Podcasts about life and society

It's time to talk about the topics clogging up your group chats, the conversations offering respite from Christmas chaos. It's our last chat of 2025 so we've got the whole gang together, Culture 101's Perlina Lau, film critic Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson. Today they talk about: the BBC versus President Donald Trump, voice messages and highlights of 2025.

As diagnoses of autism and ADHD rise, more people are thinking about how their homes can better support neurodivergent needs The aim of neurodivergent-friendly design is to help reduce stress and improve mood and focus. Eddie Page is an Australian architect and co-founder of firm Maxwell & Page. He speaks to Jesse.

For more than 40 years, Bernard Egan has been tasked with the job of being Santa's helper. Listening to Christmas wishes and taking notes from kids back to Santa. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A foundation born out of tragedy is helping young sportswomen compete on the world stage. Tania Dalton is a former Silver Fern who died in 2017, aged 45, after suffering a brain aneurysm. Her husband Duane set up the foundation in her memory. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Enthusiasts from as far as Australia, joined a convoy of the little cars from Christchurch to a working farm station in Canterbury's Avoca Valley, for the annual Great Honda City road trip The event's creator, Jared Campbell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The concept of 'Last One Standing' or 'Backyard Ultra' events is simple but some might say, brutal. Participants run a 6.71km loop once an hour starting on the hour and they must complete the loop within an hour. This goes on hour after hour, day after day, until one runner is left standing. The West Coast is the latest region to host a 'Backyard Ultra' event, organiser Maggi Forsyth joins Jesse.

The classic summer festival is the latest loser in the cost of living crisis, with another iconic event announcing it's downfall today. Splore is part of a growing list of struggling festivals with big names like WOMAD and One Love also on pause. But with many young people still crying out for a summer experience, some smaller events are hoping they'll pick up punters let down by the big festivals. Evie Richardson reports. 

2.5 million passengers will travel through Auckland Airport in its busiest five weeks of the year. Travel can be a great joy but also a legal minefield; who covers costs with a cancellation, what if you get bumped from a flight that is over booked, and what's the deal if the replacement flight is more expensive. Jessica Walker from Consumer NZ spoke to Lisa Owen with tips for travellers.

If the Gold Coast theme parks are a little too spendy for you right now .. and you can't face the crowds at Rainbow's End .. fear not .. an Auckland dad might have the solution for you. Bjorn Burton, has listed his designer playhouse for sale - with the standard features... a sandpit, slide, climbing ramp - but wait for it, it also has a twenty-metre roller coaster, something he designed and made himself. Bjorn chats to Jesse.

An 81-year-old Gisborne great grandmother has joined the DJ line-up for this years' Rhythm & Vines festival Molly Pardoe aka DJ SuperGran will debut with a ten minute set.

As vigils for victims are held and more information about the alleged gunmen of the Bondi Beach attacks is revealed, Sydney residents are still reeling from the event. Brad Foster joins Jesse to offer a local perspective.

The Danes have hygge, a cultural inclination to try to make things cosy. In Finland, they have a very different cultural trait called sisu, a quiet, inner strength drawn from surviving hardship. Dr. Elisabet Lahti has spent years studying this Finnish concept, and in 2018 she put it to the test, running 2,400 kilometers across New Zealand to research sisu and promote nonviolence. She's the founder of the Sisu Lab and says anyone from any country can learn to have courage in the face of adversity.

This week Katy Gosset looks at the property market, and meets two friends who have pooled resources in order to make owning a home a reality.

NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main talks to Lisa Owen about the 10 million parcels being delivered in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

A Northshore woman's at risk of losing her guide dog after several encounters with out of control dogs have left her working dog fearful and potentially unable to do its job properly.

A family-run business is making sure pets get where they're going safely - transporting more than 100 animals at a time on a bus that runs from Auckland to Invercargill. Morning Report producer Rayssa Almeida jumped on board.

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Anton Matthews and Marian Hobbs. First up, the horror of the attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach is still setting in. Eyewitness Tiffany Salmond recounts her experience of events, before Holocaust Centre chair Deborah Hart gives reaction from the local Jewish community. Then, Australian gun control advocate Simon Chapman gives his analysis of tightened rules announced this afternoon. And back home, plans to protect 174 significant trees across Auckland have been scrapped by the government. City councillor Richard Hills joins The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Invercargill is getting creative in finding ways to encourage rangatahi to get outside. Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey-Pol explains the plan.

Experts are warning there could be further drownings at notorious black spots this summer. 

We all love to receive gifts - especially at this time of the year - but there is joy to be had in giving too. And the latest results from a study of over 200 children suggests that that joy can be experienced from a very young age. Professor Annette Henderson, director of the Early Learning Lab at Auckland University joins Mihingarangi to explain what this can mean for children and their parents.

At 97, Maureen Maclean is one of several seniors to sign up for a 31-day New Year yoga challenge at their local studio in Hamilton. 

At 50, Katherine Leamy packed her bag and headed off on a big international trip with nothing more than a backpack weighing 5 kgs. 

A petition has been launched calling for shade to be mandatory at every new and upgraded playground. Founder of Roam with Kids, Renata Wiles spoke to Corin Dann.

Okay it is time to talk relationships; Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology.

Simon Wilson joins Jesse to right some wrongs - today he looks at an example of democracy in action - because he says he's "seen the future of democracy and it works".

The Critter of the Week merchandise raised more than four thousand dollars for conservation charities. So we asked our listeners to send us an email with why your community organisation should get some of the funding .. we've had lots of lovely replies. Jesse calls CUE Haven to let them know they've been successful.

Amanda Cox registered psychotherapist and co-founder of Auckland City Therapy and spoke to Emile Donovan.

A group of law professionals is calling for a Commissioner for animals; claiming current animal welfare laws are out of date, not fit for purpose and the system is riddled with conflicts of interest. The New Zealand Animal Law Association has released a 60-page report making a detailed case for a commissioner for animals. President of the New Zealand Animal Law Association Marcello Ferrere spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tā Kim Workman joins Emile Donovan.

Our resident science expert, Dr Julia de Bres, sociolinguist and senior lecturer at Massey University has been giving this some thought and joins us.

Emeritus Professor of History Barbara Brookes, who wrote King's entry for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography joins Emile Donovan.

Thousands of electric bike riders are taking to a central North Island great ride trail even though e-bikes are illegal on it. Phil Pennington reports.

The future of a beloved Auckland sports club is uncertain - with the Anglican Trust raising questions about who owns the land. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Christmas is fast approaching, and if you're looking for a gift for the gardeners in your life, Hannah Zwartz might just have the answers. 

It's fair to say businesses in almost every industry, right across the country, have been doing it tough recently. Which is why it is so good to celebrate excellence and shout out about those doing well. The Deloitte 200 awards were announced last night with the top awards going to the places and people powering our economy and innovation Lead judge, and business journalist Fran O' Sullivan joins Jesse.

Every week before 2pm we delve into your strangest and spookiest experiences. As always if you have one to share, drop us a message on 2101 and our producers will be in touch. Today Jesse is speaking to Marian in North Waikato.

We're all aware of the benefits of children playing sport; learning to work as part of a team, increasing fitness, developing self-confidence, the list goes on. But these benefits can only be realised if children have positive experiences. A recent International Olympic Committee consensus statement found that between 44 per cent and 86 per cent of children experience interpersonal violence in sport environments this includes bullying, sexism, racism, homophobia, and sexual abuse. New research has raised questions about the current approaches to stopping abuse in children's sport and has highlighted the role local councils can play in problematic behaviour. Lead researcher from Melbourne's Monash University Dr Erik Denison has spent over a decade studying ways to stop discrimination and abuse in sport in Australia and New Zealand. He Joins Jesse.

With the Christmas shopping season well and truly in swing - sometimes it's easier to do the Christmas shopping online instead of battling the crowds. Chris Wilkinson, Managing Director of the First Retail Group spoke to Corin Dann.

It's officially the festive season, and businesses are preparing to shut up shop for the holidays. Sarah Hussey owns three cafes throughout Dunedin called The Perc, and will be shutting two as it is not worth it financially to stay open. She spoke to Corin Dann.

A vandal's been at work disrupting the Matairangi/Mt Victoria mountain bike tracks - leaving logs on tracks, digging holes and creating makeshift barricades through the week. Local rider Rod Bardsley spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

For more than three decades, residents have decorated their homes for everyone to enjoy.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says tenants should negotiate a rent decrease, as rents fall. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has some tips and spoke to Corin Dann.

A former addict who spent years going in and out of jail says the only real way out is through specialist courts that treat addiction. Morning Report producer Rayssa Almeida reports.

The highly anticipated opening of Swedish furniture company IKEA in New Zealand this week comes as a rural community worries about the fire risk from pine planting. RNZ's reporter Alexa Cook reports from Tairawhiti Hawke's Bay.

Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson are in studio with Jesse to talk about all the content clogging up their group chats.

Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson are in studio with Jesse to talk about all the content clogging up their group chats.

The caretaker of the campground hit by a tornado in Manawatu yesterday says they're lucky no one was more seriously injured, or killed; Investigators have identified a defect that led to an Airbus A320 aircraft engine suddenly shutting off en route from Wellington to Sydney a year ago; As peace talks with Russia stall once again, New Zealand is committing $15 million to help arm Ukraine's soldiers; After years of anticipation, IKEA is about to open its doors to the New Zealand public; New data out today shows almost a third of kiwi workers often dread going to work, rising to 40% among Gen Z workers. Paragraph locked by Dan Lake

Up to 20 people a day are risking their lives venturing into closed areas of a popular Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park track, where construction and explosive work is under way. DOC operations manager for Aoraki-Mt Cook, Sally Jones spoke to Corin Dann.

The most Googled phrases and words for 2025 are out today, and you might be surprised by what kiwis have been searching for. Google New Zealand's Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Carrie Jones