The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Richard Burton was a global icon best remembered for his memorable film roles and his passionate - and drama-filled - romance with Elizabeth Taylor, but a new release reveals where it all began. The new biopic Mr Burton will be out in theatres next week and it tells the story of Richard Burton's tumultuous early life - and the school teacher who helped propel him to global stardom. Kate Burton, daughter of Richard Burton and actress in her own right, says many didn't know about her father's early life beyond being born in Wales. "I think it's an amazing achievement - I think they tell the story of my father beautifully, I think a lot of people don't realise where my father came from. The know that he came from Wales, but they didn't know how poverty-stricken his life was as a young person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week. Freak Out City is a follow-up to his 2022 solo project Songs Without Jokes. The lead off single is All I Need, and Bret McKenzie says it's inspired by his long-term relationship with his wife, Hannah. "It's funny, when you've been in a relationship that long, there are some days where you love each other more than other days... and on one of those days where things were going great, I sat down at the piano and wrote this song." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah: Kristin Hannah is the author of several extremely popular books, including The Nightingale and The Women. They're historical fiction, but this one is contemporary - about a broken mother and daughter relationship. Nora Bridge is a nationally syndicated talk show host who dispenses moral and spiritual advice to her legion of listeners, and whose daughter Ruby is a wannabe stand up comedienne, using her mother as the butt of a lot of her jokes. When Nora is publicly shamed and the two of them are thrown together, family secrets emerge which bring about a reconciliation, and a show of courage that neither knew they had. The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden: Abby is desperate for a baby but has been unable to conceive, so when Monica, her new work assistant, offers to act as a surrogate she and her husband are thrilled. Things, though, don't go quite as they'd planned - Abby becomes increasingly sure that Monica's up to no good, but who can she tell and who will listen? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan is making significant changes to its tourism landscape, with new measures taking effect by late 2026. Japan will end tax-free shopping benefits for foreign visitors, estabish dual pricing and establish visitor caps at popular tourist spots. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton explains further - and reveals whether these will make a dent in Japan's tourism figures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and director at Capital NZ, Ben Thomas, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins has admitted his education spokesperson should have replied to the Minister over NCEA changes before the Government moved to scrap the qualification. What do we make of this! And what do we think of Labour at the moment? The boot camp data is in, with new reports revealing seven participants re-offended seriously enough to warrant returning from the community to residence. Can the Government make changes to the programme? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consuming more fibre can be good for your health, but is TikTok's new FibreMaxxing trend the safest way to go about it? FibreMaxxing encourages people to load their diets up with extra fibre, but experts have voiced concerns that consuming too much could lead to harmful effects. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10th August 2025, Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie speaks ahead of the release of his new solo album Freak Out City. He talks about writing for movies and inheriting 50 race horses. Actress Kate Burton is the daughter of global screen star Richard Burton, she tells Francesca why the latest biopic of her father is the first she's endorsed. Labour leader Chris Hipkins talks about whether his party is doing a good job in opposition and whether they are doing enough to win New Zealanders back while Francesca slams their education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime for a seemingly lazy and arrogant reaction to an invitation to meet over education reform. And fibremaxxing is trending - wellness contributor Erin O'Hara has been looking into whether the evidence behind the trend stacks up. 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.

Pea and ham soup with cheesy toast Cook time: 60 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 1 smoked pork hock 1 carrot, peeled and quartered 1 onion, peeled and quartered 2 bay leaves 1 ltr chicken stock 1 ltr water 2 cup green lentils ½ tsp Salt ¼ tsp white pepper Gruyere toast 8 slices ciabatta 4 tbsp Dijon mustard 100g tasty cheese, grated Place all the ingredients in a large pot with a lid. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Top up with more liquid if it becomes too dry. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Remove pork hock and set aside. Blitz the soup until smooth. Pick the meat from pork hock and add into the soup. Serve soup hot with tasty cheese toasts. For the toast Spread Dijon mustard over ciabatta slices then top with grated tasty cheese. Place under a hot grill until cheese is golden and bubbling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that the humble potato owes its very existence, and its global success as a food staple to an ancient genetic mash-up? A recent study in the journal Cell of over 100 wild and cultivated potato genomes has revealed a fascinating secret about the potato family tree. The beloved spud and its 107 wild relatives all belong to a plant group called Petota. What sets Petota apart is its ability to grow underground tubers, the very organs we eat. But where did this tuber-making trait come from? Turns out, millions of years ago, two very different wild plant lineages, one similar to tomatoes and another that doesn't make tubers at all crossed paths. Somewhere in the high mountains of South America, their genetic material combined through hybridization, creating a brand-new lineage: Petota. This ancient hybrid inherited just the right mix of genes to develop tubers, enabling these plants to store nutrients underground and survive tough climates. Scientists now believe that this innovative tuber-forming ability helped Petota rapidly diversify into over 100 species, adapting to everything from dry tropical forests to cold, high-altitude meadows. In fact, this ancient hybrid lineage shows faster species evolution than its parent lineages, highlighting how powerful hybridization can be in driving plant diversity. Even more impressive? The very genes responsible for making tubers like SP6A and IT1 were inherited from each parent in a sort of genetic collaboration. Modern genetic experiments show these hybrid genes are essential for tuber development and are still active in today's potatoes. So, next time you mash, bake, or roast a potato, remember it's not just a vegetable. It's the product of an ancient botanical tomato love story that changed the course of agricultural history. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 is a big year for Jane Austen fans, as it marks 250 years since the English novelist's birth. A line up of events have been taking place throughout the year - but also coinciding with the anniversary is a French Austen-esque rom com. The film is called Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and it tells the story of struggling writer Agathe, played by Camille Rutherford. "She doesn't care and I like that about her. She's also kind of a real rebel because of that... she's not grungy at all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new 2025 mystery horror film Weapons is out in theatres, meaning film fans will finally get a chance to unravel what was happening in the trailers. The film's premise involves seventeen children from the same classroom mysteriously running away on the same night. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains further - without getting into the film's biggest spoilers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SPCA is riding the tail of a global cat film sensation. CatVideoFest is a 75-minute compilation of small felines doing silly things. It's reached our cinemas and a portion of money from screenings goes to the SPCA. It was founded in the US and has benefited charities in North America and Europe - before making its way to Australia and New Zealand. Director Will Braden says there's something special about the product. "The charitable component just comes around because everyone want to see cat videos. We would be crazy if we didn't use it to raise some money for cats in need." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens claim they're leading the opposition, while they push a radical tax shakeup. The Party's AGM continues in the capital today, which kicked off with a rally from co-leader Marama Davidson yesterday. NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor explained that Chlöe Swarbrick was due to speak today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli protestors have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv angry over the Israeli Government's plan to occupy Gaza City. Latest opinion polls show around 70 percent of people in Israel oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for military control in Gaza City. World leaders have condemned Israel's take-over plan and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is due to be held in New York tomorrow. Israeli journalist Gideon Levy says there's a great number of protesters on the streets, but people in Israel are divided over Netanyahu's plans. "There is the other camp which continues to support Netanyahu and will continue to support him...so the protest is very impressive, but it does not have a lot of effect." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's leader believes lessons can be learnt from a lack of communication from his party on NCEA changes. Education Minister Erica Stanford reached out to Labour's education spokeswoman Willow-Jean Prime at least three times, asking for her input on the changes but she failed to respond. Following the announcement, Labour criticised the Government's minimal cross party consultation. Leader Chris Hipkins says Willow-Jean has learned a lot from this. "The key thing now is that we do need cross-party collaboration to make sure that the changes to the NCEA are enduring." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to politics, a pet peeve of mine is opposition members of Parliament who seemingly do little for 3 or 6 or 9 years and then come into power and seem baffled as to what they intend to do with the portfolio they are now in charge of. And this applies to all parties - anyone in opposition. Heading into an election, I find myself wondering what on earth some politicians have done with their 3 plus previous years in opposition. I appreciate that when you're in opposition, you have significantly less resources that when in Government, and don't have great access to the Budget detail or ministry they'll inherit when in power. But we're not paying opposition MP's just to perform occasionally in the House and in the front of the media. We're paying them to fully understand their area of responsibility and have the expertise to challenge the Government's ideas and bills so they can advocate effectively for the best outcome for all New Zealanders. A special callout here for list MPs - who don't have the added responsibility and duties of representing an electorate. If you are the spokesperson for a fast moving portfolio such as education, then being seen to be across the Government's plans is even more important. Willow-Jean Prime's seeming lack of interest as Labour's education spokesperson in a generational change proposed by the Government for secondary education this week irks. I'm sure she's not the first MP to ignore correspondence or decline a meeting, but her refusal to work with Education Minister Erica Stanford on changes to NCEA irks because it looks lazy. It looks arrogant. Most annoyingly, it looks like Labour isn't interested in working with the Government on serious issues that many New Zealanders would prefer adopted a bipartisan approach. I get that it sucks when your competitor is in Government, develops an initiative and reaches out for bi-partisan consensus. It's on their terms and benefits them. But we're scrapping the current national standards program for senior education and implementing a new one with a short time period for consultation. Isn't that something worth coming together on? Isn't it something worth swallowing some pride for? The excuse was that Willow-Jean Prime prioritised engaging with the sector over speaking to the minister. Yes, engagement with the sector is important, but you'd presume prime was already well. Being more informed by the Minister surely would only make those engagement conversations more insightful. Erica Stanford is moving at pace - she's been moving at pace since she took on the education portfolio. Stanford is an example of a Minister using her time in opposition wisely. There isn't a lot of time for consultation - Willow-Jean Prime is right on that one. But she's had since March to get her head around the Government's direction and would be much better prepared if she had accepted Stanford's offer to continue working cross party on this. As an opposition list MP with a commitment to one select committee, there's no excuse. She should be able to keep up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor with the NHS in the UK, and she's utilised her experience to write several books about the medical industry. Her bestselling book Breathtaking inspired a tv show and her latest book The Story of a Heart recently won the 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction. The Story of a Heart centres on 9-year-olds Max and Keira, and it has been described as story of grief and hope and compassion. "I came across this story when Max's face appeared on the front page of a newspaper that I happened to read, he looked desperately ill. A few months later, his face appeared again and it was rosy-cheeked and brimming with health." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Girl with the Suitcase by Lesley Pearse. Mary and Elizabeth meet in London during WW2, and soon after find themselves in an air raid shelter where they're hit by a bomb, and Elizabeth dies. The hospital staff mistake their identities and give her possessions to Mary, which offers her the chance for total reinvention and a whole new life. This is classic Lesley Pearse - a strong female lead, with tragedy and heartbreak in her past who finds a way to rise above it and make something of herself. Her books are always highly entertaining, and very thoughtful. No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer. Lisette spent three years as Newshub's European correspondent, a stint which coincided with the delayed Japanese Olympics (on the way to Europe), the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the death of the Queen, and many more history making events. It really is a front seat look into the life she lead through those years - moving frantically between countries, travelling with suitcases of heavy protective gear and wads of cash, surviving on adrenaline and very little sleep, and managing the on camera demands of time zone differences. You really feel as though you're there with her and it's a great insight into a job which often looks as though it must be glamorous but was often anything but. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every day, thousands of items are confiscated from travellers everywhere, meaning it's important to remember what you can and can't pack before your next flight. Weapons and explosives are obviously a no-go, but there's plenty of lists to consult about what you can pack in your checked bag - and what has to stay in your carry-on. BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton explains further - and reveals what can happen if you don't pack your power banks properly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, and Resident Economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! The Government is set to charge tourists $20 to $40 to visit some of New Zealand's most popular outdoor spots, with a promise they'll put the money into biodiversity and infrastructure efforts. What do we make of this? 33 of New Zealand's leading sporting bodies have come together to voice opposition to the Government's newly introduced Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill, with concerns it could negatively impact community sport. Should we be concerned about this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 3rd August 2025, screenwriter and actress Sophie Henderson reveals the lengths she went to, to keep the doors of the Basement Theatre open, and why she's based a film on it. Dr Rachel Clarke tells the heart breaking story of organ donation that centres around 9 year olds Max and Keira. Tourists will now pay to walk some of our public walking tracks and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka explains why charging foreigners is necessary, and Francesca questions why the Government is pandering to online gambling at the expense of grassroots sport. And Megan Singleton talks us through what happens when a power bank explodes on a plane. 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.

Research indicates the weather outside plays a role on what's going on on the inside - which is why sunny weather comes with health benefits. Sunshine is linked to improved moods, better sleep, lower blood pressure, and added vitamin D. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara opens up about the benefits of sunny weather - and explains how to increase your sun exposure in the winter months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farm Lime Tart Cook time: 55 minutes Prep time: 20 minutes Serves: 2 tarts 1 x sweet shortcrust pastry 1 egg, lightly beaten Zest and juice of 7 limes 1 cup + 1tbsp caster sugar 500ml cream 3 eggs 3 egg yolks Top tip: Remember when rolling out pastry, the more your pastry resembles a circle to begin with, the more likely it is to finish up a circle! Preheat the oven to 180*c. Roll your sweet shortcrust pastry out on a lightly floured bench, make sure to constantly lift and move your pastry, re-dusting with flour when necessary to prevent sticking. Line your tart tins, easing the edges in gently to prevent tearing before trimming. Dock the pastry with a fork, before placing into the fridge whilst you wait for the oven to heat up. Line your pastry case with a cartouche (baking paper) and top with baking beans or dried chickpeas. Bake for 15 minutes, until a lovely golden colour. Remove the baking paper and beans then return to the oven for 5 minutes. Remove again, brush with the beaten egg, filling any gaps and then return for another 5 minutes. *Reduce the oven temperature to 110*c. To make the filling, zest your limes and place to one side. Cut the zested limes in half and squeeze the juice into a small saucepan along with the sugar. Place over a low flame and bring to the boil. Pour the syrup into a bowl, add the lime zest and allow to infuse for 5 minutes before straining. In the meantime clean the saucepan before adding the cream and placing back onto the heat. Heat the cream until just before boiling. Turn cream off. In a large bowl whisk your eggs thoroughly. slowly whisk in the cream then sugar syrup a little at a time until all combined. Sieve one last time, before carefully pouring into the blind baked pastry cases. Return to the oven and cook for 30 minutes or until they have a slight wobble. Remove and cool before enjoying. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever instinctively taken a step back when someone sneezes near you on the bus? It turns out that your body may be doing more than just helping you avoid germs, it might be quietly powering up your immune system too. In a new study published this week in Nature Neuroscience, researchers found that even the sight of someone who looks contagious can kickstart a biological response in your body. In the study, virtual reality headsets were placed on 248 healthy participants who were shown videos of people who appeared either neutral, fearful, or visibly sick (with skin rashes or other infection-like cues). These virtual people slowly moved closer to the participants in the simulation. In one experiment, participants had to press a button as quickly as possible after being lightly touched on the face. When the 'sick' characters appeared, people reacted as if the faces were physically closer, even when they were further away. Their brains and bodies were responding as though a threat had entered their personal space. Brain scans showed increased activity in regions associated with detecting threats and regulating body responses. Even though no real germs were involved, researchers found from blood test results that there were changes in immune cell activity when people viewed the sick-looking characters. Specifically, they saw an uptick in innate lymphoid cells, a type of immune cell known to act as first responders, alerting the rest of the immune system to potential trouble. This reaction was so real that it mirrored what researchers see in people who've just had a flu shot, without any actual virus exposure. Your instinct to avoid someone who looks unwell isn't just common sense, it might be part of a deeply wired, whole-body reaction designed to protect you So next time you see someone sniffling on the train, don't just trust your gut, know that your body might already be gearing up for battle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The red carpet's being rolled out for New Zealand's International Film Festival. Thirty international titles direct from Cannes Film Festival in France will be showcased across the country, alongside an array of Kiwi films. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains what's available - and outlined his recommendations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi screenwriter Sophie Henderson's been behind many New Zealand-produced hits, and she's drawn on her personal experiences for her next film. Henderson's latest film - in which she also stars - made its debut at the New Zealand International Film Festival, and it's inspired by her time at Auckland's Basement Theatre. She says Workmates was inspired by her love of locally produced New Zealand theatre - and she says the Basement is in better shape now. "I remember being at drama schools and going - if I could just work for Silo Theatre, I'd be happy. That was one of my first jobs, I'd worked at Silo for many years as an actor and then I went and ran the Basement Theatre." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 New Zealand Beer Awards recently took place, with the best in local beer being celebrated and appreciated by experts. 25 trophies were handed out - selected from 625 beers submitted from 70 different breweries. Head judge of the awards, Tina Panoutsos, has spent many years in the industry and she says New Zealand-produced beer is on par with the best in the world. "I think New Zealanders are spoilt for choice when it comes to ingredients, roots, herbs - we saw quite a number of different beers presented with quite different ingredients." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister believes the United States' tariff hike of 15 percent was a blunt and late decision. The US announced the increase for New Zealand exporters, while the UK and Australia remain at 10 percent. Trade Minister Todd McClay's been invited by his US counterpart to visit and discuss the tariffs. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says it's expected McClay will make the trip in the next two weeks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's newly introduced Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill has been met with backlash from some on New Zealand's leading sporting bodies. The legislation would regulate online casinos and allow them to operate in New Zealand, but concerns have been raised that the bill won't make them return community funding grants. Cycling NZ Chair Martin Snedden says this bill poses as risk to the future of local sport - as it benefits greatly from such grants. "Sport thrived off the back of that - at the moment, sports are really struggling with the economic environment, accessing sponsorship money's impossible. Local Governments are naturally pulling back because they're in financial trouble themselves, there's a whole confluence of economic problems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it's charting a course towards more growth on conservation land. It's upped entry fees to $40 dollars for overseas visitors looking to visit areas like Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing and Aoraki Mount Cook. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says there was demand from Kiwis to charge foreign tourists. "Not only that, some recent international visitor surveys also suggested international visitors are prepared to pay the charges - as they are in a variety of places...I don't think it's new for international tourists." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a footballer or have a young footballer in the family there's a chance you received an email from New Zealand Football on Friday asking you to have your say on the new Online Casino Gambling (OCG) Bill. It's not just New Zealand Football who are making their participants aware of how this bill could potentially impact them. 33 of our biggest sports codes have come together in an impressively coordinated effort to warn the Government about the massive impact this bill could have on community sport. Basically - it will likely become more expensive for you or your kids to belong to a club if new online gambling outlets aren't required to hand over a percentage of their revenue for local community good. For the last 50 years or so, we've balanced a trade off when it comes to gambling. It is legal, but a share of gambling revenues must go back to the community. Currently, $170 million every year is distributed by gaming trusts to community sport. We all know the trade off - some good comes out of something which is damaging for others. The global online casino market is experiencing unprecedented growth. In 2024, the market was valued at approximately US $19.7 billion, and it's projected to reach $56.8 billion by 2033. New Zealanders can already access offshore gambling websites, but it is against the law to host these websites in New Zealand. So to get in on the action and clip the ticket along the way, the Government is proposing a framework for licensing and regulation of up to 15 online casino gambling operators in NZ, allowing revenue to be brought back into NZ, local oversight and consumer protections. Now, this may sound like a perfectly reasonable approach to you - but there is one thing missing. And that is the community contribution, or an alternative revenue stream for these community organisations. If online gambling grows as expected, less people will be spending their money on traditional gambling outlets. Less revenue means less grants, sport becomes more expensive and out of reach for much of the community, and grass root sports organisations which are already struggling… disappear. No amount of sausage sizzles is going to cover the declining funding. The argument that these new online casinos should not have to make community payments because it would be a perverse incentive to increase gambling activity to increase revenue to cover the contribution - is plain silly. I'm pretty sure increasing gambling activity is one of their main KPI's, regardless of where the revenue goes. And if the Government is worried about New Zealand becoming one of the highest taxed jurisdictions for online gambling, then set aside some of the tax revenue to make up for the lost community funding. Why are we pandering to online gambling outfits? To do so makes what is already an uncomfortable trade-off just feel wonky. Club sport is part of Kiwi culture. It gets us off our devices and outdoors. It gets us moving, it keeps us connected and working together, and it teaches us to be humble. It inspires tenacity, persistence and determination. It allows us to dream and be ambitious and achieve great things. It makes us laugh and cry, celebrate and commiserate, and brings out the best and sometimes worst in us. Without it we will have lost something that's core to our communities. What a ridiculous thing to put at risk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from the iconic Helena Bonham Carter on her new movie Four Letters of Love and how she reflects on her storied career. And Francesca speaks with Owain Mulligan who ended up serving in the Iraq War after joining the Territorial Army as an outlet. He's told his story in the book The Accidental Soldier. Plus Canadian band Cowboy Junkies have been around for four decades and they're touring New Zealand in November. Lead singer Margo Timmins tells us the secret behind the band's longevity. 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.

Dame Harriet Walter's got plenty of memorable roles under her belt, from Succession, to Ted Lasso, to Killing Eve - and now she's taking on a part like no other. She portrays former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the docuseries Brian and Maggie and she's opened up about taking on such a challenging role. "All actors like a challenge and this was a huge, huge mountain to get over. Among many reason was the fact that she's been played so often by brilliant actresses, so they've set the bar quite high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Timoti Te Moke became a doctor at age 56, but it wasn't an easy road to get into medical school. Before he started at Middlemore Hospital, he endured a childhood filled with abuse, time in state care, in prison and eventually gangs. He detailed his journey in his new book, The Unlikely Doctor, and says he wrote it to shine a light on the barriers holding Kiwis back from reaching their potential. "There are a lot of people that could be where I am, but due to the barriers that society put in place, they are not able to do this. Essentially, what my book is looking at is the potential this country could have if we realised that these are the barriers we have in place." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. This has a hugely implausible premise. Jet Mason is attacked in her kitchen one evening, after which her doctors tell her she'll be dead by an aneurysm in seven days, so she decides to spend the week hunting down her murderer. It took me a little while to get into the rhythm - the black humour, sarcasm, farce, twisted family relationships, and roving suspicion of everyone she knows who might be the killer. But once I did, I adored it. Red Star Down by D.B.John. From the author of Star of the North, this is a thriller at the nexus between North Korea, Russia and Washington which takes in actual events in real life - such as the poisoning of one of North Korea's Kim family at Kuala Lumpur airport, or a real estate mogul becoming President of the United States - all woven into a brilliantly compelling story about three disparate individuals who find themselves right at the heart of all these goings on. I simply couldn't put it down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Singleton's continued her travels, and she's recently taken in Thailand's Koh Samui. Koh Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, about half-way down the country, and it's an easy destination for those looking to skip Bangkok. She recapped her highlights from the trip here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers and journalist and editor, Jo McCarroll, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New reports show Health NZ is hiring less nursing graduates than ever. Why are we training nurses and not employing them? Butter prices have shot up - and it's been a leading story across the nation's news outlets all week. Are we blowing the outrage out of proportion? Algorithm fatigue - are we sick of our social media feeds showing us what we think we want? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 27 July 2025, Dame Harriet Walter has taken on her toughest role yet, she tells Francesca what it was like to take on Margaret Thatcher and why her she's nothing like the iron lady. Dr Timoti Te Moke shares his inspirational story from child abuse and prison to junior doctor at 56. Francesca questions whether the Government has got its priorities right with electoral law changes. And is making your own butter cheaper? Mike Van de Elzen has looked into whether whipping up your own is worth the effort. 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.

Bowel movements are one of the easier identifiers of overall health - so what does it mean when things aren't in working order? A person who has a 'lazy bowel' can experience infrequent bowel movements, constipation, and straining, and it can often signify bigger problems. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains what to look out for, and how we can 're-train' our bowels. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-churned butter: Prep time: 5 minutes Serves: 400g 1 ltr cream 1 tsp fine salt 1 tsp flaky salt Clean tea towel or Chux cloth Place the cream and fine salt into a bowl of a bench top mixer with a whisk attachment. Whisk for 2 minutes on a medium beat. The cream will slowly harden up and start to turn yellow. Stop the mixer and push the cream back down into the centre. Remix on medium speed for another 3 minutes, what you are looking for is the fat of the cream to totally separate and become solid. Turn off when you have a very clear separation. Remove the solid butter and squeeze out any excess buttermilk. Add the flaky salt, mix and you're done. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard that flossing daily is key to keeping your gums healthy. But what if your dental floss could one day do more than prevent cavities? What if it could protect your whole body from serious diseases, like the flu? Research published this week in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering shows that dental floss might be the future of vaccine delivery. In this unusual experiment, scientists used floss coated with vaccine components, such as proteins or inactive viruses and gently ran it between the gums of mice. It turns out that the soft tissue between your teeth is highly absorbent and rich in immune cells. This makes it a perfect spot for your body to detect and respond to threats like viruses. Now, flossing mice is no easy task. To pull it off, one researcher had to use a keyring to gently open each mouse's mouth, while another maneuvered the floss between its tiny teeth. They did this every two weeks over a month. After the final flossing session, the mice were exposed to a deadly strain of flu. The results were astonishing - every single vaccinated mouse survived. The ones that didn't get flossed? Sadly, they didn't make it. Even more impressive, the vaccinated mice had flu antibodies not just in their saliva, but in their faeces and bone marrow, a sign that their bodies had mounted a strong and lasting immune response. Scientists also found a boost in the number of infection-fighting T cells in the lungs and spleen. To test the idea in people, researchers gave 27 healthy volunteers dental floss picks dipped in harmless food dye. On average, the dye reached the gum tissue about 60 percent of the time, suggesting the method could be viable with a little refinement. This floss-based method could solve some real-world challenges: Needle-free: Great news for people with needle phobia. No cold storage: Unlike many traditional vaccines, these could be stable at room temperature. Easy distribution: Imagine getting your vaccine delivered in the mail and flossing your way to immunity. Better for outbreaks: During pandemics, this kind of simple delivery could help reach more people, faster. Of course, there's still a long way to go before you'll be replacing your flu jab with floss. But this research opens up exciting possibilities for painless, practical, and more accessible vaccines in the future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 30 years after the original, Happy Gilmore's long-awaited sequel arrived on Netflix this week. Adam Sandler reprises his iconic role as he returns to the world of golf after his victory at the Tour Championship in the original 1996 film. Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald and Ben Stiller also reprise their roles from the original, alongside some new faces played by Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley and Travis Kelce. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals whether this sequel lives up to the wait. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.