Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Bryan Adams is a rock music legend. With 16 albums under his belt, he's estimated to have sold between 75 million and 100 million records and singles during his 45 year career. His most recent album, ‘Roll with the Punches', harkens back to his earlier releases, with the rock sound that's made him so popular over the years. And off the back of an extensive string of international dates, Adams is bringing his ‘Roll with the Punches Tour' to New Zealand next March. Adams has seen major success, but his drive to create has never waned. “I'm not one of those people that sort of, rests on my laurels and is just sort of quite happy to go back and do the same thing over and over,” he told Jack Tame. “I enjoy the creativity and I really like, you know, putting songs together.” “I've still got the melodies in my head, so I gotta get them out.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emerging Kiwi musician Isla Noon has remixed and revamped her first album. ‘Out of Body' was released in 2025, and explored themes of identity and detachment through a combination of synth heavy electronic pop and delicate vocals. ‘Out of Body (REDUX)' was made in collaboration with producer Justyn Pilbrow, taking seven tracks from the original album and pushing the electronic sound harder. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the EP. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Jetting into Vanuatu across the sapphire sea and the crisp palette of lagoon blues, all the hues of your tropical holiday dreams stretch out to greet you. After taking in the delights of Port Vila, head out of town for some rewarding encounters. For a sweet burst of soft adventure, jaunt to the Mele Cascades, about 15 minutes north of town. It is a wonderland of waterfalls. A twenty minute walk through lush and fragrant native bush leads you to the most sublime 35 metre high waterfall and gin-clear rock pools." "I highly recommend experiencing the unspoilt bliss of Lelepa Island, which looms on the west side of Efate's Havannah Harbour. Day tours are slickly operated by Lelepa islanders, packaging a kaleidoscope of authentic experiences and insights into one magical day." Read Mike's full article. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh Patrick Vanderpool, son of a billionaire media mogul, is destined for power. But the affair he's having could ruin everything. Vanessa Vanderpool, married to one of America's most influential men, has her own ambitions. But the affair he's having could ruin everything. When the other woman is found brutally murdered, there are only two suspects... One of them is guilty. But which one? Conman turned defence lawyer Eddie Flynn must risk his life to find out... The Nowhere Boy by Anne Cleary A child disappears in broad daylight—and no one sees a thing. Three-year-old Oliver, known as Apple Man, vanishes from a remote car park while his young father, Scott, carries fishing gear down to the beach. When he returns, the car is empty. His son has vanished without a trace. Apple Man's mother, Fae, gets the call that shatters her life. Enraged with her ex, Scott and drowning in her own guilt, she is pulled back into Scott's orbit as police launch a desperate search across a wild coastline and dense pine forest. With every hour that passes, the case tightens around them—and the question no parent can bear to answer grows louder: what if he's never coming back? Far from the search, a grieving woman convinces herself she's been given a second chance. Tessa has lost three babies and the future she believed was hers. When she encounters a small, abandoned boy, she sees not a crime, but a miracle she cannot surrender. As the hunt intensifies, her fragile fantasy of motherhood begins to unravel. As the pressure continues to mount, everyone involved is forced to confront the same terrifying question: when love becomes possession, how far is too far? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday August 08 2026, we were joined by rock legend Bryan Adams ahead of his New Zealand tour of Roll With The Punches. Jack dissected what he believes to be one of Christopher Luxon's worst weeks as Prime Minister. Francesca Rudkin reviewed the new film that depicts the life of our endeared rugby superstar Jonah Lomu. Is AI literally changing the way we think? Clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland joined us to look at the research. And Chris Schulz gives the emerging Kiwi talent of Isla Noon a good listening to – we hear his review. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people will be familiar with two modes of thinking – fast and slow. Fast thinking is intuitive, whereas slow thinking is deliberate reasoning Researchers are proposing a third mode, one that they've called “cognitive surrender” – the tendency to accept AI-generated answers without critically evaluating them, which is effectively farming-out decision making to AI. They gave participants a variety of different problem-solving tasks and allowed some of them to access AI, while others could only rely on their own fast and slow modes of thinking. They found that: Participants often followed AI advice even when it was incorrect. When AI was right, performance improved substantially; when AI was wrong, performance dropped below the level of those working without AI assistance. One of the most striking findings was that participants became more confident after consulting AI, regardless of whether the advice was correct or incorrect. People who had higher levels of trust in AI were more likely to follow incorrect AI recommendations and less likely to question them. People with stronger analytical thinking skills were more likely to identify faulty AI advice and override incorrect recommendations. Incentives for accuracy reduced cognitive surrender by encouraging people to question and verify AI-generated responses. The findings suggest the greatest risk is not AI making mistakes, but people becoming less likely to recognise and challenge those mistakes. For organisations, there is potential for a gradual erosion of independent thinking if employees routinely defer judgement to AI, particularly in roles that rely on professional expertise, critical thinking and accountability. It's interesting to read this alongside other research which has shown that more experienced workers use AI better than newer workers, as those with more experience had a better understanding of their jobs and could spot when AI was making mistakes or offering unhelpful suggestions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were going for a lovely walk through the town of Lincoln and came across the Lincoln Envirotown Community Gardens. Locally maintained by enthusiasts, growing all sorts of edibles – nicely done! But that wasn't really what surprised us most: Julie discovered a series of flowering Hamamelis with a lovely range of coloured flowers. No doubt these shrubs had been planted quite some time ago (many decades), but they were flowering in the middle of winter… and smelling pretty darn good too! There are quite a few Hamamelis species (more than I expected); the most common species come from the USA, Japan, and China, but within the gardening industry it's becoming quite obvious that many growers are working with hybrids in all sorts of colours, shapes, and sizes. There must be dozens of varieties. A great old name for these plants is ‘Witch Hazel'. ‘Witch', derived from the Old English word wice or wych, meaning ‘pliant', ‘bendable', or ‘to bend'. It's not just flexible branches, but also the shape of the leaves – many leaves keep hanging around the developing flowers. Hamamelis virginiana is often used as a skin toner, getting rid of pain and swellings, as well as itching and allergic troubles. No doubt something from the old days… Many Hamamelis cultivars can be pruned nicely: it keeps the flowering ends on the top. Some of the cultivars are literally grafted on the parent rootstock; in itself not a problem, but rootstock is often much faster growing than the cultivars and often you end up with two colours on one tree. The best way to avoid that is by checking, finding, and pruning the rootstock where it comes up from the “grafting point” point almost right at the bottom. You can pick it easily – a larger and thicker stem that just looks like rootstock, exactly where it was grafted. Plant them in moisture-retentive soil with lots of organic matter; neutral to marginal acidic soil. They hate drying out in summer – hence the organic material! And keep them in an area where the hot summer sun is avoided. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Markets fluctuate, which can make investment a tricky business. Property may seem like a guaranteed investment, but according to Ed McKnight, the number one mistake people make is assuming past returns guarantee future performance. He joined Jack Tame to dig into the details to try keep listeners from making this mistake. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the tech world now, nothing is new – just new players joining markets Meta has launched their own AI coding agent called “Muse Code”, which they say is designed for large, sprawling code bases. It doesn't have a subscription offering though, so it's pay per use. It's also around the same price as the other frontier models, unless you decide to opt into let your code be used for training which will make it 1/10th of the price. It's arguably about as good as OpenAIs Codex, but lags behind Anthropic's Claude. A new addition to the note taking market too Wispr AI —one of the best dictation AI tools around— is about to get into the meeting notetaker market. It hadn't been announced yet, but changes to its legal docs suggest the move. The tool will apparently use your system audio to listen into the meeting, similar to Granola, then create the notes for you. They'll be searchable via AI too of course. Other note taking services join as a pseudo person, which makes it more obvious you're being recorded. Basically, these days, if you're using an online conference tool, you need to assume you're being recorded. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Shards In 1980s Los Angeles, aspiring writer Bret and his elite prep school circle navigate identity, desire and obsession as a magnetic new student arrives amid a serial killer's reign of terror (Disney+). Ted Lasso Jason Sudeikis is Ted Lasso, an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team - despite having no experience. But what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for with optimism, underdog determination…and biscuits. In season 4, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women's football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would (Apple TV+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's a critical juncture in the run up to November's election. National will set its party list, meaning those MPs who either aren't standing in an electorate or are unlikely to win an electorate seat will be keenly waiting to see the numbers next to their names. If the current polling trends don't improve, National's in line to lose something in the vicinity of ten or eleven MPs from its caucus. Perhaps even more concerning to the party than the total number of MPs who'd be lost, is the experience under threat. MMP maths always makes this a bit of a tricky equation, but even if the party loses several of the electorate seats it currently holds, very few MPs are likely to get in on the list. Perversely, the party might find itself quietly hoping to lose more electorates in order to protect some of its most senior ministers. In an absolute worst-case scenario, any or even all of Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop, Gerry Brownlee, and Paul Goldsmith could be gone. A result like this would be devastating for National, even if the party is returned to government. Just consider for a moment the influence ACT and NZ First have been able to exert in the coalition this term, and now imagine a significantly smaller National caucus without some of its most senior and experienced Cabinet ministers. The list rankings are surely a bit of a penny-drop moment for members of the caucus. Unlike many of my media colleagues, I haven't thrown myself into frenzied speculation over Christopher Luxon's future at every opportunity, but as many have already noted, this was among his worst weeks as Prime Minister. Some will say his patronising comments to the Rotorua business audience and his off-the-cuff musings in this studio over the future of MMP were simply communication gaffs from a Prime Minister who by his own admissions, isn't always as strong a communicator as some of his predecessors. The problem with that of course, is that communication is such a big part of the job. Not just speaking to media, but speaking to voters, and being aware of how your communication is received. The thing I found most interesting about the Rotorua comments was that the PM apparently lacked the EQ to see that his bland, empty corporatese-riddled answer wasn't landing. Not only that, but his office doubled down. They released the transcript. And only when that garnered even more of a backlash did they pull back and apologise. The same thing could be said of his MMP referendum. It's hard not to be left with the impression that at times he lacks an instinct for understanding how his comments will land. And in an election campaign where those skills are going to be continuously tested, it constitutes a not insignificant liability. As National confirms its list rankings, the question isn't simply if Christopher Luxon can lead the party to an election result that allows them to form a government, it's what that government looks like. And whether the party risks being so diminished in coalition that it's a win in name only. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Savage House In 18th-century England, Savage House follows Sir Chauncey Savage, a gloriously unscrupulous social climber propped up by debt and bravado. When invited to host the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chauncey and his razor-sharp wife, Lady Savage, launch a bid to impress. As preparations spiral into duels, decadence and bloodshed, their performance careens out of control--a darkly comic satire of class, spectacle, and the art of appearing important. Lomu A theatrical documentary about the legendary Jonah Lomu. An intimate and heartfelt character study tracing his Tongan upbringing, meteoric rise to fame, and the complicated personal and health battles he faced at the pinnacle of world rugby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An email from a reader giving me feedback on the cost of making my pistachio and white chocolate cookies, got me thinking of economic baking ideas. This recipe for peanut brownies is just the ticket – easy to make, rich with protein from the egg and nuts, they're a filling little lunch box filler or perfect to have with a cuppa tea. Makes 20 Ingredients 125g butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 ½ cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsps. cocoa 1 cup roasted peanuts or other nuts Method Preheat the oven to 180C. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy, then beat in the egg. Sift in the dry ingredients, then stir through the nuts. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls and place onto baking paper lined tray and press slightly to flatten. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool on the tray for 10 minutes while they firm up, then transfer to a cooling rack. Make them your own Other nuts can be used – cashews, walnuts, or my favourite, tamari almonds. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sport as a whole will always claim people's attention, but the popularity of the games contained within that broad category ebbs and flows. And one sport in particular, seems to be in the midst of a comeback – chess. Kevin Milne learned about the game's increasing popularity recently, and is quite delighted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new album from The Strokes. ‘Reality Awaits' is the band's seventh studio album, following on from their 2020 Grammy Award-winning album ‘The New Abnormal'. 'Reality Awaits' is filled with apocalyptic imagery, corporate imperialism, and political commentary, paired with the heavy use of pitch correction and auto-tune. Chris Schulz joined Roman Travers to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Sculpted with lagoons and islets and flanked by thickly forested emerald hillsides, cascading down to the water, Port Vila's alluring good looks is what screensavers were made for. The locals' smiles are as wide as a coat-hanger and that gentle, authentic Melanesian warmth will constantly keep delighting you in Port Vila. There is a timeless innocence to their cheerful, inquisitive and friendly patter." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hayley Sproull wears many hats. Along with being one of the hosts of ZM's Breakfast show, she's a television host, a podcaster, an actor, writer, and a comedian. She's also newly single, and her recent dating escapades have led to the creation of her newest comedy show – ‘Sproull On The Prowl'. “Every year I make a comedy show, and every year it gets harder to think about what the theme is going to be,” she told Jack Tame. “I don't have a lot of hardship, you know, I haven't really overcome a lot in my life – so it gets harder.” In the past Sproull has done shows about things like her body, being in a long-term relationship, and what it's like being child-free by choice and living that life in your thirties. “Then I was like, I don't know what's next, and then I went through a massive break up.” “While it is very sad to go through a life-changing breakup, there in the back of your mind, you're like, “there's your content.”” It's been a fair bit of time since Sproull last dealt with the dating market —15 years to be exact— and things have changed quite a bit. “Lots has changed,” she told Tame. “Physically for sure things have changed ... but I think, like, I'm so much more confident, right? “And you are very aware of what you will and won't accept from people now. I don't have a lot of, and I'm not looking, I'm not out there looking for a husband or anything.” “I'm just looking for decent people to have a good time with.” And that's not even mentioning the dating apps, which Sproull now has extensive experience with – Tinder, Feeld, and even Raya, the dating app for the rich and famous. “I mentioned one of them in my show, a super famous singer-songwriter with a number one hit song that's dated lots of celebrities popped up and I swiped on him because I thought it'd be funny,” she explained. “I screenshotted it because I wanted to tell everyone who I saw and the app kicks you off immediately.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ransom by Daniel Silva Alice Winter, one of Britain's most dazzling socialites, seemingly has the perfect life—a lavish home in posh Knightsbridge, a grand estate in Devon, millions of followers on social media who eagerly await her next post. But when she disappears without a trace while on holiday with three old friends from Cambridge, her desperate husband, the real estate baron Edward Knight, turns to none other than Gabriel Allon to find her. He soon discovers that Alice Winter is not the woman she appears to be, that she has a reckless side, that she has secrets. But Edward Knight has a secret too, a secret so dangerous that Gabriel will have no choice but to return to the life he thought he had left behind. An old enemy lurks there, waiting for him to make one misstep, waiting for the perfect moment to exact vengeance. The Social Circle by Sophie Wan When Maggie Tang arrives as a transfer student at UC Berkeley in 2005, she has no idea how her life is about to change. In the hallway of her dingy apartment building, she meets Adam, Charles, Hari, and Priya, the friends with whom she'll create Circle, the world's first major social media platform. But navigating her creative ambitions alongside love and friendship isn't so simple, and when they inevitably collide, Maggie exits Circle in dramatic fashion. A decade later, Maggie is struggling with a new venture when she receives an invitation to celebrate Circle's tenth anniversary on a private European island, everyone back together again. While she's still bitter about how things ended, her company desperately needs the publicity, and deep down, Maggie can't resist the handwritten plea at the bottom—Come, please. Between boat rides and beach days, bit by bit the reunion begins to feel like old times. But the journalist writing a retrospective on Circle is eager for a scoop, which means they can't tiptoe around the past forever. And when a new truth is revealed about their fallout all those years ago, Maggie will have to decide whether to run again or fight for this second chance with the people she once loved most. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the main concerns Kiwis have when planning out their retirements is the cost of getting old – especially when it comes to healthcare. Ed McKnight runs through a couple of the key things you need to take into consideration when it comes to health after retiring. Public is free, but you pay the price of waiting Over 36% of patients have waited more than four months for surgery The Government's target is 5%, which is why two-thirds of elective surgery in NZ now happens in private facilities (some of that is publicly funded). People wildly underestimate what private costs Most Kiwis think a hip replacement is under $10,000. It's about $27,700–$33,100. Prostate cancer surgery runs around $26,700–$32,300 and breast cancer surgery is around $9,400–$31,100. Ultimately, it's about quality of life. One Auckland man was quoted $165,000 for back surgery, couldn't pay, and sat at home on nine pain prescriptions until the public system took him. Insurance fixes that, but the premium quadruples by 65 Health insurance for a non-smoking office worker is about $170 a month at 35, but it's about $676 at 65. By 75 you're nearing $1,000 a month — over $100,000 across that decade. Over-65s claim more than three times what 35–49-year-olds do. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday August 1st, 2026, Roman Travers is in to host the show while Jack recovers from a cold. Kevin Milne shares his about chess' rising popularity and thinks everyone should get amongst it... The dinner table is set with a winter warmer recipe from Chef Nici Wickes – a cost-effective Lamb Ragu. Our resident music man Chris Schulz gives the new album from The Strokes a spin. And we also have Jack's previously recorded interview with Hayley Sproull, who's currently touring her new comedy show, ‘Sproull On The Prowl'. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all see toadstools and mushrooms and fungi in autumn and winter (and beyond). It was just six weeks ago that we trumpeted the amazing contestants for the “Fungus of the Year”. But gardeners, nature nerds, and kids often find these wonderfully weirdly shaped miniature soccer balls lying on the forest floor – white with light-brown slimy structures. Basket fungi are large spherical structures that carry the spores of the fungus: it's that brown smudgy stuff on the white, rubbery polygons. Those spores smell quite putrid (try them!) and attract all kinds of flies that lap up the moisture – it's probably full of proteins and nutrients! Spores stick to their feet, and as they land in the forest on some organic debris, the fungal spores are distributed – repeating the cycle. When you see a very juvenile version (they look like creamy-white eggs, sticking half out of the ground) just grab one and cut it open! It's remarkable how the basket fungus is totally compressed, ready to hatch inside that “egg”. Main points of the story… What can we learn from this fungus? They recycle stuff – there is no waste in nature. The various flies and other insects spread the spores throughout the forest – I reckon those brown/creamy patches attract those flies. If you have some patience, you can see the flies “licking” the yummy spores up before flying away to other parts of the forest floor. I remember my Jack Russell used to find the smelly deposit and licked it himself! Nature cooperates… everybody wins in the arrangement. Nature communicates with chemical clues – the smell of the spores attracts the vectors. Want to know how to economize on transport cost by reducing the size of packages? Have a look at the basket fungus! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anaphylaxis – what is it? Is it something you're born with, or can you develop it later in life? And why should we treat it seriously? What is anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid allergic reaction affecting the whole body. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to a trigger. Common triggers include foods (peanuts, shellfish), insect stings (bees), medications, and latex. Symptoms usually appear within minutes. It's a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Can it be dangerous? Yes – it can become life-threatening within minutes. The swelling of the throat can block breathing. Blood pressure may drop, causing collapse or unconsciousness. Without treatment, it can be fatal. Early recognition and treatment saves lives. How do you know if you're susceptible to an allergic anaphylactic episode? Previous anaphylaxis is the strongest risk factor. Mild allergies to foods, insect stings, medications, or latex increase the risk. Allergy testing may help identify triggers. Your doctor or nurse can develop an emergency action plan. If it does occur, how do you treat it? Call emergency services straight away. Lay the person flat if possible, unless breathing is difficult. Give adrenaline (Epi-pen) immediately using an autoinjector. A second dose of adrenaline may be needed after 5–15 minutes. Hospital assessment is always recommended. What is an EpiPen? An EpiPen is prescribed by your doctor and is an adrenaline auto-injector. It delivers adrenaline, the treatment for anaphylaxis, and is very easy to use – simply injected into the outer thigh. It opens airways, reduces swelling, and raises blood pressure People at risk should carry one at all times. Family and caregivers should know how to use it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LinkedIn admits it has an 'AI slop' problem LinkedIn has become infamous for cringey content, but with the rise of AI, the posts are getting out of control. And LinkedIn knows it's a problem. It's so bad that LinkedIn now has a button to report a post for seeming like AI slop. Yes, that is the real label. They say people come to LinkedIn to connect with real people, who share their real perspectives, ideas, and expertise. That does not mean they want to see something they could ask AI themselves! In an amusing case of irony, LinkedIn has pulled down its own "Enhance your post with AI" feature. Prepare for your tech gadgets to get more expensive There is a global shortage of computer memory and storage with the boom of AI and data centre builds, and it's now so bad that Apple is warning its investors. In its call this week they said they're seeing continued demand for their latest generation of devices but also challenges securing memory, saying there is "less flexibility". Apple now has $11 billion dollars in inventory, almost double from September last year, suggesting they're stockpiling the components needed for their most popular devices. It's likely your tech gadgets will become more expensive as the cost of these critical components continue to be in hot demand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ms. X A suburban mum and her high school friend plot to frighten her unfaithful husband straight, but their scheme spirals into murder, trapping her between law enforcement, drug lords, and ruthless PTA mums (Three, Three Now). Born To Bowl From executive producer Ben Stiller comes a humorous and heartfelt docuseries following five professional bowlers as they chase glory, respect, and much-needed prize money. It reveals a quirky sport shaped by personality as much as skill (Neon). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day It's a brand new day for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him -- and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him -- sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn't forgotten them. The Devil's Mouth Five friends explore The Devil's Mouth cave system in Thailand for one last adventure before life in the real world begins. But they soon discover that something is hunting them under the water… fast, silent, and deadly. In the suffocating darkness, trust erodes, panic spreads and every wrong turn becomes a fight for survival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's get one thing straight – I love New Zealand lamb! However, I'm not made of money, so I need to find clever ways to use the cheaper cuts or to stretch it further. Lamb shoulder chops are a great choice – easy on the pocket and full of flavour. Serves 2-3 Ingredients 4 lamb shoulder chops 2 tbsps. olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves garlic ¼ cup wine, red or white 1 cup stock 1 cup crushed tomatoes 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (or use scant tsp dried) Pinch chilli flakes 1 tsp sea salt & ¼ tsp black pepper Zest from half lemon to serve Small handful chopped parsley to serve 50g parmesan to serve Mashed potato, pasta or polenta to serve Method Heat the oil, then brown the lamb chops in a large pot. Remove from the heat. Sauté the onions and garlic for 1-2 minutes in the same pot, then pour in the wine and simmer for one minute. Return the lamb chops and add in the remaining ingredients (barring those labelled ‘to serve'). Cover and simmer for one hour. Remove the lid and simmer for further 20-30 minutes or until the meat falls easily away from bone and the sauce thickens a bit. Use two forks to shred the meat away from bones. If there is an excessive amount of fat from the meat, spoon this off the surface of the sauce mix. Add meat back into sauce and heat. Spoon ragu over mashed potato or polenta or toss it through pasta to serve. Add zest, parsley and cheese and eat! Nici's notes Make a double batch of the ragu and freeze it for a future meal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I haven't spent that much time watching the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow, but what I have seen has been incredible. They all come to an end on Monday morning our time, having begun back on July 23rd. There's been a great deal of ongoing discussion about the viability of the Commonwealth Games, and whether or not they're finically viable, with the bigger Olympic Games to compete with. All in all, I have to say that my thinking on that has changed over the past few weeks. Once again, we've been treated with a fabulous exhibition of our finest athletes. I've loved catching some of the events and seeing competitors that I've never heard of – let alone seen competing until these games. In terms of the Comm Games future, we're constantly faced with questions that confront us in terms of what is and what isn't affordable, but ultimately, it's fantastic to have something as joyful as an international completion to focus on – or to distract us from the often-overwhelming aspects of everyday life. I did use the word international, which I know isn't strictly true with the Comm Games, but its right up there on the world stage with many great sporting nations. And it only feels like tall poppy syndrome to follow any comment about the Comm Games with “but it's not an international event”. We've had the Football World Cup to get stuck into, the Tour De France as well – and the Commonwealth Games. If I had the time to watch them all, I would. It's also been great that good chunks of those competitions have been free to view, much like the days of old when I grew up watching all of the sport New Zealand competed in – for free. Albeit on a clapped-out early rendition of colour TV. Do you remember the excitement of knowing that Dick Quax, John Walker, or Allison Roe were running in any of the Games? I don't think that collective excitement and enthusiasm has disappeared, I just think that life has become a whole lot busier for most of us. I don't know of anyone who's been able to glue themselves to all of the Comm Games, but I think we're all still celebrating some of the big wins for Kiwis when we get the chance to talk about it all with friends on the phone, or mates over a coffee. Zoe Hobbs and her amazing 100 metre gold medal was a real highlight for me. Zoe made history, producing the run of a lifetime to claim a stunning gold medal in the women's 100m final. The 28-year-old sprinter led from start to finish, crossing the line in a national record time of 10.93 seconds. The performance also established a new Oceania record and cemented Hobbs' place among the greatest athletes New Zealand has produced. That's just one amazing highlight in the mix of fabulous New Zealand wins for me. My youngest daughter once ran at national level, and I loved watching her incredible determination to be the best runner she could be. I share that same sense of joy when I see our determined athletes smashing records and personal bests at these Commonwealth Games. David Liti the weightlifter was another. Liti set a Games record by lifting 223kg to become a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist. So yes, although I haven't been able to see a whole bunch of events from theses Commonwealth Games, I really hope that they have a long future. In a climate where money is being pulled from so many aspects of life deemed to be unaffordable or frivolous, I sincerely hope that successive governments see the value in supporting our athletes to be the best that they can be. Whether or not they do is entirely out of your —or my— control, but all we can do is cheer loudly and keep celebrating our victorious competitors in the hope that they will a Commonwealth Games to aim for in 2030. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charli XCX's seventh studio album, Music, Fashion, Film, released on July 24, 2026. The album cover, shot by Aidan Zamiri, features three cultural icons: John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese. Release & Tracklist The highly anticipated follow-up to Brat is already being teased as a significant shift in style, leaning into an eclectic, crossover sound rather than pure electro-pop. The album includes previously released singles such as "Rock Music" and "SS26". The full tracklist includes: Rock Music SS26 Card Declined Camera 2007 I'm Afraid Yeah Wink Wink Persona Magic Metal Montana No One Lasts Forever (featuring David Cronenberg) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Weekend by T.M Logan When a group of friends rent a converted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales, they have little idea that this one weekend may change the course of their lives forever. While out on a walk, a storm descends & the friends take shelter in the mouth of an old lead mine. A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz The Word is Murder, the first book in the Hawthorne series, is being made into a major feature film. The actors have been cast, the script written, and filming has already started in Hastings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Touted as one of the most beautiful places in the world, there really is something special about Banff. Combining the striking stature of the Rockies with the snug, quaint charms of small-town Canada, it's the sheer splendour of accessible and abundant wilderness that casts you under its spell. Just as visitors to Sedona routinely talk about “the healing energy” that seeps from its stones, Banff also brags about its revitalising powers. It's widely considered as a sacred place, ever since indigenous people were drawn to the region thousands of years ago, taking to the healing waters of the natural hot springs and gathering various plants for medicinal purposes. It was First Nations guides who introduced Europeans to the area in the 1800s, and by the 1880s the natural hot springs on Sulphur Mountain were a wildly popular Victorian tourist attraction. It was the railway that opened Banff's treasures to the world. Mercifully, the Canadian government had the vision and wisdom to safeguard nature's riches by creating Canada's first national park in 1885, Banff National Park. They run a very tight ship in this town. To live in Banff, you must be an eligible resident. This generally means your primary daily employment must be located within the Banff National Park boundaries. The permanent population is only 9000. There are no vacation homes. Buying property for holiday use or weekend getaways is strictly prohibited. Even if you own property, you must actively work in the park or rent it to someone who does. Similarly, residential property cannot be used for short-term rentals (like Airbnb) unless the property is owner-occupied and licensed specifically as a Bed and Breakfast. Perhaps some over-crowded but underpopulated New Zealand tourist towns should consider this model, like Tekapo. The main artery of Banff Ave is a swanky tourist mecca, lined with lodge-like hotels, many built in Rocky Mountain style, with the accent on lodgepole pines, limestone, and steeply pitched roofs. I love how all the side streets are named after local animals. I even saw roaming elk prancing down Elk Street. The best time to visit Banff depends on whether you snow-dappled vistas, wildflowers or larch season. I suggest the spring months are best, with show-mopped peaks and thinner crowds. Wildflower season runs from July to August, but it's chocka with visitors taking advantage of the warm weather for high-alpine hiking. “Larch madness” is a short, specific window from mid-September to early October, when the larch tree needles turn a brilliant gold. The beautiful natural display draws dense crowds to popular trails like Larch Valley. After alighting from two ravishing days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver, it fast became apparent that my short time in this mountain oasis would not be enough to do full justice to its surrounding wonders. But here's a round-up on some tried-and-true must dos. For the view of views, do not leave town before you have taken a ride to the rooftop of Sulphur Mountain, on the Banff Gondola. The eight-minute ride to the summit of 7,486-foot mountain delivers a horizon-wide alpine panorama. Six distinct mountain ranges unfurl their grandeur before you, along with the Bow River Valley and the town of Banff itself. Beyond the top station, the boardwalk trail climbs even higher, leading you to Sanson Peak. Alongside savouring the snow-flecked scenery in the heart of the Rockies, I was also intrigued by the remnants of the Cosmic Ray Station, perched on top of Sulphur Mountain. This throwback to the 1950s became Canada's most important cosmic ray observatory, contributing to our understanding of how the sun effects the earth's environment. Needless to say, even in summer the mountaintop temps can be chilly. If you need a warm-up, just below the gondola base station, Banff Upper Hot Springs will put some pep in your step. Discovered by Canada's First Nations people, they've been regarded as sacred waters for centuries, rich in minerals like sulfate, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium and sodium. Give yourself a therapeutic soak in the toasty waters, that average 39C, gazing at the sprawling heft of Mount Rundle. Savour some solitude on an easy, in-town hike, just off the downtown thoroughfare of Banff Ave. The Bow River Trail follows the north shore, while the Bow Falls Trail hugs the south side. The south shore is particularly scenic if you head east to the Bow Falls Viewpoint. It's also a dreamy spot for a photo of the waterfall and the “Castle in the Rockies”, the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. Waterfall hikes top the list of things to do in Banff any time of year. Johnston Canyon is a cracker, close to town and easy. The walkway is attached directly to the canyon walls. It takes you right to the thunderously noisy Lower Falls and then up to the taller Upper Falls. In winter, the canyon completely transforms as the waterfalls freeze into massive blue ice pillars. You'll need ice cleats to strike out on the ice walk. Good eats? In the heart of Banff town, in Bear St, Bison is the go-to for "Rocky Mountain comfort food," with an emphasis on slow cooking. As the name suggests, it's a great place to try bison dishes—bison tartar and slow-cooked braised bison short rib are signature dishes—but there's also Wild British Columbia halibut, wood-fired duck, and Alberta beef striploin. Sunday brunch buffet is a celebrated pastime at the Fairmont Banff Springs, the iconic “Castle in the Rockies.” The setting is postcard perfect - exactly why the Banff Springs Hotel was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company in 1888 to woo the world to the rugged Rockies. Make a brunch booking at The Vermillion Room to nosh on signature dishes like smoked Wild Pacific salmon and slow-roasted Alberta beef. Be sure to add a side of maple brownies.Banff has a soft-spot for fondue, a hangover from the hordes of Swiss guides who were recruited over a century ago to spirit visitors through the Rockies. If you're up for fondue with a difference, head to the Grizzly House. Nearly 60 years old, it's a dining experience that's hands-on, unconventional, and uniquely Banff. Hot rock meat is served raw and cooked at your table. Alongside prime cuts of Alberta beef and fresh seafood, you'll find wild game and exotic meats including ostrich, elk, bison, frogs legs, alligator and rattlesnake. Like the classic Swiss cheese and chocolate fondues, they're all designed for sharing. Across the Banff area, a sequence of jewel-like lakes are the stars of the show, tinted a dazzling turquoise hue due to the presence of glacial flour (ground up rock particles). The dazzling Moraine Lake, Abraham Lake, Lake Minnewanka and Lake Louise are the best in show. Hike the Lake Agnes Tea House trail through gorgeous old-growth forest which does indeed bring you to a quaint old tea house on top of a mountain, just north of Lake Louise. Built as a refuge for hikers, it started serving tea in 1905, and still does today. Their hearty homemade soups, will hit the spot, too! Just off the Trans-Canada Highway close to the town of Banff, soak up the tranquil Vermilion Lakes, a network of marshlands and lakes. The lakes have wonderful views of jagged Mount Rundle, the town's signature peak. It's an awesome spot for picnicking, paddling, relaxing, and reflection photography. Grab a rental bike from town and pedal your way around this soothing slice of solitude. I didn't have time to explore the Icefields Parkway on this trip, but I will be back to do it. Many fellow travellers in Banff were raving about this 230km-long drive, connecting Banff National Park with Jasper National Park. Powerfully rugged mountain scenery, glaciers galore, and a gob full of wildlife including moose, wolves, bighorn sheep and grizzly bears: the Icefields Parkway comes highly recommended. A hotel guest remarked to me that it felt like the road had been carved inside the earth, with massive mountains clinging to the Continental Divide. If you're up for some cultural dabbling, check out the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Founded by the late Peter and Catharine Whyte, two Banff artists, the museum exhibits artworks and artifacts relating to the cultural heritage of the Rockies. Many of the earliest photos of Banff National Park can be found here, and the gallery of prized landscape paintings are sublime. Where to stay? One of the newest offerings in Banff is the Otter Hotel, delivering a winning blend of comfort and nature. This four-star mountain luxury hideaway is in the uptown district, on Banff Avenue. It's conveniently close to the bustle of downtown – just a ten minute walk away, but you're also blissfully removed from the tourist throb, tucked away in a calming forest setting. That's what Otter Hotel really excels in providing, a calmer escape, wrapped in nature's splendour. It's nailed the sweet spot, basking in the charm of Banff at a relaxed pace. You'll definitely want to dine on-site at one of Banff's newest upscale culinary destinations, Good Folk. Refined Canadian flavours and an intimate ambiance are to the fore, with exquisitely prepared dishes like bison burgers, Alberta wild boar chop, King Cole duck breast and Icelandic Arctic char. Their creative cocktails are a masterclass in wizardly mixology. The hotel's thoughtfully designed rooms feature contemporary comforts, elevated finishes, and inviting spaces to relax after an intrepid day out exploring. Surrounded by towering lodgepole pines and framed by sweeping Rocky Mountain views, nothing beats unwinding in the rooftop hot pools or lounging around the outdoor fire pits, drinking in the dreamy views of Cascade Mountain right in front of you. It's an elevated oasis of hospitality. All hotel guests also receive a complimentary ROAM transit pass, which is like a hop-on, hop-off bus, zipping you around all of Banff's top sites, with a high frequency schedule. otterhotel.com After soaking up the best of Banff, Calgary Airport is just a 90 minute ride away and Banff Airporter is the trusted ground transportation provider, with a comprehensive shuttle schedule. Highly-rated for their convenience, comfort and reliability, Banff Airporter operates a year-round, stress-free shuttle service to and from Calgary Airport and the mountains. For over 28 years, this locally owned and operated company has provided a dependable link, between the heart of the Rockies and the airport. Just sit back, relax and gorge on the scenery, as you pass by the serrated peaks spanning south of Banff, like the gorgeous Three Sisters, before the mountains give way to the rolling prairies surrounding Calgary. banffairporter.com Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB's resident traveller and can be heard each week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've just returned from time in Europe and noted, with some sense of shame, my lack of bilingual-ness. Others seem to pick up new languages relatively easy. What's behind this frustrating (at least for me!) phenomenon? We already know that learning more than one language as a child puts you at an advantage for learning other languages as an adult. Also know that there are some specific parts of the brain (e.g., the Broca's area) that play a big role in learning languages. However, new research shows that it might actually be different areas of the brain and different types of skills, not just language skills, that help adults pick up a new language. Researchers followed a group of people trying to learn a new language - to avoid any effect of having picked up bits of language over time which might make learning easier, the researchers got people to learn a completely made-up language called Brocanto2. Brocanto2 is an artificial language created by language-learning researchers to study how adults learn a new language under controlled laboratory conditions. It is not a naturally spoken language. Instead, it was designed to have enough vocabulary and grammar to resemble a real second language while remaining small enough to be learned in experiment. It refers to pieces and moves of a chess-like game to construct the language. You can only use the language to describe activities within the game so can't literally translate it. An example of Brocanto2 is “aaf troise ploof neim” – not sure what exactly this means but it refers to how a particular game piece would move on the board. The researchers found that, at least in the first few months of learning this new language it wasn't the typical parts of the brain that were lighting up, it was areas to do with attention, problem-solving, and memory. The study only lasted for a week so possible that other changes in the brain could occur later. Possible implication is that if you want to prep your brain for new languages maybe hone your memory and problem-solving skills first and keep them sharp. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of bird nerds and nature lovers have been keeping an eye on the bird flu arrival in our country. What can we do, what can't we do and what should we do to keep them as healthy and as safe as we can? Here are some things we can consider, published by Predator Free NZ staff: Image credit: John Bruin We are aware that some migratory birds have always been seen as carriers of that flu - it's quite logical that the skua was first found. It probably indicates that many more of these Antarctic birds are full of flu, especially when they get together in places where we, humans, rarely get to. MPI 0800 80 99 66 to report sick birds Image credit: Alex H Weller Using bird feeders? I am not too convinced that is a good idea. Big flocks of all sorts of birds could cause contaminations, maybe not bird flu, but I have seen a lot of silvereyes with Pox on their feet and faces. Yes, I know that Pox is a different issue with birds, but it simply pays to be careful with large numbers of birds hanging around bird feeders. While there is currently no official recommendation to take down bird feeders, they need frequent cleaning to help protect birds. The disease can spread through saliva on nozzle feeders, so clean them daily by scrubbing with hot water and dishwashing liquid (wear gloves and a mask!).  Open dishes and containers accumulate poop and are high risk. Predator Free recommend stopping their use immediately, which makes total sense. If you are trapping pests with eggs and raw poultry as lures… A big bucket of mayonnaise and a small squeezable container. Raw eggs and bird meat could contribute to the spread of disease. While the risk is very low for now and there is no official recommendation to stop using these lures consider phasing them out for now, especially if you use raw egg as a lure in and around your trap. As an egg alternative, we recommend egg-based mayonnaise, which is pasteurised and therefore doesn't pose the same risks as raw eggs. Image Credit: Predator Free Tamahere Keep cats safe and happy at home Cats seem to be very susceptible to severe illness from Avian Influenza H5N1 and could contract it from exposure to wild birds. Keeping cats safe and happy at home minimises the risk of being exposed to the disease, and it's best for our wildlife too. Oh, and while we are at it, keep your dog on a lead too! Makes sense, don't you think? Image credit: Fiona Taylor MPI: 0800 80 99 66 to report sick birds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wine: Massey Dacta Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough RRP form $17.99 The taste: A complete classic through and through with a pungent bouquet of fresh pomaceous and citrus fruits, passionfruit and sea spray. A fine lees quality and saline effect are woven into the acid line promoting the flavours that the bouquet suggests, plus lime and makrut leaf. Crisp and salivating with a persistent flavour profile and decent finish. The food: Sauvignon Blanc is well suited to foods with elevated natural salt content - such as oysters and fresh green-lipped mussels. Salty foods reduce perceptions of acidity making the wine taste fruiter and silkier. That means potato chips n' dip work as well as feta cheese and salty crackers; however for the drinkers looking for food to match this wine with dinner tonight then I suggest Flounder or John Dory, pan-seared and served with duck-fat potatoes and salty peas. The vintage: In Marlborough the vintage was excellent overall with most producers happy with fruit-set, ripening and harvest conditions. The tonnage harvested was up too - Sauvignon Blanc accounts for around 89% of the fruit harvested in the region - so there's a lot riding on its success as a variety for those who like a glass of this wine, and key export destinations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe (HBO Max) A sci-fi comedy series about comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (from Big Bang Theory), who accidentally triggers a multiverse apocalypse after breaking a quantum device built by Sheldon and Leonard. Furious (Disney +) A thriller drama series created by Elizabeth Meriwether starring Emmy Rossum and Lola Petticrew, premiering on Monday. It follows an FBI agent tracking a serial killer, where their paths to justice blur the line between right and wrong. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday July 25 2026, Sara Wiseman is starring in the mammoth production of Macbeth by Auckland Theatre Company, and is in studio to beckon us into the wild world of Shakespeare. Also, AI has escaped human control and Jack is wondering how we get the worms back in the can... Francesca Rudkin reviews the hilarious Kiwi body-horror film Mum I'm Alien Pregnant. We get the do's and don'ts of bird flu protocol from Ruud Kleinpaste. And why do some people learn new languages better than others? Dr Dougal Sutherland explains. Hear all these and more on the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI is now breaking out of its containment. Should we be afraid? Boy, it's almost like Hollywood predicted this! Our worst fears about AI have come true, with OpenAI saying its new ChatGPT model managed to connect to the internet and hack into another AI company's servers. It was meant to be contained, it was not meant be connected to the internet, but it found a way through. These new models are so good, they're finding vulnerabilities and exploiting them all on their own to achieve a goal. JPMorgan Chase's CEO Jamie Diamond was one of the people briefed into Anthropic's powerful model, and said this week that we need to slow things down. He said widespread access to Mythos could create risks comparable to "giving ballistic missiles to individuals". He also revealed that some of the bank's departments have cut 30-40 percent of headcount and moved them to be AI powered. He thinks the claims of mass layoffs because of AI are unfounded but that while jobs have been lost, jobs have also been created. Move over Slack, there's a new chat app in town This one - called Buzz - brings your human workers and AI workers together. Just like you would ask a coworker for something, you can ask your Agent for it too. There can even be managers of agents that have teams of specialists and they handle all the tasks. Buzz comes from one of the founders of Twitter, who now runs Block - the company behind Square and Afterpay. It uses your own Claude or ChatGPT on your computer, is open source (so can he self hosted on your own servers for free). Ford is teaming up with Apple to bring better tech to its cars Apple announced a new offering for Automakers and said Ford would be its founding customer. Basically, Apple is making its map and navigation tech available in-car systems. This isn't an Android vs Apple thing, those will still work just as normal, but this is about the car's actual operating system. It means that the car makers can use the same tech that the iPhone maps use, and get all those benefits without needing to spend huge dollars developing it inhouse. Things like turn-by-turn directions, slowdown information, better visualization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Sara Wiseman's made a name for herself in Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes, A Place to Call Home and Mercy Peak - and she's set to take on an iconic theatrical role. Auckland Theatre Company's latest production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is set to debut this Tuesday at Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre, with Wiseman taking on the show's coveted female role. She says the complexity of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship will come right to the surface in this version, and she promises this arc will be 'extreme'. "I think there's a Lady Macbeth in everyone...they want something that they don't have and we've all been there, and sometimes they bend their morals to get it. And we've probably all been there in our lives." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pear and walnut bread Makes one loaf. 1 ½ cups plain flour ½ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp baking powder ½ tsp sea salt 1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon ½ cup chopped walnuts 125g butter, melted (or use oil) 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 cup sugar 2-3 firm pears, grated to yield 1 cup 1 tsp vanilla extract Preheat oven to 175 C. Grease and line a 12cm loaf pan. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add walnuts and toss to coat. Set aside. In a medium bowl, lightly whisk to combine, butter, eggs and sugar. Stir in grated pear, and vanilla and stir to mix everything well. Pour pear mixture into dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Scrape batter into prepared tin and bake for 50-60 minutes or until bread is browned, risen and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes before turning out to cool on a wire rack, top side up. Serve slices as is or generously buttered. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mum I'm Alien Pregnant A New Zealand body-horror comedy about a slacker millennial who gets unexpectedly and rapidly pregnant after an awkward encounter with her neighbour, forcing her to deal with a parasitic extra-terrestrial, sceptical doctors, a useless baby daddy, and her overbearing mother. Whispers In The Woods Originally titled Le chant des forêts. A 2025 French documentary film directed by wildlife photographer Vincent Munier. It follows three generations of the Munier family exploring the misty, wild forests of the Vosges mountains in France. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roading crews and emergency vehicles are assessing the damage following a shallow earthquake in the central North Island this morning. The 5.9 magnitude struck south of Taumaranui just before 5am, and was felt by more than 20,000 people, some in the South Island. The Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management Group says minor slips have been reported in the area, and motorists should take care while driving. Kevin Milne felt the quake this morning, and he joined Jack Tame to discuss the experience. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been yet another week of yet more unsettling news. The conflict in the Middle East appears to be escalating again. As of this morning, we face even higher tariffs in the U.S than under President Trump's previous measure. But if there's one piece of unsettling news I think we probably haven't grappled with sufficiently, it's the latest humbling episode with one of the world's biggest AI companies. OpenAI admitted yesterday that one of its new models has autonomously broken free of its shackles, escaped from the walled-off environment where it was supposed to be safely tested, gained access to the wider internet, and successfully hacked another company. Legally it's a grey area. There's a pretty strong argument that this was a crime. If a person did it, theoretically they could be charged. But it wasn't a person. It was an autonomous AI model going to fairly extreme lengths in order to solve a problem that had been posed by its creators. Again, it was supposed to be contained. Those same masters who posed it a challenge had thought it was confined in what they call a sandbox, a sort of digital playpen where you can wall in a model and stop it from escaping to the outside world. But like a toddler who pulls themself up and climbs out of a cot, this model got free. AI models are now so good at exploiting cyber vulnerabilities, they can exploit the vulnerabilities of their creators. Ultimately, the model solved the problem it had been set. But at some cost. There were heaps of details that made this whole episode particularly interesting. For starters, it looks like OpenAI didn't really understand what its own model was doing. They couldn't tell in real time that it had escaped and was roaming the internet at large. They couldn't pull a metaphorical power cable out of the wall, because they only realised what it had done after the fact. But if there's one thing to be grateful for in this instance, it's the target of the AI hack. It wasn't a bank or a crypto-currency exchange or a weapons system. It was a start up called Hugging Face which works as an interface for open source AI. If anything, the boss of Hugging Face sounded kind of stoked that his business had been targeted. Of course this is the sort of thing that experts have been warning about for ages. At the most extreme end of the AI doomerism scale, they've suggested these systems could ultimately decide humans are an inconvenience and that the world would be a much better place if computer systems were in charge. And arguably one very important step on the road to AI Armageddon is this - a model breaking free. If you can't be bothered engaging with AI, or even if you think AI is overhyped...this week marks a significant milestone. In one sense, it is incredibly impressive that an autonomous system, operating completely free of human control, is able to pull off something with this complexity. In another sense, it is incredibly unsettling. If this is where the technology is today, who can honestly say where it might be in five or ten years' time? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale told in two halves, Gin Wigmore's new album deals with the duality of life. ‘Beautiful Mess' delves into the past decade of her life and the way she navigated love, loss, divorce, parenthood, and the complex nature of rebuilding herself. Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to share his thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.