The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

For the last 25 years, the Jubilation Choir has been bringing together singers from all walks of life, and some Kiwi music powerhouses are set to appear next Sunday. Next week, the choir will be joined by Julia Deans, Bella Kalolo and the one and only Anika Moa. Anika Moa says she's done plenty of collaborations, but appearing in the Jubilation Choir will be a career first. "It's nice to be a part of this project because we've got two shows, it's in and out, it's doing our favourite songs...and I get to sing with Julia Deans and Bella Kalolo. That's a pretty good Sunday." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Detective by Matthew Reilly: Matt Reilly is well known for the thrillers he's been writing for many years now, but this one is quite a departure. It's based in the American South and is the story of many women going missing over a period of 150 years, starting back in 1877….and the investigators looking for them all also disappeared. It's set in the nexus of Louisiana and Texas, where a quirky private detective gets the bit between his teeth and is determined to get to the bottom of it, and it has all the hallmarks of the area – wealthy family dynasties, racism, bayous and alligators and high stakes adventure. The Breath of the Gods by Simon Winchester. A remarkable exploration of our atmosphere, and the role played in our lives by wind – which can be both benign and malevolent. It's a fascinating story told through history, literature, science, poetry and engineering – and includes a piece on our own Wahine disaster. Simon Winchester has an ability to make the everyday and apparently mundane, extraordinary. It's a wonderful book. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Singleton's been working her way through the US - and she concluded her latest adventure with a few days in New York. The winter season is getting underway, meaning people are flocking to the city to take in a New York Christmas. Megan unveiled her highlights, check out more here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coromandel is well-regarded as one of New Zealand's top holiday hotspots, but it's got more to offer adrenaline junkies than it lets on. Adventure Racing Coromandel co-founder Andy Reid's been leading the charge in this development, having helped create the K2 bike race and the Kauri Run - among others. Reid's taken his findings and experiences and put them in a new book - Are You Trying to Kill Us? "We started with the adventure race and straightaway, we knew that we could only put these races on with the help of all our local volunteers - and so we thought that it was really important to put something back into the community." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A damning police watchdog report from last week found numerous failures in how police handled complaints a staff member made against disgraced former deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. How bad does this look for the police? It's been a big week for Te Pāti Māori, with Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris being ousted. Is this a bad look ahead of the election? The All Blacks got trounced in their latest match against England in Twickenham. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had a lovely Saturday morning. Lying in bed, drinking a coffee, reading the weekend Herald and listening to Jack on ZB say that he'll ditch his wallet by next year as everything he needs will be on his phone. I was thinking - keep up, lad. I ditched the wallet during Covid. The phone has become ubiquitous and if not the phone, then a card in a pocket in the phone. It's debatable whether this is a good thing considering how compromised phones are and how reliant they are on cell towers, software and power supply, but hey. Meanwhile, on the front page of the Herald was the legislation meaning that councils could charge congestion taxes in the future. Now this is dodgy. The taxes will be on roads that we already paid taxes to build. And if not taxes then rates, which after all, are also taxes. Talk about double jeopardy - taxes on taxes And then, you have to wonder if the National-led coalition really is the tax cut party. Surely introducing a new tax is still a new tax, which is something they say is what the socialists do. But everyone is doing it - rates are up, water rates are up. And under this coalition, the reality is our taxes are going up. No matter what their semantics suggest. But they have to do it to get some cars off some roads that are so congested that they're costing our productivity. The motivation for taxes has many faces - they're used to punish the rich, they're used to redistribute wealth, they're used to fund health and education systems and they're used to punish or change behaviour. So they're trying to change our behaviour to make more of us drive off peak and less of us on peak. Good luck with that. Good luck with your tax. No wonder Wayne Brown said they're not going to use the new power any time soon, he knows a vote killer when he sees one. But the fact that a young modern city of just over one and a half million people has got itself in a position where a centre-right Government thinks the answer is a congestion tax is a complete and utter failure of civic planning. Sure, I can understand congestion taxes in London, which has had centuries of development. But Auckland? Or Tauranga? Or Wellington? All we had to do was provide alternatives to the car that were affordable and efficient. But everytime public transport options and alternate modes have been suggested, they've been shouted down by people who think they live in rural villages and not modern cities and they should drive from doorstep to doorstep. Thanks for your lack of foresight - it means another tax is coming and our roads will still be chocka. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Sunday 16 November 2925, Anika Moa is in the final stages of making her first album for adults in a decade, but she reveals it might not be the Anika Moa we are used to. Andy Reid is the co-founder of Adventure Racing Coromandel, his new book 'Are You Trying to Kill Us' is out now and Andy shares the wild stories from his events. The All Black grand slam hopes are over, Elliott Smith with the reaction from Twickenham and Andrew vents his frustration over congestion charges. And meat's getting expensive, Mike Van de Elzen with an alternative for your Sunday dinner. 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.

The holiday season means more gatherings and Christmas parties - and with it, more opportunities to binge-drink. Recent data shows one in every five New Zealand adults were hazardous drinkers, placing themselves and others at risk of harm. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how Kiwis can be mindful and stay safe this holiday season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, most medical and biological research has been conducted primarily on male volunteers and male animals in laboratory studies. One of the main reasons was convenience - male hormone levels are more stable, whereas female hormones shift across the menstrual cycle, introducing variability that researchers historically preferred to avoid. But that convenience has come at a cost. When treatments are developed and tested mainly in males, the results don't always translate well to female physiology. This means that women have often been prescribed medications or therapies that were never fully tested on their biology. In some cases, women have experienced more side effects, reduced effectiveness, or entirely different outcomes than men. As we learn more, it's becoming clear that male and female bodies age differently too. And new anti-ageing treatments may need to take these differences into account. A new study published in the journal Ageing shows exactly why. The researchers discovered a combination of two drugs that extended lifespan in frail, elderly male mice by an impressive 73 percent from the start of treatment while also improving their mobility, endurance and memory. However, the same therapy did not provide the same benefits to female mice. They tested oxytocin, which is known to support tissue repair, along with another drug known as OT+A5i, which blocks a key pathway involved in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and death. The study involved 25-month-old mice which is roughly equivalent to a 75-year-old human. In male mice: Lifespan increased by 73 percent from the start of treatment. Median lifespan increased by 14 percent. Risk of death at any time decreased three-fold. Endurance, grip strength, and agility improved. Short-term memory improved. Blood biomarkers shifted toward younger, healthier levels. But in female mice: No significant extension of lifespan. No consistent improvements in strength or memory. Blood biomarkers did not shift in the same way. Researchers suggest several possibilities for the difference: Female inflammatory signalling pathways differ from males Hormonal environments change ageing differently in men and women The interaction between oxytocin and TGF-beta networks may not play the same role in female tissues This highlights the point that ageing is not identical in men and women, and treatments to slow ageing may need to be tailored accordingly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roasted carrots with mint emulsion and spiced chickpeas Cook time: 45 minutes Prep time: 20 minutes Serves: 12 20 carrots cut in half 2 tbsp sunflower oil Flaky sea salt Miso emulsion 2 soft boiled eggs 1 tbsp miso paste 4 tbsp orange juice Juice of 1 lemon 1 cup coriander leaves and stalks 10 mint leaves 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 clove garlic 1 tbsp ginger, peeled 300ml sunflower oil Spiced chickpeas 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, roasted 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, roasted 3 cups drained chickpeas 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp crushed farm chilli 2 tbsp sunflower oil Pre-heat the oven to 180*c. Cut the carrots in half and drizzle with oil and sprinkle with some flaky salt. Place into the oven and roast until tender. Combine all the ingredients for the spiced chickpeas in a bowl and toss, lay out onto a roasting tray and place in the oven along with the carrots. Cooked for 30 minutes stirring every 10 until crispy. Allow to cool . Make up the mint emulsion Bring a pot of water to the boil and carefully drop in your eggs. Time them for 5 minutes before removing and placing into iced water till cold. Carefully roll the eggs breaking the shell before peeling, (good luck!) Place all the ingredients apart from the oil into the blender and turning on slowly before turning up and slowly drizzle in the oil. Season with salt and pepper if required. Spoon a couple tbsp of mint emo onto a platter and stack the roasted carrots on top and finish with the spiced chickpeas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's hotels will be completely full next Wednesday - as the city welcomes 57,000 visitors ahead of two major events. 40,000 are expected from Metallica fans alone, with the rock band set to perform at Eden Park. Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 international delegates are gathering at Aotea Centre for New Zealand's largest ever academic conference, celebrating indigenous education over five days. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The summer holidays are getting closer, meaning more Kiwis will be leaving their offices for breaks - but research shows they might not fully disconnect. New research shows fewer than half of New Zealand workers are fully disconnecting from the job when they're on holiday, putting them at risk of burnout. Massey University professor of management Dr Jarrod Haar says it's better for workers to make the most of their time off. "It is indicative, I think, of our modern day working society that it is just so easy to check your work emails on your smartphone, even down on the beach...and that has repercussions for our wellbeing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's discussion over Andrew Coster's future with the police following a bombshell report. An IPCA report came out earlier in the week, revealing senior police staff had failed to properly investigate a complaint against then-Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. The report implicated Coster, as well as other senior leaders. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacked the ongoing discussions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is protesting his innocence, after admitting he failed a drugs test on the day of his defeat to British boxer Fabio Wardley last month in London. News outlets in the UK said the former world champion tested positive for cocaine. Parker says it was a voluntary test and the adverse result was 'a real surprise'. Former professional boxer Junior Fa says this development has come as a shock to New Zealand's wider boxing community. "This is a bit of a shock in terms of lifestyle choice - and from the boxing world, Joe Parker is very, very beloved, everyone loves him. This comes as a shock to everyone." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England is celebrating a first home win over the All Blacks in 13 years. The hosts won 33-19 at Twickenham, despite being 12 points down within the first 20 minutes. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the team made a strong start, but they couldn't keep up the momentum. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 marks 30 years since Kiwi dance company Black Grace was formed, and this anniversary will be marked with some new performances. Later this month, the company will stage Paul Taylor's Esplanade, in a double bill with If Ever There Was A Time - an original work by founder Neil Ieremia. Ieremia says when he first started out, there weren't a lot of dance opportunities for Māori men, and he aimed to change that. "I remember when we put on our first show and it actually sold out - it was at the Kenneth Maidment Theatre at the university there. We put on our first show and it sold out before we actually opened, which was quite incredible." The Black Grace double bill tour starts in Auckland on November 21 and continues in Christchurch on November 25 and 26, with tickets available here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9 November 2025, Bill Bryson's book 'The Short History of Nearly Everything, is the best selling science book of the 21st century. This week he tells Francesca why he came out of retirement to rewrite it after 23 years. Neil Ieremia is credited with changing dance in New Zealand. This year his company, Black Grace turns 30 and he joins Francesca to talk about celebrating the milestone. ZB commentator Elliott Smith on a tight win for the All Blacks this morning at Murrayfield, Francesca applauds the Government's film rebates as a step in the right direction. And off the back of the announcement that Michelin reviewers are going to rate New Zealand restaurants for the first time, resident chef Mike Van de Elzen shares why chasing a star was never important to him. 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.

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold millions of copies since its initial publication in 2003, but a lot has changed since then. Bryson had initially retired, but he's since revised his best known work with updated information - and he's set to do a speaking tour, with Auckland and Wellington events to take place in February. He says a massive amount has changed in the 22 years since writing the book and updating it was a bigger project than expected. "It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot - I've been kind of retired for a few years and this is why I came out of retirement, to do this. And I really had a good time doing it, it made me remember the joys of actually working." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Singleton's travelling through the US, and she spent some time in Boston before heading to New York. She started off in the historic Beacon Hill neighbourhood before moving down to the up and coming Seaport District, and she shared her highlights from both areas. Read more about Megan's experience here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, and journalist, TV producer and commentator, Irene Gardiner, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Treasury is calling for the Government to make some asset sales to bring down debts. Is this a viable way out? Where could we start in offloading assets? The Government has given New Zealand's movie production sector an extra financial boost - do we think this is the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being healthy didn't used to appear to be so complicated, but there's growing concerns about new changes. Constant new trends and studies sometimes contradict previous advice and make it hard to discern reliable information - causing people to question their diets and exercise habits. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cured and roasted salmon pate Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 20 minutes Serves: 6-8 1/4 side of salmon; de-boned with the skin on Salmon salt 100gm flaky seasalt 2 tbsp brown sugar Pate 200gm cream cheese 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon 1 tbsp chopped fennel or dill 1 small red chili 3 tbsp sunflower oil Salt Serve with Lebanese flat breads Pickled cucumbers Start the night before by curing the side of salmon. Lay the salmon skin side down onto a rack and then place the rack into a tray to catch all the juices. Combine the salt and brown sugar and spread over the top of the salmon. It should be a nice thick layer. Cover with cling film and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, wash off any salt and pat dry. If you have a cold smoker, smoked for 4 hours at this point. Preheat your oven to 220*c. Lay the salmon skin side down onto a roasting tray and brush the top of the salmon with oil. Cook for 10 minutes, before checking. The salmon should be cooked just under. Remove from the grill and leave to rest. For the salmon pate Take the cooked salmon and put into a food processor with the cream cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chili, fennel and remaining oil. Blitz until smooth. Check seasoning. Serve with the flatbreads and pickled cucumbers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever tried to cook pasta at home, you'll know the struggle - one minute it's undercooked and chewy, the next minute it has disintegrated into a sticky mush. If you've ever attempted to cook gluten-free pasta, your experience has probably been even worse. So is there an idea way to cook pasta and does gluten-free pasta need different treatment? New research published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids used some of the most advanced research tools on the planet to look deep inside pasta as it cooks to find out. Using powerful beams of X-rays and neutrons from particle accelerator facilities usually reserved for studying materials, medicines and magnetic particle, they were able to figure out how to make better spaghetti. The researchers took regular and gluten-free pasta and used X-rays and neutrons to see how the pasta's internal structure changed during cooking, specifically the behaviour of gluten and starch. They even used heavy water (which contains a different form of hydrogen) to make one ingredient invisible at a time. This way, they could isolate and study gluten and starch separately. In regular pasta, gluten forms a strong internal framework which holds everything in place even when the pasta is boiling and swelling. This is why: Regular spaghetti stays firm. It doesn't fall apart easily. It digests more slowly (lower glycaemic index). In gluten-free pasta, there is no gluten scaffold. That means: The starch granules swell and collapse more easily. The pasta can turn mushy faster. It breaks down more quickly in digestion. Manufacturers try to replace gluten with processed starches, but the study showed these substitutes are much less stable, especially when overcooked. Most of us add salt to pasta water because it tastes better, but the research found it also strengthens pasta's internal structure. The perfect amount of salt was found to be 7 grams (1.5 teaspoons) of salt per litre of water. Salt helps gluten hold its shape and protects the starch granules so the pasta stays firm. More salt is not better When the researchers doubled the amount of salt, the pasta broke down faster. What did the scientists determine as the ideal cooking method for pasta? For regular pasta: Add 7 g of salt per litre of water and boil for 10 minutes For gluten-free pasta: Add 7 g of salt per litre and boil for 11 minutes Gluten-free pasta is simply less forgiving and even two extra minutes or too much salt can turn it into mush. This research isn't just about perfecting dinner. Understanding how pasta breaks down at the microscopic level can help food scientists design better gluten-free pasta that: Holds its shape better. Feels more like wheat pasta. Doesn't spike blood sugar as quickly. And more broadly, the study shows how cutting-edge scientific tools, normally used to study batteries, magnets and biological molecules are now being used to understand everyday foods. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US country singer Jelly Roll says it broke his heart to have to cancel his Auckland show last night due to illness. Some concert-goers - who had travelled from all over New Zealand - were already lining up at Western Springs when the news broke, just hours before it was set to start. Jelly Roll said he's probably missed three shows in the last decade and prides himself on showing up, but he just couldn't do it this time. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall recommended some alternatives for out-of-towners looking for entertainment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was really good on Friday to see the Government respond to the film industry's call for help to remain globally competitive. We're a country full of talented, skilled, creative, innovative, hard-working people, who have created a vibrant and reputable screen industry. It's a well-established sector which provides professional services from pre-production and shooting through to post-production. It employs 24,000 people, and contributes $3.5 billion to the economy each year. Regardless of whether you love movies and TV shows, or care where they're made, we should all be proud of this export industry, what it has produced, and how well it is regarded on the world stage. It would be crazy not to protect and grow it. The reality for the screen industry is that the work can fluctuate - being overrun with productions for a few years, then have a year when very little happens. So whatever we can do to make New Zealand a consistently attractive destination is vital. The Government's changes to the Screen Rebate Scheme kick off from 1 January, and are a good start to keeping us in the game. The plan is to lower the minimum qualifying spend to access the rebate for feature films from $15 million to $4 million and to reduce the threshold for the ‘5 percent uplift' from $30 million to $20 million, allowing more mid-budget productions to qualify for the additional incentive which takes the rebate to 25 percent. It will also expand the eligibility for the 5 percent uplift to include post-production, digital and visual effects only projects - this makes a lot of sense, we are world renowned in this field. And finally, to remove the cap on above-the-line costs such as director, producer, principal cast, and screenwriter fees, aligning with international practice. It's all possibly a bit late - we still lag the rest of the world who are also actively trying to remain competitive - Australia has increased their rebate to 40 percent, Ireland is at 32 percent, the UK 29 percent, and Canada is up to 29 percent. But it is a pragmatic step in the right direction, and it's good to see the Government taking action to create a more competitive and sustainable industry which employs Kiwis, generates business and adds to economic growth. Every dollar invested through the rebate delivers around $2.40 in return to the wider economy - through wages, services and international exposure. International productions also employ the majority of screen workers in New Zealand. It's been a tough year for many in who work in the screen industry. For the world's big players who are looking to potentially bring projects to New Zealand, this is hopefully the nudge they need to commit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new treatment is on the way for Kiwis impacted by OCD. Charity Open Closed Doors is bringing The Bergen Four Day OCD programme to our shores - the treatment is internationally recognised and has a near 70 percent success rate. Clinical psychologist Dr Ben Sedley travelled to Singapore to learn about the programme first-hand, and he was impressed by the results. "Once you learn how to recognise all the compulsions and stop them and you've got a one-on-one clinician with you side by side for two days of doing the exposure response prevention, plus some psychoeducation - when you have all these thing together, you really have the chance to just get the momentum." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasury is nudging the Government to sell state assets that are underperforming or are no longer fit for purpose. It is continuing to sound alarm bells over the Crown's finances being on an 'unsustainable' path forward. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A youth advocate says Oranga Tamariki's evaluation of the boot camp pilot tells us nothing we didn't know. It's revealed six of the nine youth participants re-offended after being released - but less seriously than a cohort not included. Kickback co-founder Aaron Hendry says these young people have experienced significant harm, including neglect, poverty and homelessness. "It's about addressing the housing insecurity, it's about addressing the poverty, it's about actually supporting whanau as a community, to heal - and about support ensuring they have the right support and care around them to be safe." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Satisfaction for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson in how they wrestled momentum back to clinch a 25-17 win over Scotland in Edinburgh. A late Damian McKenzie try and penalty secured victory after the home side came from 17-nil down to level the scores going into the final quarter. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says it was a tight game, with Scotland nearly managing to get ahead LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 2 November. 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 the latest episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from multi award winning and delightful Australian author Trent Dalton on his latest book, Gravity Let Me Go. He also celebrated his theatre production coming to Auckland. Francesca catches up with Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey. She's taking Hollywood by storm with a starring role in Yellowjackets but came home to star in the new Pike River film. Plus we learn the art of writing historical novels from the iconic Ken Follett. 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.

UK comedian and actor Bill Bailey is set to start his next tour of New Zealand in the coming days, and he's spoken of his love for the nation. His brand-new show Vaudevillian kicks off in Queenstown and he's revealed how excited he is to tour the 'beautiful country. "There's a lot about it that I love...the sort of things New Zealand offers are the sorts of things I would seek out in any country that I have a bit of spare time in." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Henry's been a regular presence on New Zealand screens and he's come out of retirement to take on his most anticipated hosting job yet. He is set to host New Zealand's own version of The Chase - the long-running UK-based game show that Kiwis tune into every week. Ahead of this version dropping to TVNZ next month, Henry says it's 'daunting' taking on a project like this. "The show is already so popular in New Zealand, but what's really popular is the British Chase. And we're not doing the British Chase, we're doing the New Zealand Chase." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday on Jack Tame's show, I was talking about the new Springsteen film - Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - and Jack asked me why there have been so many music biopics recently? It got me thinking about how musicians and their origin stories and struggles with fame have always made for good films, and we've always made them. But Jack is right, there have been quite a few biopics about musicians recently - think Better Man about Robbie Williams, A Complete Unknown about Bob Dylan, Bob Marley: One Love, Back to Black about Amy Winehouse, Maria about Maria Callas … and there's plenty more on the way. In 2028, each Beatle is getting their own film, thanks to director Sam Mendes. The truth of the matter is probably that they make money. Marvel and comic book superhero cinema dominance is cooling off, and so in recent years Hollywood has turned to the music biopic genre to replace it. It makes sense really. Like comic book heroes, many of these artists lives are steeped in mythology perfect to mine for drama, their stories are part of pop culture. And apart from paying for music rights - they aren't too expensive to make. And, we love them. We love the comfort of their familiarity and a bit of nostalgia. The music industry also love music biopics, it's a wonderful way for the industry to reconnect an artist with their audience and create new fans. The Springsteen movie is about the making of his acoustic, folk inspired album Nebraska. I listened to the album in the car on the way home from watching the film. Tick, job done. For me, the genre was revitalised with 2005's Walk the Line, which told the story of flawed genius Johnny Cash and his wife June's relationship. It told it - warts and all. Around that time, Ray, about Ray Charles, was also released, as was Control, the story of the troubled life and times of Ian Curtis, lead singer of new wave band Joy Division. Since then, we have been tapping our toes and reliving our own relationships with the music of Elvis, Elton John, Freddie Mercury and NWA. As popular as the genre is, and as much as we enjoy the ride, it's tricky for filmmakers to get these films right. Artists' stories often follow the same narrative beats so can be samey, but it can be risky taking a unique approach. Taking on a lead role can be rewarding for actors in awards season, but fans are judgy when watching an interpretation of their heroes. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is a good case in point. Aside from a few concert scenes, mostly we watch Springsteen record an album in his bedroom and studio while slipping into depression. It's hardly a glossy, mainstream rollicking ride. If you're looking for something to watch this long weekend, and watching Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen isn't your thing, then hunt out some of our own music stories - which have been turned into excellent documentaries. Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds, The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, Alien Weaponry - Thrash Metal and Te Reo Māori, Shihad - Beautiful Machine, Heavenly Pop Hits - The Flying Nun Story. So many good choices. It's also worth noting Life in One Chord - the Shayne Carter story - will be available to rent from DOC PLAY from November 6th. All beautifully told stories that enrich our lives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Widow by John Grisham. Simon Latch is a small time, small town lawyer in Virginia, whose marriage is falling apart, his gambling is out of control, and his legal practice is on the verge of going under. Then an elderly widow arrives on his doorstep, to say that her husband left her millions of dollars in shares, which she wants to keep out of the hands of her estranged stepsons and as she no longer trusts the lawyer who drafted her current will, she wants Simon to help her. He thinks this is the golden ticket that could turn his life around….until she dies in a car crash and he finds himself accused of murder. It's terrific Grisham - less courtroom drama than some of his earlier novels but plenty of intrigue nonetheless. Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben. These two have collaborated on a novel about a highly skilled surgeon who has been disgraced and can no longer practice, and whose husband has been murdered in the war zone where they used to work together. She's approached by a former colleague to take a job with an oligarch who requires complete anonymity and confidentiality and in return will re-establish her credentials, and pay handsomely for her service. The story moves from war zones and refugee camps, and America to Russia and Dubai where there are wheels within wheels, no one can be trusted, and the tension ratchets up as hidden truths are exposed and the secrets of this underworld are brought to light. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Government shutdown is continuing on with no end in sight, and it's starting to impact travel. While essential services will continue, air travel and passport renewals are among the services being disrupted, meaning travel in and out of the US is set to get more complicated. BloggerAtLarge.com Megan Singleton unpacks the delays further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, 818 director Chris Henry and host of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Netball NZ recently confirmed Dame Noeline Taurua will return as Silver Ferns coach. What do we make of this whole saga? And do we think Taurua's return will be smooth sailing? Former US presidential candidate Kamala Harris has hinted she may run for the White House again following the release of her new book. Do we think she'll announce anything? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 26 October. 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.

We've all faced the afternoon slump, but how can we get through it before the end of the day? The slump refers to the dreaded post-lunch, afternoon period where you hit the wall and find it hard to stay focused and productive. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all been told the same advice for decades: 'Eat more fibre if you're constipated.' From breakfast cereals to bran muffins, fibre has long been the go-to remedy for getting things 'moving.' But new research published in two major international journals, the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics and Neurogastroenterology & Motility has just turned that advice on its head. It turns out that while a high-fibre diet is good for your overall health, the science doesn't actually support it as an effective treatment for constipation. The researchers looked at more than 75 clinical trials and rather than just counting grams of fibre, they focus on measurable outcomes like how often someone passes stools, whether straining occurs, and overall quality of life. They identified a few key foods and supplements that have solid evidence behind them: Kiwifruit – This one topped the list! Studies show it helps improve stool frequency and consistency. Rye bread – Rich in unique fibres and bioactive compounds that appear to support gut movement. Mineral-rich water – Particularly waters high in magnesium, which can naturally draw water into the bowel. Psyllium fibre, magnesium oxide, and certain probiotics – These supplements also showed evidence of helping reduce constipation symptoms. In contrast, general 'high-fibre diets' and popular senna-based laxatives were found to lack convincing scientific support for long-term effectiveness. Constipation isn't just uncomfortable, it can seriously affect quality of life. It's also incredibly common, especially among adults and older populations. Until now, most medical advice has been frustratingly simple: 'Eat more fibre and drink more water.' But the new research suggests that this one-size-fits-all approach is outdated. Fibre is still vital for heart health, gut bacteria, and blood sugar control. But when it comes to constipation specifically, it may not be the magic bullet we've all been led to believe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring cola with honey, citrus and lavender Cook time: 5 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 10-12 drinks 2 oranges, cut in half 3 lemons, cut in half 2 limes, cut in half 2 cups water 1 cinnamon stick 4 star anise 1 small knob ginger 1 tbsp molasses 1 tbsp instant coffee 10 heads fresh lavender 1/2 cup runny honey 1 cup brown sugar Squeeze oranges and lemons into a saucepan. Drop in the squeezed fruit and add water. Add cinnamon, star anise, ginger, coffee, lavender, molasses, sugar and honey and bring to the boil. Once you reach boiling point, turn off the syrup. Careful not to over boil. Lay a small plate onto to the top of the fruit to weigh down and keep it under the liquid. Place it into the fridge overnight. The next day strain the syrup through a sieve to remove all the bits, squeezing out the fruit to extract all the syrup. Pour the syrup into a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate for up to 2 months. When serving, measure 1 part syrup to 4 parts sparkling water. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pike River, the film based on the 2010 West Coast mining disaster, has officially been released. The film tells the story of Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne's 15-year fight for justice following the deaths of the 29 men impacted. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall discusses the impact of the film. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.