The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

& Juliet has taken Broadway and the West End by storm and earned 8 Olivier nominations and it's set to debut in New Zealand. The show was created by Schitt's Creek writer David West Read and it offers a new twist on the Shakespeare classic, where Juliet gets to live out her own story - soundtracked by Max Martin hits everyone knows. Kiwi actress and singer Awhimai Fraser is set to star and director Hamish Mouat is in charge of bringing the show to life - and they're promising everyone will be on their feet by the end. "There's great humour in it, but there's great heart and there are these really amazing stories of discovery and identity and standing up for yourself and what you believe in and who you believe you should be." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi actress Madeleine Sami's been successful across the Tasman, and she's drawing in more international acclaim. Fresh from directing a NZ series called The Sanctuary in West Auckland and getting the nod to be the new host of The Traitors, she's back on our screens for the second season of Deadloch, and it's a hit with critics. She says it feels 'pretty cool' to be part of something that people are really connecting to, and it's a privilege to be part of the series. "I'm really grateful and I'm happy and I'm excited, it's so exciting to get to go to a place like Darwin, which is so far away from New Zealand, and so different." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester. This book is marvellous - the premise being that every marriage has its own language which is meaningless to anyone listening in. A new Netflix show called Cheating becomes the talk of the town and appears to contain verbatim words and phrases which were unique to Kate and Jack - but Jack has died and Kate's left wondering whether their long and faithful marriage was actually something else entirely. How else could the scriptwriter have possibly known? Kids, Wait till You Hear This! by Liza Minnelli. This is the memoir of the famous Liza with a z……she writes about growing up with her mother, Judy Garland, who was troubled and difficult and of course immensely talented; and about her career which started when she joined Judy on stage as a very young child and progressed to Broadway when still a teenager, and the subsequent remarkable career, addictions and many marriages. It's full of famous names. She's had an extraordinary life, and this is it in her own words. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflict in the Middle East has continued for another week, and there's concerns from industry experts about it impacting tourism. Intrepid Travel's chief executive recently confirmed travellers are delaying their plans until the second half of the year in the hope disruption caused by the Iran war will be resolved. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton says people are concerned about the impact of fuel prices driving up the cost of flights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist, TV producer and commentator Irene Gardiner and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is proposing rules that would remove minimum legal-size limits for commercial fishers across popular fish species like snapper and trevally. This has sparked some outrage - what do we make of this? The Middle East conflict is continuing to drive up fuel prices, and more people are using public transport. Should the Government intervene? And if they should, how should they? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Sunday 22 March 2026, Madeleine Sami's Emmy nominated show Deadloch is back for season two, filmed in the Northern Territory, Madeleine tells Andrew about the insanity of filming in the croc infested area and questions how much the high temperatures impact the locals. Smash hit musical & Juliet is being brought to New Zealand by a team of local creatives, two of those, actress Awhimai Fraser and director Hamish Mouat talk about reimaging the show for Kiwi audiences. Minimum fish sizes could be scrapped for commercial fishers, TV fishing host Matt Watson is not happy and explains why. While Andrew points out there may be some good aspects to the current escalating fuel prices. Dr Michelle Dickinson has been at an AI conference this week which is likened to the Super Bowl of AI - so what did she learn and what does the future of AI look like? Michelle with all the latest in AI. 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.

Creatine is the latest wellness trend for building muscle and boosting brain health, but is it really all it's pumped up to be? It's primarily considered a fitness supplement, but doctors are increasingly curious about its potential longevity and mental health benefits. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NVIDIA GTC took place last week in San Jose, where thousands of developers and industry experts gathered to discuss the latest AI breakthroughs. The sessions revealed how AI was set to shape every major industry, with plenty of experts discussing the next steps for this new technology. Nanotechnologist Dr Michelle Dickinson was at the event, and she revealed how AI was set to impact the business and medical sectors, among others. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 98th Academy Awards took place last Monday in LA, with the major prize going to One Battle After Another. It dominated the night with six wins - including Best Picture and Best Director, edging out Sinners. Best Costume Design went to New Zealander Kate Hawley for Frankenstein, and the Weta FX team won Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall recapped the 2026 event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Civil Contractors New Zealand Cable Price National Excavator Operator Competition officially wrapped up this weekend. The event took place at Manfeild Park during Central Districts Field Days on March 20-21, where top operators faced off to take home the title. The competition's chief organiser, Greg Lumsden, revealed what makes someone a successful operator in this context. "We've got a massive, big Connect 4 game that the two diggers play - so there's two 13-ton diggers on each side and they play Connect 4." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction that the New Zealand First leader will be feeling confident heading into a set-piece speech today. Winston Peters will be giving his State of the Nation address in Tauranga today. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says we can expect a policy and an election announcement this afternoon - and that the state of the polls will be giving Peters a boost. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fishing host Matt Watson has been quick to voice disapproval with a bill proposing to remove almost all minimum legal-size limits for commercial fishing operators. The proposed laws would apply to a range of popular fish species, including snapper, trevally, butterfish and tarakihi - and recreational fishers will still have to follow all current minimum size limit rules. Watson says this won't address destructive fishing methods - and that these terms are 'madness'. "The notion that - well, these fish are gonna die anyway, we might as well keep them and sell them is ridiculous, because the reason that there is a size limit is because fish have to be able to get to reproductive size to be able to restock the ocean. So instead of addressing - stop catching undersized fish, you're legitimatising it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The relationship between employers and employees is getting more and more fraught when they come into dispute - and there's growing calls for change. The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) is calling for a review of the employment disputes resolution system, as they've voiced concerns around employment advocates. EMA Head of Legal, Mauro Barsi, says the association has observed that the system is becoming much more difficult to navigate, and costs are getting higher. "Some of the decisions that we see are increasingly more difficult for employers to navigate, ongoing. It's just getting harder and harder to employ people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, the whole world is talking about petrol, how to get it, and how expensive will it get while the unrest in the Middle East continues. News outlets world wide are warning of hard times to come and leaders are playing a waiting game to see how the cards fall. But it's not all doom and gloom. Rather than waiting for the state to take the lead, citizens are modifying their behaviour. And it's not all bad. In Auckland, Tuesday was the busiest day on public transport since 2019 (pre-Covid).That's 7000 trips higher than the previous busiest day, which was two weeks ago. Looks like Tuesday has become bus day. Or train day. Or ferry day. North Shore Facebook pages are full of wonder, of people marvelling at where the congestion has gone. One wag saying that all that was needed to sort out Lake Road was a Middle East war. Why didn't we try that sooner? It's encouraging to see more people choosing public transport and trying it out. And it seems that people are just trying it out a day or two per week, so that it's not too dramatic a change to a lifestyle. And what has been lost in arguments over the funding of public transport is that it helps roads and drivers. If 7000 people more than ever took public transport on Tuesday, then it's estimated that that's 5000 cars off our roads. The roads are then less congested and the commute for the people who have no option to take public transport, like tradies and deliveries, is easier, more efficient, faster and also cheaper. That's good for productivity. Other benefits are a drop in online shopping from Temu, Ali Baba and the like. It's not major yet, you can still buy stuff at ridiculously low prices - but people are counting their pennies. That is reducing the unprecedented level of shipping that criss-crosses the world, and analysts are forecasting that shipping costs will increasingly hit the prices which will temper the fever. And that's actually a good thing. For a long time, I've been wondering how you can buy a $3 t-shirt from China that somehow makes it to your letterbox in New Zealand. And how is that sustainable? And how damaging must it be with the planes and the vans buzzing here and there worldwide. So sure, times are tough - but to be fair, we can start learning the lessons now for the days when oil runs out and we can no longer take fossil fuel transport for granted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crackhead is a new, locally produced dark comedy, and it's getting plenty of positive reviews. Created and written by actress Holly Shervey, Crackhead is loosely based on Shervey's own experience of addiction and psychiatric care. Holly Shervey and her husband, director of the show, Emmett Skilton, explained the creative process behind creating the show. "When we finally start to take it off the page, I see Holly really embracing it - she mentioned it's cathartic, she is very liberated by doing this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian author Charlotte McConaghy's novel Wild Dark Shore has been widely reviewed as one of the must read books of 2025. It also saw McConaghy named on the longlist for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Ahead of her appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival, she's opened up about the creative journey behind her iconic work. "I was concerned that my sort of level of immersion into my writing was so different than what it had been in the past, and I was worried that it was going to sort of translate into the book and into the writing - they're very normal doubts to have as a writer." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lake Effect by Cynthia d'Aprix Sweeney. In 1977, just as The Joy of Sex is sweeping through suburbia, neighbours Nina Larkin and Finn Finnegan leave their respective families for a new life together in a seismic betrayal which ripples through their children's lives and has a profound, ongoing impact on them all. Yet family bonds are not easily broken and somehow seem to stretch, bend and accommodate all the chaos and mystery and love which life throws at them. This author writes wonderfully about family dynamics - small stories about everyday people living ordinary lives which in their own way are fascinating. Every Second Counts by Charlotte Glennie. Charlotte Glennie was TVNZ's first Asia correspondent based in Hong Kong from where she lived a frenetic life chasing down major world events, natural disasters, political turmoil and more. This is a compilation of recent world history which humanizes those involved, told with insight and fierce empathy and is a fascinating account of the stories of our times told by someone who was there and witnessed it all first hand. Highly recommended. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's spring on the other side of the world, which means it's almost peak cherry blossom season in Washington DC. There's over 3000 cherry blossom trees in America's capital, and BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton says timing is everything when it comes to seeing them in bloom. Megan outlined her travel tips - read more about what she recommends here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers and editor and journalist, Jo McCarroll, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! The Middle East crisis is getting worse and there's concerns about what it will do to the global fuel supply chain. Do we think the Government is taking this seriously enough? Are we taking any steps to reduce our consumption? It's nearly Easter, and the hot cross bun debate continues. What makes a good hot cross bun? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 15 March, author Charlotte McConaghy is behind one of 2025s must read books 'Wild Dark Shores'. She joins Francesca to talk about the unexpected success of a book that was very hard to write and the insane research trip she undertook with a toddler in tow. Holly Shervey has turned her story of drug addiction and psychiatric care into a new local TV show. It's had rave reviews and Holly and her director husband Emmett Skilton talk about bringing her personal story to life. Petrol has been the talk of the town this week but how much do we know about how supply chain issues will impact us in New Zealand? Consultant Nathan Surendran talks us through the supply chain and what plan we need in place. Francesca celebrates the distraction of the upcoming Oscars and entertainment contributor Steve Newall has all the preview and some of his hot tips to take out the awards. 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.

Healing the gut rather than relying on long-term restrictive diets is considered a better approach to manage IBS and bloating than restrictive dieting. Irritable bowel syndrome is very common in New Zealand, affecting an estimated 15–20 percent of the population, or roughly 1 in 7 adults. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how to work through long-term gut issues. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot smoked mussel pate Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves 6-8 300-400 gm darker fleshed fillets like Kahawai or Trevally 100 gm seasalt 2 cups large manuka wood chips 10 green lip mussels 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsp crème fraiche Juice of one lemon 1 tbsp honey Pinch of paprika Cracked pepper and seasalt 3 tbsp fennel tips & chives, chopped finely Toasted sour dough Start by making up a salt brine by combining 100gm of salt with 1 litre of water. Whisk until dissolved. Submerge the fish fillets into the water and leave for 30 minutes to firm-up and flavour. Place 2 x cast-iron pans onto the heat with the wood chips inside. Onto the wood chips, ball up some tin-foil and then place the fish fillets and mussels on top. Keeping them off the wood chips. Place a lid on top of the pan and crank up the heat, causing the wood chips to smoke. Once smoking leave on high for a further minute. Turn off the heat but leaving the lids on. After 5 minutes, remove the mussel and fillets. Place half the mussels and fillets into a blender along with the mustard, crème fraiche, lemon juice, farm honey and paprika. Blitz until smooth, taste and season with salt and cracked pepper. Chop the remaining mussels and fillets and fold through the pate, along with the fennel tips and chives. Serve with some toasted sourdough. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine biting into a tomato that smells like freshly buttered popcorn. Research published in the journal KeAi showed the world's first tomato plants with a popcorn-like aroma made using gene-editing technology. The goal is part of a much bigger effort to solve one of the biggest problems in modern agriculture: why tomatoes have lost so much of their flavour. Why tomatoes don't taste like they used to If you've ever eaten a tomato straight from a garden, you probably know the difference immediately. Homegrown tomatoes are often sweet, fragrant, and intensely flavourful. Supermarket tomatoes, by comparison, can sometimes taste bland. Once removed from the vine, the fruit begins to undergo metabolic changes that slowly reduce its aroma and flavour. Long transport times and storage conditions make this even worse. Over decades, breeding tomatoes for durability, size, and shelf life has also unintentionally reduced many of the compounds responsible for flavour. Scientists around the world are now trying to bring that flavour back. The science behind the popcorn smell In the new study, researchers used the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 to modify two specific genes in tomato plants. These genes normally control how the plant processes certain chemical compounds. By switching them off, the researchers triggered the buildup of a molecule called 2-AP. This compound is famous in the food world. It's responsible for the distinctive smell of: Buttered popcorn Fragrant rice varieties like basmati and jasmine Freshly baked bread When the edited tomatoes started producing higher levels of this compound, the plants developed a distinct popcorn-like aroma. Improving flavour without hurting the plant One of the most important findings from the research is that the genetic change didn't appear to harm the plant's performance, so scientists managed to increase the tomato's aroma without reducing yield or nutritional value. The tomatoes used in the experiment were a research variety called Alisa Craig, commonly used in plant science studies. The next step will be introducing the aroma trait into commercial tomato varieties that are grown at scale. If successful, future supermarket tomatoes could have far richer aromas and more complex flavour, something that many people feel has been missing from modern produce. This research is part of a growing trend in agriculture: using gene editing not just to make crops tougher or higher yielding, but to improve the eating experience itself. Instead of choosing between flavour and productivity, scientists are increasingly finding ways to achieve both. And if that future includes tomatoes that smell like buttered popcorn, it might make the produce aisle a lot more interesting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix has recently confirmed it would release a sequel to Kpop Demon Hunters, its most popular film of all time and a two-time Oscar nominee. The film's a big hit with fans all over the world, and it's nominated for two Academy Awards this Monday - Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further, and discussed the other nominees ahead of tomorrow's Oscars. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi fashion stylist has turned personal loss into a new purpose. Inspired by her auntie's cancer battle, Lulu Wilcox has created 'Loved by Lulu' a range of headwear for women struggling with hair loss from the likes of chemotherapy. Wilcox says she wanted to create something that gives back, and offers people comfort during tough times. "This has come about, Loved by Lulu, and I'm very, very passionate about it and I've been in the fashion industry for so long, I just felt that the need to give back and provide something for everybody navigating this journey." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building relationships is the focus for the Prime Minister, as he departs for Samoa and Tonga today. Chris Luxon will visit the main islands of both countries this week to meet with the pair's new Governments. Alongside him will be his Police and Pacific Peoples Ministers - as well as a business delegation and MPs from other parties. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained why Luxon is looking to strengthen the partnership between the regions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sparked concerns about global oil shortages, domestic rising petrol and diesel costs, and it's got experts speculating. The Government is working to find a solution, with Energy Minister Simon Watts meeting with his counterparts in Tokyo for the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Forum to discuss the issue. Nathan Surendran is the chair of the Wise Response Society, and he says the conflict is causing oil refineries all over the world to slow down production. "There is the National Fuel Plan - the Government has, effectively, a staged incremental rationing type process...it should signal that rationing is a potential possibility, because signalling it gives people time to adjust mentally." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, if you were hoping 2026 would be a simpler year than the previous few, you're probably rethinking your expectations. There's a bit going on. This week has been about leadership. Domestic and global. The Middle East. Oil prices. And reliving the past with the Covid Royal Commission Report. Oil isn't toilet paper, but there's a weird familiarity between Covid and our oil supply concerns, isn't there? There's the fear of what happens if we run out of…something. And so, in these difficult and uncertain times it can be helpful to look for a distraction, and I can't think of a better one than the 98th Academy Awards, which take place on Monday afternoon New Zealand time. I know it sounds flippant. It's easy to dismiss the Oscars as irrelevant during a tumultuous time. It's all extravagant outfits, outrageous goodie bags, woke speeches - I can understand why some people think it's an advertisement for Ozempic. But, actually, there is a place for the Oscars. Beyond the distraction and entertainment, the craft and storytelling on show is incredible and those responsible - from the directors and actors to the costume designers and sound engineers - deserve to be respected and honoured. When the news is all doom and gloom it's easy to become cynical and negative about everything. So, it's a choice to retain some positivity and remind ourselves of what's possible and to celebrate talent and achievement - regardless of the industry it's in. As seems to be the case year after year, Kiwis are acknowledged for their incredible work at the Oscars. Costume designer Kate Hawley is nominated for Frankenstein - she is an inspiration for all young design students out there - and the incredible team at Wētā FX are nominated for Avatar: Fire and Ash. The studio have already won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects 7 times. 7 times! I quite often hear people say how much New Zealanders punch above our weight - particularly in the creative industries. I don't like the expression. It means performing or achieving results better than expected and beyond one's ability, skill and experience. This is absolutely not the case. Regardless of our nation's size and where we live, Kiwis have the ability, skill and experience to be at the top of whatever game they're in, if they're prepared to work for it. It's easy to look at what's going on in the world and say there are more important things to be thinking about than the Oscars. And that is true. But hey, throughout the award's almost 100-year history there have always been more important things to think about. So, if you happen to have access to Disney+ tomorrow, set yourself up in front of a screen, take pleasure in people doing well, enjoy the distraction and the celebration of this marvellous art form. There are some exceptional films and Kiwis to cheer for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning journalist Charlotte Glennie's built up a memorable career over the years. As a foreign correspondent, she reported from North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, she covered monsoon rains in a Bangladesh refugee camp and she witnessed the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people. But before all that, Glennie was in a life-changing accident while in Croatia and lost her footing and fell off a cliff onto rocks below, suffering life-threatening injuries. She's written about all her experiences in a new memoir - Every Second Counts. "There were two things I wanted to do, and for me, they were the pinnacle of a journalism career. One was to be a foreign correspondent and one was to be a political correspondent. And the political one came along very early on...and another theme of the book is just taking opportunities when they come along." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati began their music careers in South Auckland church halls, but now they've grown their international careers. A new documentary Tenor: My Name Is Pati explored the duo's journey to the opera stages as Sol3 Mio stars - and how they got to train and work overseas. Pene Pati says he was scared on the journey, but knew he would find his way. "I often think about this - it's a bit of both. I was scared, I was fearful...but at the same time, I was confident that I could do it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubuse. Saoirse is a successful artist living in Ireland with a lovely family and skeletons in the closet that she hopes will stay hidden forever. When she becomes the focus of attention after winning a major art award, her carefully constructed life comes under attack as her deception becomes known, and the public gaze sees only the extent of her lies and not the desperate need that drove them. A Far-Flung Life by M.L.Stedman. The MacBride family operate a one million acre sheep station in Western Australia, where one day an accident on the property changes their lives forever and the resulting trauma leads to a terrible secret which could rip them all apart. Set against the vast landscape of WA, amidst extreme isolation, all they have is one another and a fierce determination to protect their way of life. This book is wonderful. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelling can get expensive, but Megan Singleton's unveiled a solution to keep track of costs. The Splitwise app can add up expenses and reveal a total of who owes what to whom when you're travelling in a group. Megan explained further - read more of her travel tips here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 8 March 2026, Sol3 Mio star Pene Pati has gone from singing in South Auckland rest homes to the grandest opera stages around the world. He talks about his journey and just how demanding the opera world is. Former foreign correspondent Charlotte Glennie suffered critical injuries in a fall in 2001, she joins Francesca to talk about it's life changing impact and her the events from her career that stay with her. Political commentators debate whether Luxon can right the ship, particularly with the war in the Middle East threatening any economic recovery. While Francesca looks at the hype around the poll on Friday and wonders whether we might have got a bit carried away? And Megan Singleton has the ultimate travel tip for splitting the costs of a group trip. 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.

This week on The Sunday Panel, host of the Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, and Coast day host Lorna Riley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Luxon's leadership has been questioned this week, but looking across the board - where is the leadership? Are we stuck with our current political leaders because there is no one else to step up? Where is the next generation of leaders? United Airlines has revealed it plans to permanently ban flyers who don't use headphones on the plane. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choline is an essential nutrient that is required for optimal health, and it plays a key role in healthy brain function, heart health, and liver function. Research indicates that over 90 percent of New Zealanders and Australians fail to meet the recommended daily intake for choline. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained the benefits of choline, and how we can add more of it to our diets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flounder with burnt butter, capers and parsley Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 12 flounder fillets 1 cup seasoned plain flour with salt and white pepper 4 tbsp sunflower oil 100 gm unsalted butter, cut into small cubes 2 lemons 4 tbsp capers 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped roughly Flaky salt and cracked pepper 1 dried chilli, crushed Heat two cast-iron pans over a low heat, before adding in the sunflower oil. Run the flounder fillets through the seasoned flour. Carefully place into the heated pan and cook until lightly coloured on one side before turning. Once you have flipped the fish, divide the butter into each pan and continue to cook, spooning the butter over the fish. This is a very fast process as you don't want to over cook the thin fillet. Once cooked, carefully remove the fish onto a preheated platter. Return the pan back to the heat and turn the heat up until the butter is becomes a rich golden brown. Add in the capers, parsley and chilli. Turn the pan off before squeezing the juice of the lemon to stop the butter from over cooking. Season with salt and a crack of pepper. Spoon the butter over the top of the fillets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered why some people seem particularly drawn to conspiracy theories, even when the evidence doesn't support them? New research suggests the answer may have less to do with intelligence or critical thinking, and more to do with how people naturally process information. A study published in the journal Cognitive Processing found that people who strongly prefer order, patterns, and structured explanations may be more likely to find conspiracy theories appealing. What's interesting is that this can happen even when those people are perfectly capable of scientific reasoning. The appeal of a simple explanation The world is complicated, events are messy, unpredictable, and often confusing. Conspiracy theories offer something very tempting: a tidy explanation for chaos. They connect dots, assign motives, and turn uncertainty into a clear story. For people who naturally look for structure and patterns, that kind of explanation can feel satisfying. Researchers describe this thinking style as “systemising.” Systemising is the tendency to interpret the world by identifying patterns and rules that explain how things work. People who score highly on systemising often enjoy solving puzzles, analysing systems, or finding logical frameworks that make sense of complex information. In the study, researchers looked at more than 550 participants and identified different thinking styles. They found that people with strong systemising tendencies were more likely to believe conspiracy theories, even if they demonstrated strong reasoning skills. The reason? Conspiracy theories often present events in a way that appears highly structured and internally consistent. Loose ends get tied together. Coincidences become evidence. Complex events get reduced to a clear narrative. The problem is that once someone adopts a structured explanation, it can be difficult to let go of it. Why beliefs can stick, even when new evidence appears Participants who strongly preferred structured explanations were less likely to change their views when presented with new evidence. This doesn't necessarily mean someone is irrational. Instead, it reflects how their brain prefers to organise information. The desire for a coherent system can sometimes override the willingness to question the system itself. Why this matters Conspiracy theories aren't just harmless speculation. They can erode trust in institutions, influence public health decisions, increase anxiety, damage relationships, and spread misinformation. Understanding why people believe them is therefore important. The research suggests that simply presenting facts may not always be enough to change someone's mind. If conspiracy beliefs satisfy deeper psychological needs, like the desire for order and predictability, then addressing misinformation may require more than just correcting the record. It may also require recognising how different people make sense of the world. A reminder about human thinking Perhaps the most important takeaway from this research is that belief in conspiracy theories isn't always about poor reasoning. Sometimes it's about the human desire to make sense of uncertainty. Our brains are pattern-finding machines, most of the time that ability helps us navigate the world. Understanding that tendency may be one of the most powerful tools we have for recognising misinformation, both in others, and in ourselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a big week for Harry Styles fans, with his fourth studio album Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally being released on Friday. As part of the album launch, Harry's sold-out show in Manchester's Co-op Arena has been recorded and will be available on Netflix for fans all over the world. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

War in the Middle East is also becoming a war of words - as the conflict enters its second week. Meanwhile, there's been reports Iran's new Supreme Leader could be chosen within 24 hours. The Economist's Middle East Correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom, says the narrative of this war is constantly changing - especially from US President Donald Trump. "A week ago, he was saying he wanted to give Iran back to the people of Iran, he wanted to free the people of Iran. Now he's talking about having a hand in picking the new Supreme Leader of Iran, which sounds rather contradictory." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defence Minister Judith Collins says two Air Force planes will be heading to an undisclosed location in the Middle East to help any Kiwis who are stranded. The White House says the war could last four to six weeks - with Israel unleashing a new wave of strikes on Iran. A C-130J Hercules aircraft left Auckland's Whenuapai - and another was sent earlier to the Middle East, after being in Asia. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says Collins confirmed the plan is to get people out of immediate danger so they can get on a flight home to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's suspicions speculation around Chris Luxon's future won't be subsiding, even after he firmly ruled out stepping aside. This week's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has National down to 28.4 percent, with Labour able to govern alongside the Greens and Te Pati Maori. The Prime Minister's assured the public he had his MP's backing and won't be going anywhere. Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says this week's been a challenging one from Chris Luxon. "The real significant event this week in terms of the election is the unexpected economic headwinds we now appear to be in - the events in the Middle East are not going to be over in a week or even a month now, it's looking to be quite a lot longer, and the implications on the New Zealand economy is certainly a challenge." Former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones says the speculation over Chris Luxon's political future is 'fatal' - regardless of whether or not it's true. "The problem he's got is that it's never a good thing when you have to ring up and say - I'm not resigning. I think that spoke to the crisis he was in this week." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it was an interesting end of the week when it comes to domestic politics. With rumours swelling on Friday that the Prime Minister was considering his future over the weekend, he had to act quickly. There was absolutely no way he could go into the weekend with even the hint of speculation he was considering his future. When a sitting Prime Minister signals they are “considering their future”, it is almost always politically damaging. In parliamentary systems like ours, leadership authority depends heavily on perceived confidence and control. Once a leader questions themselves publicly it rapidly weakens their position with the party and the electorate. Honesty and transparency in this case doesn't buy sympathy, it is more likely to create a trigger moment that encourages internal challengers. Be anything but unequivocal on Friday and the Prime Minister may as well have poured himself a Coke No Sugar and started planning a nice winter getaway. The sudden announcement he would appear on Heather de Plessis-Allan Drive just after 5pm on Friday evening was unusual enough to raise an eyebrow. But he was turning up to do exactly what needed to be done to remain credible - to get ahead of the story. He explained to Heather why he decided to appear - to set the story straight. After some easily clipped soundbites from his party deputy Nicola Willis, who told ZB's Wellington Morning host Nick Willis that it hadn't been a “great week for the Prime Minister”, Christopher Luxon made it very clear that he has the full support of his team and caucus. Since then, everyone has been very well behaved. Over the last few days, I've been reflecting on what a tough gig it is. There's quite a lot of luck and timing involved in being a successful Prime Minister. A successful career in politics isn't just about talent and ability, or the possession of that rare relatable charisma - it also comes down to what the country and the world throws at you. And - let's not forget - what the previous Government left you. Look around the world and most leaders are dealing with the same issues we have - a slow economic recovery, the high cost of living, housing, a weird international trade environment, and much more. We haven't seen much alternative policy from opposition parties to show us there are other, more likely to be successful, scenarios under alternative leadership that we're currently missing out on. The reality is that the recovery was going to be difficult for whoever was in charge. But it's especially difficult for a leader who takes on a cheerleading role with the vigour Luxon does. There's a disconnect between the aspirational words and the reality of a Government that's cutting rather than growing as much as we'd like, and when signs the economy is finally turning the corner are likely to squashed by conflict in the Middle East. The only thing keeping Luxon in play is his ability to control his troops, the party's desire to avoid the instability that comes with changing leadership, and the lack of an obvious replacement who could win an election. But history tells us that if the polls continue to trend downwards for the Nats, the Prime Minister may be organising that mid-winter break before you know it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.