Michael Morpurgo is a literary treasure.  The author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, he’s written around 150 books, loved particularly among children and young people.  He’s returned with yet another novel, Cobweb following a little dog heading to London in the aftermath of Britain’s triumph at Waterloo.  Morpurgo told Jack Tame that much like many of his stories, Cobweb was inspired by a friend of his who walked 250 miles from the West Coast of Wales to London on a drovers’ road.   Drovers’ roads are the paths farmers would use to bring their livestock from their farms to the market, as back before vehicles and public transport became common, walking was the only way to reach the big cities.   While researching drovers’ roads, Morpurgo realised that their stories, and the stories of drovers’ dogs in particular, aren’t well known.  “And I thought, that's a story that mostly no one knows, so why don't you tell it? Tell that tale? So that's what I did.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A painful form of arthritis, gout is the second most common form affecting New Zealanders.   A major international study involving around 2.6 million people, has revealed that genetics are a major cause, not lifestyle choices.   Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to run through the study, what gout looks like, and how it impacts people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi musical icon Kimbra is back with another album.   Idols & Vices (Vol. 1) is a collaborative album, featuring the likes of BANKS, Dawn Richard, DRAM, Skrillex, and Sahtyre, and while Kimbra doesn’t stray too far from her experimental pop sound, there is more R&B and hiphop influences in this work.  Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  “It grows on me day by day, this album.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell   When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing – and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes – on both sides of the Atlantic – remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.  At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnelli into Italy’s ‘uncrowned king’ on the international stage and after moving to the US brought a struggling Democratic party back to life, hand-picking Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulting him to the presidency.  Picked as Ambassador to France, she deployed her legendary subtle powers to charm world leaders and help efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, playing her part in what was arguably the high-water mark of American global supremacy.  There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th Century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra. Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigor that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, KINGMAKER re-asserts Harriman’s rightful place at the heart of history.  See Less      The Valley by Chris Hammer   Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are back – and Nell is thrown into her most emotionally fraught investigation yet.  A controversial entrepreneur is murdered in a remote mountain valley, but this is no ordinary case. Ivan and Nell are soon contending with cowboy lawyers, conmen, bullion thieves and grave robbers.  But it's when Nell discovers the victim is a close blood relative that the past begins to take on a looming significance.  What did take place in The Valley all those years ago? What was Nell's mother doing there, and what was her connection to troubled young police officer Simmons Burnside? And why do the police hierarchy insist Ivan and Nell stay with the case despite an obvious conflict of interest?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Savouring Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands is an adventure to relish. Swathed in lush jungle greens, pepper-potted with shapely hills and anchored by a gloriously soothing lake at its heart, the seduction is fast and sweet in the gateway city of Kandy. The very name Kandy conjures visions of splendour and mystique. It’s a city that proudly keeps its legends, traditions and folklore alive." "Another huge highlight was visiting the storied Geragama Tea Factory. Located close to Kandy, this is one of your classic old-school tea factories, specialising in long leaf tea for over 120 years. They do a great job in chronicling the rise of Ceylon Tea and how the nation remains one of the world’s top five tea producers." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been so anxious that your stomach started hurting? In addition to its well-known impacts on mental health, stress can also make people feel physically ill—and a new study could help explain why.   Although it’s fairly common knowledge that the gut “talks” to the brain by releasing hormones into the bloodstream, this recent study showed the relationship going back the other way: from the brain to the gut to the immune system.   Researchers have found that removing key glands (called Brunner’s glands) in mice, which line the walls of the small intestine, triggered inflammation and increase the chance of infection. Similar thing happens in humans who’ve had tumours removed in their gut.   It seems that removal of these glands leads to a reduction in gut bacteria which triggers inflammation and subsequent pain.   When the researchers took a closer look at these glands, they discovered a connection to the vagus nerve that goes from the base of the brain to the internal organs, influencing digestion, blood pressure, and even memory and mood. Fibers that connect to Brunner’s gland lead directly to a region of the brain known as the amygdala, which plays a key role in emotion and the stress response.   Researchers found that when mice are under chronic stress their glands shut down—causing gut bacteria to dwindle and intensifying inflammation.   The take home message: being under mental stress can lead to a painful stomach! It highlights the importance of monitoring your stress levels and keeping good gut bacteria.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passionvine Hoppers came up in conversation a week or so ago: a nuisance for gardeners, especially in the warmer north (but more and more a pain-in-the-South as well!).  I also remember that Aucklanders often called them lacy-winged moths. Shows you that entomological knowledge has always been slow to sink in up there in the North Island.   They are certainly not moths, these critters belong to a totally different insect order: the Homoptera, or sap-sucking bugs. Yes, these are some of the insects you can legitimately call “bugs” in entomological parlance.   LIFE CYCLE:   Eggs hatch in October – the timing relates to warmth in spring.   The tiny fluffy bums (“nymphs”) suck sap from a wide variety of host plants and slowly grow bigger and bigger. They also become nimbler and can hop greater distances as they grow larger in spring.   Late in spring (December onwards) the Fluffy Bums will moult their last moult and turn into a winged adult Passionvine Hopper.    One nymph of passion vine hopper (fluffy bum) and three winged adults in summer.  They will still suck sap from your favourite plants – they will also continue excreting sticky honeydew all over the plants and leaves below.   (And as we all know, honeydew is a perfect place for sooty mould to grow – black, ugly fungal material that looks as if a miniature fire has burnt your plants).  This is also the time for mating and female Passionvine Bugs will lay eggs in the autumn. They prefer to insert the eggs in thin branches, leaving a patterned oviposition site, which keeps the eggs in good nick during the winter months   CONTROL and PREVENTION:   Keep an eye on the new fluffy bums hatching in your garden right now! Those tiny nymphs often congregate in large flocks at the ends of new growth; they are still very feeble in their movement and won’t be able to escape a cloud of fly-spray aimed at them on a wind-still morning.  Small, young nymphs  Spray these young passionvine hoppers in October with a good dose of fly-spray.  In autumn there is a second chance for control: spot the new egg-sites on thin twigs and tendrils, cut these off and burn them in the fireplace (Fried Eggs!).  Eggs laid in thin twigs and curly tendrils    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 19 October 2024, uniquely talented author Michael Morpurgo joins Jack to discuss his love for fact within fiction, a memorable discussion with Roald Dahl, and the intriguing inspiration behind his new children's novel Cobweb.  Jack discusses team loyalty and his pride in wearing blue to Auckland FC's first match.  Chef Nici Wickes shares a quirky tip to ensure the icing of your Hummingbird cake stays light and fluffy.  And, in her new album, Kiwi musician Kimbra is circling back to her collaborative ways. Music reviewer Estelle Clifford delivers her verdict on the resulting sound.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon is joining other top tech firms with a foray into nuclear power   This deal is to explore the development of small modular nuclear reactors. AI needs massive amounts of computing power, and that requires electricity. Virginia's power demand is already growing 5% YOY and is expected to be double 2024’s level in 15 years.   In addition to that, Amazon is part of a $500 million financing round in a private company opening four small nuclear plants in the West.   The WSJ called it a "renaissance" of nuclear power. The approach seems to be a little different this time though - with smaller plants rather than large sites. The larger sites run billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. These companies want to make sure they have the power when they need it.     And, Amazon will now also be delivering election night news   Their Amazon Prime Video Service will host a live broadcast of the results hosted by former NBC broadcaster Brian Williams. It's the first time the streamer has got into the news game. It says coverage will be an “informative, accessible and non-partisan presentation", which will reference third-party news sources across all political affiliations. Maybe the idea is for Brian Williams will be our guide to all the information being presented?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rivals  David Tennant and Aidan Turner star in the small-screen version of Jilly Cooper’s novel set in 1980's England about a rivalry between two powerful men that takes over their lives (Disney+).   The Diplomat   British consul Laura Simmonds and her Barcelona colleague Alba Ortiz fight to protect British nationals in trouble in the Catalan city. Their diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit by the cases that walk through the Consul's doors (Neon). The Office Australia   Hannah Howard is the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Return   After 20 years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope, is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family.      Merchant Ivory   Archival footage and interviews provide insight into the partnership, both professional and personal, between director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I make a few versions of the mighty hummingbird cake but this is an easy, light, manageable version. I like to describe this cake as a banana cake that goes on a Jamaican holiday.   Serves 8-10      Ingredients    1 ½ cups plain flour   ¾ cups brown sugar    ½ cup desiccated coconut    1 heaped tsp cinnamon   ½ tsp each baking powder and baking soda   2 medium eggs   ¾ cups oil – I used grapeseed oil    2 ripe bananas, mashed – about 2 bananas   1 cup crushed pineapple + ¼ cup juice      Brown butter cream cheese icing    100g butter   250g full fat cream cheese   1 – 1 ½ cup icing sugar     Method  Heat oven 180 C. Grease and line a 23cm cake tin.    Take two bowls. In one put all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, coconut, spices and raising agents. Whisk together.    In the second bowl, beat together eggs, oil and bananas. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients, add the crushed pineapple and the juice and stir to combine.    Scrape batter into the tin and bake for 45-55 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Rest for 10 mins then turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.       Make the icing  Melt butter in a small pot until it splutters. Keep cooking until the spluttering subsides – 4-6 minutes – then it will begin to foam and brown. Cook, watching carefully, until it is browned and gives off a wonderful nutty aroma. Cool completely.    Beat cream cheese and browned butter and add the icing sugar gradually. Beat until smooth.    Split the cake through the middle and fill with half the frosting, using the remaining for the top of the cake. Serve and eat!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rare celestial object has made an appearance in the skies over New Zealand.  Comet C/2023 A3 hasn’t been seen in our skies in for 80,000 years, and with the length of its orbital period, it’s not going to be seen again by anyone alive today.  Kevin Milne caught sight of A3 passing by on Wednesday, and it got him thinking about the last time it passed by, and the next time it’ll show up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never thought I would support Auckland in anything.    I mean —duh— I’m from Christchurch. When I was a kid, it was a given that Aucklanders were nothing more than latte-swilling, overpriced-haircut-donning, ostentatious-sports-car-driving primadonnas.   My parochialism isn’t the only force working against Auckland City FC. When the brand-new club kicks off in its very first A-League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge that comes from trying to launch a new team and a new club in a competition which is already well-established.     Think about it. Most of the teams we support in sporting competitions have either been around since the competition’s inception or have built up a fan base over many decades.   I support the Crusaders because I was born and raised in Christchurch and when Super Rugby was established, they were everyone-in-my-life’s team.   I support Liverpool because when I was 6 or 7 and watched football highlights on the news, I asked Dad what English club we supported and stuck with that.    The Warriors inspire my loyalty because for all the highs and the lows —so many lows— they have endured for thirty years and never really shaken that underdog status. And they’re the New Zealand Warriors. Not the Auckland Warriors. So we’re good.    Theoretically at least, it’s a bit harder to inspire loyalty in a team that arrives late to the party. Especially when that team is the third Auckland-based professional football club to compete in the Australian top league. RIP the Auckland Kingz and the New Zealand Knights.    Also, I really love the Wellington Phoenix fan culture. And the club has been playing so well! Maybe I’m wrong, but there’s a risk that any rivalry in a Kiwi derby could feel a little forced, at least early on.    But, for all of that, Auckland FC has one massive dynamic working in its favour. People in the 09 are so ready for a proper football team. You see it every time the Phoenix play at Eden Park. You see it at All Whites games. You see it on the sidelines of how many thousand junior football games on Saturday mornings. Sure, it may take a few seasons to deepen the well of loyalty, but you would be hard-pressed to find a city or a market on Earth that isn’t hungrier for a team to support.    And so tonight, I’ll be there. One of more than 20,000 at a sold-out Go Media stadium. I must have a dozen friends attending. Some have already bought season passes.    You can hold the fancy haircut. Hold the latte. But I’ll be proudly crossing the Rubicon and dressed in blue. And if in years to come anyone should question my loyalty to AFC, well, at least I can say I was there from day one.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most famous foodies in the Southern Hemisphere, Donna Hay is one of the Queens of Cooking.   She’s known for her minimalistic approach to food styling, fresh and vibrant ingredient choices, and grounded recipes for busy people still interested in eating well.  Her latest book ‘Too Easy’ offers an array of delicious dishes like one-pan undone lasagna, crunchy chipotle chicken traybake, and sticky pork belly that won’t leave you slaving away over a stove for hours.  When it comes to her recipes, Hay seeks a quicker path from A to B.  “The one-pan undone lasanga, I realised I hadn’t cooked my children lasagna in a very, very long time, because even on the weekend, Jack, I’m not coming home and layering up all of that deliciousness and taking two hours out of my life for it to be consumed by two very hungry boys in a matter of minutes.”  “I guess it's just life that kind of dictates what, what I'm gonna try and twist and turn into a great recipe.”  LISTEN ABOVE    Donna Hay’s One-pan Undone Lasagne   If you love everything about lasagne except the time it takes to make it, then this is for you. This is not a traditional recipe for lasagne – it’s more for those wanting all the comforting gooey yumminess of lasagne but in an instant. Try it – you’ll love it!    Ingredients  2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  1 brown onion, finely chopped  3 cloves garlic, crushed  600g (1 lb 5 oz) beef mince  1 litre (34 fl oz) good-quality beef stock  3 x 400g (14 oz) cans crushed tomatoes  2 tablespoons chopped oregano leaves  sea salt and cracked black pepper  250g (9 oz) fresh lasagne sheets, cut into 5cm x 21cm (2 in x 8½ in) strips  ¼ cup (5g/⅛ oz) chopped basil leaves, plus extra leaves to serve  mascarpone cheese topping  350g (12½ oz) mascarpone  1 cup (80g/2¾ oz) finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve  1 x 125g (4½ oz) fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced    Method  Heat a large deep ovenproof frying pan over medium–high heat.    Add the oil and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until soft and golden. Add the garlic and beef and cook for 6 minutes, stirring, until the beef is well browned. Add the stock, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper and bring to the boil.   Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 35–40 minutes or until the mixture has reduced by roughly one-third. The mixture should still be quite saucy.   Add the lasagne sheets, a few at a time, and gently stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until the pasta softens. Remove from the heat and stir through the basil.    Preheat oven grill (broiler) to high.    To make the mascarpone cheese topping, combine the mascarpone, parmesan and pepper. Top the lasagne with small spoonfuls of mascarpone mixture and mozzarella. Grill for 10–12 minutes or until the lasagne is golden and bubbly.   Finish with extra basil and parmesan to serve. Serves 6     Cook’s note: If you have dried lasagne sheets, pop them into boiling water for 30 seconds or until pliable, drain and use as you would fresh sheets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubbed the “most ‘Coldplay’ Coldplay album,” Moon Music is the band’s 10th album, and potentially one of their final ones. Chris Martin has confirmed that there’s a concrete plan for two more albums after this, before the band shuts up shop.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the band’s latest release.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins   An isolated Scottish island, accessible to the mainland only twelve hours a day. A famous (some might say infamous) artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared after visiting her twenty years ago. A present-day discovery that intimately connects three people and unveils a web of secrets and lies.  Welcome to Eris: an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day.  Once home to Vanessa: A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.  Now home to Grace: A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.  But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.  And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge....     Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula 1 by Guenther Steiner   Formula 1 sensation Guenther Steiner, author of the number one bestseller Surviving to Drive, takes readers into the heart of his ten years running Team Haas, packed with hilarious stories and unprecedented insight into the world of elite motorsport.  Fasten your seatbelts as Formula 1's favourite underdog, Guenther Steiner, takes you on a wild ride through his ten years at Team Haas.  From the first seeds of his idea to establish a new F1 team to the challenges of funding and building that team from the ground up, Guenther shares the real story of the origins of Team Haas, immerses readers in the high and lows of its first decade on the grid, and opens up about his departure from the team at the end of 2023.  As Guenther recalls his proudest achievements and the many, many disasters he has faced, he takes readers behind the scenes, into the pit lanes and garages, and out on to the circuits of the world's greatest race tracks. We spend time with drivers, mechanics, executives, sponsors, commentators and fans, and take in many personal moments too, all the while grappling with the big challenges and small details that keep the wheels of a Formula 1 team turning.  Told in his inimitable style, packed with hugely entertaining stories, outspoken opinions and unvarnished truths, this is Guenther at his very best – insightful, opinionated and completely unfiltered.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"After savouring Sri Lanka’s western coast, the nation’s famed cultural triangle serves up a bevy of World Heritage ancient treasures in the heart of the island. Travelling with On the Go Tours, we farewelled the city buzz of Colombo and drove east for several hours to Dambulla, home to the spectacular Dambulla Rock Temple. Sri Lanka has a long history of the presence and practice of Buddhism and this sprawling cave complex is quite the treasure-chest. The Dambulla temple is not only one of the oldest sites for Buddhist monasticism, but it has served as a pilgrimage site for twenty-two centuries. The massive cave temple complex is unique in Southeast Asia because monks carved the caves out from rock, towering 160 metres above the surrounding plains. There’s more than 80 caves across the site, but the major attractions are spread over five caves which contain statues and paintings of Buddha and his life." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our oceans are filled with a variety of things: sea creatures, plants, algae, coral, rubbish. Some things belong there, and some don’t.  Since ‘Litter Intelligence’ began back in 2018, citizen scientists have picked up, counted, and weighed over 621,000 individual pieces of litter from coastal survey areas across Aotearoa, more than 75% of which is plastic.   Sustainable Coastlines has launched their ‘Trash Species of Aotearoa New Zealand’ campaign, and Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the most common species, and chat about the ways we can keep them from filling our oceans.  Key Litter Species facts:  Scollipop (lollipop sticks): 8,301 sticks recorded in Litter Intelligence coastal litter surveys. Lots near kids' playgrounds!   Gutterfish is part of the construction waste family, which makes up more than 20% of the litter removed from Litter Intelligence coastal survey sites, by weight.   Blue snackeral is from the food wrappers family, which Litter Intelligence data tells us has been collected a colossal 39,013 times.   Pauarade features a plastic bottle top, one of the most common items collected in surveys we find an average of 18 for every 1,000m2 of coastline.   Smoki (cigarette butts and filters) are the 8th most common trash species found in Litter Intelligence beach surveys, with the data reporting over 18,890 collected to date.  For more information visit the Sustainable Coastlines site here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for 12 October 2024, culinary legend Donna Hay joins Jack to discuss what inspires her these days compared to ten years ago, and shares tips on cooking for a house full of hungry teenage boys.  Jack examines the difficulty of learning a new language at middle age.  Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin considers how small-budget kiwi film ‘A Mistake’ somehow landed A-List Hollywood star Elizabeth Banks.  Elon Musk hosted his robo-event, complete with new products and designs. Tech expert Paul Stenhouse dishes on the new taxis, vans and... humanoids.  And Kevin Milne and Jack celebrate how kiwi music legends Crowded House can sell out London's O2 arena, but still return to our smaller home-grown venues for their kiwi audiences.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are three reactions to the concept of “feeding your plants”:   1) Plants feed themselves through Photosynthesis (you don’t need to feed your plants!)  2) They’ll pick up elements in the soil that they need for growth and development, nobody feeds the plants in a native forest.  3) What’s scientifically needed for our gardens is a soil test that indicates which chemical elements are lacking in soil.  This is about the Science of Fertilisers.  This is the time of the year when soil temperatures are great for plant growth. Roots work over-time to extract minerals, dissolve them in water and transport them through the phloem bundles to the leaves of plants, where photosynthesis puts it all together and creates carbohydrates and chemicals that allow cell-elongation (growth).   Plants use three main elements for bulk growth “food”: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and potassium (K), which are generally known as NPK (their chemical symbols).   N is used to make the green stuff: leaves and chlorophyll (LAWNS, LETTUCE, SPINACH, HEDGES).  P is good for root development and plant health (CARROTS, PARSNIPS, POTATOES, etc).  K (potash) is for sex: flowers and fruits (TOMATOES, APPLES, STRAWBERRIES, FLOWERING PLANTS).  Other elements needed for plant functioning are needed in much smaller quantities:   Mg (Magnesium), S (Sulphur), Ca (Calcium), Cu (Copper), Fe (Iron), Zn (Zinc), Mn (Manganese), and a heap more of those minor “trace elements”.  There are a few different types of fertilisers:   1) “General” Fertiliser – for general growth: usually something like N-P-K 7-3-6 or 12-4-13 (note how Phosphorus is usually less than the N and K).  2) Potato fertiliser: N-P-K 3-9-6, also good for carrots and parsnips.  3) Tomato or rose fertiliser - usually higher in potash (K): N-P-K 3-4-9. This helps to stimulate flower and fruit growth.  Of course, you can always use the general fertiliser (which tends to be highest in Nitrogen) and simply add a few handfuls of Superphosphate (P) if you grow root crops, or handfuls of Sulphate of Potash (K) if you want to up the dose of K (potash) for flowers and fruit.   Organic fertilisers usually have lower concentrations of elements, and they are often less prone to fertiliser run-off into water courses. Chicken poo (a “Natural” organic fertiliser) has a high content of Nitrogen which can burn plants – I would always send it through a cycle of composting before use.  These are very general comments on how to use fertilisers; some plants require a bit more detailed knowledge or would benefit from changing fertiliser regimes in different times of the year (Cymbidium orchids have a green-growth phase to make leaves in spring and summer – followed by a flower bud initiation in autumn and flowering in winter).   I use General fertiliser on my young tomatoes to get them growing up and create a strong climbing vine, before the flower buds are formed.   Once they start flowering, I assist the plants with more potash to keep on making fruit – I just switch to a higher potash fertiliser such as Wet&Forget’s Seaweed Tea.   Dog Pee fertiliser   Most homeowners let their dogs use the backyard as their own personal toilet. Urine is very high in Nitrogen. Too much nitrogen will burn the grass and create yellow patches after sensational, dark green growth (a dog will usually come back to the same patch – territorial “marking”).   The concentration of nitrogen in the dog’s urine depends on the type of dog, its sex, and what the animal eats. Larger dogs will pee more and cause more damage. Female dogs also tend to cause more damage than males because they squat and urinate in one concentrated patch whereas the males spray their urine over a larger area and in much smaller doses each time. Finally, diets high in protein can increase the concentration of nitrogen in the urine since protein breaks down to release nitrogen compounds.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon   Why I chose it:   This wine was selected by Gimblett Gravels’ winemakers as one of the top reds from 2022.  A hearty red at a mouth-watering price.  2022 was an average vintage, but this is a well below average price   Can be enjoyed now or stored in a cool place and enjoyed in 5 or 6 years time   A versatile wine that appeals to a wide range of tastes   What does it taste like?    A fresh and fruity red with dark berry and plum flavours and a seasoning of spicy oak. Moderately intense. A delicious wine that makes me reach for a second glass.   Why it’s a bargain:            Punches well above its weight   Where can you buy it?          Whiskeyonline, Auckland $16.99  Vitis Cellars, Auckland $113.64 (12 bottles)  Blackmarket.co.nz $113.94  Check your supermarket shelves  What’s a good food match?   Barbecued steak.  Drink now or later?   Now if you like bright, fresh and fruity flavours, in five years if you prefer more mellow and slightly savoury reds.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk's “We, Robot” event saw taxis, vans, and humanoids  Elon says it will be "the biggest product ever" calling them an “autonomous assistant, humanoid friend".    He gave us a glimpse into a future. At the party robots danced, served cocktails, and chatted with guests with a voice that sounded like a human. It's cadence and tone were offputtingly normal. When an event attendee told Optimus he was doing a good job, the robot looked up in acknowledgement, then said “You wanna get a photo?” and made a peace sign with its hand.  In a video they were watering plants, collecting packages, cleaning the kitchen after dinner, unloading groceries and unwinding with a board game with the family’s kids.  The marketing materials said they're designed to take on the dangerous and boring tasks in your life. The lofty goal is to have them ready to sell by the end of 2025, with a price-tag of somewhere around USD$30,000.    They unveiled a robocab with two seats, no steering wheel, and is controlled through a large touchscreen mounted on the dashboard. And then there's the robovan, which looks like a futuristic Airstream caravan who's worst enemy may be a speedbump.         LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disclaimer  When an intriguing novel appears at the bedside of a journalist whose career has been built on revealing transgressions, she is horrified to realise she's a key character in a long-buried story, one that exposes her darkest secret (Apple TV+). Sweetpea   Rhiannon Lewis doesn't make much of an impression - people walk past her in the street without a second glance. That is until she is pushed over the edge and loses control, and Rhiannon's life transforms (Neon). The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes  A second season of the local series about a group of volunteers with young onset dementia as they navigate the highs and lows of running a fine-dining restaurant under the guidance of renowned chef Ben Bayly (TVNZ+ from Monday 14 October).   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Mistake   A talented surgeon's life unravels when a new public reporting system for surgeons' performance is introduced. Her colleagues distance themselves, and even her partner, a hospital nurse, abandons her.     The Outrun   After living life on the edge in London, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland's Orkney Islands where she grew up, hoping to heal.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bored of making the same old recipes? Is cooking becoming more of a chore? You might be stuck in a rut. Fortunately, Nici Wickes has some advice on how to pull yourself out and get back into the swing of things.  She recommends checking out cookbooks or magazines for some new recipes, eating out or trying new restaurants for some inspiration, and of course, taking a look to see what interesting things may be tucked away in your cupboards.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarket collectable schemes are a dime a dozen these days, with most franchises running a collectable promotion every year. Most buy into the scheme, collecting the stickers or cards and trading them in for a free product, but there are some out there who pass on them.  To Kevin Milne it feels like these people are just throwing away money, and wonders why people would pass on a free container or two.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As someone who considers themself at least semi-literate, with the benefit of a reasonable education and at least a passing interest in the world, I can confirm there is nothing quite so humbling in middle-age as learning a new language.    At short notice, I’m hoping to briefly visit a Latin American country for my work in a few weeks’ time, and in preparation this week I downloaded a few apps and subscribed to podcasts to try and re-up my Spanish.   My history with Spanish is one of big surges and even bigger retreats.    I studied it until seventh form at high school. I wasn’t very good but at least I learnt a few nouns and could ask some basic questions.    But when I moved to New York as a 24-year-old I decided to learn Spanish in a way I never had when I was a teenager. I moved to a Latin neighbourhood. I did thrice-weekly lessons on Skype, just speaking with a tutor friend in Mexico’s south.    After a few months of studying, I decided to visit her.     “Estoy excitado,” I said, trying to express my excitement at the impending trip. My tutor laughed and explained that’d just informed a conservative Catholic mother that I was horny.    “Gaah... estoy tan embarazada!” I blushed.    She bent over in laughter again. Turns out embarazada is not embarassed. Embarazada is pregnant.     It’s amazing what immersion will do though. When I visited Chiapas, I’d collapse in bed, exhausted at the end of every day from 12-hours of speaking. But after just a few weeks, I could swear I was just starting to dream in Spanish. That’s when you know it’s sticking.   Then, though. Oof. An almighty retreat. I fell out of lessons and Spanish fell out of my head. I eventually moved home and studied Māori, which I absolutely loved, but which has a similar vowel sound to Spanish. Often over the years when I’ve reached for the word, I’ve pulled a noun from the wrong language. And now, I’m embarrassed to admit that although my wife is Persian, in Farsi I can’t even say hello.   There are some people though, for whom language comes easier than others. I’m good with sound and speaking with false confidence but very poor with grammar. My brother is much more studious, but I swear he also just gets grammatical structure. It’s like he sees the matrix when he’s studying language.    I’m fascinated by people who can speak many languages. There’s a New Zealander named Harold Williams, who basically no one has ever heard of, who is considered one of the greatest polyglots in history. He was the foreign editor for The Times in London and spoke as many as 58 languages. As a lad in Christchurch in the late 1800s, he described having a ‘brain explosion’ when he was about seven-years-old. He bought himself the New Testament in every language his bookshop could order and taught himself that way.    Our historic comfort in our majority monolingualism is one of the great faults of New Zealand culture. It’s sloppy. Insular. It’s embarrassing to visit poor neighbourhoods in poor countries and realise that despite the relative lack of educational opportunities, kids can speak more languages than many or most of us can. It’s wonderful to see the revitalisation of te reo Māori, but New Zealand must still be one of the most monolingual developed countries on Earth.    So, here we go again. Like trying to start a lawnmower that’s been sitting in the shed for fifteen years, I’m pulling at the starter cord and pleading the engine to fire.    “The cat likes to sleep.”   “I would like to buy a ticket for the train.”   It’s so humbling to go so far back. Embarazada, even. And yet still so rewarding when you feel something stick. Excitado!   That’s the thing about language. More than vowels and consonants, it is the front door to culture, a gate to a whole new World.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rena Owen has cemented herself in New Zealand’s pantheon of film and television greats.  The award-winning actress has a packed acting career, with roles in everything from Once Were Warriors, to Star Wars, to Whina, to Shortland Street.   She stars in productions that create lasting legacies, conveying stories from the culture and history of New Zealand, and her latest work follows suit.  Taki Rua Theatre – Breaking Barriers tells the story of what became the unofficial Māori theatre company, an ensemble of artists breaking barriers, shattering cultural norms, and pioneering a bicultural partnership.  Owen joined Jack Tame to discuss the significance of the theatre, her acting career, and her upcoming film roles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi soul musician Louis Baker has released his third EP, Medicine his first work as sole producer.   The EP reflects the bond Baker has with his craft, allowing him to connect with himself and communicate with the world.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on this new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sri Lanka has loomed large on my bucket-list for quite some time. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, I’ve just ventured to the teardrop-shaped island nation for the first time and it smashed my expectations. Over the course of a week, I savoured Sri Lanka’s colourful cities, vibrant cuisine, ravishing landscapes, astonishing World Heritage treasures and glorious wildlife, which were all seamlessly stitched together by On the Go Tours and their Colombo, Caves and Kandy group tour." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney   Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common.  Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent, and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.  Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.  For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.   For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude – a period of desire, despair and possibility – a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.        The Siege by Ben Macintyre   Britain’s best-selling historian writes the first definitive account of the famous televised SAS storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980.  On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens. A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.  Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.  Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ has released the latest data from the Census, giving fresh insights into the lives of people across the country.  Kevin Milne has been taking a look at the latest numbers and there’s a couple things he found interesting, and some he wasn’t surprised by at all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Although Working from Home might have been new for many of us under Covid, research in the area has been going on for decades. This international research, combined with studies carried out in New Zealand over the past 4 years, notably by Prof Jarrod Harr at Massey Uni, is pretty clear that from a wellbeing and productivity perspective the hybrid model of working is better than working in the office 100% or working from home 100%. Hybrid working gives the best of both worlds – 2 or 3 days in the office and 2 or 3 days at home.  Advantages of hybrid working include:   An increased sense of autonomy for workers – you have some choice over when/where/how you work. Higher levels of autonomy are associated with higher levels of wellbeing.  Less stress and better work-life balance.  You still get the advantage of social interactions when in the office.  Working from Home 100% of the time isn’t ideal – people report higher rates of low mood and loneliness. Also, higher rates of burnout, possibly due to not having clear stop/start times. Working from the office 100% of the time reduces autonomy and has poorer work-life balance.  The disadvantage of the hybrid model is not everyone’s job allows them to work from home for 2-3 days per week and these people see others as getting a perk they don’t have.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 5 October 2024, award-winning actress Rena Owen joins Jack to discuss the 30-year anniversary of Once Were Warriors, gearing up for the live action Moana, and the role of Māori theatre throughout her career.  Jack shares his love for maps and the remote, extreme, curious places he's drawn to when studying them. He considers the chances of a visit to Diego Garcia following the news that sovereignty of the island will be passed to Mauritius.  Sally Rooney's highly anticipated fourth novel is Booktok’s latest obsession – with influencers vying for advance copies and the book becoming something of a commodity. Book reviewer Catherine Raynes shares her thoughts on Intermezzo's literary merit.  How does Joker: Folie à Deux match up to the critical and commercial juggernaut of the first Joker film? Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin delivers her verdict.  And man-in-the-garden Ruud Kleinpaste joins Jack in studio to chat planting before the dry season sets in - plus, brings a special guest.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s already getting dry in Canterbury, and I still need to do a lot of planting in order to save us from starvation. Juuls has planted Christmas spuds. Seed potatoes: “chitted” (meaning the “eyes” have started to run out) and the plants are doing well – shooting up in their large tubs on the deck. Every week or so we carefully add some soil on top of the stuff that’s already there, so that the main stem will produce more and more potatoes.   This is Julie’s “spud race” for the spring challenge at her work.   Potato fertiliser always has a bit more “P” (Phosphate) in it to encourage root growth and tuber growth. Jersey Bennes and such early varieties are probably the best to use before Christmas.   Potato-Tomato Psyllid   I don’t want to play Russian Roulette with this pest: it damages potatoes and tomatoes, so I prefer to keep potatoes well away from my tomato tunnelhouse.  It’s called Biosecurity!  Tomatoes   Should have been sown now in seed-raising mix and transplanted outside when the frost danger is over; in the tunnelhouse I don’t have that problem, so can bang them in as soon as they are 20cm tall with good roots.    I’ve got my favourite line up: Tigerella, Sweet 100, Black Krim, Artisan Blush, etc, plus some new stuff I uplifted from the Kings Seed Catalogue.    Initially feed them with general fertiliser and start using tomato/Rose fertiliser when flowers develop the new fruit – Seaweed Tea (Wet&Forget)  Broad beans are another must in our garden – I was lucky to have them survive the winter and self-seeded in the coldest months of the year   The related French beans need to be sown too – do a row every month or so, so keep the supply coming during summer and into autumn!   If you’ve never tried growing Witlof (endive) try sowing it now.      During spring and summer, you grow the root system sturdy and large. In late autumn harvest the roots and bury them in a tub with sandy soil in a dark spot (under the house). The roots will sprout these white and delicious chicons which taste wonderful and bitter; recipes everywhere! Even the French like them.  I usually keep up with my lettuce (COS!) and spring onions but will need to plonk in the peas and beans ASAP before the summer sun creates havoc.   These crops have a habit to grow in just about any soil condition. As long as they have good light and are not kept too dry.   Liquid fertiliser seems to be the best way to keep ’em happy, and when I chuck Seafood Soup and Seaweed Tea on them they shoot up with vapour trails   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People often fanaticise about sudden wealth – a windfall of money large enough to solve any problem.   But a large sum of money falling into your lap can be complicated and confusing to handle.  Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame for a chat about the best way to handle sudden wealth so you don’t wind up losing it all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan  Joan Hannington, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her 20s, is a devoted mother to her 6-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to create a secure home (Neon).     Last Days of the Space Age    In 1979, a power strike threatens to plunge the region into darkness in Western Australia, while the city hosts the Miss Universe pageant and the US space station, Skylab, crashes just beyond the city's suburbs (Disney+).     Brilliant Minds  Dr. Oliver Wolf is an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist who suffers from a rare condition that gives him a unique perspective on care, fueling his mission to change the way the world sees his patients. After his unusual methods result in his dismissal, he takes his unconventional approach to a new hospital: Bronx General, where he leads a team of bright young interns in tackling some of the world's most puzzling psychological cases. With their help, he must also challenge his own personal and social limitations by navigating all the expectations, politics and complicated relationships that come with the job (Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple has been blocked from suing Uber for a car crash because they used Uber Eats   When you use Uber Eats you agree to a new set of Terms which state that you must use private arbitration to settle matters, rather than going to court. So, when the NJ couple got into a bad crash while in an Uber ride, a court says the Uber Eats clauses applied. They say they never recalled seeing that box, and also say their daughter used the Uber Eats account to order a pizza. The court said the mother had given her daughter the authority to sign the agreement when she handed over her phone.    Disney has done the same thing recently – initially arguing that a wrongful-death lawsuit because of an allergy at a theme park restaurant should be thrown out of court because of a Disney+ agreement the person had.   What does that mean when you sign up for a fast food app? Or use a business' website to perform services?  It’s a good reminder that the fine print is important. CNN, the US's largest news website, started rolling out its paywall   CNN's CEO was instrumental in rolling out the New York Times paywall - which is one of the most successful in the industry. Just like the NYT, only the most heavy users will initially be prompted to pay $3.99 a month for access. Those who just browse a few articles won't see any changes yet. One of CNN's Anchors said in an interview there were 300 people at each convention - so covering those large scale events isn't cheap! They need to develop new digital revenue streams that can offset declines in legacy TV.  CNN reached 117 million unique visitors in August across its website and apps. Its TV audiences' median age is 67 years old. The Times has roughly 10 million digital subscribers.        LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joker: Folie à Deux Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.    Will and Harper   When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship and transition.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re going to love this avocado whip. Double the recipe so you can enjoy it as a dip for corn chips and/or crudités, on toast, or dolloped in tacos. Use whatever herbs you have on hand. We love using rocket and/or coriander.  Margo Flanagan of Two Raw Sisters offers up a recipe for Eggplant and Avocado Whip from their new cookbook ‘More Salad’ - now available in stores.  Ingredients   2 eggplants, cut into bite-sized   chunks   3 tablespoons cooking oil   1 teaspoon sea salt   Avocado Whip   1 avocado   1 cup chopped fresh herbs   1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil   2 tablespoons hulled tahini   2 garlic cloves, crushed   juice of 1 lemon   1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt   100 g (3 1⁄2 oz) feta, crumbled   1⁄4 cup chopped fresh herbs   2 tablespoons dukkah   1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil     Method  Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).   Toss the eggplant chunks on a baking tray with the cooking oil and salt. Roast for 25–30 minutes.   While the eggplant is cooking, make the avocado whip.   Process all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. (Alternatively you can use a stick blender.)   To assemble the salad, spoon all the avocado whip onto a flat, round plate. Use the back of a spoon to distribute it evenly around the plate. Arrange the eggplant chunks on top. Sprinkle over the feta, then the herbs and dukkah.  Drizzle the olive oil over just before serving.   Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.   Extracted from More Salad by the Two Raw Sisters. Photography © Food: Margo Flanagan and Lifestyle: Susannah Blatchford. RRP$49.99. Out 10 September 2024. Published by Allen & Unwin NZ. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know my idea of fun?    You’re expecting me to say sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, wild parties, cocaine-fuelled late-night debauchery! Guilty as charged... that sounds like a bit of me.    But no, my idea of fun is a map.    I’ve got a huge, detailed one on my wall. Winkle triple projection, Pacific-centred, of course. I can wile away hours, whole afternoons, intercontinental flights, just staring at a map.  And when you stare at a detailed map, you’re drawn to curiosities. To extremes. And naturally of course you’re drawn into imagining or fantasising what those places might be like in-person, rather than simple a coordinate on your wall.    There are three remote, extreme, curious places on Earth I’ve always fantasised about seeing. One is La Rinconada, the highest permanently populated town in the World. It’s in the Peruvian Andes, a grim, freezing mining town with a violent crime problem and where a slab of the residents may or may not have mercury poisoning. It’s higher than Everest Base Camp. And if YouTube is anything to go by, it is about as far from a few nights at Denarau as it’s possible to be.    The next are the Kerguelen Islands, aka the Desolation Islands, a vast 7000km2 archipelago in the sub-Antarctic. It’s home to amazing wildlife and a few dozen French scientists. And it’s huge! The main island is 150km long and 120km wide. Have you ever heard of it? It’s one of the most remote places on Earth.   And my final isle of intrigue is Diego Garcia. My Dad first told me about it as a kid. Imagine a point in the middle of the Indian Ocean, below India and about halfway between Tanzania and Bali.    For decades, Diego Garcia has been home to one of the most mysterious and secretive military bases on the planet. Its strategic location, its military runway, its fleet of long-range bombers and its ability to reload submarines with weapons make it hugely important to the U.S and the U.K.   But that only came about by a brutal history.    Although Diego Garcia had no indigenous population, enslaved people were brought there to work on coconut plantations, and over several centuries developed their own language and culture. In the 1960s, the Brits decided to kick them out. In order to develop the military base, they forcibly evicted all of the local population to Mauritius and the Seychelles.    For decades since, Mauritius has fought for the island and its surrounding archipelago. Chaggosians, as people from the Chaggos Islands are known, have fought to return to their home.    But I’ve always assumed I would never be able to go. The island is rumoured to be a CIA black site. According to a recent BBC report, only three journalists have ever visited. One pretended to have a boat problem and was only there for an hour and half. Another stopped to refuel in a Presidential plane. The most recent visitor had to agree to incredible restrictions on her reporting, was barred from numerous areas and accompanied by minders at all times.   But yesterday came news from Diego Garcia. After years of terse negotiations and an ongoing legal dispute regarding a group of Tamil asylum seekers being detained on the island, the U.K and Mauritius announced sovereignty of Diego Garcia and the other Chaggos Islands will be passed to Mauritius.    Will it mean the Chagossians can return? Probably not. Under the deal, the long-range bombers, submarines, and the base will remain for at least the next century.    Its official status might have changed, but for those of us who trace the atoll across the World on our office wall, Diego Gacia will be no more accessible, and no less mysterious. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival has all the ingredients for a good time – food, dancing, arts, and an incredible line-up of local and international artists. English/Kiwi rock band The Veils were announced this week in the first line-up of acts to headline next year’s WOMAD festival. The enigmatic indie band have a reputation for their intense live performances, and they’ll be teaming up with a few classical musicians for their performance at the festival. Frontman Finn Andrews told Jack Tame that it’ll be a “pretty raucous affair”. He said that working with classical musicians gives them the option to lean into the extremes.  “It kinda just intensifies that even more. I think it's gonna be really full on and really quiet and intimate as well.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their first album release in six years, ‘The Forest is the Path’ is Snow Patrol’s eighth studio album, coming after 2018’s ‘Wilderness’.  While promoting the album on X, vocalist Gary Lightbody described the work as a “new beginning”.   “We honour the past, deeply. But while we honour the past we also want to cherish the present and look to the future. So this is the beginning of something, and we are so excited to share it with you all.”  Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman   Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.  Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . .  Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?  Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty   Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.  Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.  How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”  Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.  A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.  If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working from Home has been a topic of debate this week with the Government’s new directive on the subject.  Kevin Milne is a bit split on the issue, but there is one thing he’s clear on: surely propping up other businesses isn’t a valid reason to force people back into the office?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Singapore is so much more than just a steamy stopover between flights. It’s a sparkling melting pot of Southeast Asian culture, brimming with an ever-expanding arsenal of headline experiences. But alongside ticking off the likes of Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, the Lion City’s biggest roar is reserved for the sizzling street food scene spilling forth in the hawker centre. Singapore’s harmonious multiculturalism and all its culinary influences positively sing on the plate. Come nightfall, Lau Pa Sat in downtown Singapore transforms into Satay Street, where a riot of meat on skewers and peanut sauce hold court." Read Mike's full article here.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainable living doesn’t just benefit the world around you, but it can also have benefits for mental health.   Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to run through a few of the benefits that come with living more sustainably.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planting from now on is becoming a much better idea. The chances of frost have diminished, but there will be still possibilities of “Spring Snow”, if you get my drift.   If you’ve had a look at the plants in your local botanic Garden, you’ll find what will grow well at your place. In many frost-free areas I’m thinking of Ngutu Kaka (Kaka Beak). This is a native plant that will look red and just amazing. It’s one of those plants I have always wanted to grow, simply because it looks stunning with those flowers, and it attracts the nectivorous birds.  As an old Trustee of “Project Crimson” (do you remember that organisation?) I am certainly a proponent of the Genus Metrosideros, which is the group of trees, shrubs and plants related to pohutukawa. Metrosideros carminea is one of those native gems that will wake you up in spring. Just look at that colour!  Just inhale the smell, and look at the insects associated with this native gem.   And then there are the not-so-native Vireya. They are Rhododendrons of tropical origin. They smell and love warm climates. My favourite one is Vireya tuba.      Originally from the mountains of Papua New Guinea, it grows up to 2 meters high and needs protection from frosts (grew well for us in Auckland and will do fine on the frost-free port hills). And its smell is just divine!   Winter flowerings. Bright and beautiful, but a native beetle has woken up too:   Lemon Tree Borer (Oemona hirta) will be on the wing soon. Laying eggs on damaged citrus branches or on pruned wood of citrus and many other native shrubs and trees.  The beetle grubs will create tunnels and cause a heap of damage! No more pruning and keep an eye on those grubs that will create havoc on citrus and other host plants.   And then there is our codling moth (which arrived all the way from Europe, many, many years ago). Moths lay eggs after flowering of the apple trees (and crab apples, and walnuts!) Out of those eggs hatch very hungry codling moth caterpillars that will tunnel into the developing apple fruits, spoiling them.    Control and prevention:   There is a cool spray called Madex3, used by commercial apple growers that value organic treatments. This Madex3 is a virus that should be sprayed a week or so after apple flowering (in the next week or two!). The virus will only kill Codling moth – very targeted! And may need a second spray a month or so later.   It’s available from some of the more switched-on suppliers in NZ:   Farmlands, Horticentre Hawkes Bay and Richmond, GoodtoGrownz.co.nz, just look for Madex3.   It’s not a cheap pest control material, but it will last for years in your freezer. And if you cleverly share a 100 ml bottle with your neighbour or friend it is the best and safest method of keeping the caterpillars out of your pip fruit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 28 September 2024, frontman of legendary rock band The Veils, Finn Andrews joins Jack to chat new music, regrouping, and looking ahead to WOMAD 2025.  Jack considers his take on working from home versus in the office.  Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin offers her take on Brad Pitt and George Clooney's return to the big screen in Wolfs.  Mike Yardley dishes on $5 Michelin-star offerings in Singapore.  And Lianne Moriarty is back with a brand-new novel, Here One Moment, which book reviewer Catherine Raynes gives her thoughts on.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is an abdominal hernia?   - It’s where an internal part of body pushes through weak part of your abdominal wall muscle, creating a lump that often you can feel.  - It’s very common, more common in men but can occur in any age from babies to the elderly.  - There’s several different types:   - Inguinal: occurs in the groin and can sometimes cause lump in the scrotum.  - Femoral: occurs where abdomen joins leg.  - Umbilical: the front of the stomach often around the tummy button.  - Hiatus: where stomach pushes up into the chest.  - Incisional: over a surgery scar   What causes hernias?   - Lots of different things: being overweight, coughing or sneezing, constipation, pregnancy.  - Some people have weaker abdominal walls, and hernias can occur more easily.  - Occasionally caused by injury from lifting – in which case can be covered by ACC   What should you look out for and are they serious?   - Most people notice a bulging lump in their stomach or groin.  - You may occasionally notice discomfort when bending over or lifting things.  - Generally they are small, and if they pop out they can be easily pushed back in. - Over time they can become bigger and cause more discomfort and pain.  - Occasionally the bowel can twist and not be able to be pushed back in and become strangulated. This is serious and requires urgent medical help.     What do about them?   - Your GP will take a history and examine you to diagnose a hernia, they may order a U/S if unsure.  - If it’s minor and not causing problems, just watch and wait.  - However, if it’s causing pain and discomfort, they may recommend surgery.  - An operation to fix the abdominal wall with stitches or what is called mesh, it’s often a keyhole surgery.  - You can try to avoid them by eating food with fibre so you don’t become constipated, not putting on weight, and careful lifting with your knees instead of your back.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your next smartphone will be on your face   Meta showcased their "Orion" glasses which they believe will be the smartphone of the future. They'll allow you to see 'holograms' of information or avatars of friends and colleagues, as well as have instant voice access to AI. This version of the glasses is the best we've seen when it comes to being an attractive pair of glasses that are light weight and have a high-quality projection screen that it's actually useful.   There's a tonne of tech around these, including a wristband that can interpret your hand signals to interact with the holograms and take actions. These glasses are not ready for primetime - they're costing $10,000 to produce. Right now you can buy the Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, which are getting an upgrade. You'll be able to ask the AI to tell you about things you can see, thanks to video recognition tools.    Will a wildfire take out your dream home? A major real-estate site will give you a forecast   Zillow is one of America's go-to real estate listing platforms. They were the leader in providing a "Zestimate" of what your home is worth and will now lead the way to educate buyers on the potential climate risks to be thinking about. By the end of the year there'll be a section on each listing to show a risk score for the potential for wildfires, flooding, extreme temperatures, high winds and poor air quality, as well as the potential cost of insurance over time. Of those new listings added in August - 16% were at major risk of a wildfire and 13% at major risk of flooding.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody Wants This   An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, but can their relationship survive their wildly different lives and meddling families? (Netflix)    FROM   From the producers of Lost comes this tale of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents search for a way out, they must try to protect themselves from the terrifying creatures that come out at night (TVNZ+).   National Treasures   Explore NZ’s recent history - the wonderful, the hidden and the controversial. Join Scotty and Stacey Morrison, as they showcase unique historical objects and their personal stories. Made with the support of NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho (TVNZ+).  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megalopolis  A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.  Wolfs  Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring is a funny old time for fresh fruit. The apples and pears have been in cool store forever, rhubarb can be temperamental and scarce, and the berries and stone fruit are not nearly ready, so we’re left with the trusty banana.    I love my banana cake studded with walnuts and sultanas but you can also leave them out if you prefer.     Ingredients  125g butter, softened   ½ cup sugar   2 medium eggs   2 large, ripe bananas, broken into pieces   Drizzle of golden syrup or maple syrup   70g walnut pieces    ½ cup sultanas    2 cups self-raising flour    ½ tsp cinnamon    ¼ tsp baking soda   2 tbsps plain Greek yoghurt   Splash of milk if needed – see note   Method  Heat oven to 180 C. Grease and line a large loaf tin.   In a standing mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.   Add a drizzle of golden/maple syrup, the banana pieces, walnuts and sultanas to the creamed mixture. Sift in the self-raising flour, baking soda and cinnamon and gently beat or stir to combine. Don’t over mix but make sure there are no remaining pockets of flour either. Stir in the yoghurt. If it’s too stiff a splash of milk might be useful too.   Scrape the batter into the tin. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when placed in the centre. Leave to cool.     Note  Having made this loaf cake many times I can attest that sometimes the batter is a little stiff, other times not so. It’s likely due to the size of the eggs, the variance in the temperature of the butter or the thickness of whatever yoghurt I’m using. I aim for a dropping consistency so if it errs on the stiff side, stir in a splash of milk to make it more manageable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My take on working from home versus working in the office is you can’t really say any one model is perfect for everyone in every business or workplace and every sector or industry. There are workplaces where working from home might be better than working from the office. There are workplaces where the traditional model holds true. And there are workplaces that’ll find themselves somewhere in between.  I work six days a week, and typically do five in the office and one at home. Newsrooms are noisy, distracting, slightly chaotic, open-plan environments. That’s why I love them! But I have to read a lot, and I have to process detail. Once a week, it is so good to escape the office and bury myself in detail at home, without the risk of being distracted every two minutes.  Maybe I’m giving the productivity argument too much credit. If the primary reason to get public servants to go into the office in-person is actually just to prop up Wellington businesses, it’s a pretty lousy reason. But I actually think the reaction to the government’s directive this week was a bit overblown. They didn’t say all public servants HAVE to work from the office every day. They just said working from home was not an automatic entitlement, and that arrangements would have to be agreed between employers and employees. Working from home arrangements should only be agreed when they don’t impact agency objectives. Am I missing something? That seems pretty reasonable to me. I don’t see anything about mandating. My read is it still allows for flexibility, so long as it doesn’t compromise the quality of an agency’s work.   And actually, this government is making a bit of a habit of issuing directives that don’t cost it a thing, but will be met with a similar reaction from a big slab of the public.  A prime example is the cellphone ban in schools. I’ve always supported it. I just think it’s common sense, and now even the opposition education spokesperson supports it, too.   And teacher-only days! Unions and schools might rightly be frustrated at any implication they’re wasting time or doing something that isn’t worthwhile. Many schools time their teacher-only-days for long weekends, and regardless, schools still have to be open for a specific number of days a year. Also, I think it’s a bit rich to suggest that teacher-only-days have a major impact on truancy.   But I for one was surprised to learn that under the current rules, teacher-only-days are only supposed to be held outside of term time. Is there really a compelling reason that shouldn’t be the case?   It’ll be a blow to morale for many teachers and schools. But that directive was all about parents. And I can tell you now, a vast majority of them are not going to marching in the streets to demand a return of mid-term teacher-only days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the son of jazz legend Don Cherry, Eagle-Eye Cherry seemed destined for a life in the creative arts. His song Save Tonight is a boneafide classic, storming the charts upon its release.  He leads a much more low-key life nowadays than he did back in the 90’s, but he’s still writing and performing live, and is set to visit New Zealand alongside the legendary UB40.  It’ll be the first time Cherry has visited the country, and he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame he’s very much looking forward to it.  “It’s been on my bucket list for my entire life,” Cherry revealed.  “So I’m really excited to come there and get to play for my fans, and to get to hear UB40 live, which I’ve never done.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we be tipping in New Zealand?  The question has arisen once more with a new proposal to encourage the practice in the hospo sector.  Kevin Milne has been thinking about the proposal, and he’s not sure about the idea.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Don’t you love it when you venture to new territory which knocks your expectations out of the park? I’ve just had such an experience when taking a cool change from North Queensland’s tropical coastline for a highlands escape. Just over an hour’s drive from Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands is a bucolic and woodsy delight, where elevated fertile farmland and ancient rainforests set the stage for rewarding outdoorsy exploration. As I made my way over the twists and turns of the Gillies Highway, a nonchalant Southern Cassowary briefly brought the road traffic to a grinding halt. These birds are not to messed with and I happily gave him the right of way as he intimately ambled past my gleaming rental car, casting an imperious glance my way, as if to say, “you’re in my territory, now”. After that brief brush with the birdlife – and thankfully no rental car damage, the warm embrace of Yungaburra soon shuffled into view, 750 metres above sea level." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming seven years after the release of her last album, ‘7’ is the 7th studio album by Nelly Furtado.   When announcing the album in July of 2024, Furtado said she had written “400-500 pieces of music in 4 years", fourteen of which were chosen for the album.  She likened the album to a collection, the songs being more like “random seashells that may be similar but not all alike”.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frankie by Graham Norton  Frankie Howe has lived a long life, her small flat is crammed full of art, furniture - and memories. Damian, her young carer, listens as she gradually tells him parts of her story - a story that takes us into a progressive, daring world of New York artists on the brink of fame, aspiring writers and larger-than-life characters.  Always just on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie is never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage. But the outsider holds certain advantages, sees things others don't, can influence without drawing attention. And when the map has been lost, it's anyone's guess where you may end up, or the accidental choices you find you have made. Frankie discovers that life is not always the one we hope for, or the one others expect of us.  Travelling from post-war Ireland to the dazzling art scene of 1960s New York by way of London, Frankie is an immersive, decade-sweeping novel about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life.    The Life Impossible by Matt Haig  “What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…”  When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.  Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.  Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 21 September 2024, Eagle Eye Cherry joins Jack to discuss his bonafide classic track Save Tonight, his love for performing live, and what he's expecting for his first time ever touring in New Zealand.   Jack talks about how stiffer competition from across the ditch will help New Zealand's rugby improve too.   Chef Nici Wickes has the perfect recipe for new season asparagus, right as it is springing into stores.  Man of many talents, Graham Norton has a brand-new book out and book reviewer Catherine Raynes delivers her verdict.   And tech expert Paul Stenhouse explains why the US government is looking to force cars to have AM radio.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new phenomenon has emerged: dreamscrolling.   The opposite of doomscrolling, dreamscrolling has people looking at dream purchases or things they’d one day like to own – houses being a common choice.  It even seems to have some benefits when done in the workplace, both to those doing it, and the organisation.  Dougal Sutherland reveals a couple of the key benefits it can have: - Dreamscrolling gives us that little psychological “hit” of joy, even if it’s about something imaginary! When we fantasize about the “what-if” it’s like, for a moment, we’re living our best life in that dream house – and it feels good.  - Overseas research has shown that dream scrolling can help some people with financial planning as it serves to motivate and inspire them to actively save for, or invest in, that thing they’re dreaming about. So it can help motivate us and change our behaviour for the future.  - At a time when many of us might be feeling a bit down in the dumps, particularly if you live in Wellington or work for the government, it’s probably not surprising that a good chunk of dreamscrolling happens at work. That might not be a bad thing though as the boost in positive mood you get can flow through to how you engage with your work and people around you. And it’s certainly better than doomscrolling!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week or so ago, a wonderful kids book couriered its way to my front door. It’s a book about our native bees in Aotearoa, written by Rachel Weston. It’s titled “Kiwi Bees have tiny knees”.  How refreshing to finally read a book about our native bees, not the introduced pollinator from Tropical Africa which migrated through Europe and all the way to Asia. Our native bees are from Aotearoa and there are 28 species in our land, most of which have not been studied well at all!  After Spring has started this year (that will be from tomorrow morning 12:43 am onwards) I shall come back to this magnificent book in detail, simply because it deserves a lot more entomological attention.  For now, I will alert you to page 21: Clever little bees: Pollinating Mistletoe.  That simple line grabbed my attention immediately, and on the day I received the book I started a complete week of Mistletoe frenzy; and it is all to do with Gardening!  Our tiny bees pollinate mistletoe? For Real?  Rachel’s book has a QR Code on page 21 which allows you to see them at work, check out the video here.  A Leioproctus native bee (pretty small insect!) chews open the red mistletoe’s flower and harvests nectar and pollen. When it does the same trick with the next flower of the bunch, the pollen will fertilise that neighbouring flower.  Bellbirds and tui are probably the main pollinators of these mistletoes, but those tiny bees also contribute to the reproductive system. That is just as well, seeing our native birds might be locally under pressure from predators etc – so if bees can take over some of that pollination job from the birds, the mistletoe might have better chances for survival.  We have 8 species of Mistletoe in New Zealand (number 9 is presumed to be extinct), but browsing by possums and loss of habitat or host trees puts the species under pressure. Mistletoes are “parasitic” plants that live on their hosts and extract nutritious liquids from these host plants. This doesn’t seem to harm the host plants or trees in a major way.  Once the mistletoe started flowering (some have very small flowers, other species have beautifully coloured flowers that stand out!) the pollinators will be attracted and do their job. That leads to the formation of fertile mistletoe fruit (seed inside the small, juicy berry) that will draw in the bird species that enjoy those fruits.  As soon as they pick off their snacks, the birds may suddenly realise that the seed is surrounded by a seriously sticky glue. Some birds try to take the glue off their beaks by wiping the fruit and the seed over the branches of the host plant on which the mistletoe grew.  Some birds will have a go at swallowing the fruit and seed regardless, ending up defecating a very sticky poo that the bird will wipe off its “bottom feathers”, usually on the same branches that grew the mistletoe. And that is how Nature distributes the mistletoe through the landscape.  As gardeners, what can we learn from that?  A few years ago, I managed to adhere some green mistletoe seeds on a native host plant: kowhai!   It hasn’t flowered or seeded as yet but my neighbour is a few years ahead of the game and I got some seeds off him – now it’s all on!  Ileostylus micranthus seeds in abundance. The tiny green bits of growth are the flowers on this species.  I have stuck heaps of seeds all over the neighbourhood in an attempt to find out what kind of trees would work as hosts of this green mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus). So far we know kowhai and divaricating Coprosmas (C. virescens), as well as apple, pear, peach, and plum!   The way to attach the sticky seeds is no surprise: the sticky seeds are squeezed out of the fruit and positioned on the "collar" of the branch. Tag it with some colourful wool or something like that, to keep an eye on progress for the next few years. I reckon this is the way to spread our native mistletoes back into their original habitat. There’s quite a bit of info on these plants on our internet: here and here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob's Best Buys: Rimapere Baron Edmond de Rothschild 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, $30  Why I chose it:                       - Top vintage - Best of Marlborough with a French accent - Sauvignon doesn’t get much better than this - Delicious now but no rush - It has great purity and power - Due to be released, but buy it while stocks last    What does it taste like?   A delicious sauvignon blanc with real finesse. Flavours are a medley of passion fruit, lime zest, guava, and a suggestion of feijoa. A vibrant and refreshing wine with appealing purity. It has a strong Marlborough signature with a subtle French accent.     Why it’s a bargain:   It’s not the cheapest sauvignon around, in fact as sauvignon goes it is moderately expensive, but is also very, very good. In my book it offers good value.    Where can you buy it?  It is just about to be released so check out your nearest fine wine retailer. When ordering in advance, don’t forget to enquire about a discount.    What’s a good food match?   The folk at Rimapere recommend pairing it with salads, white meats, or fish in sauce dishes. I can’t argue with that.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we power the rise of AI?  The answer at the moment seems to be nuclear power. Microsoft has partnered with a shuttered nuclear power plant called Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania to bring back its Unit 1 facility. It was shut down in 2019 because of increased competition from cheaper sources such as natural gas, solar, and wind power.  Microsoft says it'll purchase all the power from the plant for 20 years. So, Constellation says it'll spend $1.6 billion to get it back up and running by 2028 – as long as the regulators allow it.   You may know the name Three Mile Island because of a nuclear meltdown at the "Unit 2" site, in 1979.  The US Government could soon force cars to have AM radio  With the rise of internet connected electric vehicles, AM radio has been phased out. Tesla, BMW and Volkswagen promised to remove AM radio saying the electric engines can interfere with the sound of AM radio.   Plus, why do you need it if you can stream Spotify, Pandora, or iHeart? Well, what happens if you're out of a coverage area? What happens if there's an issue with the communications systems? How do you get emergency information? Well, US lawmakers believe the answer was, and is, AM radio. It's got a huge coverage area, even in rural areas, and is integrated with emergency alerting systems. The AM for Every Vehicle Act was overwhelmingly approved by a house committee and will now go before the house for a vote and, if successful, will go to President Biden to sign.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Penguin   Following the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb aka The Penguin seeks to fill the power vacuum left by Carmine Falcone’s death and finally give his mother the life he promised. But first, Oz must confront enemies new and old (Neon).    A Very Royal Scandal   Based on the real-life 2019 interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew over the scandalous accusations the Prince faced regarding his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre. A Very Royal Scandal follows the action of Maitlis and Prince Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever (Prime Video).    Nightsleeper  The overnight train from Glasgow to London is hacked. Passengers are trapped on board, including police officer Joe. As the train hurtles towards disaster, Joe manages to make contact with Abby, the cyber security director (ThreeNow).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thelma   Thelma Post is a 93-year-old grandmother who loses $10,000 to a con artist on the phone. With help from a friend and his motorized scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her.  Marguerite’s Theorem   When a brilliant mathematics student at France's top university presents her thesis, a mistake shakes the certainty of her planned-out life. She decides to quit everything and start over.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Off the top of your head, where do reckon the Wallabies currently sit in the World rankings?   Sure, they’re behind us. They’re behind South Africa, of course. But they’re also languishing behind Scotland, behind Italy, would you believe.  According to World Rugby, the Wallabies of September 2024 are the ninth best national team in men’s rugby today. They only just squeak in ahead of Fiji.  When I was a kid, the Bledisloe felt like the biggest thing in rugby outside of a World Cup. It probably wasn’t, of course. Tests with South Africa were at least comparable, I guess, and Lions tours had their prestige. But I would get so worked up for Bledisloes because they always felt like anyone could win.   I still remember epic Bledisloe clashes. The John Eales era. George Gregan and that tackle, Jeff Wilson spilling the ball as he dived for the line, the Wallabies just holding on for Bledisloe glory.  But what happened? New Zealand Rugby’s had its issues, but arguably no country that plays rugby has experienced anything like the decline that Australia has experienced. Those epic Bledisloe clashes of the past are becoming ancient history. It’s 22 years since Australia last held the Bledisloe - we now have an elected Member of Parliament who has never seen the Wallabies win it.   And get this: according to the Australian Sports Commission, rugby is the country’s ninth-most-popular sport by participation. Aussie Rules has four times as many kids who play. Basketball is five times more popular. Rugby loses out to rock climbing and badminton.   There are a range of things that have likely contributed. The private school rugby culture in Australia has isolated the sport from a huge slab of the population. Concern over head knocks will have impacted participation. The domestic rugby competition was hollowed out and ultimately scrapped, which means the Super Rugby teams are the only real professional options for young players. The AFL has 18 teams. The NRL has 16 Australian teams. Super Rugby will now have just four. It’s telling that a city of five million couldn’t sustain a side. How many people in Melbourne didn’t even know the Rebels were a thing? And as a TV entertainment product, sorry, but the Brumbies vs the Force rarely compares to the thrill of the NRL.  All of this is not to diminish this evening’s game. And I’m certainly not hoping for a Wallabies win. But ultimately, it’s in our interests for Australian rugby to somehow work its way back into something akin to the force of the past. New Zealand rugby needs better competition from across the ditch. We need the spectre of potentially losing the Bledisloe! Maybe I’ll eat my words, but as much as I’ll enjoy the game this evening, right now... it doesn’t feel like all that much of a contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quiche is a fabulous vehicle for asparagus and it makes a fabulous lunch or dinner.   Serves 4-6     Ingredients   1-2 sheets short crust pastry   5 large eggs   ½ cup grated cheese   ½ cup cream (can use milk)   ½ cup chopped parsley   ½ tsp sea salt   ¼ tsp black pepper   100g cold smoked salmon   5 spears asparagus, cut into 4cm lengths     Method  1.Preheat oven to 190 C and place a tray in to heat on the middle (or a little bit higher) rack.   2.Roll out the pastry to fit a 23cm loose-bottom tart tin. Press into tin, leaving any overhang as this will fall away when cooked. Prick all over with a fork. Chill for 15-30 minutes before baking for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden.  Cool.   3.Sprinkle cheese over pastry case. Whisk eggs with cream to mix. Add in parsley, salt and pepper. Pour into pastry case. Sprinkle over cut asparagus and salmon bake for 35-40 minutes or until a slight wobble in the middle. Remove and cool to warm to serve.     Nici’s note  You can get away with blind baking pastry without the beans/rice if it is pricked all over, well-rested and chilled so that it doesn’t shrink.     Make it your own  Use feta instead of salmon.  Use drained tinned salmon or tuna in place of smoked salmon.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Troy Kingi is a man on a well-documented mission, creating ten albums in ten different genres, over the course of ten years for his 10:10:10 project.  Through this project, Troy has carved a remarkable reputation for musical versatility.  In August, he released album number 8 in the project, Leatherman & the Mojave Green, a rock album that has brought him back to his roots.  Before getting to work on his final two albums, Kingi has found the time to squeeze in a tour of New Zealand.  Leatherman was recorded in Joshua Tree, a national park in California, and Kingi told Jack Tame that the choice to record there was him trying to rekindle the flame that got him into the industry in the first place.  “I was at a point where I was questioning all my directions, and back in the beginning, I’d just write for the loving of writing and things would flow the way they’d flowed. And I felt like I kind of lost that,” he told Tame.  “So actually going back to a genre of style that is probably the core of who I am, it was timely, it was like, perfect timing.”  He’s been touring the album around New Zealand since its release, with more shows still to come in Christchurch, Hamilson, Tauranga, Napier, and Gisborne.   More info on shows and tickets can be found here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi music collective TOI has released their newest album ‘Waves’, showcasing their signature sound of modern soul, old school funk, and R&B, along with a new experimental approach.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Precipice by Robert Harris  Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.  In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.  As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents – and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history.    Billionaire, Nerd Saviour, King: Bill Gates and his Quest to Shape Our World by Anupreeta Das  Few billionaires have been in the public eye for as long, and in as many guises, as Bill Gates. At first heralded as a tech visionary, the Microsoft cofounder next morphed into a ruthless capitalist, only to change yet again when he fashioned himself into a global do-gooder. Along the way, Gates forever influenced how we think about tech founders, as the products they make and the ideas they sell continue to dominate our lives. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he also set a new standard for high-profile, billionaire philanthropy. But there is more to Gates's story, and here, Das's revelatory reporting shows us that billionaires have secrets and philanthropy can have a dark side.  Drawing upon hundreds of interviews with current and former employees of the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, academics, nonprofits, and those with insight into the Gates universe, Das delves into Gates's relationships with Warren Buffett, Jeffrey Epstein, Melinda French Gates, and others, to uncover the truths behind the public persona. In telling Gates's story, Das also provides a new way to think about how billionaires wield their power, manipulate their image, and pursue philanthropy to become heroes, repair damaged reputations, and direct policy to achieve their preferred outcomes.  Insightful, illuminating, and timely, Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King is an important story of money and government, wealth and power, and media and image, and the ways in which the world's richest people hold us in their thrall.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many investment properties can the average investor afford to buy? It depends on income, but Ed McKnight has run some numbers. Plus, he answers the question of how much they really make.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Colourful, playful, sun-splashed Cairns enjoys the unique distinction of being cradled in tropical wonder. The gateway city straddles two World Heritage-protected treasures: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. I took a daytrip to the family-favourite destination of Fitzroy Island. Just 45 minutes from Cairns on the Fitzroy Flyer, this barefoot island getaway serves up a flavourful dabble with the Great Barrier Reef. The island is designated a National Park, in deference to its spectacular walking trails, rainforest, beaches and abundant marine life, in the calm sheltered waters. It’s jaw-dropping to think the island was previously connected to the mainland before the last Ice Age." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 14th September 2024, the man with a remarkable reputation for musical versatility, Troy Kingi joins Jack to chat album number 8 in his 10:10:10 series.  Jack ponders a social media ban for those under 16 years of age.  Spring is making itself known and chef Nici Wickes shares a deliciously creamy recipe perfect for moments of seasonal entertaining.  Can ice cream tub lids be recycled? Kate sets things straight about what can't be recycled through curbside bins.  Plus, Apple have released a surprising product - a hearing aid! Tech expert Paul Stenhouse discusses the tech-for-good.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After recycling was standardised in February, many people are still unaware they can't put any caps or lids in their curbside recycling bins.  A new scheme has recently launched, allowing people to bring their caps and lids into participating supermarkets to be properly recycled.  Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to give a refresher on recycling, and a bit of advice in how to make it easier.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been pretty busy in the garden, tunnel house, and grassy building site. That always seem to happen with me just before spring emerges – it’s a frantic time.    Spades  When you’re digging out flax or any plant, tree, shrub for that matter, some soil types make it difficult to get into with a regular spade. We had a rather dry late winter period with soil becoming pretty hard to open up.  My best investment for these conditions is my trenching spade:  A long and tapering blade that ends up with just 10 centimetres of bottom edge, easy to drive into the soil and allowing you to tackle the hard clay with a minimum amount of effort.  I tried to dig out large, old flax plants and the only way to do that is with a trenching spade – no contest!  Of course, as the name suggests, trenching spades were invented to create long narrow trenches for power lines of water pipes.   Why dig our more than you need to?    Weeding implements  We all know what a hoe is; a push or pull device that can cut plants off their roots. I am really simplifying the various hoes in existence – there are many different varieties, but the system is quite simple: you either push the blade through the top-layers of the soil, or you pull.  My favourite hoe is the one created by a Dutchman Jaap Sneeboer. I think he calls it “the Royal Hoe” – how Dutch is that!  It has a double attack ability: a regular pull hoe that is made from very sturdy metal, and a three-tine fork that can go deeper to remove rather sturdy roots. That fork is also brilliant for aerating the soil.  It’s a tall, and solid hoe that will do a multitude of jobs before you start sowing new seeds or planting new veges.    Cutting Flax leaves  Always a real pain in the bum. Flax leaves are so resistant to secateurs and knives.  I have them on the sides of our driveway and you can literally imagine how these long and resistant leaves always grow out over the drive...  The “knife” that works well is the Niwashi Flax knife and the Maruyoshi flax cutter (there are all kinds of models on the NZ market now). Make sure that you get a sturdy one that lasts for years.  It’s a mean tool! The curved blade has extremely sharp teeth that will go through flax leaves without any trouble at all. The teeth are angled towards the bottom and therefore will always work in a downward motion. Of course, they will also cut the leaves of Cabbage trees.     A Cultivator  This thing weeds, pulls out roots, and cuts out all the undesirables from within the rows of edibles and ornamentals, without accidentally hitting the desirables!  The Clark Cultivator was designed in Christchurch and is used as a hand-tool. The main blade emerges in a 90 degree angle and is super sharp.  It rips roots off the weeds and the pointy end can be manoeuvred with incredible accuracy. That pointy end is also very useful if you want to quickly dig a hole to transplant anything that needs a new position. It even allows you to create a perfectly straight line to sow some seeds  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple released a surprising product this week... a hearing aid.  They were awaiting FDA approval, but today they got it, making it the first over-the-counter hearing aid software device to receive such approval.  It's more tech for good! Approximately 1.5 billion people around the world are living with hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. The Apple Hearing Study revealed that 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss haven’t received the assistive support that they need.  How does it work? You open the health app to take a hearing test from the comfort of home - it takes about five minutes. It builds an 'audiogram', just like what you'd get at the doctor's office, and uses this to personalize your hearing experience. If you struggle with high, mid, or low tones these will be boosted accordingly allowing you to hear conversations and the environment around you more clearly. It's designed for folks with mild to moderate hearing loss.  It's worth pointing out that AirPods could be a very successful company all on their own. Apple has sold tens of billions of dollars worth of them, and it's thought there are over 100 million users globally. Typically if someone has their AirPods in it signals 'leave me alone', but not anymore. So, should you, will you, talk to someone with AirPods in?    OpenAI's new AI can 'reason'.  Get set, we're entering a new phase of AI. Open AI's "o1", the first in a planned series of “reasoning” models that have been trained to answer more complex questions - and they say it can do it faster than a human can.  It's better at producing code and solving "multistep problems", but it's much slower and more expensive.  In the qualifying test for the International Mathematics Olympiad, the GPT-4o scored 13%, this new model scored 83%. In an online code competition, it reached the 89th percentile of participants.  The next model... Open AI says it will perform at the PhD level for physics, chemistry and biology tests.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slow Horses   A dysfunctional team of MI5 agents and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb, navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces (Apple TV+).    Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos    Twenty-five years after it first debuted, The Sopranos remains a touchstone for prestige television. Featuring interviews with cast and crew, this two-part documentary delves into the psyche of renowned Sopranos creator David Chase (Neon).    Location, Location, Location NZ   Friendship ended with Kirstie and Phil, now Jayne Kiely and Paul Glover are your best friends. The local reboot of the iconic property series begins on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+ this Sunday night and promises a swagbag of nervous New Zealanders looking to make their property dreams a reality. Episode one takes viewers inside the notoriously chilled out housing market in Tāmaki Makaurau, where one buyer teases she is known to “dry wretch” when she gets nervous. If that’s not high stakes television, we don’t know what is.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speak No Evil   A dream holiday turns into a living nightmare when an American couple and their daughter spend the weekend at a British family's idyllic country estate.    Radical    Sixth grade students at Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary are among the worst performing students in Mexico, with their world one of violence and hardship, not possibility. It might seem like a dead end, but it's the perfect place for new teacher Sergio Juarez to try something different.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one pan wonder of a dish is perfect to serve a group – it’s full of fresh flavours but is creamy and comforting too.   Serves 4-6     Ingredients  3-4 free-range boneless skinless chicken breasts   Salt and pepper to season   1 tablespoon olive oil  2 tablespoons butter  1 leek or onion, finely sliced or diced  1 cup chicken stock  2 tablespoons lemon juice  3 garlic cloves, minced  ½ teaspoon chilli flakes   ¼ cup cream  1 ½ cups peas   2 tablespoons chopped parsley    Method  1. Remove tenderloin from chicken breasts. Slice each breast horizontally in half so you have two thinner pieces plus the tenderloin per breast. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides of the chicken.   2. Heat oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Lightly brown chicken on both sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken to a plate. Add butter to the pan and add leeks or onions and cook gently until softened.    3. In a bowl mix stock, lemon juice, garlic and chilli flakes and pour this over leeks/onions. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook for 10 minutes or so. Add chicken back into the pan to heat through then pour over cream. At this stage it can be either placed over a gentle heat or popped into an oven heated to 180 C to cook for a further 6-8 minutes until sauce is thickened a bit.   4. Pour boiling water over frozen peas and let them sit for 5 minutes then drain. Add the peas to the pan in the final 2 minutes of cooking.    5. To serve, top with chopped parsley and a decent grind of black pepper and serve with some buttercrunch or cos lettuce.     Nici’s note   Adding the peas towards the end of cooking ensures they keep their vibrant green colour.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m a slave to social media and it drives me nuts.   I feel compelled to have Twitter and Facebook for work. Instagram for socialising. I wisely never touch TikTok because from all accounts, that’s the most addictive platform of the lot. But if I have to battle to stop myself from reflexively picking up my phone and checking the ‘gram, I can’t imagine how hard it is for the generations who’ve never known a world without smart phones.  Australia looks set to forge ahead with a ban on social media for young people. The South Australian government will ban it for kids under 14 and put the onus on the platforms to use age verification tools in making sure younger kids aren’t setting up accounts. 14 and 15 years olds will need explicit parental permission to access the likes of Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and X.   But is that excessive? Is social media really comparable to booze or tobacco? And if it’s causing harm, is it really the state’s job to step in?   I’m a huge fan of the work of U.S Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of ‘The Coddling of the American Mind.’ He says that overprotection from parents and schools has caused young people to be less resilient than in the past. I think there’s a lot in that. But I also agree with him that a lot of social and psychological damage in young people stems directly from social media. No phones until high school and keep them off social media until they’re at least 16, he says. Don’t you think it’s crazy that social media executives openly admit they refuse to let their own kids use their platforms, while claiming it’s all good for everyone else’s?   I supported the phone ban in schools. I think it’s common sense. And in a way, this is the same: it’s a collective action problem. At the moment, parents know that if they let their kid on social media at a young age, even at 13, which is the stated age limit for many of the platforms, it’s potentially doing them harm. But if they deny their kid any social platforms, parents often feel the child runs the risk of being socially ostracised.   Easy to say this now, given our boy’s only seven, but I’d like to think if in the future it’s a binary choice between letting him access social media when he’s really young, or supporting him if he gets stick because some of his classmates are online and he’s not... well, I’d take the latter option. I guess I’m a bit old school and strict.   But regulation would mean a collective standard. The same rules across the board. And if we agree that an unregulated system isn’t doing our kids much good, perhaps it’s time to consider something different. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Kevin Milne watched the US Presidential Debate this past week, one comment reminded him of a similar scaremongering scandal from his youth in Christchurch.  Donald Trump, in one of his tirades against immigration, accused Haitian migrants in Springfield of eating other people’s pets – an accusation with no basis or evidence, just like the one Kevin remembers from 1950s Christchurch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord of the Rings franchise is held very near and dear to many Kiwi’s hearts, and the brand-new retelling of the franchise has been nothing but popular upon it’s release.  The Rings of Power had an estimated 25 million viewers tune in for its Season 1 premiere, and it’s second season has begun.  It’s set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkein’s novels, with Middle Earth’s infamous villain inhabiting a flesh and blood body for the first time on screen.  Australian actor Charlie Vickers plays Sauron, a twist only revealed in the final episode of the first season, as his charismatic Halbrand was unmasked.  The twist was something of a surprise to Vickers as well, as he only found out after they had begun filming.  “I filmed the first two episodes of the show, not knowing I was playing Sauron,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “And then they called me into their office in Henderson and they said, you’re, so it turns out that Halbrand is Sauron.”  “I was left reeling, in a good way.”  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter how smart you are, you’re always at risk of getting caught by a scam. They’re on the rise lately, and even those who know all the signs and think they’ve taken all of the precautions are finding themselves on the sharp end of the stick.  Kevin Milne is rather familiar with scams and consumer affairs, but a recent incident had him cancelling his credit card as quick as possible.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album was an instant success. Released on August 23rd, it was her first album to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the third biggest debut week for an album in the US in 2024.  It’s a 12 track album, mixing influences of country, rock, disco, and R&B with Carpenter’s signature pop style.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson  The crumbling house - Burton Makepeace and its chatelaine the Dowager Lady Milton - suffered the loss of their last remaining painting of any value, a Turner, some years ago. The housekeeper, Sophie, who disappeared the same night, is suspected of stealing it.  Jackson, a reluctant hostage to the snowstorm, has been investigating the theft of another The Woman with a Weasel, a portrait, taken from the house of an elderly widow, on the morning she died. The suspect this time is the widow’s carer, Melanie. Is this a coincidence or is there a connection? And what secrets does The Woman with a Weasel hold? The puzzle is Jackson’s to solve. And let’s not forget that a convicted murderer is on the run on the moors around Burton Makepeace.  All the while, in a bid to make money, Burton Makepeace is determined to keep hosting a shambolic Murder Mystery that acts as a backdrop while the real drama is being played out in the house.    Safe Enough by Lee Child  From the world's number one thriller writer, twenty pulse-pounding short stories are collected for the first time in one edition, complete with an introduction from the author plus an exclusive brand-new short story featuring Jack Reacher and Maggie Bird from Lee Child and Tess Gerritsen.  I was the guy who always found a way.  I was the guy that couldn't be stopped.  A drug-dealing hit man unburdens his fears to a stranger. An overlooked rookie cop is assigned to the department’s file room. A ruthless killer only kills bad guys. A methodical bodyguard quits his job when he’s outsmarted. A military mission is planned to perfection...  Meticulously plotted and utterly compelling, these are intimate portraits of humanity at its best and worst. Each story is entirely distinct. And with their economical prose and unexpected twists, each could only have been written by the creator of Jack Reacher.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"After taking my fill of nature’s feisty features at Volcanoes National Park, the sun, the sand and the coastal draws of the Big Island were calling. The Kona Coast is a 100km long sweep along Hawai’i’s western coast, brimming with attractions and experiences that smashed my expectations. Lined with lava fields, coffee farms, and some of Hawaii’s most beautiful coastline, I wish I’d set aside more time on the Big Island to delve into its numerous delights. There are charms at every turn. The beating heart of the tourist scene is Kailua-Kona, the colourful and bustling town a short distance from Kona Airport. It incorporates Kailua Village which once a sleepy fishing village and retreat for Hawaiian royalty." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 7th of September 2024, star of the 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ series Charlie Vickers chats with Jack about what it's like to be Middle Earth's most infamous villain.  Bananagrams anyone? Jack ponders how astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will pass their unexpectedly extended time in space.   Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! 36 years on from the original, the Deetz family is back - Francesca Rudkin gives the details on just how the Burtonian spirit stacks up.  Lee Child moves away from his well-known character Jack Reacher in his brand-new book. Reviewer Catherine Raynes shares her thoughts on Child's storytelling skills.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the face of it the 4-day working week sounds like a good thing, but the devil is in the detail. Recently in the UK the government has indicated they may strengthen workers' rights to request this – however, it’s the right to request 40 hours compressed into 4 10 hour days, rather than 5 8-hour days. Although it might sound attractive at first, I’m not sure this is sustainable in the longer term, particularly for those who have family. If you include travel time, it could be that you end up being away from home from 7am – 7pm. Which would leave you Friday to recover and could ultimately lead to burnout.  A better option could be the 100/80/100 4-day working week: 100% of pay, 80% of time, 100% of productivity. Initially pioneered by NZ firm Perpetual Guardian and taken up by hundreds of organisations around the world – although interestingly very few in NZ.  It’s based on the idea that during a typical 5-day week there are only limited periods when we are productive – some estimate that it’s only about 30% of time. So, if we support people to be more focused and productive at work, we reward them with having to work less than they currently do. Global results are quite staggering:  - 25% increase in revenue  - 32% reduction in staff turnover  - 66% reduction in burnout  - 94% of organisations wanted to continue  It doesn’t involve everyone simply working 4 8-hour days – some people might work 5 days but shorter hours, some 3 days but longer hours. Every year the “deal” is put to workers – if we can keep productivity at 100%, we will pay you for 40 hours but you only have to work 32. If productivity drops, we go back to the 40-hour week. Great idea as it puts the solutions back into the hands of the staff who work in their own interests rather than having management dictate.     What can people do if they’re interested?  - Don’t buy into the idea that “it won’t work for us” —everyone says that— if your business needs to provide services 5 (or more) days per week then hand this problem over to the staff to figure out.  - Be prepared to do quite a bit of work beforehand e.g., how do you define productivity in your business, are you tracking people’s rates of burnout or wellbeing and if not, how will you do this?  - Likely to need some training too e.g., how to effectively run a meeting so that people’s time isn’t wasted.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is prostate cancer a problem?  - It occurs in the prostate, a gland that sits below the bladder and produces fluid for semen.  - It’s the second highest cause of cancer death in men. 4000 are diagnosed a year, and 700 men die a year.  - Over time the number of people being diagnosed, and death rate is dropping due to increased testing.  - If you are diagnosed: 90% of men are alive after 5 years, and 90% alive after 10 years due to early treatment, and sometimes the cancer is slow growing.       Are there symptoms that can indicate prostate cancer?  Things to look out for:  - A need to urinate urgently, difficulty with getting started and weak urine stream, dribbling after finish, blood in the urine.  - However, these can be due to other ‘benign’ prostate problems:  - BPH – Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: the prostate getting larger with age, but it’s not cancerous  - Prostatitis: an infection of the prostate  If you notice any of these symptoms you need to talk to your GP.     Should we be doing anything to check for prostate cancer?  - Yes. From the age of 50 years, talk to your doctor about a two-yearly prostate check.  - If you have a family history —father, brother— then you may need to start earlier at 40 years.  - The check is very simple: a blood test called a PSA and quick rectal examination to feel for the size of the prostate.     If a problem is detected what are the treatments?  - If the blood test indicates a possible problem, then more tests are done: further bloods, possible MRI scan, a biopsy of the prostate to look for cancer.  - If cancer is detected there are four main approaches:  - Watch and wait: because the cancer is early and is considered low risk, slow growing, and may not cause a problem.    - Radiotherapy to destroy the cancer.  - Prostatectomy: where an operation is preformed to remove the prostate.  - Hormone injections that shrink and control the cancer.  Like all cancers can be treated if found early: if you are 50, a man, visit your GP and discuss a prostate check!    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacob Anderson is an old mate from Sir Peter Blake Trust (Blake Inspire), who’s finally got his PhD and moved to the USA, taking up a job working on Climate Change.  These observations are about the effect of climate change and how critters adapt to the cold.    The Greenland wolf  The Greenland wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf, and their population is sitting at around 200. Their range is in the ice-free areas of northeast Greenland. Their main prey are hares, but they also eat the calves of musk oxen and seals.  In the late early 1900’s a population in east Greenland was poisoned to extinction. But they were not considered high economic value due to their low abundance, compared to the fur trade of the Arctic fox.  They have small pack sizes – usually only 3 or 4 members.  Greenland wolf spoor.    Arctic mosquito   Arctic mosquitoes serve as an important food source to other animals. They are notorious for their role as pests to humans and wildlife, including caribou, whose populations can be affected by their attacks. They primarily feed on the blood of caribou.  These mosquitoes spend most of their lives in an aquatic environment in shallow, tundra ponds. Their eggs become frozen in the winter and hatch into larvae when the ponds melt in the spring. Arctic mosquitoes spend about two to three weeks in the larval stage before they develop into pupa and then adults.  They're most prevalent after a hatch, with the mosquito population spiking late June through July, and again, briefly, at the beginning of August. They can't fly in a light breeze. In fact, we only really had them annoy us for a warm (above freezing) day with no wind. The rest of the time we didn’t see them or have any land on us.  As temperatures warm in the Arctic, mosquitoes emerge earlier, grow faster, and survive as winged pests even longer.  Aedes Mosquito Hatching. Photo / Jacob Anderson    My observations came from Alaska.    Nosebot Maggots  Caribou not only feed mosquitoes, but they also feed huge maggots of the Nosebot Fly (also known as Nasal Fly or caribou warble fly). These maggots are rather large and gain access into the caribou’s nostrils when their mum literally hovers near the caribou and sprays her babies into that nice, cosy nose environment (This adult fly does not lay eggs! Skipping that life-stage saves time for the life cycle).  “Heavily infested caribou may be tormented by the irritating presence of the parasites and be thinner than other caribou, but the caribou meat is still OK to eat”, according to caribou hunters.   The frozen Woodfrog (Rana silvestris)  Here is an arctic creature that knows how to over-winter (-20 degrees). This frog simply freezes in the winter cold but manages to restrict the damage inside the body cells by increasing the amount of sugars inside the cells. Crystals in-between the cells allow the ice to form where the damage is very minimal.  When the frog thaws, it slowly gathers enough warmth to move on with its life – no doubt mumbling to itself ”That was a heavy frost!!”   (It reminds me of our unique mountain stone weta).    Ice worms on the glaciers in Alaska  These species only live in Alaska and are a relic of the old ice-ages.  Small, dark worms (2 cm long) that live and crawl in the icy glaciers, their food is algae and pollen, as well as certain invertebrates that land on the glacier (I’ve seen small moths being “pushed-up” by weather conditions at lower elevations).  The worms simply clean up the glacier’s surfaces.  They can live in temperatures below zero, but will die when the temperatures go higher than +4.4 degrees centigrade.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk may have a new job if Donald Trump wins the Presidency  He's already got X, SpaceX, and Tesla, and now he could be heading up a committee to audit the Federal government.  We know little about the idea other than this group would develop a plan to eliminate "fraud and improper payments" within six months of being formed. There are better uses for Elon Muck's talents at the Federal level than an accounting auditor!  Trump's “Make America Great Again” came from Ronald Reagan, who also happened to have a similar body during his term in the 80s called the Grace Commission.    Apple's support for USB-A could be ending soon  Apple has their Fall product launch next week, and while we are 99.99% confident we'll get a new iPhone, the reporting that's got my attention is about the Mac Mini. Reports suggest the new model may remove all the USB-A ports. They've already disappeared from the MacBooks, which suggests time is up on USB-A.    Tech used for good!  A lost three-year-old in a corn field the size of 200 football fields was found using a drone! The Wisconsin police called in the fire department for help. Using a thermal imaging camera, they located the boy and sent in a team to rescue him. What were his first words when they got to him? "I found a cat". Police said they saved hours of searching thanks to the drone.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Perfect Couple   When a lavish wedding ends in disaster before it can even begin - with a body discovered just hours before the ceremony - everyone in the wedding party is a suspect (Netflix).   The Body Next Door   In 2015, the Welsh village of Beddau found itself in shock when a prank involving a 'medical skeleton' revealed a dead body wrapped in plastic, setting the police on a global investigation to identify the victim (TVNZ+).   The Boy That Never Was   An earthquake shatters Harry and Robin's life in Morocco, and their child, Dillon, vanishes without a trace. Three years later, Harry spots a boy resembling Dillon with a red-haired woman at a crowded train station in Dublin city centre (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice   Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice's name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.    Borderlands  Returning to her home planet Pandora, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits. Together, they battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora's most explosive secrets.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This slice is a classic and so easy to make! The tamarillo jam is a lovely surprise.   Make 16-20 pieces    Ingredients   6-8 large tamarillo, halved and flesh scooped and diced   ¼ cup sugar   120g butter, softened  1/3 cup caster sugar  2 large eggs, separated  1 tsp vanilla extract  1 ½ cups flour, sifted  ½ cup walnut meal   1 tsp baking powder  ½ cup caster sugar  ½ cup desiccated coconut    Method  1. Make a quick tamarillo jam by simmering fruit with sugar for 15-20 minutes until thickened slightly. Cool.   2. Preheat oven to 180 C. Lightly grease and line sandwich tin.  3. Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy then add egg yolks and vanilla and beat until combined.  Fold in flour, walnut meal and baking powder and stir until it starts to come together. Tumble mixture (it will be clumpy crumbs) into prepared tin and press out evenly. Chill for 10 minutes.  4. Spread cooled tamarillo jam evenly over chilled base.   5. Beat the egg whites until foamy then gradually add sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved, mixture is glossy and soft peaks form. Fold in coconut. Spread meringue over the jam.   6. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until meringue is light brown and crisped.   7. Cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.    Nici's Note  To avoid blood sugar levels spiking and dropping, it’s best to include some protein when consuming sugar as this has the effect of tempering the absorption of glucose into the blood stream. The walnuts and eggs in this recipe will have this ‘sobering effect’ on the sugar content.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you play Bananagrams in space?   Something tells me that with the whole gravity situation, they perhaps don’t recommend anything with lots of little parts. Anything that’s hard to keep as a full set on Earth is automatically disqualified from the International Space Station.   No Bananagrams. No Monopoly. No scrabble, either.  But Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are gonna have to find something to fill their time.   An hour from now, the Boeing space vehicle that transferred them up to the space station is going to undock, propel itself into the Earth’s atmosphere, and hopefully for the sake of Boeing’s ever-sinking share price and diminished reputation, land safely in a New Mexico desert. Butch and Suni will be stuck with no way home, orbiting the Earth at 28 thousand kilometres an hour.   I love space. I love the mind-melting distances, the extremes of energy and heat. I love the endlessness of its unknown. Supermassive black holes. I love the maths, even if I don’t understand it. And given human life gets its richness from relationships, meaningful work, and diverse experiences —you can put that on a tea towel— I would love to go.   Suni and Butch felt the same way. And when they took off in Boeing’s Starliner on June 5th, they thought they’d be back on Earth just eight days later. But of course, that’s not what has happened. Three months on, Boeing has been humiliated. Its first crewed mission has had problems that can’t be fully solved remotely, and the capsule will return to Earth, empty. Butch and Suni thought they were going to space for eight days. By the time they’re flown back in February next year, they will have been orbiting the Earth for eight months.   What’s the longest flight you’ve ever been on? Mine was about 17 hours. Obviously, a commercial passenger flight is more cramped and less interesting than a few laps on the International Space Station. But in this smart phone age, nothing has more thoroughly convinced me that I don’t have the attention span or temperament for long stints in one place, like a 12-hour stopover in a lower tier international airport. So. Boring. Newsflash: Jack Tame would struggle in prison.  The good news is Butch and Suni can talk to their families. They can do a bit of exercise and socialise with other astronauts. Presumably NASA stumps for a Netflix subscription. But the one thing they can’t do easily is return to Earth. You can imagine that even for the elite-or-the-elite, it’s the kind of situation that does funny things to your head.   So would you do it? Would you go, knowing a week on the space station could become the best part of a year or longer? Would you leave your family? Leave your life? Leave your cat, and your goldfish and the lawns to someone else’s care? No wind in your hair. No smell of fresh rain. No scrambled eggs that didn’t come in a packet.   I would. I’d do it. I’d leap at the chance. Still, I reckon once might be enough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paralympics got underway this week in Paris, and for the first time in 16 years, Team New Zealand is missing a familiar face.  Dame Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian, has decided to forgo this year’s Games in favour of staying home with her young baby.   Pascoe is a 4-time Paralympian, bringing home a total of 19 medals – 11 Gold, 7 Silver, and 1 Bronze.  However, while she may not be competing this year, that doesn’t mean she’s uninvolved, as Pascoe is presenting New Zealand’s TV coverage of the Games.  She told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that as the Paralympics came closer she was feeling a bit nervous about presenting, as well as a bit of FOMO from not being over at the Games, however when they began she was content with her role.  “I'm right where I need to be with my family, with my baby and right here, presenting and helping out the Paralympic team, but still feeling like I'm part of the team, but just in such a different capacity.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A change of pace from John Legend, as he releases an album of “sing-alongs and lullabies for children and families”.  My Favorite Dream is Legend’s 10th studio album, featuring nine originals, three covers of Fisher-Price songs, and three bonus tracks.  Legend says he was inspired to make the album both by his own experience as a child and his experience as a father to four children.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn  Washington, D.C., 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; police officer’s daughter Nora, who is entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Bea, whose career has ended along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.  Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears apart the house, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: Who is the true enemy in their midst?    Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor  Finn and her best friend, Daphne, have grown up together in a small town in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Bonded by both having lost a younger sister to suicide, they've always had a close - sometimes too close - friendship. Now in their twenties, their lives have finally started to Daphne is at university and Finn is working in the Mountains, as well as falling in love with a beautiful newcomer called Magdu.  Unused to sharing Finn, Daphne starts to act up in ways that will allow her to maintain the control over her best friend she's always relished. Then, one fateful day, Finn, Daphne and Magdu all go mountain climbing - and Magdu falls to her death. Is it suicide, or a terrible accident - or has something more sinister happened?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If you’re planning a jaunt to the Big Island of Hawai’i, get in the hot seat. Immerse yourself in the might, power and wonder of nature’s cauldron. I recently took my first foray to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The sheer size of the park is staggering – nearly as big as the entire island of O’ahu. The park climbs from sea level to over 4000 metres and encompasses two volcanoes – Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes and Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcanic mountain." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring begins tomorrow and with it comes everybody's favourite chore: spring cleaning.   Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to give a few tips and tricks on how to get your home sparkling and fresh while keeping the environment in mind.  A few of her tips include:  - Using sustainable cleaning products - Using reusable cloths instead of single use wipes (e.g. old shirts or sheets) - Conserve water while cleaning (use a bucket and water the garden with it afterwards)  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 31 August 2024, legendary New Zealand athlete and our most decorated Paralympian Dame Sophie Pascoe joins Jack to discuss staying involved from home in her first time in 16 years not being at the Games.  Jack compares Kamala Harris' presidential campaign to Hilary Clinton's 2016 run in the way Harris discusses her identity.  Bring back lunchtime gigs! Jack and film reviewer Francesca Rudkin discuss the brand-new film about Beatles manager Brian Epstein and his lunch-break discovery of the band.  Plus, chef Nici Wickes shares the perfect Father's Day brunch recipe with a special twist.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago we talked about an “early Spring”, simply because I thought some of my plants were flowering a lot sooner than expected. Especially the Clematis paniculata one of the seven native species of Clematis in Aotearoa.  Picture taken on Sunday 25 August, 2024  This is one of my favourite Native, New Zealand Climbers, also known as puawānanga, (flower of the skies). It belongs to the Family Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family – it always surprises me how something like Clematis paniculata belongs to the buttercup group, but then again, our plant taxonomy often has little to do with “resemblance”.  I planted our Clematis some 6 years ago near the base of a dying old Birch tree. That birch literally karked it in the next six months, so it was the perfect tree for the climber to climb on.  “Flower of the skies” needs to grow into the light, that’s where the flower buds will develop. The more exposed to sunlight, the better the buds develop.  Another important consideration is that the roots of the Clematis need to be in moist, cool soils, according to all the old horticulture books. Gardeners translate this to “cool, moist, shady roots and flowers in warm, dry and bright, sunny places”. (I have always questioned the “cool, moist shady roots” bit as when you buy the plants from garden centres, they’ll often be in black, warm and dry plastic pots!)  Having said that: the soil in which roots grow in gardens tends to be cooler than the conditions in which plants are kept on the Garden centre’s shelves…   Ever since our Clematis grew up on the old, dead birch tree, the number of flowers increased dramatically. Spring-time flowering is spectacular, and I can’t control myself at this time of the year: always taking pictures as soon as the flower buds begin to adorn the (by now) decaying old trunk.  Trouble ahead: This old Birch is nearing its last few years of strength. There will come a time when the Clematis will encounter serious struggles as a result of a collapsing, dead Birch! I am already thinking about another site for Clematis: some of the common Ozzie hardwood trees (Eucalyptus, Acacia, wattle, etc) are very tough and long-lasting structures even after death. This may well be a great (and long-lasting) climbing rack for our native Clematis.  The good thing about training them up a dead tree is the abundance of warm sunlight for the buds.  A few days ago I browsed through my collection of Clematis pictures on the computer. That’s when I found some pics (and dates) of flowering. All were starting the show in the third week of August.  And right now – as this program goes to air, they always look like this:  It looks as if Clematis the Climber is regular as clockwork!  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OTU 2024 Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough $16  Why I chose it:  - I like Sauvignon, particularly when we get some warmer weather.  - First of the excellent 2024 vintage.  - Best of the 2024 vintage wines so far.  - Don’t overlook the discounted 2023 vintage wines.  What does it taste like?  This early release wine confirms the general belief that 2024 was a cracker of a vintage; a crisp, dry white with lime zest and passion fruit flavours, with appealing purity.  Why it’s a bargain:  Classic Marlborough sauvignon at a terrific price.  Where can you buy it?        Glengarry Wines, Auckland: $15.99  The Good Wine Co, Auckland: $16.99  Supermarkets (check the vintage)  Food match?  Great with seafood, I like it with pan-fried scallops.  Will it keep?  Fresh is best – good for a couple of years, perhaps more.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI wars are heating up  Reports are out today that Amazon has selected Anthropic to be its AI partner for the new Alexa devices.   Reuters notes that initial versions Amazon's own AI proved insufficient, often struggling with words and responding to user prompts. It's thought that this enhanced AI assistant will be a subscription service costing $5 to $10 a month. Amazon already has a minority stake in the company.  Open AI is seeking investment too, and both Apple and Nvidia are interested, valuing the company at $100 billion. Apple is already planning to integrate ChatGPT into iOS and Siri, and Nvidia is a key supplier for Open AI.    AI Safety is in the government spotlight  Both OpenAI and Anthropic will share their models with the US Government's Safety Institute. Together with the UK they will evaluate safety risks and mitigate potential issues. There's a bill waiting for California's Governor's signature which will force AI companies in the state to take specific safety measures before training advanced models - that's the first in the country specifically targeting AI. That law would force companies to be able to quickly and fully shut the model down, prevent unsafe post-training modifications, and prevent critical harm.    Oprah is going to educate America about AI  She's doing a special for the ABC Network here called ‘AI and the Future of Us’, where she'll interview Bill Gates and Sam Altman among others to explain how AI works, as well as the possibilities and risks ahead.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about who New Zealand’s biggest sports star is, with Lydia Ko and Lisa Carrington being major contenders.   Kevin Milne thinks there may be another option as he watches Dame Sophie Pascoe in her role as a live TV presenter for the Paralympics.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kaos  A darkly comedic and contemporary reimagining of Greek mythology, exploring themes of gender politics, power, and life in the underworld; six humans learn that they are component parts of an ancient prophecy (Netflix).    Sherwood  A second season of the British drama about a murder investigation in a small-town, working-class community in the north of England (TVNZ+).     The Twelve   The strain of the trial taking its toll on all in the Court. As the end approaches, Kate insists on taking the stand to tell the truth about her relationship with Nathan, but her decision hands Bloom the weapon she needs to bring Kate down. Meanwhile Ezekiel finds evidence that may help salvage the case. With new revelations about her sister's betrayal, Diane's support begins to wane - but does she hold a secret that could smash things wide open? (TVNZ)    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have this photo from the night of the US election, eight years ago. It was a graffiti stencil, taken right outside where Hillary Clinton hoped she’d be having a celebration party in a few hours’ time. A bit of paint on the sidewalk with Clinton’s silhouette and a simple phrase underneath.   ‘I’m with her.’   With just two months to go, I’m all-in on the US election.   And I was reminded of that Hillary Clinton stencil as I watched Kamala Harris’ first and only TV interview as the Democrats nominee.   The interview was fine. Nothing too exciting and nothing too scandalous. I can’t imagine it moved the dial in any major way. But perhaps the most telling bit from a strategic sense, was Kamala Harris’ response when asked about Donald Trump questioning her black identity.   Harris paused and said just a few words: ‘Same old tired playbook. Next question please.’   That was it. She was served up a prime opportunity to talk at length about her identity. A different candidate might have talked about America’s history of racial oppression. She might have recalled other occasions when people sought to undermine her through the prism of race. She might have talked about misogyny and the barriers she has had to overcome as an ambitious woman.   But nup! Zilch. Nothing. Not a word on identity. Next question please.   As a candidate, I reckon Kamala Harris has plenty of flaws. For now, she’s getting by on vibes rather than specifics. From the Democrats’ perspective, I don’t think that matters one bit. Trump’s such a polarising figure. People love or hate him. No one feels simply ambivalent about him. And it means any election in which he’s a candidate is not really going to focus on policy.   But in her ‘vibes’ campaign, one thing I reckon Kamala Harris is doing extremely well is NOT talking about identity. If she wins, she would be the first woman President. The first black woman. The first South Asian. All of these things are historic and arguably significant, but they’re also self-evident and I think it’s notable that she and her supporters, and other high-profile Democrats aren’t talking about them.   I contrast it with Hillary Clinton’s run, when so much of the campaign discourse centred on the possibility of her becoming America’s first woman President.   Kamala Harris has perhaps chosen a different message.   Instead of ‘I’m with her,’ ‘I’m not him.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Were Dangerous  In 1954 New Zealand, Nellie and Daisy attempt to escape an institution for delinquent girls, but they are caught and it triggers a relocation to a facility on a remote island. The duo become a trio as well-to-do Lou joins them, and life on the island takes shape under the command of the devout Matron. The trio rail against the system, dubious of the benevolence of the bible and taking refuge in their blossoming friendship. It’s hard to reform girls who don’t believe they need reforming. However, a sense of doom settles in when experimental forms of punishment take place in the dead of night. Nellie and Daisy plot rebellion, but unexpectedly find themselves at odds with Lou, who is afraid to break the rules.    Midas Man   In 1960s Liverpool, Brian Epstein encountered a rock band who would take the world by storm.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is such a great brunch idea and a great start to Father’s Day. This mince is spiked with some fried onions and chilli and served with an egg.  Serves 4-6     Ingredients  2 tbsp olive oil   400g beef mince  2 carrots, grated   1 bay leaf   ¼ cup red wine   400g tin chopped tomatoes   ½ tsp sea salt + pepper  2 medium onions, sliced thinly   1 tbsp butter or oil   1-2 red chilli, sliced thinly   1 fried egg per person to serve  Ciabatta slices to serve, toasted   Finely chopped chives to garnish     Method  1.Heat oil in medium sized saucepan and brown mince, breaking it up with a fork as it cooks to keep it loose. Add grated carrot, bay leaf and red wine. Cook for 3-4 minutes then add tomatoes and seasoning. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes.  Taste and season with more salt or pepper to dad’s taste.   2.Whilst mince cooks, fry onions in butter or oil. Get some really good colour on them before adding the chilli at the end. Set aside and use pan to fry eggs.  3.Plate up, topping mince with fried egg and chilli onion mix and toasted ciabatta slices on the side. Sprinkle with chives.    Nici’s notes - Cooked mince, like casseroles, curries and soups, ages well overnight so prepare it the day before Fathers’ Day, refrigerate, then re-heat for brunch.   - Use one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar instead of red wine if you prefer.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Were Dangerous is a brand-new Kiwi film about girlhood, rebellion and violence – but it has friendship at its heart.  Although the story is fictional, it comes at a time that makes you feel it could have been plucked right from the history books.  It follows a misfit trio of Nellie, Daisy, and Lou, determined to rally against the system in 1950’s New Zealand.   The film won the Special Jury Prize at SXSW this year and made its premiere at the Auckland launch of the New Zealand International Film Festival.  Erana James and Nathalie Morris, Nellie and Lou, joined Jack Tame for a chat about the making of the film, the story it follows, and the success it has found.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phenomenon of Irish post-punk, Fontaines D.C. have released their fourth studio album.  ‘Romance’, released on the 23rd of August, is an 11 track album in which music reviewer Estelle Clifford thinks they’ve found themselves.  “This album is where I feel like they've suddenly found themselves and taken a real creative look at this and how to do things a little bit differently.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiger, Tiger: His Life, as It's Never Been Told Before by James Patterson   James Patterson--the only major author to have nine holes-in-one--gets inside the mystery of Tiger Woods as only he can. How did Tiger become the G.O.A.T., what drove him to fall so spectacularly, and how has he made his way back to the pinnacle of golf? In Patterson's hands, Tiger's story is an unputdownable thriller.  On April 13, 1986, ten-year-old Tiger Woods watches his idol, Jack Nicklaus, win his record sixth Masters.  Just over a decade later, chants of "Ti-ger, Ti-ger!" ring out as the twenty- one-year-old wins his first Green Jacket.  He blazes an incredible path, winning fourteen major titles (second only to Nicklaus himself) by the time he's thirty- three, smashing records and raising standards.  Then come multiple public scandals and potentially career-ending injuries.  The once-assured champion becomes an all-American underdog. "YouTube golfer" is how his two children know their father--winless since 2013--until he wins the 2019 Masters, his fifteenth major, before their eyes.  But the story doesn't end there.  Tiger, Tiger is the first full-scale Woods biography of the decade. In James Patterson's hands, this story is a hole-in- one thriller.    By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult  In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world’s greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.  In the present, playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theater. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?  Told in intertwining narratives, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Enrobed by chiselled cliff tops, wild beaches and the serene Grey Valley, the West Coast’s biggest town of Greymouth is so much more than just a gateway to the region. Explorer Thomas Brunner named the river in honour Governor George Edward Grey, which also gave rise to the town’s name. The town centre is built on the site of the former Māori pa called Māwhera, which translates as 'wide spread river mouth’. The latest attraction in town that is the worth the trip alone is Pounamu Pathway – Māwhera." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us experience disruptions to our sleep when we are busy or stressed. This can be due to our brains being switched into “flight or fight” mode. When this mode is on our body and brains are alert and actively looking for danger, which makes sense if our danger is from a wild animal but doesn’t make quite as much sense if our “danger” is from a high workload. This sense of alertness is the polar opposite to that state your body needs to be in for sleeping. In these situations, you might find yourself having trouble getting to sleep or waking in the middle of the night with a racing mind. This can leave you feeling tired and exhausted the next day, which may make you less effective at work, which in turn contributes to more stress!     Here's some tips for sleep during stressful times:  - If you can’t get to sleep or wake up in the middle of the night, don’t lie in bed for more than about 15mins – if you haven’t fallen asleep by then you’re probably not going to anytime soon. Get up and out of bed and do something boring until you feel tired again. If you have a racing mind sit down with a piece of paper and simply write down everything in your head until your brain has dumped it all out. Then try sleeping again  - Try to resist the urge to sleep in, at least during weekdays. Keep a consistent wake up time as this helps anchor your body clock and can help prevent sleep problems getting even worse  - Avoid napping during the day, unless you can keep the nap to 20mins or less. Sleeping too much during the day will have a flow-on effect to nighttime sleeping    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, after that yucky and cold spell in the middle of winter, I was checking my mistletoe to see how it had been coping under those chilly and frosty conditions.  Looked okay, but there were a few bite marks on the leaves. Hmmm… nothing worrying about though.  Ileostylus micranthus is the green mistletoe I “planted” on my kowhai bush a few years ago now.   The sticky seeds should be adhered to the twigs of the host plant and with a bit of luck the mistletoe will settle itself on that host plant by sending its “roots” (haustoria) into the host plant. The Mistletoe can then draw its nutrients from the host.  That makes it a “parasite”.  Under normal circumstances, the sticky seeds are “planted” by birds. They simply try to eat the seeds but often end up wiping their bill clean on the host plant.  Clever plant!  My neighbour across the road also has a green mistletoe, but his specimen is situated on a Coprosma virescens bush known by its Māori name as “Mingimingi”. A gorgeous native shrub with a divaricating growth; tangled branches of orange colours and rather small leaflets.  I decided to see how his green mistletoe was doing after the very cold nights.  The leaves were chewed significantly – huge chunks eaten out of the edges. The last time I saw that plant it was in great condition, but this winter something or somebody must have had a real go at it.  A thorough investigation revealed the culprit: an adult Katydid was hiding in the tangled branches of the Mingimingi, sitting very still and using its green camouflage.  This in itself is quite a weird phenomenon, as I usually see Katydids in summer and autumn but not in winter.  This native chewer-of-leaves must have found enough shelter inside the Mingimingi to survive the winter conditions and chew away at the parasitic Mistletoe!  A Vandal Katydid on a Green Mistletoe on a Mingimingi. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 24 August 2024, Jack is joined by stars of new Kiwi film ‘We Were Dangerous’, Erana James and Nathalie Morris, to discuss winning the Special Jury Prize and SXSW 2024 and what it was like to film on Otamahua Quail Island in the South Island.  Jack finds New Zealand Rugby's communication around Leon MacDonald's exit refreshing.  An underrated vegetable is hailed in chef Nici Wickes leek, parmesan and prosciutto tart - with leeks current cheaper price point making it the perfect pairing when splashing out on pastry and other ingredients.  Psychologist Dougal Sutherland emphasises the importance of sleep and shares tips to try and combat sleep disruption.   And, phenomenon of Irish post-punk Fontaines D.C. have released their fourth studio album, Jack finds out how it ranks against their previous universally hailed records.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OCR cut has seen banks lower their rates – some cutting multiple times. But how low will they go? And what impact will this have? Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to run through the details.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe virtual reality isn't as appetizing as the tech companies want it to be  Meta has decided to call it quits on making a high-end mixed reality headset to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. They started working on it back in November, but reportedly told staff this week to stop. The goal was to keep the price under $1000 which is getting harder and harder with the price of the micro-OLED displays needed.  Apple's Vision Pro has struggled to get interest from consumers and developers. Estimates suggest Apple won't sell more than 500,000 of them. Analysts think they're too expensive and consumers might need a cheaper model.  There are some surprising winners in the AI race  Mitsubishi Electric, known to many for heat pumps and air conditioning, are also makers of optical components used in data centers and with the rise of AI they're in mega demand. They're about to ramp production capacity to 50% more than last year, which they still don't think will be enough. They think they'll need to get to double that new production capacity.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pachinko   The hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family, beginning with a story of a forbidden romance that leads to a sweeping saga taking place in Korea, Japan and America (Apple TV+).     Industry   Young finance graduates venture out in the cut-throat competitive world to get a job during the recession times that followed as a result of the 2008 financial crisis (Neon).    The Marlow Murder Club   Retired archaeologist and crossword setter Judith Potts believes that a brutal murder has taken place in the sleepy town of Marlow; when the police refuse to believe her story, she kicks off a private investigation with two unlikely friends (TVNZ+).    Jack’s Pick:  Turning Point: The Bomb And The Cold War    A chronicle of Cold War history, from the development of the atomic bomb to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Including an examination of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Union   Mike, a down-to-earth construction worker, is thrust into the world of super spies and secret agents when his high school sweetheart, Roxanne, recruits him on a high-stakes US intelligence mission (Netflix).   The Three Musketeers: Milady   Constance Bonacieux is kidnapped before D'Artagnan's very eyes. In a frantic quest to save her, the young musketeer, aided by Athos, Porthos and Aramis, is forced to join forces with the mysterious Milady de Winter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lovers often meet under the night sky, stargazing a cliché of the romance genre. But do other celestial bodies carry the same romantic energy?   Kevin Milne is wondering if blue moons, and blue supermoons in particular, bring romance into people’s lives. He wouldn’t have thought so, but this week’s blue supermoon has stirred some memories and emotions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leeks are so underrated and I have to remind myself to use them for more than just soups and chicken pies. In these tarts they are the star and as well as looking pretty they are absolutely scrumptious with soft and sweet, leeks combining with the tang of parmesan and saltiness of prosciutto. Perfect really!    Makes 4    Ingredients  3-4 leeks, cut into 2cm thick rounds (to yield about 16-20)  30g butter  2 sheets savour short crust pastry   1 tbsp olive oil   4 eggs  150g crème fraiche   200mls cream   ½ tsp wholegrain mustard  ¼  tsp sea salt + pinch black pepper  100g parmesan, grated + extra chunks for tops   50g prosciutto     Method  1. Preheat oven to 180 C. Place oven tray in to heat.   2. Line four 12cm tart tins (or one large 25cm) with pastry and trim edges neatly. Chill for 20 minutes.   3. Carefully place leek rounds in a pan with butter and oil, cover and cook gently until they begin to soften and are cooked through - about 20-30minutes. Turn once halfway through cooking but do so carefully as they like to unravel! Cool.   4. In a bowl whisk together eggs, crème fraiche, cream, mustard and seasoning.   5. Sprinkle grated parmesan over chilled pastry bases then position cooked and cooled leeks, leaving a little space between each. Transfer tarts to oven tray at this stage to avoid spillage later. Pour egg mixture around the leeks, until each case is full. Top with scrunched up prosciutto and extra cheese.   6. Gently slide back into oven and cook for 30-35 minutes (longer for large tart)  or until pastry is golden and filling is just firm.    7. Leave to cool for 5-10 minutes and serve.     Nici’s note:   Prosciutto (and pancetta for that matter) can seem expensive but a little goes a long way in recipes such as this as the flavour is very intense.   Always remove tarts from fluted tins whilst still a little warm as they come away from the tin easier when pastry is not completely cold.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13-year old Jack Tame would never have believed that Scott Robertson and Leon MacDonald weren’t getting along.   The year was 2000.  Having survived Y2K, started high school, and become a teenager in the space of a few short months, the highlight of my year was yet to come: May 20th, when the Canterbury Crusaders defeated the ACT Brumbies by a single point at Bruce Stadium in Canberra to become Super Rugby Champions for the third year in a row, the first team to achieve the feat.  It is amazing to go back and look at that starting 15. We didn’t know it then, but several of the winning Crusaders would end up becoming successful coaches after their playing careers were done. Winning finalists included Todd Blackadder, Daryl Gibson, and Mark Hammett, all of whom have enjoyed pretty high-profile coaching careers. The Crusaders’ second-five-eighth was a guy called Mark Robinson, who in years to come would be appointed the CEO of New Zealand Rugby. We didn’t know it then, but in a couple of decades, he would hire his blindside flanker teammate as the All Blacks’ coach and his fullback as assistant.   But if you could’ve told 13-year-old me that two of the guys from that team would end up having a very split after just a month at the helm of the All Blacks, I would never have believed you.   I’ve gotta say though... as shocked as I was this week to learn that MacDonald and Razor hadn’t worked out, from what we know so far, New Zealand Rugby, the All Blacks, and both Scott Robertson and Leon MacDonald deserve our praise and thanks.   I thought that New Zealand Rugby statement and Robertson’s subsequent statements were amazing. Of course we’ll probably never know the full story, but they didn’t sugar-coat anything. No one made up a rubbish excuse – the old ‘more time with the family.’ It wasn’t nasty or spiteful. But it was honest. They didn’t see eye to eye. They have differing views. And after a series of ‘robust’ conversations, it wasn’t in the best interests of the team to have MacDonald and Robertson working together, resentment building as they pulled in different directions.    It’s so easy to imagine an alternative, another World where they didn’t recognise or didn’t acknowledge things weren’t working, they weren’t clicking, and whatever tension existed festered and grew into something more damaging. Rumours would start. The odd news report would intimate that something wasn’t right. There could be cliques and factions. Players might have split loyalties. And ultimately it would hurt the team.   Again, we don’t know everything. But given the frankness of the explanation, it’s the best we have. And man, there is so much to be said for calling it early. They didn’t battle on for a couple of seasons. They didn’t try and fake anything for the rugby-loving public. They called it.   Leon MacDonald clearly has a lot of mana and as a coach he’s had success. I’m sure he’ll get a great coaching job somewhere different. Obviously 13-year-old me would be gutted to see two of his sporting heroes, split. But 20 years since they won that third title, their collective handling of this situation has been mature and strangely refreshing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An author with a pen game strong enough to reduce people to tears, Jodi Picoult has quite an extensive and well-loved body of work.  She’s written nearly 30 books, selling around 40 million copies, with fan favourites such as My Sister’s Keeper, Mad Honey, and Wish You Were There flying off the shelves.   Picoult writes across a diverse scope of genres, from thriller to romance to ghost stories, and her latest work steps into the world of historical fiction.   By Any Other Name details the intertwining narrative of the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced.  Picoult joined Jack Tame for a chat about how this new story came to be, her love of Shakespeare, and the meticulous research she puts into the narratives she creates.  "To me this is really a book about how women have been written out of history by the men who were writing it." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Album 8 in his 10|10|10 project is Troy Kingi’s ‘Leatherman & The Mojave Green’.   The album is described as a “sun-baked excursion into desert / stoner rock sonics”, released August 16th 2024.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act of Disappearing by Nathan Gower  Julia White is struggling: her bartending job isn’t cutting it and her first book has sold hardly any copies. She’s broke, barely able to make ends meet while drowning in her late mother’s medical bills and reeling after a one-night stand with her ex-boyfriend, who’s now completely ghosted her. Enter Johnathan Aster, world-renowned photographer, with a proposal: he has a never-before-seen photograph of a woman falling from a train bridge, clutching what appears to be a baby. And he wants Julia to research the story.  Alternating between present-day Brooklyn and Kentucky as it enters the 1960s, the story unfolds as Julia races to find answers: Who was the woman in the photograph? Why was she on the bridge? And what happened to the baby? Each detail is more propulsive than the last as Julia unravels the mystery surrounding the Fairchilds of Gray Station and discovers a story more staggering than anything she could have imagined.    I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay  How would you react in a life-or-death situation?  It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.  Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.  What price will he pay for one good deed?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Just imagine taking a jaunt to Calypso’s Cave, where the nymph Calypso held Odysseus as a prisoner of love for seven years in Homer’s epic Odyssey. How about taking to the waters in the Blue Lagoon or gazing in awe at the Crystal Caves of Comino? Malta’s neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino are full of history and wonder. I recently travelled to the Maltese islands with Insight Vacations, on their 6-day Easy Pace Malta premium guided tour. It offers the winning mix of guided sightseeing and flexi-time, allowing you to ample opportunity to personally discover and savour the destination’s treats, at your own leisure." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 18 August 2024, Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult is an author with a pen game strong enough to induce real tears, she joins Jack ahead of the release of her 29th book.   Of all the global stars to rise from this year’s Olympic Games —Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Dame Lisa Carrington— 36-year-old Macquarie University lecturer Rachael Gunn is perhaps the unlikeliest. Jack talks about why Australian breakdancer Raygun is an icon.   Francessca Rudkin shares two marvellous films, ‘The Hardest Line’, a music documentary on Midnight Oil and ‘The Instigators’, starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.  Troy Kingi is back with a new album “Leatherman & the Mojave Green”, Estelle Clifford shares her thoughts.   Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall is a fan of the sustainable options. She recently received a comment on a DIY project where she dried avocado pips to make buttons saying that they’ll “just buy my own buttons like a normal person”, and while sure, that is an option, sometimes it’s fun to do things a little differently.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blackcurrants pruning  Oh… good old Ribes nigrum! It’s one of our favourite fruits – Juuls makes pretty mean jam out of those dark berries. You can eat them raw off the plant, but honestly… jam is the way to go as far as I’m concerned.  They hail from the temperate areas of Central and Northern Europe and Asia – yep, they can deal with frosts.  Blackcurrants are usually grown as multi-stemmed plants, with an open structure of 6–10 upright stems growing from the base.   Established bushes (aged four years or older) are best pruned every winter to keep them fruiting strongly. This is a simple process – cut out up to a third of the oldest stems down at the base, create some space in the middle. The younger stems will then rise up to produce fruit for the next few years.   Red Currants pruning is slightly different from Blackcurrants.  From late winter to early spring – prune all forms of red and white currants annually while the plants are still dormant, before any signs of growth appear.  Red and white currants will fruit at the base of shoots, these are known as 'laterals', that grow out from the main branches, especially the younger branches!   Young = new, narrower and lighter-coloured stems; old = thicker and darker stems  Prune in winter to leave between eight and ten healthy, strong main branches each year. On one-year-old bushes, prune back new shoots by half. Leave the branch with an outward-facing bud at the top.  Some folk grow them as “cordons”: a bit like climbers, up a wire structure in the form of one or two main branches. The side-shoots that come off those main stems will carry the red currents.  In mid-summer – prune cordons and fans to restrict growth and maintain their shape.    Gooseberries pruning   Just as a warning: they are prickly rascals – wear good gloves!  First of all: get rid of dead branches – cut them off as low as you can.  Cut out the really old branches (especially more than 5 years old) and open the inside up a bit (not too much, mind you). But if you haven’t pruned your gooseberries for a long time, they may need a bit more surgery to open that bush up again.  Old branches are thick and dark in colour.  Taking these old sturdy, dark branches out makes the plant grow new juvenile growth that will do the job for the next few years.  The idea is to replace the older stuff with newer (much more productive) growth.  The younger branches (lighter in colour and thinner) can be cut back a bit (from the top) to get the plant to set up new spurs, which will produce new fruit.  The whole idea is to create a nice series of fruiting areas in the inside of the plant; not too high but certainly accessible when you want to harvest the berries.  Late winter is a good time to fertilise the berries with some general fertiliser, followed by a hand-full of Sulphate of Potash to remind the plants that it’s time to think of flowers and setting fruit!    My good mate Mike (Scottish, a builder and handy guy to have as a friend) hadn’t done any of his pruning for quite a few years and asked me to help him out restoring the Blackcurrants and Gooseberries.  He had made a pretty “cage” in his garden to stop the birds vandalizing the berries, and it took us about two hours to get the job done.  This is what it looked like, before and after:  Dense Blackcurrants before and after pruning.  Gooseberries lethal and dense, versus Gooseberries taken apart by Mike; lots of air and space.  Sometimes it pays to be ruthless!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Carpal Tunnel and who gets it?  - One of the most common hand conditions.  - Pressure on something called ‘median nerve’ that goes through the wrist.  - The nerve goes through a narrow ‘tunnel’ (carpal tunnel) in the wrist, and when it gets compressed, you can develop symptoms.  - 1-5% of the population get it at some point. Twice as common in women as men.  - Most often seen in those between 30 and 60 years of age.  - Increased risk with pregnancy, diabetes, wrist injury, obesity, and repetitive wrist activities such as manual labour and sport.     How do you recognise it?  - People often start to notice it at night: wake up with a tingly or numb hand and have to shake the hand out. Especially prominent in the thumb, and index, and middle fingers.  - Sometimes described as electric shock, sometimes holding the steering wheel of car, holding a newspaper.  - May be described as pain, and people often get discomfort up the forearm.  - Can cause hand weakness and cause people to drop things.     How do you diagnose it?  - Your doctor will take careful history.  - Examine the wrist  - Order a nerve conduction study which shows if the nerve is being compressed.  - Sometimes an Xray or blood tests are ordered to check for any underlying condition like diabetes.       What do you do about?  - It depends on the severity.  - Often it involves avoiding activities that make it worse, resting the hand if repetitive movements make it worse.  - Using a wrist splint to keep wrist straight – especially at night to alleviate symptoms.  - If it’s severe and ongoing, then refer to the orthopaedic surgeon, who do a simple operation to relieve the pressure on the nerve.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fortnite is back on the iOS store  But it's only for those in the EU, thanks to their Digital Markets Act. It's forced Apple to offer a pathway for app developers to sell their software without needing to go through Apple's official app store.  Epic says Apple has a monopoly on the market, and uses that position to force developers to give up to 30% of their revenue to them. They reportedly earn $70 billion in app store revenue each year. The "Epic Games Store" is the highest profile launch of an alternative app store yet, with a large fan base eager to get back to playing Fortnite on their phones after four years. Apple has not made the process for installing easy though - there are warning screens to get through, settings to update, which Epic says is intentional to make the experience as terrible as possible. Apple has launched a new fee for successful off-app store they're calling a "core technology fee", to try and recoup some of the revenue they'll inevitably lose. This is going to be a case study for other brands to decide if it's worth the effort to create their own store.   Google's Pixel Watch 3 has a lifesaving feature   If you have a heart attack when you're alone, you have virtually no chance of receiving resuscitation. This new "loss of pulse" feature of the Pixel Watch will give you a chance. It first uses the regular heart-rate sensor to detect a pulse, then if it can't find one will use infrared and motion sensors to help decide if you need help. An alarm will sound, giving you a chance to cancel the call for emergency services.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Douglas is Cancelled   Douglas Bellowes is a widely respected middle news anchor with a sidekick Madeline and newspaper editor wife Sheila, when he makes an ill-advised joke at a wedding and is faced with cancel culture (ThreeNow).    Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story  Based on the shocking true story of model Chloe Ayling, who was lured to a fake photoshoot and abducted by human traffickers - then found herself at the centre of a media storm, accused of staging the whole thing as a publicity stunt (TVNZ+).    Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line   This three-part docuseries follows New Zealand's wheelchair rugby team in their bid to qualify for the Paris Paralympics. Despite having to rely on fundraising, charity, and volunteers, these Kiwi underdogs are determined to rise to the challenge (Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line Midnight Oil is not your typical band, so it makes sense that this is not your typical rockumentary. Sex and drugs play little if any part in the tale of one of Australia’s most successful rock groups ever. Neither will you find the kind of rivalries and tensions that one expects in the story of a band with a career as long as this one.  Told in voiceovers by managers, critics, commentators, and the band members themselves, the film features plenty of footage of the Oils performing live, from their earliest days. Watching Garrett command the stage, it is clear why they made it as big as they did, even while they resisted crucial aspects of the pop game, such as appearing on Countdown, the most popular music programme in Australian TV history.    The Instigators  Rory and Cobby are unlikely partners thrown together for a heist. However, when it goes awry, they team up to outrun police, backward bureaucrats, and a vengeful crime boss (Apple TV+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulses and legumes. They’re filling, nourishing, super versatile and cheap and yet many of us would be lucky to eat them more than once or twice a month. Would it encourage you if I told you they’re necessary, yes necessary, for a balanced diet?  This one-pot dish is tasty and wonderfully easy to throw together.  Serves 4  Ingredients  1 400g tin lentils, drained  2 tbsps olive oil  4-6 pieces chicken, skin on, bone in  1 onion, diced  1 carrot, peeled and diced  Few sprigs of rosemary  1 cup vegetable to chicken stock (can use water)  2 tbsps pomegranate molasses  Salt and pepper to season  Small handful parsley to garnish    Method  1. Heat oil in rinsed saucepan and brown chicken. 2. Add onion, carrots and rosemary and sauté for 2-3 minutes. 3. Pour in stock and pomegranate molasses, cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. 4. Add in lentils and simmer with lid off for 5-10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.  5. Garnish with parsley and serve with salad.    Make it your own:  Use cannellini beans in place of lentils.  Change it up with some grated ginger and soy sauce in place of rosemary and pomegranate molasses.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the global stars to rise from this year’s Olympic Games —Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Dame Lisa Carrington— 36-year-old Macquarie University lecturer Rachael Gunn is perhaps the unlikeliest.   Raygun, as per her stage name, is a true icon of these times. Not because she competed in the most modern of Olympic sports —breaking— but because through the power of the internet, her efforts have become arguably the most recognisable of the entire Olympic Games.   If you haven’t seen Raygun’s performance, I don’t know where you’ve been. All I know is you don’t have social media, because the flood of clips and memes celebrating, remixing, and/or mocking her dancing has completely inundated every bite of every feed of every platform.   When most of us think of breakdancing, we think of incredibly athletic people spinning and twisting. We think of spinning headstands, headslides, one-handed body freezes.  Really good breaking is just gymnastics to hip hop.  Raygun didn’t do that stuff. She openly admits she can’t! Instead, she did a range of pumps and thrusts that honestly wouldn’t have physically been beyond the reach of many of those people watching.   For all those people who thought the Olympics would be improved by having a mere mortal compete with the elite athletes, just to give you perspective of how good they really are? Anyone who saw Raygun’s signature move, the kangaroo, would have to agree. Yep, this was that.   Part of me admires her chutzpah. Imagine having the confidence to go to the Olympic Games —the Olympics— only to pull out a dance routine reminiscent of Jack Tame at the Grumpy Mole circa 2003. The judges gave Raygun three straight zeroes!   Internet culture has a way of fixating on a person or a moment with maximum intensity, only to move on a few days. The public shaming aspect must be so hard to endure. Raygun is a global icon this week. But soon enough, the internet will move on.  Tell you what though, I think there will be one enduring impact from Raygun’s performance. I stumbled across a clip earlier this week that caught my eye. It was of a ridiculously good breaker, twisting and springing and spinning like a top gymnast on a pommel horse. He did a backwards worm, tumbling back towards the ground and seemingly bending his body against the direction of all his limbs. It was amazing!   Who is this? Where is this? I wondered.   Then I realised, it was the Olympics. Raygun’s performance was so extraordinary, it has completely overshadowed the medallists in her sport. So many more people have seen the kangaroo than have seen the actual winning performances. Can you name the Olympic breakdancing medallists?   The IOC wanted to bring new audiences to the games. Breaking has certainly done that, just not in the way they anticipated. And if they’re weighing up breaking’s inclusion in any future games, the fact that very few of us will recall more than a plucky Aussie in a tucked-in tracksuit does not bode well for the Olympic future of the sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne, like everyone, watched the Olympics. He loved the Olympics, but couldn’t help but notice the disappointment, tears, and heartbreak of many competitors. And it left him with a question: is high-level competitive sport worth it?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Sainsbury wears many hats - actor, writer, comedian, director, host, influencer - across film, tv, stage, and social media here in New Zealand and on international projects.  Kiwis might know him for his political impersonations or shows like Wellington Paranormal.  Tom is hosting a winter special of New Zealand’s International Comedy Festival, and having just returned from a very glamorous international sojourn, he joined Jack Tame in studio for a chat.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second time in a row, Tones and I’s recently released album ‘Beautifully Ordinary’ opens at No. 1 on Australia’s album chart.  The album is the follow-up to ‘Welcome To The Madhouse’, which debuted in 2021.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The War Below by Ernest Scheyder  Tough choices loom if the world wants to go green. The United States and other countries must decide where and how to procure the materials that make our renewable energy economy possible. To build electric vehicles, solar panels, cell phones, and millions of other devices means the world must dig more mines to extract lithium, copper, cobalt, rare earths, and nickel. But mines are deeply unpopular, even as they have a role to play in fighting climate change. These tensions have sparked a worldwide reckoning over the sourcing of these critical minerals, and no one understands the complexities of these issues better than Ernest Scheyder, whose exclusive access has allowed him to report from the front lines on the key players in this global battle to power our future.  This is not a story of tree-hugging activists, but rather of industry titans, scientists, and policymakers jostling over how best to save the planet. Scheyder explores how a proposed lithium mine in Nevada would help global automakers slash their dependance on fossil fuels, but developing that mine could cause the extinction of a flower found nowhere else on the planet. A hedge fund manager’s attempt to resuscitate rare earths mining in California relies on Chinese expertise, exposing the paradox in Washington’s quest for minerals independence. The fight to end child labor in Africa’s mining sector is a key reason, supporters contend, to dig out a vast reserve of cobalt and nickel under Minnesota’s vulnerable wetlands. An international mining conglomerate’s plan to extract copper for electric vehicles deep beneath Arizona’s desert would destroy a Native American holy site, fueling tough questions about what matters more.  In The War Below, Scheyder crafts a business story that matters to everyone. If China continues to dominate production of these critical minerals, it will have a profound impact on the geopolitical order. Beyond China, countries such as Bolivia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo aim to wield their vast reserves of key minerals. There are no easy answers when it comes to energy. Scheyder paints a powerfully honest and nuanced picture of what is needed to fight climate change and secure energy independence, revealing how America and the rest of the world’s hunt for the “new oil” directly affects us all.    Home Truths by Charity Norman  Livia Denby is on trial for attempted murder. The jury has reached a verdict.  Two years earlier, Livia was a probation officer in Yorkshire, her husband Scott a teacher. Their children, Heidi and Noah, rounded out a happy family - until the day Scott's brother died.  Grief and guilt leave Scott searching for answers, a search that takes him into the world of conspiracy theories. As his grip on reality slides, he makes a decision that will put the family on a collision course with tragedy.  Livia's family has been torn apart, and now her son's life is hanging in the balance. Just how far will she go to save the ones she loves?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 10 August 2024, the wearer of many hats Tom Sainsbury joins Jack to chat about his latest film ventures, and a special winter celebration of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.   Jack wraps on his favourite nail-biting moments of the 2024 Olympics.  The highly anticipated adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel It Ends With Us has hit cinemas, and film reviewer Francesca Rudkin shares her thoughts.  And Google is discontinuing the Google Chromecast, tech expert Paul Stenhouse gives Jack details on what is set to replace it.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s one of the most southerly European nations – so far south that it’s parallel with Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria. Malta has long been on my bucket-list and this relatively under-the-radar destination offers not only good-value for visitors, but it exudes astonishing scenery and historic treasures. I recently jaunted to Malta with Insight Vacations, who offer a fabulous introductory guided tour, spilling forth with Malta’s greatest hits." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Older” employees, Gen X and Boomers, those who are over 45years, are sometimes accused of not being as skilled at utilising the benefits of tech in their work. Whilst that might be true for some, new research shows that these older workers tend to be more effective in setting clear work and nonwork boundaries when working from home and in managing their time.  The research found this age group were more likely to use good work practices such as:  - Setting strict start, break and end times  - Having a dedicated space at home for only work  - Creating new routines and dressing for work  - Informing others about their availability    Benefits of setting these boundaries include:  - Fewer unfinished work tasks  - Having better work-life balance.  - Higher productivity    Perhaps old dogs can learn new tricks!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people have probably never heard of “Collembola”, but I reckon they are the most important critter on the planet as their “job” is often simply recycling.  Your garden wouldn’t stand a chance without them, and nor does our planet. The circular economy starts with Collembola and ends with “Zero Waste”.  A large number feed on bacteria, fungi, and rotting plant materials; some go for living plants (and can be a pest on some crops). Others devour algae and some even prey on insects.  Collembola are no longer considered to be “insects” although they still belong to the group of “hexapods” (six-legged creatures).  Oh, by the way, the name of this group (Collembola) comes from two features: “Colla” which means glue, and “embolon” which is a “peg”, or a “piston” (referring to a structure on the underside of the body).  At last count there are some 6000 species on our planet, but what do we know? There could be as many as 40,000 taxa!  If you climb a tree in New Zealand, you are like to find them near the top where branches emerge from the main trunk, it’s usually full of decaying old plant materials; great habitat for our Collembola!  When examining the contents of your compost bin it quickly becomes clear they are the most numerous invertebrates.  Collembola working on a juicy stalk of rhubarb  You may think they are quite boring in their appearance, and indeed a lot of them are tiny (a few millimetres in size) and just one low-key colour. But some are quite attractive: Holacantella is endemic to New Zealand and is often on dead timber and bark, especially in wet conditions.  And look at that weird body armour – or are they different species?  For some reason our Collembola love living in moist (and warm) environments. But then again, some species are restricted to cooler climates (think Antarctica! Minus 60 degrees is just not too cold for them).  The craziest thing you can see at this time of the year is a rather elegant deep blue species that seems to enjoy a spot of “rafting” or “drifting” in slow-moving water courses. Every year I see them, here on the Port Hills of Canterbury. After all these years I have not been able to identify these species with certainty.  They swim in puddles, and jump around in sheep troughs.   Those pistons (or “pegs”) I described from the word ‘embolon’ are literally the tools that make the jumping (and dispersal) possible, even in water.  No wonder that their common name in horticulture, agriculture and garden nomenclature is... SPRING TAILS    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Smith & Sheth CRU Central Otago 2022 Pinot Noir - $50  Why I chose it:  - I was recently asked to recommend a special wine that could be used to toast a yet unborn baby. The wine should be able to be enjoyed in around five years and should survive less than perfect storage. My budget was up to $100.  - I chose the Smith & Sheth Pinot Noir because it is the sort of wine that could be enjoyed by a wide range of people and not just wine enthusiasts.  - It is sealed with a screwcap which will help it run the distance.  What does it taste like?  “Perfumed pinot noir with seductive floral, black cherry vanilla, dark berry wine in an appealing and very drinkable style. Made with a light touch the wine has a silken and almost ethereal texture.”  Why it’s a bargain:  $50 is a lot of money to spend on a bottle of wine, but in this case, it is a lot of wine and will give great pleasure on an important occasion.  Where can you buy it?                     - Smithandsheth.com   - Recently released and small production might make it hard to find initially but shop around – it’s worth hunting for.                           Food match?   Duck confit is a classic match.  Will it keep?  No rush, five or six years? Up to ten years with careful storage.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google is discontinuing the Google Chromecast  With more than 100 million sold over an 11-year life, it was a good run. It was a great entry level device to very quickly get content onto your TV.  It's being replaced by the Google TV Streamer. It's a device that is designed to sit on your entertainment unit because it also doubles as a full-featured smart speaker with Google Assistant. Think of it more as a "set top box". The extra size means extra connectivity options and power, allowing you to use it as a smart home hub to connect and control your Nest cameras, thermostat, and more.  The TV part of the device runs the latest Android TV operating system and uses Google Gemini AI to provide TV recommendations and help you use your voice to navigate the app.    Google is a monopolist  This is a huge win for the US government who says that Google Search has a monopoly on the market - surprising no one. Google has a 90% share overall, and 95% share on mobile devices.   The judge particularly takes aim at their deal with Apple to make Google the default search engine. Apple and Google would argue that people are going to turn to Google anyway, so why not give it to them up front as the default. It's thought the judge may force those deals to be scrapped but could go so far as to force Google search to be broken out as a separate company.   Commentators say this is a warning to big tech because it says no company is too big to regulate. There's another case pending too, which examines the ads business.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lady in the Lake  In 60s Baltimore, an aspiring reporter pursues the murder of a forgotten young woman (Apple TV+).    Supacell   In South London, a group of normal people suddenly develop superpowers, and the only apparent connection between them is that they are all Black; as they deal with the impact of their powers on their daily lives, one man must bring them together (Netflix).    Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough   Using the latest audio technology, David Attenborough explores the crucial role of sound in nature, examining how it shapes and influences the everyday lives of animals, from communication to their behaviour and decisions (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Zoo has announced their next new arrivals, and they’re not quite what Kevin expected.  Onyx and Beryl aren’t baby primates or giraffes, but rather two Romney Cross sheep!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It Ends With Us   Lily Bloom moves to Boston to chase her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid soon sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, she begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan, suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle gets upended, leaving her with an impossible choice.    How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies   A man quits work to care for dying grandmother, motivated by her fortune. He schemes to win her favor before she passes.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chocolate logs were part of my childhood as mum would whip them up on the regular. This version, all citrusy and light, is the perfect treat for when lemons are in abundance.   Serve 6-8     Ingredients  4 free-range medium eggs  100g caster (about 1/3 cup) + 2 tbsp extra 100g (a generous ¼ cup) plain flour  1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsps lemon zest   Filling:   200mls cream  1 heaped tbsp icing sugar + extra for dusting  2 tbsps. sour cream   2 tsp lemon zest  2-3 tablespoons raspberry or lemon curd (optional, see note)    Method  Preheat the oven to 170 fanbake. Line a Swiss roll tin (or other shallow tin, approx. 30cmx20cm).   In a large bowl whisk eggs and caster sugar for 6-8 minutes until light, thick and creamy. It will triple in volume.  Sift in flour and baking powder and, along with the lemon zest, gently fold into the mixture until fully incorporated. Try not to take the volume out of the mixture. Pour gently into the prepared tin.  Spread the sponge mix - I do this with a spatula and/or shaking the tin - to get it into the corners.  Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the sponge springs back to the touch.  While cake cooks, dust a piece of baking paper larger than the swiss roll tin, with the extra caster sugar.  Take the sponge out of the oven and flip it onto the sugared paper. Carefully peel off the layer of baking paper it was cooked on and allow the sponge to cool for a moment before rolling it up, starting from a short end, with the sugared paper still inside. This will prevent the sponge from sticking to itself. Set aside to cool.  Whip the cream with the icing sugar until thick then stir in the zest and sour cream.   Once the sponge has cooled, unroll it gently. Leave a 1cm border and spread over an even layer of whipped cream. Gently roll it up, peeling away the paper underneath as you go.   Leave it in the fridge to chill and dust with icing sugar before serving. Slice and eat. Yum!     Make it your own:   Use orange zest in place of lemon  Spread a layer of raspberry jam or lemon curd on the sponge before the whipped cream    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t want it to end! Has two weeks really passed that quickly?   Honestly, my entire life and the daily rhythms of our household have come to revolve around the Olympic Games. There isn’t a dinner that is cooked, a lunchbox that is prepared, a table that is wiped down, or a basket of washing that is folded without the steady hum of speed climbing, or synchronised diving, or the men’s 800m repechage in the background.   These are my takeaways from Paris 2024:  First of all, I love the way in which history turns on the finest human margins.   The men’s 100m final was a great example, the way they broke the line in such a crowd, that both first and second recorded the same time on the TV and stadium clocks. With a microscope and a high-quality photo, apparently the silver medallist somehow broke the line first, but he did so with his foot, and ultimately it’s whoever’s chest breaks the line first that wins the race. History decided by five one-thousandths of a second.   I said before the games that I was looking forward to the men’s 1500m final and it didn’t disappoint. The two favourites had been talked up so much, and had smack-talked each other so much, that basically everyone —including me— had worked themselves into a state where it looked like only those two runners could possibly win it. The defending champion was so cavalier that in the heats, he deliberately didn’t crouch for the start of the race. He waited for the starting gun, let everyone else run off, and then casually trundled after them.  But in the final, Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s approach came back to bite him. He led for the first 85% of the race, setting a cracking pace as he tried to break his great rival, Britain’s Josh Kerr. On the final stretch, Kerr looked to go round Ingebrigtsen, and Ingebrigtsen drifted into lane two to try and block the overtake. What do we know about geometry? The inside lane has the shortest path to the finish line. As the two favourites scrapped in lanes 2 and 3, an American runner, Cole Hocker, slipped up the inside and pipped them for Olympic glory. Kerr finished second, Ingebrigtsen fourth. It was extraordinary.   With a day to go before the closing ceremony, here’s my take on the Olympic sports.   I love many of the newer ones. Sportclimbing is so good. It fits into my could-a-caveman-do-it category, which I think is an excellent measure for whether individual sports should be at the Olympics.  I’m not just saying it because Finn Butcher won gold, but I reckon the Kayak Cross is fantastic. It’s such a spectacle! Same applies to the skateboarding. It’s so good.   I mean no disrespect to any of the athletes in these sports but I’m ambivalent on surfing at the Olympics and as spectacular as the breakdancing is, it’s gonna take me a bit longer to come around.  Honestly, I don’t think football should be at the Olympics. Same with tennis and golf. Those sports are big enough outside of the games. Maybe the best test should be whether or not the Olympics is the pinnacle competition in that respective sport. If it’s not, then leave it out.  One of the things that has been great about the games is how well-attended all of the events have been. The crowds for everything have been massive. I also love refreshing it is to hear from athletes who aren’t rugby players who’ve had every scintilla of life and personality beaten out of them by overly-protective media managers.  And as for my favourite Kiwi performance? We still have that incredible contest in the women’s K1 to come and there are a couple of other Kiwis who could be a chance, but for me it’s still gonna be hard to beat our very first medal of Paris ’24, our very first gold: the women’s sevens.   Tell you what though... I don’t love Mondays at the best of times... but this week is gonna’ be tough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lime Cordiale are Australia’s ultimate purveyors of breezy indie rock.   Brothers Oli and Louis have amassed more than half a billion streams on Spotify since the band’s inception in 2009 - as well as bagging multiple ARIA awards and performing around the world.   They have cemented themselves as standouts, even more so with their brand-new album Enough of the Sweet Talk.    The brothers joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about what went into this latest album and their upcoming tour across New Zealand and Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fourth studio album from human musical group Glass Animals, I Love You So F***ing Much was partly inspired by the success of their song Heatwaves back in 2020.  Frontman Dave Bayley told Consequence Sound that sometimes success can leave you feeling like a “spectator”, with people expecting you to act a certain way, which "confused [him] to the point of not knowing who [he] was or if anything was real".  The title refers to the power and mystery of human connection in a universe much larger than the people who reside within.  Estelle Clifford joined Francesca Rudkin to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With technology constantly improving and companies putting out brand new updates and products on a regular basis, it begs a question: is this sustainable?  Kate Hall joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about sustainability and technology, and the impact of new tech on the planet and the people who live on it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the World Ran Out of Everything by Peter S. Goodman   How does the wealthiest country on earth run out of protective gear in the middle of a public health catastrophe? How do its parents find themselves unable to locate crucially needed infant formula? How do its largest companies spend billions of dollars making cars that no one can drive for a lack of chips?  The last few years have radically highlighted the intricacy and fragility of the global supply chain. Enormous ships were stuck at sea, warehouses overflowed, and delivery trucks stalled. The result was a scarcity of everything from breakfast cereal to medical devices, from frivolous goods to lifesaving necessities. And while the scale of the pandemic shock was unprecedented, it underscored the troubling reality that the system was fundamentally at risk of descending into chaos all along. And it still is. Sabotaged by financial interests, loss of transparency in markets, and worsening working conditions for the people tasked with keeping the gears turning, our global supply chain has become perpetually on the brink of collapse.  In How the World Ran Out of Everything, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman reveals the fascinating innerworkings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability. His reporting takes readers deep into the elaborate system, showcasing the triumphs and struggles of the human players who operate it—from factories in Asia and an almond grower in Northern California, to a group of striking railroad workers in Texas, to a truck driver who Goodman accompanies across hundreds of miles of the Great Plains. Through their stories, Goodman weaves a powerful argument for reforming a supply chain to become truly reliable and resilient, demanding a radical redrawing of the bargain between labor and shareholders, and deeper attention paid to how we get the things we need.  From one of the most respected economic journalists working today, How the World Ran Out of Everything is a fiercely smart, deeply informative look at how our supply chain operates, and why its reform is crucial—not only to avoid dysfunction in our day to day lives, but to protect the fate of our global fortunes.     17 Years Later by JP Pomare   Who killed the wealthy primrose family? The violent slaughter of the Primrose family while they slept shocked the nation. Their young live-in chef, Bill Kareama, was swiftly charged with murder and brought to justice. But the brutal crime scarred the idyllic town of Cambridge forever. Seventeen years later, true-crime podcaster Sloane Abbott tracks down prison psychologist TK Phillips. Once a fierce campaigner for an appeal, TK now lives a quiet life with Bill's case firmly in his past. As Sloane lures a reluctant TK back into the fight, evidence emerges that casts new light on the Primroses - and who might have wanted them dead. While the list of suspects grows, Bill's innocence is still far from assured. What will it cost Sloane and TK to uncover the truth?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There may be some good news on the horizon for homeowners.  Ed McKnight from Opes Partners joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about the changing factors that could impact Kiwis.  On the agenda:   Westpac has cut their interest rates again, is this the beginning of a trend?  Has the criteria for getting a mortgage changed? What’s the best time to restructure or get one?  When can Kiwis expect a cut in the OCR?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It astounds me that Malta isn’t flashing on the tourist radar as a top-tier Mediterranean destination. I recently ventured to the Maltese islands with Insight Vacations, on their 6-day Easy Pace Malta premium guided tour. It offers the winning mix of guided sightseeing and flexi-time, allowing you to serendipitously unwrap the destination’s treats, at your own leisure." "One of the best ways to get your bearings on Malta’s watery lay-out is to jump on board one of the numerous sightseeing ferries in Sliema, zipping you from Marsamxett Harbour to Valletta’s Grand Harbour. It’s the best way to drink in the views of fortified Manoel Island and the butterscotch-hued walled city of Valletta, from all angles." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne, like many people, has been watching the Olympics.  And despite only being a week into the games, he’s already exhausted, and he’s not the one competing!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a few weeks of really misty, cold, and awful weather, I needed to get out of bed and find some inspiration for the garden. A “pick-me-up” if you like.  But where to go?  Yep – Hagley Park is always a good place, but so are the garden Centres!  The difference is quite obvious: The Botanical Gardens will show you stuff that was planted many decades ago. It’s the picture of the future – a glimpse into your garden the children will enjoy after you’ve moved on.   How about the “now” – or maybe the next 10 years or so?  Impatient? Perhaps…  So I went to Oderings to have a look for some quick colour, tincture, complexion, some colōris, or, as the Spanish Language so elegantly describes: el color.  Start with the Letter A: Acer Known here as Maple.  Acer senkaki is obviously a Japanese maple. It glows red in Winter (and it’s quite pretty as a summer tree too).  You don’t have to wait for it – you can buy it right now to cheer you up.  The next Acer is A. griseum (the paper bark maple) a Chinese species that is actually quite rare in nature, but reasonably common in gardens owned by observant gardeners. Don’t be fooled by the species name “griseum” (meaning grey) – it refers to the underside of the leaves.  The peeling cinnamon-coloured bark is what gives me hope: hope for a speedy springtime and hope that some young gardeners will see the beauty of back-lit leaves from a low-angled sun.  You want some weird Pink to cheer you up?  Here’s an Erica, simply because I kind-of grew up with plants like that in the Netherlands. Heather, Heaths (“de Hei”), and such plants belong to the Ericacea with almost 1000 described species. They’re tough and flower colours are often spectacular; great tucker for insects like pollinators.  But the coolest thing is that a good number of these Ericaceae have a habit of flowering in the middle of winter, and that can be brilliant!   And then there are Daphne and Hellebores and the fabulous scent of Osmanthus.  But perhaps it’s a good opportunity to highlight some Native winter jewels, like Libertia peregrinans.  Or the range of Corokias (Geenty’s Ghost and Frosted Chocolat). These last two make fab hedges!!  We also have weirdly bright Cabbage Trees (Cordyline) and strangely dark Flaxes, small and tall.  No doubt all found as unexpected genetic morphs or cross-bred entities; mind you, I must say that the dark “background” flaxes really fit well in many gardens and the nectar feeding birds are still keen to visit the flowers in late spring.  One native shrub that always bowls me over (when visiting the Catlins) is the relatively slow growing Pseudowintera colorata, also known as Horopito. This shrub is totally unexpectedly beautiful as just about every specimen has a different colour-ratio, live and in nature.  Now that’s a shrub worth investing in, especially as you can eat the leaves, not just in Māori dishes, but also in Indonesian delicacies.  It tastes just the way it looks: On fire!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 3 August 2024, Francesca Rudkin fills in and chats to brothers Oli and Louis of Aussie indie rock sensation Lime Cordiale about their brand-new album and bringing their tour to NZ.  Francesca questions why the arts make things hard for themselves.  Horror is having a moment - Chris Schulz talks about an unexpected success in one of the best horror films of the year, Longlegs.  And, staying in the world of film, Mike Yardley takes us on a trip to Malta where the brand-new Gladiator 2 and classics like Murder on the Orient Express and Jurassic World were filmed.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Olympic swimming pool in Paris is slow... is the tech part of the problem?  It certainly isn't helping. Only one world record had been broken as of August 1st, which the unusually shallow pool is being blamed for. It's 2.15 meters deep because when it was starting to be built in 2017, it only had to be over two meters. Now the minimum depth is 2.5 meters, but the recommendation is for 3 meters.  Also not helping: the underwater cameras. They contribute to the choppiness of the water, and also don't help the water settle between races as they continue to move and reset.    Developers are getting their first look at Apple Intelligence  The reviews are... fine? Not all the promised features have been delivered yet. One reviewer says it's a "slightly smarter Siri". There are bits of AI sprinkled throughout the Apple apps.  In the Mail app there's a new section of your inbox with AI-suggested important emails, a summarize button at the top of each email, and when you highlight text you can select "writing tools" to have AI do proofreading, make suggestions, and summarize.  The search tool in the Photos app now uses AI to understand more complicated requests. You can ask for pictures of a particular person wearing glasses or all the food you ate in Iceland, all in natural language.  But these new features might not ship with the new iPhone?  It may not make the deadline to be included. Apple does have a way to update the OS while the phone is still in the box (which is a crazy piece of tech!) so that may happen, or folks who buy a new phone will need to upgrade their software later.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prosper   The wealthy founder of an evangelical megachurch announces they're expanding to the US, but the collision between faith and ambition threatens to tear both his family and his church apart (TVNZ+).    Women in Blue   In 1971, four women defy ultraconservative norms and join Mexico's first female police force-only to discover that it's a publicity stunt to distract the media from a serial killer; they make a pact to bring the killer to justice (Apple TV).  The Red King   Police sergeant Grace Narayan is sent on a 'punishment posting' to an island with an eerie religion, where the cold case of a missing boy unearths buried secrets (ThreeNow).    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longlegs   FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.    I Saw the TV Glow   A classmate introduces teenage Owen to a mysterious late-night TV show -- a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen's view of reality begins to crack.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This pie is an absolute winner - hearty and rich, it’s packed full of meat and gravy, spiked with tangy blue cheese and topped with flaky pastry. It’s golden!    Serves 4     Ingredients:  500g beef chunks – I use chuck or blade steak   2 tbsps flour   1 large onion, diced  2 carrots, diced   3 cloves garlic, crushed  330mls beer, ale or lager but not too sweet   2 tbsps tomato puree  1 bay leaf   ½ tsp salt & ¼ tsp cracked pepper to season   100g blue cheese   1-2 sheets ready rolled flaky pastry   Egg wash    Method:  1. Sprinkle flour over beef chunks and toss to coat.   2. In a saucepan heat the oil and brown off the meat.  Do this in batches. Set aside.  3. In the same saucepan, sauté onions, carrots and garlic until beginning to soften. Pour over beer and as it bubbles up scrape off any yummy bits from the bottom of the pot. Add meat back in, along with tomato puree, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for one hour or more, until meat it meltingly tender. Cool.   4. Heat oven to 200 C. Grease a 23cm (or similar) pie dish.  To make the pie:   Ladle the cold pie filling into your pie dish. Feel free to pile it up as it will settle as it cooks. Sprinkle over blue cheese. Roll out pastry to fit as a lid and egg wash the edges (this helps them to stick and seal your pie.) Drape lid over filling and squeeze and pinch pastry onto the rim of your dish to seal well. Use a sharp knife to make plenty of steam holes in the pastry. Brush with beaten egg. Lower oven temperature to 180 and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling.   Serve great spoonfuls of pie with mashed spuds and peas or my favourite, a fresh leafy green salad    Nici’s note:   - I’m in the habit of making the filling a day ahead as I think it improves the flavour.   - Usually I avoid using tomato puree (too strong) but for this recipe it keeps the liquid to a minimum whilst dialling up the flavour.       LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A headline in the news this week had me rolling my eyes. Sometimes the arts make it hard for themselves.  The headline I'm referring to was about the New Zealand Film Commission spending $16,431 on two farewell and two welcome parties for their outgoing and incoming chief executives. Obviously, no one stopped to think how this particular headline might come across. If they had, the NZ Film Commission might have read the room differently.    It’s not a good look to have an autonomous Crown Entity, whose job is to distribute public money to the film industry, creating headlines about throwing parties.   In the scheme of things, this isn’t much money. And if we weren’t in the middle of a cost of living crisis, and with a government facing long term fiscal deficits, this may never have made headlines. I’m pretty sure I’ve been to similar farewells in the private sector which cost a lot more.    I should note, these celebrations took place in 2023 before the October election which delivered a new Government hell bent on making savings across the public sector.    But you could argue that we were already in a cost of living crisis before the election: a recession was expected, Labour had started tightening the belt and clamping down on costs, and we knew the policies of the potential new coalition partners. They should have anticipated how this would look.    This follows news that NZFC paid a former boss well over half a million dollars in leave and severance payments after just nine months in the role when he left in 2022.    None of this helps the NZFC garner support from the public. The New Zealand Screen industry is worth a bomb – it contributes $3.5 billion to the economy each year. It is an incredible industry filled with some of the hardest working, most innovative people I have ever worked with – and it’s world class. But when it comes to arts, and culture, and public perception, you’ll never be able to compete for funding against the need for a better education and health system, more police, and safer roads.   These headlines also grate as many organisations have done incredible work over the last 9 months to ensure stability in the struggling industry. SPADA have been lobbying tirelessly to make sure NZ on Air was exempt from having to make the across the board 7.5% cut being asked of Ministry funding. New Zealand’s longest running soap, Shortland Street, will air just three episodes a week in 2025, a compromise to keep the long-running drama alive.   The CEO of TVNZ proved she got the memo about creating headlines: after Jodi O’Donnell accepted an invitation from the IOC to attend the Paris Olympics, she thought about it and decided it didn’t pass the sniff test. She is taking leave and personally paying for the trip, even though she will attend some meetings. A sensible decision, especially considering this week TVNZ also announced it needs to find another $30m in revenue or cuts.   I am a huge supporter of the arts, but silly headlines make it hard to encourage others to support them too. Art and culture is pivotal to creating vibrant cities and communities, to fostering a sense of belonging, pride, identity, and connection. And can be a good source of revenue.    So please stop making it so hard to sell! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another popular comedian is back on New Zealand’s shores.  Irish comic Ed Byrne is known for his intellectual comedy, making appearances on TV shows like QI, and even winning the celebrity version of The Chase.  He’s back before Kiwi audiences with his ‘Tragedy Plus Time’ tour, kicking it off with a performance tonight in Hastings, before taking his act through the country over the coming month.  Byrne joined Jack Tame for a chat about his act, and touching of course on his reality TV win.  For more information and tickets for 'Tragedy Plus Time', click here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aussie pop-rock group Lime Cordiale has dropped another album.  Their third studio album, the 17-track work features many of the singles they’ve released over the last two years.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to review the brand new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva  Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary.  The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study.  Gabriel soon discovers that Professor Blake was searching for a looted Picasso worth more than a $100 million, and he takes up the chase for the painting as only he can—with six Impressionist canvases forged by his own hand and an unlikely team of operatives that includes a world-famous violinist, a beautiful master thief, and a lethal contract killer turned British spy. The result is a stylish and wildly entertaining mystery that moves at lightning speed from the cliffs of Cornwall to the enchanted island of Corsica and, finally, to a breathtaking climax on the very doorstep of 10 Downing Street.    After Annie by Anna Quindlen  When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.  Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It is the greenest of Greece’s islands, lush and verdant with emerald mountains and breathlessly blue waters lapping rocky coves and sandy bays. This northeastern outpost of Greece lies across the Ionian Sea from Italy’s heel, while Albania is just 3kms away. Corfu has long enticed conquerors, as much as holidaymakers. British and French influences can be seen in Corfu’s atmospheric Old Town – however, it’s obvious that the Venetians, who stayed around for 400 years, exerted and left behind the greatest legacy. Their calling card is everywhere, with an alluring mix of neoclassical villas, Venetian palazzo and pastel-painted hill towns." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time we talked about how your phone could interfere with connecting with people. This time I thought it would be good to talk about how our phones can help us combat loneliness and isolation.  We hear a lot about the negative health impacts of loneliness, and yet this series of studies suggests that most of us are reluctant to reach out to old friends – even though that’s one of the fastest ways to boost our social connections.  A new Canadian study showed that fewer than one third of people in their study sent a message (txt, email. Phone call) to an old friend even when they wanted to, thought the friend would be receptive, had their contact details, and had time and space to send a message.  The study found that people tended to view old friends in the same way they view strangers, which contributed to reluctance to reach out.  Things that helped with connecting with old friends included:  - A “practice” condition (sending messages to current friends) helped more people to reach out to old friends, suggesting one practical way to warm people up to contacting old friends.  - Imagine what it’s like for you to receive a message from an old friend. Most people were very positive about being the one that is contacted rather than doing the contacting. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes might help reduce reluctance to be the one making the first move  - Start with some easy wins – contact people you were close to in the past rather than more casual acquaintances. More likely to be able to rekindle those old fires.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of weeks ago we talked about feeding birds in your garden. In view of a decent week off, Jack was training his birds to do without food – slowly getting them used to going and finding food elsewhere for the next week or so.  I realised that this requires some scientific back-up with observations from the distant past and very recent past, to see if the Tauhoa are really going to be affected by a week or so of no fodder.  About 18 years ago (I was living in Auckland – before I saw the light) my office was looking out over a trained citrus bush, right outside my window. From time to time flocks of silvereyes would visit in winter to look for scale insects and mealybugs, aphids and other delicacies.  I love this biological control and kept an eye on these birds – always been interested in birds, even more so later in life.  When the flocks kept on returning regularly, in spring I decided to take a look at what they were after and discovered a decent but unwanted population of scale insects that were causing quite a bit of pressure on my lemon (they also attract ants that feed on “honeydew” excreted by scale insects).  Luckily, a good flock of Tauhou descended and started working away at eating scales. Pictures show that this removed more than 50% of the sap-sucking plant pests.  Before helpers. 5 minutes after help arrived!  Not only were those little birds a great indicator of certain damaging garden pests, they were actually part of the Biological Control Squad.  In summer, they kept on coming back to the citrus to decimate the scale population.  In our current garden we feed the Tauhou with those meatballs from the Mad Butcher. I also make lard blocks, presented to them in small, metal cages.  Up to 40 birds at a time of census!!   So… I stopped feeding them for 5 days, just to see what would happen.  They were not impressed at all!! Kept on flying into their tree where the food parcels used to hang. Making lots of noise – “bad mood Bear”.  Other species were also returning to the food cart (sparrows, Green finches, Starlings and chaffinches).  It slowly tapered off to a dozen or fewer than that – but they always flew over the site for a check-up.  And in the end a couple would sit in their food tree for a bit of preening.  I discovered that Silvereyes have a routine of visiting the local feeding stations in people’s garden. I reckon they have a circular trajectory from our place to Jan’s next door, 50 meters east, then across the road and another one (or two) west, and as far as 200 meters away, before returning to our side of the road via neighbours a few houses down (north-west);   I reckon they usually fly clock-wise.  When I hung up a fresh ball and timed the return, this morning, after 5 days of no food, it took 3 minutes before 19 Tauhou were gorging themselves – this grew to the usual congestion and fights 5 minutes later.  One other little experiment took place this year by banding a good number of silvereyes in our garden in autumn and winter: it was total of 81 individuals (73 newly banded and 8 “recaptures” – older birds).  In the past week I attempted to count feeding flocks of around 30 birds – the average number of banded silvereyes was around 2 and a half (2.5) of those 30.  I know… It’s pretty hard to count those fast-moving birds! And you never know if you’ve missed a banded individual when you quickly count the chaos before you.  If 1/12th of the birds you see are banded, (and you have 81 banded individuals in the population) you can guestimate that there must be 972 birds regularly in your garden flocks – give-or-take.  Almost a thousand of these little blighters passing through your garden on a regular basis… every day in winter!  And I reckon they’ll know exactly who’s got the food cart in the garden…  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One topic that is very common and can be quite distressing for patients is ‘cold sores’ sometimes referred to as ‘fever blisters’. A very common presentation to the doctor!    What are cold sores?  - Small fluid filled blisters appear on the skin, often in patches.  - Usually on the lips, chin or cheeks, or nostrils.  - Sometimes can occur in the roof of the mouth or gums.  - Often start with tingling or itching. Over 48 hours blisters develop, then burst and ‘crust over’, and dry out.  - Can take 2-3 weeks to heal completely.  - Occasionally you also get a temperature, sore throat, and headache.     What causes them?  - They are caused by a virus – herpes simplex virus 1.  - They can be spread through close contact – kissing, shared utensils, towels.  - More likely to spread when the blisters burst.  - The virus can hide in nerve cells and be triggered by:  - Stress, fatigue, fever, trauma, sun, or wind.     How do you treat them?  - They get better over 2-3 weeks.  - Use sunblock lip balm outside.  - Paracetamol can help the pain.  - Avoid salty food. Also, ice or warm flannels.  - You can be prescribed or buy antiviral cream from a chemist to speed up the healing.     Is there anything else I should think about?  - It’s important to avoid close contact such as kissing, touching, or sharing towels when you have cold sores.  - They can recur and be triggered, so avoid trigger factors if possible – sun, stress.  - There is a natural remedy: kanuka honey-based cream shown to be effective.  - See your GP if it’s not healed within 14 days, occurs near the eye, very large, or you have other issues such having chemotherapy.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time Bandits  The Taika Waititi-Jemaine Clement reboot of the 1981 fantasy film is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin (Apple TV+).   The Decameron   A dark comedy about a group of 14th century aristocrats and their servants, who retreat to a villa in the Italian countryside in the hope of avoiding the plague (Netflix).  Simone Biles Rising   A documentary series about gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns and then embarked on a journey to prepare for her triumphant return (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 27 July 2024, NZ's favourite Irish comedian, Ed Byrne joins Jack to chat winning The Chase and landing back on Kiwi shores for his Tragedy Plus Time tour.  Jack hopes for a redemption story for one of the Olympics' greatest athletes as an extravagant ceremony officially opens the games.  The perfect leftovers-for-lunch meal comes in the form of a Savoury Leek & Mushroom pancake recipe from Rosa Flanagan of Two Raw Sisters.  And, as WhatsApp hits 100 million monthly users in the US, Jack and techxpert Paul Stenhouse joke about the stress of the family group chat - though clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland reflects on how group chats can be an approachable way to combat loneliness.   Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week on from CrowdStrike's outage and not all systems are back online  CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said in a post yesterday that "over 97%" of systems running its software were back online as of 25 July. Microsoft estimates that 8.5 million PCs had been disabled, so that suggests approximately 250,000 devices remain offline. In the US, Delta Airlines is the most high profile victim with lingering issues well into this week continuing to cause flight disruptions, seemingly related to issues with the systems for crewing planes with pilots and flight attendants.  The stock price managed to make a little bit of a recovery on Tuesday, but is continuing to slide, and it’s down around 10% since the outage. It's taken them back to December 2023 levels, effectively wiping out their 2024 gains.  There are reports today of a new blue screen of death issue - but this time it's not related to CrowdStrike. Microsoft’s latest blue screen can’t be blamed on CrowdStrike, which is popping up on Windows 11 machines that use BitLocker. BitLocker is Microsoft's hard-drive encryption tool that protects data from unauthorized access or theft. The issue isn’t widespread, but those impacted will have to enter a recovery key to get a PC to boot properly.   WhatsApp now has 100 million monthly users in the US  It's the big metropolitan cities showing the biggest growth - Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Seattle. They're also the cities that have the most immigrants. WhatsApp now has more than 2 billion users in over 180 countries, but the dominance of Apple’s iMessage in the US has proven to be a hurdle since the 2014 acquisition for $16 billion. As Google and Apple both adopt RCS messaging, Meta will continue to face an uphill battle.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr Blake at Your Service   A widowed British businessman takes a job as butler of a manor house in France to remember his late French wife. His life takes a turn as he navigates the eccentric behaviour of the lady of the manor and the household staff.    The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare   British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a group of military officials hatch a daring plan to neutralize Hitler's fleet of German U-boats during World War II. Made up of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, the top-secret combat unit uses unconventional techniques to battle the Nazis and change the course of the war.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One half of Two Raw Sisters, Rosa Flanagan joined Jack Tame to serve up a recipe for Leek and Mushroom Savoury Pancakes.    Serves: 2  Time: 20 minutes    Ingredients:  3/4 cup chickpea flour   3/4 cup water   1/4 cup plant based or dairy yoghurt   1/2 tsp sea salt   3 tbsp nutritional yeast or freshly grated parmesan   1/2 tsp baking powder   1/2 cup coriander, chopped     1 tbsp cooking oil  1 brown onion, diced   1/4 leek, thinly sliced into rounds   2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped   1/2 tsp sea salt   1 tsp ground cumin   1 tsp ground turmeric   3 white button mushrooms, cut into small pieces     Method:   In a bowl, add the chickpea flour, water, yoghurt and sea salt. Whisk everything together with a fork, until all of the clumps in the mixture are removed.   Then add the nutritional yeast or parmesan, baking powder and coriander. Mix to combine and set aside.   Heat the oil up in a non-stick fry pan and add the onion, leek, garlic, sea salt, cumin and turmeric. Sauté until the onions start to become translucent and then add in the mushrooms. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes.   Add the onion mix to the chickpea flour mix, then mix to combine.   Using the same pan, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil. Once hot, add 1/2 of the mixture and swirl around so that one big pancake is formed.   Cook the pancake for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until bubbles begin to form on the surface. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the pan and continue the same cooking process for the remaining half of the mixture.   Transfer the pancakes onto two individual plates and top with your favourite toppings. We are loving a combination of any of the following….. pesto, hummus, aioli, leftover roast vegetables, boiled eggs, avocado, smoked salmon, fresh greens, stir fried greens, herbs, pickles, tahini.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has some iconic advertisements.  Jingles and scenes everyone knows, things you can start quoting and someone else in the room will chime in to finish off.  Kevin Milne has been thinking about his favourite ads, and joined Jack Tame to run through a few.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s upon us.   We are exactly eight minutes away from the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Yes, the Opening Ceremony is a total cheese-fest. Yes, about a third of the athletes will have caught a cold from standing out in the rain for so long. But I for one, am fizzing.   I love the Olympics. Absolutely love them. Always have, and even though of course I can see clearly enough that they are an obscenely commercialised orgy of hyper-capitalism, consumption, and junk food sponsorship deals, I’ve never wavered in suspending my cynicism for a few weeks every four years, and I doubt I ever will.   Usually, the only things that get the whole World’s attention are bad things: wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. The Olympics are about as close as humanity comes to a shared experience of, and shared interest in something good. It’s about our only truly shared collective celebration.    I remember once filming alongside a super-conservative Mennonite community in rural Pennsylvania. The Mennonites eschew most modern technology and deliberately cloister themselves from much of the rest of the World. Twelve years ago, I asked a woman from the community if she’d heard of the Olympics. She’d never watched them, she said. But she’d heard of them. Was it something where people from different countries came together?   Yeah, I said. It is.    My favourite Olympic events are the primal ones. Ones where you don’t need crazy specialised equipment. Ones where the barriers to entry are relatively low.    Who can swim the fastest? Sprint the quickest? Jump the highest? Do the most impressive flips?   Outside of New Zealand’s medal prospects, these are the three sports I’m most excited about at the games:   The 1500m. An absolute classic. Maybe it’s the legacy of Snell and Lovelock etc, but the thing I love about the 1500m is it’s the shortest running race to be properly tactical. I was in the front row of the stands at the Olympics in Rio, and remember my shock at seeing just how fast the 1500m runners were moving. TV gets you close, but you still lose something in perspective. In the men’s contest this year, the favourite is Norway’s defending Olympic champion. If Jakob Ingebrigtsen wins again, I think most middle-distance running fans will consider him the greatest 1500m runner ever.    My second event is another running race and another all-time great. Eilud Kipchoge is the boss of Olympic marathoning. He was Olympic champion in 2016 and Olympic champion in 2020, and he’s pursuing a third consecutive title. Again, TV is good, but you can’t appreciate how fast they’re running until you see it!   The athlete I’m most excited about at these games is Simone Biles. There aren’t really sufficient descriptors for what she’s capable of doing, but seeing her at her best, spinning and flipping and throwing herself into unbelievably complex and dangerous contortions really pushes my engrained understanding of what the human body is capable of. I was team Simone when she pulled out at the last games. How could you throw yourself into the stuff she does without absolute, supreme confidence? I’ve watched all the redemption documentaries. I know she’s getting on a bit in gymnast years, but she’s clearly an all-time great and I’m desperate for her to pull off a gold… or five.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Try this cake for the school lunch boxes this week – it’s quick to make and bake, soft and moist, incredibly delicious and square pieces are much more ergonomic in the lunch box. Makes 20x25 rectangle cake INGREDIENTS 150g butter 2/3 cup water ½ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda Pinch salt 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 1/3 cup yoghurt, sour cream or creme fraiche 2 medium eggs, lightly whisked 200g (about 2 medium) chopped apples, I used unpeeled granny smiths ½ cup frozen blackberries, thawed   ICING 1 ½ cups icing sugar 1 tbsp melted butter 2 tsp vanilla extract   METHOD Preheat oven to 200 C. Grease and line a shallow swiss roll tin or other rectangle tin measuring about 20cmx30cm. Twist the corners of the baking paper to get the sides to stand up a bit higher than the tin. In a medium pot bring the butter and water to a boil. Stir in the sugars followed by the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and mix until combined. Add in yoghurt and eggs and stir to combine then fold in the chopped apples and berries. Pour batter into the prepared tin spreading it into the corners. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until it springs back to the touch. Cool for 10 minutes then ice while warm. For the icing: Heap icing sugar into a large bowl and add melted butter and vanilla. Whisk, beat or stir until you have a smooth, pourable icing – loosen with boiling water as needed. Spread icing over just warm cake and leave to set. Slice and eat! Make it your way: You could grate the apple but I like the chunks. Leave out the cinnamon and replace with vanilla or ginger if you fancy it. Leave off the icing and eat warm as a pudding with custard and cream.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"As you wander around the Peloponnese Peninsula, it's like myth and history just constantly overlap. For history buffs, there's just so much to blow the mind in Southern Greece. Western Peloponnese is home to the Valley of the Gods. I went to Epidaurus in the Peloponnese, and you get a real flavour ancient sporting conquests. The place is home to Asclepius, the God of medicine, and is where they staged many sporting contests. You can still see the ancient stadium and theatre, which seats about 14000 people, and a coin drop there could be crisply heard from the highest seats - you cannot beat old school acoustics! Read the full article here LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from my beautiful wife, of course, the last person I thought of before I dozed off last night, was Dave. Dave had texted me a few hours earlier when I was filling in for Heather on Newstalk ZB Drive, to say he was driving home from Levin to Palmerston North when he’d stopped to fill up the car and had encountered a bit of a problem. He’d filled up the tank, but as he walked over to the foyer and tried to transfer money between his banks accounts in order to pay for his petrol, his internet banking wouldn’t work. There he was, stranded, waiting for an enormous global technology outage to be sorted so that he could transfer the cash, pay for his gas, and finally get back home. Although some of the tech outages had been fixed, they’re still affecting thousands upon thousands of significant operations around the World: Airports, airlines, hospitals, emergency call centres, TV and radio stations, and banks. Who’s to say Dave isn’t still out there, madly swiping at his phone and refreshing a blank page on his internet banking? The outage was caused by Crowdstrike, a cyber security company which is ironically charged with protecting its clients. And there’s no reporting at this stage to suggest it was caused by a malicious act or a cyber attack. It’s just a plain old error. Already some experts are describing it as the largest IT outage in history. “This is what Y2K wishes it was,” someone said on Reddit. It’s a salient reminder just how fragile and interconnected many of our modern digital systems really are. I’d describe myself as being mid-tier when it comes to the uptake of technology. I have a Chat GPT account. I back up my data on the cloud. I use Apple Pay on my phone. And I absoluetely abhor cash. I hate it. Notes? Coins? Seriously?! All that clutter?! I want to go about my business with the fewest things possible. I don’t think I’ve had a wallet that was capable of carrying hard currency in at least fifteen years. But if the last thing I thought of before I hit the hay last night was poor old Dave, miserable in the dim light of a Levin petrol station forecourt, the first thing I thought of this morning was how to avoid his predicament. On the way to the studio I stopped by an ATM and withdrew a bit of cash. Not a crazy amount, mind. Just enough for a tank of gas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 20 July 2024, all-time great of NZ athletics Dame Valerie Adams joins Jack in studio ahead of her trip to Paris - to attend the Olympics as a spectator for the first time since the year 2000. Jack reconsiders his aversion to cash usage following the global Crowdstrike outage. Catherine Raynes dishes on the juicy revelations in House of Beckham, a new book from renowned investigative journalist Tom Bower. And, in Screentime, Tara Ward shares a new BBC thriller series perfect for fans of Broadchurch. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard me talk about the winter months for Yeeaaars! The big message is one of slowing things down and protecting your soil from heavy frosts. Keeping everything protected end give the earth a rest.Seeing most plants are now absolutely dormant they have shut down the growth; That means: no more taking up fertilisers (N-P-K) into the root systems – and no more transporting these goodies into the leaves to help with photosynthesis.Besides: the sun is basically low over the horizon which reduces the amount of energy that comes down on earth and onto the plants. But there are some plants that are forming flower buds right now: Cymbidium orchids have taken in a heap of nutrients during summer and early autumn – especially Nitrogen. It resulted in new bulbs and new stalks, from which the flower spikes will grow. Now’s the time to turn everything into flower buds and a little bit of K (Potash) will keep the buds in good shape, ready to blossom in late winter.An Orchid Flowering fertiliser (high in potash) will ensure a decent display in a month or so. A few of the most common questions I get on talk-back radio are about this “potash”. Question 1. “why is my fruit tree not producing any fruit?”The answer is found in the make-up of fertiliser regime: The Potash (K) is used by the plant for reproduction; it lets the plant grow Flowers and subsequently Fruit. That means that many of our flowering and fruiting plants would really appreciate a dollop of Potash in spring and early summer. I often suggest a fertiliser with a higher percentage of “K”; stuff such as Tomato fertiliser or Flowering fertiliser.The Wet & Forget “Seaweed Tea” is a liquid fertiliser that brings the potash in an easy to absorb formulation. Question 2) “Can I use the ash from my fireplace to deliver Potash?”Yes indeed you can!     The origin of the word ”Pot-ash” indicates that the ashes from your fireplace and Ultra-Low Emissions Burner is quite high in Kalium (the word for “Potassium Carbonate” used in Germanic Languages in the 17hundreds).It’s a long and chemical story, but we ended up naming Kalium “potash”.   The way to spread the potash over the soil underneath flower-bearing or fruit-bearing plants, shrubs or trees is literally by spreading it on a windy day when the tiny particles are dispersed. Make sure you don’t put a too heavy load on the soil, as the white powder could “set” like a very thin, brittle concrete layer. So: little bits at-a-time; and before a good rain shower would be perfect timing! The droplets will wet the potash and push it lower into the topsoil. A good dose of water from your hose will also spread it around.Potash doesn’t stay in the soil profile for very long periods of time, I understand, but 3 months is all you need for the roots to wake up in spring to start feasting on the Kalium  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week out from the 2024 Paris Olympics, the excitement and pressure is beginning to build.   There’s one person who knows those pressures well, having represented New Zealand in five Olympic Games.  Dame Valerie Adams is one of the country’s most well-known athletes, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, four-time World Champion, four-time World Indoor Champion, and three-time Commonwealth Games Champion, who was virtually undefeated in shot-put.  Although she’s no longer competing, Adams is going along to this year’s games as a member of the World Athletics Council, and she told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that her preparations have been a little bit different.  “I think the stress levels are a bit different,” Adams said.  The types of stress are also different, Adams revealed, as competing has you training “pretty much at the cliff edge”, whereas in her current role, her stresses are caused by more mundane things like travel and preparing council meetings.   There’s plenty of sports on offer this year, and Adams is looking forward to the intensity of basketball and the novelty of gymnastics.  “And obviously, following the New Zealand crew,” Adams told Tame.  New Zealand is sending 195 athletes to compete in the Games across a total of 23 sports.  The Athletics team is 15-strong with “heaps of potential”, as Adams puts it, but they’re also facing quite a lot of pressure.  “We’ve had a good history of bringing back medals at every Olympic Games since I competed, apart from Athens. So there is a lot of pressure on there, but so much potential.”  “I hope spectators and viewers, especially us Kiwis back here supporting, remember and know and realise that everybody out there competing for our country is doing their ultimate best,” she told Tame.  “Whatever the results will be, will be, and just be a bit kinder with any comments or remarks that you might want to make.”   Having competed in so many high-profile events, Adams knows what it’s like to be cast into the spotlight and faced with New Zealand’s infamous ‘tall poppy syndrome’.  “I know what it’s like to perform well and succeed, and I also know what it’s like to underperform and actually get ridiculed and abused for it, and then win the gold medal seven days later, and then I was a national hero.”  “It’s not a good place to be.”  Although being at the Games is set to stir up some nostalgia, Adams is quite sure that five was enough, and being able to make a change in her capacity as a World Athletics Council member is special as well.  “You know, if you want to make change, you’ve got to be at the table, not serving coffee to people at the table.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eminem’s newly released album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ has had a mixed reception.   Many critics are calling it a mixed bag, saying it feels like yet another late-period Eminem album as opposed to anything new.  The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis says the album “has successes and misfires in equal measure. It’s not bad enough to count as terrible, not good enough to count as great.”  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstein Millar   Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.  What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.  That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.    Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan  For decades, the Kennedy name has been synonymous with wealth, power, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the Kennedy men's legacy of physical and psychological abuse of women, part of a tradition of toxic masculinity that spans generations and has ruined untold lives. Through scandal after scandal, the family and their defenders have managed to keep this shameful story out of the spotlight. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys' hidden history of abuse and exploitation, laying bare their rampant misogyny and restoring women to the center of the dynasty's story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Mary Richardson, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren't nearly as well known – but rightfully should be.  Drawing on years of fierce reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled American family, showing how the Kennedy myth and their raw political power has enabled the clan's many predators while also silencing generations of traumatized women and girls. At long last, Callahan also redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys' orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves—and giving voice to the countless others who could not do the same.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more you connect, the less you connect!  Over recent years explosion of technology has helped us increase our connection with others, both in local communities and around the world. Many positives come from increased social connection, but one downside is when connecting with people outside the home leads you to “phub” significant people in the home, particularly your partner.  Phubbing = phone + snub. It’s where your focus on connecting via your phone causes you to snub people in your immediate surrounds. Often occurs with a partner.  Partners can play a crucial role in our wellbeing including helping with better work-life balance and wellbeing. 75% of people choose to share their emotional struggles with their partner as the first port of call. Partners are usually the most available people in our home life too. Good partner support is also associated with our own career success.    On the other hand, phubbing has been linked to poorer quality of relations with partner, and lowered sense of self-esteem in the partner.    What can people do about it?  It’s not about throwing the baby out with the bathwater – it’s still important to connect with work colleagues and share work-related stressors with them.  Wherever you are – be there! If you’re at work, connect with people at work. If you’re at home, connect with people at home.  Set some limits around use of phones in your relationship e.g. no phones during dinner, not using phones after a certain time at night, not using them in bed.  Workplaces also have a role to play in this by setting appropriate expectations around replying to emails, messages, etc., out-of-hours. Hard to be present with your partner if your boss is messaging you demanding an immediate response!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunny  A dark thriller about an American woman living in Japan, who after her family disappears in a mysterious plane crash, is given a robot by the technology company her husband worked for (Apple TV+).     Colin from Accounts   This delightful Australian comedy series about two strangers bought together after they have to care for a stray dog is back for season two (TVNZ+, July 17).    Marcel the Shell with Shoes On   A quirky and heartwarming stop-motion film about a tiny shell called Marcel who lives with his grandmother, and is searching for his shell family (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many millionaires are there in New Zealand?  Did you know that 24% of Kiwi households are millionaires? Ed McKnight didn’t!  Is this stat really true? How did they get their money?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Athens’ rich arsenal of antiquities needs little introduction. From the emblematic glories of the Acropolis to the ancient residential neighbourhood of Plaka, history hangs heavy in the Athenian air. As the ancient cradle of Western arts, culture and democracy, there is much to digest. But it’s the Greek capital’s culinary treasures that captured my attention on my latest swing through Athens. Epic finds await the curious foodie and an in-the-know walking tour through central Athens unlocks a treasury of tastes to savour." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi band Shapeshifter is showing no signs of stopping.  They’re pioneers of one of New Zealand’s most popular music genres, carving out a niche within the DnB scene.  With seven albums and four EPs, the band is celebrating 25 years of success with a tour later this year.  Nick Robinson plays the bass, synth, and the MPC for Shapeshifter, and told Jack Tame that reaching 25 years is probably the proudest thing they’ve all felt.  “We all respect each other so much as musicians and as friends, we’re all willing to flex, there’s no ego there,” he said.  “So, I think we can sort of bounce of each other and get the best results, and you know, really sort of... it’s just been so enjoyable.”  Robinson said that there’s been ups and downs throughout the 25 years they’ve been performing, but the passion and fire is still there.  “We just sort of love what we do and we, we sort of love the way we’ve done it on our, on our own terms.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 13 July 2024, the pioneers of one of New Zealand's most popular music genres have been celebrating 25 years together - Nick Robinson of Shapeshifter discusses the quarter century.  Jack considers the countdown on Biden's withdrawal.  Blockbuster Twisters is in cinemas, and Jack recounts to Francesca Rudkin his experience chasing tornados. While Nici Wickes brings a sweet winter treat, and Jack agrees there is just something special about warm citrus in winter.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flowering and fruiting seems like a long way from now, but honestly, it’s time to get out and prune the trees that will give us our apples.  There are a heap of varieties. They all taste different and ripen at different times, but when it comes to flowering and fruiting they can roughly be put into two groups: Spur-Bearing varieties and tip-bearing varieties.  Why is that important?  Well… if you prune the “spurs” off in winter you’ll end up with fewer flowers (hence fruit) in summer.   Example: Granny Smith is a tip-bearing variety. Its flowers and fruits set at the end of the branch.  When flowering you often see a configuration of flower buds that can produce as many as 5 or 6 flowers as a “cluster”.  When these flowers are pollinated, each can grow into an apple.     Tip-bearing variety. Photo / Supplied.    The next year, when the branch extends further out it has another terminal cluster of flowers at its tip. The previous year’s swollen fruiting spur can still be found further down the branch, and it will still produce apples.     Photo / Supplied.     The so-called Spur-Bearing varieties have their spurs somewhere on the branch and these spurs will keep on producing fruit for a number of years.   Look how easy they are to identify as the spurs: rather fat buds that really stand out on the branches. If you want to trim the branches try to cut them a centimetre or two down from those spurs, so they can keep on producing. This picture shows the early ripening variety “Initial”. It’s one of my first apples in summer.    Photo / Supplied.    A slightly later Apple variety (Mid-Season harvest) is Peasgood Nonsuch. It, too, is a Spur-Bearing variety and the picture (flowering profusely) shows clearly where the apples are produced on the branches. It also indicates how to create a structure of horizontal branched at regular intervals, to keep the tree growing and give the (extremely Huge) apples some space.     Photo / Supplied.     When it comes to shaping an apple tree after planting it in winter, you have a few great choices: “Cordons”, “Fans”, “Espalier” etc. Seeing now is the time to plant these trees, it might be a good idea to make some decisions about what your trees are going to look like.  See if you can grab a copy of last June’s New Zealand Gardener where Bill Brett explains the very best ways to achieve your Apple “Look”. Just be aware that espaliered trees work best with Spur-Bearing Varieties (not the tip-bearing ones).  Waimea Nursery has a good list of Spur-bearing varieties and also indicates which ones fruit early or later.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samsung had their big mobile product launch event  The sixth generation of the Fold has a much less noticeable crease in the middle of the screen. Samsung is using a new display coating.  Galaxy Buds 3 - looks like the Apple EarPods got a Tesla Cybertruck styled makeover. There are some quite prominent angles!  But it's the Galaxy Ring which got the headlines, the first major brand to launch what is effectively a health tracker on your finger. It comes with an accelerometer, heart rate sensor, and skin temperature sensor to allow you to track sleep, heart rate data, and activity. It comes in gold, silver, and black on a titanium frame. It is a ring though so it can't be adjusted, which is why they have a sizing kit. It'll be an Android-only product, but when connected to your phone will allow you to do a double pinch gesture to control your phone’s camera or dismiss an alarm hands-free.   Texans got help tracking the power outages from an unlikely hero  The "Whataburger" burger chain app turned into a lifeline for people in Houston to know where in the city had power. The app has a map feature to show all the store locations which conveniently has a feature to show which stores are open and closed. And because there are so many locations in Houston, seeing the clusters of stores closed gave a very clear visual of the power situation in the city.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twisters   Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.    Ka Whawhai Tonu   Set in New Zealand in 1864, follows the story of a crucial conflict of the nation's first land warfare, fought between Maori and colonial soldiers against insurmountable odds.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month saw Northlanders cut off from the power grid due to a fallen pylon.  Kevin Milne has been keeping an eye on the coverage this week, and finds Transpower’s statement about why the pylon fell rather humorous.   He thinks their "It's unprecedented that so many nuts were removed at once" will be remembered like the Kiwi classic, "You have to blow on the pie."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This pudding is just the ticket in winter! I truly love the way it is both comforting and refreshing.   Serves 4     Ingredients  70g butter, melted   1 small-medium egg  1/3 cup regular white sugar   1 orange  ½ cup plain flour   1 tsp baking powder  2 heaped tbsps ground almonds  1-2 tbsps milk, if needed    Sauce   1 ½ cups boiling water  1/3 cup brown sugar, loosely packed  1 tablespoon butter   Juice from remaining ½ orange  1 tsp cornflour      Method  Preheat oven to180 C. Grease a small ovenproof dish.  In a bowl, whisk egg with sugar. Add in the melted butter & whisk. Blitz half the orange —skin and all— until it’s pulped then stir this in. Add in flour, baking powder and almonds. Stir until combined. Add in 1-2 tbsp milk if it’s too stiff. Scrape batter into the greased dish.  In the batter bowl (scraped clean) mix the boiling water, brown sugar, butter, cornflour and juice from the remaining half orange. Gently pour this over the batter. Bake for 40 mins, or until cake bit is cooked through.   Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.     Make it your own  Use any citrus – mandarin, lemon, tangerine  For very pithy fruit, use the skin and flesh of the orange but not all the pith – too bitter    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s two weeks since Joe Biden and that disastrous debate, and still the drum steadily beats.   I’m obsessed with this story. Obsessed! I think this is an absolutely monumental moment in global politics. Every morning I wake up, grab my phone, and immediately check my news apps. Is he still in the race?  In a way, I suppose, you have to hand it to him and his team. Not once has Biden publicly expressed anything other than absolute total commitment to remaining the Democrats’ nominee. He knows that the moment he publicly expresses a scintilla of doubt, it’s all over.   But the more I’ve reflected on that debate, the more I find the response of the White House and Biden’s supporters, kind of insulting.   They’re gaslighting by trying to convince hundreds of millions of people to un-see what they saw. Don’t forget, Joe Biden asked for the debate. It was held entirely on his terms. He publicly promoted it as a moment in which he would prove to everyone he still had his edge. And in that moment, he was incoherent.   So far, few of Biden’s colleagues have come out and explicitly called on him to stand down. Again, it’s gaslighting. They saw what we saw. And you just know that all of the conversations being held behind closed doors are exactly the same as this one. They just don’t want to risk their own skins.  George Clooney’s op-ed was particularly devastating, this week. Not because Clooney is a Hollywood movie star, but because as someone co-ordinating fundraising campaigns worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, he thinks Biden needs to stand down. Like everything in U.S. politics, it pays to follow the money. Would you stake your fortune on Biden right now?  The post-NATO press conference yesterday was the first one of its kind that Biden has held in eight months. Forget his performance. Forget his competence and comfort with foreign policy and the fact he made several gaffes with names and introductions. Eight months! The fact alone tells you more about Biden’s state and capacity than anything else you need to know.   NATO is done. The Democrats convention is next month. If they’re gonna force him out, they’ve got a few weeks to act.   Two weeks deep though, it’s clear this story and this issue are not going away. With every bad poll, every donor with cold feet, the pressure is sustained. And fundamentally, the news will not move on because the problem hasn’t gone away.   And here’s the thing: It won’t go away. To campaign for President you have to be out in public, day after day after day. It requires vast energy. There will be more gaffes. There will be more blunders. There will be more moments of incoherence. And with every instance, voters will be left wondering… if this is Biden now… how’s he gonna be in another four years? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best known for his career-launching band Atlas, Sean Cunningham has released a new and very personal album.  The ten track album is an exploration for Sean, blending a variety of genres and sounds as he tries to figure out what his style is.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish  Charlotte and Perry have owned their clifftop holiday home in Pine Ridge for years. They’ve worked hard for it – why shouldn’t they enjoy it? Even if the locals can’t afford to live in the village these days…  Now city friends Amy and Matt have bought a second home nearby and when the two families descend, they plan lazy days at the beach and evenings sipping rosé and watching the sun set from Charlotte’s summerhouse veranda.  But this summer is different. A group of locals – headed by the charismatic Robbie – will stop at nothing to make the second home owners pay for their holiday. By the end of their break, marriages will be torn apart, friendships shattered and crimes exposed.  And one of them will have lost their life.    The Haters by Robyn Harding  Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.  Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?  As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madam   Mack Leigh, faced with a philandering husband and a mountain of debt starts up an ethical brothel in small town New Zealand to provide for her family and put a new spin on sex and work (Three and ThreeNow).    Brats   Actor and director Andrew McCarthy reunites with Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy in this documentary to explore what it was really like to be one of the so-called "Brat Pack” during the 1980s (Disney+).     Sprint   With the Olympics only a few weeks away, Netflix’s new behind the scenes documentary series takes us into the world of international athletics and follows sprinters from around the world as they compete to be the best (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bikeriders   Over the course of a decade, a Midwestern motorcycle club evolves from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang, threatening the original group's way of life.    The Taste of Things   Cook Eugenie and her boss Dodin have grown fond of one another over 20 years, and their romance gives rise to dishes that impress the world's most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie's reluctance to commit, he begins to cook for her.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall is undertaking another challenge.  July marks the halfway point of her local food challenge, where for the entirety of 2024 she’s only buying food that’s made in Aotearoa New Zealand.  She joined Jack Tame to chat about the biggest surprises and challenges so far, and give an insight into why she decided on this undertaking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Men’s Health Week took place in June. It's an important topic as men often consider themselves bullet proof, and think they don’t need to see the doctor.    So why is men’s health important?  There are some underlying statistics that are important to reflect on:  - Overseas study: men are twice as likely never to have visited the doctor. Three times as likely not to have visited GP in 5 year period. - They die 3.5 years younger, on average, than women. - They develop heart disease 10 years younger than women. - They develop diabetes younger.  It’s a concern!     Why should they visit the GP?  There are hidden risks that can affect health that you won’t know about until you have a regular ‘warrant of fitness’ check-up:  Cholesterol:  -Increases risk of heart disease. -Only detected through a blood test.  Diabetes and blood sugar:  -Need to be checked from age of 35. -Sugars can creep up men and damage the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. -Only detected through a blood test.  Blood Pressure, the hidden killer:  - Can feel perfectly OK with raised blood pressure. - Puts pressure on the heart leading to heart attacks and increases risk stroke. - Only detected through a blood pressure check.     What other issues should men be concerned about?  The prostate:  - From the age of 50 should be seeing your doctor to discuss a prostate check. - Simple blood test and slightly uncomfortable rectal exam! - Early detection of prostate cancer leads to early cure!  Bowel cancer: - From the age of 60 - Two yearly bowel cancer screening. - Early detection of bowel cancer leads to cure!  In addition, if you have been about in the sun (especially farmers) a regular skin check for early signs of skin cancer is necessary.  If you're feeling depressed, irritable, or stressed talking to your GP is a good first step to help.     When should men we go for a check-up?  - Definitely from the age of 50 yearly check-up is important. - Prior to that 2 to 5 years from the age of 30.  With all these things early detection saves lives, and detecting problems early means major health issues can be reduced by early intervention with lifestyle, medication and occasionally specialist intervention.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Has a Greek Islands cruise been flirting with your imagination? Recently, I renewed my Greek Islands love affair, joining my sister on a week-long adventure cruising the Aegean Sea aboard Celestyal Journey. The flagship vessel for Celestyal Cruises is deployed on their most iconic cruise, Idyllic Aegean, which is a 7-day highlights reel of the region. It’s like the Aegean’s greatest hits, with port calls in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki and Milos. From Ephesus —site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World— to the cube houses and windmills of Mykonos and blue-domed churches of Santorini, the Aegean is as dreamy as reality gets." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 6 July 2024, Kiwi music legend Julia Deans joins Jack to chat noughties nostalgia as Fur Patrol reunite for a New Zealand tour.  Inspired by man-in-the-garden Ruud Kleinpaste, Jack talks about the record number of tūī in his trees since hanging a bird feeder.  And Ruud offers advice on how to avoid birds squabbling over the new treat.  Andrew Saville is in Dunedin ahead of the first All Black's test of the season, against England who haven't played in New Zealand for a decade.  Plus, Nici Wickes shares a Parisian pudding from her brand-new book ‘More From a Quiet Kitchen’ and chats with Jack about finding joy in meals for one.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My dear darling sister (with the beautiful name of Roos) sent me a picture from the Netherlands; it was a pretty orange slug hiding inside her robotic lawn mower named Albertus. It came out of the mower to show itself in all its glory.  Roos immediately linked this slug to a complete disaster when she came home from Holidays in France: Albertus had failed to keep up with his task as the grass was a couple of feet from touching the Matariki stars.  Investigation of the inner workings of Albertus showed a heap of soft, sticky and shredded plant material, covered in sloppy slug slime.   It’s a great habitat for the mollusc pests in the garden and at the same time a magnificent form of transport to your favourite plants.  In such a wonderful, sheltered spot slugs and snails can have a great theatre for reproduction: eggs will be stuck to all surfaces, and they’ll hatch as soon as temperatures are becoming a bit milder…  Photo / Supplied But that was not all that Roos found.  How about a rather large and active ants-nest full of white “eggs” around the battery and other electric wiring! By the way, those white “eggs” are actually the larvae and pupae of the ants; when you disturb an ants-nest they’ll run around to save as many babies as they can.  Photo / Supplied These ants may well be the electrical disruptors of your technology. I’ve seen them short-circuiting a switch in the wall of my old house in Auckland: an ant (accidentally?) touching both switch plates and getting fried in 240 volt, while releasing a “panic smell” of formic acid. This acid also works as a defence mechanism and deterrent against predators (not very effective when you are battling the 240 volts!). The nearby ants respond immediately to this SOS call for help and are also electrocuted.  In the switch you can hear the massacre taking place with each ant increasing the formic acid cloud.  In my wall we vacuumed up hundreds and hundreds of fried ants. The smell was amazing!  You can also imagine that these kind of disruptors can cause the beginning of a fire.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix, Paramount ask Canadian courts to ditch local news funding rule  The new 5% tax —called the Online Streaming Act— which is to go into effect on September 1 is targeted at streaming services who pull in more than C$25m and aren't affiliated with domestic broadcasters. The expected $200m in funds will go towards creating local content, including supporting Black and Indigenous creators.   The Motion Picture Association of Canada, who represent studios including Netflix, Paramount & Disney, say they support the law, but there's also a component to fund local news content which they have asked the courts to strike out. They say this news content mandate is "unreasonable" and "is neither appropriate in consideration of the nature of the services they provide, nor equitable.”    Amazon has got into the luxury department store game  The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, in a partnership with Amazon, will buy its rival department store chain Neiman Marcus in a US$2.65 billion deal. Amazon will take a minority stake in the new company, called Saks Global, and will provide technology and logistical expertise, according to the Wall Street Journal said. Salesforce is also part of the deal - which is a departure from their usual investments in software startups. Commentators say the luxury market is an area Amazon has been struggling to break into.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has an issue with his calendar.  It’s not the type you’d expect; it’s not a manufacturing error or a technological glitch, but rather a clash he didn’t anticipate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s all-time favourite bands is back.  Fur Patrol first appeared in 1998 with their EP ‘Starlifter’, three albums and songs topping the charts all through the 2000s.  They’re returning to Kiwi audiences later this year on a New Zealand tour, visiting Christchurch, Auckland, and Nelson.  Fur Patrol last performed together in 2022, and frontwoman Julia Deans told Jack Tame that getting together feels like being back in the family again, and everything just kind of locks into place.  She said that when they did the shows for the Pet anniversary tour, everyone was so excited and happy, and they’re hoping to generate that kind of buzz again.    Tour Details  FUR PATROL WITH SUPPORT FROM TOM LARK  FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER: THE LOONS, LYTTELTON SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER: DOUBLE WHAMMY, AUCKLAND  + NEW SHOW ADDED THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER: THEATRE ROYAL, NELSON    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was Ruud Kleinpaste who inspired me.   Even since my fiasco with the trees in my backyard, in which I inadvertently oversaw a much, much, much more aggressive winter prune than intended, (and which for the sake of marital harmony we need not re-litigate!), I’ve been looking for opportunities to make amends to Mother Nature.  Along with my regularly Nutella’d rat trap, Ruud suggested that what the native birds had lost in terms of a leafy canopy, I might make up to them with a bit of sugar water. Native birds, it would seem, are like school children (or indeed, me). The quickest way to their hearts is through their stomachs and the more sugary the incentive, the better.   I bought one from Predator Free NZ: a Pekapeka bird feeder with a dripper bottle up the top for the nectar feeders and a little attachment for hanging energy balls or fruit underneath it.  Winter is the time when the native birds benefit most from a bit of supplementary feed. Putting a bit of food in the feeder was obvious. That would please the sparrows. But it wasn’t at all clear to me how the native nectar feeders might work out that the bottle was dripping out the avian version of Fanta.   I spent a day or two Googling various theories and methods for attracting them before the bottle arrived, but as it turned out I needn’t have worried. The moment I strung it up and turned my back on the feeder, it was swarmed by an incredible flock of tauhou, silvereyes. The pudgy little cuties swarmed the feeder’s platform and pecked at the feeder nozzle. Six or eight at a time they squabble, with more queueing up in the nearby plum tree, waiting to gorge.  In the few weeks I’ve had it up, I’ve become less concerned about attracting birds, and more worried that somehow I’ve created a dependency. As well as the silvereyes, every tūī in Auckland must have had the word. They swoop down, iridescent, gorgeous, greedy. The tauhou scramble.   I’ve no idea what the record is —maybe you can outdo me— but at one point yesterday I counted no fewer than six tūī in my backyard, all of them lined up to guzzle down the sugar water. It’s a good thing they don’t have teeth to brush, but can tūī get diabetes?  Maybe it’s middle age. I dunno. Maybe it’s a weird form of nesting. I just cannot believe what joy it’s giving me to sit down and watch the native birds squabbling over sugar water. The tauhou, like furry little ping pong balls. The tūī, bullies, but such beautiful bullies.    My feeder is not bringing back a dense tree canopy to my backyard. But it’s certainly brought back a bit of life.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I’ve always gained a great deal of pleasure out of cooking — it’s one of the most exquisite ways to look after yourself, to stay grounded, to keep yourself company and be reminded that we are all far more capable than we know. And I’ve needed this more than ever of late.’  Nici Wickes has written a number of books, spending six years as a food editor for Viva and NZ Herald, and five creating and testing recipes for New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, and contributing her craft to various other media.  Over the last few years, she’s been through a lot, the pandemic, floods, cyclones, and a bout of covid saw her losing her appetite not only for her beloved craft, but also the search for life’s joys.  ‘More From a Quiet Kitchen’ is a celebration of her return to her joy, crammed with heart-warming dishes such as ‘chowder for comfort’, ‘corn and bacon risotto’, and delicious desserts such as ‘lemon cheesecakey cake’.    To celebrate the book’s release, Nici’s recipe of the week is ‘Parisian rice pudding with salted caramel sauce’, a taste of what this new cookbook has to offer.    Parisian rice pudding with salted caramel sauce  Good old rice pudding – elevated to exceptional heights!     Ingredients  1 ½ cups whole milk   ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon risotto rice   2 tablespoons sugar   1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)   ¼ cup cream, whipped   Salted caramel sauce   ½ cup caster sugar   2 tablespoons water   1 tablespoon butter   100ml cream   ½ teaspoon sea salt or more to taste    Method  Bring milk, rice, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds to a slow simmer in a pot. Simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring every time you think of it, until it thickens and the rice is creamy and cooked. Set aside to cool.   While the rice cooks make the caramel. In a small pot, heat the sugar and water over a medium heat, swirling the pot if needed but not stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until it has turned a lovely dark golden colour. Remove from the heat, whisk in the butter, cream and salt (it will spit and froth, but don’t worry). Whisk until you have a smooth sauce.    To serve, fold whipped cream through the cooled rice pudding. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle over hazelnuts. And dream of being in Paris!   Note: The sauce stores well in the fridge, needing just a little heat to bring it back to drizzling consistency.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The release of Anna Coddington’s fourth studio album 'Te Whakamiha' coincided with Aotearoa’s Matariki celebrations. It sports eight uplifting waiata sung in both English and Te Reo, tunes that Coddington describes as her own take on Māori funk.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Storm Child by Michael Robotham  The mystery of Evie Cormac’s background has followed her into adulthood. As a child, she was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Many of her captors and abusers escaped justice, unseen but not forgotten. Now, on a hot summer’s day, the past drags Evie back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach.  There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells police their small boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but recognizes immediately that Evie has some link to the tragedy. By solving this crime, he could finally unlock the secrets of her past. But what dark forces will he set loose? And who will pay the price?    Agent Zo by Clare Mulley  This is the incredible story of Elzbieta Zawacka, the WW2 female resistance fighter known as Agent Zo, told here for the very first time. Agent Zo was the only woman to reach London from Warsaw during the Second World War as an emissary of the Polish Home Army command, and then in Britain she became the only woman to join the Polish elite Special Forces, known as the 'Silent Unseen'. She was secretly trained in the British countryside, and then the only female member of these SOE affiliated forces to be parachuted back behind enemy lines to Nazi-occupied Poland. There, whilst being hunted by the Gestapo who arrested her entire family, she took a leading role in the Warsaw Uprising and the liberation of Poland.  After the war she was demobbed as one of the most highly decorated women in Polish history. Yet the Soviet-backed post-war Communist regime not only imprisoned her, but also ensured that her remarkable story remained hidden for over forty years. Now, through new archival research and exclusive interviews with people who knew and fought alongside Zo, Clare Mulley brings this forgotten heroine back to life, and also transforms how we see the history of women's agency in the Second World War.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The Sunshine Coast’s compact layout belies its bounty, richly necklaced with nature-based experiences in easy reach of each other. I hop-scotched about the place like a frisky roo, lapping up its elemental riches. The welcome mat is being thickly laid-out, with Air New Zealand direct services from Auckland to the Sunny Coast underway, and with Jetstar flying the route from later this year. "You’ve got 100 kilometres of glittering beaches at your disposal- no matter what shade of sand takes your fancy; world-class wildlife experiences; plus an enchanting hive of hinterland gems, from fabulous forest walks to characterful villages. But don’t just throw your togs in the suitcase when heading to the Sunny Coast because there’s some seriously scenic mountain trails worth packing your hiking boots for, too." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary and George   The story of the Countess of Buckingham, who moulded her son to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover through intrigue, making her family richer, more titled, and more influential than England had ever seen (TVNZ+).     I Am: Celine Dion   Serving as a love letter to her fans, Celine Dion highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit as she struggles with a life-altering illness (Prime Video).     The Bear   The third season of the brilliant but stressful award-winning series about chef Carmel (Jeremy Allen White) as he tries to turn his family-owned diner into a fine dining restaurant (Disney+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Dry July kicking off in a couple days, Dougal Sutherland believes it's a good time for people to think about their alcohol consumption.  It’s a stressful time at the moment, with a cost of living crisis, workplace stresses, and drastic weather, and when times are stressful, people tend to turn to “unhealthy” coping mechanisms.  Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to chat about the telltale signs that someone’s alcohol consumption may be becoming problematic, and a few tips for those thinking of taking on Dry July.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Allan Scott Cecilia Brut, Marlborough $24  Why I chose it:   - I like it very much, especially the price. - It’s a perfect “stand-by” wine in case of unexpected visitors. - It is a real crowd-pleaser. - A wine for all seasons. - I haven’t chosen a sparkling wine for while.  What does it taste like?   - A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay with a creamy, yeast-infused palate that is both fresh and mellow with restrained complexity. A perfect balance of subtle sweetness and mouth-watering acidity.  Why it’s a bargain:   - Bottle-fermented sparkling wine is expensive to make, you won’t find too many good examples under $25.  Where can you buy it?   - Whisky and More, Waikato $20.99  -Big Barrel stores $less than $23  - Glengarry, Auckland $22.99  Food match?   -Canapes, especially seafood, particularly oysters. It doesn’t need the complication of food.  Will it keep?   - Good for a few years although it isn’t vintage-dated. Drink it up.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve always thought about creating the Greatest Hits (or Greatest Myths) for gardeners. There are so many things you should and shouldn’t do when gardening and creating compost.  Starting a compost system: Do we really need a “Compost Starter” to kick it off?  The easiest way to make compost is by sticking (roughly) to a ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen of something like 30:1. If you chuck a big heap of chipped wood (C) in the bin, you will need some grass clippings (N) to fire it all off. Even a simple pee on the heap will do the trick, or some Urea fertiliser, or even some old soggy lettuce.  Crushed egg shells around your vegetables are said to stop the slugs and snails as they won’t be able to cross the sharp egg-edges with their soft and tender “foot”. Molluscs do not actually come in contact with the sharp substrate as they glide over the slime they produce themselves!  And if you put the crushed shells into the compost bin, the calcium will eventually turn into useful calcium – eventually means “a few years later at least”, so don’t bank on a quick-release fertiliser!  Besides: they don’t really add a lot of value to your compost.  Ah! To speed up composting waste material, do we need to turn the heap every now and then?  Good question! Aeration will indeed help the process a bit… but so do mice and rats digging tunnels for their nests. Perhaps the question should be: how much time do you, personally, have to “turn” the compost? Every 3 or 4 weeks.  Cooked food in the compost bin?   Why not? It’s basically the same as un-cooked food, so why chuck it in the rubbish bin?  Dead Animals or left-over meat in the compost bin?  Everything that once lived is compostable – simple as that. Animals and old meat will take longer and it might start to smell somewhat, but it certainly will compost.  Can weeds be composted?  Of course! Weeds are simply plants too and when you pull them out, they will decay and form compost, just like any other organism, but should you?  That depends on the kind of weed it is and if it has set seeds or survives on a vigorous root-system.  How fast can you make compost?  Depends on what you make it from; You’ll need C and N plus support from fungal organisms and microbial life-forms. In general, it’ll go quicker when you are in a warm part of the world and slower in a cool area.  Here’s another bit of science: a compost tumbler is usually quite a bit smaller than a wooden compost bin, sitting on the soil. That means the tumbler won’t heat up as much (or at all!) as the larger bin and that may slow the process down – but it certainly will work albeit not so fast.  What can we Learn FROM Nature making its own compost?  Leaves fall down; twigs and sticks break off and join the leaves. Fruit and seeds join the party and every now and then a big branch with deliver a lot of Carbon.  “Recycling insects” and Microbes help the compost process out; worms transport the end-product to deeper layers in the soil where it’s needed by the roots… and it just carries on in its own tempo…  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 29 June 2024, the ultimate master of illusion Cosentino joins Jack to talk escape artistry and what happens when things go wrong.  Jack reflects on the moment Joe Biden's presidential fate became clear.  The much-anticipated documentary about Celine Dion has landed and Tara Ward appreciates it for the rawness shown by the global superstar. And, with Dry July just around the corner Dougal Sutherland highlights the importance of checking in on our behaviours during times of stress.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft faces a multi-billion dollar fine in the EU  This is to do with the complaint Slack brought to the European Commission, arguing that Microsoft's bundling of Teams with Office was anti-competitive. Preliminary findings of the investigation side with Slack, so Microsoft could be fined up to $21 billion. The Commission says Microsoft has been "forcing" Office customers to acquire Teams. It says it also doesn't help that Teams isn't interoperable with competitors' offerings. Microsoft has already committed to stopping the bundling.  Earlier this week, European Union regulators accused Apple of breaking tough new digital competition rules under the Digital Markets Act by preventing app developers from freely directing consumers to cheaper services away from Apple's payment ecosystem.   AI is coming to the Olympics broadcast  "Your Daily Olympic Recap" will be a personalized show of highlights found on Peacock (the streaming service with rights to the Olympics) of the big moments you might have missed, based on your sporting preferences. To take it to the next level, the show will be narrated by a now-retired former Olympic broadcaster, whose voice will be computer generated. NBC said the AI system was trained using prior NBC broadcast audio - nothing else was required to make it happen - which is rather incredible when you think of all the voices which might be able to be "brought back".    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ultimate master of illusion, Cosentino exploded into the world of magic on Australia's Got Talent back in 2011 and has since wowed audiences across the world on-stage and on screen with his tricks and escape acts.  Cosentino has earned titles like International Magician of the Year and is bringing his act to Kiwi audiences, joining Jack Tame to pull back the curtain on the magic scene.  He dug into his introduction to magic, how his act came to be, and the crazy escapes he’s managed to pull off.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside Out 2   Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have been running a successful operation by all accounts. However, when Anxiety shows up, they aren't sure how to feel.  A Family Affair   A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex and identity.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among all of the immigration statistics, New Zealand is losing another being to Australia.  Burma, the country’s last remaining elephant, is shifting across the ditch at the end of the year.  Kevin Milne understands why, but feels for the children who will no longer have an elephant to wonder at.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this pudding gooey caramel sauce pools around light banana sponge which is studded with buttery pecans. With all the gooeyness of sticky date pudding but less rich and sickly. Divine!  Serves 6-8    Ingredients:  ½ cup dates, soaked in boiling water  2 ripe bananas  1 cup brown sugar, loosely packed  2 eggs  80g butter, melted  1 ½ cups plain flour  3 tsp baking powder  ½ tsp cinnamon  70g pecans  Sauce  2 cups boiling water  3/4 cup brown sugar  1 heaped tsp cornflour  70g butter, chopped    Method:  Preheat oven to 170 C fanbake. Butter a large ovenproof dish. Soak dates for 15 minutes, drain dates and blend in a food processor. Add bananas and blend until mixed. In a bowl whisk the eggs and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add melted butter and date and banana puree and mix until combined. Fold in sifted flour, baking powder, cinnamon and pecans. Scrape batter into greased dish. Place boiling water, sugar, cornflour and butter in a jug. Stir until butter has melted. Pour over the back of a large metal spoon, over batter mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until top has set and cake layer is cooked through. Dust with icing sugar and serve with cream, ice cream or custard (or all three!). Make it your own:  Add ½ cup chopped pear to the batter.  Use walnuts instead of pecans for a cheaper alternative.  Add ½ cup of chopped dark chocolate to the batter.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”  That was it. The moment. The line. The death knell. And the crazy thing about the words that best defined the 2024 Presidential Election debate is that Donald Trump wasn’t blustering or lying. I don’t think anyone who’d seen Joe Biden’s attempt at an answer honestly disagreed.   Election debates are rarely significantly consequential. They might give a candidate or a party a little bump in the polls or some choice clips for social media or campaign advertisements. But as much as Democrats are in damage control today, playing down the significance of their candidate’s performance, this will go down in history as the moment that lost Biden the Presidency. The moment where it became absolutely crystal-clear for millions of people watching live and the billions of people viewing subsequent clips; either Joe Biden stands down or Joe Biden will be defeated.    The crazy thing to remember is that everything about the debate was played on his terms. This was the Democrats’ big play to dispel the criticisms of his competence and energy. Joe Biden took a full week at Camp David to prepare. His team requested rules around the microphone being cut off to stop Trump from interrupting. And yet with all the prep, all the resource, he stood there with his mouth gaping, a dithering, pitiful, sometimes incoherent picture of a diminished, elderly man. If the goal was to prove the President had the energy and sharpness for four more years, it was a stunning own goal. Trump didn’t damage Biden. He didn’t need to. Biden damaged Biden. Take the politics out of it. At a human level, it was sad.   I’ve covered the last three U.S elections, from Biden’s Vice-Presidential debates in 2012 through to his win in 2020. I was in a freezing Delaware car park on election night, four years ago. I’ve long felt that age alone is no reason for someone not to be President, but that a lack of vim and vigour most certainly is. I’ve taken time to get to this point –12 months ago I felt that Biden might be able to dispel the criticisms and the noise. Now, I cannot see a way in which he recovers his campaign.   If the Democrats are to win the election, they need a new candidate. Someone young. Someone relatively centrist. Whatever it takes to pressure Biden to stand down, they must do it and do it now.   If you step back, there are a couple of positives in this. Imagine for a moment if this wasn’t an abnormally early election debate. Imagine if yesterday couple of weeks before the election.   Even though it’s an unprecedented situation, there is time for the Dems to scramble and to find a new candidate.  It’s funny, in watching the fallout from the debate and imagining what will happen if Biden stands down, I was reminded of our own election in 2017 when Andrew Little stepped aside and Jacinda Ardern became leader. She enjoyed a huge surge in popularity. Jacindamania. It’s totally possible a new Democrat candidate would experience something similar.   And even if they didn’t, even if a new candidate was defeated come November, would the result be any worse for the Democrats than that which they are heading towards right now?   Either Biden stands aside or Biden will be defeated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gracie Abrams second album, ‘The Secret of Us’ has a more intimate feeling. It’s shares a similar vibe to Taylor Swift’s folk sound, with one song being a collaboration with Swift herself.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to review the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley  It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen. But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered. THE FOUNDER * THE HUSBAND * THE MYSTERY GUEST * THE KITCHEN HELP It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at… The Midnight Feast.   Southern Man by Greg Iles   Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage is alone. Nearly all his loved ones are dead, and his old allies gone. Pursued by enemies and demoralized by a divided community, he's found sanctuary on a former cotton plantation above the Mississippi River. But Penn's self-imposed exile comes to an abrupt end when a brawl at a Bienville rap concert triggers a shooting - one that nearly takes the life of his daughter Annie. Before the stunned city can process the tragedy, an arsonist starts torching antebellum plantation homes in Natchez and Bienville. When an unknown Black radical group claims the deadly fires as acts of historic justice, citywide panic ensues, driving a prosperous Southern town to the brink of race war. Drafted by Bienville's mayor to end the crisis and restore peace, Penn investigates the fires as casualties mount and armed marchers move toward a decisive clash. But Penn suspects that the arson attacks may not be what they seem - not retribution by radicals, but false-flag strikes designed to trigger the very chaos he sees roiling the streets. For that mayhem provides state and county leaders the excuse to dissolve the Black-run Bienville city government and seize control. It's up to Penn and a band of locals to uncover the truth and expose those trying to destabilize the city.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all make waste, some of us more than others.   But how do we deal with it? It can be tough to keep everything organised and sorted.  Kate "Ethically Kate” Hall joined Jack Tame to walk listeners through the best way to set up an efficient waste system in their homes.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year the Government contributes up to $521.43 to a person’s Kiwisaver account.  The cut off for the contribution is coming up next week, and KiwiSaver members could be missing out on as much as $55,000 in their retirement savings by not collecting the full contribution.  Personal Finance Expert Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to discuss the long term importance of ensuring you collect your full contribution.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elsbeth   When the world's top tennis champion drops dead on the court, Elsbeth and Kaya home in on a rising tennis star and his competitive father and coach; Capt. Wagner begins to suspect Elsbeth's reason for being in New York goes beyond the consent decree (TVNZ+, from Tuesday 25 June).    Presumed Innocent   A horrific murder upends Chicago's prosecuting attorneys' office, as one of its own is suspected of the crime (Apple TV+).    The Outlaws   Stephen Marchant’s comedy about seven wayward strangers doing their community service returns for a third season, but can any of these ‘outlaws’ really reform? (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despicable Me 4    Gru welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who's intent on tormenting his dad. However, their peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.  The Road to Patagonia    Documentary film was shot over 16 years. ‘The Road To Patagonia’ gives us a first-hand experience of Matty Hannon’s epic surfing journey – starting at the northern edge of Alaska, down the west coast of the Americas, and finally ending at the southern tip of Patagonia. It’s an epic journey covering 50,000 kilometres, with many twists and turns – with an unexpected love story that becomes the heart of it all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne was in a different neck of the woods this past week.  He and his wife Linda were up in Auckland, catching up with some old friends and experiencing what the city has on offer at the moment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In the pantheon of Australia’s famous ‘big things’, the biggest thing of all is the Sunshine Coast’s Big Pineapple. This iconic king of Queensland kitsch has been resplendently restored and I happened to be in town for the reopening of this 16-metre-tall fibreglass landmark a few weeks ago. She’s as old as me, first thrust into the world in 1971, principally as an agritourism attraction, swathed in pineapple plantations. Even Charles and Diana paid the icon a visit in 1983. Over the decades, capturing some family snaps at the Big Pineapple has been a cherished, cheesy visitor pastime, in addition to riding the plantation train and indulging in a pineapple parfait. And all these nostalgic novelties are being freshly reinstated for a new generation of travellers. It’s all very grammable!" "But the gleaming rebirth of the Big Pineapple also underscores the Sunshine Coast’s striking stature as Queensland's Sunshine Pantry, brimming with over 900 food and drink producers. Heartily dabbling from this powerhouse of premium local produce, noshing and sipping your way across the Sunshine Coast, is a sure-fire recipe for blissed-out holiday indulgence." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, the New Zealand Arboriculture Association stunned New Zealanders with a remarkable Tree-of-the-Year competition won by the walking tree. The magnificent Northern Rata (Metrosideros robusta) looks like it is walking on high heels (see Gareth Andrew’s stunning photograph).  As it happens, this rata species belongs to the myrtle group that includes pohutukawa and many different climbing rata, as well as Southern rata and the extremely rare Bartletts rata.  I love these trees; they are endemic to New Zealand. Yes, only in New Zealand! This is where they evolved.  Some Northern Rata germinate from the ground like any other boring tree, but the majority of Northern Rata is known as a Hemi-Epiphyte (not a true strangling epiphyte that uses another tree for support and “lifestyle”).  It usually starts life from a seed that lands somewhere in the canopy of a host tree (many different tree species can be a host: from podocarps to tawa, mahoe, beech, kamahi and even tree ferns.  The magic starts when the germinated plant becomes an epiphyte (perching plant) for the beginning of its life, sending roots downwards to the ground – Takes Ages!! Often many decades. The descending roots are usually “fused” together and become a tough root system.     It also sends some shoots with leaves upward to the lighter parts of the host trees’ canopy. The rata has a rather constant root-to-shoot ratio as it is growing up.  One of the roots will become dominant as it reaches the soil where the nutrients are; the shoots then have plenty of food to race up to the top of the host tree and create their own Photosynthetic factory.  Rata can be hundreds of years old – perhaps beyond 1000 years!   The original “host tree” usually dies well before the Rata is getting to its maximum size. As the host decays, the rata will “stand on its own feet” and is left with a hollow trunk – a great home for bats and native birds in the forest!  Why does this tree look like a “walking” Tree?  Look again at the picture: old, descending fused roots on the left and a rather smooth “trunk” on the right.  Rata (and pohutkawa) are able to grow new roots when and where they are needed from anywhere on the tree – and they can do so relatively quickly.  The hypothesis (proposed by my old mate Stephen King) is that the old Rata tree developed a “lean” when the old host tree perished. A new vertical root (the right one) became a smooth trunk to support the new vertical crown.  And just to make things a bit more extraordinary in the story of this walking tree: Take a look at the old fused roots on the left: This is now the spot where a pohutukawa decided to start its own life on the ancient roots of that walking Northern Rata!  If you are interested in trees and spectacular notable trees, visit the notable trees register.    More info on Rata and other Metrosideros species, cruise to the Project Crimson Website.  And grab a copy of Philip Simpson’s book Pohutukawa & Rata – New Zealand’s iron-hearted Trees.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 22 June 2024, rugby league legend Mark Graham and filmmaker son Luke joined Jack to talk about new documentary ‘SHARKO’ - the story of the man who changed rugby league.  Jack stays up to date on the Interislander ferry Aratere running aground near Picton, and chats to his auntie Barb Tame live from the scene.  Sporto Andrew Saville looks ahead to tonight's Super Rugby Pacific Final and the test match-like atmosphere sure to be set by the crowd of 45,000.   The internet is going places it has never been before. Techxpert Paul Stenhouse gives the latest on updates from Starlink.  Plus - while visiting Auckland this week, Kevin had a rather interesting dinner.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Graham is a New Zealand rugby league legend.   In his prime he was the best league player in the world, known for his size, speed, skill, and toughness, he was “a predator in a sea of sharks”.  He’s been named New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Century, and is the only player to have made it into both the New Zealand and Australian League halls of fame.  Luke Graham, his son, is a filmmaker, and his latest documentary is about his father.  SHARKO tells the story of the man who changed rugby league, carrying his teams and country to the doorstep of greatness.  Luke’s decision to tell his father’s story was motivated by several reasons, he revealed to Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “He’s someone that, you know, I’ve always proudly looked up to and I’ve been so proud of his success, his career.”  The creation of this documentary was a way to show that pride, as well as his love for that era of rugby league.  “It was selfishly, selfish reason to get to know my family even more, and to show this family to the world,” he told Tame.  The subject of the documentary himself, Mark, was not sure that anyone would want to watch the documentary when his son pitched it to him.  “My football career is dead and buried, and while I used to love the game, I just didn’t know if anyone would be that interested, to tell you the truth.”  Mark said that initially the story that was pitched was the ‘77 Auckland side where they showed up on a Wednesday night after working all day and played international sides for 33 weeks straight, beating all of them, before going back to work the next morning.  “So I thought that was the story, but he thought it was, this one was better.”  “It was lovely for people who perhaps don’t appreciate how much has changed.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starlink goes mini - which I'm sure will delight the campervanners  Elon Musk says this product will "change the world". He has a point, it certainly has the potential to take internet into hard-to-reach locations, including locations without power. The new Starlink Mini is an all-in-one device, which is a combo satellite dish and router, small enough to fit in a (large) backpack. It delivers 100mbps internet on DC power sources, needing just 20-40 Watts, which means a portable power pack is enough to use it. It's around 30cm long, 25cm wide and weighs just over 1kg -- not too much bigger than the biggest iPad. Available as a mobility add-on in the USA, and as a standalone product in parts of Central & South America and is expected to roll out to more countries soon.  Netflix is going from your tv, to the mall  You can soon live your favourite Netflix shows. Opening in 2025, Netflix House is headed to shopping malls in Dallas and near Philadelphia, using the tens of thousands of square feet of retail space abandoned by department stores. They say there will be "regularly updated immersive experiences" and "unique food and drink offerings". It's certainly not going to be a theme park, but seems to be more of a highly interactive museum / gallery?  Can't get to those locations? Netflix has launched its own popcorn —"Netflix Now Popping"— which is for sale at Walmart.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hearty one-pot dinner is just the thing to warm you up and whilst it’s cooking you can dream of far-off lands as the aroma of Moroccan spices waft around your kitchen.  Serves 2    Ingredients  2 tbsp. olive oil  1 large onion, peeled and sliced thinly  2 tsps. ground coriander  1 tsp smoked paprika  1 tsp ground cumin  1 tsp ground ginger  5 cm stick cinnamon or 1 tsp ground cinnamon  2 lamb shanks  1-2 carrots, roughly chopped  2 cm piece lemon peel  Water  1 tsp sea salt + decent grind black pepper  1 large orange kūmara, peeled and chopped into large chunks  ½ can lentils, drained and rinsed    Method  Heat oil in a large ovenproof deep pan or pot, like a le Creuset. Fry onions until softened then add in the spices and cook for 1 minute or so. Add in lamb shanks, carrots and lemon peel and give it all a stir. Add in enough water to just about cover the shanks and add in salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer on the stove top while you heat oven to 180 C.  Cover tightly with a lid or foil and place in oven for 1 hour.  After an hour, give it another stir, add in the kūmara and lentils, cover again and cook for a further 1.5-2 hours or until lamb is falling away from the bone.  Serve up, scatter with some fresh coriander and serve with a salad and/or some crusty bread to soak up the juices. Enjoy!  Make it your own  Use lamb shoulder chops instead of shanks.  Add some prunes if you like that sort of thing.  Leave out the lentils and serve with couscous instead.  Potato or pumpkin will work just as well as the kūmara.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much worse could it have been?  I don’t want to speak too soon. A refloating mission is underway. But from what we know at this stage, KiwiRail, the Interislander, and New Zealand might have just escaped a much, much more serious disaster.   The Aratere ferry departed Picton last night and from what we understand about the timeline, almost immediately lost steering. Within fifteen minutes it had run aground.  There are 47 people onboard. Most of them are crew. All of them are in lifejackets. Most importantly, all of them are safe. And for now, at least the ferry is watertight. We wait for high tide and the impending rescue operation.  It’s bad. But again, my reaction is strangely one of tempered relief, in that we may have just dodged a far greater disaster. Imagine if the ferry had lost steering further out in the Sounds and run aground late at night. Imagine if it hadn’t been perfectly still and calm. Imagine if it was full of passengers —school holidays— kids. Imagine if it hadn’t stayed watertight. Imagine if it got into trouble at a vital point in Cook Straight entering Wellington Harbour. There are surely moments on the journey where even if alarm was raised, emergency vessels and tugboats might not have the time to scramble and save the stricken ship.  We could be waking this morning to news of a maritime disaster in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand that made the Rena look like nothing. And most importantly, of course, people could’ve died.   The state and the future of the ferries has been a political football. The previous government signed a fixed-price contract to build two new ferries. But after the Inter-island Resilience Project exploded in its projected costs, the new government declined KiwiRail’s request for extra funding. In parliament, as recently as a few days ago, Transport Minister Simeon Brown was highly critical of KiwiRail's maintenance of the current fleet.   But last night’s event will obviously bring all of this into sharp focus. Is this an event that will justify new vessels and the new port infrastructure, after all?   Let’s hope the ferry and her passengers can be safely refloated. But clearly the status quo is unsustainable. And just because we may have avoided the absolute worst this occasion, doesn’t mean the next time won’t be different. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

De-icing the freezer. That's it, without doubt, the worst possible domestic chore.   Because you know, the tricky thing - is once you've successfully taken the plug out of the wall, got rid of the electricity, melted the water. Where does it all go? Where does the water go? I remember my mum running a system with our big chest freezer when I was a kid. She needed buckets. She needed pots and pans, towels and mops, baby baths even and still it took her the whole weekend.   But now you know what, I'm not totally sure that deicing the freezer is still Top of the Pops in miserable domestic jobs. And that is the kind of sentence only ever uttered by someone who has recently tried to fill a bean bag. Ugh.   Are bean bags having a moment? I reckon they might be, and I just personally figured that having a versatile option for vegging out in front of the telly might be quite nice when I searched them online there were a couple of different options for beanbags. For most you had to buy the bag and then the beans. Separate. But if you really wanted, you could spend a little bit more money and order a bean bag that was already filled. I thought. What do they take me for? Some kind of sucker? Bean bags, it turns out, actually have two bags. So you fill the inner bag and then you put that inside the outer bag. It's easy in principle, not necessarily in practise.   I figured that I would tackle the job alone as a nice surprise for when my wife got home. That was my first mistake. I began in the lounge. That was my second mistake. I laid out the bean bag in it and snipped the top corner off the huge bag of beans. 200 litres of them. As the scissor blades glided through the plastic, it was kind of like a can of fizzy drink that had been furiously shaken up. Beans exploded out all over me, all over the floor, all over the couch. Everywhere. And they seem to have some sort of static electricity attraction. So even as I picked them off my chest and tried to sweep them together with my fingers off the carpet, the beans kind of had a mind of their own.   20 minutes down. For my second attempt, I moved into the kitchen, pinched part of the inner bag in a kitchen drawer so that I could hold the bag open as soon as I started pouring the beans, I inadvertently relaxed the inner bag, closing the mouth of the opening. And pouring roughly 10,000 bean bag beans all over the kitchen floor.   It turns out when you get on your hands and knees and start trying to pick up pathetically small bits of polystyrene, you get a new appreciation for just how greasy the kitchen floor actually is. It made them less staticky, but alas, it did not make them easier to collect. I cut a pitiful figure when my wife found me scratching around trying to pinch up the last of the beans from under the fridge. Another half an hour I'll never get back.   If there's one thing my experience has taught me, filling a bean bag is a two-person job. It's also the kind of thing where you should really review the instructional video on YouTube before kicking off. If I'd done that, I would have known the best place to fill the bean bag isn't in the lounge, or in the kitchen. But in an empty bath. That way, if there is any spillage and trust me, there will be spillage at the very least it's contained.   Third time was a relative charm. It wasn't seamless. We still managed to pour litres of beans onto the floor. I still spent ages on my hands and knees scrambling around in the muck. Every time I thought I'd got them all, I walked out of the room for a moment and then came back in, only to discover a couple of rogue beans hiding underneath some furniture. I feel like they're going to keep popping up for months.   At least, though there is an upside: if I ever feel like a lazy slob for crashing into my bean bag. and vegging out in front of the television, I can remind myself, earnestly - nah, I had to work for this.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 15 June 2024, star of this year's Armageddon Expo John Barrowman joins Jack to discuss his sci-fi legacy and what it is about shows like Doctor Who that fans connect to so enduringly.  Jack's DIY endeavours continued with this week's task: the beanbag.  Kevin Milne was mightily impressed by podcasting this week, reaffirming that we are very much still in the days of quality long-form interviews. While, Dr Bryan Betty talks misconceptions of ADHD after it's recent media spotlight following the diagnosis of public figures.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford reviews Born in the Wild by Tems.  Tems self-produced much of the LP alongside GuityBeatz, the Ghanaian Afropop DJ behind her 2021 EP If Orange Was a Place.   It’s been praised by Pitchfork for its “Polyrhythmic soundscape, adorned with the earthy tones of conga drums, wind chimes, and shekere rattles, provides a counterweight to the homogenized sound of contemporary Afropop.”  Music reviewer Estelle Clifford told Jack Tame “This is her growth on something that’s a universal attraction with afrobeats.”  Clifford says “She’s worked behind the scenes, but now her wn stuff is taking the forefront.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes is here to review some books with Jack Tame.  Smoke by Michael Brissenden   Detective Alex Markov has recently returned to her small hometown of Jasper, California, after leaving the LAPD in disgrace, only to find her new colleagues don't want her either. When a deadly wildfire sweeps through Jasper her investigations find a deadly underbelly beneath the smoke - a town for sale to the highest bidder and authorities playing games within games, in which she's the prize pawn.  The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson  A young woman's life is forever changed in the summer after World War I when she befriends a group of independent, motorcycle-riding women in a seaside town on the English coast - a captivating novel from the bestselling author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, Princess Cruises launched their next-generation flagship, Sun Princess, the first of two planned Sphere-class vessels to enter the Princess fleet. (Star Princess is launched next year.)   With a capacity for 4300 guests and 1600 crew, and weighing in at 177,000 tons, she’s a twinkling ocean beauty.  Mike Yardley recently hopped on board – he joined Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB Saturday Morning to discuss.  For more insights on sailing aboard Sun Princess, Mike's article is on the website. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over half of New Zealand workers are experiencing severe burnout – worse than Covid numbers.  In April, Massey Business School Survey found that the highest levels of burnout are among clerical workers, education professionals, office managers and health professionals.  Umbrella Wellbeing Clinical Psychologist Dougal Sutherland told Jack Tame “You can get into a situation where co-workers try out-do each other, which could affect employee relations.”  Sutherland’s advice for employees is “Focus on the aspects of situation that you can control – like preparing your CV.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week away from winter – Everybody feels that – especially the birds in your garden.   Food is becoming scarce, unless you’ve planted a heap of trees and shrubs that provide nectar and honeydew to keep the nectivores happy.   Some species of Eucalypts are flowering right now; so do Tagasaste, some puriri and Banksia. Mexican Orange blossom does its best too, judging from the silvereyes that descend on those flowers.   Nectivores are often attracted by sugar water, delivered in all sorts of ways: bottle feeders are available in garden centres and can be filled with dilutions of that sugar water. Do NOT use honey water as that may spread bee diseases from hive to hive.    Be aware that we have heaps of Native Nectivores in Aotearoa: tui, bellbird, silvereyes to name a few.   A lot of people feed birds dodgy supplements such as stale bread and food scraps; yes – sparrows and starlings (as well as mynahs and the odd blackbird) might initially seem to appreciate your gestures, but so do rats and mice (who are also looking for fodder). A Bread meal is often quite detrimental to birds – if they drink water afterwards, the swelling of the bread can rupture their stomachs.   A number of bird species enjoy some seeds: sparrows greenfinches, gold finches and such introduced creatures; blackbirds don’t mind some seeds covered in fruity stuff.   Julie has a different view on the matter: “Blackbirds are there to rip the mulch off the garden”, whether or not they want to catch worms or any other invertebrates…   Another point we need to consider about feeding birds in your garden is that you’ll need to keep going till spring; Your generosity is something the birds rely on and when you stop, there will be consequences for the artificially-high populations created by extra feeding!   I tend to target nectar feeders in winter. The afore-mentioned Tui, bellbird and silver-eyes are beneficial species!  Silver-eyes are particularly useful insect eaters, specialising in scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, psyllids, whitefly and a heap more of those quite damaging garden pests.   I hate spraying systemic insecticides, so birds’ help is always welcome.   And this is how I attract them to my garden from June onwards:   Lard blocks made from dripping and contained in an old onion bag or in a small, metal “cage” where the birds can hang from. This last contraption feeds a wide range of birds that over-winter in my garden.   Replenish frequently and remember to place the feeders in a spot out of reach from neighbourhood cats.    A source of water might also be handy as – even in winter – birds need water   My goal is to get the largest flocks of silver-eyes on the lard blocks and sugar-water stations throughout winter and right into spring, when the silver-eyes start to disperse to go breeding.  You might think you will have “lost” them from the garden... they are getting very secretive around nesting time, but they will remember your place as a heaven full of food, so...   In spring and summer they’ll come and do the pest control business for you by scouting the scale insects and aphids from your plants, to feed their kids.   Tui and Bellbird will probably do a significant job of pollination in your garden.   What’s not to like?  LISTEN ABOVE. Silvereyes on MeatballSilvereyes on lard blockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ADHD has been getting a lot of attention lately - with Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau, and Chloe Swarbrick going public with their diagnosis, its difficulties and treatment - especially for adults.   In NZ, 5-8% of children and adolescents being potentially affected, with 70% persisting into adulthood.  Dr Bryan Betty told Jack Tame “It’s a very complex condition that affects people in different ways.”  Betty said “It’s a neurodevelopment disorder – affecting people of any age, especially children.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Stenhouse, ZB’s ‘texpert’ joins Jack Tame to discuss some recent developments in A.I.   Stenhouse said “Every company wants to be seen as a leader – largely to the eyes of Wal Street if I'm being honest.”  There's a new word to know in the world of AI: "Slop" Found an AI generated article that seems like it's regurgitated garbage? Well, there's a word for that!  "Slop" is the term that is gaining traction to describe low-quality or junk AI content, helped by an article in the New York Times. Think "spam", but for content.   Microsoft is effectively putting the launch of one of its new AI features on hold because of security concerns  The new Copilot Plus PCs come with a features called "Recall" which effectively takes screenshots of what you're doing and stores them so you can go back to check what that price was for that item, or recover a sentence from an email you decided you preferred.  The feature was going to be turned on by default, which only last week Microsoft reversed, announcing it would be "opt-in" and include additional secure login requirements.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spinoff Staff Writer Tara Ward joins Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB Saturday Morning – to discuss what to watch this weekend.  Red Eye - A British thriller that takes place on an all-night flight as a police officer transports an English doctor back to China to face trial for murder (ThreeNow)  Under the Bridge - Riley Keogh and Lily Gladstone star in this true crime drama about the death of a fourteen-year old Canadian girl, and the teenagers who killed her (Disney+)  Tour de France - Unchained: A second season of the thrilling behind the scenes documentary series about the Tour de France (Netflix)  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Barrowman became an instant hit with sci-fi fans around the world when he made his debut in Doctor Who back in 2005.   His character - Captain Jack Harkness's popularity saw him become a recurring presence in the BBC series and he later took centre stage in the successful spin-off series Torchwood.   He starred in superhero series Arrow - alongside finding huge success in theatre roles on Broadway and the West End.  John is currently in New Zealand for this weekend's pop culture convention Armageddon and Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB Saturday Morning. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Coeliac Awareness Week – from June 10-16.  There’s a plethora of gluten-free products these days - if you're newly diagnosed with coeliac, there's no need to fear missing out.  Nici Wickes spoke to Jack Tame about the practical, social and emotional effects of coeliac disease and what to do if a friend or family member is diagnosed.  GF WRAPS  I’m celebrating Coeliac Awareness Week with these homemade GF wraps, made using chickpea flour. They’re super simple to make and can be used to make tacos, wraps, stuffed savoury crepes and more.  Makes 6 wraps  2 tsps cumin seeds  1 cup FreshLife chickpea flour  1 cup water  1 tablespoon oil  ½ tsp sea salt  Oil to grease pan  Toast the cumin seeds in a pan, without oil, until they’re fragrant – about 1 minute on medium.  In a bowl mix all the ingredients and whisk to a smooth batter. Leave to sit for 30 minutes or until thickened.  Brush a pan lightly with oil and heat to medium. Pour enough batter (about ¼ cup) into the pan and swirl it to spread the batter out in a large thin circle. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the edges start to lift. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining batter.  Visit www.coeliac.org.nz for recipes, suppliers, latest medical data.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DocEdge 2024 starts next week – featuring 66 local and international films.   It will be in cinemas across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch – up until July 19th.   Francesa Rudkin reviews ‘Rather Be Ashes Than Dust’ on Saturday Morning with Jack Tame:  “It is absolutely exhausting – an interesting first-hand look at how humans can get out of control, and Hong Kong governance digs their feet in to keep China happy.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Fair Go Presenter Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB – to discuss quality long-from interviews.   Milne told Jack Tame “The ‘Between Two Beers’ Interview with Mark Stafford is the most extraordinary interview I’ve heard in years.”  Milne said “Every revelation was astonishing and sometimes bitterly sad.”  He said lot of broadcasters complain that the days of quality interviews are behind us – but he can only urge them to listen to the Mark Stafford interview.   LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues beat The Brumbies 34-20 at Eden Park last night – securing their place in the Super Rugby Pacific final.   They’ll await tonight’s match to see who they’ll play in the final.  1News Sports Presenter Andrew Saville told Jack Tame “It’s a shame that the crowd wasn’t bigger – but it was a wet Friday night in Auckland – which is difficult to get to straight after work.”  Saville said “The crowd was disappointing, but the rugby was good.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debut studio album from Georgia Lines, ‘The Rose of Jericho’ is a ten-track album touching on grief, loss, heartache, as well as joy and lightness.  The album is named for a plant that has come to symbolise rebirth and hope due to its seemingly magical ability to come back to life.   She told RNZ that the last few years have left her feeling like a Rose of Jericho herself.  "I am [also] in the process of coming back to life, remembering things that were lost and all of the things associated with that … my record was the rose inside."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Camino Island by John Grisham  A gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a secure vault deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library. Their loot is priceless, but Princeton has insured it for twenty-five million dollars.  Bruce Cable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepy resort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in Florida. He makes his real money, though, as a prominent dealer in rare books. Very few people know that he occasionally dabbles in the black market of stolen books and manuscripts.  Mercer Mann is a young novelist with a severe case of writer’s block who has recently been laid off from her teaching position. She is approached by an elegant, mysterious woman working for an even more mysterious company. A generous offer of money convinces Mercer to go undercover and infiltrate Bruce Cable’s circle of literary friends, ideally getting close enough to him to learn his secrets.  But eventually Mercer learns far too much, and there’s trouble in paradise as only John Grisham can deliver it.    Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War by Jonathan Dimbleby  June 1944: In Operation Bagration, more than two million Red Army soldiers, facing 500,000 German soldiers, finally avenged their defeat in Operation Barbarossa in 1941. The same month saw the Allies triumph on the beaches of Normandy, but, despite the myths that remain, it was the events on the Eastern Front that sealed Hitler's fate and destroyed Nazism.  In his new book, bestselling historian Jonathan Dimbleby describes and analyses this momentous year, covering the military, political and diplomatic story in his evocative style. Drawing on previously untranslated German, Russian and Polish sources, we see how sophisticated new forms of deception and ruthless Partisan warfare shifted the Soviets’ fortunes, how their triumphs effectively gave Stalin authority to occupy Eastern Europe and how it was the events of 1944 that enabled Stalin to dictate the terms of the post-war settlement, laying the foundations for the Cold War . . .    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to burials there’s a couple of well-known options in coffins, caskets, and cremation.  However, there are other options on offer as well, some more sustainable than others.  Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss sustainable and green burial options, and what people need to think about when looking at these options.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s Italy in the extreme. She’s rough and ready and in your face. Gritty, gripping, daunting and intimidating to the uninitiated, mighty Naples is a southern Italian classic beyond comparison. It can strike newcomers as a hot mess. I have to confess that on several prior occasions, I haven’t ventured beyond the central train station in Naples, surrounded by Piazza Garibaldi. The ensuing piles of rubbish, swarms of beggars and general bad vibes on the streets outside the station proved to be potent turn-off – and I high-tailed it out of town bound for the Amalfi Coast. By train, it is the critical stepping-stone to reach Pompeii, Sorrento and beyond.   "But last month, I was determined to give Naples a fair shake, eager to get a proper flavour of what this heaving, high-density city had to offer. Overcoming my fear of being ripped off, mugged, gunned down by the Camorra, or run down in a city where red lights are merely decorations, my urban safari in Naples was certainly eye-opening but undeniably rewarding. I was in town as a port call aboard Princess Cruises’ spectacular new flagship Sun Princess, so disembarking at the port terminal, Stazione Marittima, affords an effortless entrance into downtown Naples, on foot." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Durvillea 2023 Sauvignon Blanc $18  Why I chose it:- Terrific wine, especially considering the difficult vintage (cyclone Gabriella) - Entry level wine for Astrolabe. Entry level price but not entry level quality. - You might remember the MV Rena grounded on the Astrolabe reef in 2021. By chance there were a couple of containers of Astrolabe wine on board. The wine and MV Rena were lost.  What does it taste like?- One of the best examples of a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from the 2023 vintage. Good intensity with restrained power and the perfect amount of punch without going overboard. Tantalising wine.                                                      Why it’s a bargain:- Well below average price for SB but well above average quality  Where can you buy it?- Vino Fino and Wine Freedom in Christchurch both have it for $14.99  Food match?- A versatile food match. I like it with Feta cheese. Most seafoods are a happy match.  Will it keep?- Good for two years, perhaps more.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer  Phil travels to the other side of the world to take a look inside some of the most amazing homes that New Zealand has to offer.  We will reveal each of these stunning properties through the eyes of the people – the architects, the builders and the owners – that dared to dream them into reality (TVNZ1 on Sundays, TVNZ+).    Sweet Tooth Season 3  On a perilous adventure in a post-apocalyptic world, a boy who's half-human and half deer searches for a new beginning with a gruff protector (Netflix).     Blue Lights  A new season of the excellent police procedural drama about three rookie police officers starting their careers on the beat in Belfast, Northern Ireland (ThreeNow).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marguerite’s Theorem   When a brilliant mathematics student at France's top university presents her thesis, a mistake shakes the certainty of her planned-out life. She decides to quit everything and start over.    Bad Boys: Ride or Die   When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels, wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once seen as an indomitable challenge, Mount Everest has become increasingly commercialised.   It’s become a tourist industry, with queues of climbers all waiting to take their photos at the top, paying anywhere between US$65,000 and US$200,000, the VIP experience coming with a higher price tag.  Journalist and author Will Cockrell has been climbing mountains for over 30 years and has explored the commercialisation of Mount Everest in his new book ‘Everest Inc: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World’.   He joined Jack Tame to dig into the industry surrounding one of the most iconic mountains in the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 8 June 2024, outdoor adventure journalist Will Cockrell gets to the heart of the Himalayan guiding industry in his new book exploring the commercialisation of Mt Everest.  How rich is too rich? Jack ponders a plan of action ahead of Lotto's $50 million draw.  Crack open your summer preserves, chef Nici Wickes has sweet plum treats perfect for a weekend on the go. And Estelle puts forward a weekend soundtrack from Aotearoa pop sensation Georgia Lines.  Plus, the kings of marketing are rebranding AI.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winter is a mere 2 weeks away and that means the coldest periods are very nigh indeed. Frost is –for some plant species– quite damaging.  Growth basically stops; Invertebrates tend to hibernate, and our birds will go through a hungry phase, frantically looking for something to eat.  Traditionally, many gardeners find ways to protect their plants and their soils; covering these is often the best way to keep everything intact.  Starting with Compost heaps: Drape tarpaulin over the top and keep it down with some bricks or heavy wood; alternatively: get some pea straw and put that over the compost (at least 10 cm thick).   Pea straw. Photo / Supplied  If you are in an area where frosts can be too much for, say, fruit trees such as citrus, then Mulching the root zone might be a good preventative action: Citrus are “surface-rooting” and hence do not like a low temperature, so it pays to keep them mulched. Bark, Compost, Chippered branches, Organic matter is useful; anything that suppresses the cold nights!   Mulch for winter. Photo/ Supplied  Lemons and other citrus plants are currently developing fruits. Frost Cloth is often a good preventative cover that will make a few degrees difference. There’s even a “Liquid Frost cloth” that will protect plants up to a -3-degree frost. Spray this Liquid VaporGuard over the sensitive plants well before the evening, so that the wax can set.  In really bad frosts (more than –3 degrees) it pays to drape some material frost cloth over the shrub or tree as well.  Extra Protection!  Late frost. Photo / Supplied  Another way to protect your plants is by positioning them under an existing tree that keeps its leaves in winter. In our Port Hills Garden we are lucky to get very few frosts in winter – on a clear frosty night, the cold air will usually tumble down the hill, taking that damaging stuff away.  But if we are expecting a mean frosty night we simply position the sensitive, potted plants under the Eucalyptus trees.  Frost cloth under a tree. Photo / Supplied  Planting sensitive plants under a good, covering tree will also help to make enough difference to keep them happy in winter.  Dendrobium speciosum care in winter. Photo / Supplied  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's big software developer conference is next week - what will they be announcing?  Lot's of AI features... Surprise! Apple is set to unveil its AI strategy which is going to be more focused around automating tasks and summarizing information, rather than image and video generation. For example, the upgraded Mail app will use AI to sort emails in your inbox, there will be a way to 'catch up' on everything that's happened on while you've been away from your device, voice messages will be transcribed for quick scanning, and Siri will be able to complete more 'app-level' tasks like reply to a specific email or delete it, edit a photo, or summarize a news article.  Apple has played a big security card for the past few years so just how much personal data it lets leave your device will be interesting... and if it does, how it sells the security of its cloud processing.  Outside of AI: Apple's password manager called "keychain" has been hidden away in the settings for years, but it's going to be made into its own app.The calculator is coming to iPad!Your iPhone home screen will be more customizable than ever before, including arranging app icons in something other than a rigid grid, and being able to change the colour of the icons.And you'll be able to schedule an iMessage to be sent in the future.   Microsoft has had to pull back on some of its new AI features because of security concerns  The new Copilot Plus PCs come with a feature called "Recall", which effectively takes screenshots of what you're doing and stores them so you can go back to check what that price was for that item or recover a sentence from an email you decided you preferred. The feature was going to be turned on by default, which Microsoft has now reversed. There are also concerns the way it stores the images and the associated metadata was unencrypted, so bad actors could have installed ransomware and had full access to the Recall data.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bodies are complex, and although most people have a passing familiarity with basic bodily functions and facts, there’s plenty that most people don't know.  Kevin Milne finally got around to doing a CPR course last week and realised that there’s an unsettling amount of information about cardiac arrests that he wasn’t aware of.  He joined Jack Tame to share a few facts he learned.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much wealth is just the right amount of wealth?   How rich is too rich?  I had a successful businessman friend tell me once the Goldilocks zone is a mortgage-free home and five-to-ten million dollars in the bank. No more. Any more than that, and you can’t trust people.   But I dunno. Maybe this is just exposing me as a grubby money lover, but I reckon I could do fifty million.   The first step in winning Powerball would be the hardest but arguably the most important: you’d have to decide who to tell. I think it’s inconceivable that you could win that much money without telling anyone. But tell too many people and you’ll ruin your life.   So, who? Mum and Dad. The parents in-law. Siblings, as well. I trust them, of course, but already that pool of people is getting kind of wide. Maybe the rule should be you only tell people with whom you are willing to share some of your winnings. And maybe the rule with family is you pay off everyone’s mortgage and then, that’s that.   I’m not a big splurger, but yeah, I might be tempted to buy a couple of bits and pieces. As much as I love the Corolla, I’d probably shell out for a new car. Nothing crazy and ostentatious —I couldn’t ever show my face in public behind the wheel of a Ferrari— but maybe something a bit newer with a few more airbags and cruise control.   I’d pay off my mortgage. I’d probably splurge on central air, but for now at least I’d keep our family home. At least until the trees grow back. But as well as our home, I’ve always dreamed of a retreat somewhere. A house or a bach —again, nothing ostentatious— buried in native bush on a pristine beach. Ideally, it’s a surf beach. I’d wake each morning to the sound of native birds in between the crashing waves.   I don’t think I could win that kind of money and not give a big slab of it away. You’d want to be thoughtful about choosing charities and causes. I reckon you’d want to give big slabs —a few million a pop— to a couple, and then smaller parcels of donations —$100K each— to a whole heap.   Would I work? Easy to say it now, but yeah, I think I would. That being said, I’ve never forgotten Trevor, the guy who worked as a checkout operator at a supermarket in Huntly who won $27m. After initially insisting he’d be back at work, he decided, yeah... nah. Maybe I’d be the same. Maybe I’d just do this show and lose the Monday to Friday.   I’d love to travel more. I’d love to read more, to learn languages. I’d love to use that windfall to buy time. But all of this is hypothetical of course, because I haven’t actually bought a Lotto ticket. I never have. I wouldn’t even know what to do! I guess I’m just too rational. Even as I watched the jackpot roll over onto $50m, the equal-highest-ever, I couldn’t help but think that if that leads to heaps more ticket sales, statistically speaking the chances of winning Powerball by yourself are actually becoming even slimmer.   I get it though. I know why people have a punt. Buying a Lotto ticket isn’t so much a ticket to win $50m. It’s a ticket to dream. This morning though, I reckon I’ve done that for free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I made this with plums because I'd defrosted some of my summer bounty, but any soft juicy fruit will work - soft pears, feijoa, stewed apples, berries etc.  Makes 10 bars    Ingredients:  120g butter  ½ cup brown sugar  1 medium egg  1 tablespoon vanilla extract  ¾ cups plain flour  1 tsp baking powder  ½ cup ground almonds  ¾ cup desiccated coconut  1 tsp lemon zest  1 cup chopped plums - fresh or canned black doris    Method:  1. Preheat oven to 170 fan bake. Line a loaf tin.  2. In a medium pot melt the butter. Remove from the heat and add the sugar, stirring to combine. Whisk in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Sift in the flour, baking powder and ground almonds. Add coconut and stir well until combined.  3. Press two thirds of the mixture into the base of the tin. Scatter over plums in an even layer. Top with remaining dough in clumps.  4. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden. Cool in tin then serve either warm or cold with whipped cream.    Make it your own:  Add citrus or cinnamon to the dough in place of vanilla.  Use blackberries and stewed apples instead of plums.  Replace coconut with ½ cup rolled oats.  Make it GF by using GF flour.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crowded House has dropped their eighth studio album ‘Gravity Stairs’.  As stated by frontman Neil Finn, the band was aiming for a dreamy quality on the album, juxtaposing the direct nature of the lyrics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan  Rufus Leung Gresham, future Duke of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of profligate spending, and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories manors and yachts lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a luxury eco-resort, a veritable who’s-who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs, and seduce a woman with money.  Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong? When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans—and their reputation—go up in flames.  Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist?    Everest Inc by Will Cockrell  Anyone who has read Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air or has seen a recent photo of climbers standing in line to get to the top of Everest may think they have the mountain pretty well figured out. It’s an extreme landscape where bad weather and incredible altitude can occasionally kill, but more so an overcrowded, trashed-out recreation destination where rich clients pad their egos—and social media feeds—while exploiting local Sherpas.  There’s some truth to these clichés, but they’re a sliver of the story. Unlike any book to date, Everest, Inc. gets to the heart of the mountain through the definitive story of its greatest invention: the Himalayan guiding industry. It all began in the 1980s with a few boot-strapping entrepreneurs who paired raw courage and naked ambition with a new style of expedition planning. Many of them are still living and climbing today, and as a result of their astonishing success, ninety percent of the people now on Everest are clients or employees of guided expeditions.  Studded with quotes from original interviews with more than a hundred western and Sherpa climbers, clients, writers, filmmakers, and even a Hollywood actor, Everest, Inc. foregrounds the voices of the people who have made the mountain what it is today. And while there is plenty of high-altitude drama in unpacking the last forty years of Everest tragedy and triumph, it ultimately transcends stereotypes and tells the uplifting counternarrative of the army of journeymen and women who have made people’s dreams come true, and of the Nepalis who are pushing the industry into the future.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 Budget has finally been released, bringing with it a variety of changes not only to government funding, but to personal taxes.  Brad Olsen joined Jack Tame to dig into the changes, going through the new brackets, who will be affected, and who wont benefit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric   Puppeteer Vincent clings to his missing son's drawings of a blue monster puppet named Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV then his son will come home (Netflix).    The Responder   Martin Freeman is back for a second season as the crisis-stricken first responder who works night shifts on the beat in Liverpool, trying to keep his head above water (TVNZ+).     Jim Henson Idea Man   A look at interviews of fans of Jim Henson, interspersed with footage from his works, including Wilkins and Wontkins Commercials that were previously lost (Disney+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Did you know that there’s less Italian blood in Sicilian veins than there is Phoenician, Greek, Arabic, Norman, Spanish, or French? It’s a stirring legacy to the 25 centuries of passing civilisations who have left their mark on the Mediterranean’s biggest island. The resulting mixture – exotic, spicy and highly inflammable - fuels Sicily’s distinct personality and self-governing pride. She’s a nation within a nation; the adjacent ball to Italy’s foot-shaped peninsula. I recently visited Sicily as part of a riveting Mediterranean cruise aboard the glittering new flagship vessel for Princess Cruises, Sun Princess." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a throwaway line from Jack last week, Kevin Milne has been thinking about fizzy drinks.  Foxton Fizz is a local brand that’s been in business for over a century.  It’s now taking off all over the country, and Kevin has a few interesting tales about the company.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freud’s Last Session - (in cinemas)  September 3, 1939. The world is on the brink. A monumental session with two of the greatest minds of the twentieth century over the future of mankind and the existence of God.    Atlas - (Netflix)  A brilliant data analyst with a deep distrust of AI finds it may be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some new research out recently found that in contrast to what we often hear about gaming, playing video games may help to replenish our energy and boost recovery from work-related stress.  Playing games not only helped with psychological detachment (the ability to mentally switch off from work), but also promoted mastery experiences (i.e., the feeling that you’re learning new things and facing challenges).  An important factor for mastery experiences is whether employees have “obsessive” or “harmonious” passion. Those who reported higher harmonious passion (engaging in a task enjoyably without compulsion) reported a stronger relationship between time spent gaming and the experience of mastery.  Controversial idea maybe, but workplaces could consider getting gaming consoles to help people switch off for a while. I’m pretty sure some tech companies and film companies already do this.  Lucky for me there’s a pinball arcade two mins away from my office in Wellington!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 1 June 2024, the creative force behind platinum-selling kiwi radio staple Avalanche City, Dave Baxter joined Jack to talk about his return to the spotlight.  Jack considered how much of a difference Trump's guilty verdict will make to the US election.  Settling in for the long weekend, Tara Ward previews her top Screentime picks including the new Netflix series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric, and Catherine Raynes brings both a fiction and non-fiction recommendation for the ultimate reading indulgence.  Getting stuck into the outdoors, Ruud chats the art of nerd-ity and natural restoration straight from a 60-hectare park in the making, Waiwhakareke.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of hundred years ago, our Planet and our Aotearoa looked quite different.  There were huge forests and wetlands, vast tussock lands and cool, high altitude alpine gardens. Birds and lizards, insects, spiders, fish and native frogs called it their home.  Slowly Homo sapiens started to turn things around; habitats disappeared, mining, urbanisation and an economy that only thinks of growth-at-all-cost.  Of course, some Parliamentarians –like Blind and deaf Freddy– are not always Nature-Literate enough to steer our bit of the planet in the right direction.  Communities and Environmental organisations are doing their thing to restore our Land. I am convinced that, together, they form the largest movement in the world and even Blind and Deaf Freddy never saw that coming.  This is the time to plant our whenua with locally-sourced native trees and shrubs. I’m talking about the Garden, but also about the Earth around us; the reserves; the walks-ways, you name it.  Waiwhakareke Natural heritage Park is a 60 hectare park in the making. On the NW side of Hamilton, near the zoo. It’s really a wetland area with Biodiversity of the Hamilton Basin. Waiwhakareke (horseshoe lake) brilliant!  Council, Hamilton Zoo, Waikato Uni all together!  The last few days (Thursday and Friday) schools have been descending on the park; kids of all ages have been planting and my job was to totally disrupt the whole event, by pulling out huge earthworms when the holes were dug.  And Flatworms slithering on the soil substrate.  We discovered beetles and maggots in decaying tree trunks – the biodiversity turned from “Ooooh” and “Yuck!!” to a competition and utter delight. We found toadstools and other fungi; lichens and mosses  We set up a fine-meshed “mist net” to see if we could catch some birds to band with tiny aluminium rings with even tinier numbers on it – that’s for the kids who wanted to work for DOC and become scientists.    Today we carry on, not just with kids, but with the Community of Hamilton, to plant and restore this magnificent Garden, which will look like the bush, all those decades ago.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft wants to take down the MacBook Air  The new Surface Co-Pilot Plus PCs, which go on sale on June 18, are the fastest and most performant laptops Microsoft has ever made. The MacBook Air has become the standard for the perfect mix of performance and portability, and Apple’s M3 has taken that to new heights. Microsoft says its new laptop beats that and spent a whole day walking reporters through the results.  Why did ChatGPT’s founder get fired? We’re hearing from a board member for the first time  Former board member Helen Toner says the board was often kept in the dark and stopped trusting Altman after a series of inaccurate information was presented. She says that when ChatGPT launched in November 2022, the board found out about it on Twitter. They didn’t get any advanced heads up for something that would put the company on the map overnight. She also claims he provided inaccurate information about the company’s safety processes, something she says he did at a previous company where the management company went to the board to ask for him to be fired because of deceptive and chaotic behaviour.  Instagram’s Threads is looking more like Twitter every day  It now has a new desktop experience that replicates the look of Tweetdeck. It allows you to pin multiple streams of threads in a horizontal scrolling, real-time updating, thread extravaganza. The ‘Tweetdeck’ experience on X is now behind a paywall for ‘Pro’ users.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avalanche City burst onto the scene in over a decade ago, their 2011 pop hit ‘Love Love Love’ charming Kiwis.  Behind the music is creative force Dave Baxter, a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.  After five years away from the spotlight, Baxter re-emerged with a brand-new single ‘Keep that Love’.   He stepped back from making music to raise his kids, having toured his last album through New Zealand and Europe with a six-month old before Covid hit and shut everything down.  “It’s taken me that long to kind of like, feel like I could come back to music, you know?” Baxter told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  Music is a creative endeavour, and Baxter felt he needed a bit of a break.  “I don’t want to like, force myself to do music, and I waited until I was like, hungry to come back and like, make something again before I started.”  While he was ready to start creating again, jumping back in after five years isn’t easy.  “I started thinking I want to do something, but I don't know how anymore,” he told Tame.  “I decided that I was just going to just take sort of baby steps back into things.” Baxter began writing little song ideas, ones he knew he wouldn’t use further, and uploading them on Instagram.  “I got such a good response from them,” Baxter said.  “And then I kept on going and then I was like, maybe I’ll just do one song, I’ll write one song and release it.”  That opened the floodgates, Baxter continuing to write more and more, focusing on finishing songs and building up that slow and steady momentum.  “It was almost like re-exercising an old muscle.”  Avalanche City’s previous album ‘My Babylon’ has a darker tone and energy, Baxter using it as a way to exercise his frustrations. In comparison, ‘Keep that Love’ has a much more upbeat and hopeful tone.  “I really wanted a song, the song I was writing at the time, I wanted it to be like, I don’t know, hopeful and uplifting,” Baxter said.  “It sort of felt like, with everything that’s going on, I wanted something for myself to be like, to make me feel better.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s more of a tart than a pie but who cares, it’s a fabulous dish to whip up for the long weekend.  Makes one 24cm pie    Ingredients  1 sheet savoury short or flaky pastry  1 head broccoli, steamed whole for 2 minutes  ½ cup sour cream  100g goat cheese  ¼ tsp chilli flakes  2 tbsps store-bought pesto  100g mozzarella, grated  1 tsp lemon zest  2-3 tbsps olive oil  75g feta  Black pepper to season    Method  1. Heat oven to 180 C and grease a 24cm pie dish. 2. Roll out pastry to fit pie dish. Prick all over with a fork. 3. In a bowl combine sour cream, goat cheese, chilli flakes and pesto. Spread this over pastry base. Slice broccoli, including stalks, and arrange this over cheese spread. Sprinkle over mozzarella and lemon zest, drizzle over olive oil and bake for 30-45 minutes until pastry is golden brown. For the last 10 minutes of cooking, crumble feta over the top – it will melt and brown slightly. 4. Season with pepper and serve.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no one on this planet who is yet to form an opinion of Donald Trump.  No one. No one who doesn’t know him. No one who thinks he could be okay as President for a second term, they just need to hear a bit more of his policies, or sure, he was alright the first-time round, but they really need to weigh him up before committing to a second hit.  Yesterday will have changed a grand total of zero opinions on the man. Those who find him odious will have had their views affirmed. Those who sincerely believe he’s the victim of some grand conspiracy will feel even more deeply the whole World is against the former President. America’s great divide grows a little bit deeper.  It was vintage Trump, of course. Vintage. Rejecting his guilty charges, he slagged off the judge and the witnesses. He immediately labelled the whole thing as a stitch-up, as rigged. Anyone else would have been locked up for contempt of court. You could almost hear the servers at his campaign headquarters groaning under the surge of donations as they poured in by the millions from supporters around the World.  I think one of the few defences the Democrats have against Donald Trump’s populism are the democratic institutions he has so methodically undermined. I do think the man deserves to answer criminal charges. January 6th, the efforts to ‘find more votes,’ and even the boxes of classified material in his spare shower; these are all much, much more serious than the Stormy Daniels payment.  This case was sordid and trivial, and by bringing it first, whether deliberately or otherwise, I think they undermined the gravity of what has been alleged in what are far more important cases.  So, what do Donald Trump’s felony convictions mean for the election? Very little, in my view. If voters supported him heading into this trial, having heard him in the Access Hollywood tape, having heard the sexual assault accusations, and having heard him reject the results of an election, they weren’t going to turn on him over some sneaky accounting, even if it did involve a porn star.  This will simply galvanise people. It’ll entrench the two sides. Those who dislike him will feel that little bit more justified. Those who think he’s a martyr will feel that little bit more justified. You watch – even though Trump is the first President convicted of a felony, Joe Biden won’t make much of a song and dance about the whole thing. Five months from the election, the net effects will be limited by the time people go to the polls. By the time people cast ballots there will be other stories, scandals, moments on the campaign that stick fresher in people’s minds.  There is no one in America who does not yet have a view of Donald Trump. The election will be decided by about four states, and whatever side can actually get its people to the polls.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Novel is Kiwi band PARK RD’s debut novel, a punchy thirteen track work from a group of highschool friends from Tāmaki Makaurau.  In the bands own words “It feels like its own little world. The main theme of the album is definitely love."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong  Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love.  In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than answers.  In immersive, moving prose, Rachel Khong weaves a profound tale of class and striving, race and visibility, and family and inheritance—a story of trust, forgiveness, and finally coming home.  Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome?    Think Twice by Harlan Coben   Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on – until now, when twofederal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is.  According to the agents, Greg is still alive—and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked, Myron needs answers.  Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes. Secrets, lies, and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past churn at the heart of Harlan Coben's blistering new novel.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overconsumption is trendy, with the evolution of technology and online shopping making it easier and easier to buy things you don’t need.  Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss our relationship with stuff and dig into clever consumption and strategic decluttering.  She has a few recommendations for things people can try to avoid simply buying more things.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shardlake  During the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor era, Matthew Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the death of a commissioner in a remote town of Scarnsea (Disney+).    Trying  All Nikki and Jason want is a baby -- the one thing they can't have -- so they decide to adopt; with their dysfunctional friends, screwball families and chaotic lives, the adoption panel may not agree they're ready to be parents (Apple TV+).    The Blue Angels  This documentary follows the newest class of the US Navy and Marine Corps fight squadron as they go through their intense training and into a season of heart-stopping aerial artistry (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"One of the greatest ways to sample the heart and soul of a powerhouse city like Rome is to join a food tour with an in-the-know local." "I plumped for the Roman Food Tour which is a 3-4 hour walking tour in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Prati, where grand villas rub shoulders with the walls of the Vatican. Previously the area was open countryside and growing fields, but nowadays it’s one of Rome’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, home to hordes of Italian celebrities and glitterati. Needless to say, discerning tastes and culinary authenticity rules supreme in these parts, far away from the bog-standard tourist restaurants, ever-present in Rome." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re on the cusp of the flu season. One of my concerns is that I often hear from patients phrases like ‘it’s just the flu!’. It’s almost viewed as something we don’t need to be concerned about; it’s just like a cold. However, it’s much more than that. It’s estimated it can be responsible for up to 500 deaths a year in New Zealand, based on University of Otago research. It’s more than just a cold!    What is influenza?  -It infects our nose, throat, and lungs.  -It occurs more in winter, brought in by infected people on planes from the Northern Hemisphere!  -Tends to spread with close contact indoors: coughing, sneezing, and talking to each other, or the virus lands on surfaces and we pick it up on our hands.  -Can kill up to 500 people a year.  -Especially at risk are the elderly, pregnant women, those with other illnesses like diabetes, lung and heart conditions, cancer, those under 5, and Māori and Pacific people over the age 55.     How does it differ from a cold?  -It is much more severe. It can make us very unwell and miserable, lasting up to 7 to 14 days.  -Coughs, sore throats, and sneezing can occur in both colds and flus, however a few things distinguish the flu from colds:  -The flu is often very rapid onset; colds tend to be gradual.  -In particular, unlike the common cold, the flu can cause very severe muscle aches, headaches, ‘chills’ (feeling hot and cold), and fever.  -Chest discomfort and coughs can also be very severe with the flu.  -Occasionally causes diarrheal and vomiting.     Can you treat it?  -Straight answer is no. Antibiotics don’t work. You're stuck with it, and we treat the symptoms.  -Using paracetamol and brufen for temperatures and muscle aches. Keeping fluids up.  -However, once you have it you have it!     How do we prevent it?  -Number one: if you have the flu don’t go to work, don’t spread it!  -Wash hands regularly, don’t share drinks, cover mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing.  -The most important single thing is to get vaccinated. It will prevent you catching the flu. Because the virus changes every year, you’ll need a fluvax once a year.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google's big US launch adding AI to their search queries, isn't going so well.  Perhaps they pushed this a little too fast? Someone asked, "how many rocks should I eat a day?" and Google told them that UC Berkerley geologists suggested you eat a small rock a day as they contain minerals and vitamins important for digestive health but did also recognize that eating pebbles regularly may mean they get stuck in your intestines. Why does it suggest this? Because the website ‘The Onion’ had an article about it. Only problem is that The Onion is a satirical newspaper.  Yes, these responses are labelled as experimental, but maybe it's still too experimental? Another post suggested adding some non-toxic glue to a pizza recipe so the cheese doesn't fall off, and suggested Barack Obama was the first Muslim US president.  Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice?  She certainly thinks so. Johansson was the voice actor for the virtual assistant in the movie Her, where a man falls in love with her as if she was a real person. Friends and family heard the new Open AI voice assistant named "Sky" and thought it was her. It didn't help that Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, tweeted with a link to the product with the caption "Her".  Johansson says Altman contacted her back in September to ask if she'd be open to her voice being used. She said no. She says two days before the launch, her agent was contacted again asking her to license her voice. Altman says they cast the actors for their new voices before reaching out to Johansson but have removed the voice for now.  One lawyer cited a case where singer Bette Midler won against Ford, when they used an impersonator in their ad after Midler declined to be involved.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 25 May 2024, Boh Runga talks about taking part in a world-first Pride event combining dance and pop with the Auckland Philharmonia.  Jack's faith in the Crusaders remains strong despite a tough season and a rough week of headlines regarding coach Rob Penney's hot mic moment during a team press conference.  Francesca reviewed the delightful French remake of The Three Musketeers as part of the French Film Festival, and Ruud joined Jack in studio to offer compassion over last week's tree pruning disaster.  Plus, Jack got a mouthful of butterscotch pie from chef Nici Wickes.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never expected that my degree in Forestry from Wageningen University would come in handy at this late stage of my life.  Thank you, Jack!  Pruning plants in the garden is something that most gardeners can learn reasonably quickly. Yes, there will be some mistakes along the way, but hey! That’s how you gain experience.  Hedges are the next stage up in competence – they are often large plants (or really small trees). The key to pruning hedges is to do it relatively frequently – say 3 times per year or even more. Every time to take a bit off the hedge, you cut the terminal buds off (the buds at the end of a twig or branch). This in itself causes the lateral buds, a little bit lower down, to grow out and take over from the terminal buds.  In the case of hedge plants, this will make them a lot more dense, especially if a few lateral buds will grow out at different levels, taking over from that one terminal bud you just removed.  Pruning trees is based on similar botanical systems, but tackling that big stuff requires a course or three in arboriculture, safety and balance.  Some trees are pretty easy to tackle: your plane tree is a great example. Go and visit Franklin Road in Auckland and you’ll see how you can pollard those monsters every few years by cutting them back to the required height, and keep them there for decades to come; the same with the willows in the Netherlands.  Pohutukawa are different again; they can be trimmed in a few ways. I saw an elaborate pruning gig going on at Ngapipi Road (off Tamaki drive), whereby a substantial pohutukawa was pruned like a hedge (no doubt complaints about interrupted views from the locals on the opposite side of the road).  That might do the trick, but a pohutukawa is not naturally a dense hedge. Usually, it looks like a rather open tree with lots of space for birds to fly through.  This is the way you maintain that open tree configuration: cut a few branches out of the middle and pick them at various heights so it doesn’t look too bland and butchered.  Remember, every tree has its own “natural” look. It pays to trim it in such a way that it will maintain that look.  Here is a schematic picture of how I would suggest pruning such trees and keep them looking good.  1) It's always best to start pruning a tree early; the smaller the wound, the faster it heals, and there is less reactive growth.  2) When you want to reduce a tree, it's best to start when it's approx 1-2 meters taller than you want it.  3) If trees are important in your garden and in your life, sniff out an experienced arborist who loves the trees just as much as you do. Look for arborists that are members of the NZArb association - It's probably best to avoid having work done by someone who comes door-knocking.  4) Spend some time running through the way the job will be executed; you can make it “arty”.  5) Have a chat to the neighbours about what the plans are and why (privacy, biodiversity, bird food).  6) Take the day of the “operation” off work and be part of the team as much as possible.  Honestly: it’s the way to achieve the best possible outcome for your garden, the trees, the planet!  “Thinning” Photo / ISA (International Society of Arboriculture)  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boh Runga burst onto the scene in 1999, the frontwoman of award-winning pop-rock Kiwi band Stellar.  She’s gone on to become something of a multi-hyphenate, with fingers in various pies.  The singer, songwriter, and musician has become a household name, expanding her enterprises to include designing, jewellery making, and even writing a book.  Runga is taking part in the world-first Pride Synthony event, where popular music genres and hits are married together with classical orchestral music.  The pride event is the first of its kind, and set to be an incredibly inclusive event not just for those in the queer community.  “It’s featuring a lot of artists over different genres of music coming together to celebrate the music that I guess Pride, if you can say, is famous for,” Runga told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “Like disco, and like, great gay icons, I guess.”  “I’m chuffed to be a part of it.”  She told Tame that when the email came, she replied straight away, which she reveals is unusual for her.  “This was such a special one. I’m so pleased to be a part of it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga   Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.    The Three Musketeers: D'Artagann Young D'Artagnan arrives in Paris, trying to find the attackers who left him for dead. He instead finds a real war brewing and joins the king's three musketeers - Athos, Porthos and Aramis - as they work to ensure the future of France.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French Post Office La Poste has released a brand new type of stamp.  Their scratch and sniff baguette stamp celebrates the baking of six billion baguettes a year in France.  Kevin Milne saw this and wondered if the New Zealand Post Office could do such a thing, and if so, what scent?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$2.60.  Oof. I’m gonna’ hazard a guess that as a Crusaders fan, we haven’t faced such long odds against the Blues anytime this century. But honestly, given the Super Rugby season we’ve had so far, I felt a strange sense of surprise in checking the TAB website, when the number for tonight’s clash didn’t start with a four or a five.  Momentum is one of those funny things in sport. When everything’s going swell, you don’t think about Lady Luck, so much. When everything’s not, well, one thing leads to another and another, and your problems have a curious habit of snowballing out of control.    Crusaders Coach Rob Penney learnt that lesson the hard way this week. Of all the things he’s had to deal with this season that are out of his control, an exodus of experience and injuries up the wazoo, being caught on mic calling a reporter the C-word was definitely a fiasco of his own making.   Although I’m a ride-or-die Crusaders fan, I’m 100% on the reporter’s side on this one. I’ll always back someone asking hard questions. Professional sport is a high-pressure, results-driven business. You cannot have the adoration and the glory, the merchandise sales and the TV viewers, without expecting scrutiny in return. And in this case, the questions asked weren’t personal or out of scope. They were entirely fair and reasonable.   In the 90s, we had these bumper stickers in Christchurch. I don’t know why I’ve remembered them. They said ‘Of course we CANterbury.” The Can was written in red and the ‘terbury” was written in black. I wondered if an entrepreneurial soul watching Rob Penney’s press conference might reel off a few new products this week with a slight twist on the old classic.   Of course, the irony is that if Rob Penney was trying to dispel questions about the pressure he faces or trying to cast off speculation about his future, his reaction has had the exact opposite effect. That one sentence and that one word told media and fans everywhere more than any of his answers to the actual questions possibly could have.    That being said… I’d like to think we’re not so precious we’re going to hold a bad word against a man forever. If anything, Rob Penney has taken the heat off his players for a few days. The Crusaders have apologised. We can move on.   And you know what, it occurs to me that nothing would help that team move on more… nothing would help Rob Penny pull a metaphorical Andrew Mehrtens-at-Loftus-Versfeld middle finger to the World, nothing would be quite so satisfying as a triumph against the old foe tonight.   $2.60? By the Crusaders’ standards those are awfully long odds. But never discount a wounded underdog with its back against the wall.   We might have the equal-fewest wins of this year’s Super Rugby tournament. We might be facing off with the top-of-the-table team. Our coach might be slagging off my colleagues. But I for one, still believe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is never a time when a slice of butterscotch pie is not a good idea. This is simple and divine, and you will not regret making your own pastry for this pie – it’s super easy and failsafe.  Serves 4-6    Ingredients  CRUST  100g (about 1/2 cup) plain flour  1 tsp sugar  Pinch salt  75g cold butter, cut into chunks  40mls very cold water  FILLING  75g cold unsalted butter  225g brown sugar (about one cup loosely packed + 1 tablespoon)  ¼ tsp flaky sea salt, plus more to taste  100mls cream  1 large tablespoon crème fraiche  2 tsps. vanilla extract  3 large eggs  1 tbsp plain flour  Whipped cream to serve    Method  Grease a shallow, 18cm pie dish.  To make the pastry, blitz all the ingredients except the cold water in a food processor until it looks like breadcrumbs. Drizzle in enough of the cold water to form a damp crumb that, when pinched, clumps together. Turn out onto a floured bench and bring it together with a quick, light knead. Roll out and press pastry into the greased tin. Freeze for 15 minutes.  Prick frozen pastry all over with a fork. Press a lightly oiled piece of foil into the dish and up the sides, covering the pastry – this saves blind baking with weights. Press tightly to enclose the pastry. Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove foil.  While pastry is par-baking, make the filling. In a saucepan melt the butter over a medium heat. Add sugar and salt and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring. Remove from heat and whisk in cream, crème fraiche and vanilla. Careful as it will bubble up. Cool for 15 minutes. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then the flour, until smooth.  Once crust is parbaked, pour in the filling. Bake for 10 minutes at 200 C and then reduce heat to 160 C and bake for a further 25-30 minutes. It is cooked when there’s a slight jiggle in the centre when moved. Let cool completely and serve with softly whipped cream.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billie Eilish has released her third album.  ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ is an album intended to do as the title states, hitting listeners hard and soft both lyrically and sonically, Eilish states on her website.  You never quite know what the next track is going to be, Estelle Clifford told Jack Tame.  It’s an album you can’t listen to all at once, but there’s also not really any skip tracks, she said.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley  In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.  She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machine,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But he adjusts quickly; he is, after all, an explorer by trade. Soon, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a seriously uncomfortable housemate dynamic, evolves into something much more. Over the course of an unprecedented year, Gore and the bridge fall haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences they never could have imagined.  Supported by a chaotic and charming cast of characters—including a 17th-century cinephile who can’t get enough of Tinder, a painfully shy World War I captain, and a former spy with an ever-changing series of cosmetic surgery alterations and a belligerent attitude to HR—the bridge will be forced to confront the past that shaped her choices, and the choices that will shape the future.    The Coast Road by Alan Murrin  Set in 1994, The Coast Road tells the story of two women—Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children.  The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbour Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. The friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beautifully historic city of Thessaloniki sits on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. It's a port city, and the transport hub of Greece. Mike Yardley visited Greece's second city, joining Jack Tame to run him through the beauty and the historic landmarks all around. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridgerton   A new season of the popular Shonda Rhimes costume drama set during the Regency era in England and following eight siblings of the rich and powerful Bridgerton family as they try to find love (Netflix).    Big Mood   Best friends Maggie and Eddie have lived in each other's pockets for 10 years, through thick, thin; but with the rest of their lives looming, and Maggie's bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return, Maggie and Eddie's relationship faces the future (ThreeNow).    Deadwood   All three seasons of the brilliant and award-winning Western show Deadwood have dropped on TVNZ+. Set in the late 1800s in Deadwood, the series follows the lives of those who must survive in the Wild West town full of corruption and crime (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arthur the King   Desperate for one last chance to win, Michael Light convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team gets pushed to the outer limits of endurance, a dog named Arthur comes along for the ride, redefining what victory, loyalty and friendship truly means.    Dream Scenario   A family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. However, when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, he's forced to navigate the consequences of his newfound stardom.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 18 May 2024, award-winning Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson has crossed the ditch to bring their charm and wittiness to the NZ International Comedy Festival.  This week, Jack experienced tragedy with a shocking tree pruning.   Tara Ward spills on Bridgerton's latest serving of high society seduction and scandal in Screentime, while clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland dissects a brand-new report estimating that bullying in the workplace costs New Zealand employers around $1.5 billion a year.  Plus, Jack and Sav try to keep up with how many sportsmen have been arrested in the past 48 hours.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workplace bullying has come with a high price tag.  It’s estimated that it costs New Zealand around $1.5 billion a year, 50% of the costs arising from the impact on female workers.  Dougal Sutherland told Jack Tame that the report should really slap organisations and businesses around the head, as it demonstrates the sheer extent of the problem.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ARIA award winning comedian and judge on Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under, Rhys Nicholson is quite the entertainer.  They’ve brought their wittiness, charm, and laughs across the ditch this week as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival.  Last night saw them delight Auckland crowds, and this morning Nicholson joined Jack Tame to discuss their career, Drag Race, and the Comedy Festival.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever since moving to Christchurch I have been trapping pests: stoats and possums, rats and mice. Think Predator-Free New Zealand!  Mice are quite common here on the Port Hills; rather rural with heaps of herbage, seeds, and grasses, plus good seed crops in the gardens.  Mice are an important food source for rats and stoats. They also eat heaps of Native New Zealand Invertebrates (caterpillars, beetles, weevils).  In summer the mice have a great time, breeding like mice.  In autumn the wusses get a bit cold and look for shelter in people’s homes and ceilings as well garages.  I have about 10 mouse traps employed and they’re going off regularly. Big populations at the moment, be warned!  A few weeks ago, I attended a lecture by Pete McClelland, one of New Zealand’s unsung heroes when it comes to pest eradication. Pete has been managing huge projects on Subantarctic Islands and Tropical islands for many years.  Fascinating stuff and very much one of the inspirational tools to create a Predator-Free Aotearoa.  Of course, he was always dealing with the famous exotic pests that somehow gained entrance to an ecosystem that never had those pests before. From Donkeys to Deer and from Ferrets to Rodents, Feral Cats to Foxes and Rats to Mice.  Mice are often seen as the small (almost cute) creature that is probably the least impactful pest on the world list.  Many people would be surprised to learn that these ubiquitous mice (Mus musculus) are a complete pain on many isolated islands in Hawaii (Midway atoll), Gough Island (in the south Atlantic), Marion Island (in the Southern part of the Indian Ocean), to name just a few important Nature reserves with Albatrosses and other ornithological gems.  The mice on these islands have climbed up the ladder of the ecosystem so cleverly that they can attack huge albatrosses at night (while they are incubating their eggs). They do this by chewing open the tops of the birds’ heads, eating the brains and simply keep on extending the damage, which ultimately becomes fatal for those birds.  Should you wish to see the horrific pictures of these massacres, caused by, simply google the names of these islands and the words “mice”  Summing up:  Not uncommon on islands, those adaptable mice, causing ecological damage, and oh yes, New Zealand is an island too, remember!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Neudorf 2023 Tiritiri Chardonnay, Nelson $29  Why I chose it:  - Terrific Chardonnay, like a good French Chablis  - Neudorf is one of the country’s top chardonnay producers  - NZ is a top Chardonnay producer  - 2014 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay – 100 pts  What does it taste like?  Taut, vibrant chardonnay with pronounced oyster shell/saline, hazelnut and subtle nutty oak flavours. Impressive purity and power with good cellaring potential although it can certainly be appreciated now.  Why it’s a bargain:  -Worth at least twice the price  Where can you buy it?  -Neudorf Wines, Upper Moutere, Nelson $29  Food match?  -Seafoods, especially oysters.  Will it keep?  -No rush, keeps five or six years?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything you know about Google Search is about to change  Google’s famous ten blue links will be replaced in the USA thanks to AI. Forget typing in keywords, Google now wants you to ask it questions and it will give you answers. No more links, but paragraphs of answers. "AI overviews" will appear when the technology determines it's the fastest way to answer a user.   This is rather terrifying for news organizations who have already sounded the alarm that their digital revenues will plummet if traffic is reduced. Anyone who has a business that relies on search traffic for inbound leads should be nervous too. Information from your blog posts and landing pages will be sucked up and the content will be used for the answer, but you may never see the lead. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT has hired a Google Search veteran, and now the race for the "search engine 2.0" is on.   Reddit posts are being used to train ChatGPT  It's a great treasure trove of content, written and moderated by humans, going back almost two decades that OpenAI hopes will boost their AI efforts. Reddit's shares popped on the news.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First has introduced a new bill that would fine those who do not use the public bathroom of their designated sex.  Winston Peters announced the bill to ensure all non-domestic public locations have “clearly signed unisex and single-sex bathrooms.  Kevin Milne thinks the only positive of the bill is that it won't become law, but has some alternatives he thinks could be adopted instead.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ oranges are some of the best in the world, I think! Gisborne and Kerikeri produce the finest citrus and this cake is one to really highlight them. It's a simple cake but is so versatile. It makes a decent tea cake or serve it warm with custard and cream for a dessert.  Serves 6-8    Ingredients  1 large orange, chopped roughly, skin and all  1 ½ cups sugar  200g butter  3 eggs  1 ½ cups plain flour  1 heaped tsp baking powder  Pinch of salt  Custard and whipped cream to serve    Method  Pre-heat oven to 170 C fanbake. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.  Blitz orange in a food processor.  In a large bowl beat together the sugar and butter until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, beating after each addition.  Mix in the dry ingredients and the blitzed orange and beat briefly. Don’t beat for too long or the flour will make for a tough cake.  Scrape into prepared tin.  Bake for 50 minutes then check with that a skewer inserted comes out clean – it may need 5 or 10 more minutes.  Serve with custard and whipped cream.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was my fault.   One of those things that came about because of whole lot of factors, but which can ultimately be boiled down to doing too much at once. Work, family, life. I was too stretched. Too stressed. And something gave.   But why did it have to be the trees?  This will sound really crazy, but I only realised afterwards that maybe the single-biggest reason I bought my home, was the trees.  We’ve got a section that slowly slopes down, so the backyard is at a lower level than the main living area. It means you would step in off the street, walk into the main living area on the top storey, and suddenly be eye-to-eye with a huge wall of green.  A jacaranda, a plane tree, a karaka and a pohutakawa, all of them probably decades old, and with enough thickness in the coverage that you couldn’t see beyond them.   I would step out of Auckland, the noise and the traffic, and into this perfect green sanctuary. A cocoon. Tui, blackbirds, piwaka, they loved it.   The problem with a perfect green canopy with no light passing through is my neighbour noticed no light was passing through. She asked if we could prune the trees. Just to let some morning light through. They must have been almost twenty metres high.   I wanted to do the neighbourly thing. A lovely guy came around and surveyed the canopy.   “We’ll do it on Thursday.” he said.  I think it was a communication thing, which is another reason why I take the blame. If anyone should be able to communicate, it’s the professional communicator, right? But my wife and I were at work all day, and by the time we got home, it was done.   The trees weren’t just pruned, they were pruned. Metres taken out of them, right across the top. A straight, brutal cut. Like a bowl cut, but for trees. With all of thickest green canopy, the leaves that provided such a dense, rich canopy, the favourite branches for tui and the piwakawaka, gone.   I walked into my lounge, where previously I’d stare out at a wall of green. I stared out at a wall of houses. I looked at the stumps of the branches, and I felt tears prick in my eyes.   My wife didn’t hold back. She walked in the front door, looked at the trees and tears streamed down her face. The neighbour was delighted at how much light was now passing through.    Two nights have passed. Both nights I’ve had broken sleep, lying there thinking about the trees. My wife isn’t much better. She said she felt we damaged their wairua.   I can rationalise it. The trees aren’t dead. And I do know they’ll grow back. It may even be that their prune encourages rich, fulsome, rapid new growth. And when there are more leaves and coverage instead of stumpy branches, it’ll be a whole lot less brutal. But no amount of fertiliser or hugs can really speed up the process. We’re looking at years before they are back to where they were.   And honestly, I feel terrible about it. I feel stupid. I feel guilty, and I feel grief.   Yeah. I grieve for my trees.   I know that in the future I’ll laugh about it, but right now it is a very painful lesson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday saw the release of Jordan Rakei’s fifth studio album The Loop, an album he’s wanted to make since he was 19.  He took his 35 acoustic demos and refined them down to 13 tracks, recorded over two “action-packed” weeks with an orchestra, choir, and band.   Rakei says it’s his most ambitious project to date, inspired by becoming a father.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear   Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose. Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She’s no angel—a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there—but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She’d never intentionally hurt anyone. But intention doesn’t matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed “good person” for all the bad they’ve experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else’s. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong? As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages... each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes.    You Are Here by David Nicholls  Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way  Marnie is stuck.  Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it's passing her by.  Michael is coming undone.  Reeling from his wife's departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells.  When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.  But can they survive the journey?  A new love story by beloved bestseller David Nicholls, You Are Here is a novel of first encounters, second chances and finding the way home.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying sustainable when out and about can be something of a challenge, but the key lies in what you bring with you on the go.   Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall has mastered the art of reducing waste while on the go, and joined Jack Tame to run through her essentials.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortgage rules are changing, but what does this mean? Will it be easier to get a mortgage? Harder?  Andrew Nicol of Opes Property joined Jack Tame to discuss the changes that come with the updates to the Credits Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA).  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allium Rust on garlic has become quite an issue of the past 10 years, not just in Canterbury, where I live, but in many places of New Zealand. Many people complain that this fungal disease strikes in late winter/early spring and the only thing that stops it from hammering the garlic plants is by regular spraying with Copper or copper/sulphur fungicides (Organics!). And regular might be as frequent as every fortnight.  Rust is transmitted by air movement – the spores float with the wind and can travel from great distances. If you are in a densely populated area with many gardeners that grow onions, shallots, leeks, and other Allium species, the spores will be all over the place.  Traditionally garlic used to be planted on the shortest day (third week of June) and harvested around the longest day (Just before Christmas), but I’ve done some trials now for the last half a dozen years or so to bring those dates forward by at least a month and a half.  With rather little success, to be frank – I still need to spray regularly and when I am on the road and miss one of the sprays, the leaves will turn that yucky yellow-orange with the rust.  This year I decided to go inside my tunnelhouse; A week ago (on the 4th of May) I planted a few narrow beds of garlic in-between the lingering Tomato plants  The tomatoes are still going for at least another month which gives the garlic enough time to develop leaves and do some photosynthesis.  The beds go north-south and will be in full sun during the winter months, especially when the tomatoes are pulled out near the shortest day. At the moment, while the soil is still relatively warm, the garlic will have enough heat to sprout the leaves in record tempo.  Just when the development of the bulbs starts to take place the spores start flying outside, but with a bit of luck those spores will find it hard to gain access to my tunnelhouse.  Fingers crossed!    Varieties available from farmers markets and Garden Shops:  Printanor is the common old garlic variety you buy at “New World”. Often it is imported from China and treated to stop it sprouting That means no good for planting!!  Buy some planting cloves that are either organic or simply not treated.  At farmers market you can sometimes purchase interesting varieties:  - Californian Red Turban – can grow into huge bulbs (15 cm diameter bulbs)  - Macedonian – strong flavour – and somewhat oily  - West Coast Miners – rather good, large cloves too  - Hard-neck garlic; gets little flowers/bulblets up the stem – edible as soft green salad component, in mid-spring  - Elephant garlic is actually a leek, with a swollen stem – not a garlic – very mild flavour  Shallots can also be planted now!  Well-drained soil, shallow planting (tip just above the ground) – 15 cm spacing. Cover with ground sheep dags (KINPACK) or fine, rich compost.  Keep moist but not overly moist, because that encourages rotting.  Harvest when the foliage dies down (in my case Early to Mid November) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Amid the treasury of winning attractions across the West Coast, sampling its spoil of historic pubs, steeped in character and heritage is an irrepressible draw. They are keepers of the past and bridges to the present, proudly speaking to our pioneering history, of heady gold and coal rushes, and trail-blazing development. A starring specimen is Formerly The Blackball Hilton, located at the foot of the Paparoa ranges, just 29km from Greymouth." "From Blackball, it’s a short drive to one of the most powerful heritage sites on the West, the Brunner Mine Memorial Site. In a region wrenched by many a mining disaster, this magnificently preserved site is a memorial to New Zealand’s worst mining disaster of all. Strung along the slopes of a deep gorge carved out by the Grey River, Thomas Brunner not only named the river, but the mine bears the name of this intrepid overland explorer, who discovered the vast black coal seam in 1847. Straddling both sides of the river, and crowned with a dramatic suspension bridge, every twist of the pathways around the 2km-long loop walk leads you to vestiges of the old mine." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tattooist of Auschwitz  Six-part series based on the international bestselling novel by Heather Morris, inspired by the real-life story of Holocaust prisoners Lali and Gita Sokolov (Neon).    Dark Matter  A man is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could've lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifying foe: himself (Apple TV+).    Bodkin  A group of podcasters set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic Irish town. But when they start to pull the strings, they find a story much bigger and stranger than they could have imagined (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 11 May 2024, Jack spoke to kiwi filmmaker James Napier Robertson about his fascination for dysfunctional characters in real life stories and new film Joika.  Research has revealed that manual cars will essentially be extinct in the next five years, and Jack considered how engaging automatic cars are to drive.  Chef Nici Wickes brought us a winter warmer in the form of a pumpkin & kūmara soup with pesto, and music reviewer Estelle Clifford continues to celebrate NZ Music Month following the release of Jordan Rakei's new album The Loop.  Plus, Jack told Francesca Rudkin about his embarrassment following a run-in with actress Anne Hathaway.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fascination for dysfunctional, outsider characters in real life stories has led James Napier Robertson across the stage, small screen, and big screen.  The filmmaker has found huge success telling kiwi stories like The Dark Horse starring Cliff Curtis, and 2020's Dame Whina Cooper biopic.  Napier Robetson is going global with a story about one of the only American women ever to take part in the Russian ballet, Joy Womack, in his new film Joika.  He told Jack Tame that he’s been really struck by Joy’s story, even back when he saw it just by chance.  The filmmaker joined Tame to discuss the journey of making the film.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Idea of You   A 40-year-old single mum begins an unexpected romance with a 24-year-old boy band singer.    Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes   Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's iPad launch went as expected  They announced a new M4 chip just months after the M3, and put it in their iPad Pros. These chips are blazing fast. Oddly, the iPad Pro is thinner and lighter than the iPad Air - which makes no sense. The lineup is getting super complicated, with each iPad flavor now almost having its own accessories.  They are leaning into the Pro part of the iPad though. Final Cut can now bring in external projects and use media on external drives. The new "Final Cut Camera" gives pro-level control on both iPhone and iPad and allows the output to be streamed back to an iPad where four cameras can be monitored and recorded. The iPad Pro is becoming a TV control room in a device.  The new ad though, missed the mark  It showed creative objects —instruments, paint, a record player— being crushed into an iPad. Yes, it can do it all, but at what cost? Actor Hugh Grant called it a “destruction of human experience". It's starting to show the fine line marketers are going to have to walk with AI too - how do you show that something is helpful, but not going to take away from the 'human experience'. Do we really want fully synthesized music? Digital paint brushes? A robot to become our friend? Maybe all this AI will send us back to non-internet connected cameras, notebooks, and picnics in parks with friends?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tona ake reka” speaks to humbleness. The kūmara does not speak of its own sweetness. Kūmara softens and sweetens a regular pumpkin soup beautifully. These bowls of golden goodness are a true celebration of our national vegetable.   Serves 6-8     Ingredients  1 large onion, diced  3 cloves garlic, diced   2 tablespoons olive oil   2 teaspoons turmeric  1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger    1 small butternut pumpkin, peeled and chopped roughly   500g yellow or orange kūmara, peeled and chopped roughly   4 cups vegetable stock or water  1 cup coconut milk   Salt and pepper to season   6-8 teaspoons sour cream to serve   6-8 teaspoons pesto to serve   Bread to serve     Method  In a large saucepan, gently fry the onion and garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add turmeric, ginger, pumpkin, kūmara and stock. Bring to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft.   Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend to smooth, return to the saucepan and taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour in coconut milk and bring to the heat then serve in bowls with a dollop of sour cream and pesto on each. Serve with bread.     Pesto  Ingredients  A few big handfuls fresh watercress, rocket or basil  ¼ cup roasted almonds, cashews or walnuts  Juice from one lemon   ¼ teaspoon sea salt    ¼- ½ cup olive oil     Method  Use a food processor to blend together whatever greens and nuts you’re using,, lemon juice and salt. Drizzle in the olive oil until you have a chunky sauce consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quite the achievement has been made in Kevin Milne’s family.  The first in their family, his 34-year-old son Jake has run a marathon.  Unlike in the past where supporters would have to make the trek out to the course, these days family from around the world was able to watch the race live from the comfort of their own homes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years. That’s it.   According to research this week, manual cars will be essentially extinct within five years.   It shouldn’t really come as a great surprise, I suppose. EVs don’t require a manual gearbox, and already this decade there has been a pronounced decline in the production of new manual cars.   My first car was a manual. So was my second. The last thing I did before I moved overseas in my twenties was drive with my brother from Auckland to Christchurch, the long way. We shifted up and down, through the gears, all the way around the East Cape. Everyone I knew back then learnt to drive in a manual, unaware of the redundancy that lay around the corner.   My dad had strong views on the subject. Automatic transmission seemed kind of posh. My friends, whose parents had cooler, newer cars than our family van (which wasn’t exactly hard) all had automatics. The first time I drove one, I left it in Drive when I switched it off, and freaked out when I couldn’t re-start it. Dad always said that a manual gave you more control.  He was right, of course. If you learnt to drive a manual, you were connected to your vehicle and to the road in a way that was never replicated in an automatic. Subconsciously you’d read inclines, you’d assess the breadth and tightness of corners. Is that a corner for second or will I glide around in third? You listened to the car. Most obviously, you used both hands and both feet.   I remember how satisfying it was to master a hill start in a manual car. All-four limb coordination. The way you ease the handbrake off, and perfectly balance the clutch and the gas so you don’t move an inch, and balance perfectly against the incline. How good?!  Driving’s changed. These days most modern cars are fancy computers on wheels. They beep at you with lane assists and prompts. And the vast majority of cars which people sit their licenses in are automatic.   I haven’t owned a manual in 12 years. But even today, when I drive over the mighty Takaka Hill, I always use the tiptronic gears. Better control. Less work for the brakes. Connection to the road.   There’s no changing the course of progress on this one. Nor should there be. Whatever benefits there are to getting the World off fossil fuels surely outweigh the downsides.   But it doesn’t mean I won’t miss the steady glide up and down through the gears.   Driving an auto isn’t really driving. It’s commuting.   Driving a manual... that’s the real thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With non-stop flights from Auckland, Doha is becoming an increasingly popular through-route for travellers on their way to Europe.  Mike Yardley dipped into the city, describing it as eclectic and exotic, with a real melting pot of cultures.  “It does intermingle well,” he told Jack Tame.  “You’ve got the fusion of cutting-edge modernity and timeless tradition all in one.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson   In ZigZag Lane, in the heart of Sydney’s rag-trade district, tea ladies Hazel, Betty and Irene find themselves in hot water. Having already solved a murder, kidnapping and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, they have proved themselves a useful resource and earned the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their help to solve a plot that threatens security.  As if that’s not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.  There’s also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel’s job but the very role of tea lady. It’s up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods – before it’s too late.    The Everything War by Dana Mattioli  From veteran Amazon reporter for The Wall Street Journal, The Everything War is the first untold, devastating exposé of Amazon's endless strategic greed, from destroying Main Street to remaking corporate power, in pursuit of total domination, by any means necessary.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A distinctive figure in the New Zealand musical landscape, Delaney Davidson has dropped yet another album.  Out of My Head has a more theatrical feel, co-producer Mark Perkins’ synth atmospheres creating a cinematic soundscape for the twelve-track album.  The album is filled with songs written over the global pandemic lockdown period, with notable guest appearances from Marlon Williams and Reb Fountain.  Despite the circumstances in which they were written, music reviewer Estelle Clifford told Jack Tame that there’s a kind of freedom and joy to a lot of the tunes.  “I love it,” she said, giving the album a 10/10.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founder of the hugely successful ‘The Naked and Famous’, Thomas Powers is stepping out from behind the curtain.  The musician is positioning himself centre stage with the upcoming release of his debut album, ‘A Tyrant Crying in Private’.  He told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that the transition has been both easy and difficult.  “In one respect, it’s easier, like I don’t, it’s easier for me to get things done and I’m very used to the process of completing things,” he said.  “But actually in the promotion of the music and putting it out there into the world, I’m totally unconfident because times have changed.”   The music market is quite youth-oriented Powers said, and it feels disingenuous to pretend to be young online.  “That’s been a real hurdle.”  For most artists moving from a group act to being judged on their individual merits is daunting, but Powers has no such issue.  “I think I just know myself now and I don't feel insecure about who I am as a person,” he told Tame.  “So making art, that’s easy. I can do that. I can do that all day long.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Night Caller   A lonely taxi driver haunted by his past reaches out to a late-night talkback radio host, forming an on-air friendship which escalates into a dangerous obsession (TVNZ+).    A Man in Full   When real estate mogul Charlie Croker faces bankruptcy, political and business interests collide, as he defends his empire from those attempting to capitalize on his fall from grace (Netflix).    High Country   Detective Andie Whitford gets transferred to the High Country, where she is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearances of five locals lost in the Victorian wilderness (ThreeNow).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golda   Faced with the potential of Israel's complete destruction, Prime Minister Golda Meir must navigate overwhelming odds, a sceptical cabinet and a complex relationship with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as millions of lives hang in the balance during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.  Back to Black   Singer Amy Winehouse's tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil inspires her to write and record the groundbreaking album "Back to Black."    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has found some success in his garden.  The birdbath, a Christmas gift for his wife, has been attracting some clientele after five months free of visitors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been reports that this has increased since COVID, particularly online.  People usually think there is a particular “personality type” that engages in bullying and therefore in order to stop it we just have to root out those particular people. Whilst this is true to some extent (e.g., people who are more narcissistic and want to advance their career tend to engage in bullying behaviour more), what research shows is that bullying behaviour is more likely to occur in workplaces where there are high levels of stress.  Research found that when people had high workloads there was more bullying at work, and that this rate was increased even further when people were feeling insecure about their jobs. So, when people are feeling stressed and under pressure they behave in negative ways towards others – “hurt people hurt people”.  Particularly relevant at the moment when we have high workloads and people feeling very insecure about their jobs due to current economic environment and also because Pink Shirt Day coming up on 17 May.  What can done:  - Organisations need to be alert to the increased risk at the moment.  - Leaders need to create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up when something they don’t like is happening (this is called psychological safety).  - Pay attention to the small seeds that might start to take root – not technically bullying but being rude or uncivil towards others —Prof Geoff Plimmer from Victoria Uni calls this “workplace incivility”— like a virus that can spread through an organisation. - The Mental Health Foundation and Umbrella Wellbeing are running a free webinar about online bullying for Pink Shirt Day    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the thyroid and what does it do?  -A small butterfly shaped gland at the front of your neck.  -Produces ‘thyroid hormone’ which is very important in regulating the body.  -Does a range of things from: keeping us warm, to regulating heart, brain, muscles, bowels.     What happens when your thyroid slows down and becomes underactive?  -We start to get a range of symptoms affecting all parts of the body, that are often very subtle and difficult to pick up.  -In particular weight gain and tiredness and feeling cold.  -Other symptoms may be constipation, dry skin, hair loss, muscle pain, depression, cholesterol issues.     Who gets it and what are the causes?  -More common in women over 50.  -Also more common those with issues such as Type 1 Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.  -However, anyone can develop an underactive thyroid including babies (very rare) and children.  -Most commonly caused by immune disorder called ‘Hashimoto’s Disease’ where body turns off the thyroid and starts to shut the thyroid down.  -Other causes include some medication, previous thyroid treatment, iodine deficiency,     How do you diagnose and treat?  -Your GP will do a simple blood test on how your thyroid is working.  -Sometimes if the changes are very small so we just monitor.  -However, if it’s causing symptoms it’s treated with thyroid medication to replace the missing thyroid.  -Often need to take medication for life with periodic blood tests and medication may need dose changes.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In NZ we have five wasp species that can cause problems: three paper wasp species, two Vespula species.   First of all, the paper wasps. They are now flying around your garden, where the males settle themselves on easy-to-spot places (“lek sites”) to attract females.   Yes, autumn time is what it’s all about: fertilise the females, who will hibernate and start new colonies in spring.  Male paper wasps vying for the attention of females.   A blast with some fly spray will sort them out quickly and it will also reduce the number of fertilised wasps that over-winter.   Some paper wasp nests are still in operation as the last-born wasps emerge. The best way to get rid of these nests is by going out on cool evenings in the dark. No muckin’ around, 4 or 5 seconds worth of fly spray is more than enough. If you use a residual insecticide you’ll find that the wasps will not survive a return to their autumnal nest.  German Wasps and common wasps (Genus Vespula) nest in cavities (hollow trees, wall cavities and hollow trunks of trees, in your ceiling or roof space, etc). Both these two species sting – no sense of humour!  These wasps are often found eating honeydew in native forests, especially in the South Island. They will also hunt for insects (protein) in your garden (Monarch butterfly caterpillars and other sizeable insects) to feed their young ones in the nest.  This is what these Vespula nests look like: layered with many cells in which the larvae (juveniles) develop and get fed by the workers… a little bit like bees!  The nests are constructed from masticated wood fibres, collected during spring and summer; nice and warm, waterproof, and quite environmentally friendly!  The Vespula species are tricky to control, kill, and remove. It is best left to professional pest controllers, but if you want to have a go yourself here are some tips:  - Work out where the entrance of the nest is – sometimes there are a few entrances.  - Get yourself some wasp powder (such as Kiwicare no wasps).  - Wait till well into the evening (as temperatures go down in autumn).  - Head-torch on, wasp powder ready. Approach the nest confidently and squirt the powder into the opening – no muckin’ around!  - Retreat smartly and turn the torch off as soon as you are able when retreating (the wasps cleverly assume that the person with the torch is an invader!).  - You’ll hear the buzzing noise increase soon after your attack – because the wasps’ wingbeats stir up the powder and they can’t control that dust-like insect killer!  - Next morning have a careful look to see if there’s anyone still alive. If so, come back again the next cool night  Oh – yes: DO NOT wear togs!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s expected to be focused on the iPad which hasn't had a refresh in a while.  Predictions: - OLED screens, the tech that the ultra-high quality iPhone screen has had for five years now. - A larger iPad Air - 12.9" version, like the Pro range. - A new magic keyboard design, which is metal and feels more laptop like. - New ways to interact with the Pencil, possibly adding new squeezing features and haptic feedback.   To me, it further complicates the iPad vs MacbookAir purchase decision, unless something changes at this event. An iPad isn't quite a laptop, but with the M2 chip also expecting to be announced, maybe the convergence between iPadOS and MacOS is closer? One noticeable change: the time slot. The 'Scary Fast' event was in the early evening for NYC, this one is at 10am, 7am PT, which means Asia will be able to see it before they go to bed. Is it partly because Apple needs to boost sales in China? Maybe! Huawai is seeing massive growth in the premium phone market in China. iPad sales are also not up to Wall Street expectations. Unlike phones which get hammered every day, iPads tend to have a longer life and so need a good sales pitch to get folks to upgrade. Also, there is still no in-person crowd. Seems Apple is sticking with its pre-recorded format.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who can resist a gooey, melting, light-as-a-feather soufflé? Once you’ve mastered these little beauties, you’ll be impressing friends with them in no time.  Makes 6 x 150ml ramekins    Ingredients:  For 1st baking:  Butter & plain flour for coating ramekins  50g butter  2 heaped tbsp plain flour  300mls milk  50g grated aged cheddar or Gouda  1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)  3 eggs, separated  ¼ tsp salt, pinch of black pepper    For 2nd baking:  100mls cream, slightly whipped (or sour cream)  60g grated cheese, perhaps a pecorino.    Method: 1. Preheat oven to 160 C. Rub 6 ramekins, or other oven proof dishes or even a Texas muffin tin, with butter then dust lightly with flour. 2. In a saucepan melt the butter over a medium heat. Add the flour and stir continuously while it cooks and thickens to a paste – about 1-2 minutes. 3. Take off the heat, whisk in the milk, a little at a time until it has all been added, then return to the heat and cook it, stirring with a wooden spoon, until you have a smooth and thick white sauce – about 3-4 minutes. Add cheese and stir until it has melted. Stir in the thyme and allow to cool slightly. Lightly whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time, then add in the seasoning. Cool to warm. 4. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold ¼ egg white mixture into the cheese sauce to ‘loosen’ it, then fold in the remaining egg white. Spoon the filling into the moulds to 2/3 full. 5. Place ramekins in an oven dish to cook in a water bath, pouring enough boiling water into the dish (around the moulds) to come half way up the sides of the moulds. 6. Bake 20-25 minutes until they are risen, ‘just set’ and still a little wobbly. Remove ramekins from the water bath and leave to cool for 10 minutes (don’t worry that they sink a little) then run a knife about each and invert onto a tray or into an oven proof casserole dish. They can remain like this in the fridge for 2-3 days. 7. About 15 minutes before you are ready to serve, heat oven to 180 C fan bake. Divide the cream between each soufflé, pouring over the top, and sprinkle with extra cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until risen again and golden. Serve immediately.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I dunno what happened. I used to crave nightclubs. Dancefloors. Parties and drinks and the euphoria of thumping music, sweaty bodies, raised voices, and a big night out. But at some point in the last couple of years, I went through that cliched transition that so many of us experience in life.  My idea of a good time now? A few hours to myself and a bit of DIY. Headphones in. Podcasts on. Ryobi batteries charged and caulking gun at the ready. Life knows no greater bliss.   When you own an old house there’s always a project. Autumn’s project was among the more complex I’ve tackled in the 18 months I’ve called my home my home: I have two sets of twin split awning windows in my kitchen, right next to my sink. But when I first bought the place and moved in, I realised you couldn’t open them.  Why? For some reason... a reason that still isn’t entirely clear, someone had nailed the windows shut. What’s more, once I pried them open, I could see the hinges had been painted over, and were clogged with decades-old dried paint.  Week one I opened the windows, removed the nails, oiled the hinges and stripped the paint. It was an oddly splendid morning. Me, my podcasts, some noxious chemicals and a paintscraper. How could something so dull be so nourishing?  I couldn’t wait for Week Two. I sanded the timber, dried the rot, caulked the gaps, taped the interior windows, scraped and oiled the hinges. When I found that one rusty hinge had snapped and the window sagged out of place, I bought an extra-durable titanium drill bit to drill through the metal and carefully refixed the hinge to the inside of the frame. Another satisfying day’s work.   Week Three I primed them, re-oiled the hinges, lined the windows with draft-stoppers, and played Russian Roulette with rainclouds for the first coat of paint. I opened them ajar on matching angles, like sails in the wind, partially to dry the paint and partially to show them off to my wife when she got home.   “Oh, wow... great job!”   I could tell she was only acting impressed for my sake, but I took the compliment all the same.   It’s curious to me how strangely relaxing it is —therapeutic, even— to chip away at a relatively menial DIY project. There’s something primal in it. Something so human about using your hands to make something.   I wiled away hours each week, I exhausted my podcast downloads. And each week I was able to stand back and assess a little bit of progress.   Week Four. The home straight. I began with a window paint scrapper. Someone previously had painted the outside of the windows without using tape where the glass met the frames, and there were areas where the wobbly paint lines strayed a long way onto the windows themselves. I’d done three of the four windows, flicking away the old paint with the edge of the scraper’s razor blade. I got to the last window. The most prominent window. The one you stare through when you use the sink. And as I flicked away paint right at the bottom of the glass, something gave way.  It was less of a crack and more of a crunch. Maybe I dug just a little bit too hard with the corner edge of the window scraper’s razor blade. A month’s worth of me time shattered around me, as a huge split spread up the glass in the centre of the window.   Ahhh yes. So therapeutic. So relaxing. So good for the soul.   Until it isn’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expansion on her second studio album, Bewitched: The Goddess Edition features four new songs from singer-songwriter Laufey.  In her own words the album is “a love album, whether it be a love towards a friend or a lover or life”, Bewitched dealing with a variety of romantic themes.   According to Estelle Clifford it could’ve come straight out of the 1935, an old-school movie quality to the first four songs on the album, the rich jazziness of her complimenting the vibes.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earth by John Boyne  It’s the tabloid sensation of the two well-known footballers standing in the dock, charged with sexual assault, a series of vile text messages pointing towards their guilt. As the trial unfolds, Evan Keogh reflects on the events that have led him to this moment. Since leaving his island home, his life has been a lie on many levels. He’s a talented footballer who wanted to be an artist. A gay man in a sport that rejects diversity. A defendant whose knowledge of what took place on that fateful night threatens more than just his freedom or career. The jury will deliver a verdict but, before they do, Evan must judge for himself whether the man he has become is the man he wanted to be.    The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour and Jude Dobson  This is the astounding true story of one of the last female special operations agents in France to get out alive after its liberation in WWII.  Born in 1921, Pippa Latour became a covert special operations agent who parachuted into a field in Nazi-occupied Normandy. Trained by the British, Pippa was lauded for her fluency with languages and her coding ability - attributes she put to remarkable use when she posed as a teenage soap-seller, often selling her wares to the German soldiers and sending back information via code to England.  Incredibly brave - Pippa knew she could be instantly shot if her cover was blown - she concealed her codes on a piece of silk that she threaded through a shoelace and wore as a hair tie. She bicycled around the region, often sleeping rough and foraging for food.  During her time in Normandy, Pippa sent 135 secret messages conveying crucial information on German troop positions in the lead-up to D-Day. Pippa continued her mission until the liberation of Paris in August 1944.  For decades, Pippa told no one - not even her family - of her incredible feats during WWII.  Now, for the first time, her story can be told in full.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lie   A father and daughter are on their way to dance camp when they spot the girl's best friend on the side of the road; when they stop to offer the friend a ride, their good intentions soon result in terrible consequences (in cinemas).  The Fall Guy   After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers springs back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt (in cinemas).    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story  Follows the history of Bon Jovi, featuring personal videos, photos, and music that provide a look at Jon Bon Jovi's life and the band's journey from New Jersey clubs to global fame (Disney+).    The Dry  After living it up in London, Shiv returns home to Dublin, where she must navigate new relationships, family drama and her own questionable life choices, all while trying to stay sober (TVNZ+).    Food Rescue Kitchen  A new heartwarming New Zealand show that sees six top chefs create a three-course meal for the community out of rescued food (ThreeNow, Three at Saturday, 7pm).    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Crisp, clear days sets the stage for cracking autumn adventures in Sydney. If you’re planning a fresh fling with the Emerald City, here’s a roundup of some winning picks to rev up your city-break, from bucket list classics to seasonal treats and in-the-know gems." Read Mike's full article here.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fashion Revolution movement, a week-long fashion activism campaign.  The campaign was prompted by the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, killing over a thousand people and injuring around 2,500.  It aims to bring awareness to the way fashion and clothing are created and consumed, promoting sustainability.  Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the campaign and this year’s Fashion Revolution Week.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want something to think about? Something that sets fire to your garden?  Go and visit your local Botanic Gardens, they’re everywhere in Aotearoa!  I know… we are really lucky in Christchurch.  Best Autumn performers: liquidamber, smoke bush, Japanese Maple, ash, sycamore, poplar, birch and even some willows.  To me, all these autumn colours remind me that our planet has been on the re-using bandwagon for 3.8 billion years,and the display is absolutely dazzling!  This is the time for Dahlia flowers.  Dahlia Joal Jay Jay. Photo / Supplied  Julie’s pick of the bunch – it just about hurts your retina!  Talking about bright colours: a Yellow Ginko biloba (the maidenhair fern tree); ancient gymnosperm  When leaves form a carpet, it looks pretty impressive. Oh… use male trees only as females smell!!!  Here’s a great native; always providing colour, so needed in winter too.  Pseudowintera colorata – pepper plant  Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant redwood from the USA. Yes you’ll need to wait a few weeks for it to grow massively, but you’ve got to think “long-term” in this game. The bark is lovely and soft.  This particular one (in Christchurch botanic gardens) has been host (for many, many years) to one of our most rottenest pest weed in the garden: Poison Ivy!!  But have a look how stunning this turned out to be… as long as someone takes the time to control that ivy!  And then, for folk with a decent-sized and shallow water feature (a lake or “lakelet”) this caught my eye a long time ago when visiting the Okefenokee swamp (on the border of Georgia and Florida)  A Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress) can live in water and has pretty knobbly knees or pneumatophores that allow the roots to breathe air above the level of the water.    These swamp cypresses also take a long time to age, but their Pneumatophores will show quite quickly when the tree(s) start to settle  One word or warning: don’t fall over them, keep an eye on where they are, otherwise you’ll end up pretty wet.  Sometimes you encounter a tree that you’d never expect in Aotearoa:  The Wollemi Pine! (Wollemia nobilis)  This Conifer species belongs to the Araucaria Family of trees (Araucariaceae) and was considered extinct in Australia some 2 million years ago.  It was re-discovered in 1994 in a canyon NW of Sydney. Fewer than 100 mature specimens still exist and propagation and planting of new trees in suitable habitat is aiming to save this species from extinction.  Your Botanic Gardens are involved in exactly this kind of restoration of endangered species!  And collaboration is the key to these projects – even gardeners can be involved!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS  Wine: OTU (Otawhero Estate) Chardonnay, 2023 Hawke’s Bay $20 Why I chose it:  - Discovered it in a recent blind tasting - Excellent wine from a challenging vintage (La Nina, wet)  What does it taste like?   - Silken texture with grapefruit, green apple, lemon curd and a touch of whipped cream.  Why it’s a bargain:   - $20 or less  Where can you buy it?   - New World - Devonport - Shop around  Food match?   - Versatile   - Seafood pasta dish   - Creamy chicken fettucine  Will it keep?   - Drink up    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ International Comedy Festival is kicking off next week, and to kickstart the shenanigans Chris Parker will be hosting the annual Comedy Gala.  The kiwi comedian has cemented himself as one of the country’s favourite comics, having done everything from stage shows and stand-up to podcasts and books.  He’s just returned home from the Melbourne Comedy Festival where he did a total of 22 shows alongside line-ups, a podcast, and various other gigs over the course of a month.  He told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that there’s a lot of people, and a lot of kiwis looking for something familiar.  “I’m doing sort of customer service, sort of trying to figure out where my audience is,” Parker said.  “And I’m like, ‘oh I see. They’re mostly kiwis who are feeling homesick and want to hear an accent again.”  The set he performed at the Festival was titled ‘Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn't Throw My Phone Off This Bridge’, a title he said was a dramatic reaction to being on his phone too much.  “I keep sort of having those like, ‘what if?’ moments. I don’t know if you feel like whenever you’re driving over the Harbour bridge and you’re just like, ‘what if?’” Parker asked Tame.  “I have that with my phone every morning, or I just want to crush it, you know? Just because I’m just done with it.”  Parker appreciates that he built his audience through social media, but he does worry about the impact social media and technology has on those who use it, their attention spans, and the way they connect with others.  “When we first had the internet, which is such a joyful place where we talk to men in their forties in chat rooms, and now it’s sort of dissolved into this, you know...”   “This actually unpleasant place,” Tame chimed in.  “It’s very interesting,” Parker agreed.  This is the crux of the show, he explains, the relationship and dependence we have on social media, Parker even saying that he might go cold turkey on it.  He compares the assortment of media consumed in one moment to canapes at an event, a chiropractor video next to world news next to a pasta recipe similar to a bao bun, a prawn twizzler, and a burger all on one plate.  “That’s a lot of different stuff to be consuming in one moment.”  Speaking of canapes and events, Parker rejects the notion that hosting the Comedy Gala is a rough gig.  “I am, you know, a serial showoff,” he told Tame.  “So, all I’m gagging for is the stage time, and I get more than anyone else! No other acts, it’s me for an hour.”  The awards are a beautiful thing, he said. Being able to see his colleagues at their best in a four or five minute act, six if they go overtime, it’s wonderful.  “It gives a real gauge on how we’re going as a country in terms of our, you know, comedic landscape, which is like, we’re sharper and funnier than ever."  “We were storming Melbourne,” Parker revealed.  “They were getting angry at how good, at how funny New Zealand was.”  In Parker's opinion, this is an amazing time for New Zealand comedy, and while we do celebrate it, we could be better. "Please go out and support live comedy." "Stop watching comedy on your phone, get out, put your phone in the bin, get out of the door and go take a punt on a comedian that you've never heard of before." The International Comedy Festival begins May 3rd in venues across Auckland and Wellington, with select shows occurring around the country.  ‘Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn't Throw My Phone Off This Bridge’ will be touring New Zealand from June 20th, visiting Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TikTok clock has started, and TikTok is saying it's not even looking at it.  Parent company ByteDance posted overnight that it doesn't have any plans to sell TikTok. Reuters is reporting that a source says it would prefer to just shut the app down in the US, their algorithm is their secret sauce, so selling the app would be selling the algorithm. Get ready for a showdown. TikTok's CEO says the law and the US Constitution is on their side. The US says it has concerns TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans, which TikTok strongly rejects. To complicate matters, 60% of Bytedance is owned by investment Firms including large (and likely influential) US investors.  Meta's pumping billions more into AI  The company had planned to spend up to $37 billion this year but now says it could be closer to $40 billion. They certainly have the cash though, profit was $12.4 billion for Q1, more than double Q1 last year. A staggering number of people are dependent on Meta, with Zuckerberg saying at the earnings call more than 3.24 billion people use one or more of its apps every day. WhatsApp is a big driver of that usage. He also made a plea to shareholders to trust that the money will come at some stage with AI & Metaverse products, just as it has for Reels and Stories which initially didn't make any money.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dessert is an easy French classic and any fruit can be used really – feijoa, peach, plum, prune or the original, cherry. I’m only using raspberries as I’ve recently been late-season raspberry picking! Serves one    Ingredients:  Butter  ½ cup fresh raspberries  1 medium egg  2 tablespoons caster sugar + extra  1 tablespoon plain flour  1 tsp vanilla extract  ¼ cup milk  Cream to serve    Method:  Preheat the oven to 180°C and generously butter a small ovenproof dish.  Scatter raspberries into dish.  Whisk egg with the 2 tablespoons sugar, add flour and whisk until smooth. Whisk in vanilla and milk.  Pour batter over fruit, dot some butter over the top and bake for 20 minutes or so until just set in the centre and golden.  Serve with a final sprinkle of sugar over the top and drizzle with cream.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the ANZAC services in Wellington may be bigger, there’s a reason Kevin Milne sticks with his local services.  There’s just something about the things that happen in small towns that really appeals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday this week the former Green party co-leader James Shaw will address parliament as an MP for the last time. And in a moment when his party is reeling from a combination of scandal and tragedy, his valedictory marks the end of an undervalued career.   Many of the politicians who join our so-called minor parties are idealists. They’re not like some Labour or National MPs (more than a few of whom I reckon secretly dream of becoming Prime Minister). They join because they really intensely believe in the political philosophy or kaupapa. And in the case of the Greens, it’s my view that sometimes activism comes at the expense of more pragmatic strategy.   Ahead of his valedictory address, I went back and looked up James Shaw’s maiden speech in parliament from back in 2014.   What stuck out to me was how much he talked about overcoming political divisions and tribalism, working together, reaching across the aisle to make connections and compromises with politicians in different parties.   That might sound like bland political speak, but actually, politicians in New Zealand don’t talk about compromise all that much. In the U.S, Republicans and Democrats often talk about working across the aisle —even if that’s bollocks, these days— but the way New Zealand’s system is structured, usually the only compromise we see for really big legislation is between coalition or support partners in government together.   As an MP, James Shaw did not achieve everything he wanted. Our biggest-emitting industry doesn’t pay for its emissions. Tax reform never got done. But it’s interesting to reflect on what big legacy changes have and haven’t survived the change of government.   The Māori Health Authority, Three Waters, Auckland Light Rail, Te Pūkenga, the Oil and Gas ban; so much of the last Labour government’s policy and work programme has been scrapped.   But one big piece of work has endured. Despite ACT’s continued opposition, the Zero Carbon Act has survived the change in government.   Why? I’d suggest a major part of the reason is the way James Shaw went about crafting that legislation. He didn’t charge ahead by himself. He very deliberately worked across the aisle. He developed a close relationship with National’s then-climate spokesperson Todd Muller and worked to gain the support of every MP in parliament, but one. The whole purpose of the legislation was that it would survive the changing winds and ups-and-downs of politics over time. And here we are.   I think there’s a good argument to be made that the single most significant piece of enduring legislation from Jacinda Ardern’s time in government, was a piece of work developed by an MP who wasn’t even in her party or Cabinet.   The Zero Carbon Act is a victory for compromise. A victory for putting aside differences and uniting around common goals. And although James Shaw’s style and strategy may not have always have been appreciated by everyone in his own party, the result speaks for itself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musical trio Khruangbin is well known for their blend of classic soul, dub, rock, and psychedelia; the group emerging in 2010 and going strong fourteen years on.  They’ve played 18 tours to nearly half a million people, selling out iconic venues such as Red Rocks and Radio City Music Hall, the latter twice.  Two weeks ago, they released their fifth album A La Sala, and just last week they took to the stage at Coachella.  They have a music-forward approach to their craft, and the group’s drummer DJ Johnson told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that it’s been that way since the start.  “The music always comes first,” he said.  Johnson said that the music determines everything that happens in the backend, album titles being one example.  “We’ve been asked like, ‘what’s the next album gonna be called?’ And it’s like, well, we don’t know yet because the music doesn’t exist yet.”  They’ve described the album as a creative homecoming of sorts, bassist Laura Lee telling Tame that while the band has grown and evolved, touring the world and playing stadiums, it's nice to strip everything back.  “The amount of voices and opinions and, you know, tugs and pulls in various directions have grown, and I think there was a desire to just get back to square one.”  A La Sala is free of collaborations, guests, and features, and although they are proud of the collaborations they’ve made, Lee said it felt like so long since they’d made music just the three of them.  “As we were getting back to that place, we realised that the creative was in less, and not in more.”  Johnson said that while it does have the same kind of magic as when they were first making music, the growth and evolution they’ve gone through has impacted it.  “We went back to more or less the way that we used to approach the material when we first started, but with a renewed sense and a maturity in which we’re approaching it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift has released her much anticipated eleventh studio album The Tortured Poets Department, the release catching her fans by surprise with the addition of 15 unknown songs. Two hours after the initial release of the album The Anthology was released, Swift saying in a tweet that she'd written so much tortured poetry over the last two years and wanted to share it with her fans, hence the double release. The BBC described the album as 'vulnerable but vicious', which Estelle Clifford had to agree with. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sympathizer  Near the end of the Vietnam War, a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong (Neon).    Baby Reindeer  Dealing with a female stalker, a man is forced to face a dark, buried trauma (Netflix).    Painting with John  At an undisclosed location in the Caribbean, artist John Lurie hones his watercolour painting techniques while sharing his reflections on life (Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abigail  A group of would-be criminals kidnaps the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Holding her for ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan starts to unravel when they discover their young captive is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.    Origin   Based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson, played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, as she writes the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Over the course of the film, Wilkerson travels throughout Germany, India, and the United States to research the caste systems in each country's history.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How long does the average person live? How will that impact their retirement?  How much money do you need to live comfortably when retiring? When do you start saving? How do you start saving?  Economist Ed McKnight joined Jack Tame to dive into how to save to make your retirement work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes   Anna Walsh had a dream life - according to everybody else. She lived in New York, had a long-term boyfriend, and had The Best Job In The World working as a highly successful beauty PR. So why did she decide to take a flamethrower to the lot? Because now she's back Dublin, living with her parents. She's undeniably forty-eight, with no partner, no job, and no direction. Anna's lost her purpose. She needs a new challenge to help her fall back in love with life again. When an opportunity arises to solve a PR crisis in the tiny town of Maumtully, Anna leaps at the chance. But will the appearance of an old love interest derail her plans?    A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci  Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.    Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.     Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair.  But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.      LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The humming Hurunui township of Amberley is on a roll. 40 minutes’ drive from Christchurch, Amberley’s population has surged by over 50% in the past decade and is projected to double again in the next ten years. Straddling SH1, this embracing country town exudes a hearty welcome, with its boutique shopping offerings and a fantastic Farmers Market every Saturday morning, abuzz with producers and artisans. With a long and proud rural history, Amberley is a rich commercial cradle for the region’s growers and producers." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The importance of leading well during times of change (of which there is a lot of at the moment!) and the importance of leaders looking after their own wellbeing as part of leading well.  A recent study interviewed 20 CEOs from leading companies in the USA. It showed that really effective leaders helped improve team and individual performance and helped the organisations do really well.  On the flip side, leaders who were burnt out or stressed passed this onto their team. They tended to be closed off to new ideas, create a negative psychological climate, and make decisions based on anxiety and avoidance.  This highlights the need for leaders and organisations to make sure leader’s mental wellbeing is a priority. Leaders should consider this as a core part of their job and actively schedule it in.  It’s helpful for leaders to make sure they have good social connections outside of work and ideally a peer network across their business that they can talk openly with as they’re often not able to share everything with their team.  Important to be predictable in their role and part of this is managing their own emotional expression, but what do they do with the “residue” of this? Getting professional coaching/supervision can be really helpful in this domain.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s concentrate on the N, P and K.  Nitrogen is the stuff that makes plants green; this molecule provides the building blocks for Chlorophyll. If you have plants that are valued for their leaves and green stems (grass, lawns, lettuce, ornamental trees and shrubs) they will need more N than say P or K.  Plants with important roots (carrots, parsnips, potatoes) and other underground organs that will grow as they explore for “food in the dark”; they need a little bit more P (Phosphate) to do just that.  And the K (Potash) is for reproduction.  Plant reproduction is of course mostly through flowers, which are pollinated and hence become fertilised to produce seeds and fruits which, when deposited on soil, will yield new seedlings.  That means that flowering plants and fruiting trees, shrubs, vines and berry bushes, really appreciate an extra dollop of potash, just to keep the cool stuff coming.  But in Autumn temperatures are going down and most plants, trees and shrubs will slowly stop growing to prepare for winter. They simply don’t need a lot of fertiliser at all – in fact many of them slowly stop taking in these food molecules.  Generally speaking: if you would fertilise plants in autumn the plant may try to create some more new leaves – roses (and quite a few other plant species) would do that in late summer and autumn. Those soft, new leaves will be very susceptible to frost damage.  Not advisable!  Right now, a lot of shrubs and trees are trying to prepare for winter by storing the N, P, K and such valuable macro or micronutrients before they drop the leaves. Those nutrients are “stored” in the twigs, stems and woody parts; the leaves will discolour to reds, oranges and yellows,  Those autumn colours literally look like deficiency patterns – mind you, they look beautiful! Just visit Central Otago.  One thing I would fertilise from now on is the compost bin!! If I use the Seaweed Tea, its nutrients will encourage tiny critters and bacteria, fungi etc., to develop in the compost. That results in a much quicker decomposition and more fertility when you use that compost in spring.  Another good use of fertiliser is for Cymbidium orchids! These plants are often grown in warmer areas (out of the frosty zones) and will appreciate a high K (potash) diet in autumn and winter so they can produce a heap of flower buds in late winter.  Similarly certain bulbs would like a bit of slow-release food, to develop their own flowers or even more bulbs. Think about Garlic and shallots! Winter is often their growth time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta is out to kill ChatGPT  Mark Zukerbeg admits that Meta isn't known as an AI leader but doesn't want it to be that way for long. They have released their Llama 3 models which are monumental steps ahead of Llama 2.  For the sake of scale, Llama 2 was trained on 2 trillion tokens, Llama 3 was trained on 15 trillion tokens. Simply, it's going to know more and be able to connect more dots than before. Meta has made the small and medium versions of Llama 3 available to external developers but hasn't yet confirmed when the large model will be made available. You're going to see more AI on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram. You'll see prompts for replies generated by AI. The AI Assistant will be more prominent. For the first time, Meta's created a standalone chatbot for desktop, outside of its product frameworks. Meta.AI looks just like ChatGPT but is totally free.   The Swifties were divided over the album leak  What do you do when a hotly anticipated Taylor Swift album is leaked in a Google Drive folder before launch? Do you listen? Do you wait for the official release? It's the ethical questions that had Swifties debating online this week. The leak has turned out to be the real album, but not the surprise 2am album, making the The Tortured Poets Department a double album.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those who are taking Anzac Day off next week and are looking for something to make over the long weekend, these could be worth a try.    Ingredients:  ½ leek, diced and gently sautéed  1 cup cauliflower florets, finely diced  20g butter + 50g butter  4 heaped tbsps. plain flour  300mls milk  Pinch white pepper  50g hard cheese (cheddar or machego are good options)  1 egg  extra flour for coating  ¾ cup breadcrumbs    Method:  1. In a pot, melt the 20g butter on a low heat, add the leeks and cook until softened. Add in cauliflower and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.   2. Melt the 50g butter then add flour and stir to form a paste. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, then slowly add the milk, stirring or whisking until there are no lumps. Increase the heat slightly and stir until the sauce is a thickened and the flour has completely cooked – you shouldn’t be able to detect any flour when you taste it.  3. Add the pepper, cheese, leeks and cauliflower and stir to combine. Taste to make sure it has enough seasoning. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool completely. It will be very thick once cooled.  4. Set up three plates, one with a beaten egg, one with seasoned flour and one with breadcrumbs.  5. Begin to shape the croquettes by rolling tablespoonfuls of the cooled béchamel into small sausage shapes. Roll each one in flour, then egg, then in the breadcrumbs and set aside.  6. Fill a medium sized pot with enough cooking oil to come halfway up the pot and turn it to medium heat. Focus and do not leave the pot for a minute!  7. Once hot enough (small currants will form on the bottom of the pot but it will not reach smoking point), begin to cook the croquettes, 3-5 at a time by lowering them into the oil with a slotted spoon. If your oil is not hot enough they will sink and melt, instead of floating and frying, so trial one first.  8. Fry in batches until each is golden brown all over (turn them if you need to but they often do it themselves). Remove and drain on paper towel and serve immediately.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you reach 75 years of age, in order to get your drivers licence you have to do a health test.  The test includes a cognitive test to check for dementia, and a general health test.  Kevin Milne went to sit the test earlier in the week and suffice to say he was a bit nervous. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did she do it?   How could it be?  Tell me how —HOW— does the most famous popstar in the World right now keep anything secret?  I get it. It’s not a nuclear code. It’s not a secret access key for a banking system that would make a keen hacker trillions of dollars in an instant. But that Taylor Swift, in the digital age, with however many hundreds of millions of fans Worldwide following her every move, can press a button and drop 15 songs, having secretly recorded them and prepared them to be published simultaneously on streaming platforms around the World, tells you one thing: Taylor Swift’s lawyers really know how to write an iron-clad NDA.  Is Taylor Swift worth the hype?  I’m not a Swiftie, per se. I didn’t go to Australia for the Eras tour. But I also hate it when people sneer at other people’s music tastes. Music tastes are so subjective. Who am I to say that what I’m listening to is any better or worse than what you prefer?   Any reasonable person cannot say that Taylor Swift is not two things: an incredibly talented songwriter, and an incredibly hard worker.   Taylor’s been teasing something new. She’s made mysterious social media posts. Finally, yesterday, all was revealed: The Tortured Poets Department, a surprise double album. As the internet melted down with reactions and analysis, I searched the 31 songs on Spotify and cranked up the beats.  It was good. It was fine. Personally, I still prefer her early stuff. But even though I couldn’t name the ex-boyfriends most of the songs are apparently about, I enjoyed listening to the lyrics and found myself gently tapping along as I fixed dinner.   And I’m noticing this weird phenomenon with Taylor Swift. Even though I’m ambivalent to her music, like an ocean current, I find myself still getting swept along in the hype.  I get it. I think we all do. We all have an artist for whom at some point in our lives we’ve been desperate for any flicker of something new: a magazine cover, a single, an album, a World Tour. For me, for about five years, it was Kanye West. For you, someone else, I’m sure. It’s the Beatlemania thing. There is something primal, something is our cells, a zeal, some magic, some uniquely human quality that loves to be caught up in the fever of a crowd, to share in the collective idolising of that little dot under the brights on stage.  It doesn’t happen with authors or artists. The closest you might get is Lionel Messi on a football pitch. And although I wouldn’t call myself a Swiftie. I’m here for the Swiftie hype.   But is she worth it? A miserable sod might suggest no one’s worth it.   But given she has built one of the largest and most influential fan bases in the history of music, she has produced the highest-grossing tour of all time, she’s the first musician to become a billionaire solely from writing and performing, and she’s shattering all manner of streaming records, I’m gonna side with the wisdom of the Swiftie crowds.   Is Taylor Swift worth the hype? Of course she’s worth the hype! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Released right as summer died, ‘Gothic Summer’ is the sixth studio album from Australian pop duo The Veronicas.  In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jess Origliasso said the album was very metaphorical.  “The whole theme of Gothic Summer is that it’s basically exploring social commentary on what we think is reality versus how we create our reality.”  The duo’s other half, Lisa Origliasso, told Apple Music the album is about the highs and lows of life, “Finding beauty, empowerment and self-love in the shadows and darker parts of life’s experiences.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day One by Abigail Dean  Marty seems to do no wrong. Trent can’t seem to get things right. When they are thrown together by tragedy, their futures may be defined by one What really happened on Day One?  Stonesmere is an English seaside suburb defined by poignant traditions passed from generation to generation, and the bonds of small town community spirit. But when a lone gunman disrupts a school assembly, he sets of a chain of events that throws this close-kint town into turmoil.  Marty is a golden girl, albeit one sometimes in the shadow of her father’s accomplishments and the care of her mother—an outsider who became a beloved teacher. Meanwhile, Trent’s home life is in the only child of a mother forever on the lookout for the boyfriend who can remake their lives, Trent longs for Stonesmere’s stability. But he and his mother only pass through.   In the wake of the violence in Stonesmere, Trent is transfixed by the news coverage of his former home, and his sense that something doesn't quite add up. As he dives deeper, he falls under the spell of a slick online media personality and the conspiracies he peddles. As Marty fumbles to play the part of the grieving good girl, she becomes the focus of these conspiracies—and Trent’s attention.      The Hidden Storyteller by Mandy Robotham   The war is over. But there are still secrets to be found amidst the ashes…  Hamburg, 1946.  The war is over, and Germany is in ruins. Posted to an Allied-run Hamburg, reporter Georgie Young returns to the country she fled seven years prior – as Chamberlain spoke those fateful words – to find it unrecognisable.  Amidst the stark horrors of a bombed-out city crumbling under the weight of millions of displaced Europeans, she discovers pockets of warmth: a violinist playing amidst the wreckage, couples dancing in the streets, and a nation trying to make amends.  But when she joins forces with local policeman Harri Schroder to solve a murder case he is working on – a woman with the word traitor engraved into her skin – she soon discovers that the darkest secrets of war haven’t been left in the past. And once again she is pulled into a world she hardly expected to see again…    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friends Like Her   In a quake-torn Kaikoura town, best friends' lives spiral downwards when a surrogacy pact disintegrates, revealing dark secrets and strained loyalties amid a calamitous backdrop (Three from Monday at 8.40pm and ThreeNow).    Franklin   In December 1776, Benjamin Franklin is world-famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when he embarks on a secret mission to France, with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance (Apple TV+).    Fallout  In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits. Based on the video game series of the same name (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil War   In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House.    Late Night with the Devil   In 1977 a live television broadcast goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s entirely understandable that on arrival in Waikīkī’s sun-kissed playground, you will soon surrender to the dazzling arsenal of holiday indulgences along the glitter-strip. Whether you’re stuffing yourself sinfully at the Cheesecake Factory or marinating in Mai Tais, decadence flows freely in Waikīkī. It has worked its monopolising magic on me, far too many times!  "But without wishing to sound like a virtuous try-hard, on my latest visit to Waikīkī, I made a personal pact that I would off-set my culinary and cocktail indulgences, by working-out for those rewards. I duly explored a plethora of nature experiences in close proximity to the holiday mecca, to counterbalance the inevitable binging and boozing. And it fast became an eye-opener about the ravishing outdoorsy treasures, string around the south-eastern coastline of O’ahu." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is cryptosporidium and what does it do?  - It’s a parasite found in the gut of infected people. Also, animals such as cats, dogs, cattle, and sheep.  - Basically, it’s a nasty ‘stomach bug’, if you get infected it causes a nasty stomach infection.  - Gives you painful stomach cramps, really smelly diarrhoea, and nausea.    How do you get it and can we treat it?  Infected people or animals pass it on through infected poo, we basically swallow the parasite:  - Contact with infected people or animals  - Drinking water becomes infected  - Food after food preparation with hands that are contaminated.  - Swimming in shared water such as swimming pools, paddling pools, or infected beaches, rivers.  Generally, we don’t treat it, antibiotics generally don’t help. We advise things such as Panadol and medication to stop stomach cramps. It’s really important to keep fluid levels up so you don’t become dehydrated, especially children.    What do we do to prevent it?  - It’s really important not to spread it or catch it!  - The basics: don’t spread it, wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and hot water then dry:  -After going to toilet -Before you prepare food. -Have contact with animals, after gardening, caring with someone with diarrhoea, or changing babies' nappies    Other thing to note: - The parasite hangs around in your body for 14 days after your symptoms clear up.  - Don’t  swim in swimming pools for 14 days after an infection – you can spread it for up to two weeks!!  -Also, when signs go up at beach or river not to swim, don’t. Means there’s a sewage leak and you can contract cryptosporidium.  -Certainly, if you are concerned contact your general practice or medical centre.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Repair Cafes have become increasingly popular across the country, 233 of them popping up in the last twelve months.    What is a repair cafe?  -A free event where people bring in their broken or damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.  -Generally happens once a month in a community or as a pop-up event.    Why they are great  -Promotes sustainability  -Encourages the development of repair skills (which we need to preserve - too many skills, like simple sewing, are being lost)  -Cost saving  -Community building  -Education/awareness  -Empowerment (community & individual resilience)  -Innovation/creativity  -Circular economy: keeps resources in the local resource pool    Where people can find them: https://www.repaircafeaotearoa.co.nz/    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the nice week or two in Canterbury (noticed the Temperatures in the high twenties, this week?) there comes a time when we’ll be filling the Ultra-Low Emissions Burners again. Some of our native birds will either be looking to get autumn food, while others will depart for better climates. Migration is a clever option. There are a few ways in which we can keep an eye on our birds’ movements: the expensive trick is to catch birds and attach a transmitter to their body that bleeps every now and then and sends a signal to satellites indicating the longitude and latitude, time of day and speed of flight. Expensive technology, but pretty cool to work with. Our team in Canterbury, led by Peter Reese, is doing it the simple way: catch the bird (in this case a Harrier), put a standard metal band around one leg and on the other leg a much larger, coloured tag with a (three-digit) number that can be seen from quite a distance through a pair of binoculars. We re-capture some of the birds, often in the place where they were banded originally. But the clever trick is that anybody with binoculars might be able to contribute to the research. That is a rather safe way of assisting with the project. You see, Harriers have very little sense of humour. You can imagine that their strong, curved beak will be their ace attack system…Maybe. I found that they would love to smack you with their extremely sharp talons, a great scientific word for long, pointy nails. So far we have only started a year or so ago; the hypothesis is that these harriers move north when the snow starts falling in the South Island – maybe they do exactly that! But it would be nice if people could keep their eyes peeled and report tagged or banded harriers when they see one, or when they find one on the side of the road, bowled over by a car. Either fill in an online reporting form, write, email, or ring the National Banding Office (DOC). They will need to know the following details: • Band number• When the bird was found the bird (date if possible) • Where the bird was found• If the bird is colour banded, the position of each colour band (note which leg it was on and the position • The condition of the bird Seeing it’ll be school holidays, it might be a good idea to get kids to observe Harriers (and other birds) and become real-life ornithologists. Or maybe just Nature Nerds!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gmail knows your inbox is overflowing with subscriptions and is trying to help  So it wants to help. It seems they're testing a new feature which adds a "Manage Subscriptions" area. There you will be able to see who is sending you the most emails per quarter. Marketing folks get ready... early screenshots show you'll be able to see who sends you less than 10, 10-20 and 20+ emails per quarter. It's estimated that Google blocks nearly 15 billion undesired emails daily. You can see why they want to deter folks from sending things that they'll filter out anyway! They already have the one-click unsubscribe feature which is brilliant. They've also recently started requiring companies who are "bulk senders" —who send more than 5000 emails a day— to adhere to new requirements proving they own the domain they're sending from and that the email being delivered has been authorized to be sent by the service sending it.  Yet another product goes to Google's graveyard  Google One VPN is now dead. Google Podcasts was also killed a few weeks ago. It's so commonplace there's a website to memorialize these dead products: killedbygoogle.com. It's up to 295 entries.  Spotify will let creators manipulate songs  According to WSJ, Spotify is developing tools that would allow users to “speed up, mash-up, and otherwise edit” songs, and save them for listening. Some TikTok creators have made pitching up or speeding up songs part of their signature look. The idea is that if you do the editing on Spotify, Spotify knows about it, and can make sure the artists get their appropriate royalties. On TikTok these remixes become "original audio" of the creator and it's unclear if the money makes its way back to where it should.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1999 the British Post Office introduced a faulty piece of accounting software, the consequences of which would see over 900 subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft, fraud, and false accounting.  Some lost their businesses, jobs, and homes, and many were left financially ruined. Others were convicted and sent to prison, some dying while they waited for justice.  The case has been highlighted in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office; the prosecution of Post Office subpostmasters being described as ‘Great Britain's worst miscarriage of justice’.  Alan Bates, a former subpostmaster, has been leading the charge and this week gave a strong witness statement at the public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.  He told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that the outpouring of support from across the nation has been absolutely wonderful, and they may need to engage it going forward.  “Some of the, if you might call them, the baddies in all of this might be trying to get away scot-free,” Bates said.  “We have real concerns that they need to be held accountable for their actions in all of this, and often that fails to happen in so many of these big scandals with big firms.”  Bates told Tame that he’s never really struggled with accounting, so when the Horizon system was introduced to his own Post Office, he could see it was lacking from the outset.  “Once problems started occurring, it was pretty obvious what was the root cause of it all.”  He’s worked with computer systems before so he could not only see the issues with the programme itself, but with the stances the Post Office was taking on it.   Bates said they could never give him an assurance over the accuracy of the system, and they kept swearing no one else could access it, despite it being a network system that anyone could access if they had the right codes.  “They just terminated me, given me three months' notice and walked off with the investment.”  Bates professes to be something of a stubborn man, telling Tame that he knew his stance on the system was right and so he dug his heels in on it.  “We started meeting others over the years, and then we found out we weren’t the only ones, and they weren’t the only ones, and we sort of grew from there.”  In Bates’ opinion, a lot of this whole event has been about controlling the narrative, which the Post Office with its significant resources was able to do for ‘donkey’s years’.  “It wasn’t until we got them in the court, into the high court, and we got the judgements, the outstanding judgements from Judge Fraser, that the narrative changed.”  “They started losing their footing in all of this, and we started to take over.”  The most important thing in all of this, Bates told Tame, is getting the financial redress for the victims.  “They’ve been waiting far too long.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autumn brings one of my all-time favourite fruits: quince. Lumpy and bumpy, rock hard and astringent when raw, this fruit transforms upon cooking to something fragrant, soft and utterly divine.   This recipe is a derivation of the Persian dish khoresh, referring to a stew, and the quince pair beautifully with lamb.   Serves 2-4     Ingredients:  1 large onion, diced  500g lamb, cubed  1 tbsp turmeric   2-3 cm cinnamon stick  ½ tsp cardamom powder (optional)  100g yellow split peas, pre-soak these for 1-2 hours   2-3 tbsp lemon juice   1-2 tbsps sugar  2 quince, peeled, quartered and cored  2 tbsp bloomed saffron (optional)  Salt and pepper to taste  Vegetable oil  Water     Method  Heat some oil in a pan and sauté chopped onions until softened and beginning to brown. Add the lamb along with the spices and fry until browned on all sides. Add in split peas and just enough boiling water to cover. Lower the heat and simmer for one hour or until meat is fully cooked and split peas are tender.   Whilst the meat cooks, sauté the quince quarters in a clean, lightly oiled pan over a medium heat until golden brown. Set aside until the meat is tender, about 45-50 minute mark, and add them then.   Once the quince has been added, season with lemon juice, sugar, saffron (if using), salt and pepper to taste and cook without stirring for the final 10 minutes or so.   Serve with rice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Truancy has been a hot topic over the last few weeks, the Government announcing their new guidelines and targets.  Kevin Milne has been reading up on the subject and has come to the realisation that it’s a significantly bigger issue than he thought.  He thinks it’s time to stop trying to score political points and set about fixing the problem.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday was one of the most statistically significant days of my life.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who spends a lot of time on the Statistics New Zealand website but just in case you have more exciting things to do with your time, you might have missed the latest population estimates.  According to Statistics New Zealand, the median age for New Zealand men is 37.1 years old. That means half of men are older and half are younger.  I was born on March 4, 1987. That means on Tuesday April 9th, I turned 37.11 years old, I moved from one side of the ledger to the other. This time last week, when we were last speaking, I was in the younger half of Kiwi blokes. Today, I’m in the older half. I know, I know… you might as well sign me up to a Ryman Village right now.  The truth is I do feel older. Or at the very least, I’m conscious of having an aging body. I’ve got an arthritic hip and deteriorating eyesight. Hair grows in weird places, springing from my shoulders, nostrils, and the outsides of my upper arms. When I catch myself in the mirror as I get out of the shower, it’s as though gravity has grown a few percentage points stronger. Wibble-wobble.  One of the flaws of the human condition is that most of us only appreciate our youth as it starts to fade. We lament being ID’d until the day we’re not ID’d. For some reason, having a dicky hip has made me really want to climb more mountains. I’ve always been big on sunblock if I was spending a long time outside, but it’s only now, as the wrinkles and sunspots gather on my face, that I’ve started to block up every day in summer, regardless of whether I’m spending much time outdoors. For the first time in my life, I proactively take anti-inflammatories before playing social sport.  Statistics New Zealand can give you all sorts of milestone numbers. It can tell you I’m old for a first marriage. It can tell you I’m already older than most first-time Dads. It can tell you that statistically speaking, I can expect to die on the 25th of June, 2073.  Of course, I know that’s not quite how life works. I’m at the age and stage where you really appreciate that life isn’t fair. No one is guaranteed any amount of time on this mortal Earth. Sometimes it’s the most full-of-life, the five-plus-a-day, Low BMI, not-one-cigarette-evers who for whatever reason, fate cruelly picks out. I‘ve said it to you before; aging is a privilege.  I remember once reading somewhere that 27 typically marked the physical peak for men. I felt old when I turned 28. I remember staring down 30, looking back when I turned 35, and thinking I should have better appreciated just how youthful I was.  I’m sure this will be the same. I’ll look back at 37.11 and laugh at my youthful naivety. Except that it doesn’t change the facts. Short of a mass exodus or a national fertility crisis, I will never again be in the younger half of New Zealand men. Once you’ve crossed the Rubicon, there ain’t no going back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Ohio Players’ is the 12th studio album by the Black Keys, with fourteen tracks and a run time of 44 minutes.  The intention behind the album was to create something “fun”. Something that not only sounded fun, but was also fun for the band to create. The album’s title seems to be a nod to that ideology, the band’s members coming from the state of Ohio, but also a reference to the 70’s band of the same name.  Music reviewer Estelle Clifford thinks this may be the most poppy songs they’ve put together, the album filled with feel good, energetic music, the kind that makes you feel like you’re at a live gig or festival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scoop  Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview (Netflix).    Ripley   A wealthy man hires down-on-his-luck grifter Tom Ripley to travel to Italy to urge his vagabond son to return home; Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step in a life of deceit, fraud and murder (Netflix).    Alone Australia  Ten brave Australians are dropped into the most brutal terrain of New Zealand's South Island to face the ultimate survival test and merciless forces of nature for a cash prize (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Redundancies and restructures galore are taking place across every sector at the moment, and these changes can have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing.  Change is always difficult, but change within a business can really set off people’s flight or fight instincts and add to their worries and anxiety.  Businesses have to be careful in how they handle this change, as doing so badly can increase the harm their employees suffer and open the organisation up to increased risk.  Dr Dougal Sutherland has some tips for what to do when change is occurring.    For individuals:  -Focus as much as you can on the aspects you can control throughout the process  -Try not to get sucked into worrying about the problem, focus instead on the aftermath    For organisations:  -Really emphasise wellbeing in the workplace, you need to look after everyone involved  -staff who are affected  -staff who are “unaffected” but may be suffering from “survivors' guilt”   -managers who have to deliver the decision  -HR people who support the managers and staff    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Call by Ineke Meredith    It's all in a mad day's work: the good, the bad and the crazy. From a man who swallowed fishhooks to a patients playing pranks, emergency operations in the wee hours, constantly being mistaken for a nurse, and holding hands through silent goodbyes, this is a book about the strange, messy, intense world of surgery. When Ineke's parents in Samoa fall ill, she is torn between her roles as a surgeon, a daughter, and a single working mother. Are the sacrifices of a life in scrubs worth it? Laugh-out-loud and sobering in equal turns, On Call is a memoir from inside the operating room and everything it takes to survive.    The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr   Clayton Stumper might be in his twenties, but he dresses like your grandpa and fusses like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.  When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton’s life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. So begins Clay’s quest to uncover the secrets surrounding his birth, secrets that will change Clay—and the Fellowship—forever.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Despite being ravaged by devastating wildfires last August, the Valley Isle of Maui continues to shine with unparalleled scenery and golden hospitality. Maui would love to see you. From hidden beaches in every shade to the dramatic peaks of West Maui and Haleakalā, Maui’s elemental brilliance is seductive. Also known as the East Maui Volcano, Haleakalā is a colossal, active shield volcano that constitutes more than 75% of Maui’s landform." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS  Escarpment Gris 2023 Martinborough $30  Why I chose it:    -I like it very much and respect Escarpment as a top producer.  -It’s a wine that spans the seasons.  -It is genetically the same grape as Pinot Noir, but it is “gray” instead of red-skinned (“Gris” is French for gray). Pinot Blanc is even paler (“Blanc” means white in French).  What does it taste like?   -A smooth-textured, bright, fresh wine with flavours that resemble pear and green apple. It has a hint of sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity.  Why it’s a bargain:   -It is an interesting wine that is well made, by a top producer who offer it at a fair piece.  Where can you buy it?   -Wine Hub, Christchurch, $26  -NZ Wine Boutique, $29.99  Food match?   -Blue cheese combines sweetness and acidity with the saltiness of the cheese – delicious!  Will it keep?   -Good for 3 or 4 years, possibly more with careful storage.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to start thinking about winter and looking after your soil.  We all know that garden soil thrives when you add Organic material (compost!!!) to the soil. Just like the Sea-food soup it enriches the Fertiliser amount and that helps no, not just the plants, but certainly the tiny live-stock in the soil that feeds the plants through the roots: Photosynthesis is the way a plant feeds itself.  It allows the microbes and beneficial fungi to work on the mulch – it simply breaks the mulch down and turns it into a kind of slow-release fertiliser that will benefit the plants when everybody “wakes up” in spring.  Chipped prunings from your fruit trees, hedges, severed dead branches and twigs, old fallen fruits, berries, and husks are all ready to be recycled according to the law of “Circular Economy” which runs the planet and your garden.  My most wonderful tool in the garden is our Hansa C7 Chipper Machine; it works its bottom off at this time of the year.   Everything that goes through it will turn to mulch and everything that once lived will turn to compost, even Coffee grounds!  There are lots of articles that warn gardeners against using coffee grounds in the garden, so we’ve decided to have a go at that stuff (our son-in-law owns a French bakery that also brews a decent cup of coffee – plenty of brown grounds in serious quantities).  Information around this topic:  Acidity (pH): After brewing, the grounds are almost pH neutral: between 6.5 and 6.8 (higher than Hydrangeas that need a lower pH to flower blue!  Nitrogen: Just 2%; not a great deal – still need N on the soil in spring!  Other nutrients: Phosphorous, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium all in rather small amounts and Manganese, Zinc and other micronutrients also in very small quantities – certainly not an “over-dose”.  So, it looks as if these coffee grounds really don’t produce a heap of “plant food”; instead, they “feed” the microbes that deliver “Glues” that are brilliant at producing great soil structure.  What about effects on plant growth? Any negative effects?  Robert Pavlis (a Canadian who writes an interesting blog called Garden Myths) led me to some publications around Testing caffeine for allelopathic effects.  The findings show that if you use huge amounts of coffee mulch it could certainly stunt the growth of bacteria, fungi, seedlings and even plants! (Does that surprise you?)  However, after 6 months the trend totally reverses, and the plants grow better than before.  And here’s Julie’s observation:  Since we used the grounds as “mulch”, the blackbirds (her worst enemy that toss mulch out of the garden and onto the paths) have ceased vandalising the borders and raised beds.  No more mess of ornithological origin!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft is unbundling Teams from Office globally  Once again, thanks EU! It comes six months after it uncoupled the two products in Europe in a bid to avert a possible EU antitrust fine. Rivals say packaging the products together gives Microsoft an unfair advantage. I'm all in favor of unbundling - because all these services are starting to offer the things the others do too, but usually not as well. Slack is great at instant messaging, but now you are also effectively paying for its video and audio meetings and collaborative documents. Google's bundle includes email, calendar, docs, video meetings. Zoom now offers add-ons such as an email and calendar service, IP phone system and virtual white-boarding.   Amazon's stopping its "just walk out" service at supermarkets  Amazon Fresh will now have smart carts, which allow customers to scan items as they go. Amazon says this is better for the customer because they want to  view their receipt as they shop, and know how much money they saved while shopping. It also reduces a massive overhead of installing the cameras and sensors the technology relied upon AND the extensive human review process. According to The Information, 70% of the sales had to be manually reviewed in 2022, which was far, far higher than the 5% Amazon had hoped for, which needed a team of over 1000 people.  It's also a good example of where it looks like the AI is doing all the heavy lifting, when in reality most of it was people in India watching the cameras and effectively being the cashier, just remotely.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shortland Street has been running for an impressive 32 years, and Jayden Daniels played one of the most popular characters in its entire run.  After graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2014 Daniels picked up the role of Curtis in 2015, using that role as a stepping stone to enter the screen industry proper.  He starred as Gabriel in the 2023 film Evil Dead Rise, and Cyril in Whina, the biopic of Dame Whina Cooper.  Daniels' is now making the switch from screen to stage, going back to his roots and theatre training with Auckland Theatre Company’s production of The Effect.  The play follows two people who meet during a clinical drug trial and fall in love, asking the question of whether the love is real or just a side effect of the medication, written by multi-award winner Lucy Prebble.  “There’s love, there’s sorrow,” Daniels told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “She writes it way better than I’m explaining it now.”  A majority of Daniels’ training was theatrical training at drama school, but since he’s been working on screen since his graduation there’s been a bit of an adjustment.  “The whole time I’ve been trying to pull down, be smaller and more subtle,” he said.  “If I’m on screen, I can drop right down and talk to you like this,” Daniels lowered his voice in example.  “Whereas on stage I’m having to project. Even if I’m talking to you close, I have to be big and loud.”  “That’s been a challenge for me.”  Daniels has worked in both mediums, and while he used to think he had a preference, he’s recently discovered that theatre has a lot to teach him.  The techniques he can rely on when acting for camera aren’t applicable to stage performances, as audiences can’t hear softspoken voices or see the minute expressions on actors’ faces.  And while he doesn’t prefer one over the other, he told Tame that there are benefits to working in theatre.  “You can take more risks in theatre. You’re rehearsing for a very long time, which is a luxury in acting, especially on screen.”  “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on the product on screen because you get there, you don’t have long to shoot the scene and its done. Whereas here you can try this, it didn’t work, I’ll just throw it to the complete other end.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Io Capitano   Longing for a brighter future, two Senegalese teenagers embark on a journey from West Africa to Italy. However, between their dreams and reality lies a labyrinth of checkpoints, the Sahara Desert, and the vast waters of the Mediterranean.    Monkey Man  A young man ekes out a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he's beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, he discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city's sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sticky cake is studded with tangy feijoas and has a chewy caramelised coconut topping added halfway through cooking and it’s just gorgeous.  Makes a 23cm cake.    Ingredients  1 cup pitted dates  1 cup boiling water  1 teaspoon baking soda  130g butter  ½ cup white sugar  ½ cup brown sugar  1 large egg  1 ¼ cups plain flour  1 teaspoon baking powder  Pinch salt  ½ cup dessicated coconut  1 cup peeled and diced feijoa    Coconut topping:  1 cup shredded coconut  1/3 cup brown sugar  1/3 cup milk  50g butter    Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 170 C. Grease and line a 23cm round baking tin. 2. Cover dates in boiling water and leave to soak for 5 minutes then add baking soda and blend to a chunky paste in a food processor. 3. Cream the butter and both sugars until pale and creamy then beat in the egg and beat for one minute more. Add the date paste to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Sift in flour, baking powder and salt. Fold in coconut and feijoa chunks until combined. Scrape into baking tin, gently smooth the top and bake for 30 minutes. While it cooks make the coconut topping by combining all ingredients in a small pot over a low heat until melted together. 4. At 30 minute mark, gently spoon the coconut topping over the cake, in an even layer. Continue to cook for a further 25-35 minutes until topping is golden brown and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen the topping from the tin and leave for one hour before gently turning out and cooling fully.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over a decade ago Kevin Milne wrote a book about his life.  Going about his daily life, he keeps an eye out for copies of this stunning work of literature, which this time led to something of an humiliating situation for him.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the words spilled out of my mouth, I realised it didn’t make for much of a pitch.  “I’ve got a show I want us to try.” I’d told my wife.  “Oh yeah. What’s is about?” she asked.  “Well... err... it’s about a scandal in Britain involving lots of post offices and an accounting dispute.”  “Post offices?” She said.  “Accounting? Riiight.” She said.  Yes, it’s fair to say I hadn’t pegged ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ on an expectation of sex scenes, car chases, gunfights, and Hollywood heartthrobs.  I’d actually only been vaguely aware of the Post Office scandal before the TV show was aired in Britain earlier this year. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s now routinely described as the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history.  In short, Britain’s Post Office —arguably once Britain’s most trusted institution, and surely it’s most British institution— directed all of its subpostmasters, the people running the little village post offices you see all over the U.K, to use a new software system for balancing their books.  But the software underpinning the system was faulty, meaning try as they might, subpostmasters routinely ended up with shortfalls.  Despite thousands and thousands and thousands of complaints, the Post Office refused to accept there was anything wrong and they forced subpostmasters to make up the thousands of pounds in shortfalls with their own money. Most egregiously, between 1999 and 2015, 900 subpostmasters were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting.  That number alone makes you spin. A handful of people being charged with stealing might be one thing. But 900! It’s remarkable there were any subpostmasters left.  The legal efforts to overturn convictions and get the Post Office to take full responsibility and pay compensation has been a long, painful affair. The story has been covered by British media. It’s been raised in parliament. But it took a TV drama to really rattle the cage.  It mightn’t have been much of a pitch, but within minutes of starting Mr Bates vs the Post Office, my wife and I were locked in. It was compelling. She had tears rolling down her cheeks and even I felt a bit misty-eyed (although I was naturally careful not to let her see me).  I don’t know that I’ve ever watched a show and so desperately wanted it all to be resolved. And I cannot think of many TV dramas that have had more of an immediate impact.  Immediately after it aired, the government announced legislation to overturn the wrongful convictions of hundreds of subpostmasters. More than a million people signed a petition calling for the former Post Office CEO to be stripped of her CBE. King Charles formally revoked it shortly thereafter. More than a billion pounds has been earmarked for compensation.  I realised as the final credits rolled that of course, it wasn’t really a story about the Post Office and accounting. It was a story about power. About class. Mr Bates, David, vs The Post Office Goliath.  And in an age where so much entertainment is fast and snackable, and we all have so much competing for our attention, it was a great reminder about the extraordinary power of really good storytelling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Beyoncé's own words, “this ain’t a country album. This is a Beyonce album.”  Cowboy Carter is Beyoncé's eighth studio album, presented as a broadcast by a fictional Texan radio station, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell, and Willie Nelson all acting as the radio DJs.  The album features a total of 27 songs resulting in a lengthy hour and 19 minutes total.  While primarily being a country album, elements of blues, soul, rock, R&B, and folk are incorporated into its overall sound.  While Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston Texas, Daddy Lessons from her 2016 album Lemonade was the first time she’d used the country influences of her upbringing in her musical career.  It was met with a fair bit of pushback, the experience resulting in the creation of Cowboy Carter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Seconds by Robert Gold  After a tense birthday celebration in Haddley, journalist Ben Harper watches his boss, Madeline, get into the car that has come to collect her. He walks home, never imagining that by the next morning, Madeline will be missing.  To find Madeline, Ben will have to return to the now infamous murder case that made her journalism career over a decade ago. A case which, Ben quickly discovers, was never as simple as it seemed.  But time is of the essence, and soon it's not just Madeline's life on the line . . .    The Long and Winding Road by Lesley Pearse  Lesley Pearse didn't publish her first novel until she was 48. Now she has sold over ten million books around the world and is a constant presence on the bestseller chart. A writer of heart-stopping stories, Lesley's books are filled with heroines struggling to make it in a difficult world. Yet this description could apply to Lesley herself. In this, her first ever autobiography, she tells of growing up in an orphanage after her mother's death, her racy twenties in London during the swinging sixties and working as a bunny girl and dressmaker. Packed full of Lesley's signature warmth, wit and poignancy, this is the story of a woman and a writer fighting against the odds to achieve her dreams.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nomadic living is becoming more common with the rise in living costs, people travelling round the country house sitting to save money.  Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall is one of these people, and joined Jack Tame to discuss how it works, the pros and cons, and how to keep sustainable while you do so.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend will see two tax changes come into effect for property owners.  One is impacting those who use the likes of Airbnb or Bachcare to rent out their property, and the other impacts those who rent out an investment property.  What are the changes and what effect will they have? Enable Me’s Nadine Higgins joined Jack Tame to run through it all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"From time-honoured tourist haunts to hidden treasures and trending head-turners, Melbourne impresses in all seasons. But if you’re planning an autumn city-break in the Victorian capital, here’s a round-up of some top recommendations to thread into your schedule." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Garden City is becoming more and more the home of that Aussie sap-sucking pest we knew so well in Auckland, and it shows in the number of people that contact us on talkback radio.  Until recently, this species was a North-Islander – it slowly spread further and further south: Nelson, Blenheim, Golden Bay, further south along the west coast and also down the east coast of the South Island: Kaikoura, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.  I’ve seen them in Akaroa a few years ago, so they have been hanging around the warmer Canterbury spots for a while.  I reckon this is a nice example of climate change in action.  Damage to a large range of garden plants:   They suck sap from a wide variety of host plants, often climbers (Wisteria, Passionfruit vines) and Perennials (salvia, Hydrangeas, Camellia, you name it!!).  Sap-sucking is their big impact on garden plants – sometimes they debilitate their host, pooping honeydew all over the place and that creates a deposit of sooty mould, like with so many sap-sucking insects in the garden.  The damage starts as soon as the little fluffy-bums appear on the scene (in mid-Spring).  Now, these are the Passionvine Hopper control tricks for Autumn:  Currently they are adults, with quite cute moth-like wings that are partially see-through. These jumpy sapsuckers are impossible to hit with chemical sprays.   The female hoppers mate and lay eggs on thin twigs or branches and also on the tendrils of growing vines (such as Passionfuit vines):  Easiest thing to do is to find those egg-laying sites and prune them off in late autumn - early winter. Chuck them in the Ultra Low Emissions Burner and they won’t hatch next spring.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US government has released AI rules for its agencies   Say hello to the "Chief AI Officer" - every US government agency will now need to have one. Agencies will also be required to establish AI governance boards to coordinate how AI is used within each agency. They must mitigate the risks of algorithmic discrimination and inform the public about how the AI is used. They will be required to submit a report each year detailing every system which is used. Any government-owned AI models, code, and data should be released to the public unless they pose a risk to government operations. Kamala Harris says: "This is to make sure that AI is used responsibly, understanding that we must have senior leaders across our government, who are specifically tasked with overseeing AI adoption and use."  Self driving "Robotaxis" are coming to NYC's streets   At this stage, they will only be permitted if they have a safety driver behind the wheel as they test their software on the "country’s most challenging urban environment". NYC is letting other cities be the testing ground, only allowing companies who have tested their cars elsewhere to be permitted. As part of the process, they'll need to supply crash and "disengagement" data.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office   The extraordinary story of the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history, where hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system (TVNZ+, from March 31).    Renegade Nell  A historical drama about a quick-witted and courageous young woman framed for murder, who unexpectedly becomes the most notorious outlaw in 18th-century England (Disney+).    The Couple Next Door  A British drama about a young couple who develop a fast friendship with their new neighbours when they move to an idyllic suburb, only for the relationship to take some unexpected and sinister turns (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wicked Little Letters When the residents of Littlehampton start receiving letters filled with obscenities and hilarious profanity, Rose, a rambunctious Irish immigrant, is accused of the crime. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Godzilla and the almighty Kong face a colossal threat hidden deep within the planet, challenging their very existence and the survival of the human race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally from Australia, screenwriter Gavin Strawhan is behind some of New Zealand’s biggest TV shows.  Shortland Street, Outrageous Fortune, Nothing Trivial, and Mercy Peak are just some of the entries on his extended resume, but now he’s turning his focus to the page instead of the screen.  Set in rural coastal New Zealand, The Call is Strawhan’s debut novel, the novel growing from a story Strawhan was told years ago by a detective.  “She had given out her number and the girlfriend of a guy in a gang had started ringing her late at night and giving away little tips of information, especially if they had a domestic.”  Although he's been working in screen and television for over thirty years, he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that this was what he wanted to do growing up.  “I took a very long route via television to get back to what I wanted to do.”  Strawhan went to university for biology, swapping to drama and English after going out with an actress. He wrote for a theatre company years later, before going on to get a job as a trainee script editor on Neighbours.  “So, you know, these things are going in weird directions.”  The process of writing a novel is rather different to working in a writer's room, Strawhan telling Tame that while it's an exciting environment, it’s also exhausting.  “When Covid came along and the production I’d been working on shut down, it was my opportunity.”  There was no network to pitch an idea to, and he didn’t have to come up with an ending or have everything locked down.  “I just got up every morning and wrote two or three thousand words, and then I’d go for a walk and then I’d come back and edit what I’d written.  “It was just so lovely,” he told Tame. “I really enjoyed it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every mouthful of this tastes like a hot cross bun only better! It’s crunchy and creamy, sweet and spicy.   Serves 4-6       Ingredients:  ½ cup currants or raisins  ¼ cup rum or brandy   Squeeze of fresh orange juice   ½ tsp cinnamon + extra for dusting   Pinch nutmeg   Pinch mixed spice   200mls cream, whipped  1 packet store-bought meringues  2-3 fresh plums, sliced   2 tbsps glace orange or lemon peel, chopped finely   Small handful mint leaves     Method:  Simmer currants or raisins with rum, orange juice and spices for 3-5 minutes until they plump up. Cool.  Take a large platter and dollop the whipped cream on it. Roughly crush the meringues and sprinkle these over the cream. Scatter over plum slices, chopped peel and cooled currants. Dust with a bit more cinnamon and scatter over mint leaves.   When serving make sure that each serve gets a bit of everything.      Notes:   Use pears or feijoa if you can’t find fresh plums.  For a dairy free alternative, use coconut yoghurt instead of cream.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music and love often go hand in hand, many of the most well-known songs covering the topic.  While there’s plenty of modern pop songs that do the feeling justice, Kevin Milne believes that they’re not the most romantic.  He’s been taking a look back at the stage shows of the 50’s and 60’s and can’t help but think they top the charts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 years.  If Sam Bankman-Fried was to spend his full sentence behind bars, he’d be in his fifties by the time he was released from prison. Still, it could have been worse. The maximum potential sentence faced by the so-called crypto king was more than a century.  Like many, I’ve marvelled in the rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried. It’s an extraordinary story. The son of high-profile professors, he made a fortune in crypto currency faster than any human had ever made money before. $NZ 43 billion with his dual crypto-currency companies, FTX and Alameda Research. Companies which turned out to not be nearly as independent from each other, and from each other’s balance books, as they legally should have been.  But what is really extraordinary about the Sam Bankman-Fried story is that we fell for it.  Not you or I, necessarily —even though I’m firmly in the crypto demographic, I’ve never heard anyone sensibly explain what it actually does. It just seems like speculation for the sake of speculation. No different to gambling for the sake of it— by we, I mean the world.  Looking at it now, it all just seems so obvious.  Bankman-Fried, like however many characters before him, perfectly played the part of an uncouth, slobbily-dressed, beanbag-sleeping tech bro. I say characters because —come on— the whole wearing sneakers, shabby socks, and poorly-fitting t-shirts despite billions of dollars in net worth, while meeting a former President – this has become such a cliché for so called tech geniuses.  He suckered the world with his image. And he suckered the world with his money. How many celebrities took a buck, or a few million, to shill for something they didn’t really understand? How many politicians chose not to ask too many questions, but gladly received the campaign donations he passed on their way?  It remains to be seen how much investors will actually get back from Bankman-Fried’s fraud. But following the case, what is clear about his $NZ13 billion fraud is not that it was the work of a tech genius, but that it was the work of a simple conman. The fraud was not breathtaking in its complexity, it was breathtaking in its simplicity. A good old fashioned ponzi scheme.  For all of the hype, then. For all of the fuss. For all of the big promises about crypto’s future and the blazing path of a brilliant young billionaire who’s genius sucked in titans of industry and some of the most powerful people in the World, we are left once again with an old pearl of wisdom: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford reviews Gossip's first album since reuniting in 2019, Real Power.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hunter by Tana French It's a blazing summer when two men arrive in a small village in the West of Ireland. One of them is coming home. Both of them are coming to get rich. One of them is going to die. Private Equity by Carrie Sun When we meet Carrie Sun, she can't shake the feeling that she's wasting her life. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Carrie excelled in school, graduated early from MIT, and climbed the corporate ladder, all in pursuit of the American dream. But at twenty-nine, she's left her analyst job, dropped out of an MBA program, and is trapped in an unhappy engagement. So when she gets the rare opportunity to work at one of the most prestigious hedge funds in the world, she knows she can't say no. Fourteen interviews later, she's in.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley spoke to Jack Tame about his time in Coolangatta, in southern Gold Coast. For more tips on tripping the sights and treats of the southern Gold Coast, Mike's article is here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dougal Sutherland discusses a recent survey by Umbrella Wellbeing showing the large number of employees who feel that their mental wellbeing isn't being prioritised, and the risk that poses for businesses.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few days ago, we celebrated our Autumn Equinox; that was on Wednesday 20th March at 16:06 to be precise.  It really has nothing to do with this story, apart from the fact that you'll notice quite a few good-looking holes in your lawn around this time of the year. It shows you that life-cycles either come to an end or change from one phase to the next. A good example is the mess made by starlings in my lawn: hundreds of sizeable holes per square metre really stands out.  Autumn rain has finally made the soil quite wet; Grassgrub larvae (juveniles) are moving upwards in the soil to avoid being drowned and starlings literally probe the soil for tasty grubs. I'm not that worries: these starlings provide a gratis pest-control service.  On soils where there are few plants (think of those "naked" vertical clay banks) you'll often find medium-sized round holes with an opening that looks "counter-sunk" in shape. This is the job of our native tiger beetles. When they are larvae they create these tunnels into the soil and block the entrance with their head, while waiting for suitable prey to walk past.  From now on, you'll notice that the holes are open - the larvae will finalise their juvenile stages underground and emerge in late spring as fast-moving adult beetles. And from now on there will be critters that come out of the soil, especially after good rain events. Earthworms will move up easily to grab some organic material from the surface of the soil and to drop some casts off on top! These worms are recyclers and literally live off of the dead plant material (and other natural waste, such as animal droppings). This planet is perfectly designed in and around our soil.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Government says users who purchase Apple smartphones are "locked in" to the Apple ecosystem. Within the ecosystem, all your devices and services are meant to interconnect effortlessly. Apple says it will seek to have the case dismissed, and if unsuccessful, will fight it vigorously.  The Justice Department estimates that Apple's share of the US smartphone market exceeds 70%.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Escaping Utopia TVNZ's new three-part documentary series takes us behind the scenes of Gloriavale and reveals what it's like to live in - and leave - the extreme religious community. (Begins Sunday on TVNZ1 and on TVNZ+). Palm Royale This new comedy drama features an all-star Hollywood cast and follows a woman in the late 1960s who will do whatever it takes to be admitted into an exclusive Palm Springs society (Apple TV+). Obituary A dark Irish drama about an obituary writer who is being paid per article. When work dries up, she decides to take matters into her own hands (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke Ligertwood, also known as Brooke Fraser, returns home to New Zealand to perform a one-off concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.  Brooke sits down with Jack Tame at Roundhead Studios to discuss what she has been up to.  WATCH / LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a recession just announced, it's important to get the most out of every dollar without compromising on the quality of your food. Here are some things you can do to stretch the weekly meal budget: Learn to cook! Adopt a waste not, want not attitude - never let anything go to waste. Grow your own food, especially herbs. Preserve or freeze! Sauces, fruit, chutneys, butter, milk, etc.  Buy in season and buy on special.  Buy off-supermarket - bulk foods, local fruiterers, clearance houses. Ingredients and food items that will save you money: Protein - beans, peas, meats (limit to 100g per person), chicken, etc. Tinned and frozen vegetables retains their quality well - corn, peas, tomatoes. Meatless meals will always be cheaper; potato & pea curry, tacos, eggs. Use lesser cuts and offal - chuck steak, kidneys, etc.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne spoke to Jack Tame about his love for the stage songs of the 1950s & 60s.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just before 6pm Friday local time, Kensington Palace published a rare video of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Having taken a few weeks to process and digest the news in private, and having taken time to tell her children, she announced to the World she is being treated for cancer.   Apart from that, we don’t have a huge volume of information. We don’t know much more except she says she received the diagnosis after tests following abdominal surgery in January. She has begun receiving preventative chemotherapy.   First of all, hearing those words is a shocking and affecting experience. For anyone who has had friends or family with cancer – and I would suggest that’s most of us – it snaps you right back to your own experience. At a really basic human level, I think many of us feel a real sense of empathy for what Kate and that family must be going through.  Personally, I found my thoughts drifting to the issues of the last few weeks: The internet conspiracies about Princess Kate’s health and whereabouts and the now-infamous doctored family photo.   I also found myself trying to imagine all the complicated dimensions that being a prominent royal adds to this situation. You would think that the privilege of that position will afford Kate the very best medical care. But at the same time, there is an extraordinary level of public attention that will come with this experience. Even before this announcement, medical staff in the U.K were trying to illegally access Princess Kate’s health records. That’s tough.  And finally, my thoughts settled on Kate’s health in the broader context of what the Royal Family is going through right now. Both Princess Kate and King Charles are now being treated for cancer. It must be a huge stress on the family... and I am acutely aware that Prince William is sitting there in the middle, trying to support both his father and his wife as they are undergo their treatments.   I think everyone will be wishing them a speedy and full recovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire The Spengler family returns to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. Road House 2024 remake available on Prime. Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. Starring Connor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Ryder-Jones was guitarist/vocalist for the West Kirby Merseyside band The Coral, who were successful in releasing 5 top 10 albums in mid 2000s, starting out as teenagers.  His latest solo album is complete with classy hooks and rousing choruses, and his closely mic-ed voice is fragile, delicate, even on the edge of croaky, giving the impression he's sharing intimacies directly with the listener.  Featuring lush pop hooks and even school assembly choirs of kids - the songs sound triumphant and powerful and happy even if most of them are dark, sad and of lost love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly - In just one night, at her own 50th birthday, her world has imploded. Her mother has kept a secret hidden all her life. And it changes everything. Before Lou can take another step, she needs to get to the bottom of the shocking truth that alters who she really is.    The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger - A body of a wealthy landowner, Jimmy Quinn, is found shot and assumed murdered by many. His body is found floating half naked in the Alabaster River. The investigation is thrown into the lap of Brody Dern, a returned honored veteran, the sheriff, who bears many internal and external scars from the war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Basking in the world’s largest lagoon, fortified by the world’s second-largest barrier reef, and boasting extraordinary biodiversity, New Caledonia’s natural good looks and succulent subtropical balm is just the beginning of the sweet seduction. Unlike Fiji or the Cook Islands, New Caledonia has not established the same holiday getaway familiarity with Kiwis. It is still somewhat under the radar. But you can fully expect your great expectations of South Pacific holiday indulgence to be delightfully smashed." Read Mike's full article here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 sustainable things to do this autumn    Collect leaves for your compost: gather these from parks, ideally not in car parks (can be contaminated). Put them into your compost, store in a dry place and add them slowly over the course of the year. They're great carbon for your compost!   Get your winter clothing out & donate what you can (autumn is a good time for this as the second-hand stores want autumn/winter clothing, NOT summer stuff as they cannot store it). Wash it properly, hand wash woolen knits, store them in vented places to reduce the risk of moths.   Freeze/store/save your autumn/summer produce: e.g. freeze your abundance of tomatoes, turn it into tomato sauce or chop them in meal sized portions to freeze. This reduces your reliance on canned tomatoes during winter.   Consider how you're going to heat your home: do your curtains need to be replaced? Set timers on your heat pump, find second-hand heaters, consider adding things like wool underfloor insulation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leafcurl on stone fruit: peaches, Nectarines, plums, peachcotts, peacherines, apricots, etc always a sad sight on the leaves – it manifests itself in Spring and Summer – after flowering.  The leaves become distorted and discoloured (pretty yellow and orange coloration); when infestations are serious the number of leaves that drop off can be substantial, causing a reduction in photosynthesis and hence the ability of the tree to “feed itself”.  In spring the answer to “cure?” it will always be: “You’re too late!”… Right now, in late summer/Autumn you are still ahead of the 2024 infection game.  Taphrina deformans is the fungus that causes this leafcurl. Note how “deformans” is quite aptly chosen as a name, as it deforms the shape of the leaves quite obviously.  The disease becomes active at bud-break: when the leaves and flowers come out of the buds in spring. The spores of Taphrina deformans are already settled on those buds, making infection quite easy.  Those buds are initiated by the trees in autumn, which is just a few weeks away.  What to do?  First of all prune your stonefruit right now – after the last peaches, nectarines etc etc have been harvested, pruning can be done. Doing it this early has another advantage: you avoid bacterial diseases in the cooler months (late autumn/winter is a dodgy period for bacterial infections!)  Pruning now also reduces the amount of tree to spray in April.  Around mid April, when the leaves are falling off the deciduous stone fruit trees, the new buds for the next season are formed. Taphrina deformans will then be invading those new buds and overwinter on those buds to infect the trees again in spring.  First thing to do is to remove all fallen leaves from under the trees. That reduces infection chances.  Next thing is to apply a double dose of copper spray (copper oxychloride, liquid copper, or copper-sulphur mixtures, available form garden centres) on the remaining leaves and on the branches/twigs/buds of the tree.  Don’t worry about “burning the rest of the leaves off: they were going to fall anyway.  Use a “sticker” if you can, to increase coverage and stickability  Do this again a few weeks later and ensure good coverage of all parts of the tree.  This autumn spray exercise is the most important preventative thing you can do to avoid Leaf curl.  If you still get some infected leaves in spring there is no point in spraying with copper fungicides as that will burn those leaves quite badly. Best thing to do is to remove and get rid of infected leaves as much as you can – especially fallen leaves. “Getting rid of them” does not mean COMPOSTING them!!  Fertilising the tree in spring allows it to make new leaves and get some resistance to the infection, especially when you use Seaweed Tea and such marine-originated liquid fertilisers.  During the period when fruits grow and expand, check for fallen leaves that show signs of leafcurl, and get rid of them. REMEMBER “Getting rid of them” does not mean COMPOSTING them!!  Autumn is the time to start controlling leafcurl on stonefruit for the next fruiting season:  Some people use Lime sulphur; that’s OK too as a winter clean-up; seeing the trees are getting to dormancy this Lime Sulphur won’t harm the leaves either; but I think that lime may not be a great material for apricots as it has the ability to raise the pH levels.  A last smack of Copper spray before budburst should “mop up” the last surviving spores before the flowering and fruiting season begins again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why I chose it:   - Difficult vintage (Cyclone Gabrielle)  - Be guided by vintage ratings but be aware that there are many exceptions  - Sorting machine takes a photo of every grape and rejects sub-standard fruit.    What does it taste like? A rich and flavoursome chardonnay that will be appreciated by fans of the “big and buttery” style. Slightly toffee-ish, mouth-filling wine with enough richness and flavour to handle a mild butter chicken curry.  Why it’s a bargain: I’d buy it if it was $40    Where can you buy it?  Wine Collective Direct $33.31. Paritua Winery, Hawke’s Bay $25    Food match? Roast chicken, most seafood    Will it keep? Drink up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" would ban TikTok in the US, unless it is sold to a non-Chinese owner.  It passed the House 352-to-65. The Senate Leader hasn't decided when the bill will make it to the floor for a vote. There are concerns over free speech restrictions and presidential overreach. The driving factor according to the White House: Chinese ownership of ByteDance poses grave national security risks to the United States, including the ability to meddle in elections. It's particularly concerned that the Chinese government could meddle in the algorithm that serves up content. Financial Analysts are concerned it could prompt China to retaliate against American's firms' business activities in China. Disney has a theme park, Tesla gets almost of a quarter of its revenue from China, about half of Amazon's third-party partners are from China. But remember, Platforms like Facebook and YouTube are blocked in China. TikTok is not going down without a fight. It has called on its 170 million US users to phone and write to their representatives. In 2020 the company created a deal with Oracle to separate US user data from the rest of the world, and host that in the US. Arguing this is a breach of the first amendment is likely to be the company takes its lobbying. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apples Never Fall - (TVNZ+) In Apples Never Fall, recent retiree Joy, played by Annette Bening, suddenly disappears. Police are quick to suspect her husband, Stan, a former tennis coach played by Sam Neill, and the mystery forces the couple's four adult children to reevaluate their parents' seemingly perfect marriage.  Girls5Eva - (Netflix) A '90s girl group with just one hit record gets a second chance at success when a young rapper decides to sample their song.  The Gentlemen - (Netflix) When cannabis mogul Mickey Pearson plans to sell his profitable marijuana empire following his retirement, it stimulates an array of wrongdoings in the name of greed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight events deep into the fourth season, Team New Zealand is vying for the top spot in SailGP.  This month the race is returning once more to Lyttleton Harbour in Christchurch, giving the kiwis the home-water advantage.   Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have been on the team since New Zealand sailed onto the scene in season two, and the growth they’ve witnessed in the scene is impressive.  “It’s great for our sport to have a league that’s there,” Tuke told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “To see then the growth of the whole SailGP brand, of the teams individually, viewership numbers all around the world... it’s pretty impressive.”  Last year was the first year that a leg of the competition was hosted in New Zealand and the support the team received from local fans was amazing, Burling said.  “Seeing how many people down in, in Lyttleton and Christchurch, you know, got behind us, and it sold out in minutes I think.”  “It was crazy.”  Burling and Tuke have been sailing together since 2008 and in those sixteen years they’ve experienced the growth and development not only of SailGP, but of sailing as a whole.   “The intensities just keep going up,” Burling said.  Since every team has the same type of boat, winning comes down to the way they use it and the skill of the sailors. Mistakes are costly and events are becoming tighter, with a lot coming down to the fifth race.  “Everyone’s starting to push the margins harder and harder."  The competition’s timeframe has also aided in its growth, occurring yearly as opposed to every three or four years like the America’s Cup or the Olympics.  “The unique thing with the, the GP format is we get such limited time training,” Burling said.  “We’re having to develop the whole time during these events.”  While this is great for strengthening the abilities of the racers, it makes it somewhat tricky for newcomers as they don’t have the same level of experience.  “Getting to grips with everything is the bit that takes time.”  Burling and Tuke are co-CEOs of the team, which means they not only have to focus on growing their skills on the water, but also growing the business.  “It’s like any, any start-up business where yeah, it’s not necessarily about those mistakes but how you learn from then, and then grow going forward,” Tuke told Tame.  Their partnership extends even further than SailGP and Team NZ, the pair establishing the Live Ocean Foundation together out of their deep concern for the health of the ocean and the life within it.  The charity is partnered with Team NZ, the pair seeing the platform that SailGP could be for connecting new audiences to what’s happening just below the surface.  It’s a busy year in sailing, with SailGP, the Olympics, and the America’s Cup all taking place, America’s Cup occurring not long after SailGP finishes.  “We’re incredibly lucky as a sailing team,” Burling said.  “We get to, you know, practice our trade at the really high level in two sporting competitions, essentially.”  The America’s Cup is kicking off in August, which means it’s too early to have an idea of how it’ll shake out just yet. Boat launches in April will give the first insight, Burling told Tame, but even then, you can’t be sure how they’ll develop over the coming months.   “Keep pushing as hard as you can and hope you’re faster than them and racing better at the end.”   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dish magically transforms pumpkin from side dish to star performer and I can’t get enough of it.  Serves 2-4    Ingredients 750g crown pumpkin (can use butternut), cut into wedges, skin on  2 tablespoons olive oil  1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses  1 teaspoon smoked paprika  ½ teaspoon sea salt  4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds  Handful parsley, chopped    Sunflower cream  ½ cup sunflower seeds  2 tablespoons lemon juice  1 tablespoons tahini  ¼ cup olive oil  ½ teaspoon sea salt    Method Heat oven to 180 C. Line a tray with baking paper. Mix oil, pomegranate molasses and paprika and rub/brush this all over the pumpkin. Lay out on prepared tray, sprinkle with salt and roast for 45 minutes or until pumpkin is soft and cooked through. You can cook the pumpkin for longer and it will only intensify the flavour. Toss in the pumpkin seeds in the final 5-10 minutes and they will toast and puff up. To make the sunflower cream, cover sunflower seeds with warm water and soak for at least 1 hour. Drain. Blitz drained seeds with remaining ingredients in a blender until it is smooth and creamy. Add water if needed to get a creamy consistency. Taste for seasoning and add more lemon juice and/or salt to taste. Serve warm pumpkin drizzled with sunflower cream and scattered with parsley and toasted pumpkin seeds. Nici’s note: Use kumara or cauliflower in place of pumpkin if you like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goodbye Julia   Winner of the Freedom Award at Cannes Film Festival, this Sudanese film sees a married former singer from the north seek redemption for causing the death of a southern man by hiring his oblivious wife as her maid.    Ricky Stanicky  Twenty years after creating the imaginary Ricky Stanicky, three childhood friends still use the non-existent pal as a handy alibi for their immature behaviour. When their spouses and partners get suspicious and demand to finally meet him, the guilty trio decides to hire washed-up actor Rod to bring him to life. However, when Rod takes his role of a lifetime a little too far, they begin to wish they never invented Ricky in the first place.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it a miracle to find that one life partner? Or do we underestimate how many people we could have a successful marriage with?  Kevin Milne ponders whether getting to know someone in a non-romantic setting is the secret to a long-lasting relationship.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sister to her previous album, Norah Jones has released her 9th studio album ‘Visions’.   The album consists of a vibrant and joyful twelve tracks, celebrating the rollercoaster of life, feeling free, and wanting to dance.  It's a stark contrast to her previous album, 'Pick Me Up Off The Floor', released early in the lockdown of 2020, foreshadowing many of the dark emotions that period invoked. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Women by Kristin Hannah  An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.  Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.  As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.  But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.    End of Story by A. J. Finn  “I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.”  So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective fever.”  “You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.”  Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenaged son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past?  “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”  As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Career progression seems to be on the back burner for many kiwis.  Randstand’s latest Workmonitor report found that employees are prioritising flexibility and mental health over career progression.  Over 27,000 people were surveyed, a thousand of whom were kiwis.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to talk about this new data and offer some tips for businesses who want to proactively address these new priorities.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Situated on the largest island in the archipelago, Grand Terre, New Caledonia’s bustling capital proudly flaunts its oh là là influence as a French overseas territory, where European chic mingles with laid-back Melanesian charm, set amid coconut palms in the swagger of a sea breeze. If you want a tropical island getaway with a little Parisian panache and the best baguettes in the South Pacific, you’ve come to the right place." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I remember Jack telling me he’d harvested his tomatoes in February and was pleased with the crop.  I reckon that —especially in the North— tomatoes can go on and on and on; here in Canterbury they grow well into autumn (April, May) until the frosts start to play havoc.  In my tunnel house I carry on harvesting them till June, sometimes July!  This is what they look like in February/March:      The green tomatoes are still on the plant.  These will easily ripen as long as you water and fertilise the plants with a fruit-fertiliser (sufficient Potash – K). Keep trimming the laterals and keep tying up the vines to the stakes.  Each week I do a thorough harvest of all the tomatoes that are ripe or almost ripe.  Pink Berkely Tie-Dye is quite lovely coloured and firm, great for fried tomatoes with eggs.    My biggest crop is F100 (sweet cherry tomatoes) that come in red and Brown-ish hues; The original F 100 is really long-lasting on the plant and keeps going the longest. It’s my standard variety that is best represented in the tunnel house. It’s also the basic tomato for roasted tomato sauce, creating the Bolognese for decent Italian meals  Another good general processing tomato is “Tigerella”, this one goes on till May at least – sometimes well into June.  Roasting them is a piece of cake; olive-oil over the top, plus some onions, paprika and later, basil. Not too high in temperature (150 is usually enough), blitz them when done, if you like, and freeze them in ziplock bags and you’ll have tomato sauce for the year.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With everyone talking about mortgages and interest rates, it's easy to forget that property is just one part of your overall wealth plan and strategy.   Hannah McQueen joined Jack Tame for a chat about the considerations people should have towards long-term wealth creation and what homeowners should be preparing for once the housing market has settled again.  And, if you're not interested in property, how to choose your investment strategy while the markets are down.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xtra says there are 260,000 email accounts which will need to start paying.   From May 16th, 2024 Xtra Mail will be $9.95 a month, or $5.95 a month if you're a Spark customer with broadband, a monthly mobile plan or a landline (That works out to be $71.40 per mailbox per year, almost $18 million a year for all those customers).  So where to from here? What are your options?  If you choose to go somewhere else, Xtra says it has a free email forwarding service. Free services are available from Gmail or Hotmail/Outlook, you may get ads or your data may be used for targeting ads. Microsoft Outlook has the option to go "premium", which is an ad-free experience for $3 a month, or you can bundle it with a Microsoft 365 subscription for $129 a year, or $179 for a family plan.  A .nz domain name is going to be about ~$20 a year, then you need to pay for a mail service on top of that.  Fastmail is an option for US$2.50 a month, there are also offerings from Proton Mail (Swiss based), Hey (US based) or Zoho (India based). Google Workspace is US$6 per user per month, and Microsoft 365 is NZ$9.70 a month.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curb Your Enthusiasm   The final season of the long-running show sees Larry David star as an over-the-top version of himself in this semi-improvised comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events. (Neon)    James Must-A-Pic His Mum a Man   Imagine being tasked with finding your mum the love of her life in front of the nation. That’s exactly what comedian James Mustapic sets out to do in his new show James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man. Alongside his mum, Janet, the 2023 Celebrity Treasure Island winner will vet potential candidates in the reality/comedy series, ensuring hilarity ensues along the way. (TVNZ+)    The Regime   The Regime is an American political satire television miniseries from HBO starring Kate Winslet, depicting a year within the palace of a crumbling authoritarian regime. (Neon)    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Named by IndieWire as one of the best actors to have never received an Academy Award nomination, Guy Pearce has had quite the prolific career.   The Aussie actor has stared in over 400 episodes of Neighbours, L.A. Confidential, Memento, and The Time Machine, but his breakout role was in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert back in 1994.   He’s returning to kiwi cinemas in a week’s time with The Convert, the third collaboration between director Lee Tamahori and producer Robin Scholes.  The film is a historical drama, depicting pre-colonial Aotearoa New Zealand and Māori Culture. A lay preacher arrives at a British settlement in 1830s New Zealand, his violent past is drawn in to question and his faith is put to the test as he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody conflict between Māori tribes.   Pearce plays preacher Thomas Munro, telling Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that he found the script very raw, moving, and fascinating.  “It was just very emotional, and I could really see myself as that character.”  The film is set in a New Zealand context, but the content translates to an international audience, Pearce telling Tame that no matter what the narrative is the idea of a white colonial man taking over or delving into indigenous culture is something that people in many countries can relate to.   The Convert is more than a two-dimensional depiction of colonialism, director Lee Tamahori aiming to take that narrative and make more of a human story, centring connection and compassion regardless of culture, history, and background.  For Pearce, the crux of the story was his character’s development.  “We’re finding a character who’s been traumatised and is looking to find himself and in, in discovering this other culture, he is, he is allowed to then find himself and he therefore owes this other culture.”  “His life was the crux of the story in a way,” he told Tame. “Certainly for me, selfishly, it was the crux of the story.”  This project wasn’t the first time Pearce met Tamahori, but it was the first project they’d worked on together, and Pearce said it was beyond his expectations.  “To witness that wonderful, brilliant intelligence, inspirational kind of outlook that he has, to witness that on a daily level and to be a part of it, and to, you know, he’s so joyful.”  “He’s got such a beautiful kind of energy, and an inspiring quality that you just want to be around him.”  Pearce has had an extensive career, and his success means that he can now be discerning in the projects he chooses to be involved in.  “I just do the things that move me, you know. I’ve always done that.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How To Have Sex   Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday - drinking, clubbing and hooking up, in what should be the best summer of their lives.    20 Days in Mariupol   As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.    Quick mention   The Oscar’s are on March 11th - we can watch them on Disney+ in NZ.   Red carpet 11.30am and ceremony 2pm.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late season peach or nectarine crumble is just the best! Make these individual fruit crumbles, they’re fabulous!  Serves 2    Ingredients  2 large peaches or nectarines, halved, stones removed  1-2 tablespoons golden syrup or maple syrup  ¼ cup rolled oats  2 tablespoons brown sugar  1 tablespoon plain flour  2 tablespoons butter  Small handful of nuts – almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts – chopped  Yoghurt, cream and/or ice cream.    Method  Heat oven to 180 C and grease a small ovenproof dish.  Place fruit in dish, cut side up. Generously brush the fruit with golden syrup or maple syrup.  Mix together dry ingredients and rub in the butter. Add the nuts.  Fill the holes of the fruit with crumble. Scatter over any leftover crumble. Drizzle in a little water – just enough to cover the bottom of the dish.  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until fruit is lovely and soft and the crumble is golden.  Serve with yoghurt, whipped cream and/or ice cream.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TNVZ announced a raft of cuts yesterday, with nearly 70 members of staff facing the axe and Sunday, Fair Go, Tonight, and Midday all on the chopping block.  Kevin Milne was Fair Go's longest serving host, and finds the loss of the show to be a great shame not only personally, but for regular kiwis who will no longer have that weapon available to them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an awful day in my household and office yesterday, as TVNZ joined its free-to-air mates at Warner Brothers Discovery in announcing massive cuts to news gathering operations.  My wife Mava is a reporter on Sunday, and for many, many years I’ve worked with the teams on Sunday, Fair Go, Tonight, and Midday. They are my colleagues and friends. As anyone in any industry who has gone through a restructure or been made redundant will know, it’s a personally devastating thing to experience.  Perhaps I’m biased, but I do think the news business is a bit different to other businesses. I think it contributes to the strength of our democracy and the vibrancy of our society in ways that can’t be measured on a balance sheet. I think it celebrates and reflects us, and I think well-resourced journalism is our single most effective check on power.  When it comes to the TV business, it’s clear the traditional economic models are no longer fit for purpose. In the digital age, traditional TV plays a less prominent role in our lives than it once did. Advertising dollars move from the telly to the likes of Google and Meta, instead. The gazillions they make in profits are mostly shipped offshore.  Of course, people in my industry should have seen this coming. And for the most part they have. I’m not saying there aren’t things they couldn’t have done differently, innovations they could and should have made, but ultimately the force of those digital giants is irrepressible. Trying to save free-to-air commercial TV, with quality news, current affairs, and local programming, in a country with five million people... is like trying to bail out the Titanic with an empty ice cream container. I’m not aware of any comparable broadcast markets where they’ve managed to pull it off.  TV and moving pictures still have a certain magic. Radio has intimacy. But TV is the only medium where you can both hear the crack in the politician’s voice and see the flash in their eyes when a hypocrisy is exposed. At moments of national or international significance... natural disasters, pandemics, we can get information from several sources, but for the collective experience, we still turn to telly.  And there is an extra power that comes with TV currents affairs. Think about the kinds of stories that have been exposed in New Zealand. I remember as a kid in Christchurch, when the doctor Morgan Fahey was exposed by TV3’s 20/20 for sexually abusing his patients. I was eleven years old and I remember it. It was profound, devastating journalism... a story which has stuck in my head for more than 25 years.  Consider Kristin Hall and Sunday’s extraordinary recent investigation into emergency housing in Rotorua. News reports about that issue popped up from time to time on various news websites, but it took moving pictures, careful storytelling, meticulously-produced, expensive current affairs, to drive home the full scale and significance of those abuses. It took the power of telly to affect change.  If we value these things, one way or another we have to pay for it. From a purely economic perspective, if the commercial model is broken, the only other real viable option is a regulatory response.  Of course I’m biased, but I’d argue the value of journalism should be measured in more than dollars and cents. Maybe you disagree. Maybe you think a number of newish, small, independent, digital outlets fills the gap left by the shows that are dying. I think I’d be more open to that argument if the overall number of journos in New Zealand wasn’t massively, steadily dropping.  The traditional TV companies might be poor, but without something meaty in place of Newshub, Sunday and Fair Go, our society and our democracy are poorer too. And by the very nature of the work they do and the vital stories they tell, we will never know what we have lost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic kiwi band L.A.B. has just dropped their latest album ‘VI’.  It’s their sixth album in seven years, a total of nine tracks with cruisey summery vibes.  They celebrated the album's release with a performance at Electric Avenue in Christchurch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lone Wolf by Greg Hurwitz  Once a black book government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the program, went deep underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere, and risk everything to help the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful men in the world and even brought down a President. Struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission - and this time, the truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog.    The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson  From enchanting cliff tops and white sandy bays to the pretty cobbled streets of St Helier, Jersey is known as the land of milk and honey. But for best friends Bea Rose (the local postwoman) and Grace Le Motte (who works in the island's only library) it becomes the frontline to everyday resistance when their beloved island is occupied by German forces in 1940.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shōgun  Set in Japan in the year 1600, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village (Disney+).    Constellation  When a fatal accident occurs on board the International Space Station, a lone astronaut makes the heroic journey back to Earth, only to discover key pieces of her life —including her young daughter— have changed (Apple TV+).    The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin  Dick Turpin is a legendary British motorway robber, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of rogues, he sets out on new adventures, all while trying to escape the clutches of a thief-taker (Apple TV+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dune: Part Two   Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.  The Great Escaper   In the summer of 2014, a World War II veteran sneaks out of his care home to attend the 70th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings in Normandy.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Remote and wind-blasted Farewell Spit is a sweeping 30km-long sliver of sand that arcs east, buffering Golden Bay from the Tasman Sea. If you’ve never done it before, revel in this singular environment, by hopping onboard a Farewell Spit Eco Tour, for a 6 hour journey of discovery." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Load shifting is one of the best things we can do to ensure we are using renewable energy sources instead of non-renewables. But what is load shifting?  Load shifting is simply moving power use to different times of the day. Turning large appliances on at off peak times, setting timers, charging EVs overnight etc.  Kate Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss the benefits of load shifting and its ability to save kiwis hundreds of dollars a year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In NZ, we have a number of wasp species that can cause a few problems:  1) German Wasps (arrived after WW2) Vespula germanica  2) The Common Wasp (arrived in the 1970-s) Vespula vulgaris  Both these two species sting – no sense of humor!  They nest in cavities: hollow trees, wall cavities and hollow trunks of trees, in your ceiling or roof space, etc.  These wasps are often found eating honeydew in native forests, especially in the South Island.  They will also hunt for insects (protein) in your garden (Monarch butterfly caterpillars and other sizeable insects).  The Vespula species are tricky to control, kill and remove – best left to professional pest controllers.  3) Australian Paper Wasp (been here for more than 100 years) Polistes humilis  4) Chinese Paper Wasp (since 1979) Polistes chinensis  5) European Paper Wasp (Since 2016) Polistes dominula  These guys and girls sting too!  Paper wasps do not go for the sweet stuff; they eat mostly caterpillars. Not a problem when they go for white butterfly caterpillars that damage your broccoli etc, but killing our native insects is not welcome.  A few weeks ago —in Bannockburn— I ran into Susie Bassett of Waspol NZ Ltd collecting nests of paperwasps. This Company is based in Nelson. (Facebook Waspol NZ)  They send the wasps (frozen) to US immunotherapy Laboratories where they develop products to desensitise people that are seriously affected by wasp stings through acute allergies.  Wasp species have unique versions of venom – immunotherapy can save lives! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a ‘middle ear’ infection?  - One of the most common infections that occur in children.  - By school age most children would have had an infection, and it becomes less common as they get older.  - An infection of the middle ear: air filled space behind the ear drum, which contains the vibrating bones of the ear we hear with.     What do we need to look out for?  - Often starts with a cold.  - Tube that drains the middle ear to the back of throat becomes blocked.  - Middle ear fills up with fluid and can become infected with viruses or bacteria.  - Symptoms include pain in the ear, temperatures, headaches, and trouble hearing.  - Babies may cry a lot, pull at their ears, stop feeding, or be irritable.  - Drum may burst and discharge fluid from the ear     How is it diagnosed?  - Your doctor will look into the ear with a magnifier called an otoscope.  - They’ll look at the drum and see if it’s infected behind the drum.     How do we treat it?  - Most middle ear infections will clear themselves after four days.  - Simple pain relief such as paracetamol or brufen is used for symptom control, fluids, many cases don’t need antibiotics.  - With severe symptoms such as fever or vomiting, they’re more likely to use antibiotics.    Where there is risk of complications:   - Those younger than 2 years, Māori/pacific children, or underlying medical conditions.     Any long term concerns?  - Recurrent infection or can develop glue ear: thick mucus that won’t clear behind the drum.  - Can interfere with hearing.  - You may need to see an ear specialist to insert a grommet or drain.  - If you have hearing concerns, see your GP.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook & News are breaking up  The "news tab" is no more and Meta is basically trying to get out of the news business altogether.  Meta says it will “deprecate” Facebook News in the US and Australia in April and has removed the News tab in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Meta says it will not do any new commercial deals for news and “will not offer new Facebook products specifically for news publishers in the future.”   In Australia, the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code prompted Meta to do huge licensing deals worth an estimated $70 million with publishers like News Corp, Seven, Nine, and Sky News. But no more!  Threads and Instagram have been pushing as far from news as they possibly can, trying to deemphasize news content. Meta says: “news makes up less than 3% of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed".     Apple's car stays in the garage  Dubbed one of Silicon Valley's "worst kept secrets", Project Titan is no more. Apple had planned to produce a fully electric and self-driving vehicle and has spent billions on research and development. By all accounts it was a very real project.   In 2017, it got a permit to test self-driving vehicles in California and purchased a startup in the car space. One analyst said Apple is following investors’ appetites, with enthusiasm for electric vehicle investments waning amid the frenzy for all things AI. Apple still hasn't commented on anything related to the car project.  In the past five years, Apple has spent $113 billion developing new tech ($22b a year!).   What's next? The guess is that Apple will evolve the CarPlay offering to become an operating system for cars.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has had an eventful life.  One of New Zealand’s most prolific performers, the opera singer has performed in countries all over the world in several different languages, receiving a slew of honours over the years.  She retired in September 2017, her last performance taking place in October of 2016.  Since then, Te Kanawa committed herself to nurturing young artists, sitting as a judge in singing competitions and establishing the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation which supports young musicians and singers in realising their dreams.  Te Kanawa recently moved back to New Zealand after living in the United Kingdom for over 55 years, and her connection to both countries saw her sent as one of NZ’s official delegates for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.  Her 80th birthday is coming up this week, Te Kanawa telling Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that she can’t believe she got to this age.  “I thought 70 was bad enough, now we’re at 80.”  The celebrations might not be exactly what you’d expect for such a milestone, Te Kanawa revealing that she and her husband are going fishing.  They plan to just get enough for the table, as being out on the water is what Te Kanawa really enjoys.  “I’m, you know, a Pisces, my husband’s an Aquarius, so we’re water people.”  Te Kanawa moved back to New Zealand in 2021, settling down in the Bay of Islands.   While she does feel that it was the right choice, she does still feel homesick for England after having lived there for such a long time.  “We did it and we’re pleased we’ve done it, but I’ve left an awful lot of my heart behind.”  “But home is here, and I am thoroughly enjoying all the different things about New Zealand which I never knew about.”  One such thing is kiwis' refusal to give way to others in traffic, a contrast to the politeness she’s used to in England.  “There’s a whole lot of little things that people don’t do or do do that are nice.”  Despite having such a long career, Te Kanawa revealed that she doesn’t look back on it all that much, the rapid pace of her life and career overwhelming.  “It took me several years to calm down and about a year to sort of say that I’m not going to sing again.”  “It’s best not to look back, it’s always best to look forward.”  Since retiring from performing, Te Kanawa has instead put her efforts into supporting the next generation of artists with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.  “We’ve had a lot of great successes,” Te Kanawa told Tame.  Some of the people the Foundation has supported have gone on to get major roles at Covent Garden, some singing in Glen Bourne and Salzburg.  “I’m so pleased that we’ve, we’ve helped them a lot, and it’s a lovely little group now that we’ve been sort of really mentoring.”  Mentoring is what she’ll continue to do, Te Kanawa having no plans to perform in public again.  “The past is in the past,” she said.  Te Kanawa told Tame that while her voice was very beautiful in the past, she hasn't trained it in years.  She said that even if she tried to start training it again, it would take months to get it anywhere near what she would like it to be.  “It’s just best to leave it, go to sleep, and let’s enjoy the youth of today.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is losing one of its two TV news organisations as Warner Bros. Discovery pulls the plug on Newshub. Kevin Milne has found the Government's response to be quite lacklustre, given the importance of the third estate to democracy. "NZ is now on it's own and I think that's, in a way, a bit tragic." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We made it.  Hurrah. My wife and I celebrated the one-month anniversary of our wedding this week. A meagre milestone relative to many other relationships but a month married is a month married and so far at least, it’s been great.  It also means I’ve crossed the one-month threshold for life with a wedding ring.  I must admit I was a bit torn at first about whether or not a ring was for me. Like many of his generation, my Dad never wore a ring. When my siblings and I questioned him about it as kids, we’d joke that no ring would fit around his salami fingers, but he’d always counter by proudly stating that men shouldn’t wear jewellery.  The words must have stuck for, because but for an ill-advised few months in fifth form where I wore a beaded surfer necklace and an oversized chunky goth ring with a demon’s face and two large protruding horns, I’ve not worn more than a watch.  My boss put his ring finger on the scale by telling me you can’t trust a married man without a wedding ring. But when my wife said it was up to me but at the very least she thought I should try it, I ordered simple gold band.  I’m not gonna lie, it was weird at first. It reminded me strangely of having braces on my teeth for the first time, in that all of a sudden you’re going about life with a little piece of you that’s artificial. The morning after our wedding, I woke at dawn and went for a swim. And even though the water was still and calm, I pinched the fingers of my left hand together, paranoid that somehow my ring would slip off and be lost on day one.  I tested it this week, travelling. I fly fairly regularly for work and pride myself on being very organised when it comes to the security scanning – my laptop is always out and ready to go. But having left the ring on my finger, I was alarmed when metal detector buzzed. Oh no, I thought. Don’t tell me the ring is going to ping me every time I pass through security for the rest of my life. I tried again on the return journey. Wore the ring. Didn’t change a thing. No beep. No hold up. No drama.  I fiddle with it. I turn it on my hand and every day or two slide it off to check if my finger hasn’t yet grown too fat. And every now and then when I see my hand, I get a good feeling. That’s right, I think. I’m married.  The ring still feels new. It still feels novel. But a month in, it feels good. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boiling Point A new four part British drama that picks up six months after the 2021 movie of the same name, and follows the staff working in a high pressure restaurant (TVNZ+).   Feud  Capote and the Swans: Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts and Chloe Sevigny star in this American drama about writer Truman Capote’s friendships with a group of high society New York women (Neon).   The Choir  An uplifting six part documentary series about the Detroit Youth Choir, as the inner city kids practice for a performance of a lifetime at Carnegie Hall (Disney+).   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highly controversial fruit, feijoas have long held a special place in New Zealand culture.  They’ve become a feature of kiwi iconography, their popularity seeing the flavour crop up in the least expected places.  Kiwi author Kate Evans thinks of herself as the nerdiest of feijoa nerds, travelling the world and researching the fruit.  She’s recently published a book on the subject, ‘Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging’.  Evans told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that her obsession started with the fruit tree in her parents’ house, sitting under the tree as a child and eating them by the bucketful.  “I lived overseas for about a decade, and when I was away, I just missed feijoas so much.”  She said that whenever she managed to find one overseas, cutting it open would fill her with an intense nostalgia for home.  “When I moved back to New Zealand in 2014, I was so excited to be here for an entire feijoa season.”  The fruit is so ubiquitous in New Zealand despite not being native, which got Evans wondering how this South American fruit became such a cultural touchstone.  Feijoas originated in South America and were imported over to New Zealand in the late 1800’s, where they were found to grow incredibly well.  “It’s quite easy to grow them, you don’t really have to do much.”  Despite the cultural love for Feijoas, the Colombians might have us beat with their festival dedicated to the fruit.   “They make so many more things with them than we do,” Evans told Tame.  Recipes for some of which, she has included in her book: feijoa mousse, carpaccio, and more, for those desperately searching for a new way to consume their crop.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fifth studio album from American rock band MGMT, 'Loss of Life' is the band's label debut on Mom + Pop, coming six years after the release of 'Little Dark Age'. The ten track album shifts between genres, Britpop, acoustic folk, power ballads with an 80's flair. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Day by David Nicholls  15th July 1988: Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.  So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?    Moscow X by David McCloskey  A daring CIA operation threatens chaos in the Kremlin - its execution is foiled by a Russian woman with secret loyalties. CIA operatives Sia and Max enter Russia to recruit Vladimir Putin's moneyman. Sia works for a London firm that conceals the wealth of the super-rich. Max's family business in Mexico, a CIA-front since the 1960s, is a farm that breeds high-end racehorses. They pose as a couple, and their targets are Vadim, Putin's private banker, and his wife Anna, who is both a banker and an intelligence officer. As they descend further into a Russian world dripping with luxury and rife with gangland violence, Sia and Max's hope may be Anna, who is playing a game of her own.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're done seeing the sights of Gisborne and are after something a little more outdoorsy, Tairāwhiti is packed with adventures. Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to run through some of his favourites, including tandem cycling, Tipuna Tours up in Tolaga Bay, and feeding the stingrays down the line at Tatapouri. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia workers have been given the right to ignore after-hours calls from work, unless it’s in their contract/role requires it or an emergency, following on from some European countries (e.g., France) who have done this.  How likely are we to follow suit in NZ? It's unlikely that it will become law – since 2015 Health and Safety at work act neither Labour nor National govts appear to have been interested in putting in any more regulations.  However, debate may increase in kiwi workplaces surrounding the topic.  There are pros/cons to the discussion – some will feel it’s an example of a “snowflake” generation who do the bare minimum, others will see it as supporting people to switch off from work when they’re done.  Some workplaces say things like “if you receive an email from me after hours feel free to ignore it until it’s your work hours”, which might be a compromise. We do that at Umbrella, it allows some level of autonomy and responsibility on both ends – I can send you an email at 11pm but don’t expect you to respond to it until you’re at work. You do need to be a bit careful about this as there can be an implied pressure to respond, particularly if the person sending the email is your boss. That links into the topic of how “psychologically safe” you feel at work to express your opinion (but that’s a whole other topic!)  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have caught me talking about Psyllids, from time to time. Especially the Tomato-Potato Psyllid.  This is an insect that appeared in New Zealand around 2006 and it makes a mess of the two main hosts: Tomatoes and Potatoes.  The Tomato-Potato Psyllid. Photo / Supplied  As a fanatic tomato grower, I always keep a serious eye out this thing and practice a lot of weed control (Solanum weeds – the overwintering hosts of my crops). I also use regular Neem sprays to stop the Psyllid nymphs (immatures) from developing on my tomatoes.  Like most Psyllids, they are sapsuckers; taking the sweet sugars out of the plant to extract Nitrogen for growth of their bodies. They excrete the sweet materials as “honeydew” which in itself is a great food for other insects, but also birds and certainly black, sooty mould.  Another Exotic Psyllid species came in the late 1990’s and is often found on Syzygium smithii, mostly known as “Monkey apple”, Lilly-Pilly, or the old name Acmena. It is often used to form fast-growing hedges.  Black hedges, especially in the warmer north, due to copious amounts of sooty mould.  Lilly-Pilly is considered a weed in our country, so the psyllid is perhaps helping to suppress this exotic plant somewhat.  But in NZ we have our own, Native species too:  On Pohutukawa and Rata, for instance (Trioza curta), and a species on Pittosporum (Trioza vitreoradiata).  Both these natives suck juices out of the leaves of their host, causing distortions and dimples.  Isn’t that causing some severe stress and damage to these native hosts?  The creation of the dimples is also no doubt under the influence of toxins or enzymes injected by the young, sedentary nymphs. But the astonishing thing is that the actual health of the Pohutukawa, rata or pittosporum is rarely, if ever, severely affected as a result of these psyllids. Mind you, they've been living together now for many millions of years, and the evolutionary processes will have reached a nice balance between the sucker and its host plant.  But when we take a detailed look at this symbiosis, we must ask ourselves the question why the Pohutukawa facilitates the psyllids by creating cosy little dimples?  The answer can be found at a surprising location: the rear end of the larvae. You see, that's where the sweet excrement is being produced.  Pittosporum psyllid being “milked” by a native ant. Photo / Supplied  Native ant species will patrol the psyllids and collect any sugary waste products that may become available, and while doing so, they protect the psyllid nymphs and the leaves they are living on! Indeed, Pohutukawa and rata leaves with psyllids on them are almost always without any chewing damage.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylors Estate Limestone Coast, Clare Valley Shiraz $20    Why I chose it  - Hearty red for the months ahead. - Taylor’s produces some of the best value reds in Australia. - Australian wine sales to China, once their biggest wine market, have ground to a halt, resulting in many bargains if you are prepared to shop around.    What does it taste like?  - Dense, inky red with choc/mocha, cassis, anise/liquorice, vanilla, cigar box and spicy oak. Nicely layered shiraz with obvious cellaring potential.    Why it’s a bargain?  - Terrific quality for less than $20.   Where can you buy it?  - Whisky and More $16.99, The Good Wine Co. $17.99, New World $17.99, Countdown $16.   Food match?  - Hearty stews and casseroles.   Will it keep?  - Yes, good for 5 or 6 years if stored well.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about AI and how it might change things, but it's starting to have real world consequences  Tyler Perry, who founded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Network and is a prolific content creator, has said he's stopping plans to open more sound stages. He was due to add 12 sound stages to his Atlanta complex, but advances by OpenAI's video generator Sora has given him pause.   Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions. It's not without its quirks, but there's probably a very good chance that in the time it would take to build 12 sound stages, the model might actually get better. We're seeing advances that quickly!    Tyler Perry: "I had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it's able to do. It's shocking to me."  Think of the jobs lost through this - construction workers, stage crew, catering, production assistants...    It did it... the first private spacecraft has landed on the moon  Intuitive Machines' lunar craft successfully landed.   It has some communications issues, but the CEO of the company confirmed the craft is standing upright and transmitting data successfully. Odysseus will now begin a suite of experiments that will hopefully provide data useful for a future mission and help to ensure the safety of humans when they eventually return. The mission is the first American lunar landing in more than 50 years, since the crewed Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Zone of Interest   Winner of the Grand Prize at Cannes 2023, this historical war drama from filmmaker Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin) centres on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, who strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.    The Eternal Memory   Chilean couple Augusto and Paulina have been together for 25 years, but Augusto was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease eight years ago. Both of them fear the day he will no longer recognize her.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you got a glut of plums like me? This little condiment - plum paste - is easy to make and it goes so well with all manner of cheeses and meats.    Ingredients:  1.5kg whole fresh plums, washed (count them into the pot, I used 32 plums – see note)  1 ¼ cups water  ½ cup sweet white wine or apple cider vinegar  ¼- ½ tsp ground cloves, depending on your taste  Sugar, white or raw – likely to be about 600-750g    Method:  1. Cook plums with liquids and cloves until very soft and reduced a bit – about 20 minutes. Extract the same number of plum stones as you had plums. Mash or blend the pulp and weigh it. Add half its weight in sugar and return to the stove. Cook on a brisk simmer for 40 minutes or so, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. 2. It’s ready when a teaspoonful is dropped on a cool saucer, left to cool, then a finger dragged through it leaves a clear stripe. Keep cooking until it reaches this stage. 3. Line a swiss roll tin or similar with baking paper or lightly oiled foil. 4. Pour paste into prepared tin and refrigerate overnight. It will be gorgeously glossy. 5. Cut into squares, wrap in baking paper and store in fridge. 6. Eat with cheese or meats.   Note:  If your plums aren’t freestone count them into the pot, so you know how many stones you need to remove once they cook down.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s often believed that the music you listen to when you’re seventeen or eighteen is what sticks with you throughout your entire life.  Kevin Milne recently stumbled across concert programmes from when he was living in London in the 70’s; how much of that has stuck around?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never thought the previous government’s fees-free education policy made sense.  I’m on the record from the get-go. I didn’t think it was a well-designed or considered policy. At an annual cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, the policy was expensive. I felt there were other priorities. The more cynically minded might even suggest that fast-tracking a fees-free education policy was a decision made with an impending election in mind, rather than the stated educational outcomes.   The goals of the policy were to increase access for students from poorer backgrounds, Māori and Pasifika, and to improve educational outcomes. But short of a Scandanavian-style tax system, I actually thought New Zealand’s interest-free student loan scheme is pretty good. It strikes a fair balance and the barriers to access are low. And for every poorer student brought in by fees-free and who otherwise might have missed out on higher education, there were obviously dozens if not hundreds or thousands of middle-class kids who would’ve gone to university anyway, and now enjoyed an additional subsidy.   Instead of a blanket fees-free policy, the previous government could have considered so many alternatives:  - Increasing scholarships for students from poorer backgrounds, or for students from low-decile schools.  - Re-introducing the 10% bulk payment incentive to student loans, whereby anyone who paid off more than $1000 in a voluntary payment, had ten percent of that payment matched by the government.  - Means testing first year fees-free students.  - Making the third year of an undergraduate degree fees-free, so students were incentivised to finish.  - Greater assistance to students with cost-of-living support.  Instead, although they held off making additional study years fees-free, the previous government stuck with their scheme. And the results have been damning.    The total number of fees-free students has been decreasing. From the get-go, overall enrolments fell short of what was promised. Fees-free students have been dropping out. What’s more, the New Zealand Herald revealed over summer that the number of decile 1 first-year students has halved since the scheme began. The number of first year decile 10 students has increased by 40%. So much for improving access for students from poorer backgrounds.   I was surprised National stuck with the scheme during the election campaign. But now at least, the government is moving to change the policy to make the final year fees-free, as per New Zealand First’s election policy.   I note the Tertiary Education Commission acknowledged this week there was no discernible evidence the policy has increased access to low-socio economic groups. The policy has failed in its stated objectives. It’s a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have. It deserves to go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow marks the 46th year of Round the Bays Wellington, an iconic community event bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate physical activity.  Over 10,000 people are expected to take part in one of three distances, Sir Ashley Bloomfield among them.  He’s taking part as a Pause Breathe Smile ambassador, which is a free mental health program for primary and intermediate schools.  Bloomfield is doing the 5.5km event, telling Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that he’s been taking it easy with his training this week, to ensure that he’ll be able to finish the run.  He said he’s been running in some capacity for his entire life, having run a few marathons and as well as having a group of friends he goes on Saturday morning runs with whenever possible.  “That fellowship kind of aspect of it, spending time with friends and in terms of both physical and mental wellbeing, to me you couldn’t tick many more boxes than that.”  One of the reason’s Bloomfield enjoys running is its accessibility.  “All you really need is a pair of shoes.”   Regular exercise is also known to be a benefit for those in high stakes environments and high stress jobs, both of which Bloomfield was facing in the last few years.  “Being able to kind of decompress, as well as get out and keep active and fit was a lifesaver for me.”  “Literally a lifesaver.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Lopez has dropped her ninth studio album, a sister to her 2003 LP ‘This Is Me... Then’.   The genre crossing ‘This Is Me... Now’ is a confessional, a deeply personal insight into her love life and relationship with Ben Affleck.  Released alongside was a 65-minute short film, ‘This Is Me... Now: A Love Story’, a high gloss blend of genres and styles to match the tone of the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna O by Matthew Blake   What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all? We spend an average of 33 years of our lives asleep. But what really happens, and what are we capable of, when we sleep? Anna Ogilvy was a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive—and hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic disorder known to neurologists as “resignation syndrome.” Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of solving the infamous “Anna O’” case and waking Anna up so she can stand trial. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect—he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own. As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes. Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out.  The World's Biggest Cash Machine by Chris Blackhurst  From Chris Blackhurst, the former Editor of the Independent, comes The World's Biggest Cash Machine, a gripping and tightly reported account of how the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, became the most maligned figures in the Premier League, and how they changed the beautiful game forever. Manchester United's supporters span the globe and cross generations. But, with few exceptions, they are united in their anger with the American family who bought their club in 2005, plunging it into record levels of debt. The Glazers' reign has become synonymous with the financialization of football, and has coincided with fan protests and a decline of Manchester United's fortunes on the pitch . . . if not on the balance sheet. But what defines this secretive family, and do these astute businessmen deserve the opprobrium they receive? In this captivating account, informed by interviews with key figures behind the scenes, journalist and commentator Chris Blackhurst charts the gripping story of the world's biggest football club - as well as exploring the wider transformation of the Premier League into a playground for billionaire owners.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criminal Record  In the heart of London, an anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives -- a young woman in the early stages of her career and a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy -- into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice (AppleTV+).    Strife  Asher Keddie stars in this Australian drama about a small-time blogger who overcome professional and personal challenges while working towards creating a women-centric website (ThreeNow).    The New Look  This series explores the rise of fashion designer Christian Dior, as he attempts to bring colour and life back to post-war Europe (Apple TV+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communication is key to a healthy relationship, but not all conversations are simple to have.   In the changing climate it’s important to be on the same page as your partner when it comes to sustainability, and how you implement it in your lives.   But how do we have this conversation? What needs to be covered?  Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to give a few tips to ensure that you and your partner can be on the same page.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Is Me... Now: A Love Story  Jennifer Lopez stars in a highly visual and musical reimagining of her publicly scrutinized love life.    May December   Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Gazing across the ravishing seascape, Young Nick’s Head and Mahia Peninsula loomed large on the horizon, while directly beneath us, the photogenic allure of Wainui Beach and Okitu Bush casts you under its spell. It’s immediately self-evident why a beach house at Wainui is the epitome of aspirational real estate. What a sweet spot -no wonder the sun wants to be the first to see it. A year on from the damage and despair of a natural disaster, Gisborne and the Tairāwhiti district’s welcome mat is unmistakeably rolled out. Don’t be fooled by the enduring misnomer that the region’s roads are still too tricky to navigate or that visitors aren’t welcome. Nothing could be further from the truth. Gizzy and her surrounds is good to go and would love to see you." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I was cutting firewood for the 2024 winter, I came across some brilliant tunnels in the timber and larger branches.  Drywood Termites.  The adults are ready to fly out, mate and make a new home in decaying wood; their wings are gorgeous, slate grey and rather delicate.  You’ll find them attracted to lights, landing on the windows in the evening or near the front door.  Termites are rather ancient insects. Fossils of termite-like beasts date back some 50 million years, and it looks as if their diet has more or less remained the same during that period of time: wood and cellulose materials. This could give the impression that termites are boring insects, and yes, that is exactly what they are.  No matter how you look at it, boring is the only way to start or accelerate decay in wood, opening up trunks or branches allows entry of fungi and moulds. Our native termites are fond of rotting wood, and as such play an important role in the recycling of woody materials. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and forest fibres to faecal frass.  Kalotermes brouni larva in dead wood. Photo / Supplied Only very recently in the geological history of Kalotermes brouni (our so-called dry-wood termite), humans came on the scene and obligingly built these enormous structures from large quantities of dead, milled wood, known as "houses". Especially in the good old days these houses were made from untreated local timbers.  Lots of myths around our three species of Native Termites but the most important one is that the dry-wood termite really prefers wet timber and untreated timber. I remember in my old house in West Auckland, the bedroom was built from untreated timber; the gutter was leaking; the water soaked the weatherboards and studs, and the termites chewed their tunnels right to the paint-layer!  Spectacular and clever way to control relative humidity in their wooden home!  Prevention of native termite invasion is obvious: Use treated timber and keep it dry.  We do have some invasive termites from Australia. Coptotermes acinaciformis and Coptotermes frenchi are quite a different kettle of fish. They do not require dead or wet wood and will happily excavate in living trees. In the Canberra region, where they are the most economically important termite species, colonies are often found associated with Eucalyptus trees from where they can invade houses.  In contrast with our native termites, these Aussie chisel-beaks are basically a subterranean species. Nests are commonly hidden in amongst the root systems of a living tree and are therefore not easy to detect. But when they shift to another location, or extend their feeding grounds, these termites construct characteristic runways from mud. These earthen tubes usually originate from the soil and enable them to maintain their required humidity.  If you find termites with mud “runways” please contact MPI – 0800 809 966. We don’t want those around!!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners with a fixed-rate mortgage expiring soon likely perked up when forecasters started suggesting that interest rates could start falling this year. But the Reserve Bank isn't convinced the inflation beast is back in the bag just yet. With conflicting information and no guarantees on when, how far, or how fast interest rates will fall, how can you assess your position and determine the best pathway forward?   Hannah discusses strategies on how to proceed when interest rates are sky high but anticipated to fall, why you should calculate the interest rate differential when you want to fix short-term, and why favourable conditions demand a focused mindset to maximise progress and avoid complacency.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A private spacecraft is headed to the moon  Launched from Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9, the "Odysseus" will land on the south pole of the moon in search of water. Scientists believe ice exists amongst the rock in both the sunlit and dark sides of the moon, possibly from icy meteorites hitting the moon.   If successful, Odysseus will be the first private craft to land on the moon.  NASA has funded part of this journey though because it's carrying a range of their scientific instruments, including a laser retroreflector which will bounce back laser beams fired from earth and a tool to measure how the landing disturbs and sends up plumes of moon dust.     An eye on methane from space  Google joins the non-profit "Environmental Defense Fund" in launching a program to understand how oil and gas plants are emitting methane, believed to be one of the causes of climate change because it traps heat in the atmosphere. The satellite will orbit the earth 15 times a day. Data will be sent back every few weeks and fed into Google's AI and Earth technology systems for viewing. The group says that if they notice a significant leak, they're not going to specifically notify the plant, but would rely on regulators and governments to use their data as they see fit.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of the year when the stonefruit season collides with the last of the blueberries so I thought I’d marry them up in this gorgeous cake!    Ingredients:  3 medium eggs  A generous half cup of caster sugar  1/3 cup oil – I used canola!  Pinch salt  1 cup fruit – chopped quite small , I used peaches and nectarines  1/3 cup blueberries  1 1/3 cup self raising flour  1/3 cup yoghurt (can use milk see note)    Method:  Preheat oven to 180 C and line a 20-23cm round cake tin. Note the image depicts a VERY large version of this cake that I make to feed 25 hungry students!  Whisk eggs well in a large bowl then pour in the sugar, salt and oil and whisk some more until well-combined. Add the chopped fruit and blueberries and mix well.  Add in flour and yoghurt and stir until mixed and there are no pockets of flour remaining.  Scrape into prepared tin and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.  Once cooled, either dust with icing sugar or make a vanilla icing and ice it.    Make it your own:  Use olive oil for a posher version  Used tinned fruit salad and frozen blueberries in the off season  Sour milk with a squeeze of lemon juice if you don’t have yoghurt    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a small world.  Kevin Milne was in a café on Thursday and by complete chance, happened to run into someone he made a documentary about 45 years ago.  He joined Jack Tame to chat about some of his favourite memories from the making of that doco.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB is a captivating blend of insightful conversations, engaging interviews, and thought-provoking discussions. With Jack Tame at the helm, you can expect a refreshing take on current events, combined with his unique charm and wit.”  But hey... don’t take my word for it. Take Chat GPT’s. That’s what happens if you tell the world’s best-known generative artificial intelligence bot to write a few sentences in order to convince someone to listen to this show. Pretty good, eh?  I’ll be honest though, I was impressed by GPT when it was released, but not totally wowed. It seemed to get a lot of pretty obvious facts wrong, even when correct information was readily available on the internet. And I know these are relatively early stages in AI, but still, you’d think if Wikipedia has the real answer, Chat GPT wouldn’t make it up.  The ‘wow’ moment with AI came for me yesterday. Open AI, the company behind Chat GPT, released a video generating model called Sora.  You write a command, and working off your words, it generates a video clip up to sixty seconds long based on the detail and information you provide it.  The examples released by Open AI are… extraordinary.  Working off just a few lines of text, the model creates hyper-realistic video images. In one, a woman walks down a Neon-lit Tokyo Street, the light bouncing perfectly off the little puddles underneath her black boots. In another, a Victoria crowned pigeon twitches and shifts before the camera. In maybe my favourite example, two tiny pirate ships keen and tilt in the churning, swirling black of a hot coffee.  Are all of the videos perfect? No. With a keen eye, you can notice some little imperfections. But from a visual effects perspective, they are probably more advanced than most movies just a few years ago. And here’s the thing; they were created in just a few seconds.  I don’t profess to fully grasp the true capacity and risk of artificial intelligence. Obviously, it’s going to be disruptive, but sometimes it’s hard to distil the hype. But Open AI’s Sora programme was a wow moment for me. It’s amazing to me that a technology can create something so impressive, so realistic, both out of nothing, and out of everything. And again – in just a few seconds.  And all I could think as I scrolled through the examples —the woolly mammoths lumbering through a snowy meadow, the movie trailer with a space man in a red wool helmet, the aerial shot of waves crashing against the California Coast, a homemade video of people in Nigeria thirty years in the future— all I could think was if this is where the technology is now, just imagine where it’s going to be in five years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"With five Grammy® wins and sixteen nominations, Howard follows up her massively acclaimed solo debut Jaime—a 2019 LP that landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Pitchfork, the New York Times, and Rolling Stone – with What Now, drawing an immense and indelible power from endless unpredictability. Over the course of its 12 tracks, Howard brings her singular musicality to a shapeshifting sound encompassing everything from psychedelia and dance music to dream-pop and avant-jazz—a fitting backdrop for an album whose lyrics shift from unbridled outpouring to incisive yet radically idealistic commentary on the state of the human condition. At turns galvanizing, cathartic, and wildly soul-expanding, the result is a monumental step forward for one of the most essential artists of our time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Spy Coast – Tess Gerritsen  Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement. But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn. As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.   The Fury – Alex Michaelides  This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that's not quite true. At its heart, it's a love story, isn't it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind...and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and I'm going to tell you a story unlike any you've ever heard.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Day After a brief college romance, Emma and Dexter pursue separate dreams, but meet on the same day each year to compare their progress in life and love.   Arctic Ascent The professional adventure rock climber Alex Honnold embarks on a lifelong dream - an epic climbing quest across the remotest and toughest walls and peaks of Greenland.   Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People A deep dive into a subculture fueled by spice: from the elite growers who strive to create new superhots to the chili eaters who chase the endorphin rush of consuming them; one chili headsets out on a quest to answer the spiciest of questions.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Five women head out on a remote hiking retreat but only four return, each telling a different story. Detective Aaron Falk must find out what really happened before time runs out.  American Underdog  The inspirational true story of Kurt Warner, who overcomes years of challenges and setbacks to become a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. Just when his dreams seem all but out of reach, it's only with the support of his wife, Brenda, and the encouragement of his family, coaches and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley found himself in the stunning capitol city of Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur. He's got all the details on the sights to see, the best shopping locations, and the tastiest street food. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is cervical screening important?  - In NZ approx. 180 to 190 women get cervical cancer every year.  - Up to 80% have not been screening.  - Cervical screening picks up changes early preventing cancer.    What is the cervix?  - Organ connects the uterus to the vagina.  - Why it’s important:  - Keeps baby inside the uterus while growing during pregnancy.  - The canal through which baby passes at birth.  - Canal sperm can travel up to fertilize eggs to get pregnant.    What does a cervical smear do?  - The smear scrapes some cells from the cervix.  - The cells are looked at under a microscope for any abnormal cells, ones that could cause cancer, so they can be treated.  - It’s traditionally every 3 years.  - The Problem – it’s invasive to do and can be painful and off putting.    What has changed?  - A new screening test has been introduced, which can be done by a simple easy vaginal swab once every 5 years.  - Most changes that lead to cancer in cervix are caused by the HPV virus.  - The swab looks for the HPV strains that lead to cancer and do something about it.  - Swab is much easier. It’s not painful and is only once every five years from age 25.  - Easily accessed through your General Practice or clinic.     One other important thing.  - There is now HPV vaccine to prevent HPV infection.  - Free for all adolescents and girls between 9 and 26.  - This stops you from contracting HPV, thus preventing the cancer altogether. - Talk to your GP or Nurse.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The start of a new year is often a good time to check in on how your business is going. Just like we’d take our car in for a WOF, it’s just as important to get a WOF done on the mental health and safety of your business.  Recent court case highlights that workplaces can be held liable for the mental distress and injury their workers suffer.  At its most basic level, mental health and safety at work means making sure that workers aren’t being mentally harmed by the work they’re doing. Mental harm can occur through things such as exposure to traumatic material (e.g., a first responder), having way too much work for one person, or from things like bullying. Workplaces are legally obliged to identify risks to health (including mental health) and take steps to prevent or reduce these risks. This can involve things like providing EAP counselling to staff, training for managers about how to spot signs of distress in their people and support them, through to modifying workflows so it doesn’t all fall on one person.  Some workplaces are really proactive in this area, and others are only just becoming aware of their responsibilities. For this latter group it might be helpful to get some outside support for this from an organisational psychologist. But can also start by actively engaging with staff around their experiences of mental stress and ideas they may have to reduce this. Often the best solutions come out of talking to people at the coalface.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dry conditions? Honestly, watering yourself silly is always an expensive exercise (especially in Wellington! Bottles of water are at least a dollar each…).  Protect your soil from evaporation by chucking a heap of mulch in between your plants; I’ve just finished my firewood stash and the smaller branches are chippered into big bags of mulch.  Timing is everything. Water tanks next to the house? Maybe now is a good idea to invest in some tanks, connected to your guttering, just saying…  Raspberries: If you have harvested your spring-fruiting raspberries, they need pruning now. Get down on your hands and knees and prune off all the old “canes”; It’s easy to see which are old, brown canes with yellow old leaves and which ones are the new, fresh ones that will fruit for you next year.  Raspberries also have this habit of producing heaps of runners and canes far, far away from the original bed! Either mow them down of translocate these new runners to a new row. They’ll survive that easily if done now, while the soil is warm.  Add some fertiliser and everybody’s happy for next spring!  Note: autumn raspberries still have a crop to go!!!  Mid-summer is also the time to prune your plums when they have been harvested. I tend to do that now, with the summer heat still here. When you do it in late autumn or winter, the cooler, wetter weather can cause quite a few problems with diseases.  Remember: stonefruit bears its fruit on young wood, but the European plums (such as prunes, Damson, and Greengage) tend to fruit heavily on 3–4-year-old branches. In our garden the Damson and Greengage are our jam work horses, so they can be shortened back to the well-established branches.  Japanese plums tend to fruit on new wood, which means you can’t be as ruthless; Think ahead!!  Vegies to sow/buy/plant: most of the winter crops:  Prepare your patches – compost, dig-over, make friable with a fork  Carrots in really good, stone-free soil. Well-drained and easy to penetrate for the roots (no forks in the carrots); Seed tape!  Swedes and beetroots – again, well-drained soils that don’t stay wet too long (roots can rot in stagnant water  Leeks – yep always a good winter vegetable, start while soil is warm (good germination)  All the Brassicas can be sown or planted now, whatever you like; Caulies, Broccolinis, cabbages etc, etc. Protect from white butterfly larvae (still very prolific in the warm weather) – use “Success” (Yates) or fine netting that doesn’t let the mother whites onto the leaf surface.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An incredible team of people are heading off on a unique expedition to see first-hand how daunting the melting sea ice, warming seas, and changing weather patterns will be for Antarctica.  Adventurer Peter Hillary, alongside Graham and Raewyn Henry, will lead 130 participants whose expertise spans science, business, art, and politics on a voyage of enlightenment down south.  Antarctica is not your typical tourist destination, and while most people will never visit, the upcoming expedition is Hillary’s 43rd trip.  “It is an incredible place,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.  “Kind of unlike anywhere else on earth.”  The objective of the trip is to immerse the participants in the solitude and expanse of the icy landscape and use that as a base for meaningful conversations about what can be done to stabilise climate change.  “We have to connect with these places.” Hillary said.  He told Tame that in the 19th century, Antarctica was rarely visited except by sealers and whalers, who proceeded to devastate the populations of those animals.   “No one saw it and really, no one cared.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI generated images are getting an identifier  Images created by Open AI's DALL-E technology will now come with a new label, a CR in a circle up in the top left corner. That's the mark that’s going to be on images produced by a range of AI companies. The only trouble there is it can pretty easily be cropped out.   Open AI will also be adding metadata to the image file. While it's a nice idea, it's wildly impractical. If you take a screenshot of the image, the metadata disappears. If you post it online, the metadata isn't easily visible, or can even be wiped.  But the same tech actually shows promise for verifying reality. The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) is working with camera companies, and even newsrooms, to embed metadata in real images to verify their authenticity. It will stay as the image is edited and be able to be verified using an online tool with the full history.     You'll be hearing a lot about Gemini  Google's Bard and Duet are being merged under the new name. Gemini will be the name of their large language model and there'll be Pro and Ultra versions. It's part assistant, part chatbot, part search engine — likely the future of Google.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online shopping is one of life's many conveniences.  It allows people to simplify their shopping experience, and buy things from places or companies they might not be able to access in their day to day life. Kevin Milne told Jack Tame that the experience continues to impress. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quick, light, fresh and delicious, making it the perfect summer salad for you to share with friends and family. We love to serve this salad alongside our hummus, dukkha yoghurt flatbreads and smoky carrot falafels.   Serves: 6  Time: 20 minutes    Ingredients:  1 cup bulgur wheat   Boiling water   4 spring onion, finely chopped  180g cherry tomatoes, chopped   1 cucumber, chopped   3 stalks celery, finely chopped  1 lemon, zest and juice   2 tbsp pomegranate molasses   ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil   1 tsp sea salt   2 cups flat leaf parsley, chopped   2 cups mint, chopped     Method:  Add the bulgur wheat into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Cover the bowl with either a plate or a clean tea towel and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. The bulgur wheat will absorb all of the water and expand. If you have any excess water once the 20 minutes is up, just drain the bulgur wheat through a sieve.   While the bulgur wheat is cooking, assemble the other ingredients.   To a large mixing bowl, add the cooked bulgur wheat, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, celery, lemon zest and juice, pomegranate molasses, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Gently toss everything together.   Add the flat leaf parsley and mint. Gently toss one more time before enjoying.   Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of the many, many, many things I’m bad at... perhaps in no department am I more lacking than in artistic talent. I am a truly appalling artist. I have no vision. I have no voice. I can’t sculpt. I can’t mould. I can’t paint. I have the sketching ability of a lesser-developed primate but without the novelty factor. I am a terrible artist.   And so it was curious series of events this summer that led me to find myself with a head torch and overalls, dragging myself through the dank, dark, crawl space below the floorboards of one of New Zealand’s premier art galleries.    My friend, Mike, was preparing for a show. And with his centrepiece installation in mind, he needed volunteers to drag themselves on their knees and their bellies, as he worked to reinforce the gallery floor.    I’ve never really watched an artist at work. But Mike’s work makes him a bit unique. His studied engineering and worked as an engineer, before following his artistic passion to Columbia University. We met in New York. Now he uses his engineering skills and artistic talents to make big, bold, sometimes provocative public works. His most recent big work was a playground in Melbourne’s Southbank featuring huge boulders perched precariously on tiny little trollies. He reverse engineered a rubber compound to look just like the bluestone slabs which pave much of Melbourne’s city. When you look at the playground, you see rocks on wheels on concrete. But it’s all an illusion. A playground which looks dangerous, but isn’t.   I remember Mike explaining to me the initial concept for his new show. I remember him developing it, tweaking it as he went. Watching him prepare meant bearing witness to a man repeatedly solving the kind of problems most of us would never even conceive of.   How do you get a thin sheet of extremely rare, extremely expensive marble from Australia to New Zealand in one piece? How do you suspend hundreds of kilograms of steel in the air in a building with very few structural components? How do you get a giant palm tree through a not-very-giant door?   Mike’s show opened last night.   It features a series of crazy drinking fountain sculptures, with what Mike insisted had to be chilled, filtered water. Room temperature? Puh-lease. There’s a space with a table placed below a continuous drip from the gallery ceiling, some ten metres up. The drip falls down to a yellow dish cloth, which over time leaks a thin stream of water, feeding a plant. It’s very clever.    And the piece de resistance of sorts: In the centre of the gallery is an 8 metre-high real, living palm tree with an NBA regulation basketball hoop. The backboard is a stunning piece of blue marble which looks like the sky. The hoop is entirely functional. You can dunk it, if you’re athletic enough. You can swing from it. At the show’s opening, people took shots and played pickup.    As I studied Mike’s creations, I felt a weird mix of bewilderment, admiration, and envy.    They were brilliant. Fantastic, in the true sense of that word. But not only could I not build any of the works, I simply couldn’t conceive of them in the first place. I’ll tell you what though, for those of us bereft of any artistic skills, it is one of life’s great pleasures to see and appreciate in a friend a talent you admire.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bitter Sweet Love is the fifth studio album from British singer-songwriter James Arthur, the thirteen track album releasing late last month. After a week long race for the top spot, Bitter Sweet Love surpassed the Reytons to take the number one spot on the UK Charts. The album is full of the contradictions surrounding love, Arthur having written the album during some post-tour blues, unsure if he wanted to continue with music. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Heiress - Rachel Hawkins  With unexpected twists and heart-throbbing pacing, it draws you into a captivating mystery set within the claustrophobic Ashby House. The secrets hidden behind its closed doors, along with its notorious and heartless inhabitants, add to the intrigue.    The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown  Told against the backdrop of the Great Depression, The Boys in the Boat is narrative non-fiction of the first order; a personal story full of lyricism and unexpected beauty that rises above the grand sweep of history and captures instead the purest essence of what it means to be alive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr & Mrs Smith   A reboot of the 2005 Hollywood blockbuster sees Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two spies who are assigned as husband and wife for a secret mission, and end up falling for each other.    Griselda   Sofia Vergara plays a real-life Columbian drug-lord who went on to create one of the most profitable drug cartels in history.    The Greatest Night in Pop    On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gather to record "We Are the World." The team goes behind the scenes of the event to see how all of the artists came together to make history.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Holdovers A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school's head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War. To Catch a Killer  A troubled police officer is recruited by the FBI's chief investigator to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorizing Baltimore, Maryland.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Fanning out from Ashburton and bounded by the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, Mid-Canterbury is a land of dramatic contrasts. Pancake-flat coastal plains give way to abruptly rising hill country, while large sweeping braided rivers, crystal clear alpine lakes and the serrated glory of the Southern Alps all add to the scenic medley." "It is an understated region ripe for discovery and exploration, particularly when you’re road-tripping the Mainland." Read Mike's full article here.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New recycling rules have come into place as district and city councils across the country standardise what can and cannot be recycled.  Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall joined Jack Tame to run through these regulations and give an insight into whether recycling is as helpful as we think it is.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had a great “break” around Christmas? No doubt a fabulous, lazy time with whanau and grand kids.  The problem is: often some pests and diseases sneak into the system without you knowing!  Codling moths in your apples  After flowering, when the apples set fruit (the tiniest fruits that grow into apples!), this is the time when codling moth adults lay their eggs. During the X-mas growth the caterpillars will tunnel into your “codlings” (small fruits in old-fashioned English language!) and your task will be to try and get them out of those fruits. Good luck with that!  Photo / Supplied Prevention is quite simple and effective:  After flowering, spray your apples with Madex 2 (or Madex 3 if you need to use a lot); it’s organic and safe and contains the infectious particles of a virus that only kills codling moth.  Spray every two weeks until Christmas and no caterpillars will enter your fruit!  Green Vegetable Bug (Stink bug)  They are slowly increasing in your garden right now; Adults are green, juveniles are black with reddish spots  They suck juices out of a long list of crops, causing plants to reduce in vigour.  Scouting is the term for your warfare: go out early in the morning and later in afternoon/evening to intercept these sap-suckers.  Photo / Supplied Squash them till they smell somewhat like coriander and drop their bodies under the host plants they are feeding on. In no time you’ll find a lot of live bugs drop to the ground as well (that smell is a warning smell that makes them jump and lie-down very quietly). Knock them all off (the warning smell gets stronger and more bugs will jump!!)  In no time you will have reduced the population to a fraction of what was there.  Powdery Mildew Fungus lurking around the garden already!  You might not see it just yet, but it surely is on your crops (Gherkins, courgettes, melons, cucumber and later apple and other fruit too)  The infection started in late November and early December, when you were doing the Christmas shopping!!! If only you could have sprayed your susceptible plants then !!! You would have certainly reduced the trouble that you’ll face in a month or so.  Photo / Supplied Copper and sulphur mixes (Nature’s Way Fungus Spray) are simple organic fungicides that will knock the mildew back; you can also use some hard-core fungicides if you like, but the idea is to be as early as possible! Have a look at the brilliant story in a recent NZ Gardener by Keith Hammett  Oh, by the way… those yellow-and-black ladybird beetles on the mildew-infested leaves are not a great help at all: they actually eat the mildew and spread it around your garden!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB'S BEST BUYS Wine: Askerne 2022 Viognier, Hawke’s Bay $26.90  Why I chose it:  - One of the best examples of NZ Viognier I’ve tasted.  - Often blended with Syrah to give greater complexity and a silkier texture.  - Delicious wine from a challenging vintage.  What does it taste like?  - “Ripe, almost luscious wine with tree fruit/apricot/nectarine, vanilla and musk-like flavours underpinned by a core of sweet fruit that helps make the wine very accessible now.”  Why it’s a bargain:  - Aristocratic wine at a working-class price.  Where can you buy it?  - Wines of NZ $22.49 New Zealand  - First Glass Wines and Spirits, Auckland $22.99  - Advintage, Hawke’s Bay $23.99  - Vino Fino (NZ) Christchurch.  Food match?  - Apple Tart  Will it keep?  - Drink up    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top artists have vanished from TikTok  Superstars Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Olivia Rodrigo's music has been removed from TikTok because their record label and TikTok can't agree on what to pay. Universal Music Group says TikTok is paying a fraction of the price of other social media sites. It's tricky though, because TikTok has been the source of many #1 hits recently as clips go viral, and that means streams on Spotify, downloads on iTunes, and concert tickets.    UMG: "TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music".  TikTok's position: "It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters".    Mark Zuckerberg got slammed on the Hill, but praised on Wall St  They announced their 2023 & Q4 results and stock prices shot up 12% in after-hours trading. Investors are loving the new margins, the dividend, and buybacks. Revenues increased by 16% but its profits increased by 69%. The “year of efficiency” has doubled their operating margins from 20% to 41%. For the very first time too, they'll pay a dividend and signaled that they'll pay it regularly. Meta now has 22% fewer staff compared to last year, and Wall St doesn't seem to care it cost $1b to make those changes. The losses on the Metaverse —building the Oculus headset and supporting platform— increased to $16b for 2023.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Russell Howard is returning to New Zealand for his sell-out tour- a very different version of New Zealand when compared to his previous visit, where he was granted exemption to pass through the borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.  “Last time we came, the army were there. They greeted us by saying- you know you’ll be staying at a hotel for two weeks. We’ll ask about your mental health, you have to lie. I told them I’ll be fine, there’s no way I could tell the truth,” the comedian told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.   With the restrictions safely out of the way this time, Howard’s free to wander around New Zealand again, and potentially source some joke material from the local shops - he says he was particularly fascinated with what he saw in Auckland’s CBD.  “We were in Ponsonby, and it was funny because they were clearly coming up with names that have no relevance whatsoever to what they’re selling. There was a place called the Stolen Girlfriends Club - they sell clothes! There’s a cinema called the Silky Otter, my interest was piqued because you’re looking at all these. Is the Women’s Bookshop all female authors? No!”  Howard explained that seeing the picturesque images designed to appeal to travelers were less fascinating than observing the nation first-hand and building jokes from what he sees. To him, the standard mountainscapes were less compelling than spotting a restaurant that sounded like a ‘really specific Google search’, as he described Auckland’s Monsoon Poon.   He’s used to taking comedic material out of his observations, as his standup specials, TV projects and TikTok videos show off his takes on the state of the world as we ping-pong from one crisis to the next- from controversial presidential administrations, economic downturns, pandemics, climate change, to a possible expanding war.  “The audience is your master, your jury. There’s a great quote from Stephen Fry about the peculiarity of comedy. Comedy is so intangible, it’s surreal.”  He promised his current tour will bring his signature energy to Kiwi audiences. As he explained to Jack Tame, New Zealand has a ‘gentle, lovely’ atmosphere with plenty of entertaining aspects that could sound absurd when played back to an international audience.  “For instance, Rotorua calls itself Rotovegas, despite the fact that it doesn’t have a casino. That is innately funny, I love the idea of some American tourists wondering where the casino is and people from Rotorua going - there isn’t one,” he told Newstalk ZB.   Howard’s standup tours have sold thousands of tickets to people all over the world, from the US, to the UK, to Europe, to Australia - allowing him to show off his jokes to different audiences and tastes.  “I’ve got a load of stuff, it’s the final version before I record it for a special, so it’s as tight as a drum. I’m just putting it through New Zealand and Australia, to see if that works, to see what doesn’t work here.”  His comedy manages to work 80 percent of the time, as he claims. Audiences clearly agree, as demonstrated by the high-ticket sales and millions - sometimes hundreds of millions - watching his social media content and ‘The Russell Howard Hour’ on television or YouTube. Celebrity appearances and connections bring in the viewers, but Howard holds his own and brings his comedic chops wherever he appears.  “You have to figure out the right version of it. I don’t know the lay of the land, so I look forward to going to gigs and asking people how they feel.”  He’s taking in New Zealand in February and observing our nation’s cities and stories - and he expects to discuss our response to the crisis in the Red Sea, our politics and our other ‘interesting’ aspects. As he told Jack Tame, he’ll never know when an off-the-cuff observation turns into a joke, or standup special, or tour highlight.  LISTEN ABOVE   Tour Dates Wellington 3rd February 2024, Michael Fowler Centre  Palmerston North  4th February 2024, Regent On Broadway  Whanganui  5th February 2024, Royal Whanganui Opera House  Tauranga  7th February 2024, Mercury Baypark Arena  Hamilton  8th February 2024, Globox Arena  Auckland  9th February 2024, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre  Auckland  10th February 2024, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre  Hawke's Bay  11th February 2024, Toitoi Opera House See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

End of season strawberries are so jammy and sweet, they’re perfect for baking with.   Makes one 20cm cake.     Ingredients:  55g butter, softened   2/3 cup caster sugar + 1 tbsp   2 tsps pure vanilla extract   1 large egg   1 cup plain flour   ½ tsp baking powder   ½ tsp baking soda   3 tbsps poppy seeds   1/2 tsp lemon zest   1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt or sour cream   140g fresh strawberries, quartered   Yoghurt or whipped cream to serve     Method  1. Preheat oven to 180 C fan bake with rack in middle. Grease and line a 20cm springform tin. 2. Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla and egg. 3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and poppy seeds and add these into the mix in two batches, beating on low and alternating with yoghurt. Stir in zest and half the strawberries until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared cake tin. Arrange remaining strawberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining one tablespoon of sugar. 4. Bake 35 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10-15 minutes before ‘springing the tin’ and allow to cool completely before transferring to a serving plate.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is being warned of the country’s vulnerability to more frequent severe weather, and the possibility of catastrophic earthquakes that could cripple the country.  These earthquakes could occur in the near future, or even within the next few days.  The news is hardly reassuring, and Kevin Milne is wondering just how he’s supposed to react.  Should he try refund his concert tickets? How would an earthquake affect the pitch for Sunday’s cricket test?   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The big news from my summer this year, is that I got married last weekend.  Well, technically actually that’s not correct. My wife, Mava, and I were legally married back in May. But last weekend we had a little wedding. The white dress, the tux, the families in from different parts of the country and the World, the hair, the pocket squares, the petit fours, the rings, the champagne, the stress.    Mava chose to enter to a beautiful song by Bon Iver. I chose to enter to – who else? -  Kanye West. I’m not gonna bore you with all the details in the World except to say it was so good. So good. So special. The stress of the lead up melted away. Mava and I felt present. And more than anything, we felt incredibly loved.    And although truthfully I’m feeling a bit emotionally depleted, I’ve found myself this week reflecting on a couple of things about our day.  There are two vital elements in a wedding. One is obviously that you make a profound commitment to someone else. You solidify and formalise the bond and the relationship between the two of you.   The other is that you do it in a room full of people who are important to you.   I know this is a bit of a cliche, but one of those things... I really want to do again.   Modern life is tricky. We’re all on different orbits. In different countries. Different cities. Kids, jobs, career trajectories: we’re all at different ages and stages of life. But what a privilege it is, a *rare* privilege, to pull the handbrake of push the big red button, and get all of those planets to line up together, if only for a night. How amazing it is to look around a room, to recognise all the faces beaming back at you, and know that you and each of those people have a special connection.   Culturally, I reckon we can sometimes be a bit lousy at celebrating milestones. Getting married has made me determined to do better, to have more parties, to break the glass and hit the red button again.  The morning after our celebration, I woke before dawn. I was exhausted, running on fumes, but still buzzing. Before my wife stirred, I kissed her on the cheek, walked down to the beach and slipped into the water. I lay, floating on my back, bobbing in the tide, processing everything.   I felt so warm. So content. So lucky. So loved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tara Canton is the definition of talented.   Starting out in theatre, she was a triple threat taking up roles in the Sound of Music and Annie.   But before she even graduated at Wellington’s Toi Whakaari, she landed the role in TVNZ’S 'After the Party', working alongside well-respected Kiwi actress, Robyn Malcom.  "I've always been interested in performing in arts,” Canton told Newstalk ZB’s Wilhelmina Shrimpton.  "I have an older sister Allegra, and she did musical theater, and dancing ,and all that growing up. So I kind of followed suit just, just, because I looked up to her and stuff.”  She started her performing career with stage and musical theatre, and through Toi Whakaari was introduced to the world of screen acting.  “When I booked this role, it was my first every self-tape that I’d done,” she said.  “I had never done anything remotely like, professional in terms of screen work.”  When it comes to working with Robyn Malcom, Canton said that she was a like a sponge, soaking up the experience.  “She made it so easy to talk to her.”  “I was trying to remember as much as I could.”  After The Party features some darker themes and serious elements, one of which relates directly to Canton’s character’s father.  “I really wanted to do the character of Grace justice,” she told Shrimpton.  “Definitely a bit of a scary first role.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their fourteenth studio album, Green day is back with 'Saviors'.  A fifteen track punk-rock album that slots seamlessly into their discography and is, in their own words, an insight into the band's collective consciousness.  "Saviors is an invitation into Green Day’s brain, their collective spirit as a band, and an understanding of friendship, culture and legacy of the last 30 plus years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Search Party by Hannah Richell   A spellbinding locked-room mystery about a glamping trip gone horribly wrong when a powerful storm leaves the participants stranded and forced to confront long-held secrets and a shocking disappearance. Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race with their twelve-year-old son to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. Eager for a dry run ahead of their opening, they invite three old university friends and their families for a long-needed reunion. But the festivities soon go awry as tensions arise between the children (and subsequently their parents), explosive secrets come to light, and a sudden storm moves in, cutting them off from help as one in the group disappears. Moving between the police investigation, a hospital room, and the catastrophic weekend, The Search Party is a propulsive and twisty destination thriller about the tenuous bonds of friendship and the lengths parents will go to protect their children—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.    The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini   A woman falls to her death from a London bank's twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace. You're arrested for her murder. You tell the police that you only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you talked her down. You've got nothing to do with this tragedy. You're clearly being framed. So why do the police keep picking holes in your story? And why doesn't your lawyer seem to believe you? It soon becomes obvious that you're keeping secrets. But who are you trying to protect? And why?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Deep in the golden heart of the Ashburton District, the mountains rise up to meet you. Two hours drive from Christchurch, I turned off the inland scenic highway at Mount Somers, bound for Lake Heron Station. The sealed road ends by the historic Hakatere buildings, but the sense of heritage in these parts is rich. Turning off at Hakatere onto the graded gravel road to the lake, I’m rolling through a wide open basin of golden tussock and matagouri, bracketed by high, glaciated mountain ranges.   Lake Heron Station is a magnificent high country merino station that’s been a going concern for the Todhunter family since 1917." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Wilhelmina Shrimpton for a chat about beginning the year with oomph.  Top tips include:  -Daily scheduled activity -Mapping your activities to match your personal energy flow -Learning how to mentally switch off from work    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a great summer with scorching temps on the Port Hills, the plants started to suffer a wee bit – away from home for a week or more makes most gardeners a bit anxious. Plants dried out very quickly.  How to Water?  Never been a fan of sprinklers. I try to keep my leaves dry as much as possible; wet leaves often give fungal spores the opportunity to settle on the plant, causing leaf-spots, rots, downy mildew, and powdery mildew.  Try to water the root zone of a plant, by depositing the water —gently— on the soil. A fierce jet of water can clog the porosity of the soil (not so good either!), so a nice shower-setting of your hose handpiece is perfect.  Evening or Morning?  It doesn’t really matter a lot, I think. The water cools the soil remarkably and, in the morning, (when it’s cooler) most of the water will actually penetrate the soil. In the evening (with warmer temperatures) a proportion of the water will evaporate, become a “cloud” of H2O gas and meet its mates, somewhere high up in the sky. In other words, it doesn’t do the plants much good.  But watering in the middle of the day makes a huge percentage of the water disappear into the stratosphere.  In my tunnel house (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Capsicums) I prefer an evening watering to moisten the soil…. Followed by a liquid fertiliser (seafood Soup / Seaweed Tea) a few hours later when the soil is cooler, and the plants are in the mood for a liquid “meal”  Established shrubs and trees?  Most Nature Nerds that go walking will see in dry summers how established trees show severe signs of dehydration or wilting. Even without any rain those leaves will often look a lot better in the evening. Wilting is simply a strategy to shut off the leaves’ stomata to save the moisture escaping from these openings in the heat of the day.  This wilting can go on for weeks, sometimes.  A thoroughly good soak (hours and hours of watering) can re-set the water deficit in the soil. This deep watering is far more beneficial to soil and shrubs/trees than daily “piddle-waterings”  Over-watering?  As mentioned, a few months ago: to get trees and shrubs acclimatised to the drought, don’t “Over-Water” them. Let the search for water by getting the roots to grow deeper and further away from the main trunk/stem. Build Resilience!!  I reckon that UNDER-WATERING is a great way to train your perennials.  Regular droughts? Which plants are suited for water-stressed areas?  Think Mediterranean species that often don’t get much during the 5 months of summer in Spain and Morocco and Italia. Often plants with blue-ish or white-ish colours or with thick hairs on the leaves (that stop water loss). Euphorbias, Echiums, Watsonias, cacti, succulents, phlomis, Jerusalem sage, rosemary, lambs ear, etc etc.  Plants that can NEVER dry out.  Ferns have got a different vascular system in their stems and fronds; these bundles are not as strong and lignine-supported as other “Vascular plants”; So when a fern gets too dry, its bundles simply shrivel up and irreversibly collapse.  I warned you!!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple is being forced to allow apps from outside it's App Store  The EU's Digital Markets Act is coming into effect in March and it will see monumental changes to Apple's iPhone business. For the first time apps from outside of its App Store will be allowed to be installed on the phone, either directly, or via a third-party-created app store of their own. It's huge because Apple charges up to 30% of an App's direct revenue to be distributed in their store and have strict guidelines on what apps can and cannot do. These new rules allow for more freedom than ever. These new DMA rules will also force Apple to allow for web browsers to be powered by technology other than their proprietary "WebKit". For New Zealanders it won't mean much but it may give more ammunition for other governments to propose similar legislation.    Explicit Taylor Swift images are going viral, but they're deepfakes  Don't believe what you're seeing. The realistic pornographic images are likely generated by AI technology which makes creating them as easy as typing "prompts" or instructions - no photoshop skills necessary. A single instance of one image on X (formally Twitter) was viewed 47 million times before the account was taken down. In the US there aren't federal regulations around AI imagery, and no states have laws against creation or sharing of non-consensual deepfake photography.  Taylor Swift's is one of America's sweethearts and this is shining a light on a very real issue because these types of images can be created for almost anyone.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masters of the Air   A new military drama from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, based on a true story from in World War II about ten American airmen who risked their lives against unrelenting German fighters (AppleTV+).    Black Coast Vanishings  A new New Zealand true-crime documentary series about the mysterious disappearances of six people from the small coastal community of Piha (Three and ThreeNow, from Sunday 28 January).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Priscilla When teenager Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who's already a meteoric rock 'n' roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, and a gentle best friend.     Lift  A master thief is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a very special anniversary for one of childhood’s most beloved figures: Winnie the Pooh.  This month marks one hundred years since AA Milne introduced the beloved character to the world in a poem called ‘Teddy Bear.’  Kevin Milne joined Wilhelmina Shrimpton to celebrate the occasion.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this time of year the plum trees are dripping with fruit! It’s time to make the annual supply of plum sauce and plum chutneys but it’s also time to bake this beautiful cake!  Ingredients  3/4 cup sugar  180g butter, softened  1 tbsp vanilla extract  2 medium eggs  ½ cup plain flour  ½ cup ground almonds  1 tsp baking powder  6 plums, halved and de-stoned  Method  1. Heat oven 180 C. Grease a springform tin.  2. Cream the sugar and butter until pale, light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Stir in flour, almonds and baking powder until combined.  3. Spoon the batter into a springform tin. Place the plum halves skin side up on top of the batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar.  4. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Let it sit for 5 minutes then remove the sides and cool completely.  5. Serve plain or with whipped cream and custard.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to talk about timing, because it really is everything.   It can be the difference between whether you say or do something, and it can be the difference between whether you don’t.  It can shape opinion, and it can morph public perception.  The timing of an announcement or an incident can also dictate how it’s received.   I think we’ve well and truly seen the importance of timing when it comes to our politicians and their mental health struggles.   I know that Francesca Rudkin spoke about this on last week’s show following the shoplifting allegations against Golriz Gharahman, but the headline is back in the spotlight after former Labour Minister Kiri Allan opened up about her mental health struggles after allegedly drink-driving and crashing her car last year.   Like Golriz, she resigned from her role, and like Golriz, she’s due to have her day in court after being charged over the incident.   In her first interview since the crash Allan says she’d returned to work to deal with a change in Labour’s policies after a ‘mental health break’ … and admits she got to a point where she “decided she wanted to take her life” the night of the incident.   Now before I continue, I think it’s important to remind everyone that both Golriz Gharahman and Kiri Allan have said that their mental health struggles are not an excuse but an explanation for what happened.   Even so, they both faced a mound of criticism that mental health had been used to try and manage the PR disasters.   There are of course a lot of similarities between the former politicians’ stories, and while I applaud them for openly sharing their struggles, I wonder whether the timing of that was what threw many Kiwis.   Perhaps if they’d laid that bare when they entered politics, or when the first signs of trouble began to emerge, then many may have been more willing to accept the explanation. Or perhaps, by speaking openly about it earlier on, then the incidents may not have even happened and they’d still be sitting in the beehive right now.   I realise that’s all very well in theory but in practice it seems to have become increasingly obvious that as a government, and also as a society, we haven’t created an environment where people feel comfortable enough to come forward without judgment.   This was evident in a LinkedIn post I read last week after Golriz’s shoplifting allegations emerged, which stated that people with mental health struggles shouldn't bother getting into politics or positions with a public profile.   Not only is that discriminatory and completely unfair, it also doesn’t bode well for democracy, swiftly eliminating 31% of Kiwis who in the latest New Zealand Health Survey said they live with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress.   My fear is that although we’re seeing an increase in conversation and campaigns about mental health, that isn’t translating into an understanding or acceptance of the issue.   Kiri Allan said in her latest interview that if she looked at how her mental health may have impacted the way she operated, that it was her responsibility to manage that aspect of her life, and that she didn’t do that well.   She’s right. But there’s also some responsibility on our friends, colleagues and employers too.   And to bring it back to timing, maybe if we walked the talk we saw in all of those mental health campaigns then it would never be an awkward time to speak out.   Both Kiri Allan and Golriz Gharahman are now paying the price for their mistakes - as they should.   Both have valuable lessons to learn. But so do we. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award winning musician, Author, ted talker, Amanda Palmer is adventurous, creative, and a real go-getter.    She was one of the great minds behind music duo “The Dresden Dolls” and won Artist of the Year at the 2006 Boston Music Awards.    Amanda has a soft spot for New Zealand, spending nearly two years on Waiheke and in Hawkes Bay with her son during the Covid pandemic.   Now she’s returning with a tour and new music, honouring her time as an accidental Kiwi, and joining Francesca Rudkin to chat about it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-grown in Aōtearoa, Erny Belle released her debut album in 2022. 'Venus is Home' is flavoured with the sounds of alt-folk, country, and Pacific-pop and is an ode to her connection with her grandmother and growing up in rural Aōtearoa. Her latest album 'Not Your Cupid' expands upon its predecessor, adding new influences.  The album is less narrative and more focused on imaginings, the throughline a little more cryptic and intuitive.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dinner Party by Rebecca Heath    The new exciting thriller by Rebecca Heath, author of THE SUMMER PARTY. A dark and twisty domestic thriller set in a seemingly idyllic suburban neighbourhood, where family secrets are best kept buried...     Dark Arena: A Frenchman Thriller by Jack Beaumont  When a DGSE agent is brutally murdered in front of his family, the 'Company' swings into action, determined to track down the killers. Meanwhile, operative Alec de Payns is turning a Russian intelligence officer by blackmail. His team must establish who is posting classified material against the Kremlin to embassies all over Europe. The clues lead to a secret meeting of businessmen, terrorists and mercenaries on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, which Alec must infiltrate. What he discovers there will set Europe on course for catastrophe. Can de Payns and his team establish who is setting up an assassination? Who is the target? And will they be able to stop it?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"South Westland’s natural splendour seems to grow in awe-inspiring intensity the further south you go. There’s a fairytale quality to the sense of escapism, as you drive through those long and leafy highway glades, where the forest canopy drapes across the road. I wended my way to Whataroa, where nesting is the star attraction. Just out of Whataroa, the rare white heron/kōtuku nest at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve from September to March." "Just 25 minutes south from Whataroa, Ōkārito is an irresistibly laidback hamlet, like a world unto itself. On arrival, you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the towering jaws of the Southern Alps, the roar of the ocean, the magnificent lagoon, striking sea cliffs and vast, lush forest in this heart-stealing eco-wonderland." "The twin glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox are revered as being two of the most accessible glaciers in the world, plunging down from the Southern Alps, wrapped in rainforest, almost to sea level. Descending from 3000 metres, Franz Josef Glacier terminates just 240 metres above sea level, and just 19km from the coast. The terminal face of Fox, which is the longest of the West Coast glaciers, is only 12km from the Tasman Sea. It’s what makes Franz Josef and Fox so exceptional – you’d struggle to find many glaciers so close to the ocean." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year Kate Hall is embarking on a challenge.  She’s aiming to only purchase local and New Zealand made food when doing her grocery shopping.  Kate joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about why she’s embarking on this challenge, and the difficulties she thinks she’ll face along the way.  Read her blog explaining the challenge here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why bother with a yearly check-up?  - Prevention is better than cures.  - There are many things that we may not be aware of that we can do something about.  - In many cases it’s not about now but about the future.   - Three main areas to think about: checking for cardiovascular risk factors, early detection cancer, and prevention of disease.     What things will your GP check for?  - They’ll check for the ‘hidden’ issues.  - Physical: look at blood pressure and weight in particular. Both can cause heart disease.  - Run some routine blood tests, in particular checking blood sugar for diabetes and cholesterol.     Why are these important?  - Rising blood pressure, sugars rising in the blood stream, and fats in the blood stream are silent. We don’t know they’re happening.  - Blood pressure and cholesterol left untreated can lead to heart disease and strokes down the track.  - Elevated sugars can give us a warning that we are headed for diabetes, which is treatable with changes to diet, exercise, and weight loss.     What else do we need to think about?  - Cancer screenings:  - Mammograms for early breast cancer from age 45.  - Bowel screening from the age of 60 for bowel cancer.  - Cervical screening for cervical cancer from age 25.  - In men, think about a blood test for prostate cancer from the age of 50.  - If we detect cancer early enough, we can cure it – that simple!     Any other issues?  - Being up to date with immunisations.  - For children we need to think about all those diseases we prevent with immunisation. Measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis, pneumonia, tetanus, and meningitis are all killers, and we need to make sure our children are protected.  -For adults: a yearly flu injection, shingle vaccine at the age of 65, being up to date with Covid boosters, and discussing pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia over the age of 65.  -These are all important in preventing disease.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some new research suggests our fingerprints may not be as unique as we thought they are.  The common thesis has always been that each of our fingerprints is unique, but researchers from Columbia University have run AI over 60,000 fingerprints and found that it's possible to detect when two fingerprints belong to the same person with 75-90% accuracy.  Here's the scary part - they don't know how AI is doing it, but it doesn't seem to be using the markers that forensics experts have been using for decades. It seems there is something about the curvature and the angle of the swirls in the centre that are common enough on each of our fingerprints to identify us. There are still lots of questions, like is it to do with how the samples are collected? Or do these markers change over time?    The tech layoffs continue  Google has started 2024 with another round of layoffs impacting over a thousand employees and their CEO Sundar Pichai says to brace for more. Google is actively working to cut out layers of middle management to "simplify execution", but also focusing its investments in its core areas - which has seen funding reallocated from elsewhere.   The tech sector has laid off nearly 8,000 workers so far this year, according to layoffs.fyi. Folks from Amazon, Discord, Instagram and many startups.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True Detective: Night Country The acclaimed HBO detective series is back, this time starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis (professional boxer turned actor) and set in chilling small town Alaska (Neon). Boy Swallows Universe  Bryan Brown stars in this Australian drama based on the bestselling book of the same name, about a young boy from Brisbane who must navigate the criminal world (Netflix).Death and Other Details Fans of an Agatha Christie mystery will enjoy this new series about a detective trying to solve a murder on a Mediterranean ocean liner where every passenger seems to be hiding something (Disney+).   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Iron Claw The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.   Bitconned In this true-crime documentary, three guys exploit the freewheeling cryptocurrency market to scam millions from investors and bankroll lavish lifestyles.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whip up these beef tacos in a minute on the BBQ and you’ve got yourself a feast!  Makes 10-12 tacos    Ingredients:  1 piece rump steak, sliced into thin strips  1 red capsicum, sliced thinly  1 onion, sliced thinly  2 cloves garlic, minced with some salt  2 tsps. cumin seeds  1 tsp chilli flakes  ½ tsp dried oregano  2 tbsps. olive oil  Juice from a lemon or lime  To serve:  10-12 tortilla  ½ cup guacamole  Shredded lettuce  Crumbled feta  Salsa – I use La Morena available in supermarkets    Method:   1. Marinate the beef strips in all of the main ingredients for at least 15 minutes. 2. While the meat marinates, warm the tortilla on the BBQ or in a pan, keeping them warm wrapped in a tea towel. Set out a build your own platter with tortilla, lettuce, guacamole, feta and salsa. 3. Cook the beef and vegetable mix on a hot BBQ plate or in a pan (do it in batches so it doesn’t stew) until the beef is just cooked. Serve alongside the platter and diners can build their own taco!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 is still in its early days but nearly three weeks into January, Kevin Milne is starting to get a sense of what the year has in store for him.  He told Francesca Rudkin that this is the time of year where you have to look for omens, and with a speeding ticket and an insurance refund it’s already looking like a mixed bag.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I found myself wondering if we’re too hard on politicians? Is there enough support for those who choose to go into public service? And why do we forget they’re human too?   When we see some of politics’ most passionate, talented, hard-working participants, some touted as potential leaders, hit mental health road bumps which often derail their careers, you’ve got to wonder if it’s worth it.    This time last year our then Prime Minister called a press conference and announced she didn’t have enough energy in the tank to do the job well and was resigning. She wanted to spend more time with her family.   It was a shock, but not surprising. It had been a brutal, unprecedented 5 years at the top for Ardern, and would have taken a toll on any leader.    This January we have another surprising resignation of a high-profile politician, for quite different reasons. In the case of Greens MP Golriz Ghahraman it was due to allegations of shoplifting, for which she has now been charged.   Ghahraman did not offer an excuse —and rightly so, as there’s no excuse for illegal behaviour— but she did try and offer an explanation. An extreme stress response to her work and unrecognised trauma contributed to her irrational behaviour – basically, it was down to her mental health.   As I know from hosting Summer Mornings this week, some of you feel empathy for Ghahraman, appreciate her hard work, and wish her the best in dealing with her issues. Some of you believe that mental health is just a convenient excuse.   I think it’s both. We need to differentiate between a person’s mental health crisis, which deserves our compassion, and their actions, which can be inexcusable. It is possible to hold both thoughts at the same time.  What we don’t want though is for the mental health ‘excuse’ to become an easy PR solution to a problem, because it’s really important people —from all walks of life— share their stories to destigmatise mental health issues.  What intrigued me this week was when Ghahraman’s Green Party colleagues and former members of Parliament spoke out about the stress, violent and sexual threats, and the challenges of being a politician, but especially a female politician.   Abuse has always been a part of being a politician. Talk to any politician and they will tell you about some of the crazy abuse they have received over the years, but you get the sense from those in the business now that it’s worse.   Why do people feel they have the right to abuse and threaten politicians?   If you don’t like their policies, don’t vote for them. There is never any rationale or excuse for sexual or violent threats. We must differentiate between the person and the politics, and at the same time offer better support for those who decide to enter public service.   This needs to come from both the party and Parliamentary Services. The last thing we want is for our politicians to become unreachable and untouchable due to a fear of the public, or for good, capable people to decide to avoid public service altogether.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was left to my wife to break the bad news.  Our boy was sitting patiently in the back of the car and as we made our way across town, she gently asked him about the letter which we’d just discovered he’d written to Santa.  “When did you write it?” She asked.  “A couple of weeks ago. I didn’t tell you, cos it was going straight to Santa.”  “Fair call. Good thinking. Who helped you do it?”   “My Kaiako... my teacher.”  “And... um... What did you ask for?”  “Oh, nothing major,” he said. “The standard. A Rubik’s cube. Some stuff for his Beyblade spinning tops. Oh, and you know... a dog.”  “A dog?” Asked mum.  “Two dogs,” replied our boy. “So, they’ll always have someone to play with even when I’m at school.”  Nothing stokes the magic of Christmas like watching it through kids’ eyes. Nothing kills your dream of two new pet dogs like Mum gently explaining that Santa called her on the phone from an unknown number to double-check the pets would be ok... and unfortunately, our family just isn’t in a position where we can have two new dogs, this year.   What am I looking forward to this Christmas? I’m looking forward to watching his face when we finally let him loose on the non-canine gifts sitting there, tantalising and mysterious, under the Christmas tree.   I’m looking forward to cracking the click-clack Tupperware and hoeing into my mum’s Christmas baking. I’m looking forward to knocking around on guitars, cold drinks in the summer twilight, and turning off all of the notifications on my phone.   I’m looking forward to meeting my new nephew, baby Freddie, for the first time. I’m looking forward to playing with his older brother and sister, who are at the age where all they want to do is a bit of rough and tumble. We’ll play Jonah – an old favourite where I crouch on one side of the lounge, and they try to run past me and score an imaginary try on the couch, only for me to pick them up and tackle them to the carpet. My nephew will no doubt ask me to string him like a pig... holding him from the ankles and dangling him upside down. A great way to wind up a four-year-old just before bed.  This is our last show morning for 20203. It’s been a year. For me, 2023 started for me with a 2000km road trip across South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Mozambique, and is ending in Nelson. We’ve had an election. Natural disasters. Wars. World Cups. Somewhere in there, I asked my partner to marry me.   For me, this time of year is when we bank all of that. A time to exhale. To reconnect, reset, recharge and go again. And for all the peripheral stress, nothing else comes close.   Dogs or no dogs, I love Christmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her own right, Lorin Clarke, the daughter of New Zealand Comedian legend John Clarke, is as talented as it comes.   Following in her father’s footsteps, Lorin expressed her creative side through writing and producing children's TV, film, and books, as well as podcasts and columns for the ABC.  She’s told the story of what it was like growing up with John as a father in her memoir ‘Would that be Funny? Growing Up with John Clarke’.   Lorin joined Jack Tame to chat about the memoir, which was released in August this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two time Grammy Award Winner Samara Joy has released her first Christmas Album! The album features six songs total, four of them completely new: - Warm in December- Twinkle Twinkle Little Me- The Christmas Song- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- O Holy Night (feat. The McLendon Family)- The Christmas Song (Live) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiction:  The Secret Hours – Mick Heron  A gripping spy thriller from the bestselling author of Slow Horses, about a disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin—an absolute must-read for Slough House fans. Learned by Heart –Emma Donaghue  Eliza and Lister have never been this wide-awake in their lives, and the Slope, with its curtains drawn wide, is bright with starlight. They talk in whispers, not to disturb the maids who lie sleeping on the other side of the box room. The question Eliza’s been needing to ask swells like a great berry in her mouth, and all at once she’s not scared to let it out, not scared at all, not scared of anything . . . Tom Lake – Anne Patchett   This is a story about Peter Duke who went on to be a famous actor.This is a story about falling in love with Peter Duke who wasn't famous at all.It's about falling so wildly in love with him – the way one will at twenty-four – that it felt like jumping off a roof at midnight.There was no way to foresee the mess it would come to in the end.   Non Fiction:   Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World – John Vaillant   In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of Canada's oil industry and America's biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire. The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned entire neighborhoods into firebombs, and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon. Through the lens of this apocalyptic conflagration--the wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina--John Vaillant warns that this was not a unique event, but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world. Fire has been a partner in our evolution for hundreds of millennia, shaping culture, civilization, and, very likely, our brains. Fire has enabled us to cook our food, defend and heat our homes, and power the machines that drive our titanic economy. Yet this volatile energy source has always threatened to elude our control, and in our new age of intensifying climate change, we are seeing its destructive power unleashed in previously unimaginable ways. The Wager – David Grann  On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. But then ... six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang. The Twat Files: A hilarious sort-of memoir of mistakes, mishaps and mess-ups – Dawn French   When I was younger I wanted to be an interesting, sophisticated, semi-heroic, multi-layered person. BUT. That kind of perfect is impossible. Being an actual twat is much more the real me. Sorry to boast, but I am a champion twat. In The Twat Files I will tell you about all the times I've been a total and utter twat. The moments where I've misunderstood stuff and messed up. My hope is that these stories might fire up yer engines to remind you of just what a massive twat you also are. Let's celebrate and revel in this most delightful of traits together. That would be perfectly twatty. The Woman In Me – Britney Spears   The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"One of my favourite Kiwi road trips can be mistaken as an unsung feeder route in South Westland, stitching the West Coast’s Glacier Country to the glittery allure of Wanaka and Queenstown. Rushing is the problem. Anyone who races through the ravishing Haast Pass Highway is unwittingly short-changing themselves. Set aside the time to devour its epic glories. As the last mountain pass to be constructed over the Southern Alps and only fully chip-sealed in 1995, this 140km-long panoramic alpine pass still exudes a “final frontier” sense of escapism as it threads its way through South Westland’s primeval forests. The route had long been used by Māori warriors and greenstone (pounamu) gatherers, as they traversed the Main Divide." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Tis the season to eat, drink, and be merry. Emphasis on drink. Increased alcohol consumption can be a problem at this time of year, especially as people are under increased amounts of stress and pressure. This can sometimes contribute to problem drinking, as people increasingly use alcohol or other drugs as a way to cope. At Christmas, drinking becomes even more socially acceptable, and workplaces have a role in this, often via work Christmas functions which give people the license to drink as part of unwinding from work.  It’s useful to think about whether alcohol will have a role in workplace functions in the future. Lots of workplaces are reducing their emphasis on alcohol as part of their functions e.g., having outdoor picnics or doing activities where alcohol use isn’t the core thing or choosing a venue for a Christmas party that doesn’t serve alcohol.  On a personal front there are some danger signs to look out for:  - Increased tolerance: At first, 2 drinks was enough to relax, then it was 3, now it’s 4. The more you drink, the more your body adapts, so that the same amount has less effect.  - It’s hard to stop or cut back. - Problems with others: are you “that person” at the office Christmas party or social function?  - Life feels smaller: Sometimes, we stop doing things that matter, or only do them if we can do them while drinking. This starts to limit your life and can lead to giving up hobbies or even people that you used to enjoy.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have always loved travel, especially to great Natural Environments. We all have favourite destinations and I have been extremely lucky touring the world while filming for Discovery Channel and Animal Planet – But in New Zealand alone, there are plenty of places that are inspirational when you want to have a break for all sorts of reasons: Gardening Botanic gardens in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Otari (Wellington), Dunedin, Queens Park Invercargill, Napier and Waikereru (Just outside Gisborne). Most have their own botanical highlights: local plants, or a series of trees and shrubs from around the world – others focus on botanists and their historical discoveries. Otari/Wilton Bush: New Zealand’s only public botanic garden dedicated solely to native plants – all because of a vision by Leonard Cocaine. Waikereru – Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander plants from Cook’s Endeavour. If you want to get some inspiration for your garden, go and visit some of those places mentioned above. This is gardening on a huge scale. At the same time you’ll find out what grows well in your region and often keep up on the latest plant releases. Stunning Natural Parks Mount Taranaki – great tracks in the National park: The Puffer Track going up steeply and showing you the spectacular botany as you climb higher and higher, ending up on the Round-the-Mountain track. You may have heard about the famous cloud forests (Moist air going upwards in Mountainous Tropical areas) – well, if you park your car at the lower end of the North Egmont carpark (down from the visitor centre) you can access the Connett loop track, which goes through New Zealand’s cloud forest. This is the real deal in Aotearoa. The Lewis Pass (right at the top) has a fabulous, high altitude walk around wetlands (tarns) with orchids flowering and constantly on the edge of the tree-line: shrunken alpine versions of trees you might know from lower altitudes. If you like Lichens, this is the walk to make. Great insect life all over the place, especially in late spring and summer. (Alpine stone weta!) Further south, try to spend some time in the Catlins. Sealions, Southern rata flowering, deserted beaches and extraordinary forests in pristine landscapes. This is where you immediately get the definition of Biodiversity. This is the very first time in my life that I have mentioned the Catlins on the wireless – it should remain a secret place for ever and ever (ake ake). Milford track too long for you? I have a perfect alternative: Start the Routeburn track on SH 94 (the Milford Road, an hour north of Te Anau) and get to Key Summit. Pick a good weather day and get to the top: Alpine views, wetlands with magical wetland plants (a few Sundew species – Drosera); these plants eat insects – extraordinary! Key summit is the Natural History of Lord of the Rings. Oh yes… rock wrens !!! Ecological “Islands” These are bits of our Landscape that have been made predator-free. That allows the presence of pretty rare birds, lizards, aquatic critters and insects, to name but a few groups under pressure. Zealandia (Wellington) is a mere 20 minutes from down town. Predator proof fence keeps the nasties out; kaka,Tuatara, falcons, kiwi, tieke hihi etc etc. The noise can be deafening. Maungatautari near Cambridge, south of Hamilton is an impressive breeding ground for western brown kiwi: “kohanga kiwi”. After releasing some of these birds there, the numbers increased dramatically. Now these birds can be translocated to other sites with effective pest control. Good numbers of other endangered birds and bats. Brook Waimarama near Nelson where the predator-proof fence keeps the locals safe. It’s a great valley with aquatic habitats and my favourite giant carnivorous snails (Powelliphanta) Orokonui EcoSanctuary North of Dunedin city. One of the few places where you can see the large Otago skink, sunning itself on warm rocks in the sun. With Kaka, Tui and Bellbird sipping nectar from native flowers and additional sugar water dispensers, the sounds are reminiscent of the concept of a cacophony This is what New Zealand sounded like when Maori arrived! Tawharanui Open Sanctuary is probably the most “summer Holiday destination”: North of Auckland on the Coast, not far from Goat Island. Kiwi, Takahe, brown teal, Kaka and bellbird, tui and some stunning (albeit small) areas with original forests. Puriri trees with puriri moth holes in the trunks, beaches with dotterels and rocky sea-shore sites with amazing marine rockpools with endemic Nudibrancs and endemic fishes. It’s the place where we take teachers for the school holidays with the Blake Inspire sessions: Nature Nerd teachers, ready to teach Nature Nerd Kids! Finally: My environmental “home” in Aotearoa: Wingspan in Rotorua. This is the place where you can interact with falcons, harriers and owls, and learn about the people that rescue these raptors and teach them to fly and hunt for prey, using ancient falconry techniques and traditional methods in ornithology, language and culture.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: 2023 Giesen Uncharted Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $20.99  Why I chose it:  - I wanted to choose a wine that would put a smile on the face of the largest number of people as a sort of Christmas present to listeners who enjoy wine.  - Sauvignon Blanc is our biggest selling wine both locally and overseas. - Giesen is a large, quality conscious producer of Sauvignon Blanc. - I recently tasted this wine in a blind line-up and it performed very well. - NZ makes the world’s best SB according to many top wine critics (We make 25% of the world’s SB). What does it taste like?  - “Sweet acid” sounds like a contradiction in terms but to me it describes an important component of this wine perfectly. Gentle sauvignon with good intensity of passionfruit, guava, grapefruit flavours with a gooseberry undercurrent.  Why it’s a bargain: $20.99 is an average price for Sauvignon Blanc but this is a well-above average quality wine. Where can you buy it?  - New World $17.99 (check the vintage, wait for 2023) - Glengarry Wines in Auckland (2022) $18.99 - Vineonline $17.99  Food match?  - Most seafoods, great with clams/cockles  Will it keep?  - Drink up    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passkeys are the reverse password you never need to remember.  Instead of having your username and password stored on the server and it letting you in if you can make it match, the passkeys instead rely on your device to unlock a secret key, and only if the keys match mathematically, will the authentication be granted.    The benefits:   You can't be tricked! The website/app is coming to you clearly identifying itself and providing their version of the 'key'. Your private key will only work with its corresponding key held by the true website.  It's more secure! You need to prove you are you (using biometrics such as a fingerprint or face scan on your phone or a device) and will need to actually have the device on you to first unlock your private key and it never leaves your device. If the server is hacked, then it's basically useless information.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vigil  A new season of the British crime drama that starred Suranne Jones as a detective solving a murder on a submarine - this time, however, she’s investigating a murder on land (TVNZ+, Boxing Day).    Fool Me Once  An eight-part British thriller based on the book by Harlan Coben about a woman recovering from the murder of her husband, when she unexpectedly sees him again and starts to uncover an unlikely conspiracy (Netflix, New Year’s Day).    The Tourist  Jamie Dornan returns for another game of cat-and-mouse in this thriller about a man who has no memory of who he is and why somebody is trying to kill him (TVNZ+, 2 January).  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I stand by this recipe as the one and only (controversial!) as it turns out a gorgeous pav every time – crisp outer shell and marshmallow inside.  Makes one large or 6-8 small individual pavs.     Ingredients:  - 5 medium egg whites  - 280g caster sugar  - 1 tbsp cornflour  - 1 tsp white vinegar    Method:   1. Heat your oven to 160 C fan bake and line an oven tray with baking paper. 2. With an electric beater on medium-high, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks begin to form. Start adding the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, whisking well between each addition. I scrape down the sides a few times to make sure that all of the sugar is incorporated. Allow 12-15 minutes for this - it should be thick and shiny. Add in cornflour and vinegar and beat the meringue for 20-30 seconds more. 3. Reduce oven temperature to 100 C. 4. Pile up on lined tray, smoothing edges with the back of a wet spoon. 5. Bake for 1.5-2hrs hours (or until pav easily pulls away from the paper and the base is crispy) then turn oven off and allow to cool completely without disturbance. 6. Dressing your pav: Whipped cream or a combination of cream and mascarpone is a good base then add any toppings you wish to suit the season.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boys in the Boat During the height of the Great Depression, members of the rowing team at the University of Washington get thrust into the spotlight as they compete for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.   One Life The story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of Central European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II. Ferrari During the summer of 1957, bankruptcy looms over the company that Enzo Ferrari and his wife built 10 years earlier. He decides to roll the dice and wager it all on the iconic Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the little things that matter.  This week Kevin Milne has been thinking about the little traditions that families observe at Christmas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think Later is the second studio album released by Canadian singer Tate McRae, following from her debut album i used to think i could fly.  McRae said in an interview with Rolling Stone that the last year has been driven more by her intuition, and she hopes fans can feel that in the music as it covers themes of falling in love and the raw emotions that come with. The album has a total of fourteen songs with two pre-release singles: exes and greedy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prima Facie - Suzie Miller Tessa is a thoroughbred. A young, brilliant barrister from a working-class background now at the top of her game: defending, cross-examining and lighting up the shadows of doubt in any case. The law is a game and she is its most talented player. One sickening night, though, Tessa finds herself in a position countless women - one in three - have been in before her. And she's faced with a gut-wrenching, life-changing decision. Will she take the stand to testify about her rape, with the full awareness that the system has not been built to protect her?   Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond - Henry Winkler Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as "The Fonz" in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it's simply not the case, he's really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you. Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he's been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work. Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our modern society there are two qualities which we’re always told to value that are seemingly at odds with each other: productivity and wellbeing.   Lauren Parsons has spent her career working out how best to balance them.   In her book, ‘Thriving leaders, thriving teams’ Lauren hits on the keys to shaping a positive energised workplace culture.   Lauren’s just earned herself the ‘Keynote speaker of the year award’ and ‘Educator of the Year’ for 2023.   Lauren Parsons joined Jack Tame to discuss her work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It was recently crowned New Zealand’s leading hotel at the 30th Annual World Travel Awards, beating out 11 other big-name hotels in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. So what is all the fuss about? Does it really live up to all the hype? Channelling my inner-Curious George, I zipped to Queenstown to sample the supreme comforts of The Rees Hotel." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Hannah's key lessons (and an important point we make to all of their clients) is that financial progress shouldn't wait for perfect conditions. When life gets uncertain and throws a curveball, that’s the exact time financial opportunities tend to reveal themselves - ironically, at the least opportune moment. After the year that's been, we can probably all relate to that feeling!   So the question becomes: If financial opportunity presented itself, would you see it for what it is, or would it simply pass you by? Our experience with clients would suggest the latter. So in the current climate where the high cost of living does not want to budge, where interest rates remain painfully high and many of us are due to refix if we haven't already, why is Hannah so optimistic? What are the opportunities she's seeing on the horizon and how do we see it for what it is and take advantage of it?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef  The dark comedy about two Americans who begin to obsess over a road rage incident and let it slowly consume their everyday lives (Netflix).    Happy Valley  The third and final season of the superb British drama featuring Sarah Lancashire as police officer Catherine Cawood (TVNZ+).    Jury Duty  The unique documentary-style comedy series that shares the inner workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of one unknowing juror (Amazon Prime Video).      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dicks: The Musical  Two self-obsessed businessmen discover they're long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric, divorced parents.    Next Goal Wins   With the 2014 World Cup qualifiers approaching, down-on-his-luck coach Thomas Rongen tries to turn the American Samoa soccer team into winners.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for many, but it's also the most wasteful.  Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has a few tips for making sustainable choices this holiday season: -Shop local, buy from small vendors at Christmas or farmers markets -Consider making food the present or focus to reduce pointless gifts -Serve less meat, or pick meat that is sustainable sourced (e.g. Premium Game, the only wild meat hunted in NZ) -BYO takeaway containers to your Holiday events to reduce food waste -Use reusables instead of single use for your cutlery, dishes, etc. -Gift your leftovers to local food pantries or community groups LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasites… Bodies everywhere!!!  This is the time to take a good look at the small critters in your garden. You may go on holiday and need someone to control the “pests” on your plants, crops and fruit trees. We are talking predators, but especially parasitoids.  The concept of parasitism is not always easy to grasp for non-entomologically inclined people. For starters you’ll need a good set of eyes and in some cases a decent magnifying glass or even a small microscope, to get the picture.  So – what is it all about and how do you look for evidence of these clever critters?  Parasites are organisms that take advantage of a host, by living off them or even inside them. Usually, parasites don’t necessarily kill their hosts directly (think: headlice, tapeworm, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, scabies, etc).  Parasitoids, however, tend to be fatal to our plant pests and other small creatures that live in our garden environment. The reason is simple: the larval stages of the parasitoids develop inside the host, and this causes internal destruction (remember Alien?).  Most parasitoids are members of the wasp order, but they don’t really look like the common and German wasps. Parasitic wasps are often quite small and reminiscent of winged ants. Their size and insignificant black and brown colouring makes them hard to detect and identify as a “goodie”, so it may be more advantageous to keep an eye out for the, shall we say, results of their efforts.  On cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and such crops, the caterpillars of white butterflies cause many chewing holes. Small, 2-3 mm parasitoids (Cotesia glomerata) lay a number of eggs inside the living caterpillars; these eggs hatch into hungry grubs that take very little time to completely clean out the fluids, meat and musculature inside the hapless larva.  When the grubs emerge from the dying host, they spin silken cocoons inside which they pupate. These creamy-white cocoons are a dead give-away for the presence of useful parasites in the cabbage patch.  Of course, the message is obvious: don’t spray insecticides, as you’ll certainly kill the small black wasps that come out of those white cocoons!  Parasitoids tend to be specialised in their job. There’s another species of small, black wasp (Pteromalus puparum) that likes to lay its eggs inside the chrysalis of the white butterfly. Evidence of this bodysnatching is the perfectly round emergence holes in the skin of an otherwise empty pupal case: the parasitoids will have left the cramped conditions inside that host already and are looking for more victims.  Sometimes parasitoids species aim for an even smaller abode: imagine completing your entire life cycle inside an aphid. Yet there are tiny parasitic wasps that do just that. The adult wasps may be the size of flying dust, but the clobbered aphid is very easy to spot.  Parasitised aphids are generally referred to as “mummies”: slightly bloated and discoloured with a parchment texture, they truly stand out from the crowd. Check out your roses, swan plants or any other aphid-infested plant for that matter.  Mummies means parasitism is lending a helping hand in your garden and insecticides would do more damage than good.  There are even parasitoids that develop inside the eggs of their host insects: A good example is the famous Trissolcus basalis wasp that hunts for the beautifully arranged egg clusters of our stinky green vegetable bug.  When she has found such an omelette of opportunity, the female Trissolcus will lay one egg in just about every green vegetable bug egg in the cluster.  She then wipes her abdomen over the finished job, to lay down a chemical scent or marker that will deter other Trissolcus females parasitising the same cluster of eggs, which makes sense: the space inside a green vegetable bug egg is just enough for the development of one parasitoids, not two.  This, indeed, is a small world!  To keep it ticking over in your garden:  -Don’t spray insecticides.  -Attract parasitoids by planting flowering plants with nectar for the adults.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's coming December 14th. Threads has been slowly launching features: it now has hashtags (and even emoji hashtags), a web app, polls, an edit button, the ability to view a 'for you' feed and most recent threads, and they're testing "trending hashtags" in Australia. Threads is reportedly struggling with some stats, indicating it's down 80% from its launch peak.  Threads almost wasn't called Threads. "Epigram" was a popular name internally at Meta. The project's codename was "Textagram".  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A beef fillet is as impressive as it is easy to cook and serve for a crowd. Get your butcher to prepare the eye fillet, removing silver skin and tying with kitchen string at 5cm intervals. This is for even cooking and ease of slicing.  Serves 10-12    Ingredients  2-2.3kg beef eye fillet  2 tablespoons olive oil  2 teaspoons sea salt  4 tablespoons each fresh thyme and rosemary leaves  1 teaspoon chilli flakes  3 teaspoons cracked black pepper  1 whole garlic bulb, broken into cloves  500g vine tomatoes  1/3 cup store-bought    Mustard tarragon crème  ½ cup crème fraiche or sour cream  2 tablespoons hot mustard  Small handful fresh tarragon leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried  ¼ cup olive oil  ½ teaspoon sea salt    Method   1. Allow beef fillet to come to near-room temperature before cooking. Rub with oil then sprinkle liberally with salt. 2. Preheat oven to 200 C and place a large shallow roasting dish in to preheat. 3. Place fillet in the hot oven dish and sear on stove top until browned on all sides. Add garlic cloves and tomatoes to the dish before putting in the oven for 30 minutes. 4. Chop fresh herbs on a large chopping board and add chilli flakes and pepper. Remove beef fillet and use tongs to roll hot fillet in herbs and pepper before returning to the oven. Keep checking every 5 minutes for doneness - when cooked to medium-rare it ought to have tightened somewhat but still have some give in it when poked with your finger. Remove fillet, cover with foil then a folded tea towel and rest for 20 minutes before slicing. 5. Make the crème by whisking all ingredients together to a smooth sauce. 6. Serve beef drizzled with pan juices and with oven roasted tomatoes and garlic with mustard crème and pesto.   Nici’s Note: When cooking beef to perfection I use the rule of roasting for approx. 12 minutes per 500g for medium rare or 16 minutes for medium. Whole beef fillet can be cooked a day out and then warmed through in a 160 C oven for 20 minutes, before slicing.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Kevin Milne has been celebrating loyal friendships.  His brother Brian was filled in a car crash when he was 23 years old, and Friday marked his 80th birthday.  Kevin was joined by friends of his brother who have never forgotten him or them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New experiences make you feel young.  At least, that’s what I told myself as I slipped into a gown, folded my pants and shirt into a plastic container, and followed the technician through the big double doors.  It took me almost 37 years to get my first MRI. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but even though I’m pretty good with claustrophobia and that kind of thing, I still felt a little blush of nerves, the hesitation of the unknown, as the giant machine shifted me into position.  The technicians had advised me not to move. So of course, just as soon as the machine began scanning my insides, whirring and beeping around me, I developed an itch right on the tip of my nose.  I breathed through it as best I could and by the time, I was ready to be extracted, 40 minutes later, I swear I was almost about to doze off.  If new experiences make you feel young, my MRI results did not. Reasonably advanced arthritis. Various tears and bits of damage to body parts with long names. A bone spur steadily nibbling away at the already-reduced cartilage in my hip. Not the end of the World, but also not the kind of ailments that will ever improve. The pain I have been feeling in my left hip isn’t going away. When it comes to the sports I love to play, there are some tough decisions that lay ahead.  The next morning, I went to the optometrist. The news didn’t get much better. I swear I was reading every line on the chart, and he was saying, ‘Good.... good... good!”  But then after he’d trialled me with various exercises, the optometrist turned his chair towards me and explained it was time to consider reading glasses. Again, hardly the end of the World. But a first for me.  ‘Really?’ I asked. Surely, I thought, he’s just trying to swindle me for a fancy pair of designer specs.  “There’s been a decline since your last check.” He said.  “Not a massive decline, but a decline.”  He showed me again what it felt like with corrective lenses over my eyes. The letters on the chart were clearer.  I thanked him, limped out and squinted at the sales rack to try and work out if any of the glasses there would suit my face.  Yesterday morning, I woke up to a text on the family group chat. Overnight, my sister had had her baby. A boy. Her third. Fit and healthy and doing well. I had that primal response. A photo of a child, hours old, whom I’ve never met, and whom I already love so much.  It’s funny, one minute you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. And then you realise you don’t. The thing that makes this tolerable is knowing that at least someone else does. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi R&B band Drax Project has finally released their second studio album 'Upside'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Material - Dolly Alberton   Andy's story wasn't meant to turn out this way. Living out of a suitcase in his best friends' spare room, waiting for his career as a stand-up comedian to finally take off, he struggles to process the life-ruining end of his relationship with the only woman he's ever truly loved.  As he tries to solve the seemingly unsolvable mystery of his broken relationship, he contends with career catastrophe, social media paranoia, a rapidly dwindling friendship group and the growing suspicion that, at 35, he really should have figured this all out by now.  Andy has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story.    The Edge - David Baldacci  When CIA operative Jenny Sikwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. In need of someone who can solve the murder quickly and retrieve the missing information, the U.S. government knows just the chameleon they can call on.   Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, followed by his short-lived business career chasing shadows in the deepest halls of power, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets and Devine finds himself an outsider again.   Devine must ingratiate himself with locals who have trusted each other their whole lives, and who distrust outsiders just as much. Dak, Jenny’s brother, who’s working to revitalize the town. Earl, the retired lobsterman who found Jenny’s body. And Alex, Jenny’s sister with a dark past of her own. As Devine gets to know the residents of Potter, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. There’s a long history of secrets and those who will stop at nothing to keep them from being exposed. Leaving Devine with no idea who he can trust... and who wants him dead.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020 Ashleigh Hoeta felt numbness in her leg, her face drooping and was rushed to hospital to find she’d suffered a stroke.  She had to teach herself how to walk again, move her legs and fingers, all while raising two children.   Not only that, in October this year, her father passed away after a long battle with emphysema. Now, Ashleigh has just become the first woman to bench 317.5kg in equipped powerlifting, breaking the world record. She’s one of the top women arm wrestlers and an ex international gymnast.  Ashleigh Hoeta joined Jack Tame to discuss her journey and breaking the world record. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scrublands An Australian crime drama about a journalist investigating a murder in a small rural town (ThreeNow).    Artful Dodger This spinoff of the Oliver Twist story sees the Artful Dodger sent to 1850s Australia to carry on his dodgy behaviour (Disney+).    Slow Horses A new season of the delightful spy thriller that sees Gary Oldman play the boss of a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents (AppleTV+).   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Napoleon A look at the military commander's origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine.   The Old Oak A pub landlord in a previously thriving mining community struggles to hold onto his pub. Meanwhile, tensions rise in the town when Syrian refugees are placed in the empty houses in the community.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Rising up from the western South Dakota plains, just over the Wyoming state line, the Black Hills region beckons like an emerald isle in a sea of prairie. These ponderosa-covered mountains, slashed by creek-carved canyons and softened by alpine meadows have a majesty all their own. But this picturesque pocket of South Dakota also serves up a head swirl of landmark sights and experiences, which makes this region a runaway highlight of any American West road-trip." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago we discussed ADHD in the workplace and how this is beginning to show up a lot in recent times. Following on from that, we are seeing a lot more people in the workplace with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). Together ASD, ADHD and Learning Disabilities are sometimes referred to as “neurodiversity”. ASD now the term used for what used to be call Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. A stereotype would be Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rainman but really important to note that the difficulties are experienced on a spectrum. We're now seeing more adults diagnosed in adulthood for much the same reasons as ADHD (i.e., missed during childhood, not enough services out there, have had a child diagnosed with ASD and now wondering about it for themselves). The main difficulties for people with ASD in the workplace are around social relationships, a strong need for routine and sameness, and sensory hypersensitivity (e.g., very sensitive hearing). There are other symptoms which include very strong “obsessional” interest in specific topics (e.g., being an expert on the French revolution) and some unusual behaviours (e.g., handflapping when distressed).  People with ASD report not having the natural understanding of how social relationships work. They might find it hard to keep eye contact and have difficulty balancing conversations (e.g., they talk too much about themselves and not ask anything of the other person or barely participate in a conversation, might take things very literally). Expressing their emotions might be difficult because of the difficulties in social interactions. Hypersensitivity might make working in certain environments very difficult.   What can be done to help? Recognition and understanding always hugely important for both the employee and employer. Work out together what can be done to the work environment to reduce stress. It may also, with permission of the individual, be useful to educate the wider team about ASD. Work out best ways of communicating with the person. It may also be useful to get a professional assessment to help guide employee and employers in what steps to take.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing tomatoes is one of the big hobbies of New Zealanders, especially males! It’s great to have a go at these fruit – there are many many varieties too and everybody has their favourite ones. But there are some problems that can occur, whether you’re raising them in an open garden bed, or in a tunnel house Tomato – (potato) thrips are a nuisance; they got here a few decades ago and will attack Solanaceous plants (potatoes, tomatoes, nightshades, poroporo, and such weeds) Tomato thrips adults and nymphs I used to get heaps of them when growing tomatoes in Auckland, but in CHC they seem to be prevalent only in autumn (takes longer to develop plague proportions); My best preventative action is to pull Solanum weeds out everywhere. It prevents them from settling on these hosts and survive during winter. When you have a hassle: spray the plants with oil (Conqueror Oil or Neem Oil) on a regular basis (every 10 days or so); aim for the newer leaves/growth on the tomato plants. Sprays with insecticides need to commence well before you see the first psyllids; it keeps their populations down too. I generally don’t grow potatoes (only the early season varieties of potatoes (before Xmas) Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes has always been translated as a deficiency of calcium. Apparently that is a myth in itself; it has more to do with the inability of the plant to transport calcium through the plant. Gibberellins appear to be playing an important role in that job and most NZ soils are not deficient in calcium; so: try some fertilisers with gibberellic acid (Seafood Soup/Seaweed Tea!) Often the first tomatoes of the season show some Blossom End Rot. With settling temps and regular fertilisation/watering these symptoms often disappear. Early Blight and Late Blight on stems and leaves can move pretty quickly through the plants. Here comes the watering again!!! Only water the soil (NOT the leaves); remove the lower leaves as soon as practicable, so they don’t drag on the moist soil and get infected. Underwatering also helps in this matter: keep the area drier; make sure the wind/air movement can dry the plants and stems quickly. If you have persistent hassles with blight: keep a regular fungicide treatment going Passionvine hoppers (Scolypopa australis) I call them fluffy bums – as their “nylon-filament tails” are prominent features (of course these tails are made from fine waxy material!) Photo / Supplied They suck sap from a wide variety of host plants, often climbers (Wisteria, Passionfruit vines) and Perennials (salvia, Hydrangeas, Camellia, you name it!!) Sap-sucking is their big impact on garden plants – sometimes they debilitate their host, pooping honeydew all over the place and that creates a deposit of sooty mould, like with some many sap-sucking insects in the garden Slowly they grow larger and larger shedding skins along their journey (moulting), until they reach adulthood in summer: Moth-like insects with delta-shaped wings, showing prominent vein-markings; they, too, suck plant sap These insects have the ability to jump quickly and far and the adult passionvine hoppers also flick and fly very smartly… avoiding the insecticides you may want to spray at them!! They are impossible to spray with insecticides. But the fluffy bums might still be reduced in numbers in spring, when they are still young: On a wind-still morning, grab an aerosol can with simple fly spray and create an insecticidal mist around those densely-packed groupings of young and impressionable fluffybums; they may try to “jump away from danger”, but won’t be able to succeed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to chat about the truth behind some 'old wives tales': Whether you’ll get a cold if you go outside with wet hair.  If you’ll get arthritis if you crack your knuckles.  Whether you should chew your food 30 times before swallowing.  If you’ll get square eyes watching too much television.  If eating Carrots will give you better eyesight.  Is the five second rule for dropped food accurate? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google is starting to delete inactive accounts  Accounts which have been created but never used are first on the chopping block. They'll start being deleted today. Then accounts that haven't been active in more than two years. To keep an account active you'll need to log into it, and then it'd be best to complete an action like send an email, watch a YouTube video or add a contact.     Happy Birthday ChatGPT!  It was a year ago that ChatGPT burst onto the scene.  It moved AI from something that was magic in the background —like Spotify's weekly personalized playlists, or Netfix recommending what to watch next— to a product people could directly interact with and put generative capabilities into the hands of everyone. It's now used by 100 million people a week. Businesses now are looking at ways to integrate and use it in their workflows, and it's made the creation of chatbots easier by giving it source documents and fewer pre-defined steps.  According to Pitch Deck, more than $21 billion has been invested in generative AI startups so far this year.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich, buttery, and simply gorgeous. The combo of strawberry, rhubarb and vanilla in this shortcake is so, so good.  Makes 1 x Swiss roll tin    Ingredients:  2 regular chips of strawberries, chipped and chopped  2 cups chopped rhubarb, cut into 2 cm lengths  2 tbsps. sugar  Zest of half a lemon  2 tablespoons vanilla extract  225g butter  1 cup sugar + 1 tbsp  2 large eggs  2 ½ cups flour  2 tsps. baking powder  Whipped cream to serve    Method:  1. Set the oven at 180 C. Line a Swiss roll tin with baking paper. 2. In a bowl toss strawberries and chopped rhubarb with first measure of sugar, lemon juice and vanilla and leave to sit while you make the shortcake dough. 3. Make the shortcake: Cream the butter and sugar (reserve the 1 tbsp sugar measure) until light and creamy, then beat in eggs. Stir in the sifted flour and baking powder, mix well and chill for 15 minutes. 4. You won't be able to roll this mixture (it’s too buttery) so with floured hands gently flatten half of the mixture into the lined tin. 5. Spread the fruit over the base then cover with the other half of the shortcake – you can crumble it over as it will spread as it cooks - and cook for 40-45 minutes hour until golden brown. 6. Sprinkle with extra 1 tbsp. sugar to serve. 7. Serve warm or cooled slices with whipped cream.   Make it yours:  - Use blueberries in place of rhubarb. - Add lemon zest or a decent pinch of cinnamon to the pastry. - Sprinkle top with chopped hazelnuts midway through baking.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin went to a function with his wife this past Wednesday. He may have been oblivious to the state of the shirt he was wearing, but his wife was not. The events that followed, in Kevin's words, perfectly illustrates some of the good and bad things about marriage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fashion.  It’s not a subject I can profess to knowing an awful lot about, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the ebbs and flows of what’s hot and what’s not, it’s that you can never rule anything out.  No matter how unfashionable something is, no matter how objectively horrible it looks, at some point it will be in.  It’s easy to forget, once upon a time codpieces were the height of sophistication and taste. It happened with sneans, sneakers and jeans. And even though it would seem very unusual by today’s standards to see a group of young men loping around with their pants halfway down their thighs and their underwear sticking out, low-riding was until recently very fashionable and sadly given the cyclical nature of fashion, it’ll probably be fashionable again.  This brings me to Crocs. I’m hardly the first person to notice the popularity of the plastic-y modern clog. But I’ve been struck by the way in which Crocs have crossed from being a sort of ironic haha-I’m-wearing-ugly-shoes option for middle aged people who wanted to wind up their teenagers, to a shoe which is actually cool, cool. Crocs have been worn by popstars and Hollywood heartthrobs. For several years now they’ve been the boot of choice for the likes of Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and fashionistas at openings in fancy art galleries.  Nowhere is this more obvious than with kids. I was standing at the bottom of a large and slightly intimidating slide at a West Auckland playground last weekend, waiting for my stepson to come on down. And kid after kid after kid whipped off a pair of Crocs and threw the shoes to the bottom of the slide, least the rubbery soles stunt their momentum on the way down.  The way kids wear them, of course, is with Jibbitz. Jibbitz are little charms that you can attach to a pair of Crocs in much the same way as you might wear a charm on a charm bracelet. It’s a way for kids to further personalise their Crocs and distinguish their pair from everyone else’s. Fashions come and go but one thing that has never changed in the schoolyard: shoes are still the ultimate status symbol.  But of course, as is the danger with in-demand fashions, there are inevitably downsides to the popularity. At least one New Zealand school has introduced a complete Crocs ban. Several others are banning the Jibbitz charms as kids argue over them.  There’s always the risk you might push a trend too far and get caught out as the fashion tides change. Ugly is trendy, I get that. But I must confess to wondering how far the concept reaches after being confronted this week by an ad for a Croc accessory I’d never seen before.  Croc Nuts. The perfect solution for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life, this Christmas. For those who are familiar with Truck Nutz, it’s more or less the same concept. A pair of gleaming metallic testicles which you can clip to the back of your Crocs to swing around in the breeze as you go about your business.  Taste may be in the eye of the beholder. But let this serve as a reminder to all of us: in fashion, you can never rule anything out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southern Montana is the Wild West of dreams and the Hollywood big screen, sprawling over a rugged and serene landscape. After taking in the manifold treats of Wyoming, a dabble with Montana’s big-skies and rock-star good looks is an essential addition to an American West road-trip. Part rough-and-tumble Rocky Mountains and part expansive prairie, the state doesn’t boast any major cities – they are more like overgrown cow towns. Main Street Red Lodge: Credit Mike Yardley But if you’re in need of an urban fix, your best bet is Billings, the state’s most populous city – about the size of Hamilton. Nicknamed the Magic City, the moniker came about from Billings’ expansive growth in the golden age of railroads, steamboats and cattle barons. The city is a springboard for historical explorations and outdoorsy adventure. First impressions count and what captured my attention on arrival in Billings is how the city is dramatically cradled by magnificent sandstone cliffs known as the Rimrocks. Deposited by an ancient inland seaway and slowly carved over millions of years by the Yellowstone River, these scenic "rimrocks" backdrop the northern edge of town. Rim Rock by Kayak, Billings I struck out on the trails at Swords Park which offers enormous views from the rimrocks. Just keep an eye out for the rattlesnakes! Zimmerman Park and Phipps Park offer fabulous walking trails too, while if you’d rather take to the water to admire the rimrocks, hire a kayak for a dreamy float at sunset on the Yellowstone River. Immerse yourself in nature’s splendour! History also adorns Pompeys Pillar, a striking sandstone monolith just of town. It’s where William Clark carved his name into the stone in July 1806 before continuing his famous expedition west with Meriwether Lewis. If you’re up for a culture fix, there’s a good clutch of museums in Billings. I particularly enjoyed the Western Heritage Center, housed in the city’s old library, proudly preserving the stories and history of the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern High Plains. Don’t let the city’s brightly illuminated, flame-throwing oil refineries symbolise your sense of nightlife in Billings. Bar-hopping the craft breweries is where the city excels, come nightfall. Angry Hanks Brewing Clustered in the downtown district, hop-scotch your way from Angry Hanks and Thirsty Street Brewing Company to Uberbrew and Montana Brewing Company. Right next door on Montana Ave, Hooligan’s Sports Bar will top off your all-American night out on the town. Montana Ave, which has been transformed into a very hip strip of hospitality, parallels the railroad that gave the city life in the 19th century. For the kids and kids at heart, the only thing better than a binge at the Caramel Cookie Waffles bakery is to get your fill at the gourmet ice cream store, Big Dipper. In the blazing Montana sunshine, this place is like a refuge! I highly recommend a scoop of Banana Cream Pie and tangerine sorbet. A block away, The Burger Dive dishes up creations like I’m Your Huckleberry burgers, which have been honoured by the World Food Championships. Their garlic-drenched fries will linger long in your memories – if not on your breath. Caramel Cookie Waffles, Billings But it’s that angus burger topped with smooth goat cheese, bacon, a fresh cut onion ring and huckleberry and chili barbeque sauce, that really hit the spot. Few tastes carry such revered status as the huckleberry does in the American West. They grow wild across Montana, resembling large dark blueberries and Native Americans still use them as a traditional medicine – packed with antioxidants. They certainly taste great in a burger! Where to stay? In the heart of town, the Northern Hotel is the grand dame, first built in 1940, but extensively refreshed a decade ago. You’ll enjoy swish accommodations with all of the creature comforts, plus the on-site dining is superb. Enjoy a classic but upscale breakfast at Bernie’s Diner. To the west of Billings, Red Lodge is a small-town gem that will charm your pants off, edging the Yellowstone River. This sweet little town is nestled in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains and lassoed by Custer National Forest. The main street, flanked by evocative old stone buildings, brims with enticements, from western-wear stores and antique shops to art galleries and great hospo options. You’ll love the gift store, Montana CC Legends, which is loaded with trinkets, treasures and impressive local art. Sweet-tooths must not miss one of the best confectionary stores I have seen in a long time – Montana Candy Emporium. Think the Remarkables Sweet Shop on a gigantic scale. This Red Lodge institution has been a mainstay for decades, housed in a nostalgic building, overspilling with nostalgic candy. Montana Candy Emporium. Credit Mike Yardley The handmade chocolate treats at the counter are sinfully good, but being in Montana, it would be rude not to stock up on huckleberry candy. I loaded up on gob fills of huckleberry sour balls for road-trip sustenance. Relax in the garden at Red Lodge Ales, share a massive margarita and pizza with at Bogart’s, grab a burger at Red Box Car or wind down with a steak and whiskey cocktail at The Pollard Hotel. Red Lodge is the quintessential place where you’ll just want to kick-back, to shop, nosh and linger. Just out of town, treat yourself to an exhilarating drive on the Beartooth Highway, a 64-mile stretch of U.S. 212 from Red Lodge to Cooke City. Dubbed the most beautiful roadway in America, this jaw-dropping drive climbs to an astounding 11,000 feet above sea level. That’s nearly as high as the summit of Aoraki/Mt. Cook. Completed nearly 90 years ago, its stature as a bucket-list drive has not dimmed – and it certainly lives up to its hype as the ultimate high-country route. Heading out of Red Lodge, I felt transported to Heidi’s Switzerland, with lodgepole pine forests and lush meadows rolling down to meet the road. Before long, the ascent became stark and dramatic, thrusting you up higher and higher into the grip of the Beartooth Mountains. The sprawling range features 20 peaks higher than Aoraki. Mile upon mile of switchbacks serves up epic views across the sweeping snow-clad tundra and bejewelled glacial tarns of the Hellroaring and Silver Run plateaus. You end being higher on that highway, than the snow line on the plateaus, across the valley. At Vista Point, the plummeting views staring down into the jaws of the Rock Creek canyon is another highlight. Just pass the highway summit, the “Bear’s Tooth” comes into view – a narrow pyramidal spire of rock, carved by glaciation, that became the namesake of the Beartooth Mountains. It’s a cranking drive, if not a little vertigo-inducing! (Beartooth Highway is only open from about May to mid-October, depending on snow. They’ve had some late, unseasonal snow dumps in June and even July, in recent years, so check ahead that the road is open.) Beartooth Highway To the left of Billings, the plains of eastern Montana stretch out like a pancake, offering a more subtle beauty than the gnarly mountains to the west. A land of rolling hills, dusty bluffs and badlands, and the occasional rock-walled canyon, this is classic cattle and wheat country. Temperatures can be extreme; hot in the summer under a blazing sun, and brutally cold in the winter. Just over an hour southeast of Billings, I drove to Little Bighorn Valley. A sequence of low-slung hills rises above the valley - it is sacred ground because it’s where the Battle of the Little Bighorn took place in 1876, between the US Army and Great Plains Indians. As many as 2,000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors encircled and routed the US Army, in ferocious defence of their ancestral way of life. Perhaps there is no phrase in the English language that serves as a better metaphor for an untimely demise than "Custer's Last Stand." It was on the Little Bighorn battlefield, 800 acres of dry sloping prairies, that George Armstrong Custer and the soldiers of the 7th US Cavalry Regiment met their end. The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument chronicles the history of this world-famous engagement, offering a coherent look at how the battle developed, where the members of Custer's contingent died on Last Stand Hill, and how it might have looked to the swarming warriors. It’s very easy to traverse the 7km-long battlefield, driving along the ridgelines, to all of key sites. Last Stand Hill at little Big Horn: Credit: Mike Yardley The fight was an overwhelming victory for the Plains Indians, who were led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall and had been inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull. They may have won the battle, but ultimately lost the war. Custer's death galvanised the military. In subsequent months, they tracked down Sioux and Cheyenne warriors and forced them onto reservations in North and South Dakota, ending their independent, nomadic way of life. Within a few short years they were all confined to reservations. Custer's remains were eventually reburied at the US Military Academy at West Point in 1877. Below the battlefield, the adjacent National Cemetery was established in 1879, and it incorporates a self-guided tour to some of the more significant figures buried there. It’s an indelible encounter with the American story. www.greatamericanwest.co.nz Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford joins Jack Tame to talk about Troy Sivan's new album 'Something to give each other'   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reluctant Beatle "Biography Of George Exploring the Fascinating Life Of The Reluctant Beatle." Step into the world of George Harrison, the quiet and introspective Beatle whose story has long been overshadowed by the charismatic presence of his bandmates.   Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes   The authoritative and illuminating biography of T. E. Lawrence - the man who inspired the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia - from "The World's Greatest Living Explorer" Ranulph Fiennes.Thomas EdwardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Most wrapping paper is not recyclable, especially when it's in little pieces.   - What to use instead: reusable wrapping paper, sheets, pillows, glass jars, containers, wrapping paper that you've saved throughout the year. Get crafty or find things from around the house plus second hand shops.   - How to avoid it altogether: gift non-physical things. e.g. acts of service (my husband and I cleaned my parents house!), quality time (dinner voucher), or scrap gifts altogether and focus on the day together.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why I chose it:  - How can they do it at this price? I guess the answer is “volume” but this wine is technically very good indeed.  - Rose has become a popular choice in recent years  - 2023 was a good Marlborough vintage  What does it taste like?  - Moderately deep-hued rose (A lot of people prefer paler Rosé but they should remember “the deeper the colour the richer the flavour” in an off-dry style with crushed raspberry and candy floss flavours. Quite intense with a refreshing cut of bright acidity and a lingering finish. A real crowd-pleaser.  Why it’s a bargain:  - It’s very price-friendly  - I gave it a good score at a blind tasting. If I’d had to guess a price it would have been over $20  Where can you buy it?  - Countdown $13 (check the vintage), Blackmarket.co.nz case of six bottles $77.94 (equ. $12.99 + Frt)  Food match?  - I like “pink foods” such as prawns, crayfish or scampi    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faraway Downs: Baz Luhrmann takes his 2008 film Australia starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman and reworks it into a six-part TV series, adding new footage and music (Disney+)    Time: A British drama starring Jodie Whittaker and Bella Ramsey about three women who arrive at Carlingford prison on the same day (Neon)  Squid Game: The Challenge:  Inspired by the hit Netflix series, this sees real-life contestants compete in a series of high-stakes children’s games in pursuit of a $4.56 million dollar cash prize (Netflix)    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plate up individual servings of this simple, elegant dish as a starter or set out a platter for people to help themselves.  Serves 4-6  4 thick spears asparagus  1 small carrot, peeled  1 small zucchini  1 tsp sea salt  1 cup white wine vinegar  1/3 cup caster sugar  ½ tsp mustard seeds  3cm piece lemon rind  ½ cup thick Greek yoghurt or crème fraiche  200g-250g smoked salmon – I used hot smoked but cold smoked salmon will work just as well or smoke your own!  4 tablespoons good quality olive oil  Ground black pepper  Sprigs fresh dill  Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard. Use a vegetable peeler to shave very thin strips of the asparagus stem and use a knife to cut the tips into thin slices. Cut the carrot and zucchini into very thin matchsticks. Toss together in a bowl with salt. Heat vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds and lemon rind and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Pour this over the vegetables and gently toss them in the pickling liquid. Cover and set aside until required. Note that you could do this stage up to a few days before the big day, tossing them every now and again. To serve; spoon 1-2 tablespoons of yoghurt or crème fraiche onto each plate (or all of it on the platter) and spread it with the back of a spoon. Top with salmon, dividing it evenly between the plates. Add a decent spoonful of the pickled vegetables to each plate. Just before serving drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with pepper and add springs of fresh dill.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca Rudkin reviews Saltburn and new remake of the Velveteen Rabbit on this mornings program with Jack Tame   SALTBURN A student is invited to an eccentric classmate's estate for an exciting summer.   THE VELVETEEN RABBIT When 7-year-old William receives a new favourite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Can’t Winston Be More Civil?  Kevin Milne Joined Jack Tame to talk about the ludicrously of media scrums. Especially when it comes to trying to get anything out of Winston Peters...  “If Winston Doesn’t want to talk, why don’t journalists just pack up and go back to the office?”    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can dispute when the counter should have started – election night or the official results – but I suspect the waiting game will soon be forgotten as the new government is sworn in and the house sits in urgency.  At first blush, I actually think the biggest winner of the three parties is National. Perhaps you’d expect nothing less from the highest-polling party, but there’s no doubt Christopher Luxon and his team were negotiating with a couple of wily, smart operators. And at the conclusion of negotiations, almost all of National’s policies remain on the table. They haven’t had to sacrifice their babies.  Sure, there’s the foreign buyers’ tax. But given the scrutiny over the projected revenue numbers during the election campaign, I’d suggest National was none too bothered to have that policy tossed upon the bonfire. They can blame Winston Peters. Give him the win. And yes, it means a gap in revenue that will need filling, but something tells me National would much prefer that than monthly updates on how much the foreign buyer tax revenue was falling short of projections.  There are some significant visable wins for NZ First: The $1.2B infrastructure fund – ka ching - the various gender and Māori language provisions, and a Covid inquiry. I think Winston Peters is a really good choice for Foreign Minister and Shane Jones is exactly where he wants to be with fisheries and regional development. NZ First will be really pleased.  I think we’ll have to wait before we can properly assess the scale of ACT’s wins. There will be no Treaty referendum, and if it so chooses, it’ll be easy enough for the National Party to drops its support of a treaty principles bill straight after select committee. It’ll be interesting to see whether scrapping the Māori Health Authority, co-governance provisions, and changing various Māori names might take some of the heat out of that issue for the time being.  Compared to NZ First, ACT has certainly taken on less-flashy ministerial positions. And again, we probably won’t be able to assess the true impact of the deal until we see how much regulation David Seymour can cut as the new minister, or how much Brooke van Velden can shake up workplace relations, or exactly what the new Arms Act will look like. In ACT’s coalition deal, it struck me that in many areas there are less concrete commitments, but that perhaps those commitments cover broader areas. The words explore, examine, and consider are sprinkled throughout the document. Listen to this, for example:  In consultation with the relevant Minister, carry out regulation sector reviews, which could include the primary industries, the finance sector, early childhood education, and healthcare occupational licensing, in each case producing an omnibus bill for regulatory reform of laws affecting the sector. Maybe I’m being a bit of a bush lawyer here, but that theoretically has the potential to be enormously consequential. It also has the potential to change basically nothing. They haven’t even agreed with certainty what sectors will be reviewed.  From Christopher Luxon’s perspective, I thought the Deputy Prime Minister split was a pretty elegant solution. But the real test of a coalition is not the detail in the deal, but the behaviour of the parties and the management of relationships when inevitably they disagree. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"After feasting on nature’s splendour in Yellowstone National Park, I was itching for a dabble with the Old West’s frontier spirit." "Cody proudly touts itself as the “Rodeo Capital of the World,” and its colourful downtown brims with cowboy apparel stores, cheap and cheerful steakhouses and effervescent, boot-tapping saloons. I adored Cody and it’s infectious, welcoming ambience." "Located at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains on the Bozeman Trail, cute little Buffalo exudes charm in spades, proudly home to one of the most acclaimed Old West hotels." "Sixty years ago, Deadwood became the only city in the United States to be named a National Historic Landmark." Check out Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow remains the last hope for his fading lineage. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow becomes alarmed when he's assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and political savvy, they race against time to ultimately reveal who's a songbird and who's a snake.   The Killer  Solitary, cold, methodical and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he's losing his mind, if not his cool.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow remains the last hope for his fading lineage. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow becomes alarmed when he's assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and political savvy, they race against time to ultimately reveal who's a songbird and who's a snake.   The Killer  Solitary, cold, methodical and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he's losing his mind, if not his cool.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country icon Dolly Parton has matched her Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction with the release of her new rock album Rockstar. The 30 track album features both covers of iconic rock songs and a few original compositions, each track featuring an accompaniment from a star studded list. Rockstar is Parton's 49th studio album, and the only one of it's genre that she ever plans to do. "It's thirty songs! Why would I ever need to do another?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes   If, like Kane, you're a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot. But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive. Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart...   The Drowning by Bryan Brown   The body of a local teenage boy is found on the beach of a sleepy northern New South Wales town. David went for an evening swim and got into trouble . . . at least, that's what it looks like. Three weeks before, Leila, a young backpacker, didn't turn up for her shift at the local cafe. Benny, the owner, isn't worried. It happens - backpackers are always on the move. There'll be another one. One of the locals, Adrian, has been a help to Benny. He's found him a nice little sideline. Not exactly legal. Is that all Adrian is arranging on the coast? He once was a cop but has he gone bad? And in the backblocks outside town, a bikie gang is gearing up for a large consignment from South America. Murder, drugs, liaisons and lies are stirring up this small coastal town.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the middle of Movember, Dr Dougal Sutherland is joining Jack Tame to chat about the barriers men face to talking about their mental health and a few ways to get around these barriers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah McQueen has just returned to New Zealand after running the New York Marathon. While preparing for this event, she identified a few parallels between what it takes to run a marathon and achieving one’s financial goals.    The notes:  - Have a goal.  - Understand your own limitations - not everyone’s a runner and not everyone is naturally inclined to make the best financial decisions (even if they know what they are).    So:  - Get someone who’s got experience/expertise to help you build a plan to achieve that goal.  - This means the plan is tailored to you.  - This means there’s an expert on hand in the event you experience a setback and the plan needs to flex or adapt to a new situation.  - There’s someone to be accountable to (some of us aren’t very good at being accountable to ourselves).    And if you are working with a professional:  - Trust the process - others may have a different plan to you, so don’t compare yourself to others.  - If you feel like you’re not ‘doing enough’ or progress has stalled, trust that your plan has been designed with you and your goals in mind and probably has a few contingencies if things don’t go to plan. You may not see the progress you’re making —or see how it’s helping you get to your end goal— but that doesn’t mean that you’re not 100% on track.  - It will be uncomfortable, especially at first. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon's Starlink has competition from Amazon They're using the rockets from founder Jeff Bezos' other company Blue Origin (along with others) to launch over 3,000 LEO (low earth orbit) satellites, aiming to bring internet to every corner of the earth. They'll be between 590 and 630 kilometres above earth. Amazon's project has successfully launched its first two prototype rockets a month ago, and this week announced they're fully operational and passed all their tests with flying colours. They were able to stream 4K video and do two-way video calls over the network. These satellites have a custom electric propulsion system designed and built in-house by Amazon. They say it's a way to safely maneuverer the satellites in space in an eco-friendly way. They expect to start service by the end of next year, and have half of their constellation operational by July 2026. There are 1000 people working on the project.   Windows is now an app for iPhones, iPads, Macs What a bizarre sentence that is. Microsoft wants you to use Windows on whatever device you have! The Windows app allows business users to connect to virtual PCs, running Windows in the cloud -- combining an array of services already in market (Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, and Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services). They have plans to offer the same service to consumers too.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Award-winning Guy Montgomery knows what it takes to be a successful and iconic kiwi comedian in a challenging, small, and competitive industry.   Starting out as a young teenager, trialing jokes and learning to work a room, Guy has grown into a fantastic multi-tasking stand-up comedian, podcaster, and improviser.   He’s making his way round the country with his brand new 2024 standup tour ‘50,000,000 Guy Fans Can’t Be Wrong.’   Montgomery told Jack Tame that the title is based on Elvis’ second greatest hits compilation ‘50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong.’   “I’ve always loved X number of anyone can’t be wrong.” He told Tame.  “I think it’s so misinformed, I like the brazen arrogance of it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year when we can no longer deny that Christmas will be happening in about 6 weeks! Get at least this fun job ticked off - making the Christmas cake. This recipe makes a neat little cake, perfect for smaller households or as a gift. Makes one small cake (15cmx15cm)   Ingredients: 650g mixed fruit – I used currants, sultanas, raisins, dried apricots 1 tbsp honey 1 grated apple ¼ cup brandy ¾ cup loosely packed brown sugar 1 scant tsp baking powder 1 ¼ cups of flour 150g butter, melted 3 small eggs, beaten Blanched almonds for top (optional)   Method:  1. In a large mixing bowl put the first 4 ingredients (fruit, honey, apple, brandy) and leave overnight. 2. Preheat the oven to 150 C. Prepare a 15x15cm tin with 2 layers of newspaper followed by another 2 layers of baking paper, sides and bottom. 3. Mix the brown sugar into the fruit mix and mix thoroughly. Add the flour and baking powder and give it another good mix. Now add the melted butter and finally the beaten eggs. Make sure all is mixed well - strong arms are needed! 4. Tip this all into your prepared tin and decorate with the almonds – any shape you like but if it’s a gift I'm inclined to shape them into a heart. 5. Place cake tin on a magazine in the middle rack of the oven and bake until a skewer comes out clean - about 1 ¾ - 2 hours. Leave to cool. 6. Wrap cake well in foil and store in a cool place in an airtight container until needed.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The winner of this year's Bird of the Century competition comes as no surprise.   Backed by an international campaign run by British-American comedian John Oliver, the pūteketeke swept the competition with a total of 290,374 votes, decimating its closest competition by over 270,000 votes.  With the intense international involvement weighting the competition, Kevin Milne is wondering whether the Bird of the Year should be geo-restricted for following years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love Christmas cake.  Not any Christmas cake. Not every Christmas cake. But my mum’s Christmas cake, for whatever reason, gives me so much joy.  It’s not that her cakes are crazy-fancy or anything. She uses store-bought mixed fruit. They’re not iced and there’s no surprising secret ingredient, but for whatever reason Mum has mastered the perfect Christmas fruit cake. They’re moist. They’re dense. They’re heavy. They’re a highlight of a Tame family Christmas.  Perhaps it all just comes down to practice. She used to make ten or twelve every year and give them as gifts. But the moment I get home every summer, Mum has a couple of cakes waiting on the bench, and I carve off big hunks to eat while standing in the kitchen. Sometimes Dad eats it with blue cheese.  But however well Christmas fruit cakes hit my taste buds, they also hit my stomach. Is it a PH thing? I dunno. Maybe the mixed fruit starts to ferment or sour in my gut? It doesn’t happen to anyone else. Not another soul. All I know is there is a direct correlation between my eating mum’s fruit cake and no one wanting to be within a twenty metre radius.  “Oh GOD! What IS that?! Is something dead?”  “Get the children! Ahh!”  “Burn our clothes! Burn our clothes!”  I don’t know exactly what happens, but somewhere deep inside me there is a chemical reaction of sorts. I’m the first to admit... it’s just awful. Putrid. The smell will curl your ears. The moment a bit of cake hits my stomach it’s like that scene from Titanic.  “Are there any survivors?”  Call it the Christmas Cake Curse.  My mum flogs herself with Christmas baking. Mince pies, shortbread, mars bar slice, Russian fudge. It’s too much! We can’t fit all the baking in the cupboards. We’ve had to establish a Tame family Christmas baking spillover zone. And yet for all the abundance, all of that choice, my favourite Christmas treat just happens to be the one that’ll end up peeling the paint off the walls.  Baking is an act of love. Baking, when you know how it affects your son, is an even greater act of love.  But the greatest act of love this summer will be my noble decision to take a piece of fruit cake and politely excuse myself, outside. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Franti’s new album with Spearhead was released last week.  ‘Big Big Love’ is a seventeen-song album to accompany you through the “highs and lows of life”, as Franti puts it.  In the post announcing its release Franti said the central theme of the album was “togetherness.”  “Togetherness is the central theme in all the songs on this record. How do we get that feeling of togetherness, that feeling of closeness, that we so often overlooked and took for granted, but now has become so important? Not only just in terms of how we interact with each other in our neighborhoods or our personal relationships, but on a worldwide scale. How do we bridge these gaps so that people can feel close to one another again?  There are forces in the world that use our division to achieve their greedy goals, their political aims, or just to divide people because they want to try to take advantage of it. I want to really use my music and my time in my life to bring closeness to people and help them feel like they’re not alone in this world.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happiness is what arguably motivates you to do just about anything,   Arthur Brooks is a Harvard University lecturer American author and public speaker, and he’s just about cracked the code when it comes to living a happy life.   He just about lives and breathes the subject, Arthur’s written in the Atlantic's ‘How to Build a Life’ column, hosted the podcast ‘How to Build a Happy Life’, and now he’s teaming up with Oprah Winfrey to co-write a book.   Arthur Brooks joined Jack Tame to chat about his work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has opinions on culture.  The Hoity-toity Hall of Fame is what Kevin calls the things people are expected to like but simply couldn’t care less about, such as the art of “influential” Kiwi artist Francis Hodgkins.  He’s also wondering if he’s the only one feeling awkward because he's never read a Katherine Mansfield book.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Marvels    Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with two other superheroes to form the Marvels.     Nyad   Sixty-four-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robbie Williams A four-part documentary series featuring 30 years of never-before-seen archive footage about the British singer’s controversial rise to fame (Netflix).   The Buccaneers This new historical drama set in the 1870s follows a group of wealthy American women as they travel to London for the debutante season (Apple TV+).   007: Road to a Million Succession’s Brian Cox stars as The Controller in this fun British adventure series that sees contestants compete in a series of Bond-inspired challenges around the world to win one million pounds (Prime Video).   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Frozen River - Ariel Lawhon  Maine, 1789: The Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, every murder and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred four months earlier. Now, one of the men accused of that heinous attack has been found dead in the ice.  While Martha is certain she knows what happened the night of the assault, she suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha’s diary lands at the centre of the scandal and threatens to tear both her family and her community apart.    Resurrection Walk - Michael Connelly  Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller enlists the help of his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her ex-husband.  Defence attorney Mickey Haller is back, taking the long shot cases, where the chances of winning are one in a million. After getting a wrongfully convicted man out of prison, he is inundated with pleas from incarcerated people claiming innocence. He enlists his half-brother, retired LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, to weed through the letters, knowing most claims will be false.   Bosch pulls a needle from the haystack: a woman in prison for killing her ex-husband, a sheriff’s deputy, but who still maintains her innocence. Bosch reviews the case and sees elements that don’t add up, and a sheriff’s department intent on bringing quick justice in the killing of one of its own.   Now Haller has an uphill battle in court, a David fighting Goliaths to vindicate his client. The path for both lawyer and investigator is fraught with danger from those who don’t want the case reopened and will stop at nothing to keep the Haller-Bosch dream team from finding the truth.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Over 150 years old, it was an act of incredibly bold foresight to preserve Yellowstone all those years ago, when Americans were so busy “conquering” the West. A fusion of land and water, forest and field, wildlife and geothermal wizardry, it’s a large unspoiled canvas of the American West. Anchored by a huge supervolcano, that last erupted 600,000 years ago, there is no place quite like Yellowstone National Park. Like a colossal kettle on the boil, this wild land of fire and brimstone froths, bubbles and belches at every turn. The supervolcano feeds the world’s largest group of hydrothermal features, from hot springs and geysers to fumaroles and mudpots. It’s like Rotorua writ large." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer's almost upon us which means it's time to break out the sunblock. There are a lot of options out there, but what one is best for you and the environment? Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall joined Jack Tame to give a few suggestions and tips on how to pick the best choice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s breeding time for birds!  As a bird nut (and a registered bird bander) I have a nest box for little owls. Further down in the Quarry, my Bird mate Peter and I are looking after other owl boxes and monitoring their success. So far one female on four white eggs.  Photo / Supplied These introduced little owls came from Europe and are well established in the South Island, especially around Christchurch. I love hearing them call at night – it’s so special!  And although you may not realise it: there are likely some other bird species making nests and breeding in dense bushes in your garden  I have noticed so far: 2 blackbird nests, 2 Song thrushes. I’m still looking for a Dunnock nest (hedge sparrows)... Tricky!! And, at neighbours, a swallow nest as well.  Nests under cover. Made from clay, filled with feathers… and underneath an enormous heap of poo – yes it can be seriously messy.  When the chicks are big enough, I’ll band them with some “bling”.  I also suspect a sneaky bellbird (which has become very, very quiet all of a sudden) but haven’t found its nest yet.  Silvereyes will always be at my place (I feed them in winter, so they are used to my garden; the juveniles are real little punks).  Silvereye nestlings. Photo / Supplied Code of Conduct around nests:  If you do stumble across a nest in some shrubbery (while pruning, for instance), have a quick look to see if there are any eggs or young birds in it (It could be an old nest from last year!); if so: back out and conceal the nest as much as possible. Put branches back in their position asap; that gives them privacy from preying eyes of predators (including harriers!).  Most bird species can cope with a bit of disturbance – depends on how far in the brood-cycle they are. Usually when they have young in the nest, parents will keep on feeding them; eggs are a “rather new” investment for the parent birds, and they may sometimes pull the plug on that nest.  Blackbirds (and thrushes) are often quite touchy: I noticed that as soon as the nest has been “discovered” and their privacy is breached, the young will fledge far too early and before they can actually fly away from cats and dogs!  This puts them in a much more vulnerable situation.  During the breeding season (which can go on till late summer for some species! Multiple broods for parent birds if the season is “good”) the young birds sometimes do silly things, like fly clumsily into your windows.  If you find those stunned mullets on the ground, carefully pick them up and put them in a dark card-board box for an hour or so. Out of the light and no interaction; No Feeding; nor Watering, no Handling. Keep them quiet for a while and you’ll be surprised how they recover from such a knock!  If your patient is a rare/endangered bird, please contact a local vet and organise some professional hospital care!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What issues can arise on a long haul flight?  The main complaints tend to be irritating more than anything  Becoming dehydrated – can lead to headaches, dry mouth, dry nose  Not being able to sleep, ankle swelling  Cramped conditions, especially in economy class seats!  More serious: deep vein thrombosis – leg clots due to not moving around.     How do we improve comfort?  Really important to stay hydrated - plenty of fluid.  Wear loose fitting clothes – you want to be comfortable.  Carry lip balm or nasal spray to moisten nasal passages if dry - for comfort.  Don’t drink alcohol or overdrink alcohol – it can worsen dehydration, headache and interfere with sleep.     Are there issues with food and taste?  At 30,000 feet your taste buds don’t’ work as well and food tastes ‘bland’.  Also, your nose can dry out which affects taste.  Airlines tend to produce stronger flavoured food such as curries to compensate.  Up to 30% more sugar and salt in food to add to taste.  Don’t overeat as we tend to bloat as gas forms in abdomen, which can cause abdominal discomfort.      And sleep?  Carry eye shade and ear plugs, and a neck pillow is a really good idea.  Best thing to do is work out the sleep time at your destination before you go and try and sleep at that time on the flight.  Some use melatonin, a ‘sleep hormone’     How do we avoid blood clots?  Two key things – stay hydrated and get up and move around every 3-4 hours to get blood circulating.  Failing that wiggle toes and bend knees in your seat frequently.  Some choose to wear compression of flight stockings which encourage blood to circulate.  They also reduce ankle swelling!  If you have persistent leg swelling, chest pain or SOB in weeks after a long-haul flight – see your GP!    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could your mobile phone be a thing of the past? A new company has launched a product to let you go hands-free.  It's the Humane AI Pin, a voice and gesture activated wearable that can do many of the things your phone can do: send messages, read emails, make calls, get directions, play music, take photos and video, translate to other languages, and more.   It's not always on, it's not listening for a wake word - it's got trust and privacy built in from the beginning. It has a light on the device so others know when it's activated. But it's powered by AI and even in its demo, it got facts wrong. If you can't see a screen or make direct inputs then you need to trust that you're getting and sending what you think you are.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To celebrate the abundance of asparagus available right now, make this simple tasty tart.  Serve 4-6    Ingredients:  2 bunches (or about 20) medium thickness asparagus spears  1 sheet puff pastry  1 egg, beaten with a fork  150g sour cream or crème fraiche  100g blue cheese, crumbled  2 tablespoons caramelised onion chutney (store-bought is fine)  ½ teaspoon sea salt + decent grind black pepper  Drizzle of olive oil    Method:  Heat oven to 200 C. Trim or snap the tough ends off the asparagus spears. Line a tray with the pastry, twisting and pinching up the edges to form a rim if you need to. Brush the edges with the beaten egg. Whisk together the remaining egg with sour cream (or crème fraiche), ¾ of the blue cheese and onion. Spread this over the pastry. Lay the trimmed asparagus on top, season with salt and pepper and drizzle over olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden and cooked on the base too. To serve, grind over some more pepper and crumble over remaining blue cheese.   Make it yours:  You could add chopped, crispy bacon or flakes of smoked salmon to this tart if you fancy it!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift has re-recorded her 2014 album "1989".The superstar has been re-recording her back catalogue so she can own the rights to her own music rather than her record label. Swift owning her own version would allow her to control what happens to her music and how it is streamed and bought.Music reviewer Estelle Clifford talked to Jack Tame about the album and the story behind the new album.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secret – Lee Child and Andrew Child   Jack Reacher has returned in yet another novel from Lee and Andrew Child.  ‘The Secret’ is the 28th book in the series and was released only a few months before the second season of the TV show is set to be released in December.  The Woman in Me - Britney Spears  Britney Spears’ hotly anticipated memoir The Woman In Me has finally hit shelves after already topping bestseller charts. It’s Spears’ first official memoir, though she has already written two books with her mother Lynne. She reportedly started writing it shortly after her 13-year conservatorship ended.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flanked by jagged mountain spires scratching at the sky and slashed by the crystal waters of the mighty Snake River, the valley of Jackson Hole sets the stage for some wild Wyoming adventures, where the spirit of the West sings out loud. Early fur trappers used the term “hole” to describe a valley entirely encased by mountains, which perfectly sums up Jackson Hole’s terrain. Thickly forested mountains are carpeted in fir, spruce and Lodgepole pine trees. Lodgepole trunks served as trusty tipi poles for Native Americans. Then there’s the lush alpine meadows and the silvery-gray-green sagebrush flats - all guarded by the Tetons’ towering peaks, that are part of the Rockies. Crossing over into Wyoming from Idaho, the vertigo-inducing Teton Pass, at an elevation of 2500 metres, served up my first eagle’s perspective of Jackson Hole. It’s a mesmerising perspective and searing reminder that this is a land of rugged adventurers and stoic settlers. This sprawling valley not only plays host to hordes of wildlife, but the Grand Teton National Park and the ebullient town of Jackson. As the warm autumn sunshine bathed the bucolic landscape in a soft glow, I was staggered how many road-trippers were out in force, well past the summer peak. But nature’s towering glories, whether you’re magnetised by the ski slopes, the hiking trails or serendipitous wildlife encounters, underpins Jackson Hole’s year-round pulling power. Travel correspondent Mike Yardley talked to Jack Tame on the best things to do in Jackson Hole in Wyoming.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is ADHD?  Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder  Symptoms include difficulty focusing attention -often cant’s keep focused on something but sometimes get “hyperfocused” on something and can’t move off it when need to; acting suddenly without thinking (impulsivity); being really disorganised; fidgety, restless, can’t sit still for long; changing jobs a lot, messy and disorganised, misses deadlines, often seen as unreliable; can affect friendships    Why is it an issue in the workplace  Historically ADHD was thought to only exist in children and that they would grow out of it  Now know that about 2/3 of people with ADHD as a child continue to have symptoms and signs as an adult  Lots of people missed being diagnosed in childhood but now realising that they might have it – so lots more people getting diagnosed as adults  Also increasing number of women being diagnosed in adulthood who were likely overlooked during childhood    How to support at work  Recognising it’s ADHD is a good start rather than assuming someone is “lazy” or it’s something to do with their personality  Adjusting work environment to reduce distractions  Figuring out with the person how best they work – sometimes having tight deadlines is really useful as it creates positive pressure to get a job done. A number of journalists have commented to me that they think they have ADHD and news media is a great place for them to work as the content is constantly changing and the deadlines are tight and quick  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Nautilus 2023 Albarino, Marlborough $30  Why I chose it:  - Exciting new (to New Zealand) grape variety with a great future in this part of the world  - Nautilus makes my favourite Albarino  - Great summer wine – crisp, refreshing with mouth-watering acidity  What does it taste like?  - A delicious albarino with classic citrus/mandarin/orange flavours. A kiss of sweetness is perfectly balanced by fruity, mouthwatering acidity that leaves a refreshing finish. Memorable wine that makes perfect summer drinking.  Why it’s a bargain:  - High quality wine at a reasonable price  Where can you buy it?  - Wine Freedom, Otago $24.99; Whiskeyonline, Auckland $25.99; Society Liquor, Wellington $25.99  - More likely to find it at fine wine stores rather than on supermarket shelves  Food match?  - Most seafood, my favourite is scampi seared on the BBQ  Will it keep?  - Drink it up    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring: everything wakes up. All sorts of creepy crawlies are gunning for your crops and sometimes we need to be ahead of the game.  Apples have stopped flowering and the smallest beginnings of the fruit are on your trees.  Those tiny fruitlets are known in English as “Codlings”  Hence the name for the moth who’s caterpillars love to invade these codlings: Codling moth  Parents (moths) are now laying eggs on these codlings, so let’s avoid the caterpillars tunnelling into your tiny, developing fruit!  MADEX is the spray to use from now on; every two weeks or so until February.  Madex is a codling moth granulosis virus that will affect the small brutes before they enter the apple. Only works on Codling moth species (Cydia pomonella); and the virus will not harm us either.  Noticed the black sooty mould on your lemon tree leaves? That stuff grows on all sorts of citrus!  That’s a fungus that grows on the excrement of sap-sucking insects, especially scale insects, mealybugs and citrus whitefly.  Those tiny whitefly have really become the bigger pest on citrus, especially north of Christchurch.  Trying to remove the black, sooty mould is literally useless, as the sap-suckers will continue to drop their sweet poos;  So: we need to control those whitefly etc., right now by giving them a weekly dose of Neem Oil. Aim for the top-side of the leaves and the bottom-side of the leaves. The regularity of spraying halts the egg-laying part of the life cycle, simply by killing the susceptible juveniles before they become adults.  Lemon tree borer is another troublesome critter on citrus; this one grows its babies (rather large beetle grubs) in tunnels in branches, twigs and trunks of citrus trees.  The female beetle lays her eggs on freshly-made pruning cuts, so the very first thing we must not do is prune our citrus in spring and summer.  To remove the grub from its tunnel is tricky, but can be achieved with a “hypodermic needle” filled with insecticide. You can literally squirt that stuff into the grub’s tunnel by access in the “toilet hole” from the outside.  That way you won’t cause any extra damage to the branch but still halt the destruction inside the branch  Clever, eh?    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.