The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Streaming phenomenon The White Lotus is back for a third season - and fans are wondering what secrets will be revealed. The new season, taking place at a sumptuous White Lotus resort in Thailand, promises plenty of drama and intrigue as more mysteries unfold. Steve Newall from Flicks.co.nz explains what fans can expect from this latest instalment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Barbecued lamb with avocado feta whip  Cook time: 12 minutes  Prep time: 15 minutes  Serves: 4  4 lamb shoulder chops (about 400-500g)   150g soft cows feta   1 small avocado   1 Tbsp sour cream   2 Tbsp sunflower oil   1 Tbsp avocado oil   3 cloves garlic, crushed   1 lemon   1 x 2 pack Baby Gems (baby cos lettuces)   ½ cup fresh co...

Have you ever finished a huge meal but still found room for dessert? Some people might talk about having a separate stomach for desserts. It turns out that your brain might be driving you to eat that sweet treat even though you don't 'need' it.  Recent research in the journal Science found that the same nerve cells that signal 'you’re full' also spark cravings for you wanting something sweet....

Famed psychologist and TV star Nigel Latta is encouraging Kiwis to get behind supporting gut cancer research following his own diagnosis. Latta was diagnosed with stomach cancer in May 2024, and he's chosen to share his story publicly to help others in similar circumstances. He's encouraging Kiwis to support Gut Cancer Foundation’s annual GIVE IT UP for Gut Cancer fundraiser - where people give up...

It's been a big week for ACT's David Seymour - who's been in and out of the news after a series of scandals. Last Sunday, it was revealed Seymour wrote a letter to police in support of Philip Polkinghorne during the investigation of the death of the former surgeon's wife. Later, Seymour found himself in trouble after he drove a Land Rover up Parliament's steps - and had to stop after authorities c...

There's growing concern about a potential decline in engineering roles - with renewed calls for the Government to step in and intervene. Engineering New Zealand says work for engineers has dried up and they fear losing skilled professionals to overseas opportunities. CEO Richard Templer says Kiwi firms have had to make engineers redundant as bigger projects have ground to a halt - and New Zealand...

There's concerns over the future of New Zealand's health sector, off the back of three high-profile resignations that took place this week. Director General of Health Diana Sarfati confirmed on Friday that she was stepping down from the role - seven days after Health NZ chief executive Margie Apa resigned before the end of her term. Earlier this week, director of public health Dr Nicholas Jones al...

This week, I was reminded of the joy of creating something with my hands.   It was nothing special, in fact they were very average, imperfect, lobsided.   They took two and a half hours to make. It was, by some distance, the longest I focused on a single thing all week.  I was at a ‘wheel throwing’ pottery class. Trying to get my clumsy hands to caress clay into the shape we were ai...

Kiwi author Lotta Dann is no stranger to sharing her struggles with the public, and she's turned her attention to diet culture in her latest release. In 2018, Lotta shared her experience with alcohol and opened up about ditching the booze for good in her popular blog and subsequent books.  Her focus then shifted to her weight - and she's since detailed her experience with extreme dieting and...

A former CIA agent is cautiously optimistic Donald Trump's plans for the agency won't affect its core mission. The US President has extended buyout offers to the entire agency, which would see employees take some benefits like extended pa, in exchange for agreeing to resign. Former agent and author David McCloskey, says he's hopeful the headlines are more smoke than fire. He says agents he worked...

This weekend, emotional parents will be dropping off and farewelling their offspring off at universities around the country. Some first-year students will be heading into Halls of Residence and some into flats as they begin this new phase of navigating their lives with the kind of independence they’ve dreamt of, but now it’s here in a strange mix of nerves, excitement, and the unknown.   It’s...

The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey: This is the sequel to the wonderful Moscow X, which we’ve talked about on this show. It brings back the wonderful Artemis Procter, a somewhat unorthodox CIA operational chief who’s spectacularly fired after years of service when a meet up with the Russians goes wrong, and one of her agents is captured. When he reappears with news that someone on the seventh fl...

New reports indicate changes are coming to Auckland Airport- giving travellers the chance to get a new experience. Buses and rideshare services will go back to parking on the road nearest to the main terminal, while private vehicles will use the main transport hub - cutting down on traffic problems. New developments are set to come to the airport, with new gates set to make the commute between the...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9th February 2025, former CIA analyst turned spy author David McCloskey opens up about Donald Trump's plans for the agency. Lotta Dann is taking aim at diet culture and our obsession with skinny.  She shares her personal story of extreme dieting and why she's pushing back. AI is set to transform health care, world expert...

This week on the Sunday Panel, Broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and resident economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! We've seen a lot of sweeping changes coming out of the White House, with Donald Trump and Elon Musk making headlines over their controversial decisions impacting the nation. Who are we more co...

February marks the start of 'Move Your Butt for Bowel Cancer' month - an awareness movement designed to encourage people to think about the condition. Colorectal cancer is the most commonly registered cancer in New Zealand, with thousands of cases diagnosed per year. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains the importance of getting checked regularly - and eating a healthy diet to keep...

This week, we are talking eggs. Scientists have just come up with the perfect way to cook a boiled egg - the drawback is that it will take you 32 minutes. Normally, I would boil an egg by placing it in boiling water for anywhere between 6 and 10 minutes depending on how runny I like my yolk.    The research published in the nature journal Communications Engineering took computer simulati...

Tarragon bearnaise with sirloin and wilted greens Cook time: 15 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 6 sirloin steaks   Bearnaise 3 eggs, separated   1/2 cup malt vinegar  1/2 cup water   1 pkt fresh tarragon, reserve 6 leaves for later   1/2 white onion, peeled and sliced   2 cloves garlic, crushed   2 bay leaves   6 peppercorns   1 tsp Worcestershi...

The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming for their first Super Bowl three-peat as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles this coming week. Kick-off is at 12:30pm February 10 (NZT) - and there's plenty of excitement about the game, the commercials and Kendrick Lamar and SZA's half-time performance. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says the cameras will also be looking out for Taylor Swift again - as it's li...

Shortland Street: New Blood is set to kick off this coming Monday - and this new era is utilising social media to boost viewing numbers. The new series will air three nights a week, with new episodes streaming live on TikTok at the same time it airs on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+. The TikTok stream will feature live Q & A sessions, as well as in the moment reactions from the cast. Series producer Oliver...

ACT leader and soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour sent a detailed letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne during the investigation into the death of Pauline Hanna, according to new reports. During the police investigation into the death of the Remuera eye surgeon’s wife, Seymour wrote a 1012-word letter to Auckland District Commander Karyn Malthus in April 2022. NZ Herald p...

There's plenty of cynicism and scepticism about the future of AI, but experts are hopeful it could reshape one key industry. AI is already being utilised by the healthcare sector to process data and analytics, and physicians are using the technology to carry out admin tasks. However, professor and AI expert John Hirdes says there's room for AI to revolutionise the healthcare sector, particularly i...

Geoff Parkes is making his debut as a fiction author - but his CV highlights a long and varied career across multiple areas. He's worked in abattoirs and wool sheds in New Zealand, he’s been a hay contractor, sold insurance and has been an executive of a Fortune 500 company in the medical industry.  He's also made a name for himself as a rugby writer - and he's written his debut novel set in...

Famed British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes has been spending the last few months in New Zealand to prepare for her latest film role - but she took the time to explore the nation as well. To learn more about the Kiwi way of life, she embarked on a road trip across New Zealand's North and South Islands, with a camera crew following her along the way. Miriam Margolyes in New Zealand is set to...

The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S.Berry. Like the books of David McCloskey of which I’m so fond (Damascus Station, Moscow X) – the author I.S.Berry also worked for the CIA, which gives this book a real sense of authenticity and knowing what she’s writing about. Shane Collins is a CIA operative based in Bahrain. He’s jaded, nearing compulsory retirement age and has no illusions about his own short...