The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

The Bookshop Detectives, Murder and Mojitos by Gareth Ward and Louise Ward. Two real life booksellers from Hawkes Bay have created a fictional bookshop named Sherlock Tomes which in this, the 3rd in the series, is cosy crime full of literary mayhem. Sherlock Tomes are invited to work with a visiting writer from Cuba who's coming to Hawkes Bay for the Art Deco Festival, given the shared architecture style of the two countries, and the bookshop has the opportunity to run a literary event while she's in town – which of course goes terribly awry.. This is warm, witty and highly amusing. The Kingpin by A.A.Dhand. A pharmacist in the city of Leeds is drawn into the underworld through both the temptations of his brother, newly released from prison, and a local cop with a terminal illness who now has nothing to lose. Idris Khan is the pharmacist in question – his dispensary is on the edge of a large housing estate where he supplies methadone to local addicts and he lives in a hard, morally grey world. This is really gritty inner city crime, made more interesting by the pharmacist's understanding of medicines and how to use them for very specific results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spain is in the World Cup Final, and excitement is felt across the city. Despite not being a football fan, Travel Blogger Megan Singleton felt the buzz ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina. She tells Francesca Rudkin about the experience, and how you can take a piece of the Camp Nou pitch home. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It feels like it's flown a bit under the radar, but the Commonwealth Games start this Friday. This year's games is a reduced format. Initially set to be hosted in Melbourne, the event was moved to Glasgow after the Aussies pulled out due to cost concerns. NZ team Chef de Mission Nigel Avery has arrived in Glasgow, and he joined Francesca Rudkin to talk about what we can expect over the next couple of weeks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warm butternut salad w black olive honey & rocket oil Cook time: 25 minutes Prep time: 20 minutes Serves: 6 Butternut salad 1 large butternut 12 small tunnel house tomatoes 2 tbsp sunflower oil flaky salt & black pepper Handful rocket leaves 150 gm danish feta, crumbled 1 cup walnut halves, toasted till crispy Kalamata Honey 12 pitted kalamata olives 1 tbsp honey Rocket oil 1 handful of rocket 1/2 cup sunflower oil salt Preheat oven to 180*C. Carefully cut butternut in half and scoop out seeds. Slice into wedges and toss in a large bowl with the oil and flaky salt, spread out onto a roasting tray. Roast in oven for 25 minutes. After this time add the tomatoes onto the tray and cook for a further 10 minutes. Make the black olive honey by simply blitzing the olives and honey together until smooth. Remove the butternut and tomatoes from oven and arrange on serving dish, top with rocket, feta and toasted walnuts. Drizzle with the olive honey and rocket oil. To make the black olive honey Simply blitz olives and honey together until smooth. To make the rocket oil Bring a pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Drop in your rocket and count to 5, remove and drop straight into boiling water. Once cold, squeeze out excess water and blitz quickly with oil. Pour over a sieve with a chux cloth and allow the oil to drip through slowly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss the big political news of the week. Paul Henry debuts his political career, the new ferries receive names, NZ First's convention makes headlines, and the Green Party calls for union membership as default setting for new employees. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 19 July. 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.

In a quick transition Andy Burnham will be walking into 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister just over four weeks after winning a by-election. UK correspondent Edna Brady told Francesca Rudkin the public are uncertain about the former Mayor of Manchester. "I think people are a bit shocked because, in all honesty, they don't really know very much about him, what he stands for, and what he's going to do." But, Brady expects he will be a 'breath of fresh air'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 21st century grind culture with technology blurring the lines of work life balance, it can be seen as necessary to work overtime and give up sleep to succeed. But, naturopath Erin O'Hara says studies show overworking and under-sleeping can actually reduce productivity. "There was even a Harvard study done that studied people who were sleep deprived and only sleeping 3 hours a night, which is very, very low, and they had the same performance level as someone with a blood alcohol level concentration of the same as what the the driving limit is here in New Zealand," she told Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2014, falconer and author Helen MacDonald wrote a book about overcoming the sudden loss of her father, respected photojournalist Alasdair MacDonald by training a goshawk. The book has been turned into a film starring Claire Foy (The Crown), who MacDonald believes did a fantastic job in the role. "It's an incredible performance. She really does just haunt me, and there are times when I was watching it for the first time that I'd see her come on screen and I would think that's me," she told Francesca Rudkin. H is for Hawk is scheduled to be released in cinemas across New Zealand on July 30. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Black Taine Rendall entered the world of politics in April, announcing he would be joining NZ First. NZ First is set to officially launch its election campaign today at the party's annual convention, as they are buoyed by good polling. But Randell says he is already 'jaded' just four months in. "I was ready for it, but it is a bit of a shock, you know, there are some late nights and there is a lot more work than I thought in some aspects," he told Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Paul Henry standing for ACT, one thing is guaranteed: people will pay attention. Love him or loathe him, Henry knows how to command an audience, and in modern politics that's no small advantage. New Zealanders likes to think we vote on policy, and we should, but personality has always mattered. John Key's easy-going style, Jacinda Ardern's empathy, and Winston Peters' theatre are contrasting examples of how politicians communicate being just as important as what they say. I was fortunate enough to sit on TVNZ's Breakfast TV couch with Paul Henry a couple of times a week for a few years, and saw his strengths up close. He's articulate, quick-thinking, intelligent, confident, fun and fearless in front of a microphone. Those are valuable political skills. As we've seen in the short space of time since he announced his intention to stand as a list candidate for ACT, Henry attracts the kind of media coverage ACT can't buy, brings fresh attention to the party, and will probably reach voters who wouldn't normally tune into politics. If he made it into Cabinet his communication skills could make him a persuasive minister. But there's a risk. This is the man who told me I was the size of a whale live on TV when I was pregnant. Twice. Big personalities can suck the oxygen out of a campaign. David Seymour has spent years carefully building ACT into a significant political force based on consistent messaging and disciplined policy. If every interview becomes about Paul Henry rather than ACT the party, it risks becoming a personality show instead of a political movement. That's a difficult balance for any leader to manage. Henry will also be a tough character to reign in. It's a little like dealing with an adolescent - Seymour will need to set some strong boundaries. If he manages this, then Henry will probably help ACT more than he will hurt it. If Henry accepts that Seymour is the leader and not the supporting act, the two could successfully complement each other - Seymour providing the policy depth, Henry bringing the attention. As for Labour, National and the other parties, they'd be wise not to focus on Paul Henry. Taking personal shots only feeds the publicity machine - and they're unlikely to come out on top. Henry has spent decades handling criticism and often thrives on confrontation. If they do need to respond to the Henry machine, the smarter move will be to challenge his policies, question his experience, and let voters decide whether media success automatically translates into political ability. Ultimately, celebrity may get you elected, but it won't keep you there. New Zealanders enjoy a colourful character, but we also expect substance. Paul Henry will 100% make this general election campaign more entertaining. Whether he can convert attention into effective public service is still up in the air.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American soul singer Macy Gray's been releasing successful albums and topping charts since 1999 - beginning with the release of the hit 'I Try'. 27 years later she's sold over 25 million albums, she's got a Grammy, she's got Brit awards, she's released 10 albums and she's still going with another due later this year. She's also set to bring her six-date tour to New Zealand later this year. "It's had to describe music, it's a little bit of an experiment for me...I'm doing everything that I really, really want to do, saying the things I really want to say, so it's more of a pure project than my ones in the past, and it's been a big learning experience for me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner's made a name for herself in iconic roles like Alias, 30 Going on 30, Daredevil and Juno, and she's attached herself to a new, star-studded Hayu project. Five Star Weekend is based on the Elin Hilderbrand novel, and also stars Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, D'Arcy Carden and Gemma Chan as a group of friends brought together by a grieving food influencer. Garner says the 'complexities and layers' of female friendship are hard to find on screen, but this project has more depth than it appears. "It just so happens that we have this great source material from Elin Hilderbrand, this beautiful book that surprises you on every turn. You think - oh, it's a beach read, and then you read it and you just go - there's a reason this is an all-time best-seller." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nowhere Boy by Anne Cleary. This book won the Allen and Unwin fiction award, which is a hugely contested New Zealand fiction prize. A Dad takes his 3 year old boy to the beach and leaves him in the car while he unloads fishing gear to a site some distance away - and when he returns to the car, his son is gone. He's been found by a woman who has suffered the loss of children and can't believe her luck - that there's a young, seemingly abandoned boy who she can take home and into whom she can pour all her love. But of course the situation is not that straight forward, which she soon discovers as the search for him grows ever more intense. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell. Jane Trevally is newly divorced and one night agrees to go home with a man she's only just met - but she gets a bad feeling in his house and runs away. Years later, she finds herself on the trail of a missing girl, and traces that girl back to the same house in which she found herself 25 years ago - a place with a dark atmosphere and sinister secrets. As she investigates what might have happened, she realises that, if she hadn't left that place, it could have been her. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that hotel rooms can be gross - but how can you get around the worst of it? Other people will likely be getting their germs all over the TV remote, the cushions, the ice bucket and concerns have been raised over how safe toothbrushes are in the bathroom. For more advice about how to get around the worst of the icks, Megan Singleton's made a list of her findings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Resident Economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight and TV producer, journalist and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Herald's Poll of Polls came out today, and it shows the minor parties could potentially hold more power this time around. What do we make of this? Do we know which side we want to vote for? What do we want to see from National or Labour? The Norway v England FIFA World Cup quarter-final took place this morning - what did we think of it? And what did we make of last night's All Blacks v Italy match? Does the TMO have to go? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 12 July. 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.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells, and they generate the ATP needed for survival. Declining mitochondrial performance is strongly associated with aging and age-related diseases. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how to improve your mitochondrial health, including diet and stress management tips. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rewana with kawakawa pesto Cook time:30 minutes Prep time: 1hr 10 minutes 300 gm white flour 100 gm wholemeal flour 220 orange kumara, cooked and mashed 230 ml water 1 tsp yeast 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp fennel seeds (or any herbs) Pesto 10 kawakawa leaves (mixer of holes and non) 1 cup curly parsley 1 cup flat leave parsley 1 cup coriander leaves 1 cup sunflower oil salt and pepper 1 cup almonds, toasted and crushed 1 cup parmesan, finely grated Mix together flour, yeast and fennel seeds Add salt and mix Add mashed kumara and water and mix Once you have a dough with no dry bits pop it into a oiled loaf tin and pop somewhere warm with a tea towel on top for 1 hour Preheat the oven to 200*c and bake for approx 30 minutes. Or until it has a nice hard golden top. Leave to rest for 30 minutes on a rack before eating. To make up the kawakawa pesto, place the parsley, coriander and oil into a blender and blend in quick bursts. Do not over heat, otherwise you will lose the colour. Add in half the kawakawa and blend. Season and taste. If you can't taste the bitter tones of the kawakawa add a little more until you can. Finish with the almonds and parmesan. Serve alongside the bread. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries, people have argued about what separates something that's alive from something that's simply chemistry. Every living thing, from bacteria to blue whales is ultimately made from the same atoms as the rocks beneath our feet. The difference isn't the ingredients. It's how they're organised. So how few ingredients can you assemble before chemistry starts behaving like life? A team of synthetic biologists have taken a step towards answering that question by building what they call a synthetic cell entirely from carefully chosen chemical components. Published this week they assembled every component themselves, creating a tiny cell-like structure whose complete ingredient list is known. The cell can't survive on its own, can't evolve naturally and still depends on scientists to feed it, but it can repeatedly feed, grow, copy its DNA and divide into daughter cells, performing several of the key behaviours we associate with life. They carried out a series of experiments, each asking whether one more essential feature of life could be recreated from non-living ingredients. Experiment 1 - Can you make an artificial cell grow? The researchers began with tiny fat bubbles called liposomes as artificial cell membranes. Inside they placed a carefully designed 90,000-base-pair synthetic genome spread across seven plasmids, along with a purified protein-making system called PURE that could read DNA and build proteins. Real cells grow by taking in nutrients, artificial cells can't, so the team invented tiny "feeder" liposomes loaded with fresh proteins, ribosomes, enzymes and membrane material. The question was - can one artificial cell feed another? To find out, they engineered the synthetic cells to manufacture a membrane protein called α-hemolysin carrying a short histidine tag. Feeder liposomes were coated with nickel-containing lipids that recognised this tag. When the two met, they fused together, delivering both nutrients and fresh membrane material. The researchers watched the membranes merge, the contents mix and new proteins begin to appear inside the enlarged synthetic cells. Remarkably, the ability to feed wasn't controlled externally, it was encoded by the synthetic cell's own DNA. Cells that produced more of the membrane protein fed more efficiently and grew larger. Experiment 2 - Can it repeat the process? Growing once isn't life, living cells must grow repeatedly. Every 12 hours the synthetic cells were fed, their DNA copied and the population divided before beginning the cycle again. The synthetic cells successfully completed five generations of feeding, genome replication and division. Each generation produced new DNA, new RNA and new proteins while maintaining much of the original 90,000-base-pair genome. Around 30% of daughter cells still inherited the complete genome after five generations, an impressive result given that the system lacked many of the sophisticated mechanisms real cells use to organise DNA during division. Experiment 3 - Can evolution begin? This experiment asked whether the synthetic cells could experience something resembling natural selection. The researchers deliberately introduced a tiny genetic change. One version of the synthetic genome contained a stronger promoter controlling production of the feeding protein α-hemolysin. That meant these cells could produce more feeding proteins, fuse with more feeder liposomes and potentially grow faster. They then mixed equal numbers of fast-growing and slow-growing synthetic cells together. After just five generations, the faster-growing cells had become the majority. When food became scarce, their advantage became even larger. The synthetic cells weren't evolving in the full Darwinian sense because the beneficial mutation had been introduced by the researchers rather than arising spontaneously. But they were undergoing selection. The cells with the more advantageous genome produced more offspring, causing that genetic version to spread through the population, one of the defining processes that shapes life on Earth. So... is it alive? That depends on who you ask. The synthetic cell doesn't yet tick every box that biologists would associate with life. It can't survive without scientists feeding it. It borrows ribosomes from bacteria rather than making its own. And while it can undergo selection, it doesn't yet evolve naturally because the beneficial mutations were introduced by the researchers rather than arising spontaneously. The more interesting question isn't whether this tiny collection of chemicals has crossed some invisible line between chemistry and life. It's whether scientists are finally beginning to understand what that line actually is. For the first time, researchers can begin asking not just what life is, but which parts of life are absolutely essential. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 New Zealand International Film Festival is just around the corner for another year, running from July 29 to September 9. The festival features over 100 films, from acclaimed international directors to Kiwi auteurs alike. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall outlined his picks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new era is on the way for one of the nation's most iconic fashion labels. Urban streetwear brand Federation is celebrating 25 years in business this year. To mark the occasion, founder Jenny Joblin is taking a step back, handing the reins to her children to evolve the business for the next generation. "When we hit this milestone, we were like - okay, we need to pause for a moment and just really look at all these different chapters and celebrate it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shifting support of minor parties is likely to be make or break for November's general election. The NZ Herald-Motu Research Poll of Polls shows the coalition has a 70 percent chance of being re-elected. The current parliamentary opposition's chances has slumped to 7.2 percent. Former minister Peter Dunne says support for Labour and National will remain fairly consistent. "Particularly, keep an eye on New Zealand First and the Opportunity Party - they seem to be where the movement's taking place, although New Zealand First's, I think, peaked a little bit. It's hard to say at this stage." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have overpowered Italy with a dominant second half to claim a 47-17 Nations Championship win in Wellington. The hosts' 14-10 lead at the break blew out with 5 second half tries, including a hat-trick to Will Jordan as he became the All Blacks leading test try-scorer. Wing Josh Moorby and loose forward Anton Segner debuted off the bench. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith recapped the 'incredible' action in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A word of caution as New Zealand forges closer defence ties with India. Prime Minister Chris Luxon's signed a Strategic Partnership with Narendra Modi - during the Indian Prime Minister's whirlwind visit. He's also agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation and carry out more bilateral naval activity. Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says the relationship's come a long way in a short space of time - but we need to be careful we're not moving too fast. "It is positive to broaden the relationship from trade, I just think New Zealand needs to be careful in what it is signing up to, because it has the potential to impact on international relations more generally." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This video is the sound of the Norwegian football team and its fans doing the Viking row to celebrate Norway's win over Brazil at the FIFA World Cup. The synchronized rowing chant that accompanies the Norwegian football team's appearances is the viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup - who saw that coming? - and Norway's star striker Erling Haaland has become the darling of the Cup thanks to his unstoppable scoring pace and refreshingly goofy, unscripted personality. On the field he has already scored seven goals, just one behind Lionel Messi, and his performances have been instrumental in getting Norway to their first World Cup quarterfinal - which is being played against England in Miami right now. Haaland is turning out to be just as valuable to football and the FIFA World Cup as he is for his country. Every FIFA World Cup needs players who capture the imagination, and Erling Haaland has become one of the defining figures of the tournament. His goals and physical presence make him one of football's biggest stars, but it's his personality which truly sets him apart. In an era where many athletes deliver carefully rehearsed answers, Haaland comes across as refreshingly genuine. He jokes, admits frustration when things go wrong and celebrates with unfiltered enthusiasm. Rather than predictable clichés, he allows fans to see the person behind the player. This authenticity creates a stronger connection with audiences than polished media training ever could. For any World Cup, this matters. A tournament is built as much on memorable personalities as unforgettable matches. Fans don't just remember goals; they remember the players who made them feel something. Haaland has the ability to attract casual viewers like me, inspire young fans, and gives us all a reason to get behind Norway. Yes - I am so sorry to all the England fans out there - I'm right behind the Norwegians this morning! I've also been drawn in by the way the Norwegian team embraced their Viking heritage from the beginning. It was a Newstalk ZB listener who pointed out to me their Viking themed World Cup team photo. I loved it. Add a new, fan-created version of the tradition Viking row, and how could this team not delight and fascinate audiences around the world? As sport becomes more and more driven by social media and personal storytelling, honest communicators are more valuable than ever. In New Zealand, we've seen this with the Black Ferns, who are great at what they do, and just as importantly - allow their personalities to shine on and off the field. They entertain the converted, and constantly draw new fans to women's rugby simply by being themselves. Haaland does this too. His extraordinary talent will always command attention, but it is his authenticity which makes him stand out. For a World Cup seeking unforgettable moments and new heroes, he offers both. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter. This is the second in her North Falls series, set in a small town after the shooting of a woman and her daughter and the subsequent investigation carried out by the local sheriff, which uncovers secrets and lies aplenty. It's a classic small town where everybody knows everybody else, but don't necessarily see them as they really are. Very cleverly constructed and a terrific addition to Karin Slaughter's extensive body of thrillers. Blood Will Flow by Alex Perry. Some years ago, an enormous gas field was discovered in Mozambique, after which the wealthy foreign companies arrived and started to export the gas, benefiting themselves and the West, but leaving the local people no better off. The French company TotalEnergies managed an enormous operation there, paying lip service to the notion of adequate security and when a rebel ISIS group arrived and carried out a vicious attack, help was not forthcoming. The book is populated with oil magnates, corporate greed, mercenaries and billionaires and is a strong indictment of an industry completely lacking a moral compass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend is July 4th - a big occasion as America celebrates their 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Despite record breaking temps, it looks the fireworks are all on around the country, with many of the nation's biggest cities planning celebrations. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Croque monsieur Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: 4 8 slices of thick white bread or sour dough 1 ltr bechamel sauce 8 slices gruyere cheese 4 slices of smoked ham 2 tbsp Dijon mustard butter for spreading on bread Bechamel sauce 4 tbsp butter 4 tbsp flour 500 ml milk Pinch of nutmeg Salt Preheat a oven to 200*c Start by making a bechamel sauce. In a medium sized saucepan melt the butter, adding in the flour, cook over a medium heat for a couple of minutes - then turn off and allow to cool. Slowly add in the milk a little bit at a time, whisking after each addition. Once all the milk has been added, cook out for a further couple of minutes. Add the nutmeg and salt and allow to cool. To make up your croque monsieur: Take one piece of bread and spread over a good layer of bechamel sauce, then a little Dijon. Slice of ham and cheese, then another layer of bread. Bechamel another slice of cheese. Sprinkle with salt and then place into the oven for 10 minutes. The end result should be bubbling cheese with a gooey center. The best toasted sandwich in the world. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learning a new skill can be deeply frustrating. Whether you're trying to play your first chord on a guitar, use chopsticks, swing a golf club or simply write your name with your non-dominant hand, the experience is often the same. You know exactly what you're trying to do, yet your body seems to have other ideas. Every movement feels awkward, clumsy and strangely unnatural. It's tempting to assume that some people are simply born more talented than others. We often describe elite athletes, musicians and artists as "naturals," as though their brains came pre-wired with abilities the rest of us lack. But what if that's not what's happening at all? A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences tackled this question by investigating one of the oldest mysteries in neuroscience: why is your dominant hand better than your other one? Scientists agree that most of us are born with a preference for using one hand over the other but don't know why that preferred hand becomes so much more skilled. Does the dominant side of the brain have a built-in advantage for controlling movement? Or does the preferred hand simply become better because it has spent decades holding pens, using tools, throwing balls and brushing teeth? To answer that question, the researchers recruited right-handed volunteers and designed experiments where participants sat in front of a table with 5 objects in front of them. The first experiment: Is your dominant arm simply better at controlling movement? Experiment 1 involved participants reaching from the centre to each target using either their left or right arm. Then the same again with a 1.8 kg weight strapped to each participant's wrist. Adding the weight made both arms less precise, but it affected them almost equally. If the dominant side of the brain truly had a built-in advantage for controlling movement, this extra challenge should have magnified the difference between the two arms. It didn't. The second experiment: A lightweight stick Next the researchers attached a long, lightweight bamboo stick to the participants' forearms and the participants had to touch each target using the tip of the stick. This time, a dramatic difference emerged. The dominant arm produced much smoother, more consistent trajectories, while the non-dominant arm struggled to accurately control the stick's tip. The dominant was better because it had spent a lifetime learning how to control tools. The third experiment: What happens when neither arm has any experience? Finally, the researchers attached a pen to each participant's elbow and asked them to write the letter "A" and the number "8" using their elbows as the writing tool. If the dominant side of the brain is naturally better at controlling movement, the dominant elbow should still perform better. But if skill comes from practice, neither elbow should have an advantage because neither has spent decades learning to write. The dominant elbow showed no advantage whatsoever. Then they created a training program where each participant trained one elbow to write with a pen, and whichever elbow was trained became significantly better at writing. The research suggests that the brain builds skilled movement wherever sufficient practice occurs. The researchers concluded that we're not born with one hand that is inherently more skilled. Instead, skill appears to emerge from years of experience controlling increasingly complex movements with tools and objects. That means the frustrating awkwardness of learning something new isn't necessarily evidence that you lack talent. It may simply reflect the fact that your brain hasn't yet accumulated the thousands of repetitions needed to build those same movement programmes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 years after the release of Legally Blonde, Prime Video launched a new prequel series exploring the life of Elle Woods. The show follows a high school-aged Elle needing to adjust to a fish-out-of-water situation after her family moves to Seattle. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall reviews the series further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 5 July. 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, host of The Prosperity Project podcast, Nadine Higgins, and Coast's Lorna Riley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Liam Dann from the New Zealand Herald says we need compulsory KiwiSaver and National and Labour have to work together to devise a bipartisan solution. What do we make of this? Is making KiwiSaver compulsory an issue for those on lower incomes? How can we get better at saving money? The All Blacks had their first match in Christchurch's new One NZ Stadium. What did we think of this? How cool did the stadium look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Painter is behind some of the world's biggest live circus and magic shows, and his latest production will be coming to our shores this August. Painter's other works include The Illusionists, Cirque du Soleil, Circus 1903 and the stage adaption of Now You See Me - and his new Cirque Alice show aims to live up to this standard. The show is a reimagining of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, brought to life by a cast of aerialists, acrobats and other circus performers. "I've done a lot of different cirque shows and what I'm looking for - other than bringing the best of the best acts from anywhere on earth to a stage - we're looking for a motif that can hold the thing together, to give the thing a reason to exist." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Shortland Street star Tandi Wright has made the jump to a new big screen role - she's set to star in the new horror film Evil Dead: Burn. Tandi Wright's made a name for herself in local productions like 800 Words and Nothing Trivial, and she's also stared in many international shows and films as well. She says the horror genre's evolved over the last few years, which means she can take on new roles. "When I was a teenager, horror was a lot of women in skimpy clothing, making bad choices, heading off to the woods and getting chopped up with a chainsaw...but now, horror's having such a moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes compulsory KiwiSaver can help New Zealand catch up to Australia's economy. The National Party is campaigning on making KiwiSaver mandatory for all workers, and for gradually raising the matching rate to six percent. NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann says he wants to see a bipartisan effort and for the Labour Party to get on board. He says people will need to get used to that six percent figure. "They're at higher levels than that in Australia - it's painful in the short term, but they do cope. And then, you move on and then you forget about it and you just look at that giant figure on your KiwiSaver statement." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dave Rennie era of All Blacks rugby has started in winning ways with a 34-32 victory over France in the opening match of the inaugural Nations Championship. New Zealand were made to earn their victory against a well drilled French outfit who never looked out of touching distance, and caused a few nervy moments in the Garden City. Former All Black Lima Sopoaga said it was a good start, but there's room for the team to improve. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a love story...and Taylor Swift said yes. The pop singer and American football star Travis Kelce tied the knot in front of 1000 guests at New York's Madison Square Garden. Many celebrities were spotted attending the event, with comedian Adam Sandler officiating the wedding. SiriusXM radio host Ben Harlum says the space was reportedly transformed into a fairy-tale garden - with a separate section marked off for the reception. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A historic visit is just the latest in a chain of landmark developments that are seeing us forge closer ties with India. Narendra Modi will arrive in Auckland next week - marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has ventured to our shores in four decades. It comes on the heels of our countries signing a free trade agreement. Political commentator Brigitte Morton says it's a good sign for the trade agreement between both nations - and it could be seen as a positive move for New Zealand's Indian communities, given certain comments made by NZ First. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a lot of Americans right now, Taylor Swift getting married will genuinely feel like a bigger event than America turning 250. This sounds absurd. One is a quarter-millennium celebration of a nation founded in revolution, the other is the wedding of a pop star and an NFL player. But culture has never been driven by pure logic. It runs on emotion, attention and what people relate and connect with. Taylor Swift isn't simply the world's biggest pop star. She's arguably the defining cultural figure of her generation. Millions have grown up with her music, followed every era of her career and built friendships around shared fandom. Her wedding to Travis Kelce, isn't just another celebrity wedding, or some celebrity gossip, for many fans it is a shared life milestone. Americans have always created their own version of royalty through celebrity, and there isn't another American couple today who attract the same combination of admiration, curiosity and cultural influence. Compare this with America's 250th celebration. In another era, a big birthday would have united the country, but instead it's taking place during a moment of deep political and social division. President Trump has put his stamp on things, making a national celebration feel political rather than patriotic. Add lingering concerns about inflation, uncertainty over America's role in conflicts overseas and declining trust in institutions, and the country just isn't in a celebratory mood. Regardless of where people stand politically, there's a sense the nation is tired. Into that fatigue struts Miss Americana. A wedding is simple. It's joyful. It's romantic. Nobody has to pick a side. Nobody has to argue about foreign policy or economic indicators. For a brief moment, people can collectively obsess over a dress, a guest list and a love story. America at 250 asks citizens to reflect on who they are, where they've come from and where they're heading. The Taylor and Travis wedding asks them to celebrate happiness. The next 250 years, obviously, won't be defined by a wedding or the anniversary celebrations this weekend - that will depend on the choices America makes after the fireworks have faded. In two and a half centuries, the United States has grown from a fragile democratic experiment into the world's largest economy, a military superpower and a cultural force whose music, films, technology and ideas have shaped the modern world. That the next chapter goes as well is far from guaranteed. In the short term, America faces familiar challenges: political division, rising debt, economic uncertainty, social inequity and an increasingly volatile world. Longer term, the stakes are even higher. Can America remain a global leader in energy, tech, AI, political influence and military power? Can it rebuild trust in its democratic institutions? And can it balance competition with China and avoid further conflicts which could define this century? These are big, scary, uncertain, contested questions, and matter a whole lot more than the one to which Travis and Taylor will respond ‘I do'. But in an age where attention is the world's most valuable currency, it's not surprising it's the love story that's captured more hearts - and headlines - than one of the most significant anniversaries in American history. Sometimes, it just feels right to take a moment and let yourself be happy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Justin Zoras walked past a bookstore in a small town in Nova Scotia one night, and this experience went on to inspire a documentary. Elizabeth's Books is run by 83-year-old former seaman Chris Webb and the store only opens at night - sometimes for a few hours or whenever the last customer leaves. Justin Zoras went on to use the store for The Bookstore That Never Sleeps, which is about to have its world premiere at DocEdge. "It's one of those things where you immediately see the store, it's open at night, and you immediately want to go - hey, that's quirky or that's odd. Which, frankly, it is. But when you actually talk to people about it and you say - hey, have you seen that bookstore? Have you walked by it, what's the deal there? And a lot of the time, people will go - oh that's just Chris...there's a story." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michaela Brake is set to make her grand return to the rugby field later this year, having re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through until 2027. She's made history in the world of Kiwi Sevens - as a two-time Olympic gold medallist and the all-time leading try scorer in women's international sevens history. She's had to step off the field to look after her new baby, Harvey, and she's opened up about the new challenges that come with motherhood. "I was always going to come back to high performance sport...there was no doubt that once I got home from the hospital that I was going to start getting my recovery on track." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.