RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Wallace Chapman and Emile Donovan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Most libraries lend out books. The Human Library lends out people. Founded in Denmark, the global initiative gives people the chance to sit down with a "human book" and have a candid conversation that challenges assumptions and stereotypes through lived experience. One of those human books is Sean Kemball from Whangarei. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, he spent years wondering why he experienced the world differently from those around him. Receiving a diagnosis helped him make sense of challenges that had followed him since childhood and gave him a new understanding of himself. Through conversations in the Human Library, he shares what it's like to live with ADHD and what changed once he finally had answers.

Each Tuesday we play You're the Judge - we share a problem with you, our audience, and get your help solving it. This week's deals with a challenging father n law when dining out in restaurants. 2101 to chime in or email us afternoons@rnz.co.nz.

Tim Batt joins Emile to share the latest from the world of tech. This week he's focusing on the latest announcement from Steam Machine. That's a small scale but high powered gaming PC that's designed for your living room but comes with a whopping price tag.

Our book critic Lisa Glass delves into the theme of sociopaths - picking three very different books about them. Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne. Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight by M. E. Thomas. The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout.

Our Kiwi Cover Song Contest is back for 2026! Yes, we want the best versions of a Kiwi song. So tell all your musician and singer friends. The winner the band or person who records the best cover song gets to perform it on Afternoons and you will also get to release the mastered version of it on whatever platform you like. This competition is open to anyone - professional or amateur. All the details are on our website rnz.co.nz/afternoons or text COVER to 2101 and you'll get the link. You have until the 2nd of August to get the song to us. The competition is now open and we will be playing you the entries as they come in. Here is Lorde's Green Light performed by Fiona McMartin from Fiona & the Glow.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Western Bay of Plenty in the North Island - where you'll find Waihi Beach, Katikati, and Te Puke and from where Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer joins Emile.

Space it seems, is no longer the final frontier, in fact it's rapidly becoming an adventure holiday option for billionaires. As we saw with Space X's IPO launch, people are very interested in the idea of setting up a base on Mars and even what asteroid mining could look like. But how does that actually all work? In a place where the laws here on earth don't apply - is space just finders' keepers, first to plant the flag gets the land? To help answer those questions and more. Aotearoa's premier space law expert Anna Marie Brennan chats to Emile.

A new short documentary, Stoat's Last Stand, tells the story of Waiheke Island's ambitious community-led effort to eradicate stoats from the island. Seven years into the project - the group is seeing incredible success with native species returning - and their mahi is attracting attention from conservation groups around New Zealand and the world. Aaron Cluka was inspired to tell their story after learning of the damage stoats do to wildlife while tramping the Routeburn track. Stoat's last stand will be screening at the Doc Edge Festival 2026 which opens tomorrow in Auckland and then moves to Wellington next month. Aaron Cluka joins Emile.

Following the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation last night, the UK is set to get its seventh Prime Minister in ten years. Seven different leaders in a decade reflects one of the country's most politically turbulent periods in modern history. As one BBC commentator said, if you go back 40 years it would be unthinkable to have such a high turnover of Prime Ministers in such a short timeframe. Currently it looks the next leader will be Andy Burnham, former Mayor of Greater Manchester, and front runner to claim the top job. Whoever becomes the next leader of the UK, they will have to move fast to stabilise the country. Marcus Ganley is a public law specialist with firm Franks Ogilvie but was previously a ministerial adviser to the Clark government and held senior roles in Australian federal politics. He joins Emile.

Ralph Jackman thought he'd seen plenty during a career that took him from the war in Bosnia to the world of elite sport. But nothing quite prepared him for his first day as a teacher at Melbourne's Parkville Youth Detention Centre, when a student threatened to kill him. Teaching the boys inside gave Jackman an education of his own. He came to see young offenders not as headlines or statistics, but as teenagers whose lives had been shaped by trauma, violence, neglect and disadvantage. His new book is a powerful account of the students he taught, the lessons they taught him, and his fight to ensure that even children behind bars have access to education, opportunity and hope. It's called Detention: A Rookie Teacher in Australia's Toughest Prison School. [picture id="4JMMZY3_ralph_jackman_jfif" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Let's talk about what's good to watch on the smaller screen now - actor Michelle Langstone is with Emile to share what she's been watching. Tip Toe - TVNZ+ Tea with Judi Dench - Neon [picture id="4JMS88I_tip_toe_webp" crop="16x10" layout="full"] 

It's time for our weekly Expert Feature, where we get an expert in their field to answer all your questions. Today we're talking about drug smuggling in New Zealand, and the people who police it. Despite our remote location, New Zealand remains a surprisingly attractive market for organised crime groups, with customs officers regularly intercepting everything from methamphetamine and cocaine to cash. Our expert is Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams, and if you'd like to ask him a question, send it through to 2101. [picture id="4JMN4LT_imgonline_com_ua_FrameBlurred_Xy8lbBtPZZT6YgKf_jpg_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

It's time to head across the Tasman to discuss some of the stories hitting the headlines with our correspondent Brad Foster [picture id="4JN17VV_AFP__20260614__2281485310__v1__HighRes__AustraliaVTurkiyeGroupDFifaWorldCup2026_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Joining Emile to share her thoughts on the game so far and what we can expect from the next half is Former Football Fern and current Head of Girls Academy at Auckland's Western Springs Football Club, Katie Rood.

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight. [picture id="4JO9WD2_Jesse_and_Wallace_Silly_jfif" crop="16x10" layout="full"] 

Would it surprise you to learn that New Zealand's workplace fatality rates are way higher than other developed countries? And by way higher - we mean twice the rate of Australia and five times that of the UK. That's according to the annual ACC injury report that came out in the last few days. To discuss why and what could be done to change our death and injury rates, Emile is joined by Chris Peace. Chris has worked in the risk management space across New Zealand and the UK, and is currently an Occupational Health and Safety lecturer at Victoria University [picture id="4KSVBFJ_2024_03_23_CPP_001811_edited_b_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

During last week's 'scrutiny week' - where the Government opens its books to review department spending and performance - the spotlight fell on NZ defence spending and capability. At the select committee for foreign affairs, defence and trade, it was revealed that our army's land combat capability has fallen to 45%. The picture's not that much better at sea, where we're sitting at 57% of our 'water protection capacity'. To explain what that all actually means I'm joined by friend of the show Retired Major General John Howard

We're going to keep you right across the All Whites game against Egypt which is happening as I speak, so don't have any worries about missing out. But we're starting the show talking about the Conservation Amendment Bill. This passed it's first reading at Parliament last month, and is currently out for submissions from the public. But there seems to be a lot of confusion about exactly what this Bill sets out to do. Lobby group Forest and Bird has released maps of New Zealand, showing large areas of potentially affected land that could be put up for sale should the Bill be passed. But the Minister of Conservation, Tama Potaka, was on Morning Report this morning saying that DOC is not embarking on a programme of selling conservation land and that this is all in the name of achieving better conservation outcomes. Here to help explain exactly what's going is RNZ In Depth reporter Farah Hancock. [picture id="4JMW1XI_00_Thumb__public_conservation_land_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]  

Wallace Chapman and Emile Donovan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

Nicola Toki and Emile discuss this week's critter of the week, which this week is the frilled shark. The frilled shark is classified as At Risk - Naturally Uncommon in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a deep-sea specialist that turns up only occasionally in trawl bycatch, but its fossil ancestors once swam in shallow seas around the Chathams 66 million years ago. Instead of a swim bladder, the frilled shark floats using a giant oil-filled liver - basically a built-in deep-sea buoyancy tank! They also announce and celebrate the New Zealand Fungus of the Year winner!

Winter is here and with it often means the arrival of mould - but don't despair, cause help is here, in the form of Rachael Quin from The Housekeeper.

The RNZ podcast Country Life celebrates all things rural, speaking to the New Zealanders who live and work in some of the most beautiful parts of our country. You can hear these stories on RNZ National every Friday night at 7pm, and Saturday morning at 7am and of course wherever you get your podcasts. Here to tell us what's on their show this week is producer Anisha Satya.

Martin Bosley joins Emile to share this recipe. You can replace the prunes with fresh dates if you wish, just make sure both have been pitted before using them. You will need a pie dish with a removable base about 20cm in diameter. Recipe below! Prune and Mascarpone Tart with Port Syrup Serves 12 600g Prunes or dates, pitted 100g Raw sugar 750ml Port 500g Sweet Pastry - store-bought is fine 60g Caster sugar 4 lemons, for the juice 600g Mascarpone 600ml Cream Put the pitted dates or prunes, the juice of 3 lemons, the raw sugar and port into a saucepan and pace over the heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain the dates from the syrup and set aside to cool. Place the syrup back in the saucepan and simmer until thick. Heat the oven to 200C. Rollout the pastry into a circle larger than the pie plate, leaving enough pastry to fold up around the edges. Carefully lift the pastry up and onto the pie plate, patching it up if required. Leave the excess pastry hanging over the edges. Line the pastry case with foil or baking paper, filled with baking beans or rice. Leave to chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. Bake the pastry case for 20 minutes, lift out the parcel of beans and return the pastry shell to the oven for another 10 minutes until pale gold in colour and dry to the touch. Beat the caster sugar, juice of one lemon, the mascarpone and cream until firm. Chop one third of the drained marinated prunes into the mascarpone mixture and combine together. Fill the tarts with the mascarpone and arrange the remaining prunes across the top. Pour the reduced syrup over the top just before serving.

Afternoons film critic Dominic Corry is with Emile to share what's on at the cinema (all of which are new in theatres this week): The Death of Robin Hood Glenrothan Toy Story 5

It's time for Freaky Friday, the home for all your spooky and unexplainable stories. We've had UFO sightings, ghostly encounters, eerie coincidences. If you've got a spooky story we'd love to hear from you - email afternoons@rnz.co.nz or text 2101. Today we're speaking with Jenny

For most Aucklanders, the natural disaster fear that's front of mind is a tsunami or volcano awakening...but actually it's earthquakes that should top those worries. That's because recently, a faultline close to Auckland was found to be more active than previously thought .. and could in fact, create a magnitude 6.8 earthquake if it ruptured. Here to discuss this and other earthquake related discoveries is Newsroom journalist and earthquake specialist Fox Meyer.

A quickly spreading, destructive exotic seaweed was found off the coast of Whangarei for the first time this month. It's the latest battle in a war that's been going on since caulerpa was first found in New Zealand waters five years ago. Here to find out how that fight is going is Barb, a trustee for Northland's Conquer Caulerpa. [picture id="4K8NFA7_20250420_134153_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Another popular Auckland music venue is closing - struggling to continue in the current economic downturn Despite sold out shows - 'Neck of the Woods' on Auckland's iconic Karangahape Road ...will close its doors next week after 11 years It's the latest blow for Auckland's music scene, independent record store Flying Out, just off Karangahape Road, has also announced its shutting up shop. Director at Fuzen Entertainment Limited, Gareth Popham joins us now. [picture id="4LTSLZJ_copyright_image_290831" crop="16x10" layout="full"]  

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

A chance to for a balanced discussion about the week that was. Jesse is joined by Tim Batt, Dane Giraud and Dr Lara Greaves. This week they look at Matthew Hooton's appointment at The Post, if politicians have the right to humiliate critics in their Facebook comments, whether the media loves TOP so much they are over-covering them and is there too much "cultural correctness" at New Zealand events? [picture id="4N6ESE2_copyright_image_206992" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Today Dr Grant Morris looks at the real history behind the NZ honours system. Monday 1 June was King's Birthday which means the announcement of honours. But where does NZ's system of honours come from? [picture id="4MP4SHJ_copyright_image_238215" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Every second Thursday we invite a guest to come and help solve some of the world's problems - this week Jesse is joined by journalist Simon Wilson who wonders why we can't all just play more football and avoid more wars. [picture id="4JMVZH8_AFP__20260617__2281975452__v1__HighRes__ArgentinaVAlgeriaGroupJFifaWorldCup2026_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

"Who is Aotearoa New Zealand's greatest ever Olympian?" It's the kind of question that - at least before the smartphone - you could spend hours arguing about down the pub. Our guest on NZ Sport History today is sports journalist Joseph Romano. He's been to every Olympics since the 1980s so he's better placed than most of us to come up with an answer. His latest book - "NZ's Top Olympians" - charts our Olympic History. He chats to Jesse.

Our chance to chat about the topics that might not be on the news but do fill up your group chats. With Jesse in the Auckland studio are Kate Rodger and Senior Afternoons producer Olivia Wilson and joining them from the old RNZ building is Culture 101 host Perlina Lau. This week the group discusses Duffy comeback, MAFS Australia allegations and President Trump's seemingly never-ending handshake with Brigitte Macron, the French President's wife. [picture id="4K3BZJG_AFP__20161214__629843762__v2__HighRes__TrumpHoldsSummitWithTechnologyIndustryLeaders_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

We want to chat about Australian politics now, because Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party are experiencing a surge in popularity. And by surge, three out of four recent federal polls show One Nation in the lead, one survey even had Hanson ahead as preferred Prime Minister. The party that was once seen as a fringe is suddenly looking like a major force, to discuss Jesse is joined by pollster and former Victorian Labor party strategist Kosmos Samaras. [picture id="4JOVSLS_GettyImages_2275300166_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

For anyone who spends time with children, whether your own, your grandchildren or your friends' children, you'll know just how good a good playground is. But how to find them? Well one Auckland dad and his five-year-old twins have created a dedicated website to help. Jong Lee is behind https://www.northshoreplaygrounds.co.nz/ [picture id="4JMW3E8_jong_lee_collage_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Bottom trawling has been a big topic of conversation this week. On Tuesday we spoke to Caitlin from the WWF about its poll showing almost half of New Zealanders think bottom trawling is the biggest threat to the ocean. Today we're following that up with a commercial fisherman's perspective. Tony Roach is the owner and skipper of a 76 gross tonne trawler. [picture id="4LVI1LV_gallery_image_75009" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the 3 month conflict which has sent energy prices soaring and disrupted global supply chains The deal was signed in secret in Versailles bringing an immediate end to all military operations in both Iran and Lebanon for 60 days giving negotiators time to work through the details of a final agreement. President Donald Trump says the crucial shipping route the Strait of Hormuz will reopen "so soon" although experts say there are some obstacles preventing traffic from returning to the levels seen before the conflict began. So will consumers see relief any time soon? How quickly could prices fall? And how long will it take for the global economy to rebound? Independent economist Cameron Bagrie joins Jesse to try to answer those questions and more. [picture id="4JN24GR_AFP__20260611__B6TM8NV__v1__HighRes__UsPoliticsTrump_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Starting is hard when it requires taking a step into a future that's so unpredictable. For young people entering the workforce today, that challenge is even greater. First the pandemic disrupted their education and early careers, and now artificial intelligence is reshaping industries almost as fast as they can enter them. When Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor was invited to deliver a commencement speech at her alma mater, Columbia University, she knew graduates weren't looking for easy answers or inspirational clichés. Best known for breaking the Harvey Weinstein story, Kantor has spent years reporting on power, work, technology and social change. That speech became a book about finding meaningful work and building a life shaped by your own choices and ambitions. It's called How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work.

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse to share a recipe that is heavy on flavour but light on time.  

Heading Off is our weekly segment where we take you on adventures from the comfort of your home. If you've got a travel tale you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it, get in touch via 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz and we might be in touch. Today we're off to the Azores, off mainland Portugal, where our guest Sarah Schmitt got the chance to experience life as a research scientist on a 10-day whale tracking expedition.