RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

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.

International trade used to be a subject reserved for farmers and exporters. Most of us rarely thought about it as long as the cars kept coming and the shelves were stocked at the supermarket. The system seemed to work. But recent years have shown how quickly tariffs, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions can affect prices, jobs, KiwiSaver balances and economic security. Dr Chad Bown, former chief economist at the U.S. State Department under President Biden, says trade is no longer just about imports and exports, it's about who gets to shape the future. Together with Financial Times columnist Soumaya Keynes, he's co-written a book in layman's terms about modern trade called How to Win a Trade War: An Optimistic Guide to an Anxious Global Economy.

Afternoons TV Critic Claire Chitham reviews what's good on the smaller screen. This week she looks at: Rivals - Season 2 - Disney+ Under Salt Marsh - TVNZ+

Our Australia correspondent Brad Foster joins Jesse to share the latest on the shark attack that took place over the weekend at Sydney's Coogee Beach.

This Sunday, the 21st of June, is the shortest day of 2026. And this year, Eat New Zealand is encouraging Kiwis to mark it with what they're calling "The Shortest Meal" The challenge - which on the face of it sounds simple -is to eat one meal made entirely from New Zealand grown ingredients. Eat NZ Chief Executive Angela Clifford joins Jesse to tell us more about it.

Nauru the world's smallest republic - is located in the Pacific, just over four thousand kilometres northeast of Auckland - and it could soon have a new name. Last month the island's Parliament unanimously backed a name change proposal and soon locals will get a chance to have their say in a national referendum. Here to tell us more about it is Steven Ratuva, the Pro-Vice Chancellor Pacific and Director of the MacMillan Brown Center for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury.

Here on Afternoons we're all about celebrating people doing great things. And our next guest fits that bill brilliantly. A Hawkes Bay man is using his 3D printer to manufacture colourful custom wheelchairs to get kids with mobility issues moving. It gets better - he's paying for the whole thing himself. Louwrens Burger chats to Jesse.

We're going to start the show talking about milk .. more specifically gene edited milk .. and whether you would be happy buying, and drinking it. over recent years scientists have been exploring whether gene editing can deliver dairy cattle better able to cope with warmer temperatures while producing fewer methane emissions. Which all might sound great in the lab - but will shoppers want it? Here to discuss this issue Jesse is joined by Damien Mather, senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Otago.

Every Friday Nicola Toki and Jesse chat about a Critter of the Week. A creature that needs some attention! This week they turn their attention to the orange coral fungus. Coral fungi are also known as clarvarioid fungi - and really do look like coral.

Stan Scott is with Jesse to chat about building a deck - the do's and don't's, the materials and the regulations.

Friday means food here on Afternoons. This week Olivia Galletly, aka The Hungry Cook, joins Jesse to share her recipe for spiced chicken and rice.

Afternoons film critic Kate Rodger is with Jesse to talk about Disclosure Day and The Christophers (both in cinemas now).

It's time for Freaky Friday - your home for spooky tales. If you've had an interaction with a ghost, witnessed some unexplained lights in the sky, experienced a premonition or something soo freaky we don't even have a word for it, send us a text on 2101 or email us at Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're joined by Jo.

The trailer for a new survival thriller starring Brad Pitt has just dropped, and it looks good. Possibly because it was filmed entirely in the South Island. That got us thinking about what goes into bringing a large international film production here, and what the Kiwi economy and tourism industries get out of it. Joining Jesse is New Zealand Film Commission's Head of International Attraction and Inbound Production Philippa Mossman.

Do you think children should be sorted into classes based on academic ability? A recent study from the UK says streaming is beneficial - but with some big caveats. Proponents say it's great for pushing the kids in high classes, but objectors say it means kids in the lower levels don't get the chance to reach their potential. Joining us to talk through the pros and cons is University of Canterbury's senior lecturer David Pomeroy.

We have more than 20 video streaming platforms available to us in New Zealand .. and honestly we think it can be hard to keep up witht them all. HBO Max launches in New Zealand next week, so we thought it would be a good time to find out what streaming platform has what, which offers the best bang for you buck .. and why on earth there are so many different places to watch telly! To help Jesse is joined by freelance arts and culture writer Karl Puschmann.

There's been a lot of talk recently about young men and their wellbeing, largely thanks to controversial influencers like Andrew Tate, who pushes messages of masculinity, saying that women belong in the home, can't drive, and are a man's property. You might have heard of online trends like 'looksmaxxing' and "red pill blue pill' all very much aimed at males. In New Zealand a local charity is doing its best to provide an alternative place for boys to find guidance. Big Buddy Mentoring Trust takes young boys in search of a role model and gives them mentors who help them create connections - or 'touch grass' as they say online.

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.

Our weekly segment where we discuss the big issues of the week. This week Jesse is joined by Tim Batt, Dane Giraud and Dr Lara Greaves.

Let's talk about your money now personal finance expert Mary Holm is with Jesse to discuss whether KiwiSaver is leaving people behind.

It's time for NZ Sport History and today Jesse is joined by one of the country's greatest cricketers Stephen Fleming Stephen played 111 Tests for New Zealand and 279 ODIs, he captained the Black Caps when they won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy which was New Zealand's first ICC trophy Widely respected for his tactical brilliance and leadership, Australian legend Shane Warne hailed Fleming as "the best captain I played against in my time, he knew how to get the best of his teammates"

Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology to chat about relationships. Do let us know if there are any issues you would like Kirsty and me to cover at afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today they are looking at the challenges facing the 'sandwich generation'.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow morning, 7am New Zealand time, when Mexico takes on South Africa. To preview the Football World Cup action Jesse is joined by former All White and previous director of the New Zealand Football Fred De Jong.

Auckland housing is back in the headlines after an Auckland council meeting this week made some future planning decisions. It looks like most Aucklanders will avoid sweeping housing changes after the councillors put the boldest visions to one side and instead voted in favour of two options that will see a concentration of future development around the city centre and transport routes. Yesterday Auckland Council submitted its recommendations to local boards to get their response. To explain all this and what it could mean for Aucklanders Jesse is joined by Bernard Hickey, author of the Substack column 'The Kaka'.

We're going to talk international trade now, because an article in The Post caught our eye, it states that New Zealand has become Taiwan's second largest source of food imports. In fact in the past year our food and beverage exports to Taiwan have surged 24 percent. To explain why New Zealand's goods are so appealing to Taiwan, and also how we manage the relationship given the geopolitical tension with China, I'm joined by University of Canterbury's Professor of political science Alex Tan.

How do you feel about loyalty cards or apps? Our team is divided by those who swear by them and those who don't want them. We'd love to know what you think on 2101. We're talking about loyalty cards because Consumer NZ has taken a look at what we customers actually get out of them - especially in regard to supermarkets. Consumer NZ's Head of Research and Advocacy Gemma Rasmussen joins Jesse.

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 lead actor named Chris was more likely to headline one of the UK's top-grossing films over the past three years than a woman over 60. Even talking animals came out ahead according to a new study from the UK's Age Without Limits campaign. Animals were four times more likely to be the central character than an older woman. More than two decades ago, actress Geena Davis decided to challenge Hollywood's blind spots by founding the Geena Davis Institute, which tracks who gets seen and who gets left out and how women of all ages are portrayed. Madeline Di Nonno is the Institute's President and CEO where they use data to help the entertainment industry see what's missing on the screen.

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse each week to share a recipe, this week's one is smashed chicken tacos with coriander and lime sour cream. Click HERE for the recipe!

It's time for Heading Off our weekly travel segment where you get to share your adventures with a captive audience. If you've got a trip you'd like to share with us, please do email us at afternoons@rnz.co.nz, we love to hear from you. Today we're staying on our beautiful shores and heading on a road trip to the far north of New Zealand.

It's our weekly catch up with RNZ Podcast Our Changing World's host Claire Concannon. Today she's talking to Jesse about the realm of molecular biology.

Raw sewage, dead animals, life-threatening logs are just some of the obstacles athletes worry about facing if they have to get into the water for their sport. New research from Waikato University has found climate change and the impact of extreme weather events have had a huge impact on getting young people into surfing, kayaking and waka ama. Joining us to talk about the concept of 'polluted sport' is the University of Waikato's Holly Thorpe

A New Zealand author has been nominated for best short story prize at the Nebulas Awards, which are considered some of the highest honours of science fiction and fantasy writing. In being considered, author E.M. Linden joins the likes of sci-fi luminaries like JG Ballard, Harlan Ellison and Frank Herbert. E.M. Linden's offering is called 'The Tawlish Island Songbook of the Dead', to tell us more about it, she joins Jesse.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to list on the electronic stock market the Nasdaq this Friday and when it does it's expected to be the largest Initial Public Offering or IPO in history. Its valuation is approaching three point one trillion New Zealand dollars (that's trillion with a T) and if that happens it would immediately rank among the world's most valuable listed companies. But it's not without controversy. Paul Brownsey is a General Partner at the Bridge West Venture Fund and Independent Chair of the Mint Asset Management Investment Committee, he chats to Jesse.

The annual agricultural showcase opened this morning at Mystery Creek in Hamilton and it looks like it's going to be a bumper event. With the dairy sector, red meat, horticulture and wool sector all enjoying strong prices right now, the timing for Fieldays couldn't be better. More than a thousand exhibitors and vendors are there to showcase their products. Shelley Houston is the co-founder and director of Kiwi Leather Innovations, which creates a leather alternative from - rather appropriately - kiwifruit! She chats to Jesse.

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.

For decades, genetic testing has promised parents a way to avoid serious inherited diseases for their children. Now some Silicon Valley-backed companies are going much further, claiming they can help prospective parents not just avoid negative diseases, but choose the "best" embryo based on predicted intelligence, health, or height. Christopher Cox is a science writer for New York Magazine. He investigates the booming business of embryo screening, the anxiety driving parents toward it, and the ethical questions raised when reproduction starts to look more like optimization. His article is called Can You Really Choose Your 'Best Baby?'

Our weekly segment where we get your help resolving a dilemma. This week we're looking at whether a couple should break up because of the man's seemingly racist dog. We'd love your thoughts, 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Tech expert Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss the tech issues hitting the headlines. Today he'll chat about META's smart glasses and how Bot traffic has overtaken human traffic online.

Ohakune - a once thriving railway town - known for its sweet carrots, and a base to get your ski season fix on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. But what about the name Ohakune? What does it mean and what's the story behind it? Let's find out more with RNZ producer Justine Murray, who is back with another season of NAU MAI TOWN a podcast about Maori place names in Aotearoa.

Jenna Todd, owner of Auckland's Time Out bookstore joins Jesse to share what she's been reading.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our regular segment 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 Invercargill from where Mayor Tom Campbell joins Jesse.