/on-air/the-sunday-session/rss 九一星空无限 THE SUNDAY SESSION WITH FRANCESCA RUDKIN9am-Noon Sink into your Sunday with the best session around. This is the show that delivers a little bit of everyth Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:05:52 Z en /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/yvonne-strahovski-australian-actress-on-what-viewers-can-expect-from-the-final-season-of-the-handmaids-tale/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/yvonne-strahovski-australian-actress-on-what-viewers-can-expect-from-the-final-season-of-the-handmaids-tale/ The final season of The Handmaid's Tale started airing on Neon last week, and actress Yvonne Strahovski is looking back on her creative journey after six seasons.  Strahovski co-stars as Serena Joy Waterford - an architect and prisoner of the show's dystopian regime.  She says it's been an 'extraordinary' journey taking on the role of Serena. "This has been such an amazing opportunity for me to be so challenged and grow and work on my craft, my artistry - everything I want to do as a performer."  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 01:33:45 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/peter-greste-and-richard-roxburgh-jailed-journalist-and-actor-join-forces-for-the-correspondent/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/peter-greste-and-richard-roxburgh-jailed-journalist-and-actor-join-forces-for-the-correspondent/ In December 2013, Australian journalist Peter Greste was arrested in Egypt and charged with aiding a terrorist organisation. What followed was 400 days of incarceration, solitary confinement, interrogations, a politically motivated trial and complete uncertainty in a corrupt legal system. Peter’s story and fight for freedom has been turned into a film, The Correspondent, staring veteran Australian actor Richard Roxburgh. "It felt like it was an even more urgent story to tell - the simple fact is, journalists used to be protected by the Geneva Convention and they're now regarded as fair game in theatres of war, and also in the White House now." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 01:06:29 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-the-death-of-us-and-a-spy-at-war/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-the-death-of-us-and-a-spy-at-war/ The Death of Us by Abigail Dean. Isabel is a lead protagonist in this story, who throughout much of the book directly addresses the intruder who perpetrated a home invasion on her and her husband Edward when they were 30 years old and happily married, but those days are long gone. More than 20 years later, they reunite to attend the trial of a man finally charged with the crime, trying to reconcile their lives before, and after. This is gripping psychological drama. A Spy at War by Charles Beaumont. Simon Sharman is a former British spy gone rogue to track down the Chechen assassin who murdered his friend and business partner Evie. He’s a man alone, but his friends and former colleagues in Whitehall are never far away and it turns out there’s much more going on than his solitary pursuit of the bad guy – British intelligence has its fingers in several pies and it takes Simon a while to figure out his place in their schemes. Set amidst the war in Ukraine and the kind of news headlines we’ve seen for three years now, this story takes you right up close to some of the action and its commentary on US and European politics could be said to be prescient. It’s terrific espionage and if, like me, you love David McCloskey and I.S.Berry, this one’s for you.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:51:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-top-things-to-do-in-palm-springs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-top-things-to-do-in-palm-springs/ People will be flocking to Palm Springs over the next couple of weeks for Coachella 2025, but BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton promises there's more to see than music festivals. Between the iconic Joshua trees, the resorts, the mountain tours and the dining options, Megan's revealed how you can make the most of Palm Springs. Read more about Megan's top picks here. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:44:16 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-does-the-trump-tariff-turmoil-mean-for-new-zealand/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-does-the-trump-tariff-turmoil-mean-for-new-zealand/ This week on the Sunday Panel, 九一星空无限talk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and TV producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   Labour MP Kieran McAnulty has introduced a bill set to change rules around alcohol sales on ANZAC Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas. The bill recently passed its first reading. Do we need to change the current laws? How will these changes help the hospitality industry? Trump's tariff turmoil continues - with the administration exempting smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices from the extra costs involved. What do we make of this? Are we still concerned about how this will impact New Zealand? Will we watch the Phillip Polkinghorne documentary? Do we think it will be done well? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:36:10 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-why-we-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-why-we-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night/ Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble going back to sleep again? Research shows this may happen for a number of reasons, including lighter sleep cycles, stress, underlying health conditions, or environmental factors.  Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains how we can best combat restlessness - and better prepare for a good night's sleep.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:13:07 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-13-april-2025/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-13-april-2025/ On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 13th of April 20205, jailed journalist Peter Greste and Aussie acting veteran Richard Roxburgh joined Francesca to discuss their new movie The Correspondent. Francesca has a new idea for a Netflix project to get people interested in the world of sailing. As the sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale starts airing on Neon, actress Yvonne Strahovski opened up about her creative journey and the experience of portraying Serena Joy Waterford. Plus, the Panel weighs in on the latest with the Trump tariff turmoil. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:12:41 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-research-revealing-the-most-bitter-tasting-substance-ever/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-new-research-revealing-the-most-bitter-tasting-substance-ever/ Bitter flavours act as nature’s warning signs, evolved over hundreds of millions of years to steer us away from potentially toxic compounds. New research published this week in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has just identified the most potent natural bitter compounds known to date and with it insights into why bitterness is so important.  The star of this discovery is the mushroom Amaropostia stiptica, a non-toxic fungus renowned among foragers for its relentless, mouth-puckering bitterness.  By guiding their isolation efforts with taste assays, the researchers extracted and characterised three previously unknown triterpene glucosides from this mushroom.  Among the trio of new compounds, oligoporin D stole the show. In cell-based assays, oligoporin D activated the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R46 at astonishingly low concentrations of around 63 millionths of a gram per litre (roughly one gram dissolved in the volume of a million bathtubs)  Why does this matter?  Most entries in BitterDB hail from plants or human-made chemicals. Adding fungal compounds like oligoporin D enriches our chemical map of bitterness, revealing new scaffolds that challenge existing predictive models of taste receptor activation  Bitter taste receptors predate flowering plants by some 300 million years. By discovering a potent fungal bitterant, researchers gain clues about ancient ecological interactions, did early vertebrates encounter fungi that drove the diversification of their taste receptors?  Bitter receptors aren’t confined to our mouths - they’re sprinkled throughout the gut, lungs, heart, and even on blood cells. Understanding how natural bitterants like oligoporin D engage these extraoral receptors could unlock new avenues in digestion, immunity, and respiratory health  The discovery of oligoporin D opens doors to practical innovations including the development of a natural, ultra-bitter coating for household chemicals or pharmaceuticals to prevent accidental ingestion.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:47 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-persimmon-tart-recipe/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-persimmon-tart-recipe/ Persimmon Tart  Cook time: 25 minutes  Prep time: 30 minutes  Serves - 6  4 tbsp sugar   2 tbsp water   50g butter   4 persimmons, cut each into 8 wedges   2 sheets puff pastry   Raspberry sorbet to serve  Preheat oven to 190*C.   Place sugar and water in a small heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Cook until sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil, stirring continuously. Add butter, melt and allow to bubble until the mix turns a light caramel colour, turn off.  Remove leaves from persimmons and cut each one into 8 wedges. Fan out persimmon pieces over the caramel, leaving a 2-3cm gap around the edge. Stick the two puff pastry sheets together and cut into a circle the diameter of the top of the pan. Lay the pastry over the persimmon and press edges down so they touch the bottom of the pan, forming a seal.   Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes.   Remove from oven and place a large serving plate over the frying pan and carefully flip the tarte out onto the plate.   Serve hot with a delicious raspberry sorbet (or alternatively with ice cream of your choice).  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:53:28 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-polk-the-trial-of-philip-polkinghorne-airing-on-three/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-polk-the-trial-of-philip-polkinghorne-airing-on-three/ One of the country's biggest trials will be looked at from a new angle in a new series airing on Three. The murder trial of Phillip Polkinghorne will be explored over three nights.  The Auckland eye doctor was ultimately found not guilty of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna after an eight week trial.  The documentary series will show interviews with Polkinghorne himself, his girlfriend Madison Ashton, Crown Solicitor Alysha McClintock and journalists who covered the case.  Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals what to expect from this new project. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:46:24 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-annette-lasham-uoa-cancer-researcher-on-the-relief-efforts-designed-to-raise-money-for-breast-cancer-research/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-annette-lasham-uoa-cancer-researcher-on-the-relief-efforts-designed-to-raise-money-for-breast-cancer-research/ Each year in New Zealand, about 3600 people are diagnosed with breast cancer. Currently, there is no cure for the disease that affects one in nine women across their lifetime and, on average, 25 Kiwi men per year. As part of their latest fundraising effort, Breast Cancer Cure has launched the Tees for a Cure campaign - recruiting 17 popular Kiwi designers to utilise their skills for the cause. UoA cancer researcher Dr Annette Lasham says everybody involved is so committed to making a difference. "The designers are there - everybody is so committed to giving up their time and trying to make a difference for breast cancer." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:30:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claire-trevett-nz-herald-political-editor-on-foreign-minister-peters-chastising-the-prime-minister-over-tariffs-response/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claire-trevett-nz-herald-political-editor-on-foreign-minister-peters-chastising-the-prime-minister-over-tariffs-response/ Foreign Minister Winston Peters sent a blunt message to the Prime Minister as Donald Trump's tariffs continue to spark uncertainty around the world. Peters indicated Chris Luxon was premature in joining global talks calling for free trade, in opposition to the tariff rollout. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Peters expecting Luxon to follow his lead was unusual - but a courtesy call was warranted. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:10:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-matthew-reid-health-new-zealand-expert-urges-people-to-stay-up-to-date-with-measles-jabs-before-heading-overseas/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-matthew-reid-health-new-zealand-expert-urges-people-to-stay-up-to-date-with-measles-jabs-before-heading-overseas/ New Zealanders are being urged to make sure they're up to date with their measles jabs. As school holidays get underway, travellers are being reminded of outbreaks in Australia, the US, Canada, the UK and Vietnam. There are no cases in New Zealand currently. Health NZ’s acting national public health service clinical director protection, Dr Matthew Reid, says there's a risk of measles spreading quickly through New Zealand if Kiwis bring it back home. "Because our vaccination coverage is not as good as it should be, measles could then spread quite easily." LISTEN ABOVE  Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:53:06 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-ive-got-an-idea-for-the-next-netflix-hit/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-ive-got-an-idea-for-the-next-netflix-hit/ Have I got an idea for Netflix - although I’m unlikely the first to have it.   The shock announcement late this week that Peter Burling was leaving Team New Zealand made me wish Netflix would take us inside the world of match racing and the America’s Cup.   It’s got everything that’s made F1 such a TV hit - big money, big personalities, big egos, big competition - with a solid dose of life-threatening risk thrown in.   Who wouldn’t watch it? You would, right?   I don’t really give a flying hoot whether the America’s Cup comes back to New Zealand. I don’t think a lot of Kiwis do, even if they have cherished memories of past Cups. I think we all now understand the nature of this sport. It’s driven by a wealthy few, and paid for by aspirational brands. It will do whatever it needs to thrive as an event.   It doesn’t stop us getting behind the sailors and the incredible design teams when racing begins. But we don’t feel attached in the same way we once were.  But back to my point - it would make for great TV. There’s always some kind of potential ‘blowup’ lurking near the running of the America’s Cup and Team New Zealand -  location negotiations, rivalries and disputes, and fascinating characters all over it.   In January, skipper Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS chef Jim Ratcliffe suddenly split - and in the last couple of days, INEOS Britannia announced it was abandoning its challenge for the next America's Cup after failing to reach a settlement with Ainslie's team Athena Racing.   Can’t you just see Jimmy Spithill being the resident expert talking us through it all? What good fun!   The parting of Peter Burling and Team New Zealand is probably as simple as it sounds. This is what Team New Zealand Chief Executive Grant Dalton told Ryan Bridge on Drive on Friday when he asked what happened….  AUDIO: We just ran out of time basically….. we couldn’t get going… we’re in new territory trying to win it for the fourth time…  We got to get going.”   Who knows if Burling was aware of the time constraints on him to make a decision. Dalton says money and time were issues. Burling is apparently surprised it has come to this. But they both claim to be parting on good terms, and I believe it.    Burling stepped up when he was 26 with a bunch of cyclists and his trusty sidekick Blair Tuke to win the America’s Cup in Bermuda. He then went on to defend it twice more. It’s an incredible record for such a young athlete, and it’s no surprise that in-between the four-year America’s Cup cycle he’s gone on to lead the Black Foils Sail GP team and set up an environmental charity. I wish him well.   But once again, isn’t it fascinating to watch a team do whatever they have to do to win? If you hate participation certificates, you’ll love the cut throat nature of the America’s Cup. Just like we do with F1. Except when it comes to Liam Lawson of course.   LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:36:15 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rhys-jones-chair-of-the-rsa-on-the-recent-vote-set-to-impact-the-future-of-the-organisation/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rhys-jones-chair-of-the-rsa-on-the-recent-vote-set-to-impact-the-future-of-the-organisation/ 182 RSA clubs recently voted to decide the future of the 108-year-old organisation. A new constitution has been approved for the RSA - aimed at modernising and centralising power. Dozens of clubs have since threatened to leave if the constitution is passed, with the worry that the change would undermine the fundamental grassroots foundations. RSA chair Rhys Jones says this vote has sparked plenty of division within the organisation. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 12 Apr 2025 22:23:25 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-squibb-author-and-social-media-sensation-on-new-book-what-s-your-dream-find-your-passion-love-your-work-build-a-richer-life/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-squibb-author-and-social-media-sensation-on-new-book-what-s-your-dream-find-your-passion-love-your-work-build-a-richer-life/ Simon Squibb is not your average entrepreneur.  After tragedy saw him leave home at the age 15, Simon went into survival mode - he started a gardening business with no actual experience or knowledge of the industry.  19 businesses later, Simon is a multimillionaire.  He's since taken to social media to ask people about their dreams via TikTok and he's founded the ‘Elevator of Dreams’ concept alongside Richard Branson. He's used his insight to craft a new book - What’s Your Dream? Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life. "I was forced to be an entrepreneur - it wasn't really my path at that moment in my life, I'd never thought about becoming an entrepreneur, no one had ever taught me at school what an entrepreneur was or how to create something in your mind and make it real. I was just like everybody else...but this entrepreneur muscle woke up in my brain." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:29:18 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/alisa-xayalith-former-lead-singer-of-the-naked-and-famous-on-her-latest-solo-project/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/alisa-xayalith-former-lead-singer-of-the-naked-and-famous-on-her-latest-solo-project/ Alisa Xayalith, the former lead vocalist, guitarist, and keyboard player for The Naked and Famous has released her latest solo project. After the band went on hiatus, Xayalith struck out on her own - and her debut album 'Slow Crush' was released last week. She says it's a 'massive milestone' to finally put out her new album - after teasing it with a single a couple of years ago. "So many of these songs sit at the intersection of my girlhood going into womanhood, and it's really cool to kind of commemorate memories and experiences in my life that have happened while also growing into this artist that I am." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:13:40 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-sea-change-and-no-words-for-this/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-sea-change-and-no-words-for-this/ Sea Change by Jenny Pattrick. Jenny is a longstanding writer of great New Zealand fiction, perhaps best known for The Denniston Rose some years ago. Her new one is lovely. Set in a small village slightly north of Wellington, which is completely cut off after a massive magnitude 8 earthquake in the South Island’s Alpine Fault and a subsequent tsunami, a number of the inhabitants decide to ignore a relocation mandate and manage their own survival. Their plans come under threat when a mercenary property developer sees the opportunity to buy up many of the abandoned houses and build himself a mini empire. Full of characters you can really warm to, and an all too credible premise.  No Words for This by Ali Mau. Ali has been a journalist and broadcaster on the NZ scene for many years, and recently was a leader of the local #metoo campaign during which time she met many brave women – and ultimately came to realise that if they could share their stories so could she. She’s  had a terrific career with many rewarding jobs and raised a family, but her world came crashing down one night when her sister called and opened the can of worms that was their childhood. This is a truly courageous book and beautifully written.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:52:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-things-to-do-in-los-cabos/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-things-to-do-in-los-cabos/ Megan's still been taking in the sights and sounds of Mexico - and her latest stop is in Los Cabos. There's a wide variety of resorts - with plenty of dining options - and Megan arrived in the height of whale-watching season, so there's not shortage of boat tours to see. Read more about Megan's latest adventures here.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:45:39 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-should-we-do-about-the-tariffs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-should-we-do-about-the-tariffs/ This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast and Trip Notes host Lorna Riley and Damien Venuto from One Plus One Communications joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump has finally unveiled his latest set of tariffs - where do we go from here? Are we in a position to make a strong stance? If a breakaway group formed, should we join in? There seems to be a growing number of people who are putting off trips to the US in light of everything's that's going on. Would we go as far as avoiding the US? Streaming prices are on the rise, with Netflix and Sky confirming they plan to hike fees up again. What are our top picks? How can we streamline our options? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:35:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-the-protein-craze/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-unpacks-the-protein-craze/ The health and wellness sphere has recently been shining a light on the importance of protein - but are we eating too much? Protein is important for health, fitness and energy, but one expert has issued a warning about consuming too much - or not enough. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains why it's important to find the right balance. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:23:52 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-06-april-2025/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-06-april-2025/ On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 6th April 2025, The Naked and Famous singer Alisa Xayalith has released her debut solo album, she tells Francesca about the healing behind her music. Not your typical entrepreneur, Simon Squibb is using his millions to make others dreams come true. Simon talks about the tragedy that started his road to success. Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub agrees Trump's tariffs are the biggest economic policy error in our lifetime and talks us through how it will impact us Kiwis. Francesca calls on the Government to recognise the huge health benefits of funding weight loss drug Wegovy. And Dr Michelle Dickinson talks us through the science of why scratching an itch feels so good. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:12:40 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-omas-apple-tart/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-omas-apple-tart/ Oma's apple tart  Cook time: 45 minutes  Prep time: 35 minutes  Serves: 6  300g self raising flour, sifted   100g brown sugar   1 tsp vanilla paste   Pinch of salt   150g butter   1 egg, beaten   Plain flour for rolling   Filling   1 cup raisins   3 tbsp brandy or sherry   4 tbsp warm water   4 apples  Juice of ½ lemon   3 tbsp brown sugar   ½ tsp cinnamon   1 tbsp icing sugar  Pre-heat an oven to 180 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, vanilla and salt. Cut butter into small cubes and add to flour mix. Rub together until the mix starts to form fine breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and continue to mix. Once dough is formed, remove from bowl and knead by hand to form a ball. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Take 2/3 of the pastry, wrap and return rest to fridge. Using plenty of flour, roll out to 1cm thickness on a clean work surface. Lay the pastry over your floured rolling pin, and then gently lay it into a greased 20cm tart tin. Press gently into the tin and use any leftovers to patch rips or holes. Return to the fridge while you prepare the filling.   Soak raisins in brandy and warm water for 10 minutes. Peel apples, then cut into thick slices around the core. Place into a large bowl with lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Drain raisins, add to apples and toss to coat. Drain the apple mix well before arranging apple mix inside. Roll out reserved pastry to at least same diameter as the tart and cut into 2-3 cm strips. Using a long palette knife, lift strips off work surface and lay over apple filling in a lattice pattern. Brush the pastry lattice with water and dust with icing sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:10:33 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-it-feels-good-to-scratch/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-it-feels-good-to-scratch/ We've all felt the instant relief of scratching an itch, but what if that fleeting moment of bliss was actually doing more than just satisfying an itch?   Scientists have just published new research in the journal Science which shows how scratching activates an immune response that can help protect the skin against harmful infections.  Scratching has long been thought to serve a practical function: removing irritants like insects, dust, or allergens. But some itches, such as those caused by mosquito bites, persist long after the culprit is gone. This suggests that scratching might serve another purpose beyond simply removing irritants.  Researchers induced an itchy allergic contact dermatitis on the ears of mice have of which were allowed to scratch the itch and half that couldn't due to wearing a tiny headcollar. The mice that were allowed to scratch developed increased swelling and a surge of immune cells called neutrophils at the site. However, the mice that were prevented from scratching, had significantly lower inflammation and fewer immune cells in the affected area.  The researchers found that scratching activates pain-sensing neurons, which then release a powerful neurochemical called substance P. This messenger molecule wakes up mast cells which are immune cells that play a key role in allergic reactions. Once activated, mast cells recruit neutrophils, amplifying inflammation at the scratched site.  Previously, scientists believed that mast cells were only triggered by allergens, however this study revealed an entirely new pathway: scratching itself can activate these immune responses. While this might sound like a bad thing, it turns out that it has a hidden benefit.  The team discovered that scratching isn’t just about relief, it also helps to keep dangerous bacteria at bay. In their experiment, they found that mice who were allowed to scratch had lower levels of the potentially harmful bacteria Staphylococcus aureus on their skin compared to those prevented from scratching. This suggests that scratching might have antibacterial effects, helping to remove harmful microbes before they cause infection.  Of course, not all scratching is beneficial. Chronic scratching, as seen in conditions like eczema or diabetes, can lead to skin damage and increase the risk of infection. In these cases, the same immune response that helps in the short term can become a problem if it’s constantly activated.  Interestingly, researchers identified two separate nerve pathways, one that signals an itch and another that controls the immune response from scratching. This discovery opens the door to potential treatments that could block the itch-scratch cycle while preserving the immune benefits of scratching.  Scientists hope that by targeting specific nerve pathways, they can develop new therapies that stop the discomfort without shutting down the body’s natural immune defences.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:53 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-latest-updates-around-fyre-festival-ii/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-latest-updates-around-fyre-festival-ii/ Eight years after the infamous, fraudulent Fyre Festival, organiser Billy McFarland has promised the event will return again. Following the end of his prison sentence, McFarland has expressed interest in organising a follow up - but he's had difficulty securing a location. Steve Newall from Flicks.co.nz says representatives from Mexico's Playa del Carmen have confirmed the event will not be hosted there - causing more confusion about the event's future. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:46:48 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jonny-errington-padel-new-zealand-spokesperson-on-the-sports-growing-popularity/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jonny-errington-padel-new-zealand-spokesperson-on-the-sports-growing-popularity/ Padel is the latest up and coming sports craze taking over the world - and more Kiwis are getting into it. Between celebrities like David Beckham, Serena Williams, and Elle McPherson showcasing their love of padel and sports fans embracing it worldwide, there's clear demand. Ahead of New Zealand's first-ever National Padel Tournament Series, Padel NZ's Jonny Errington explained what's making this sport so popular. "It can appeal to people of different ages, fitness or skill levels - so you can come from a racquetball sport such as tennis or squash or having no background at all in sports." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:29:24 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-beer-artist-on-his-new-ghosts-on-every-corner-exhibition/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-beer-artist-on-his-new-ghosts-on-every-corner-exhibition/ Ghosts of Christchurch’s past are currently on display in an exhibition of mini replica buildings.  Made by artist Ghostcat, the replicas are scale models of the city's former buildings, some of which were destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.   Ghostcat, aka Mike Beer says many iconic Christchurch buildings were destroyed in the earthquake - but plenty of memories still lingered. "I had this idea of how places can be gone - because we lost a lot of these places after the earthquake - but how the memory can still exist, like a ghost." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:06:46 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-the-amount-of-submissions-opposed-to-the-treaty-principles-bill/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jamie-ensor-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-the-amount-of-submissions-opposed-to-the-treaty-principles-bill/ There's plenty of lingering questions about the future of the Treaty Principles Bill. More than 300,000 written submissions were made to Parliament's Justice Committee - 90 percent of which opposed the bill.  NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor says David Seymour has refused to back down, and he's disputed the public is against the bill. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:47:35 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/shamubeel-eaqub-simplicity-chief-economist-predicts-other-countries-will-rally-together-as-a-result-of-the-trump-tariffs/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/shamubeel-eaqub-simplicity-chief-economist-predicts-other-countries-will-rally-together-as-a-result-of-the-trump-tariffs/ New Zealanders in Kiwisaver are urged to stay calm and stay the course as stock markets tumble. The global uncertainty comes off the back of US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on imported goods from the rest of the world. Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub says tariffs have caused significant damage to the global economy in the past - and the uncertainty has added to existing economic pressures. "We really gave it up around the world after the first world war, because we had the depression and we saw the extraordinary damage that it does to our own people and to the global economy. But we also don't know if these policies will actually last the distance - there's so much uncertainty." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:30:59 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wegovy-could-change-our-health-system-if-we-let-it/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-wegovy-could-change-our-health-system-if-we-let-it/ This week has been a brutal reminder of how politics and politicians like to work and be seen. How important it is to be the centre of attention, to be seen to be ‘doing’ - even if it’s just for appearances and there’s little evidence of a real productive outcome.   Whether it’s destabilizing global economic and trade order, championing legislation that’s dead on arrival, or feeling the need to speak for 25 hours straight, it has definitely been a fascinating week in politics.   But for all the attention seeking, polarisation and stoking of grievances, there’s also been some good work going on.   This week, David Seymour announced the weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved by Medsafe, with its producer hoping to make it available in New Zealand as soon as possible.   Wegovy is like the celebrity-championed Ozempic - it’s a semaglutide injection that acts to regulate appetite by increasing the feeling of fullness and reducing food cravings. Unlike Ozempic, which is approved in New Zealand to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is approved just as a weight loss drug.   I’ve very much sat on the fence when it comes to these drugs - like many people, including author Johann Hari, who has used Ozempic and written at length about it in his best-selling book Magic Pill.   He cites the many concerns around the use of this drug - including its wide availability in parts of the world, its impact on eating disorders, or those who don’t really need it. Then there’s the long list of side effects and the possibility you might need to stay on it for life to maintain your weight. And then there’s the simple boredom of living life without an appetite.  But if you use this drug selectively on people who have exhausted other means of losing weight and are facing serious health issues - it could be a massive game changer for our health system.   It was a cardiologist involved in heart transplants who convinced me of the importance of access to drugs like Wegovy. She told me it could be the one thing which stops a heart transplant being the only option left for her patients. I’ve had GPs say to me that this could have a huge impact on reducing type 2 diabetes, orthopaedic issues, cancer, and strokes.  They are not saying it should be available for every obese New Zealander - that would be 1 in 3 adults - but for patients with chronic complex conditions.   But here’s the thing - at this stage Pharmac is not funding the drug, and it is cost prohibitive. Wegovy is available in Australia, it costs NZ$497 per month for the recommended dose required to have the best weight management outcome.   So, serious work needs to go into assessing the benefit a drug such as this could have on reducing the burden on our health system. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then it needs to be funded by Pharmac as soon as possible.   LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:06:34 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rebecca-gibney-australian-actress-on-her-brand-new-show-happiness/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rebecca-gibney-australian-actress-on-her-brand-new-show-happiness/ Australian actress Rebecca Gibney has made a solid name for herself in a variety of popular TV shows - and her latest project is due to air on Three this week. Gibney is well known for her roles on The Flying Doctors, Packed to the Rafters and as Dr Jane Halifax, but she's hoping to branch out with her new show Happiness. The show is a musical sitcom series centred around a community theatre group. "It just felt like an amateur theatre production - and that's how we felt when we were filming it, it really felt like we became this little family." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:47:36 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/amanda-knox-author-and-activist-opens-up-about-her-new-book-free-my-search-for-meaning/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/amanda-knox-author-and-activist-opens-up-about-her-new-book-free-my-search-for-meaning/ In 2007, Amanda Knox was arrested for the brutal murder of her flatmate while studying in Italy - and it was a case that captured international attention. Amanda was found guilty, convicted of the murder and spent four years in an Italian prison - but she was later found to be wrongly convicted. 10 years after she was officially exonerated of the crime, she's told her story in her new memoir Free: My Search for Meaning. "I was immersed in a very restrictive environment...it was really important, for my sanity, to develop a sense of place and purpose." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:11:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-see-how-they-fall-and-careless-people/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-see-how-they-fall-and-careless-people/ See How They Fall by Rachel Paris. The uber-rich Turner family operate a luxury goods empire from Sydney, where their venal self interest knows no bounds. When their patriarch dies, the heirs call a meeting where things go terribly wrong and their cocooned world becomes the subject of a major police enquiry. Skye married into this money but as things unfold, finds she can’t believe what they’re capable of. This is truly a world you want no part of, but as the 1 percenters increasingly rule over us, it’s a staggering insight into how some of them might have got there.  Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams. Sarah is a New Zealander who spent seven years working at Facebook/Meta – a job she entered with high ideals, believing Facebook would be a force for good. What she found, though, was a company where revenue was everything, whose leaders got away with terrible behaviour and who were aware of the disastrous aspects of many of its policies but chose to do nothing. The absence of any kind of moral compass is staggering.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:55:14 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-favourite-spots-in-cancun/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-favourite-spots-in-cancun/ If Cancun is on your holiday radar, BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton's made a list of her top spots to check out. From the holiday hotspots to the sacred sites to the wide mix of dining options, Megan's revealed how to pack a big experience into a short timeframe.  Read more about Megan's experience with Cancun here. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:46:26 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-do-health-influencers-need-to-follow-regulations/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-do-health-influencers-need-to-follow-regulations/ This week on The Sunday Panel, The Front Page host Chelsea Daniels and Director at 818 Chris Henry joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined some supermarket competition options today - including bringing in a third player or breaking up the current system. What do we make of this? What could these mean for food prices? Kiwi fashion designer Sera Lilly has taken to social media after discovering her designs had been ripped off by online retailer Shein. Do we buy products off these types of websites? Is this harmful?  Kiwi fashion designer Sera Lilly has taken to social media after discovering her designs had been ripped off by online retailer Shein. Do we buy products off these types of websites? Is this harmful? Do health influencers need to follow regulations?  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:36:22 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-explains-why-eating-healthy-is-hard/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-explains-why-eating-healthy-is-hard/ In this day and age, everyone knows the value of eating healthy food - but it's still a complicated process in this day and age. Diets come with restrictions and many people report feeling trapped by an all-or-nothing mentality - which results in backsliding over busy times. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains how we can improve our diets and eat better without letting mistakes bring us down. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:21:19 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-30-march-2025/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/full-show-podcast-30-march-2025/ On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 30 March 2025, Amanda Knox joins Francesca to talk about being the girl accused of murder. Australian actress Rebecca Gibney discusses brand new show 'Happiness', which centres around a community theatre group. Ahead of Nicola Willis' announcement, competition consultant Ernie Newman considered what the supermarket sector needs to do to introduce more competition in the industry. Francesca wonders if the country's stadium wars will ever be over. And, Dr Michelle Dickinson discusses non-surgical treatments for lower back pain - what works and what doesn't? Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:12:44 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-making-your-own-passata/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-making-your-own-passata/ Making your own Passata  12 ripe tomatoes 2 sticks rosemary 10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed slightly  1/2 tsp flaky salt  1 fresh chili, stalk removed and cut in half  1 tbsp honey Start by turn on your oven to 220*c  Cut the tomatoes in half and lay onto a roasting tray, sprinkle over some flaky salt, smashed garlic, chili and rosemary.   Drizzle with a little oil and fire into the oven to roast.  Roast at for 30 minutes or until the tomatoes just start to collapse and colour.   Remove and allow to cool, using a potato masher or stick blender to puree the tomatoes into a sauce.  Now pass the sauce through a sieve to remove all the seeds and any skins.   Place the sauce back into a pot and bring up to a simmer, skimming of any fat raising to the surface.   Add honey and check the seasoning and its ready to bottle.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:06:00 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-non-surgical-treatments-that-work-for-lower-back-pain/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-non-surgical-treatments-that-work-for-lower-back-pain/ Lower back pain is something most of us have experienced at some point. Whether it's from sitting too long, lifting something heavy, or just the wear and tear of daily life, it's a common issue. But with so many treatments available, which ones actually work? A team of researchers set out to answer this question in a massive study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. Gathering data from hundreds of previous studies, the researchers analysed 301 randomized controlled trials, covering 56 different treatments for low back pain. These treatments ranged from exercise and spinal manipulations to medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antidepressants.  To make the study even more precise, they divided the results into two categories:  Acute low back pain (pain lasting less than 12 weeks). Chronic low back pain (pain lasting 12 weeks or more). Then, they compared each treatment to a placebo to see if it actually provided pain relief.  The good news is that some non-surgical treatments do work, though not as dramatically as you might hope.  For acute low back pain, NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) were the only treatment found to be effective, with a small but measurable pain reduction.  For chronic low back pain, five treatments stood out:  Exercise: Physical movement tailored to strengthen the back and improve flexibility. Spinal manipulative therapy: Techniques often used by chiropractors to adjust the spine. Taping: Using supportive tape to stabilize muscles and joints. Antidepressants: Certain medications that seem to reduce pain perception. TRPV1 agonists: A class of treatments that target pain receptors. Each of these treatments provided modest pain relief, meaning they worked better than a placebo, but not by much.  What Doesn't Work?   Some common treatments, surprisingly, did not provide significant pain relief.  For acute low back pain, these treatments were found not to be effective:  Exercise (which works better for chronic pain but not short-term pain). Glucocorticoid injections (steroid shots that are sometimes used for inflammation). Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (commonly recommended but found to be ineffective in this study).  For chronic low back pain, these treatments failed to provide significant benefits: Antibiotics (sometimes prescribed for infections that might cause pain, but no clear benefit). Anaesthetics (numbing agents that didn’t prove effective for long-term relief). Many treatments had inconclusive results, meaning there wasn’t enough strong evidence to say whether they truly help. These included:  Acupuncture Massage Heat therapy Laser therapy Electromagnetic therapy  This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t work, just that more high-quality research is needed.  So, if you have low back pain and are looking for non-surgical options, the research suggests:  If your pain is short-term, NSAIDs may help. If your pain is chronic, consider exercise, spinal manipulative therapy, taping, antidepressants, or TRPV1 agonists. Some treatments commonly recommended (like paracetamol and steroids) might not be as effective as previously thought. Many alternative treatments show promise but need better studies to confirm their benefits.  Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:52:17 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-apologising-for-not-supporting-hamdan-ballal/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-apologising-for-not-supporting-hamdan-ballal/ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued an apology after hundreds of its members criticised it for not supporting an Oscar winner who was recently detained by Israeli settlers.  Hamdan Ballal, one of the co-directors of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked and detained by the Israeli military. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says a number of high-profile members signed the rebuke, including Mark Ruffalo, Emma Thompson, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem. LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:42:50 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-weve-had-a-stadium-update-but-the-competition-continues/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-weve-had-a-stadium-update-but-the-competition-continues/ After two years, Auckland Council has finally picked a winner in the race to be the future New Zealand national stadium.   Although it doesn’t really feel like a win. Just a little more clarity. And maybe not even that.  The process was supposed to take three months - but on Thursday, Auckland Council finally picked between the final contenders - a new stadium on the waterfront or a renovated Eden Park - and confirmed their preference for Eden Park.   It’s at this point we should acknowledged the stamina of those involved in the projects which answered Auckland Council’s call in 2023 for expressions of interest for a new or (in Eden Park’s case) upgraded stadium. I applaud their passion for bold ideas, and ambition to create a more vibrant city that will attract people, performers and financial returns.   I just hope they’ve got a lot more stamina in them, because there’s still a fair distance to travel.  That’s because after all this time and debate - dating back to 2006 when the council contemplated a waterfront stadium over Eden Park for the 2011 Ruby World Cup - there isn’t actually any public money available to get any of this done.   The council doesn’t have any money budgeted for a ‘national stadium’; they’re passing the ball to central Government. But council support is important to the Eden Park Trust, as there are currently constraints on how it can be used, and there’s no point spending another cent on Eden Park if it can’t be used more as a multi-purpose venue.   The council would also quite like Eden Park to repay its $58 million loan from the 2011 Rugby World Cup by its due date - 2029.  Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking Breakfast on Friday he was confident about the conversation Eden Park could have with central Government. And why wouldn’t he be - the Prime Minister has made it clear he wants New Zealand to have a culture of saying ‘Yes!’   $110 million is what Eden Park needs for the first of stage of development on the Lower North Stand construction - allowing removable seating and a fuller cricket field. According to Sautner, Eden Park is not looking for new money, but for the government to be more efficient with existing money. I’m not sure what this means - are they targeting Sport and Recreation’s budget or the infrastructure budget?   Sautner’s confidence likely dimmed a little by the end of the day when Associate Finance Minister David Seymour politely told Ryan Bridge on 九一星空无限talk ZB that everyone is a bit short of money these days, even the Government, and it’s hard to imagine they would put $110 million into a stadium.   The Prime Minister added that putting money towards schools, hospitals and roading was more of a priority than helping fund an upgraded Eden Park.   They might need to crack into a PPP for funding sooner than they’re currently anticipating, for Stage 2.   So, while some celebrated that clarity had been provided - we’re sticking with the status quo - we haven’t really put the great New Zealand stadium debate to bed. Why? Because it didn’t really matter who the council picked, both options can continue regardless of the council’s decision. It comes down to who finds the money first. From what I’ve heard, the Te Tōangaroa consortium is continuing with its planning for the waterfront stadium. No one can argue schools, hospitals and roads aren’t more important, but hopefully someone with the stamina and vision can pull off one of these options sometime in the next decade.   I’m not going to hold my breath.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:21:58 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-malpas-kitea-health-co-founder-on-the-company-winning-spots-on-two-fda-fast-track-programmes/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/simon-malpas-kitea-health-co-founder-on-the-company-winning-spots-on-two-fda-fast-track-programmes/ Kiwi start-up Kitea Health has experienced a successful start to 2025.  In the last three months, Kitea has secured a place in the FDA fast track programme and they’ve completed a world first - implanting one of their sensors into the brain of a child.  The company has also revealed it's just shy of $7 million into a $10 million funding round. Kitea Health co-founder Simon Malpas says their product went through 10 years of research before getting started. "We're so pleased for Kitea to be in our clinical trials - and in Auckland City Hospital, treating Kiwis. It's just a fantastic position to be in."  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:03:46 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-ahead-of-the-governments-announcement-on-the-interislander-ferries/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-ahead-of-the-governments-announcement-on-the-interislander-ferries/ The Minister for Rail has confirmed a much-anticipated announcement on Interislander ferries is days away.   The Government pulled out of contracts for two new ships in late 2023, citing cost blowouts, and are yet to announce the alternative.  In December, it was promised Winston Peters would announce a solution by the end of March - which is Monday.  九一星空无限talk ZB political editor Jason Walls speculates as to whether or not there'll be an update tomorrow - and what we can expect.  LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 21:40:08 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/kate-duckworth-intellectual-property-law-expert-on-kiwi-designer-sera-lillys-designs-being-sold-on-shein-without-her-consent/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/kate-duckworth-intellectual-property-law-expert-on-kiwi-designer-sera-lillys-designs-being-sold-on-shein-without-her-consent/ Kiwi fashion designer Sera Lilly has taken to social media after discovering her designs - and original photos - on fast-fashion online giant Shein. In a video shared to Facebook, Lilly revealed screenshots of at least two of her ‘Friday Flamingo’ designs being sold on the site.  Shein has since removed the photos and items for sale.  Intellectual property law expert Kate Duckworth says the internet makes in harder to enforce legislation designed to protect people's original works. "It is still the wild west - how do you enforce your rights on a website that's based overseas?" LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 21:19:18 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/ernie-newman-grocery-policy-expert-ahead-of-nicola-willis-announcement-on-supermarket-reform/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/ernie-newman-grocery-policy-expert-ahead-of-nicola-willis-announcement-on-supermarket-reform/ One expert has voiced concerns ahead of the Finance Minister's announcement to improve competition in the grocery sector. Nicola Willis is set to detail the next steps in the Government's moves to create more competition in the sector - and she's voiced support for a third player joining the market. Grocery policy expert Ernie Newman explained why he's not feeling too confident this will lead to real change. "I feel that we're in a generation of politicians who are much more focused on announcements without guns - call me a cynic if you like, but I'd love to be proved wrong." LISTEN ABOVE Sat, 29 Mar 2025 20:53:42 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/great-chats-with-francesca-rudkin/episode-10-ben-elton-jojo-moyes-and-finn-andrews/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/great-chats-with-francesca-rudkin/episode-10-ben-elton-jojo-moyes-and-finn-andrews/ In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, famed UK comedian and writer joined Francesca Rudkin in studio to talk his New Zealand tour and offer some big opinions on the state of the world. Francesca also catches up with worldwide writing sensation Jojo Moyes who has just released her latest novel, We All Live Here.  And New Zealand's own and The Veils frontman Finn Andrews came in to celebrate the band's latest album and give a special performance.  Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from 九一星空无限talk ZB's The Sunday Session.  Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 26 Mar 2025 22:15:33 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jojo-moyes-author-on-her-new-book-we-all-live-here/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jojo-moyes-author-on-her-new-book-we-all-live-here/ Author Jojo Moyes had written seven novels before her 2012 novel Me Before You changed her life.  It sold over 15 million copies and was adapted for a major Hollywood film, with Jojo herself writing the screenplay. Since then, she's sold over 57 million books and has hit number one in 12 different countries.  She's recently released her 17th book - We All Live Here. "I did not grow up in a traditional family. Well, I did for a bit, but my family now has kind of grown and blended...and I just wanted to reflect those different shapes."  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:42:43 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-dream-state-and-unveiled/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/whitcoulls-recommends-dream-state-and-unveiled/ Dream State by Eric Puchner. This book starts with the lead up to a wedding, after which the bride makes a momentous decision which then ripples through the lives of her husband, his best friend and the future generations. It’s a story about the consequences of the decisions we make, and the subsequent joy, regret and pain which can linger for a lifetime and which help turn us into the people we become, for better or for worse. This is wonderful storytelling.  Unveiled by Theophila Pratt. The author was born into the Gloriavale community, with the given name Honey Faithful. She was one of nine siblings and knew from the age of 14 that she wanted more from life – which eventually included being able to change her name. At the age of 18 she refused to sign the Gloriavale Declaration of Commitment and was subsequently evicted. Life in that community has been well documented in other places, but Theophila’s story is a timely (and fascinating) reminder of the cult that still exists on the West Coast, and which now has an outpost in India of which her sister was a founding member. This is also the story of a courageous young woman finding her own voice.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:29:08 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-the-benefits-of-the-mpc-app-for-travel/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-on-the-benefits-of-the-mpc-app-for-travel/ The MPC app may not be a new invention, but it's the perfect hack to navigating US travel. The Mobile Passport Control app is free to download - and it can help travellers quickly navigate US Customs. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton explains the app further - read more about it here. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:16:58 Z /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-have-we-dropped-the-ball-on-vaping-legislation/ /on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-have-we-dropped-the-ball-on-vaping-legislation/ This week on The Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Have we dropped the ball on vaping legislation? New research reveals young people have used vapes as a gateway to smoking. Can we get this under control? Simeon Brown has put the hard word on medical officers of health to stop writing about issues like fast food and “leading advocacy campaigns” on public health issues. What do we make of this? Could he have handled this better? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:06:39 Z