RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

The panic kicked in around page 40. Thirteen years ago, director and screenwriter James Vanderbilt set out to write a film about the Nuremberg trials, a moment when the world chose justice over vengeance, putting Hitler's right-hand man Hermann Göring and 23 other high-ranking Nazis before an international court. The story centers on a U.S. Army psychiatrist assigned to evaluate the defendants and determine if they were fit to stand trial. Russell Crowe stars as Göring, with Rami Malek as the American trying to understand the psychology of evil. Nuremberg opens in New Zealand cinemas this Thursday. Director James Vanderbilt joins me now.

It's time for our Monday expert feature, where we choose a topic and invite an expert in to give us the ins and outs. Today we're focusing on wool. Wool has played a keen role in New Zealand's economy since early settlers arrived over 200 years ago. In October, a brand-new Wool Alliance was formed between four organisations to commit to long-term outcomes for the industry. One of those was Campaign for Wool NZ, and their chairperson Ryan Cosgrove is our expert today.

Monday means it's time to hit the clubs - because we've got a new segment on the show where I chat to clubbers. So if you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day please get in touch we'd love to hear from you - afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Cailtin Cherry joins Jesse to review two shows: All Her Fault - TVNZ on Demand The Beast in Me - Netflix

Melissa Stokes is the new lead presenter of TVNZ's flagship programme 1News at Six. She's moved from her weekend presenting role to anchor the broadcaster's main bulletin five nights a week - Sunday to Thursday. Melissa replaces Simon Dallow, who stepped down from the role after nearly two decades. To discuss what this move means to her, and what the role entails, Melissa joins Jesse.

When we think of harmful emissions, we think it's fair to say most of us picture clogged motorways not busy hospitals. But environmental damage from anaesthetic gases is a thing; one hospital with 15 operating theatres will emit the equivalent to driving two million kilometres in a petrol-powered car. It's a problem that saw an Auckland University professor leap into action, inventing a device that captures almost all of the gases released during surgery. That device has just had a successful trial - for more about this Professor Saeid Baroutian chats to Jesse.

A couple of weeks ago we spoke to the Drug Foundation after the Government announced that Police will begin roadside drug driving tests. Police will test for four types of drugs - cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and meth - using an oral-fluid testing device. As more information about the testing device has been released, so has commentary. While everyone can agree we don't want impaired drivers on our roads, questions have been raised about the decision to test for the presence of drugs rather than impairment. University of Otago Professor Joseph Boden talks to Jesse.

Where are you planning to live when you retire? Stay in your own home as long as possible? Move in with family maybe? Or are you keen to move into a retirement village? Global property firm JLL recently released their 2025 report on the state of New Zealand retirement villages, and it has found that in the next 8 years demand is set to out strip supply by over 11 thousand places. That's a deficit that's only expected to grow as our population ages. WSP fellow and Deputy Director at the Helen Clark Foundation Kali Mercier joins Jesse to discuss.

Friday afternoon means it's time to talk about the endandgered critters that are endemic to New Zealand. This week Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki and Jesse are looking at the Olearia Owlet Moth.

Martin Bosley from Yellow Brick Road shares Skye Gyngell's delicious recipe: Mussels with Fennel, Crème fraiche and Saffron

Troy Kingi joins us for NZ Live to celebrate his new album, Night Lords.

Dominic Corry is in our Auckland studio to talk movies, and this week he's looking at: Wake Up Dead Man - A Knives Out (new in theatres this week) After the Hunt (Prime Video) Die My Love (new in theatres this week).

It's time for Freaky Friday, the space for all your weird, spooky, and strange experiences. If you have one you'd like to share please reach out via text - 2101 - or you can email us, afternoons@rnz.co.nz. Neville in Paraparaumu joins Jesse to share his spooky tale.

Jesse spoke with Matthew Stott, a recipient of one of the University of Canterbury's 2025 Research Medals. He's been described as the "Indiana Jones of microbiology," Stott studies extremophiles, life forms that thrive in some of the planet's most extreme environments.

Lynda Hallinan joins Jesse to share her gardening tips.

Merv Grewar proves that age is no barrier. He'll be 90 when he attempts to break a rowing world record next Saturday to raise awareness and funds for Dementia Canterbury.

We're in for a hot weekend! Napiers on a heat alert, Christchurch and Hastings aren't far behind... Records have already been broken for hottest November day in parts of the country this week. It isn't just you lying wide awake, melting into the sheets - hot temperatures actually change the structure of our sleep. Senior Lecturer at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre Dr Karyn O'Keeffe spoke to Jesse.

There's a lot of suspense swirling around Formula 1 this week - especially for kiwi driver Liam Lawson. Red Bull is about to lock in its 2026 line-up, and Lawson is still waiting to find out whether he's part of their future. Red Bull will make the announcement after Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, which I'm sure many New Zealanders will be watching keenly. RNZ Senior Sport Journalist Barry Guy joins us spoke to Jesse.  [picture id="4JXIBK0_PSNEWZ_00318066_0005_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

We're going to talk history with Dr Grant Morris and this week he is looking at stories of the New Zealanders who have, and who do, identify as Catholic.

Time now to solve some of the world's problems. Dave Armstrong is with Jesse from our Wellington studio and this week he's turning his attention to some of the issues plaguing the capital.

In this week's NZ Sporting History, we go behind the scenes to speak to a man who has coached many of our finest teams in mental toughness - and worked out how to find that winning edge. Author of Become Unstoppable, Gilbert Enoka is best known for his time with the All Blacks - he worked with them for 23 years - during which time they won two Rugby World Cups and dominated the Tri Nations and Rugby Championship series'. Now other international teams are calling on his insight - in fact Gilbert joins Jesse fresh from working with the English cricket team in Australia as they attempt to regain the Ashes.

Okay it is time to talk relationships now, whether romantic, professional or somewhere in between, Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology Do let us know if there are any topics you would like Kirsty and Jesse to cover at afternoons@rnz.co.nz.

Not many cookbooks - if any - are launched with a live theatre performance. But then Jade Reidy isn't your average author. Jade has not only been a professional non-fiction writer for 40 years, she is also a Buddhist philosopher, environmentalist and cook, and goodness does she have some stories to share. Jade chats to Jesse.

This afternoon it has been announced where the memorial to honour those killed in the Mt Erebus flight will be built. Jesse speaks to Rev Dr Richard Waugh, the instigator of the National Erebus Memorial and close friend of the families.

Dr Sarah Cameron is a political scientist at Griffith University's School of Government and International Relations and a Chief Investigator on the Australian Election Study. She has found that, for the first time, Australian millennials are becoming more progressive as they age, and identifying with the political "left". Sarah talks to Jesse.

We know the usual pillars of health; sleep, exercise, watch your diet and maintain social connections. Dr Daisy Fancourt says her research shows we need to add a fifth pillar, creativity. She's a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London and Director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center on Arts. Her research explores the powerful impact of engaging with art in any form, from music and dance to literature, cultural sites, and even street art. She shares what science says about the power of art

This is Kelly Gibney's (simplified) version of Vietnamese cha ca, a dish that originated in Hanoi. Fish is marinated in curry powder, turmeric, fish sauce, sugar and dill. It's then fried and served over rice noodles. The combination of ingredients might sound unusual if you've never had this dish but it's absolutely delicious. Like most Vietnamese food, there's a perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour and fragrant. Be generous with the fresh dill and with the squeeze of lemon or lime you serve it with.

Time for heading off, our weekly travel segment where we hear from you - our afternoons listeners - about some of your amazing adventures. We've travelled the silk road, motorbiked around the world, and kayaked the Yukon. It's been a while since we've had a local adventure though, maybe you are an expert in exploring the West Coast cave systems or a Northland beach aficionado. Whether local or abroad if you've got a story to share, we'd love to hear from you Afternoons@rnz.co.nz. Today we're heading to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. It's an area of Papua New Guinea that Sarah Togher became very familiar with whilst stationed there with VSA.

Every year the New Zealand Society of Authors gives out the President of Honour award. The award is to recognise contributions to writing and to the NZ literary scene. This year's recipient is child & young adult author Fleur Beale. Fleur has written more than 50 books, including I am not Esther, Juno of Taris and End of the Alphabet. Fleur chats to Jesse.

We have 55 thousand kilometres of paper roads across New Zealand. But in our team meeting we discovered that there was confusion about what paper roads are, and why they are important. To help give us the answers is Dot Dalziell, who's a regional field adviser with Herenga a Nuku Aotearoa - otherwise known as the Outdoor Access Commission.

A large study into avoidant and restrictive eating (which is an extreme form of picky eating) in children shows the issue is much more common than we thought. About 6% of children have ongoing restrictive eating patterns, and 2-3% meet the level of clinical concern. A cohort study of over 35 thousand children in Norway also found links between restrictive eating patterns and developmental & emotional difficulties. So how can parents tell the difference between relatively typical fussy eating and something more serious? And how can parents help their children develop healthy eating habits at a young age? Registered dietitian and co-founder of The Food Tree Rachael Wilson has developed a treatment model for children with avoidant and restrictive eating and chats to Jesse.

The pre-Panel Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Interesting people make interesting music. Warren Ellis is in a class of his own. He's a composer, multi-instrumentalist and longtime creative partner of gothic rock poet laureate Nick Cave. For more than 40 years Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have challenged us with narrative-driven music that touches on love, death, and religion. Ellis is also the co-founder of Ellis Park, a sanctuary for wounded animals in Sumatra. He saves the animals, and he says, they saved him. The spirit of transformation runs through the band's latest album, Wild God. Ellis will be back in New Zealand with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds for the first time since 2017 with The Wild God Tour as part of the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. They'll be performing two shows in Wellington at the TSB Arena February 5th and 6th.

Brad Foster joins Jesse to talk about the latest news from Australia. Today he is talking about Meta reacting to the social media ban for under 16-year-olds; Pauline Hansen's latest stunt in Parliament and a teenager who has been charged with murdering another teen.

Book critic Bill Hastings reviews: Lea Ypi, Indignity: A Life Reimagined (Allen Lane Penguin, 2025), Daniel Kalderimis, Zest: Climbing from Depression to Philosophy (Ugly Hill Press, 2024).

Could we do better when it comes to how we manage our prison populations? That's what a Canterbury University political science researcher has been looking into as part of her studies into justice policy and its intergenerational impacts. Dr Lin Mussell's work on this issue has won her an award, ahead of her publishing a book on it early next year.

New Zealand artist Fred Graham is recognised as a pioneer in the contemporary Maori art movement. Now two exhibitions at Pataka Art and Museum in Wellington will pay tribute to his work, after his death this year at the age of 96. His son Brett Graham is a prominent artist in his own right and chats to Jesse about his father's legacy.

A new report has found a large increase in the number of university students receiving A grades. The think-tank 'The New Zealand Initiative' has analysed grade data from New Zealand's eight universities and found a 64 percent increase in the number of students earning 'A's' in 2024 compared to 2006. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association Academic Vice-President Ethan Rogacion chats to Jesse.

Bee Trudgeon currently writes for Audioculture Iwi Waiata and Muzic NZ. She was working for 'RipItUp' magazine back in 1995 when Post came out and interviewed Bjork for this album. Bee chats to Jesse.

Our tech guy Tim Batt shares the latest goings on in the world of technology, and today he's looking into X, formerly known as Twitter, introducing a tool to aid transparency only to then remove it when it revealed a little too much. Plus his tech tip is that it might actually be a good idea to buy a computer or console during Black Friday sales.

The days of regional councils could soon be over. It's understood the Government will announce a proposal for a local government shake-up later this afternoon. It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hinted on Sunday that a major reform is coming. Earlier this year, regional development minister and New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones told a forum there was "less and less of a justifiable purpose" for keeping regional government once the RMA reforms went through. Which got us thinking about regional councils and their purpose... To help explain that and what today's announcement could be, political reporter Russell Palmer joins me.