Podcasts about life and society

Let's talk about gardening now, our green thumbed guru Lynda Hallinan is with me to share some seasonal tips and tricks.

It's time for Freaky Friday, your home for spooky stories and eerie coincidences, if you have an experience to share or maybe you have a scary campfire story that you tell so well it belongs on the radio get in touch on 2101 or email me at jesse@rnz.co.nz and one of the Afternoons team might give you a call. Today we're speaking to Jack about a couple of his ghostly encounters.

Tomorrow is a big day for the capital, with the grand opening of the new Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library. The central library was one of Wellington's most beloved public spaces until structural concerns forced its closure in 2019.

This weekend sees the popular Pasifika Festival return to Auckland's Western Springs Lakeside Park. Jep Savali is the Group Manager of Major Events at Tataki Auckland Unlimited spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Flood specialists are urging households to consider what simple and low-cost steps they could take to limit damage to their home from extreme rainfall. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton reports.

It's that time of the week when newsmakers relax and everyday locals come to the fore in our regional check in. Today we're in Dunedin as their Fringe festival is in full swing, and who better to give us the lay of the creative land but Student Media. Dunedin student radio host Zac Hoffman spoke to Corin Dann.

It's a landmark day at Auckland University, and "landmark" is a fitting word as they're celebrating the centenary of their iconic ClockTower. The tower is now registered as a Category 1 historic place. It's been the backdrop for all the balls, graduations, cap-tossings, and now its history is featured in an exhibition. It's called 'Standing tall: a century of the ClockTower', and it's running now at the university library until late June. William Hamill is Team Leader of He Mara Mahara Cultural Collections at the University of Auckland.

As British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said, a week is a long time in politics, and that's a sentiment that will no doubt be resonating with Prime Minster Christopher Luxon right now. Whether he will, or won't, stay on until the election in November might be up for debate, but the history of changing leaders in midterm is not, Dr Grant Morris joins Jesse with his insights.

Time for A-Z of Aotearoa, and we've finally made it to the tricky end of the alphabet! Today we're taking on Q for Queenstown. Queenstown - known for its dramatic alpine scenery - sits nestles on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. It hosts a population of around 50,000 permanent residents, supplemented with - literally - millions of tourists It's one of New Zealand's luxury destinations, but it hasn't always been that way. We chat to locals and historians.

It's time for group chat with Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons' Senior Producer Olivia Wilson. This is our regular segment where we discuss the stories that won't lead news bulletins but will fill up your social media feed.

Women in Film and Television New Zealand - also known as WIFT- is a not-for-profit organisation that now has over 1300 members. Its purpose is to celebrate and support women working in film and television in New Zealand. Tonight the WIFT NZ Awards are taking place, here to talk us through the finalists is the chair of the judging panel Jill McNab.

The Rural Games fire up in Palmerston North this weekend. 

Dopamine is known as the brain's "happiness chemical". It's what we blame when we eat a whole bag of chips, a block of chocolate or doomscroll on social media, but that's not quite right

You might recall that this time last year we spoke to someone from Wellington's South Coast whose house had been inundated by 100s of Portuguese millipedes; in the bathtub, climbing the walls, even in bed! To give us the latest we're joined by Victoria University pest control expert Professor Phil Lester.

Every Tuesday we present an issue and get your thoughts on how to resolve it. This week we're looking at friends and what lengths people should take to keep a friendship alive. Let us know your thoughts on 2101.

A new report analysing more than 6,000 charitable grants in Canterbury has found a significant gap between what funders say they prioritise and where their money actually goes. The research by Fundsorter shows some causes receive only a fraction of the funding promised. To explain further Co-founder and Chief Executive of Fundsorter Lani Evans joins Jesse.

It's time for our expert feature, and today we're taking a closer look at cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic procedures are growing in popularity here in NZ, lower costs, easier access, the influence of social media, and less stigma around having work done are all factors contributing to the rise. Dr Zachary Moaveni joins me for the next 30 minutes, he's an expert in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, specialising in facial procedures Dr Moaveni runs a private practice in Remuera and is also a consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Middlemore and Starship Hospitals So please get your questions in for Doctor Moaveni, text us on 2101 or email jesse@rnz.co.nz

Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Episode 169: What's Poppin! We're back this week with another rendition of What's Poppin'! Tune in! _Major Deaths _ Rev. Jesse Jackson Catherine O'hara - won post humous award at 32nd Actors Award (formerly SAG awards) Eric Dane James Van Der Beak Robert Duvall Robert Carradine _TV/Movies _ All's Fair - (on Hulu) Blk NWS: Terms and Conditions (independent film) Bridgerton (Netflix) Love is Blind (Netflix) Wuthering Heights New Movies Coming out Scream 7 IS GOD IS Michael - Michael Jackson biopic KPOP! - Anderson Paak w/ his son Crime 101 w/ Halle Berry Beauty in Black Season 2 Pt 2 Netflix - The RIP, Trap House Upcoming Movies: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Mary J. Blige Presents: Be Happy (Lifetime) - Starring Tisha Campbell & Mehki Phifer _Oscars (March 15) and Awards Season _ Sinners BAFTA awards racial slur incident fall out re: terret syndrome offensive language NAACP Image Awards Actors Awards (SAG) Black Actors awards Golden Globes - Emmys - Teyana Taylor Woman of the Year - Time magazine KPop Demon Hunters best original song in Oscars _Other topics _ Epstein Files Mardi Gras International Women's Day (Mar 8)/ Month - Women's Month - MARCH 2026 In other News Brittany Spears arrested in CA for DUI Paris & LA Fashion Week America's Top Model Met Gala theme 2026: Fashion is Art Grand Opening for Marathon Burger in LBC - Black Sam & Snoop Dogg collaboration (Unfortunate gun violence & stabbings occurred) Queen Latifah, Taraji P henson, Taye Diggs, Sherri Shephard inks an Lifetime First Look deal Winter Olympics/Paralympics

Episode 170: Politricks _We're back this week with our Politricks episode where we dive into the latest in political news. So much happening in the world with the recent conflict in Iran, let's get into it. _ Trump State of the Union - BORING ! Rep. Al Green gets ousted from chambers Longest state of union speech in history, very inappropriate content SAVE AMERICA act Supreme Court Major Questions doctrine Often applies to biden, but never of trump Epstein Files continued _CA Governor Race _ Eric Swalwell Tom Steyer Antonio Villaraigosa Katie Porter Republicans Mayor of LA, Nithya Ryman against Karen Bass War in Iran - Day 7 update Trump said ‘yea people are gonna die' insensitive piece of shit! Bombings in Iran, Dubai, Israel, Qatar 1,045 people killed including US responsible for 175 school girls and staff, missile strike in Minab NYC terrorist attack anti-islamic parade Iran elects new supreme leader (his son) after US killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Gas prices increasing

What are the things you obsess about? What things are just right or just plain wrong?

Bafta award-winning filmmaker Kevin Toolis grew up on a remote Irish island where death and dying were an everyday part of life. 

Professor Simon Mitchell has won a major award for his work advancing dive practice worldwide, receiving the NOGI Science award from the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences Considered the 'Oscars' of the diving world, past recipients include the great French explorer Jacques Cousteau, Bob Ballard who discovered the wreck of the Titantic, and Ocean explorer and film director James Cameron Professor Mitchell is internationally recognised for his research in diving medicine, particularly in decompression physiology and oxygen toxicity, and he has recently appeared in the Netflix documentary 'Deeper' alongside some of the team involved in the 2019 Thai Cave rescue Professor Simon Mitchell, Head of Anaesthesiology at the University of Auckland joins Jesse.

Time for Freaky Friday, our home for your terrifying tales. We're talking ghosts and ghouls, UFO's and unexplained happenings. If you've got a story for us, we want to know; 2101 on the text or email Jesse@rnz.co.nz Today we're joined by Marie.

It's time for our Weekend Stuff segment; this week we are talking with Sylvia Sanford about changing the role of a room. Please send any questions you have for Sylvia to 2101.

Former Aucklander and journalist Brooke Harper isn't waving the white flag yet on her home city of choice, and says there are plenty of reasons to keep going. She joins Emile Donovan.

It's not headline news that raising kids isn't easy: you survive the sleepless nights, get through the toddler tantrums, navigate the primary school pickles, only to arrive at the stage where you need to have important, but often awkward, conversations with your tweens and teens about topics like consent, online predators and sex. To discuss how to navigate those tricky chats parenting coach Jo Robertson joins Jesse.

Every fortnight Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology joins us to help with some relationship pickles - whether between friends, colleagues, flatmates or romantic partners.

Founder Dr Samuel West is a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD in organisational psychology, and joins Emile Donovan to share the museum's uniquely uplifting message.

If you have a other travel story you'd like to share on Heading Off - then get in touch on 2101 or Jesse@afternoons.co.nz Today we're chatting to Chris Watson from Tauranga, about his road trip along the length of Africa.

Time for Bookmarks, that's our weekly feature where we spend some time chatting to interesting people about what interests them. Today Laura Vincent is going to share what she likes to listen to, watch and read. Laura is a writer who recently published her first ever novel Hoods Landing, and just today she was announced as a finalist for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards!

Whenever we talk about misinformation, the state of democracy, or what new technology is doing to public debate, one book comes up over and over again even though it was written 40 years ago. Amusing Ourselves to Death; Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman. It argued distraction would be our undoing, and once everything becomes entertainment, serious thought to take on serious issues is hard to come by. Neil Postman saw this coming long before social media feeds, constant scrolling, and smartphones in every pocket. Andrew Postman is a writer and Neil Postman's son, He wrote the introduction to the latest edition of his father's prescient book. He offers insights into the man who sounded the warning about mindless screentime all those years ago.

Richard Sutherland has been thinking about the paucity of information, and attention on local projects funded by ratepayers. 

When it comes to scattering ashes, funeral director Andrew Malcolm as seen almost everything. But what's legal and culturally appropriate? 

Wellington Central Library Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui will reopen its doors for the first time in seven years later this month. Krystal Gibbens had a preview.

Tuesdays on Afternoons means we share a dilemma and you, our audience, decide the outcome. This week we're looking at a question from listener Katie, who asked if it's okay to track her elderly parents' location on her phone, despite them not wanting it. Let us know your thoughts - 2101 on the text!

People pleasers are everywhere. They're the ones who put the needs of others first, carrying the load without complaint. They laugh at bad jokes, drop you off at the airport if you ask and never want to cause a fuss. It may look like kindness or sound like generosity, but psychologist Ingrid Clayton says it's often fear in disguise. She calls it fawning and says in many cases it's the reflex to please as a way to stay safe. It becomes a survival strategy learned early and practiced well. Dr Clayton traces where that impulse begins, how it shapes our relationships, and what it takes to unlearn it without losing our capacity to care. Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back' by Ingrid Clayton.

Corner dairies and convenience stores should not be selling nangs or nitrous oxide at all according to Retail NZ. It is illegal to sell the gas for huffing, but a Checkpoint investigation found corner stores and vape shops are selling large cannisters of the gas that contain hundreds of hits, with virtually no questions asked. The police are now cracking down on outlets reminding them of the rules, before escalating to enforcement. Retail New Zealand chief executive Carolyn Young spoke to Lisa Owen.

At what age should your children be financially independent? 40 percent of kiwi parents surveyed by YouGov believe they should be by 20 to 25 years old. 33 percent went even younger, saying offspring should be financially independent between the ages of 16 to 19 years old. Ruth Henderson from the blog and podcast The Happy Saver spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US President has warned combat operations will continue in Iran until all of Washington's objective have been achieved. US and Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation have already cost dozens of lives and disrupted global shipping and air travel. Iran has retaliated, striking at US military installations in the region. The Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have been under bombardment. Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

An anonymous group of investors has stepped in to save the five remaining lions at Northland's Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary. HUHA's founder Carolyn Press-Mckenzie spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Portaloos and a weekly rubbish collection are helping deal with the growing number of homeless people in Christchurch's red zone.

It's Monday afternoon and time for me get suited and booted and hit the clubs. Jesse has been a day visitor to lots of clubs already, boosting his interest in lawnmowing, cactus, model trains, machine knitting and more. If you have a club you'd like him to be part of, let us know on 2101 or Jesse@rnz.co.nz Ron Anderson from Rock Hound chats to Jesse.

Most of us say we want more patience and we want it now. But suffering a bit while waiting in line or for a text response from a friend is good for you says Dr Sarah Schnitker. She's a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, where she directs the Science of Virtues Lab. Dr Schnitker says our penchant for speed and ease is undermining important attributes like persistence. Her research shows that people with patience are healthier and often happier. Dr. Schnitker invites us to tolerate, even embrace the everyday frustrations of waiting at work and at home.

Whether it's the confidence to walk into a work meeting and give a presentation, to share an opinion, give a public speech or feel comfortable in a social new situation, it seems some of us have confidence, while others struggle to find it. If you have questions about how to help build up your own - or someone else confidence - send them in 2101 or Jesse@afternoons.co.nz and we'll put them to today's expert. Michael Philpott is an expert in this field, he's an executive coach who works with businesses, athletes, and authors. He speaks to Jesse.

Mayu Tanigaito, of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, joins Kadambari Raghukumar on this episode of the podcast Here Now, to talk about her journey from Japan to Wellington as a dancer.

When our next guest Noeleen Tuala had her first grandchild, she found it really hard to find any baby clothing or products that reflected her Pasifika culture and heritage. So she took action and Pele was born. Fast forward three years and Pele is now available in mainstream stores. Self-described Polyreneur, Noeleen Tuala chats to Jesse.

From "fibermaxxing" to cortisol hacking, are you sick and tired of the over-prescribed wellness industry? Author of Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel singles out six rules to ignore and some basic things do instead. Dr. Emanuel is Vice Provost of Global Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, former Obama White House Health Policy Adviser and member of Biden's transition Covid-19 Advisory Board. He was a key architect of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) and author of Which Country Has the World's Best Health Care?

The SPCA is rolling out a new programme to teach children to recognise the signs of certain dog behaviour in the hope it prevents bites and attacks on young people. It comes after a fortnight of serious reported attacks, including a 62 year-old woman who died following an attack in Northland, and a father and his teenage son seriously injured in Christchurch on Saturday. SPCA Chief Scientific Officer Dr Arnja Dale spoke to Lisa Owen.

Air New Zealand could be in for a hard landing, as the CEO carries out a strategic review in the face of rising costs and falling profits. The national carrier posted a $40 million loss for the six months ended December. That's compared to a $106 million profit for the same period the year before. It is still blaming severe disruption caused by delays to unscheduled engine maintenance grounding up to eight planes, plus fuel and operating costs. Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar spoke to Lisa Owen.