RNZ: Saturday Morning

Considered one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature, Rebecca Kuang's latest novel draws on her lived experience.  

New family drama Caterpillar explores the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. It's the feature film debut of star Anais Shand.

Citizens of the World Choir includes refugees from around 30 different countries and showcases the power of music to unify and create positive change.

Scientists are now forecasting hazards on timescales from decades ahead to literally minutes before impact. But how accurate can those forecasts really be and how do you prepare for events that are inherently uncertain?

Could you survive 804 days in an Iranian prison? Australian academic Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert did after being detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard while trying to leave Tehran. Now she's warning that state hostage-taking - often called "hostage diplomacy" - is on the rise and says governments need to take a much tougher, more coordinated response.

Award-winning play Playfight explores the difference between rough sex and sexual assault - inspired by the Grace Millane case.

Why do some people think it's okay to talk and eat loudly during a movie? Or to call out during a performance? 

Dame Valerie Adams is a five-time Olympian, mother of two and ambassador for the annual Jammies for June campaign, giving a voice to those who need it most.

Sam Wild is a passionate hunter, award-winning spear fisherman and underwater cameraman who says everyone should be brave when it comes to wild food!

Award-winning journalist Eugene Bingham tells two stories - Te Pahi's story and his own! Te Pahi is the extraordinary true tale of the first influential Maori leader to cross the Tasman. Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi's curiosity about the Pakeha world forged alliances, saved lives and ultimately cost him his own. Eugene is one of Aotearoa's most respected investigative journalists and an internationally acclaimed podcaster. He's an athlete too! Eugene has completed dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons. Nowadays, though, he's more likely to be at the start line of a 5km parkrun. Since 2021, he's been learning te reo Maori, mostly at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, with the goal of re-introducing the language to his whanau. His book is The Chief and the Empire and he talks to Susie about why stories like this are so important today.

Could you survive on a desert island? Award-winning writer Francesca de Tores did just that - except it was by choice, doing research for her new book, Cast Away. She put herself in the shoes of marooned Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk (the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe) who was abandoned by his own shipmates on a remote, uninhabited island with only wild goats and cats for company. Cast Away asks the question - who are you when everything is stripped away? Francesca tells Susie what the experience taught her about herself.

What is it about history's wicked women that is so riveting? Why should difficult and different instantly mean dangerous? Irish-Indian poet Nikita Gill is taking back the fairy tales, Greek and Hindu myths, challenging our ingrained fear of the 'difficult' woman as hard and callous, not nurturing or maternal. Instead she's giving them a shift of perspective to bring some of literature's most maligned or underwritten female characters out of the shadows. She talks to Mihingarangi about how powerful women would be if we only protected and helped each other and why "softness" in women is often another way of men telling them to be quiet. Nikita has nearly 850,000 Instagram followers worldwide for her work and has written seven poetry collections and two novels. Her latest book is Hekate which she'll discuss at the Auckland Writer's Festival.

Australian single mum Catie Gett explains how to feed your family well on an ever-stretching budget.

In just a matter of weeks stalking will officially be a crime in New Zealand. Roughly one in five women and one in fifteen men are victims. 

Médecins Sans Frontières' Head of Programmes is calling on the New Zealand government to do more to protect the international rule of law. 

James Hayes is on the cutting edge of medical technology innovation but he doesn't describe himself as a tech expert. Instead he says he's an educator at heart and so he makes some of his company's software 'open source', meaning it is free for anyone in the world to use. The Christchurch based former physics teacher speaks to Mihingarangi Forbes about how he's helped thousands of midwives through virtual reality and how his latest project will give hospitals another option to use instead of CT scans.

Following the success of his Netflix series, Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd tackles more tough subjects.

Why are broad beans traditionally planted on Anzac Day? And how can you make your own compost full of beneficial microorganisms? 

Despite missing the top of his beak, Bruce the kea is the alpha male at Christchurch's Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Professor Ximena Nelson explains how Bruce's innovative behaviour has challenged their perceptions of what's possible.  

You'll know him as Dr Chris Warner from Shortland Street, but actor Michael Galvin is also an award-winning playwright. His latest, War Hero, is inspired by the 1939 autobiography of Archibald Baxter, a conscientious objector during World War I.

The astonishing story of twin sisters born in rural China - one grows up with her family, the other is snatched away, caught up in the machinery of the state's one-child policy.

Journalist and author Jimmy Thomson believes there is one group of soldiers who have been overlooked: the combat engineers or ‘sappers'. It was their job to clear the way for others to follow and Thomson says that makes them the first ANZACs.

Geoff Stear was a young medic in the British Army when he was sent to the Falkland Islands as part of a military clean-up operation. It would leave him with lifelong PTSD. A dog named Charlie helped him get his life back.

Our favourite book worm, Kate de Goldi, is back with the latest books she can't put down. 

Whether you're unleashing your inner-self or alter ego, dressing up is life-long fun for many of us! 

Do you wish you could perform better under pressure? Sports psychologist Ant Williams says mental resilience can be learned and applied to our everyday lives.

It's that time of year when many of us head in for a flu shot but what about the shingles vaccine?

Communities today often feel more polarised than united. Philosopher Peter Boghossian is teaching students how to navigate differences of opinion.

From the Boxing Day tsunami to devastating earthquakes, TVNZ's first Asia Correspondent Charlotte Glennie has covered some of the biggest stories. 

Josh Silver gave up his career as an actor to become a mental health nurse. He also spends some of his time writing critically acclaimed Young Adult fiction.

He's considered one of Ireland's greatest living novelists - and he's planning to step into comedy.

Shipping companies have gone into emergency meetings following news from Iran saying the Strait of Hormuz will be open during the ceasefire in Lebanon.

How to reset your money mindset and find financial freedom. The founders of Hi Money help women build a healthier relationship with money. 

What if I told you, you can fall asleep in Sicily and wake up in the centre of Rome? That's the reality of sleeper trains, something travel writer Monisha Rajesh is obsessed with.

Most book store owners don't also have a Pulitzer Prize next to their name. But Native American book shop proprietor and acclaimed author Louise Erdrich does.

Artemis II is set to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean just after midday. Renowned astrophysicist Michelle Thaller, who has two friends onboard - mates from her 27 years working at NASA - joins us in the lead up to the historic moment.

Dex Hunter-Torricke spent 15 years as a communications executive helping spin the stories Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk wanted us to hear. He offers a unique glimpse behind the curtain of these increasingly powerful players.

As the North Island braces for Cyclone Vaianu's impact, Chris Brandolino joins us with the latest of what to expect and how to prepare.

The Iran war and rising fuel prices have left us all feeling a bit anxious at the pump.

The stuff of many an outrageous story, UK punk band The Pogues are celebrating 40 years since the release of their iconic album, Rum Sodomy and the Lash.

Yann Martell is coming to the Auckland Writers Festival next month to discuss the parallels between history and modern life.

Have you ever wondered how the resurrection of Jesus Christ came to be celebrated alongside the Easter bunny?