The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

After making an impression on millions around the world - and making an appearance in Wellington in 2024, 'The Art of Banksy' exhibit is set to hit Auckland. Banksy is one of the world's most famous artists with a significant global following, but his identity remains unknown - despite exhibitions of his work selling out and attracting interest. Banksy didn't personally curate this exhibit, but producer and curator Michel Boersma says he's had dealings with the artists. "People have a view of Banksy as this sort of Robin Hood figure in general - we've done this in 90 cities around the world and in general, you get this whole Robin Hood kind of thing. We are dealing with collectors and collectors who buy art, often direct from Banksy - art that he's created to sell for his own lifestyle." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. He's beloved by loads of readers, especially for his brilliant book I Know this Much is True. This new one is, to a large degree, informed by the years he spent teaching creative writing to incarcerated women in a Connecticut prison. It's the story of a man whose life is in a downward spiral. Corby Ledbetter is out of work and self medicating when he causes a devastating accident which upends both his entire life, and that of his family and sends him to prison. Isolated and fearful, he's desperate for a way back, and for redemption, which neither he nor his family might be prepared to give. Baddest Man by Mark Kriegel. Mike Tyson was boxing's youngest ever heavyweight champion, and this is the story of the first 22 years of his life. I'm no fan of the sport but I'm fascinated by boxers – years ago I read Tyson's autobiography, Undisputed Truth and loved it. This book gives his origin story – the author's written a terrific account of the forces which shaped Tyson and what made him into the extraordinary athlete he became – but also into the baddest man. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're in a position where you can upgrade your seat for a long haul flight, there's still a debate to be had about which seat is better. Air New Zealand's Skycouch allows travellers the freedom to lie down on the plane - but how does it compare to the reclining seats in Premium Economy? BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton compared the two - and wrote a review on her blog here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 29 June. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and host of the Front Page podcast, Chelsea Daniels, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! The Government's new sentencing reforms are set to kick in today - what do we make of these? Do we see these new changes making a difference? Lotto Powerball could be about to get a whole lot harder - is this outrageous? Would you bother getting a ticket now? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Famed Australian comedian and social media star Jimmy Rees has made a name for himself across a number of platforms - and he's taking his latest tour on the road. He's set to perform in New Zealand for the first time ever, as well as Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra between October and December 2025. He says there's plenty in his act for people to laugh at on both sides of the Tasman - America, for instance. "I guess it's a bit nerve-wracking, you know? Australia's big, but we also have some very concentrated cities as well. The land mass is enormous." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you're feeling stressed about work, it can be hard to leave it at the office - and this can impact sleeping habits. Poor sleep quality, including interrupted sleep or non-restorative sleep, is associated with a variety of negative consequences - health-related problems, diminished quality of life, and economic costs. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacked the impact of work stress and poor sleep - and unveiled how you could reduce these impacts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carrot cupcakes Ingredients 1 tsp baking powder ¾ cup plain flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda ½ cup raw sugar 2 free range eggs ½ cup vegetable oil 2 cups grated carrots ½ cup chopped nuts (can be walnuts or hazelnuts). 2 tbsp raisins 2 tbsp of decoration Icing Juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp butter, softened 100g cream cheese, softened ½ cup icing sugar, sifted Method Preheat oven to 190*C. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil and mix until just combined. Fold in carrots, nuts and raisins. Divide mix evenly between lightly greased cupcake moulds or muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool in tin for 5 minutes then turn out onto wire racks. Ice when completely cool, and decorate with anything - light silverballs, sunflower seeds, coconut or shaved chocolate. For the icing Beat together lemon juice, cream cheese and butter. Add sugar and continue to beat until smooth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard that regular exercise is good for you. But a major new study published in Cell might have just found a way to bottle its benefits and deliver them to people who can't hit the gym. Over six years, the researchers tracked 13 healthy volunteers as they exercised, from a single 5km run to a 25-day running plan and they collected as much data as they could across the body including genes, proteins, metabolism, gut bacteria, and immune cells. They found that at first, exercise stresses the body out with inflammation and metabolic overload. But over time, the body adapts and rebuilds, emerging stronger and more balanced. Surprisingly they found that your kidneys play a leading role in how your body responds to exercise. Betaine is a natural molecule made by the kidneys, as a powerful 'exercise mimetic' something that can copy many of the health benefits of physical activity, especially when it comes to slowing down aging. The researchers gave betaine supplements to aging mice and found that : Their immune cells looked and acted younger. Inflammation dropped significantly. Physical coordination and memory improved. Even signs of depression faded. All without the mice needing to exercise. Betaine works by blocking a key inflammation switch in the body (called TBK1). This shuts down the chronic 'inflammaging' the slow, inflammation that drives many age-related diseases. This discovery doesn't mean you should stop moving, exercise still offers a whole package of benefits that pills can't fully replicate. But for people who are older, injured, or living with disabilities, this research could lead to real, science-backed alternatives. Betaine is already known to be safe, and the researchers believe it has strong potential as a geroprotective supplement one that could help people stay healthier, longer. Future clinical trials will tell us if these effects hold true in humans at scale. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 edition of the New Zealand International Film Festival is set to open in Auckland from July 31st and run until September 10th. The event is speculated to show a wide range of films, from local productions to overseas affairs with international prestige. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall unpacked some of the films expected to be screening - and outlined some promising entries. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cardrona Alpine Resort has officially launched their highly-anticipated Soho Basin - expanding to become New Zealand's largest commercial ski area. The expansion was part of a long-term investment program by RealNZ, Cardrona's parent company, and it increases the area's total footprint to 615 hectares. Cardrona and Treble Cone Chief Mountain Officer Laura Hedley says as soon as the conditions are right, they'll be opening the area up for skiing. "There's 150 hectares of terrain in there, which is huge. It's new terrain, no one's been in there...we were really conscious when we did the terrain trail development so that we could keep it as natural as possible." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT leader David Seymour's had to step up over the last few days, as Prime Minister Luxon spends time working on relationships overseas. Luxon's been in China and Europe, meaning Seymour's had to address the media as part of a post-Cabinet press conference - and answer questions. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon's taken all the necessary steps to ensure both Deputy Prime Ministers were prepared for the role ahead of the next election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Danish Government is set to allow citizens to claim property rights over their features and voices in a bid to tackle the impact of AI deepfakes. The proposed legislation would mean that people would have the right to ask platforms to take deepfake content down if it breached copyright infringement. Copyright lawyer Rick Shera is sceptical about the prospect of this new law making a difference. "The real issue for me is that it doesn't really address the underlying problem - which is the harm that's caused by deepfakes of a particularly intimate nature." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spate of new sentencing reforms will take effect today, including the sentence discount caps that promise to restore 'real consequences' for crime. As part of the reforms, judges won't be able to reduce an offender's sentence by more than 40 percent for mitigating factors. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the Government's top priority is to restore law and order. "Remember, people were very worried about disorder in their communities and streets and high levels of crime - and over the last 18 months, we've been doing a lot of things. But a big part of it is about ensuring there are real consequences for crime." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, what's your number? What's the amount you think would be perfect to win in Lotto Powerball? The amount that allows you to pay off the mortgage, set the kids up, help family, and maybe fulfil a dream or two - but without it upending your life in a negative way? We've all got a fantasy number, right? I reckon $10 million would be perfect, but to be honest, I'd take anything the numbers give me. A couple of grand - cheers! Lotto NZ has a proposition to evolve the draw to ensure it continues to appeal to people. It's early stages and will need Government approval, but the idea is to see fewer regular wins and more of the exciting mega jackpots of $50 million. How do they do this? By adding another Powerball number. Currently to win Powerball, you need to get the 6 first division numbers, and the Powerball number. There are 10 balls in the Powerball draw and your chances of winning are 1 in 38 million. Add one extra Powerball and the odds would decrease to 1 in 42.2 million, meaning the jackpots rise to the crazy amounts which cause a frenzy of ticket sales. $50 million jackpots sound exciting. It's why so many people ignore the odds and queue up to buy a ticket in the hope of winning an unfathomable amount of money. So Lotto NZ are likely onto something here. But it will also make it harder to win. I've always felt uncomfortable when the number gets above the $20 million mark. Yes, it's wonderful to think of the good you could do, but I also start to think about things - like whether I would tell anyone? How could you keep it private? Would it impact my friendships? Relationships with family? How would it impact our children and how they chose to live their lives? Would it change priorities and values? Yes, you could say it's a waste of energy overthinking something which I can say with confidence is not going to happen. Even so, hearing about Powerball winners, and there have been 11 overnight millionaires this year, including two lucky punters who split $30 million from Saturday last week, does see me buying the occasional ticket. So knowing it's even harder to win and there will be fewer winners makes the lotto draw less appealing to me. For two simple reasons. I don't think anyone needs to win $50 million. And I'd much prefer more New Zealanders had the life changing experience of waking up on Sunday a heck of lot better off, rather than just a few waking up filthy rich. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from filmmaker Celine Song on her Hollywood hit, The Materialists starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. Author AA Dhand talks his latest thriller, The Chemist. Francesca asks how his experiences with abuse, violence and overdoses while running a late hour pharmacy in the UK informed his writing. And one of our top comedians, Chris Parker is on a nationwide tour. So he joined Francesca in studio talk New Zealand's ever-growing comedy scene. Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session. Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Chris Parker's new live show proved successful at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and he's ready to unleash it on the Kiwis. Parker's touring Stop Being So Dramatic around the country and he's promised the show is his most personal yet. He says he's expected a more reserved reception from Kiwi audiences - but he knows how to work with that. "We still have this weird mentality sometimes, we're just like 'Oh, we're just little old Kiwis, no one knows about us and we're just a team of five million at the bottom of the world'...but our sensibility, what we can laugh at is just as advanced and as complicated and robust as any international audience." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a previous life, crime writer AA Dhand dealt with a lot, including overdoses, violence, and abuse, to name a few. Amit worked on the frontline of the NHS crisis, running his 100 hour pharmacy in Bradford - surrounded by drugs, drug dealers and giving him insight into the lives of addicts and the dealers preying on the vulnerable. He turned these experiences into a crime thriller, The Chemist. "I kind of wrote it as Dexter meets Breaking Bad. The idea came to me when I was at my pharmacy and I'd seen a very unfortunate drug deal go wrong and somebody had died outside my pharmacy...the whole area was on lockdown with police and helicopters." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan: In 1987, 10 year old Alix and her family are at the beach for the great New Zealand summer, but everything feels a little off - her teenage sister's desperate to run with the in-crowd, her mother's wildly distracted and her father is adrift. Alix befriends another holidaymaker, and they hunt for signs of a girl who went missing years ago, while a creepy neighbour watches everything they do. This hums with foreboding against the sun and sea. It's magnetic. A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich - The author has been a doctor in New Zealand hospitals for the last ten years and describes a system which is itself on life support. It's not just about the under funding and the bureaucracy of our health care, but he also covers the very toxic atmosphere that a lot of the young doctors work in, with senior doctors protecting their patch and demeaning or humiliating the newcomers; and the disparities between public and private healthcare and how so many of these senior doctors do extremely well from working across both, while patients and other health care workers suffer. It's required reading for anyone with an interest in our hospitals and how they work - and how they don't. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of ZB's resident travel experts, Megan Singleton, has been taking in the sights of the US - and this week, she's opening up about her experience with Dollywood. Dollywood ppened in 1986 in Pigeon Forge on the site of former attractions dating back to the 1960s, and it's a must see for fans of Dolly Parton, or even fans of the old west. Megan Singleton detailed her experience - and revealed why she also recommends taking in the Smoky Mountains. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist, Wilhelmina Shrimpton, and resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Peter Burling will join Italian syndicate Luna Rossa for the 38th edition of the America's Cup in an undefined role. What do we make of this? Should we be worried? A new study out of MIT has revealed that increased use of ChatGPT could be linked to declining cognitive performance. Are we surprised by this? One UK farm is charging $213 for people to cuddle a cow in a bid to boost revenue. Would you pay to cuddle a cow? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 22 June 2025, comedian Chris Parker on embracing being dramatic and the new edition to his family. Pharmacist turned author AA Dhand opens up about using his experience with drugs, drug dealers and addicts as the premise for his new novel The Chemist. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon heads from China to the NATO Summit and International Relations Professor Robert Patman discusses Luxon's progress. Francesca talks the legacy of 'Jaws' as it turns 50. And - want to improve your manus? Dr Michelle Dickinson has the latest science on getting the biggest splash. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June marks Men's Health Awareness Month - leaving plenty of room to discuss how things can be improved. Research shows men face significant health challenges and often experience poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancies compared to women. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacked the contributing factors and health conditions behind these stats - and revealed how things could be fixed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brussel sprouts with bacon and parmesan bake Cook time: 5 minutes Prep time: 5 minutes Serves: 4 12 brussels sprouts, stalks removed 4 rashers of streaky bacon, roughly chopped 1 cup finely grated parmesan 1 tbsp sunflower oil Flaky salt and cracked pepper Pre-heat a oven to 180*c Cut stalks off brussels sprouts and cut each brussel into 1/2. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil and blanch them for 1 minute and refresh in iced water to halt cooking. Heat the sunflower oil in a pan and sauté bacon for 3-4 minutes. Add sprouts in the last 30 seconds, season and transfer to a roasting tray. Sprinkle over the parmesan and bake for 25 minutes. Serve straight from the oven. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of the studies that have looked at how humans and animals dive into water have focused on understanding the small splash created by their water entry - think Olympic divers and hunting birds. New research published in the journal Interface Focus has not only done the opposite, by studying how to make the biggest splash, but has done so thanks to a fun New Zealand pastime. Manu jumping, a sport originated by Māori, involves leaping from bridges, wharves and diving platforms to make giant splashes. Each year, this is taken very seriously at the Z Manu World Champs, where the current record is a splash of more than 10m high! An American fluid dynamitist came across a video of manu jumping on social media and ended up analysing over 50 YouTube videos of Kiwis partaking in the sport to try to understand the science behind creating the largest splash. Needing more data than 50 videos, he then built what he called Manubots, which were 3D printed splash-making robots. Each Manubot had a different jumper shape and were dropped into water tanks at different test angles and movements. The research found that the best body position for a huge splash is a 45 degree V shape when entering the water. This shape creates a perfect underwater cavity that dramatically collapses and sends water flying - which in physics is a phenomenon known as a Worthington jet. The angle of entry is important, but just as important is what the body does after hitting the water. Manu experts are known to do an underwater backbend and leg kick, and this motion was found to keep the air cavity open for longer before it collapses, leading to a bigger splash. The V shaped, kicking Manubot confirmed that the perfect splash happens when you open your body just after hitting the water. So, if you want to try out for the next manu champs, remember to: 1 – aim for a 45 degree V-shape when hitting the water 2 – Jump from the highest height possible that is still safe. 3 – Time your underwater move so that you open your body immediately after entry. While this research might sound ridiculous, the study of how bodies interact with water at high speed is useful in naval design, biomechanics and even injury prevention for divers and athletes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2002, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland released post-apocalyptic horror thriller 28 Days Later - which proved to be a monster hit. The 2007 follow-up, 28 Weeks Later, wasn't as successful, but the duo came back together to release another sequel. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals whether 28 Years Later lives up to the hype. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a high-intensity fitness event set to take place this coming November, and it's designed to beat a Guinness world fitness record. Cantabrian Jared Rogers aims to break the world record for the largest high-intensity interval training - or HIIT - class in a single venue. Organisers are calling for participants now - and Rogers says he's hoping to attract at least 10,000 participants. "Through bringing a collective of people, this many people together, I think there's something that we could do that's going to be pretty magical - and we can really dial into that whole mental wellbeing, community wellbeing space through something like this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three groups of construction and infrastructure companies will be bidding to build the next section of the new Northland Expressway after the shortlist was unveiled. Minister Chris Bishop today revealed the three consortia, selected by the NZ Transport Agency, would move on to the next step in the bidding process to build a 26-kilometre, four-lane expressway from Warkworth. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says the three groups will put through proposals for the new stretch of road. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crusaders have revived their Super Rugby dynasty, while inflicting further heartache on the Chiefs. The red-and-blacks have come from behind to win the final 16-12 in Christchurch, for a 15th title. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith unpacked the highs and lows of the match - and unpacked the Crusaders' strategy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says New Zealand has a proper, comprehensive relationship with China. Christopher Luxon is keeping tight lipped about what he talked about behind closed doors with Chinese leaders after his three-day trip drew to a close. Otago University International Relations professor Robert Patman says the trip appears to have been a successful one, based on the reactions from both sides. "The two sides signed 11 agreements, including agreements in food safety, customs and also tourism. And also, I think he gave Mr Luxon a chance to plug New Zealand as an educational destination for post-graduate Chinese students who may be considering switching from the United States." Prime Minister Luxon and his officials are set to visit Europe, where Luxon will attend the annual NATO summit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Steven Spielberg's terrifying film Jaws turned 50. Yes, 50. Jaws was released in 1975, and on Friday afternoon I mentioned this on Newstalk ZB and shared how much it affected me when I saw it for the first time. We were having our first big family holiday - Mum and Dad took us to the Gold Coast to see family, and on the first night my cousin thought it would be a great idea to slip the Jaws VHS into the player to entertain his Kiwi cousins. We were there for two weeks to enjoy the beach and sunshine, and I refused to enter the water. I think I may have got in up to my knees at the beach, and then I would ask if we could go back to the apartment complex pool. My parents did not take me to Oz to swim in a pool. Even though I was scared senseless by the film, I was reminded by the chat on Friday that so was everyone else. People were calling to say Jaws had driven them out of the ocean for their entire lives. Not many films leave that kind of impression. It didn't matter that we knew the shark wasn't real. It didn't matter that we knew it was a fictional story. It didn't matter that we knew we were being manipulated for entertainment's sake. Jaws simply had us all on edge in the water. Jaws also created a template many films have followed since. Alien was said to be pitched as Jaws in space, and in Nope, filmmaker Jordan Peele's lead characters are stalked by a mysterious alien presence which doesn't reveal itself until late in the film, much like the great white in Jaws. Withholding the shark's appearance in Jaws until the second hour wasn't intentional, but it worked brilliantly as a tension building device. What the audience conjured up in their imagination was worse than anything Spielberg could deliver. It turned out that Bruce, the mechanical shark, was a nightmare to work with. He hadn't been tested in salt water and often wasn't able to perform. So, Bruce appeared less than expected and also pushed the shoot out from 55 days to 159. This meant the film couldn't open when scheduled, which was just before Christmas in 1974, and the decision was made to release it in the summer of 1975. Jaws didn't just revolutionise the ‘creature' genre. It was the first ever summer blockbuster and changed the way Hollywood releases movies. It also became the first film to cross the US$100 million takes mark at the box office. It was also a disservice to sharks! But as Friday's chat proved, this pop culture phenomenon's biggest achievement is probably that summers have never been quite the same. Thank goodness we get to commemorate the Jaws anniversary in winter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celine Song has generated plenty of interest and acclaim off her directing debut Past Lives - and her new romantic drama Materialists has attracted attention from film fans. Materialists stars Dakota Johnson as a successful match-maker for New York's elite singles who's torn between two potential suitors of her own. Celine Song says she used her own experiences as a matchmaker to help craft the film. "The reason why I quit - the job was too fun. My day job ended up being too fun. It's so fascinating because all these strangers of all kinds just tell you what's in their heart." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tell-all expose from within our health system was released this week - and it's attracting plenty of interest. Written by Auckland-based ICU doctor, Dr Ivor Popovich, the book shares his journey from med school through the public health system. He talks of bullying, funding and staffing shortfalls through to the inequities between private and public healthcare Popovich says he wasn't sure how his colleagues or employers would react to the book - but he was committed to getting his experience out there. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who is well known for terrific books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Daisy Jones and The Six. In 1980, Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women scientists accepted by NASA for the space shuttle programme where she's part of a close team who work and play together. Vanessa Ford is a brilliant, practical aeronautical engineer and they discover possibilities in their friendship they never knew existed - so when Vanessa's mission goes badly wrong and Joan, in charge of astronaut communications is responsible for bringing her safely back to earth, the tension and emotion is off the chart. As were mine. Inside the Wire by Rhonda Hapi – Smith. Rhonda spent almost 20 years as a prison officer in a number of men's prisons around the country. She's a tough, physically strong woman - she also worked on the Riot Squad - with a hefty dose of compassion who always understood that in order to get the best out of the people in her care she needed to build relationships but take no nonsense. The book is an insight into life inside the prison walls, both for the incarcerated men and for the staff, and it comes from a career of which she is justifiably proud. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an interesting time to be in the US, with protests erupting across the nation in response the the actions of the Trump administration. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across all 50 states, with the aim of “rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarisation of our democracy”. Megan Singleton is in Chicago at the moments - and she opened up about the realties of travelling through the US during a turbulent time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist and editor Jo McCarroll and NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The private v public healthcare debate continues - how can we keep the waitlists down? There doesn't seem to be an obvious solution, but this week, the Government is claiming to have 9696 extra elective surgeries, putting it on track to reach its end-of-June target of more than 10,579 operations. What do we make of this? Should we have price controls in place for alcohol sold at off-licences in an attempt to reduce harmful drinking at home and boost hospitality? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Obesogens are chemicals that disrupt the body's normal controls and promote fat cell formation (adipogenesis) and lipid accumulation. These can potentially lead to obesity. Common types of obesogens include BPA, phthalates, herbicides, pesticides, PFOA and nonstick cookware and food additives. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how obesogens affect your body - and how you can minimise your exposure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 15th June 2025, Oscar-nominated Celine Song on her new film Materialists and how it was inspired by her own experience as a matchmaker in New York. ICU doctor, Dr Ivor Popovich explains why he has spoken out against his employer with a tell-all expose of New Zealand's health system. Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom with the latest on Iran and Israel. Health Minister Simeon Brown on why legislation is required to refocus the health system on results. And what are osbesogens? Erin O'Hara explains. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lamb shoulder with chermoula Cook time: 3 hours Prep time: 5 minutes Serves: 6 1 lamb shoulder Chermoula 2 lemons, juiced 1 onion, peeled and diced 10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 1 tbsp ground coriander 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tbsp garam masala 2 tsp turmeric, ground or fresh 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 cup fresh coriander leaves 1 cup parsley leaves 2 tbsp oil 1 tbsp flaky salt Place all the chermoula ingredients into to a processor and blitz until smooth. Place the chermoula into a plastic bag along with the lamb shoulder. Close the bag up tight making sure all the lamb is well coated. Place into the fridge for a few hours or over night if you have the time. Preheat the oven to 220*c and place a large roasting tray into it to heat for 5 minutes. Remove the lamb from the bag and pull out the tray from the oven. Pour in the oil and carefully place the lamb into roasting tray. Place the lamb into the oven and cook for 10 minutes on one side before turning for another 10 minutes. Turn the oven down to 150*c and bake for 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with tinfoil to rest for 30 minutes before serving. I would serve the lamb with roasted kumara, sauteed greens and chili sauce. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your next medical test involved breathing into a tube instead of drawing blood? A new study out this week published in the journal Current Biology has discovered that every human has a way of breathing through their nose that is so unique to them, it can be used to identify individuals with incredible accuracy. These personal "nasal respiratory fingerprints" may even hold powerful clues about your health, your mood, and even how your brain works. We often take our breath for granted. But behind every inhale and exhale is a complex web of brain networks working quietly in the background. The researchers attached tiny wearable device placed in a nasal cannula (like a mini oxygen tube) for 24-hour recordings on 100 volunteers. They found that a computer could identify individuals from their breathing patterns with up to 97 percent accuracy and this pattern remained stable for nearly two years. The researchers found that these unique breathing patterns, could predict a person's Body Mass Index (BMI), arousal state, and even levels of anxiety, depression, and traits related to autism. They found that: People with higher anxiety levels tended to take shorter inhales during sleep. Higher depression scores were linked to stronger nasal airflow and longer pauses after breathing out. And people with higher autism traits showed longer pauses between breaths and more variability in how they inhaled. All this was measured passively, just from how air flows in and out of the nose. The nose is more than just a smell detector, it's closely linked to the brain's emotional and cognitive circuits. Previous research has even shown that the rhythm of nasal breathing can sync up with brain waves and influence memory, attention, and emotion. This study supports the idea that breathing, especially through the nose, is more than a life-sustaining reflex. It's a mirror of our inner world. The potential of this new discovery is huge! If nasal breathing patterns can reflect not only who we are but also how we feel and function, then this non-invasive technique could become a powerful tool in health monitoring, mental wellness, and neuroscience. Instead of detecting early signs of depression or anxiety with a questionnaire, you could potentially diagnose in just a day's worth of breath. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the UK's Download festival saw a significant spike in accidental emergency calls, authorities have urged fans to put their smartwatches on airplane mode. Emergency calls were automatically being made from the moshpit because the tech incorrectly assumed people has been caught in collisions. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Fashion Week is set to make a return. After the cancellation of last year's event due to economic concerns, Giltrap Group has been secured as a naming rights sponsor for three years. One of New Zealand's premier designers, Kathyrn Wilson of Kathryn Wilson Footwear, says everyone's 'delighted' that they can celebrate the industry after a rough few years. "We were really hoping it was coming back this year - there's also some really awesome changes to the structure of it and the venue and the way that they've been approaching the designers, which is really exciting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.