The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

A new study out this week finds that retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have abnormal levels of certain proteins in their blood - making them more likely to develop diseases such as Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease (MND). The research, published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences , compared 30 retired male athletes - including both rugby leagu...

There's less than a week to go until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games kicks off - and excitement is brewing. Featuring over 10,500 athletes from more than 200 nations, the event promises to showcase the world's best over a two-week timeframe. ZB sports reporter Nathan Limm unpacked the excitement for this year's Games. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supernatural horror film Longlegs is already being touted as the scariest film of 2024, Set in 1990's-era America, a rookie FBI agent has been tasked with tracking down an elusive suspect - the Longlegs Killer. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains whether or not this is worth a watch for horror fans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike's pumpkin cupcakes Prep time: 20 mins   Cooking time: 25 mins   1 tsp baking powder   ¾   cup plain flour   1 tsp cinnamon   1 tsp baking soda   ½ cup raw sugar   2 free range eggs   ½ cup vegetable oil   2 cups grated pumpkin   ½ cup chopped nuts (can be walnuts or hazelnuts)   2 tbsp raisins    2 tbsp pumpkin seeds for decoration   Preheat oven to 190*C. Combine all dry ingredients in a lar...

Journalist Lucia Osborne-Crowley was among a handful of people who witnessed the trial and sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell.  In 2021, Maxwell was convicted for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of four girls.   Osborne-Crowley's legal expertise has played a key role in the coverage surrounding the trial - and she's since used her findings to write a book, The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the trial o...

Comedian and author David Walliams has managed to entertain millions of young fans through his written work. Since his first book in 2008, Walliams has written 41 best-selling books with 56 million copies sold and translated into 55 different languages.   He's released his first graphic novel, Astrochimp, and he's set to touch down on New Zealand shores for his upcoming tour. "I feel, because I've...

It's still unclear what Darleen Tana's next step will be, despite growing calls for her to leave Parliament. Tana has yet to confirm whether she'll remain an MP - after resigning from the Green Party. The party has also released a summary of findings, showing Tana likely knew about alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the Greens still face a...

New Zealand's retail sector is still reeling from shock after Friday's unexpected outage. Businesses all over the world were impacted after a CrowdStrike update shut down transaction services for thousands of stores. Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young says it's hard to know if something of this scale could have been prevented. "When something cuts down the line so quickly, it's very difficult to manage t...

Many companies are still recovering after Friday's global IT outage impacted retailers, banks - and even airlines. Friday's update by cyber security firm CrowdStrike created technical problems for several major businesses, resulting in the company's value dropping by $20 billion. Tech commentator Paul Spain says many companies will see the risks of putting all their IT in one basket - and attempt...

Over the last couple of weeks, the largest meeting room here at NZME has slowly been transformed into a sports commentators’ box so our sports reporters can bring you live coverage of the Paris Olympics on Gold Sport, with highlights on Newstalk ZB. They will be kicking off with the live ceremony on Friday morning, from 5.30am. I can’t wait – even if most of it is taking place in the middle of the...

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I loved her previous novel Long Bright River which came out a few years ago, and now she’s done it again. The wealthy Van Laar family own a summer camp on their property, from which their teenage daughter Barbara disappears - sixteen years after her eight year old brother also went missing. How could one family lose two children in such a way? There are a lot of...

Travel and photography go hand-in-hand - so how can you make the most of taking pictures on your trip? Bloggeratlarge's Megan Singleton unveiled how to get the perfect landscape photo, all while utilising what your phone can do. Read more of her tips here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, producer and journalist Irene Gardiner and partner at Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Investigations are under way after shooter opened fire at a Trump rally. The former President was narrowly grazed by a bullet before the Secret Service whisked him off stage. What do we make of thi...

We're well and truly into winter now - which means we're more at risk of colds and other infections. From sniffles to influenza to even Covid-19, everybody's looking for a solution to fight off seasonal illnesses. Wellness expert Erin O'Hara recommends resting up and eating well to beat the symptoms of winter bugs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 14 July 2024, Australian national treasure Rachel Griffiths joins Francesca to talk about the New Zealand series that won two major international awards before a single episode hit our screens - Madam. Bill Edgar confesses all about what it's like to be paid by the dying to gate crash their funerals. Francesca speaks with Res...

Lamb Neck Rillette 1kg lamb neck 1 onion, halved 1 carrot, peeled ½ bunch thyme 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp black peppercorns ½ tsp chilli flakes 1 small lemon 1 cup water 1 tsp vegetable stock cube 1 cup parsley chopped 1 tbsp capers, chopped Place the lamb neck into the pressure cooker with the rest of the ingredients and bring up to pressure. Turn down and allow to cook for 35 minutes. Remove from...

Is the reason we have great wine today thanks to the dinosaurs going extinct? That’s what scientists conclude in a paper published in the journal Nature Plants. Humans have loved grapes for thousands of years, whether eaten fresh, dried as raisins, or fermented into wine. However, during the time of the dinosaurs, their large bodies knocked down trees, resulting in less dense forests than we see t...

The Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) kicks off at the end of the month, with plenty for Kiwis to check out. Organisers have unveiled a full programme of feature films, documentaries and short films, leaving film fans plenty of options to choose from. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall unveils his picks here today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Bill Edgar's managed to make a solid living through working with the dead. He made a name for himself as the 'Coffin Confessor' through gate-crashing funerals and carrying out associated requests left by the dying. This brought him fame and admiration - and inspired him to write a book ‘The Afterlife Confessional’. He joined Francesca to discuss the new opportunities that came with the role. LISTE...

Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off the stage at a rally in Pennsylvania after the sound of gunfire disrupted the event. The Secret Service stepped in and whisked Trump into a car - with blood clearly visible on his face. US correspondent Katherine Firkin says Trump is fine and being checked at a local medical facility. "Interesting though - as his security tried to drag him off the st...

George Dodson has been named the FMG Young Farmer of the Year. The 22-year-old competed against six other regional finalists in the Grand Final in Hamilton, which wrapped up last night. Their quick thinking, practical know-how and farming skills were tested across three days. Dodson says he's finding it hard to find the words to describe how he's feeling. "It's such an incredible competition with...

Australian actress Rachel Griffiths has touched down on our shores to help lead the nation's newest big TV venture. Griffiths is an executive producer - and lead actress - in Three's new comedy series Madam,  which managed to bring in some awards before airing on July 4. The series sees a married woman in small-town New Zealand start an ethical brothel, following her husband's affair with a sex wo...

The Prime Minister has wrapped up his week-long diplomatic tour of the US - saying he’s achieved what he set out to do. Despite the world media being focused on President Biden's suitability for the Oval Office, Luxon managed to work his way into some important discussions at the NATO summit. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says Luxon met with several world leaders - and opened doors to p...

That's two wins in tight circumstances for the All Blacks in consecutive weeks to start coach Scott Robertson's All Blacks tenure. The 24-17 win over England at Eden Park came with the side needing to turn around a four point deficit and the game swinging the tourists' way. Former All Black and Sky rugby commentator Justin Marshall says the All Blacks had braced themselves for a tough rematch agai...

Rising business costs and cash-strapped consumers have forced a number of Kiwi hospitality businesses to close their doors. Auckland's SPQR recently closed its doors for good, following liquidators being appointed to the establishment. Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois says the last three years have been particularly challenging for the hospitality industry.  "To be frank, we're still in a...