RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern rose to global prominence as a leader who spoke the language of empathy in a world increasingly fluent in outrage. She won admiration as only the second woman in history to have a baby while leading a government and for her response to the Christchurch Mosque attacks. But she also faced criticism over the COVID lockdowns and unmet promises on progressive reforms. She joined Jesse for a rare interview on Afternoons.

Our Australian correspondent Brad Foster gave us an update on the Death cap mushroom murder trial & discussed the new research on the growth of bowel cancer in younger people in Australia.

Anna Rankin reviews Nadine Hura's Slowing the Sun and Forrest Gander's Mojave Ghost.

Daniel Watson, managing director for Vertech.co.nz joined Jesse to discuss the latest tech news.

Over the last two decades the number of places we could - in theory - be exposed to new music has increased exponentially. But instead of making it easier to discover New Zealand artists, it seems to be getting harder. Composer, producer, and lecturer at Massey University School of music Jesse Austin-Steward spoke to Jesse.

DOC ranger is an unsung hero whose job is to clean public toilets at Canterbury's DOC sites and provide toilet paper. And replacing the loo paper is a mammoth job nationwide, with DOC revealing around 15-and-a-half kilometres of paper was ordered over the last year - that's long enough to stretch the length of the country nearly ten times. Ranger Daryl Sweeney answers other people's calls of nature, but he thinks it's about time people answered their own.

School lockdowns in New Zealand feel like they're much more common these days. So, in events like these, or when there's a natural emergency - how can schools communicate quickly with parents and the wider school community?

This week's critter has a rather extreme attachment style. The genus name of the trematode, Philophthalmus attenuatus, means 'eye-loving', which is a polite way to describe the adults of this species. Forest & Bird's Rich Capie explains to Jesse how they got their name.

This week we delve into eclectic decorating with Sylvia Sanford.

Tony Stamp is hosting Music 101 this week. He joined Jesse to discuss what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's coming up on her show tomorrow and because Friday is new music day - he'll pick us a track to play.

Julie Buiso from sharedkitchen.co.nz talks Jesse through a pretty easy and comforting recipe you could make this weekend.

Kate Rodger reviews Wes Anderson's black comedy The Phoenician Scheme and the latest in the blockbuster movie franchise, Mission Impossible 8.

We listen to the unexplained and spooky stories that give us goose bumps. Last week, we were joined by Kate, but didn't get through her whole story. So back by popular demand, Kate is back to finish her story.

What began as a labour of love in the Canterbury high country almost 50 years ago is up for sale. Eighty-two-year-old Peter Foote is putting his family-owned Mount Dobson ski field on the market. He's told Jesse he'd love to see someone carry on the legacy.

Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand is calling for more governmental investment in specialist neurologists, clinical nurse specialists and allied healthcare workers to better diagnose and treat the growing numbers of people with MS in Aotearoa New Zealand. National manager Amanda Rose told Jesse the need is urgent.

History expert Grant Morris joins Perlina to talk about the history of Harvard University and the challenges it faces now that US President Donald Trump has removed the ability of the university to enrol international students.

How should we be using the wood from trees that has to be removed from our parks, gardens and streets? Ali Jones, who is a senior consultant at RedPR in Christchurch thinks she may have the answer.

For today's sporting history, Perlina talked to Adrian Blincoe who was a distance runner who represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also held the New Zealand record for the 5000m for 15 years.

Podcast critic Elliot Childs brings us two podcasts today. The first is The Small Bow, which is a podcast about recovery, hosted by A J Daulerio. Then Elliot talked about The Fretboard Journal, which is for guitar enthusiasts.

Tahlia Vosaki is a Christchurch 14-year-old who has her eye on becoming the strongest teenager in the world. She'll head to the US in August to represent New Zealand at the Teenage CrossFit Games. She talked to Perlina about all the hard work she's putting in.

New Zealand experiences more than 4,500 wildfires every year – and the risk of big, destructive wildfires is increasing with climate change.  Ellen Rykers visits the fire lab at the University of Canterbury, a purpose-built facility for setting things on fire and studying how they burn.  Researchers can burn couches or create fire tornadoes. But today, Ellen is with PhD researcher and firefighter Kate Melnick, who is researching gorse, a prickly shrub that is both common and flammable.  We join Kate as she sets up a large gorse bush in the lab, ready to burn. 

There's a global shortage of ADHD medication, making it hard for some Kiwis to access drugs that are commonly used to manage symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. ADHD care typically combines medication, behavioral therapy, and educational support. But top researchers worry that current treatments don't match the latest science. Paul Tough is a journalist who focuses on education and child development. He explores new research that challenges how we diagnose and talk about ADHD. His recent New York Times Magazine article asks: have we been thinking about ADHD all wrong? He talked to Jesse about it.

Kelly Gibney serves up a rich and creamy dish that is deeply comforting and absolutely perfect on cooler nights.

Once a week Jesse takes us to a different part of the country or wider world hearing travel stories, tips, and history. Today he speaks to RNZ's Agnes McCormack who recently travelled to South America.

For decades, the Golden Bay Visitor Centre has helped tourists explore the area, make bookings, and share tips on top local spots. But next month the centre, which is also home to Kiwibank services, will close its doors as it struggles to make ends meet. Cheryl Elsey is the Chair of the Golden Bay Promotions Association, which has run the centre for 41 years. She told Jesse what the closure will mean for the area.

Sacha Willetts is a competitive skipper and in July she'll become the first New Zealander to compete at the World Jump Rope Championships in Japan. The 40-year-old content manager from Thames will be up against jumpers about half her age - but she told Jesse her real goal is to spread the word and encourage others to take up the sport.

Auckland University scientists have researched how much plastic we could be inhaling, especially indoors where we spend most of our time. Dr Joel Rindelaub and Dr Gordon Miskelly tested the air in two chemistry labs for microplastics that are small enough to be inhaled. Dr Rindelaub explained the results to Jesse.

Newsflash. No one's life is perfect. But we've managed to turn everyday suffering into social currency and being a victim into a competitive sport says renowned psychologist Dr Scott Barry Kaufman. In the age of TikTok therapy, typical difficult feelings are treated like a diagnosis. Dr Kaufman says that while some adversity is real, it can be the start of the story not the end of it. His new book offers insights about taking personal responsibility and embracing the idea that our greatest challenges can result in our greatest victories. The book is called Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential.

Our Australian correspondent Brad Foster gave us an update on the NSW floods, Olympic Breakdancer Raygun's musical.

Bill Hastings joined Jesse to review Niall Williams latest novel - Time of the Child.

Tim Batt joined Jesse to discuss the scandals surrounding the CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman's crypto project called WorldCoin and the case of an AI model trying to blackmail its engineers when they tried to take it offline.

It's been described as the 'Oscars of the Museum world' and our very own MOTAT - Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau's Museum of Transport and Technology has won big.

Deane speaks to Jesse about his fireplace. A fireplace that happend to be playing our radio station.

Winston Peters will tomorrow undertake the first ever visit to Nepal by a New Zealand Foreign Minister. It coincides with the anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest 72 years ago. But New Zealand Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Raj Maharjan told Jesse he hopes future talks will focus more on a mutually beneficial trade relationship.

Talk isn't cheap, it's powerful. The right conversation can build trust, foster belonging, and show people they matter. But as Harvard's Dr. Alison Wood Brooks has found, sometimes we're just not that great at it. Her new book offers practical advice on how to prep and master small talk, and how to really listen. It's called Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves.

Scrabble expert Chris Tallman joined Jesse to share his wisdom on how to conquer the game of Scrabble.

Live from the Paihia iSite!

Our TV critic for this week, Claire Chitham, reviews Dying For Sex, Caréme, and Étoile.

There's a new short documentary that takes a deep dive underwater in Wellington. Seaweed: A Love Story follows Dr Nicole Miller scuba diving in the city's harbour highlighting both the beauty and underwater plight of its underwater forests.

Watching a monarch caterpillar strip a swan plant can be one of those lasting memories from childhood. But now people are being urged to report sightings of live monarch butterflies as experts sound the alarm over their declining numbers - especially in cities. Over winter they survive by gathering in clusters on tall trees or in urban green spaces but there's been a noticeable drop off in those habitats. Jacqui Knight from the Moths and Butterflies Trust spoke to Jesse.

Most of us try a few different jobs in our lives - and work in a few different places - but once Sally Hanrahan made the decision to become a nurse, that was it. And what's more, she has stayed in the same speciality, for almost 35 years. Sally is a palliative care nurse, and her exceptional dedication, skill and experience were recently recognised at the Southern Nursing Excellence Awards. She meets people as they are coming to terms with the end of their lives and while there is an inherent sadness to be had in that. she says it is a gift to spend time with them, to get to know them and to try and help them find whatever peace and comfort they need. Jesse spoke with Sally before her next shift at the Otago Community Hospice.

It's often said New Zealand has no native snakes, but that's not quite true. The venomous, ocean-dwelling yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus) occasionally drifts into our waters. Around 6 to 10 are spotted each year, and because they arrive naturally, they're officially classed as a native species. Chief Executive of Forest & Bird, Nicola Toki, told Jesse this beautiful snake is a true pelagic species, spending its entire life at sea and even giving birth in the open ocean.