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.

Hunter Biden's struggles with addiction, grief, family tragedies and leaked nude photos became salacious headlines and political ammunition aimed at his father, former President Joe Biden. Now, as Joe Biden's prostate cancer spreads to his bones, Hunter is taking ownership of his own story. He's posting online, appearing on podcasts and TV shows talking about the power of redemption. He hopes a conversation about the cost of shame and the hope of recovery from addiction can bring people together across political divides. [picture id="4JJRA6S_14113449_hunter_biden_img_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Afternoons critic Philippa Rennie is with Jesse to share what she's been watching - Lucky (Apple) and Two Weeks in August (TVNZ+).

Over the last 50 years the average life expectancy in NZ has risen by over 10 years .. which some might say is a great success .. but it does put into question our healthspan .. or how well we are actually living. The brain is our most complex organ, and with more of us living longer .. we are seeing more issues related to brain health. Over our lifetimes 1 in 5 New Zealanders will be affected by a neurological disease. That includes Parkinson's Disease, which over 12,000 of us currently live with. Today for our expert feature we're joined by brain expert, and Parkinson's researcher Professor Maurice Curtis. He'll be answering all your Parkinson's related questions.. send them through on 2101 on text or Jesse@rnz.co.nz via email. [picture id="4KBEKCL_maurice2_JPG" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Each week Jesse likes to hit the clubs - what better time than mid-afternoon on a Monday after all? If you've got a club or a society, you'd like Jesse to join for a day, do email us afternoons@rnz.co.nz. [picture id="4JUCJCT_afternoons_clubbing_thumbnail_png" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Every Monday, Brad Foster joins us to share what's hitting the headlines in Australia. This week he'll discuss The Logie Awards, the Australian cricket team's loss to Bangladesh and why PM Anthony Albanese is in trouble over melons. [picture id="4JJVBGH_AFP__20260814__C4MF3NQ__v1__HighRes__CricketAusBan_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Canterbury has one of the highest rates of celiac disease in the world, but why? Well, that's something researchers at the University of Canterbury have been looking into. They're investigating the gut bacteria of people with the disease ... research that could help explain why some people develop celiac disease .. while others with the same genetic risk don't Riddet Institute PhD candidate Peter Prendergast chats to Jesse. [picture id="4K34SRM_IMG_0865_copy_jpg_16x10_1_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

If you sit for long hours at a desk, your body might be suffering - and standing at your desk or putting your shoulders back and sitting straighter won't necessarily help. Our next guest says movement is actually the key to helping reduce pain. Sue Field is a massage therapist in Wellington and a big fan of the Feldenkrais method. Sue joins Jesse now to explain what that is. [picture id="4NCWGXI_copyright_image_193531" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

The Opportunity Party is promising to regulate lobbying and impose tougher rules around political donations if they make it into Government this November. The party is promising to cap political donations, establish an independent anti-corruption body, and introduce a bill that would enforce a cooling-off period for ministers, senior staff and officials taking on lobbying roles and they would also create a mandatory, public lobbying register. So how big a problem is corporate lobbying in New Zealand politics? To discuss Democracy Project founder Dr Bryce Edwards joins Jesse. [picture id="4JKMW0R_260731_TOP_List_6_jpg" 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.

Passionate conservationist Nicola Toki chats to Jesse about this week's critter of the week, the brown tree frog. With its cricket-like call, sticky climbing toes and talent for blending into the garden, this little Australian import has made itself right at home in parts of Aotearoa. You're more likely to hear one before you see one, especially on a damp evening when the chorus gets going.

Jesse chats to green thumb guru Lynda Hallinan about all things gardening.

Emilie Pullar from burntbuttertable.com shares her recipe for bolognese. She says, this Bolognese takes a little time, but don't let that put you off, most of the cooking is completely hands off. It's deeply rich and packed with flavour, with a few little twists that might be different to the Bolognese you're used to making. Everything slowly cooks down into the most incredible sauce and honestly, it's one of the recipes she's most proud of. Make it when you have a slow afternoon at home and Emilie promises you'll be very happy come dinner time.

Afternoons film critic joins Jesse to review the following films - The End of Oak Street, The Ungrateful Tenant and Tony - in cinemas.

This is our home for your tales of the unexpected. We're talking ghosts, premonitions, the spooky, and the unexplainable. If you have a story to tell then get in touch on 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're joined by Kerene in Wellington.

The Chief Ombudsman has warned Government agencies and Ministers they will be under closer scrutiny over their compliance with the Official Information Act ahead of the general election His office is rolling out a series of initiatives to make sure voters can access information in a timely fashion... and is encouraging Ministers and agencies to proactively release information where there is a clear public interest The Office will also publish weekly figures on complaints about Ministers' handling of OIA requests, including what those complaints are about and how they're being dealt with So, we thought an explainer was in order: what is the Official Information Act, how does it work, and why does it matter? Chief Ombudsman John Allen chats to Jesse.

Today, the long wait for Phoebe Bridger's third studio album finally ended. 'Lost Weekend' was first heard in planetariums around the world, including Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland. Jesse speaks to New Zealand's number one "Pharb" Luis, who went along to the Planetarium event at Wellington's Space Place Observatory.

Russell Landcare Trust is a community group working to restore the Russell Peninsula and help native species thrive. Martin Ough Dealy is a volunteer in predator control at the Trust - and the oldest at the age of 92. Martin joins Jesse Mulligan.

Let's talk netball. It's been the number one sport for women and girls in this country for more than a century. The Silver Ferns just won the gold-medal at the Commonwealth Games But we can't seem to get the domestic league firing .. which has led to very real concerns about not having a domestic competition in 2027. RNZ reported this week that a proposed netball league backed by Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams could be up and running as early as next year, after the high-profile couple put forward a new proposal to Netball New Zealand to fast-track the establishment of a privately-owned franchise competition. To discuss the state of netball and where to from here, Jesse is joined by sports journalist and founding editor of LockerRoom, Suzanne McFadden.

Freddie Bennett is the founder of EPIC Families Live, an event taking place in Tauranga this weekend to support parents of children with ADHD. He chats to Perlina about what he's learnt from being a parent of a child with ADHD and what other parents should know.

We're talking history now with Dr Grant Morris and today we're looking at religion and our cities .. Two of the three historically dominant Christian denominations have 'NZ cities' - Presbyterian Dunedin and Anglican Christchurch. But what about the third? What has been NZ's 'Catholic' city? Grant chats to Perlina.

Every fortnight we like to solve some of the world's problems.. today Stuff writer Verity Johnson is with Perlina .. and she's turning her attention to why New Zealanders are known for being hard to make friends with.

It's time for another episode of Crimes NZ and today we're looking back at one of New Zealand's most shocking crimes ... the 2001 killing of pizza delivery driver Michael Choy Choy was robbed and fatally attacked by six offenders, all under the age of 17 .. Bailey Junior Kurariki was 12 at the time and became New Zealand's youngest convicted killer. Defence lawyer Marie Dyhrberg KC, represented one of the other teenagers who was found guilty of manslaughter for his role in the attack. Jesse spoke to her earlier this week.

Feeling lonely, stressed, unmotivated or anxious about the future? You're not alone. These are ordinary human experiences, but psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge says we're increasingly treating them as symptoms of illness. He's Vice President of the Archbridge Institute, Director of the Human Flourishing and a leading researcher on the science of nostalgia as a way to build resilience. But he believes our culture is moving in the opposite direction. In a recent essay for the New York Times he argues that by medicalizing everyday struggles, we're undermining our ability to cope with life's inevitable ups and downs. Instead of viewing discomfort as something to be eliminated, he says it can be the very thing that helps our mental health in the long run. Dr. Clay Routledge chatted to Jesse.

Wallace Chapman and Perlina Lau 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.

If you're anything like us, there's a good chance you've sat in traffic wondering why suddenly no one is moving. And while it can be tempting to change lanes when the one next to you looks like it's moving faster... research suggests that might not actually get you there any quicker. Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Warwick, Randa Herzallah, has been looking at the maths behind traffic ... and how small changes in the way we drive could help keep things flowing. Randa spoke to Jesse.

The 2026 Pacific Music Awards were held in Auckland last night, capping off what's been a stellar 12 months for Kiwi-Pacific music. Sam V once again took out Best Pacific Soul/RnB artist for the fifth year running, but it was also a huge night for friends of the show, A.R.T. A.R.T is a R&B trio comprised of Anastasia, Rosetta, and T-R3X. By the way, you might remember them as Le Art, which is what they were called when they won our Kiwi Cover Song Context in 2020. Given we are currently judging this year's entries we thought it would be fitting to catch up. They chat to Perlina.

What a whirlwind week it's been for the National Party .. and it's only Thursday! Yesterday Christopher Luxon survived his second confidence vote in four months, then sacked Chris Penk for launching the challenge. Today the party says it's united .. but how can National make sure the public believes them? Charlotte Shipman is a former NewsHub journalist and now a senior partner at communications company AM and Co. She chats to Perlina.

We think this conversation could resonate with many of you .. because our next guest is keen to explain why hiring staff over the age of 50 is a good thing. Ian Fraser is the founder of Seniors at work, a job site for older people who are looking for work opportunities. We get lots of your messages saying ageism is alive and well in 2026, so are keen to hear what can be done to combat it.

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.

Time now to dive into topics that might not make the news but could be filling up your group chats. Joining Jesse in the Auckland studio is Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson. Today they'll discuss smart glasses, Ariana Grande, Tupac murder case and the celebrities asking for donations towards their wedding day.

Time for our weekly travel feature, Heading Off, where we share your travel tales. If you have a story that's worth telling, we'd love to hear from you. 2101 on text or Jesse@rnz.co.nz via email. Today we're heading to Uganik. It's small, mountainous, mostly uninhabited, island of the South Coast of Alaska. Our guide - Michael Phillips - spent 4 months living there as a commercial fisherman.

Kelly Gibney is with Jesse in our Auckland studio to share this week's Easy Eats recipe, Chicken and leek pie with mustard and parsley. Click HERE for the recipe

Palmerston North-based lawyer, a National Party member and a former activist Liam Hehir joins Jesse to discuss the fallout from today's National caucus meeting.

Time now for Our Changing World, this week host Claire Concannon heads to the University of Canterbury to learn about New Zealand's role in a multi-national project called Solar-Move. Solar-move is looking at whether electric vehicle uptake could be helped by putting solar panels on the vehicles, and in carparks. Claire investigates.

They say nothing is guaranteed in life except death and taxes ... as a society we're quite good at talking about taxes .. but our next guest says we've got some work to do when it comes to chats about death. Dying Matters Week is coming up from 7th to the 13th of September, and its purpose is to encourage people around Aotearoa to talk more openly about death and grief. Louise Duffy is the creator of Dying Well, a website full of practical resources for people thinking about their own end-of-life wishes, or for helping parents, family, and friends.

It has been a busy day in the Beehive and so who better to share their thoughts than the Afternoon Politic Group Chat a place for friendly disagreement and good faith debate.. this is a segment we usually do on Thursdays after 3;30 but Luxon's leadership challenge called for an emergency pod. In Auckland political scientist Dr Lara Greaves, and in Feilding FSU member and screenwriter Dane Giraud, on the lawn outside parliament comedian and commentator Tim Batt.

Politics: Luxon Stays - What happens now?

There's the work you can see around the house and then there's the work that lives in someone's head. Remembering the school forms, booking the appointments, noticing what's running out, planning the weekend, anticipating what everyone will need next. We've heard women describe this invisible workload for years, because they're usually the ones carrying it. Zach Watson offers the male perspective. He calls himself a "recovering man-child." He challenges men to stop thinking of household responsibility as something they simply help with. With 1.4 million followers on social media, plus workshops and coaching, he's trying to change the way men understand what it means to carry their share of family life.

Every Tuesday we put a dilemma to you and get your thoughts on how to resolve it. This week we're discussing new parents and whether their desire to keep visitors away for the first eight weeks is okay. Your reckons welcome on 2101 or of course, email on afternoons@rnz.co.nz. [picture id="4JV2TCW_curated_lifestyle_eIVef2sFlwg_unsplash_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Let's chat about what's making waves in the world of tech now .. Tim Batt is our guy who has all the answers .. he joins Jesse. [picture id="4L8HPPN_NZICF23_Gala_AK_JCZ_0467_lores_SUPPLIED_JINKI_CAMBRONERO_Tim_Batt_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Afternoons book critic Catherine Robertson joins us to share what she's been reading: Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh (Hachette) The Bookshop Detectives: Murder and Mojitos by Gareth Ward and Louise Ward It Gets In Your Blood: Lives of a Racecourse by Marty Smith (THWUP) [picture id="4KMOPYP_Author_Photo_2019_webp" crop="16x10" layout="full"]