Last night, some families of Pike River mine victims, along with members of the cast and crew, attended the world premiere of Pike River at the Sydney Film Festival.  The feature film tells the story of the Pike River mine tragedy that took the lives of 29 men back in November 2010.  Told from the perspective of the families, the story centres on close friends Anna Osborne and Sonya Rock...

There's a lot of unanswered questions relating to allegations against a former Prime Minister staffer. Michael Forbes has quit as acting deputy press secretary over allegations he took compromising recordings of sex workers - and photos of women he didn't know. A Wellington brothel complained to Police last July, who found it didn't meet the threshold for prosecution. NZ Herald political reporter...

US President Donald Trump has gotten into a public spat with Elon Musk, and it's left experts wondering what this could mean for next year's midterm elections. The pair have taken aim at each other on social media, with Trump threatening to cut federal contracts helping Musk and Musk calling for Trump's impeachment - among other accusations. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says people are looking...

A 13-strong group of boys’ schools across the South Island are uniting to help address the challenges faced by young men. This group is hoping to improve the outcomes for these boys - in both education and society. One of the schools involved is St Thomas of Canterbury College, and principal Steve Hart says new data has exposed the issues young men are facing in the modern world. "Until they under...

Two things have entertained me this week. We’ve had the falling out of two of the world’s most powerful and wealthy narcissists - all of which played out on their own social media platforms. This breakup must be the most predicted thing to come out of Trump’s presidency so far.   After the drama of Thursday’s outbursts, there seems to be a de-escalation between President Trump and his former...

Do you find yourself stuck in a cycle of trying to eat well and and be healthier - but not being able to keep on track?  Between all the social media crazes and fad diets, one expert aims to cut through all the confusion with her new book End Your Fight with Food. Claire Turnbull has had her struggles with disordered eating and bulimia, and she's using her journey to help people form a better...

People are always looking to make the most of their trips - and BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton revealed how you can find the undiscovered gems wherever you go. She recommends taking advantage of social media and Facebook community groups to discover what the locals enjoy. Read more of Megan's tips and tricks here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly. She’s a terrific writer of historical fiction (my favourite of hers is The Lilac Girls) – this time set on Martha’s Vineyard in two timelines – present day, when a young woman grieving the death of her mother arrives on the island and discovers things about her mother she never knew; while back during WW2 two sisters are trying to hol...

This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB’s Roman Travers and host of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Should the Government follow the UK's lead and regulate - or ban - explicit AI deepfakes? Can we put protections in place? Jacinda Ardern's new book is set to be released this week. Will we read it? What do we thi...

Research shows women account for an estimated 78 percent of people with autoimmune conditions.  Women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions due to a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.  Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further - and reveals how women can reduce the risks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Mike's Moroccan beef family pie   COOK TIME: 40 minutes  PREP TIME: 40 minutes  SERVES: makes 1 bid pie  500gm diced beef   1 onion, peeled and sliced   6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed   1 tbsp fennel seeds   1 tbsp paprika   1 red chili   500ml beef stock   1 tbsp tomato puree   Sea salt   sunflower oil   4 tbsp arrowroot&n...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 1 June 2025, fresh off the Aotearoa Music Awards, indie folk artist Mel Parsons stops by for a performance of her single 'Post High Slide'. Nutritionist Claire Turnbull has had a destructive relationship with food for over 20 years.  She talks of why she's using her experience to help others. This week ACT MP Laura McClu...

When you think of penguins, you might imagine adorable black-and-white birds waddling across icy landscapes. But a surprising new study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment reveals that penguins might also be helping to form clouds that could influence climate change.  Adélie penguins, a species found only in Antarctica, eat a diet rich in fish and krill. This high-pr...