Podcasts about life and society

Not only are New Zealand's cycle trails helping get more and more people outdoors but they are also boosting the economy by $1.28 billion a year. 

In part two, it's time for another edition of Panel Soapbox - James joins the show with criticisms of the state of workmanship in New Zealand. Then, Auckland Women's Centre is over the moon about a $20,000 donation from none other than Metallica.

Feral cats will join stoats, ferrets, weasels and rats and possums on the list of species targeted for eradication. Gareth Morgan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

When we talked about how the country is running out of cemetery space last week we were inundated with your messages. So when we saw that the NZ's first water crematorium, which was opened earlier this year, is proving a popular option for people, we wanted to know more. Also called Alkaline Hydrolysis, the process claims to be gentler on people and the environment. Debbie Richards started Christchurch Water Crematorium back in June, and she joins Jesse.

In part two, the government's smartphone ban in schools wasn't met with enthusiasm by everyone, but a new ERO report says it's been a success so far. Stratford High School principal Cameron Stone discusses how it's worked in his school. Then, having a child is a joy, but sometimes parents need to let loose. And one group is making that happen by hosting 'Mum Raves' across the country.

Dan Weijers, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Waikato, joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

To help make sense of it all Emile Donovan speaks to distinguished professor emeritus and research director at Massey University, Paul Spoonley.

A 20 year-old from Kapiti is travelling on foot from Auckland to Wellington, clocking 50-plus kilometres a day to support men's mental health. Emma Upton spoke to Corin Dann.

Some Pike River families say their meeting with the Workplace Safety Minister was a "complete waste of time". Anneke Smith reports.

A law firm is acting as a disrupter in the profession - changing the way people work, in what's traditionally been a rigid workplace. Prue Tyler founded Shift Advisory after trying to work part time with young children in a big law firm. Prue spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A developer taking over an iconic Wellington fruit shop has unveiled his plan to transform the building into luxury apartments. Mary Argue reports.

It feels like every day there is something new to be across when it comes to artificial intelligence and keeping across the hype and the fear is rather daunting. Fortunately like most things now, there's a podcast that has you covered! It's called The Last Invention and our podcast critic Ximena Smith tell Jesse whether it's good or not.

Our weekly segment where we ask the audience to help with irks or pickles that listeners have sent in. Today - should grandparents be paid to help care for their grandchildren?

This week Thrift is looking into decorating your home, without breaking the bank. In this second episode with an op shopping expert, Katy Gosset looks at home design on a budget and tags along on a thrift shop mission.

When John Fugelsang was growing up, his parents and his church taught him that Christianity was about kindness, forgiveness, and helping your neighbor. But he says somewhere along the way between the televangelists, the politicians, and the endless culture wars, Christianity got hijacked. He says he's watching in disbelief as people use Jesus as a campaign slogan while promoting laws that seem more judgmental than Christian. A comedian, radio host, and actor who was in the film Coyote Ugly, Fugelsang challenges Christian nationalism and the politicians and influencers who he says promote the wrong answer to the question; What Would Jesus Do? His new book, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.

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

We're trying something new here on Afternoons, we've decided Monday is club day, a chance for Jesse to hit the clubs. If you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day please get in touch at afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today, we're starting Jesse's clubbing adventure with Barbara Preston from Auckland based choir Stimmung.

You know it when you see it. An email from a co-worker or marketing pitch from a company that lands in your inbox, but you know it was written by artificial intelligence. AI promised to make work faster, smarter, and more efficient, but sometimes those emails take time to unpick and fix. There's a word for that, "workslop". It's content that masquerades as meaningful but requires others to interpret. Dr. Kate Niederhoffer is a social psychologist and vice president of BetterUp Labs. She co-authored a new study and says workslop is becoming a growing source of frustration in the workplace. Link to the survey here!

It's time for our expert feature and today we're talking about navigating divorce & separation Alongside the death of a loved one, separation and divorce can be one of the most painful and difficult periods of someone's life. Divorce and separation coach Kimberlee Sweeney joins Jesse for the next 30 minutes to answer all your questions

In part two, a listener shares her view that truck drivers aren't sharing the road safely. Then, the annual Southern Artisan Christmas Fete of on this weekend to offer an alternative to end-of-year shopping chaos.

For people pleasers who say "yes" too often, setting boundaries can be really hard. 

There are over 7000 bus drivers across the country - and this Sunday is a day all about them. To show our appreciation, Jesse chats to kinetic bus driver Peter Smith from Wellington.

Time for Freaky Friday, our home for your spooky stories, terrifying tales and eerie encounters If you have a story to share, we want to hear from you. Send us a brief outline of your tale to 2101 and we'll add it to the list. Mark joins Jesse to talk about his brush with death on Mount Everest.

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

The Wairarapa Walking Festival is already underway, running through to Sunday 23 November. The festival takes in the region's varied urban and rural geography with a varied programme. To tell us more, organiser Celia Wade-Brown speaks to Emile Donovan. 

A short-lived night market in Lower Hutt has the local MP blaming bureaucracy gone mad, but the council says safety and compliance measures need to be met. Mary Argue reports.

Stats NZ latest data shows nearly 73,000 New Zealanders left the country in the past year, while only 26,000 returned. Among those who believe the grass is greener there is Sean Collier, a 27-year-old lawyer and stand-up comedian from Whangarei who moved to Melbourne two years ago.

A British pub in Greater Manchester has solved what it's called the crime of the century, a quiz team consistently winning through cheating. Quiz master and head sleuth Bobby Bruen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Manchester.

There's a call for our councils to be more proactive and strategic when it comes to creating cemetery space. It follows concerns that burial spaces are running out - particularly in our urban areas. The Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective says councils must act now to secure land for their communities. Chair Daniel Chrisp is with me now.

It's time for our relationships segment - Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology joins us fortnightly to share her advice on how to navigate some of life's trickier moments. Today we look at rebuilding trust after it's been badly broken, navigating a friend group after a divorce and the psychology of relationships.

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

Wairoa Boxing Club is devastated police have declined the permit for a fund-raising fight night, in the week leading up to the event. Bill Hickman reports.

Here's a simple idea that explains a lot about how the world works: "I know that you know that I know." It might sound complicated, but it's the reason we stop at red lights or believe money has value says Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. But when people start to have their own truths, when facts are not shared, we can get in to trouble. Dr Pinker unravels this idea that makes in the world go round in his new book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life. Dr. Pinker is coming to New Zealand in February for an evening of smart, stimulating conversation. Tickets are available here.

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

We've got a weekly segment called 'You're the Judge' where we present an issue that's been sent in by one of our listeners, and you, our audience, decide what the right course of action is.

"Just be yourself" is one of the worst pieces of advice out there says Psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. Authenticity and some diversity programs that encourage people to 'be themselves' often lead to failure he says. Dr Chamorro-Premuzic explains that the most successful people aren't intensely authentic, they're experts at reading a room, adapting, and understanding where the right to be yourself ends and our obligation to others begins. His new book is called Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated.

It's time now for a new season of the RNZ podcast Thrift and this week host Katy Gossett investigates some cheap tweaks that can help turn your rental property into a home. Today we meet an expert renter and op-shopping queen whose homely hacks won't stretch the budget.

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

RNZ's executive editor of specialist news Jeremy Rees has read the shortlist. Is Flesh a worthy winner? 

Dan Baumgardt is from the University of Bristol's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and is also a Traitors megafan. He joins Emile Donovan.

Traffic control and a shortage of volunteers have officially grounded Santa's sleigh in the small town of Piopio in the Waitomo District. At the Christmas eve parade Santa would normally float in via SH3, however the rising cost of closing the highway and managing traffic means Santa will instead park-up on a side street near the village with other floats. Chair of the Project Pio Pio Trust Melanie Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Blanket bans on pets in rental properties won't be allowed from next month, but there are concerns that landlords will find a work around. Tenants will still need to get their landlords consent to keep a pet at the property, but new rental rules mean from December there has to be a reasonable justification to say no. Andrew Nicol from property investment firm Opes Partners spoke to Lisa Owen.

The country's oldest tattoo studio has had a major facelift, which aims to honour its founder, the late Roger Ingerton. Reporter Bill Hickman went under the tattooist's needle to find out more.

It might be time to get back on your duolingo streak - a new study has found speaking more than one language helps the aging brain. Professor Stephen May from the School of Maori and Indigenous Education at the University of Auckland spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

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

Emma runs Small Histories of New Zealand, where she digs up curious stories, funny articles, and lost treasures from our past and shares them on social media. Tonight's topic is ghosts. 

The Arrowtown Backyard Ultra sees competitors tackling the same course once an hour until they can't go any further. Katie Todd reports.

Time for Freaky Friday. Our home for your spooky stories, terrifying tales and eerie encounters If you have a story to share, be that a ghost, a UFO, or something else unexplained we want to hear from you. Send us a brief outline of your tale to 2101 and we'll add it to the list. After last week's Halloween special, we're taking a step away from ghosts and going for something a bit different this week. And for that Margaret from Makorori joins Jesse.

A new six-part video series that dives into the world of perfumery in Aotearoa kicks off on Monday. Journey of Scent is billed as a sensory adventure that takes us into a world that we rarely get to see. It stars Nathan Taare and Whitney Steel who join me now.

Jesse chats to Forest and Bird Chief Executive about this week's critter. Huberia striata belongs to the only fully New Zealand endemic genus of ant. Widespread throughout Aotearoa, they nest underground in native bush. Like other ant species, they are known to farm plant hoppers and scale insects by keeping them safe in their nest and then milking them for their sweet honeydew secretions. Their name comes from the fact that their body is covered in long thin lines (striations), making them look wrinkly!