/on-air/the-sunday-session/rss ob体育接口 THE SUNDAY SESSION WITH FRANCESCA RUDKIN9am-Noon Sink into your Sunday with the best session around. This is the show that delivers a little bit of everyth Sat, 26 Apr 2025 10:38:40 Z en /on-air/the-sunday-session/great-chats-with-francesca-rudkin/episode-11-rebecca-gibney-richard-roxburgh-and-peter-gresta-and-amanda-knox/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/great-chats-with-francesca-rudkin/episode-11-rebecca-gibney-richard-roxburgh-and-peter-gresta-and-amanda-knox/ In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, actress Rebecca Gibney opens up about her newest TV project and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Richard Roxburgh and journalist Peter Gresta joined Francesca to discuss their new movie The Correspondent - where Roxburgh portrays Gresta's 2013 arrest in Egypt. And Amanda Knox tells her story of being wrongly convicted of murdering her flatmate in Italy in 2007 and surviving 4 years in prison in her new book Flee. Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ob体育接口's The Sunday Session.  Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:53:00 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rachel-fairburn-and-kiri-pritchard-mclean-comedians-discuss-shared-passion-for-true-crime-ahead-of-new-zealand-comedy-fest/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rachel-fairburn-and-kiri-pritchard-mclean-comedians-discuss-shared-passion-for-true-crime-ahead-of-new-zealand-comedy-fest/ While true crime might not be the obvious pick for comedy-based content, a familiar duo have leaned into the genre. In All Killa No Filla, comedians Rachel Fairburn and Kiri Pritchard-McLane explore their shared passion for serial killer cases.  Ahead of their planned stops in New Zealand for the Comedy Festival, the duo opened up about their comedic podcast. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:32:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/reb-fountain-kiwi-alt-folk-singer-talks-new-album-and-tour/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/reb-fountain-kiwi-alt-folk-singer-talks-new-album-and-tour/ Singer-songwriter Reb Fountain is back with a new album blending folk, art-pop and rock - How Love Bends. Released in March, Reb and her band have wasted no time getting it out there with a new nationwide tour. This is Reb's first full album since Covid-19 happened , and she's looking forward to promoting her work without the lockdowns and restrictions getting in the way. "This one - it feels like it's a whole new experience to be sharing it with everyone while we can walk around and I can come and do interviews and play shows." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:17:53 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-nobody-s-fool-and-northbound/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-nobody-s-fool-and-northbound/ Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben. A former detective turned private investigator is stunned when the woman he thought had died 22 years ago suddenly appears in the back of a lecture he’s giving, and as soon as they make eye contact, disappears. Her death has haunted him all these years but the possibility she could still be alive has never occurred to him – and now he needs to track her down and find out the truth. From the pen (or the keyboard!) of a terrific and well established thriller writer. Northbound by Naomi Arnold. Naomi is a local journalist who decided to walk the entire length of the Te Araroa trail on her own. There have been books from other people about taking on that challenge, but hers is a really gritty, no holds barred account of the slog of it – the mud, the fear, the loneliness and the exhilaration of achieving something so momentous, all by herself. It’s clear there’s a very caring network on the trail even though the walkers pass one another like ships in the night. There’s also a lot of kindness from people around who keep an eye out on them and offer food and support. This book is a lovesong to the trail and the NZ outdoors; and to the power of communities.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:04:54 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-tips-for-handling-currency-overseas/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-tips-for-handling-currency-overseas/ The world is getting complicated and new methods to handle cash while travelling overseas are popping up - but which tools work the best? The Wise card has gotten plenty of attention within the travel community and it allows you to hold and exchange money in 40+ different currencies and spend in 170+ countries. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton has reviewed the card - read her thoughts here. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:59:24 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-should-we-be-surprised-by-trumps-latest-statement-on-ukraine/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-should-we-be-surprised-by-trumps-latest-statement-on-ukraine/ This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ob体育接口 host Roman Travers and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump said he could stop the Ukraine war in 24 hours, but he's recently been threatening to abandon peace talks. Should we have seen this coming? The all-female Blue Origin flight has copped some backlash - do we think this was just a spectacle or did it help further women in STEM? A new year brings renewed debate about the future of Easter trading laws. Do we need to get rid of them and open up the shops every day? Should we scrap holiday surcharges too? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:47:11 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-reveals-how-jump-training-can-improve-bone-health/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-reveals-how-jump-training-can-improve-bone-health/ Jumping has been found to have plenty of health benefits - and it may even reduce the risk of osteoporosis. New research has revealed jump training is highly beneficial for osteoporosis and improving bone density, particularly in the femoral neck, a part of the hip. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how we can utilise jumping to stay healthy. LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:15:59 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-hot-cross-bread-butter-and-custard-pudding/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-hot-cross-bread-butter-and-custard-pudding/ Hot cross bread, butter & custard pudding 6 hot cross buns 4 eggs 500 ml cream 1/2 cup soft brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla paste 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp icing sugar Vanilla custard 500 ml cream 500 ml milk 1 vanilla pod 200 gm sugar 5 egg yolks 80 gm cornflour Start by preheating your oven to 160*c Make up the custard by heating the cream and milk along with the vanilla bean which has been cut in half adding in the seeds and the pod. Place the egg yolks and sugar into a S/S bowl and carefully whisk in the hot cream, removing the vanilla pod at the end. Place the custard mix into a clean pot, adding in the cornflour. Continue to whisk and cook out the custard over a medium heat until thick and velvety. Take a 25cm casserole dish and lightly butter the inside. Cut the tops off the hot cross buns and butter them with the remaining butter and set aside. Cube the bottoms of the hot cross buns. Combine the cream, whole eggs, brown sugar and vanilla paste. Add in the cubed hot cross buns. Then pour into the roasting tray, Spoon over the custard (reserving some if you wish) then top with bun tops. Brush the tops with water and dust over the icing sugar. Bake for 40-45 minutes and allow to sit before eating. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:07:18 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-trick-to-hearing-conversations-in-noisy-places/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-trick-to-hearing-conversations-in-noisy-places/ Have you ever found yourself nodding along in a noisy bar, pretending to understand your friend’s story, but truthfully, you’re just hoping for a quieter moment to catch the plot?   You’re not alone. Hearing conversation in loud environments is something many of us struggle with. But thanks to a new study published in the journal Proceedings Of The Royal Society B - science might have a simple fix!  All you need to do is tap your fingers to a beat, before the talking starts.  The researchers explored whether rhythmic motor priming, like tapping your finger to a beat, could help your brain process speech more efficiently in noisy environments. Participants listened to long sentences buried in background noise. Right before the sentence began, some were asked to tap along to a beat at different speeds, like one tap every half-second or so. The other participants didn’t tap at all.  After the sentence, all participants had to identify a word they’d just heard.  They found that the people who tapped at a specific rhythm, around 1.5 to 2 times per second, did noticeably better at understanding the sentence, even in the noisy environment.  It turns out that this tapping rate lines up with the natural pace of words in human speech (called the “lexical rate”) and helps your brain tune in more effectively. Think of it like syncing up your brain's "listening rhythm" with the speaker’s flow.  The study also supports a growing idea in neuroscience: our motor system (the one that moves your body) also plays a role in how we listen. When we move rhythmically, even just by tapping a finger, it seems to help our brains track the rhythm of speech.  It’s an easy, no-tech, zero-cost hack to try the next time you are in a noisy café or busy dinner party. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:04:23 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-fyre-festival-2-getting-postponed-with-no-date-confirmed/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-fyre-festival-2-getting-postponed-with-no-date-confirmed/ Fyre Festival 2 has officially been postponed - less than two months before the event was said to be taking place. The organisers have reportedly postponed the event that was set for May 30 to June 2, and no new dates have been revealed. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall speculates about the event's future following this latest update. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:58:44 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/blake-schimanski-kiwi-runner-plans-to-run-the-length-of-new-zealand-to-raise-money-and-awareness-for-youth-mental-health/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/blake-schimanski-kiwi-runner-plans-to-run-the-length-of-new-zealand-to-raise-money-and-awareness-for-youth-mental-health/ Blake Schimanski has taken on the challenge of running the length of New Zealand - from Bluff to Cape Reinga - within the month of April. Through his campaign ‘Run Aotearoa’, he aims to raise $100,000 for youth mental health efforts, with the goal of creating 'positive change. With 10 days left to go, he says he's been averaging out 80 kilometres a day. "There's a lot of stuff you don't really know until you start - and I'm learning a lot along the way, it's been a bit of a challenge."  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:51:29 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/debbie-fairbrother-super-pressure-project-manager-at-nasa-on-the-balloon-release-from-w%C4%81naka-airport/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/debbie-fairbrother-super-pressure-project-manager-at-nasa-on-the-balloon-release-from-w%C4%81naka-airport/ A stadium sized balloon has successfully launched from Wānaka Airport - after several cancellations. The super-pressure NASA balloon will travel the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes for planned missions of 100 days or more.  It's the sixth balloon operation in New Zealand since 2015, with two balloons successfully launched from Wānaka in 2023. NASA's Debbie Fairbrother says safety was a key priority in getting the balloon launched.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:31:46 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-ahead-of-chris-luxons-upcoming-trip-to-the-uk/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-ahead-of-chris-luxons-upcoming-trip-to-the-uk/ The Prime Minister departs today for the United Kingdom, before travelling to Gallipoli in time for ANZAC Day.  Trade, security and the current geopolitical climate are on the agenda, when Chris Luxon meets with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.  Luxon says he'll discuss what more the pair can do to support the rules-based trading system, a chat coming off the back of phone calls to world leaders amid Donald Trump's tariffs.   NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor says the pair will likely discuss how to strengthen their trade partnership.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:20:21 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-kat-bolstad-aut-associate-professor-on-scientists-capturing-footage-of-a-colossal-squid/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-kat-bolstad-aut-associate-professor-on-scientists-capturing-footage-of-a-colossal-squid/ World-first video footage of the elusive colossal squid has been captured by US researchers. It lives in the deep Antarctic waters, can reach up to seven metres in length, and weighs up to 500 kilograms. Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remote drone filmed a baby colossal squid alive 600 metres down in its environment for the first time. AUT Associate Professor and squid expert Dr Kat Bolstad says this is a very 'exciting' development.  "We've been studying these animals, we've known about them for a century - personally, I've been studying them for over 20 years." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:08:59 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/carolyn-young-retail-nz-chief-executive-on-the-growing-number-of-retailers-calling-for-an-end-to-easter-trading-hours/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/carolyn-young-retail-nz-chief-executive-on-the-growing-number-of-retailers-calling-for-an-end-to-easter-trading-hours/ Limited Easter trading hours are bringing extra financial burdens for businesses according to retailers. The Retail Radar survey shows almost 70 percent of retailers are concerned about the cost of living - with merchant fees also top of mind.  The law says local council have the final say on when businesses are allowed to open.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says these restrictions are 'outdated' and don't reflect the current market. "When these laws were first established, we didn't have the internet, people weren't shopping 24/7 online any day they wanted - and families work in different ways and shopping is available in different ways." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 22:51:58 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-we-need-to-simplify-easter-trading-hours/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-we-need-to-simplify-easter-trading-hours/ If you live in a city, there is something quite special about waking up on Good Friday - to the sound of silence. There are no cars on the road, no hum of traffic in the distance, no sound of people going about their day-to-day routines. My first thought on Friday was - it’s like Christmas Day. My second thought wasn’t as pleasant - it’s like lockdown. But the feeling was the same - how nice the world is when it pauses for a moment. But as much as I appreciate these few days a year when many get to stop, the crazy rush, chock-a-block carparks and supermarkets on Thursday and Saturday made me wonder whether it’s worth it.  We don’t seem to be able to cope, or prepare, for supermarkets to shut. If we weren’t down on hot cross buns, I certainly wouldn’t have made the trip to my local. It’s lovely having Friday and Sunday off, but not, if the days around it are a nightmare. We have been talking about the inconsistencies and confusion around retail laws over Easter for as long as I can remember. What is open and shut depends on where you are in the country; sometimes where you are in a city. Don’t forget it’s the local authority which decides whether stores can open or not.   It depends on what you’re selling. There are strange restrictions on what can be sold, and you must be selling something that people can’t put off buying until the next day. But you can get a haircut. And just to make it even more confusing - the Shop Trading Hours Act covers both public holidays, and days that aren’t public holidays, such as Easter Sunday. I think it’s time to let people decide for themselves how they want to spend their Easter. Whether they open their businesses, work or shop, or do none of the above and quietly go about their day.  We’ve been arguing forever the merits of a day off and people being able to spend time with family and friends, or businesses being able to make the most of people wanting to spend money and get jobs done.  We have spoken about employees facing pressure from their employers to work over Easter when they would prefer not to. And how there are plenty of employees who would happily take the benefits of working a public holiday.  Let’s not forget online retailers can sell you whatever they like on these days.  What a minefield of confusion. Let’s just bite the bullet, simplify the laws, make sure employees are protected, and let businesses decide if they open or not, and get on like it’s 2025 and not 1990.  I’m also pleased sense is being shown around the purchase of alcohol over Easter. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Bill to change rules around alcohol sales on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas was voted through its first reading a week or so ago.  Currently, people must order a meal before having an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant or pub. Once again, it’s all about simplifying the rules for both hospo, tourists, and Kiwis catching up at a restaurant over the holiday period. And there are a lot of businesses who would appreciate it being simpler to make a buck. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 19 Apr 2025 22:33:13 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/yvonne-strahovski-australian-actress-on-what-viewers-can-expect-from-the-final-season-of-the-handmaids-tale/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/yvonne-strahovski-australian-actress-on-what-viewers-can-expect-from-the-final-season-of-the-handmaids-tale/ The final season of The Handmaid's Tale started airing on Neon last week, and actress Yvonne Strahovski is looking back on her creative journey after six seasons.  Strahovski co-stars as Serena Joy Waterford - an architect and prisoner of the show's dystopian regime.  She says it's been an 'extraordinary' journey taking on the role of Serena. "This has been such an amazing opportunity for me to be so challenged and grow and work on my craft, my artistry - everything I want to do as a performer."  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 01:33:45 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/peter-greste-and-richard-roxburgh-jailed-journalist-and-actor-join-forces-for-the-correspondent/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/peter-greste-and-richard-roxburgh-jailed-journalist-and-actor-join-forces-for-the-correspondent/ In December 2013, Australian journalist Peter Greste was arrested in Egypt and charged with aiding a terrorist organisation. What followed was 400 days of incarceration, solitary confinement, interrogations, a politically motivated trial and complete uncertainty in a corrupt legal system. Peter’s story and fight for freedom has been turned into a film, The Correspondent, staring veteran Australian actor Richard Roxburgh. "It felt like it was an even more urgent story to tell - the simple fact is, journalists used to be protected by the Geneva Convention and they're now regarded as fair game in theatres of war, and also in the White House now." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 01:06:29 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-the-death-of-us-and-a-spy-at-war/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-the-death-of-us-and-a-spy-at-war/ The Death of Us by Abigail Dean. Isabel is a lead protagonist in this story, who throughout much of the book directly addresses the intruder who perpetrated a home invasion on her and her husband Edward when they were 30 years old and happily married, but those days are long gone. More than 20 years later, they reunite to attend the trial of a man finally charged with the crime, trying to reconcile their lives before, and after. This is gripping psychological drama. A Spy at War by Charles Beaumont. Simon Sharman is a former British spy gone rogue to track down the Chechen assassin who murdered his friend and business partner Evie. He’s a man alone, but his friends and former colleagues in Whitehall are never far away and it turns out there’s much more going on than his solitary pursuit of the bad guy – British intelligence has its fingers in several pies and it takes Simon a while to figure out his place in their schemes. Set amidst the war in Ukraine and the kind of news headlines we’ve seen for three years now, this story takes you right up close to some of the action and its commentary on US and European politics could be said to be prescient. It’s terrific espionage and if, like me, you love David McCloskey and I.S.Berry, this one’s for you.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:51:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-top-things-to-do-in-palm-springs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-top-things-to-do-in-palm-springs/ People will be flocking to Palm Springs over the next couple of weeks for Coachella 2025, but BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton promises there's more to see than music festivals. Between the iconic Joshua trees, the resorts, the mountain tours and the dining options, Megan's revealed how you can make the most of Palm Springs. Read more about Megan's top picks here. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:44:16 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-does-the-trump-tariff-turmoil-mean-for-new-zealand/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-does-the-trump-tariff-turmoil-mean-for-new-zealand/ This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ob体育接口 Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and TV producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   Labour MP Kieran McAnulty has introduced a bill set to change rules around alcohol sales on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas. The bill recently passed its first reading. Do we need to change the current laws? How will these changes help the hospitality industry? Trump's tariff turmoil continues - with the administration exempting smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices from the extra costs involved. What do we make of this? Are we still concerned about how this will impact New Zealand? Will we watch the Phillip Polkinghorne documentary? Do we think it will be done well? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:36:10 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-why-we-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-why-we-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night/ Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble going back to sleep again? Research shows this may happen for a number of reasons, including lighter sleep cycles, stress, underlying health conditions, or environmental factors.  Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains how we can best combat restlessness - and better prepare for a good night's sleep.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:13:07 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-13-april-2025/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-13-april-2025/ On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 13th of April 20205, jailed journalist Peter Greste and Aussie acting veteran Richard Roxburgh joined Francesca to discuss their new movie The Correspondent. Francesca has a new idea for a Netflix project to get people interested in the world of sailing. As the sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale starts airing on Neon, actress Yvonne Strahovski opened up about her creative journey and the experience of portraying Serena Joy Waterford. Plus, the Panel weighs in on the latest with the Trump tariff turmoil. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:12:41 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-research-revealing-the-most-bitter-tasting-substance-ever/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-research-revealing-the-most-bitter-tasting-substance-ever/ Bitter flavours act as nature’s warning signs, evolved over hundreds of millions of years to steer us away from potentially toxic compounds. New research published this week in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has just identified the most potent natural bitter compounds known to date and with it insights into why bitterness is so important.  The star of this discovery is the mushroom Amaropostia stiptica, a non-toxic fungus renowned among foragers for its relentless, mouth-puckering bitterness.  By guiding their isolation efforts with taste assays, the researchers extracted and characterised three previously unknown triterpene glucosides from this mushroom.  Among the trio of new compounds, oligoporin D stole the show. In cell-based assays, oligoporin D activated the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R46 at astonishingly low concentrations of around 63 millionths of a gram per litre (roughly one gram dissolved in the volume of a million bathtubs)  Why does this matter?  Most entries in BitterDB hail from plants or human-made chemicals. Adding fungal compounds like oligoporin D enriches our chemical map of bitterness, revealing new scaffolds that challenge existing predictive models of taste receptor activation  Bitter taste receptors predate flowering plants by some 300 million years. By discovering a potent fungal bitterant, researchers gain clues about ancient ecological interactions, did early vertebrates encounter fungi that drove the diversification of their taste receptors?  Bitter receptors aren’t confined to our mouths - they’re sprinkled throughout the gut, lungs, heart, and even on blood cells. Understanding how natural bitterants like oligoporin D engage these extraoral receptors could unlock new avenues in digestion, immunity, and respiratory health  The discovery of oligoporin D opens doors to practical innovations including the development of a natural, ultra-bitter coating for household chemicals or pharmaceuticals to prevent accidental ingestion.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:47 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-persimmon-tart-recipe/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-persimmon-tart-recipe/ Persimmon Tart  Cook time: 25 minutes  Prep time: 30 minutes  Serves - 6  4 tbsp sugar   2 tbsp water   50g butter   4 persimmons, cut each into 8 wedges   2 sheets puff pastry   Raspberry sorbet to serve  Preheat oven to 190*C.   Place sugar and water in a small heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Cook until sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil, stirring continuously. Add butter, melt and allow to bubble until the mix turns a light caramel colour, turn off.  Remove leaves from persimmons and cut each one into 8 wedges. Fan out persimmon pieces over the caramel, leaving a 2-3cm gap around the edge. Stick the two puff pastry sheets together and cut into a circle the diameter of the top of the pan. Lay the pastry over the persimmon and press edges down so they touch the bottom of the pan, forming a seal.   Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes.   Remove from oven and place a large serving plate over the frying pan and carefully flip the tarte out onto the plate.   Serve hot with a delicious raspberry sorbet (or alternatively with ice cream of your choice).  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:53:28 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-polk-the-trial-of-philip-polkinghorne-airing-on-three/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-polk-the-trial-of-philip-polkinghorne-airing-on-three/ One of the country's biggest trials will be looked at from a new angle in a new series airing on Three. The murder trial of Phillip Polkinghorne will be explored over three nights.  The Auckland eye doctor was ultimately found not guilty of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna after an eight week trial.  The documentary series will show interviews with Polkinghorne himself, his girlfriend Madison Ashton, Crown Solicitor Alysha McClintock and journalists who covered the case.  Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals what to expect from this new project. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:46:24 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-annette-lasham-uoa-cancer-researcher-on-the-relief-efforts-designed-to-raise-money-for-breast-cancer-research/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-annette-lasham-uoa-cancer-researcher-on-the-relief-efforts-designed-to-raise-money-for-breast-cancer-research/ Each year in New Zealand, about 3600 people are diagnosed with breast cancer. Currently, there is no cure for the disease that affects one in nine women across their lifetime and, on average, 25 Kiwi men per year. As part of their latest fundraising effort, Breast Cancer Cure has launched the Tees for a Cure campaign - recruiting 17 popular Kiwi designers to utilise their skills for the cause. UoA cancer researcher Dr Annette Lasham says everybody involved is so committed to making a difference. "The designers are there - everybody is so committed to giving up their time and trying to make a difference for breast cancer." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:30:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claire-trevett-nz-herald-political-editor-on-foreign-minister-peters-chastising-the-prime-minister-over-tariffs-response/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claire-trevett-nz-herald-political-editor-on-foreign-minister-peters-chastising-the-prime-minister-over-tariffs-response/ Foreign Minister Winston Peters sent a blunt message to the Prime Minister as Donald Trump's tariffs continue to spark uncertainty around the world. Peters indicated Chris Luxon was premature in joining global talks calling for free trade, in opposition to the tariff rollout. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Peters expecting Luxon to follow his lead was unusual - but a courtesy call was warranted. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:10:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-matthew-reid-health-new-zealand-expert-urges-people-to-stay-up-to-date-with-measles-jabs-before-heading-overseas/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-matthew-reid-health-new-zealand-expert-urges-people-to-stay-up-to-date-with-measles-jabs-before-heading-overseas/ New Zealanders are being urged to make sure they're up to date with their measles jabs. As school holidays get underway, travellers are being reminded of outbreaks in Australia, the US, Canada, the UK and Vietnam. There are no cases in New Zealand currently. Health NZ’s acting national public health service clinical director protection, Dr Matthew Reid, says there's a risk of measles spreading quickly through New Zealand if Kiwis bring it back home. "Because our vaccination coverage is not as good as it should be, measles could then spread quite easily." LISTEN ABOVE  Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:53:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-ive-got-an-idea-for-the-next-netflix-hit/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-ive-got-an-idea-for-the-next-netflix-hit/ Have I got an idea for Netflix - although I’m unlikely the first to have it.   The shock announcement late this week that Peter Burling was leaving Team New Zealand made me wish Netflix would take us inside the world of match racing and the America’s Cup.   It’s got everything that’s made F1 such a TV hit - big money, big personalities, big egos, big competition - with a solid dose of life-threatening risk thrown in.   Who wouldn’t watch it? You would, right?   I don’t really give a flying hoot whether the America’s Cup comes back to New Zealand. I don’t think a lot of Kiwis do, even if they have cherished memories of past Cups. I think we all now understand the nature of this sport. It’s driven by a wealthy few, and paid for by aspirational brands. It will do whatever it needs to thrive as an event.   It doesn’t stop us getting behind the sailors and the incredible design teams when racing begins. But we don’t feel attached in the same way we once were.  But back to my point - it would make for great TV. There’s always some kind of potential ‘blowup’ lurking near the running of the America’s Cup and Team New Zealand -  location negotiations, rivalries and disputes, and fascinating characters all over it.   In January, skipper Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS chef Jim Ratcliffe suddenly split - and in the last couple of days, INEOS Britannia announced it was abandoning its challenge for the next America's Cup after failing to reach a settlement with Ainslie's team Athena Racing.   Can’t you just see Jimmy Spithill being the resident expert talking us through it all? What good fun!   The parting of Peter Burling and Team New Zealand is probably as simple as it sounds. This is what Team New Zealand Chief Executive Grant Dalton told Ryan Bridge on Drive on Friday when he asked what happened….  AUDIO: We just ran out of time basically….. we couldn’t get going… we’re in new territory trying to win it for the fourth time…  We got to get going.”   Who knows if Burling was aware of the time constraints on him to make a decision. Dalton says money and time were issues. Burling is apparently surprised it has come to this. But they both claim to be parting on good terms, and I believe it.    Burling stepped up when he was 26 with a bunch of cyclists and his trusty sidekick Blair Tuke to win the America’s Cup in Bermuda. He then went on to defend it twice more. It’s an incredible record for such a young athlete, and it’s no surprise that in-between the four-year America’s Cup cycle he’s gone on to lead the Black Foils Sail GP team and set up an environmental charity. I wish him well.   But once again, isn’t it fascinating to watch a team do whatever they have to do to win? If you hate participation certificates, you’ll love the cut throat nature of the America’s Cup. Just like we do with F1. Except when it comes to Liam Lawson of course.   LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:36:15 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rhys-jones-chair-of-the-rsa-on-the-recent-vote-set-to-impact-the-future-of-the-organisation/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rhys-jones-chair-of-the-rsa-on-the-recent-vote-set-to-impact-the-future-of-the-organisation/ 182 RSA clubs recently voted to decide the future of the 108-year-old organisation. A new constitution has been approved for the RSA - aimed at modernising and centralising power. Dozens of clubs have since threatened to leave if the constitution is passed, with the worry that the change would undermine the fundamental grassroots foundations. RSA chair Rhys Jones says this vote has sparked plenty of division within the organisation. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:23:25 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-squibb-author-and-social-media-sensation-on-new-book-what-s-your-dream-find-your-passion-love-your-work-build-a-richer-life/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-squibb-author-and-social-media-sensation-on-new-book-what-s-your-dream-find-your-passion-love-your-work-build-a-richer-life/ Simon Squibb is not your average entrepreneur.  After tragedy saw him leave home at the age 15, Simon went into survival mode - he started a gardening business with no actual experience or knowledge of the industry.  19 businesses later, Simon is a multimillionaire.  He's since taken to social media to ask people about their dreams via TikTok and he's founded the ‘Elevator of Dreams’ concept alongside Richard Branson. He's used his insight to craft a new book - What’s Your Dream? Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life. "I was forced to be an entrepreneur - it wasn't really my path at that moment in my life, I'd never thought about becoming an entrepreneur, no one had ever taught me at school what an entrepreneur was or how to create something in your mind and make it real. I was just like everybody else...but this entrepreneur muscle woke up in my brain." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:29:18 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/alisa-xayalith-former-lead-singer-of-the-naked-and-famous-on-her-latest-solo-project/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/alisa-xayalith-former-lead-singer-of-the-naked-and-famous-on-her-latest-solo-project/ Alisa Xayalith, the former lead vocalist, guitarist, and keyboard player for The Naked and Famous has released her latest solo project. After the band went on hiatus, Xayalith struck out on her own - and her debut album 'Slow Crush' was released last week. She says it's a 'massive milestone' to finally put out her new album - after teasing it with a single a couple of years ago. "So many of these songs sit at the intersection of my girlhood going into womanhood, and it's really cool to kind of commemorate memories and experiences in my life that have happened while also growing into this artist that I am." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:13:40 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-sea-change-and-no-words-for-this/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-sea-change-and-no-words-for-this/ Sea Change by Jenny Pattrick. Jenny is a longstanding writer of great New Zealand fiction, perhaps best known for The Denniston Rose some years ago. Her new one is lovely. Set in a small village slightly north of Wellington, which is completely cut off after a massive magnitude 8 earthquake in the South Island’s Alpine Fault and a subsequent tsunami, a number of the inhabitants decide to ignore a relocation mandate and manage their own survival. Their plans come under threat when a mercenary property developer sees the opportunity to buy up many of the abandoned houses and build himself a mini empire. Full of characters you can really warm to, and an all too credible premise.  No Words for This by Ali Mau. Ali has been a journalist and broadcaster on the NZ scene for many years, and recently was a leader of the local #metoo campaign during which time she met many brave women – and ultimately came to realise that if they could share their stories so could she. She’s  had a terrific career with many rewarding jobs and raised a family, but her world came crashing down one night when her sister called and opened the can of worms that was their childhood. This is a truly courageous book and beautifully written.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:52:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-things-to-do-in-los-cabos/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-things-to-do-in-los-cabos/ Megan's still been taking in the sights and sounds of Mexico - and her latest stop is in Los Cabos. There's a wide variety of resorts - with plenty of dining options - and Megan arrived in the height of whale-watching season, so there's not shortage of boat tours to see. Read more about Megan's latest adventures here.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:45:39 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-should-we-do-about-the-tariffs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-should-we-do-about-the-tariffs/ This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast and Trip Notes host Lorna Riley and Damien Venuto from One Plus One Communications joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump has finally unveiled his latest set of tariffs - where do we go from here? Are we in a position to make a strong stance? If a breakaway group formed, should we join in? There seems to be a growing number of people who are putting off trips to the US in light of everything's that's going on. Would we go as far as avoiding the US? Streaming prices are on the rise, with Netflix and Sky confirming they plan to hike fees up again. What are our top picks? How can we streamline our options? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:35:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-the-protein-craze/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-the-protein-craze/ The health and wellness sphere has recently been shining a light on the importance of protein - but are we eating too much? Protein is important for health, fitness and energy, but one expert has issued a warning about consuming too much - or not enough. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains why it's important to find the right balance. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:23:52 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-06-april-2025/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-06-april-2025/ On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 6th April 2025, The Naked and Famous singer Alisa Xayalith has released her debut solo album, she tells Francesca about the healing behind her music. Not your typical entrepreneur, Simon Squibb is using his millions to make others dreams come true. Simon talks about the tragedy that started his road to success. Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub agrees Trump's tariffs are the biggest economic policy error in our lifetime and talks us through how it will impact us Kiwis. Francesca calls on the Government to recognise the huge health benefits of funding weight loss drug Wegovy. And Dr Michelle Dickinson talks us through the science of why scratching an itch feels so good. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:12:40 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-omas-apple-tart/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-omas-apple-tart/ Oma's apple tart  Cook time: 45 minutes  Prep time: 35 minutes  Serves: 6  300g self raising flour, sifted   100g brown sugar   1 tsp vanilla paste   Pinch of salt   150g butter   1 egg, beaten   Plain flour for rolling   Filling   1 cup raisins   3 tbsp brandy or sherry   4 tbsp warm water   4 apples  Juice of ½ lemon   3 tbsp brown sugar   ½ tsp cinnamon   1 tbsp icing sugar  Pre-heat an oven to 180 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, vanilla and salt. Cut butter into small cubes and add to flour mix. Rub together until the mix starts to form fine breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and continue to mix. Once dough is formed, remove from bowl and knead by hand to form a ball. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Take 2/3 of the pastry, wrap and return rest to fridge. Using plenty of flour, roll out to 1cm thickness on a clean work surface. Lay the pastry over your floured rolling pin, and then gently lay it into a greased 20cm tart tin. Press gently into the tin and use any leftovers to patch rips or holes. Return to the fridge while you prepare the filling.   Soak raisins in brandy and warm water for 10 minutes. Peel apples, then cut into thick slices around the core. Place into a large bowl with lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Drain raisins, add to apples and toss to coat. Drain the apple mix well before arranging apple mix inside. Roll out reserved pastry to at least same diameter as the tart and cut into 2-3 cm strips. Using a long palette knife, lift strips off work surface and lay over apple filling in a lattice pattern. Brush the pastry lattice with water and dust with icing sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:10:33 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-it-feels-good-to-scratch/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-it-feels-good-to-scratch/ We've all felt the instant relief of scratching an itch, but what if that fleeting moment of bliss was actually doing more than just satisfying an itch?   Scientists have just published new research in the journal Science which shows how scratching activates an immune response that can help protect the skin against harmful infections.  Scratching has long been thought to serve a practical function: removing irritants like insects, dust, or allergens. But some itches, such as those caused by mosquito bites, persist long after the culprit is gone. This suggests that scratching might serve another purpose beyond simply removing irritants.  Researchers induced an itchy allergic contact dermatitis on the ears of mice have of which were allowed to scratch the itch and half that couldn't due to wearing a tiny headcollar. The mice that were allowed to scratch developed increased swelling and a surge of immune cells called neutrophils at the site. However, the mice that were prevented from scratching, had significantly lower inflammation and fewer immune cells in the affected area.  The researchers found that scratching activates pain-sensing neurons, which then release a powerful neurochemical called substance P. This messenger molecule wakes up mast cells which are immune cells that play a key role in allergic reactions. Once activated, mast cells recruit neutrophils, amplifying inflammation at the scratched site.  Previously, scientists believed that mast cells were only triggered by allergens, however this study revealed an entirely new pathway: scratching itself can activate these immune responses. While this might sound like a bad thing, it turns out that it has a hidden benefit.  The team discovered that scratching isn’t just about relief, it also helps to keep dangerous bacteria at bay. In their experiment, they found that mice who were allowed to scratch had lower levels of the potentially harmful bacteria Staphylococcus aureus on their skin compared to those prevented from scratching. This suggests that scratching might have antibacterial effects, helping to remove harmful microbes before they cause infection.  Of course, not all scratching is beneficial. Chronic scratching, as seen in conditions like eczema or diabetes, can lead to skin damage and increase the risk of infection. In these cases, the same immune response that helps in the short term can become a problem if it’s constantly activated.  Interestingly, researchers identified two separate nerve pathways, one that signals an itch and another that controls the immune response from scratching. This discovery opens the door to potential treatments that could block the itch-scratch cycle while preserving the immune benefits of scratching.  Scientists hope that by targeting specific nerve pathways, they can develop new therapies that stop the discomfort without shutting down the body’s natural immune defences.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:53 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-latest-updates-around-fyre-festival-ii/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-latest-updates-around-fyre-festival-ii/ Eight years after the infamous, fraudulent Fyre Festival, organiser Billy McFarland has promised the event will return again. Following the end of his prison sentence, McFarland has expressed interest in organising a follow up - but he's had difficulty securing a location. Steve Newall from Flicks.co.nz says representatives from Mexico's Playa del Carmen have confirmed the event will not be hosted there - causing more confusion about the event's future. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:46:48 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jonny-errington-padel-new-zealand-spokesperson-on-the-sports-growing-popularity/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jonny-errington-padel-new-zealand-spokesperson-on-the-sports-growing-popularity/ Padel is the latest up and coming sports craze taking over the world - and more Kiwis are getting into it. Between celebrities like David Beckham, Serena Williams, and Elle McPherson showcasing their love of padel and sports fans embracing it worldwide, there's clear demand. Ahead of New Zealand's first-ever National Padel Tournament Series, Padel NZ's Jonny Errington explained what's making this sport so popular. "It can appeal to people of different ages, fitness or skill levels - so you can come from a racquetball sport such as tennis or squash or having no background at all in sports." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:29:24 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-beer-artist-on-his-new-ghosts-on-every-corner-exhibition/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-beer-artist-on-his-new-ghosts-on-every-corner-exhibition/ Ghosts of Christchurch’s past are currently on display in an exhibition of mini replica buildings.  Made by artist Ghostcat, the replicas are scale models of the city's former buildings, some of which were destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.   Ghostcat, aka Mike Beer says many iconic Christchurch buildings were destroyed in the earthquake - but plenty of memories still lingered. "I had this idea of how places can be gone - because we lost a lot of these places after the earthquake - but how the memory can still exist, like a ghost." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:06:46 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-the-amount-of-submissions-opposed-to-the-treaty-principles-bill/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-the-amount-of-submissions-opposed-to-the-treaty-principles-bill/ There's plenty of lingering questions about the future of the Treaty Principles Bill. More than 300,000 written submissions were made to Parliament's Justice Committee - 90 percent of which opposed the bill.  NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor says David Seymour has refused to back down, and he's disputed the public is against the bill. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:47:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/shamubeel-eaqub-simplicity-chief-economist-predicts-other-countries-will-rally-together-as-a-result-of-the-trump-tariffs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/shamubeel-eaqub-simplicity-chief-economist-predicts-other-countries-will-rally-together-as-a-result-of-the-trump-tariffs/ New Zealanders in Kiwisaver are urged to stay calm and stay the course as stock markets tumble. The global uncertainty comes off the back of US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on imported goods from the rest of the world. Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub says tariffs have caused significant damage to the global economy in the past - and the uncertainty has added to existing economic pressures. "We really gave it up around the world after the first world war, because we had the depression and we saw the extraordinary damage that it does to our own people and to the global economy. But we also don't know if these policies will actually last the distance - there's so much uncertainty." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:30:59 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wegovy-could-change-our-health-system-if-we-let-it/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wegovy-could-change-our-health-system-if-we-let-it/ This week has been a brutal reminder of how politics and politicians like to work and be seen. How important it is to be the centre of attention, to be seen to be ‘doing’ - even if it’s just for appearances and there’s little evidence of a real productive outcome.   Whether it’s destabilizing global economic and trade order, championing legislation that’s dead on arrival, or feeling the need to speak for 25 hours straight, it has definitely been a fascinating week in politics.   But for all the attention seeking, polarisation and stoking of grievances, there’s also been some good work going on.   This week, David Seymour announced the weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved by Medsafe, with its producer hoping to make it available in New Zealand as soon as possible.   Wegovy is like the celebrity-championed Ozempic - it’s a semaglutide injection that acts to regulate appetite by increasing the feeling of fullness and reducing food cravings. Unlike Ozempic, which is approved in New Zealand to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is approved just as a weight loss drug.   I’ve very much sat on the fence when it comes to these drugs - like many people, including author Johann Hari, who has used Ozempic and written at length about it in his best-selling book Magic Pill.   He cites the many concerns around the use of this drug - including its wide availability in parts of the world, its impact on eating disorders, or those who don’t really need it. Then there’s the long list of side effects and the possibility you might need to stay on it for life to maintain your weight. And then there’s the simple boredom of living life without an appetite.  But if you use this drug selectively on people who have exhausted other means of losing weight and are facing serious health issues - it could be a massive game changer for our health system.   It was a cardiologist involved in heart transplants who convinced me of the importance of access to drugs like Wegovy. She told me it could be the one thing which stops a heart transplant being the only option left for her patients. I’ve had GPs say to me that this could have a huge impact on reducing type 2 diabetes, orthopaedic issues, cancer, and strokes.  They are not saying it should be available for every obese New Zealander - that would be 1 in 3 adults - but for patients with chronic complex conditions.   But here’s the thing - at this stage Pharmac is not funding the drug, and it is cost prohibitive. Wegovy is available in Australia, it costs NZ$497 per month for the recommended dose required to have the best weight management outcome.   So, serious work needs to go into assessing the benefit a drug such as this could have on reducing the burden on our health system. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then it needs to be funded by Pharmac as soon as possible.   LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:06:34 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rebecca-gibney-australian-actress-on-her-brand-new-show-happiness/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rebecca-gibney-australian-actress-on-her-brand-new-show-happiness/ Australian actress Rebecca Gibney has made a solid name for herself in a variety of popular TV shows - and her latest project is due to air on Three this week. Gibney is well known for her roles on The Flying Doctors, Packed to the Rafters and as Dr Jane Halifax, but she's hoping to branch out with her new show Happiness. The show is a musical sitcom series centred around a community theatre group. "It just felt like an amateur theatre production - and that's how we felt when we were filming it, it really felt like we became this little family." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:47:36 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/amanda-knox-author-and-activist-opens-up-about-her-new-book-free-my-search-for-meaning/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/amanda-knox-author-and-activist-opens-up-about-her-new-book-free-my-search-for-meaning/ In 2007, Amanda Knox was arrested for the brutal murder of her flatmate while studying in Italy - and it was a case that captured international attention. Amanda was found guilty, convicted of the murder and spent four years in an Italian prison - but she was later found to be wrongly convicted. 10 years after she was officially exonerated of the crime, she's told her story in her new memoir Free: My Search for Meaning. "I was immersed in a very restrictive environment...it was really important, for my sanity, to develop a sense of place and purpose." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:11:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-see-how-they-fall-and-careless-people/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-see-how-they-fall-and-careless-people/ See How They Fall by Rachel Paris. The uber-rich Turner family operate a luxury goods empire from Sydney, where their venal self interest knows no bounds. When their patriarch dies, the heirs call a meeting where things go terribly wrong and their cocooned world becomes the subject of a major police enquiry. Skye married into this money but as things unfold, finds she can’t believe what they’re capable of. This is truly a world you want no part of, but as the 1 percenters increasingly rule over us, it’s a staggering insight into how some of them might have got there.  Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams. Sarah is a New Zealander who spent seven years working at Facebook/Meta – a job she entered with high ideals, believing Facebook would be a force for good. What she found, though, was a company where revenue was everything, whose leaders got away with terrible behaviour and who were aware of the disastrous aspects of many of its policies but chose to do nothing. The absence of any kind of moral compass is staggering.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:55:14 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-favourite-spots-in-cancun/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-favourite-spots-in-cancun/ If Cancun is on your holiday radar, BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton's made a list of her top spots to check out. From the holiday hotspots to the sacred sites to the wide mix of dining options, Megan's revealed how to pack a big experience into a short timeframe.  Read more about Megan's experience with Cancun here. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:46:26 Z