Podcasts about life and society

Now brace yourselves, spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means a perfect time to clean and declutter. Here to share her top decluttering tips is Rachael Quin from housekeeper.co.nz

A soldier with links to far right groups and who is accused of spying will face a court martial hearing next week - a first-of-its-kind prosecution that's for now shrouded in secrecy. The Linton-based soldier's name is suppressed and so is the foreign country at the centre of the espionage case. RNZ is opposing these orders and a suppression hearing is set to take place on Monday morning, before the court martial begins. Courts martial are in many ways similar to jury trials in civilian courts. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

An expert in traumatic brain injuries is calling for consistent protocols when dealing with concussions in schoolyard sport to prevent debilitating long-term impacts. While there's greater awareness about the risks associated with concussion, Pat Hopkins from the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust said that too often, head knocks are treated differently if they occur during lower-level sports. Checkpoint spoke to young people who've been concussed playing sport at school and university, and continue to suffer consequences for years afterwards. Bella Craig reports.

The Good Sex Project is a podcast about good sex, good relationships and how to have them. This season they're looking to cover a range of topics including age gaps, rise of singledom, male loneliness and more.

Forgetting a name is embarrassing. Forgetting a face takes that awkwardness to the next level. Renowned author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell forgets faces all the time. He has face blindness, which affects about 3% of people. His Revisionist History podcast producer, Lucie Sullivan is the opposite. She's a super-recognizer who almost never forgets a face. They shared their experiences on a recent podcast episode. Jesse talks to Lucie Sullivan and Harvard psychologist and Face Blindness expert Dr. Joe DeGutis. Here's the test we talk about in the interview.

Wall Street Journal tech reporter Sam Schechner says he first suspected artificial intelligence was eating his brain when he used ChatGPT to help write an email to his son's basketball coach. He lives in Paris, and speaks fluent French, but Schechner started asking AI for help with emails, summarizing legal documents, even texting friends. Soon French words didn't come as easily when effort was optional and mental concentration was offloaded to AI. He writes about his experience in a piece for The Wall Street Journal titled How I Realized AI Was Making Me Stupid-and What I Do Now.

A trip to Bunnings, a bit of 90 ml downpipe, and a Taranaki farm shed - these were some of the initial ingredients that recently culminated in a prestigious design award for New Zealand drink-cooler company Huski. Simon Huesser spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

As regular listeners will know, we like a cold call here on Afternoons, a chance to add a little suspense to the day .. will they answer .. will they be allowed to chat? But also, to chat the people who help turn our towns and cities into communities. Today Jesse chances his luck at Ngati Porou FM.

In 2021 the WHO considered classifing old age as a disease. Someone who challenged that classification is geriatric psychiatrist, Dr Kiran Rabheru.  

The controversy over the authenticity of Raynor Winn's The Salt Path has given rise to a broader discussion about the nature and prevalence of literary hoaxes. 

Our comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks bring some levity the end of the week including the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, coming under fire after admitting that he regularly consults AI tools for a second opinion in his role running the country.

Close to $2.8 million of public money is slated for locally produced reality shows Celebrity Treasure Island season 7 and The Traitors NZ season 3 in NZ On Air's latest funding round. Mary Argue has more.

The Therapy Pets programme being scrapped next year, following a decision by the charity's governance group to take Community Health in a new direction. Pim Alan's two donkeys were part of the programme, and she spoke to Corin Dann.

When projects in Wellington get mooted, there are often artists impressions of the project showing Wellington on a brilliantly sunny day, with well-dressed joggers going past, sober teenagers discussing world issues and no homeless anywhere. The reality is different and council's artists impressions - with roofed bus stops and fences that aren't actually what will go there are being called into question. Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about this and other issues he says need solving.

New Zealand's unemployment rate has risen to 5.2 percent - the highest level since 2020 - which means it is pretty grim out there for job seekers. We ask the CEO and founder of Integrity recruitment Ingrid Osborne to share her advice.

The topics dominating your group chats .. today Kate Rodger and Olivia Wilson are here with a veritable buffet of issues from the continuing fallout over American Eagle's Sydney Sweeney ad, some romance for the over 50s, to the latest addition in Kim Khardashian's Skims line.

Jesse Mulligan is joined by The Panel host Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa to preview this evening's marlarky.

When we fail to open a jar, and we pass it to our spouse who opens it without breaking a sweat, have we helped to loosen it or not? Richard Easther, professor of physics at the University of Auckland, explains.

The maker of sleeping pods being used to house some of the homeless in Rotorua has said it is disheartening to see the project just tossed to the side. Julie King of Love Soup came up with the idea to use some of Tuff Roto-Moulders' pods - which are insulated, lockable and traditionally used for camping to create her Village of Hope. Rotorua has been grappling with a large homeless population in recent years, and the project's aim was to keep people safe through a community-based solution. Issues with council and land have forced an end to the project. Maker of the pods, Hilton McLachlan spoke to Lisa Owen.

A blind woman on the Supported Living Payment says she's struggling to use what she describes as the Ministry of Social Development's "impossible system". Holly spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

How do you make Disney magic even more magical? You put it on ice, of course.

It's time for Thrift and today we've got part two of our savvy students series. Katy Gosset visits an award-winning student flat garden that might just be the best in Dunedin.

Emile Donovan is joined by The Panel host Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa to preview this evening's marlarky.

Avid editor Marshall Clark (who penned the Wikipedia page for RNZer Bryan Crump), also a committee member for Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand, joins Mark Leishman to explain.

Sport clubs across New Zealand are struggling as they face a double whammy of increasing costs and decreasing number of volunteers. Report project lead Dr Mel Johnston joins Mark Leishman.

A Gut Mood Solution is by Gordon Parker, a professor of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales. He speaks to Mark Leishman about a novel way to treat bipolar disorder.

We all have an innate need to be desired and loved. But what if you don't fit the popular culture stereotypes of what "desirable" looks or feels like? 

Emma Sage joins Jesse Mulligan to get down and dirty on living mulch.

This time each week we turn to Freaky Friday, the space for all your weird, spooky, and strange experiences. If you have one you'd like to share please reach out via text - 2101 - or you can email us, afternoons@rnz.co.nz. This week, Jesse is joined by Pleasance from Riverton at the bottom of the South Island.

Jesse Mulligan is joined by The Panel host Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa to preview this evening's marlarky.

Vogelmorn Bowling Club trustee Bronnie Wilde joins Emile Donovan to reflect on the club's 10th anniversary.

The Global Guinness Ambassador has made his way to New Zealand shores to teach people how to pour the perfect pint, and pass on his wisdom about the history of Ireland's famous stout. Global Guinness Ambassador, Padraig Fox spoke to Lisa Owen.

A generous private donation of thousands of colourful Japanese kimonos has sent Christchurch City Mission op-shoppers into a buying frenzy. Jean Edwards has more.

oday Mary's going to talk about insurance and whether we are insuring the right things. New Zealanders are twice as likely to have car insurance as they are life or health insurance - does that make sense?

Jesse Mulligan is joined by The Panel host Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest to preview this evening's marlarky.

Is buzz-killing a social crime? Do we have a moral obligation to be happy? Professor Dan Weijers sheds some light.

Time for Bookmarks, when we sit down with a notable Kiwi and learn about their life and some of their favourite things. Paolo Bertolin is a writer, producer, film critic and programmer, who since last year has served as artistic director for the Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival. The festival officially opens in Auckland tomorrow.

We love it when you get in touch with us with your stories and today's guest Kevin Searle did just that. He sent through an abridged story of his Kayak trip down the Yukon, and we needed to know more!

The Okarito plant project, a business -led initiative in South Westland is becoming a national example of regenerative tourism in action. Tourism operators, visitors, landowners, and volunteers are working together to restore native ecosystems by supplying plants native species for local landowners at no cost. Chair of the project Aaron Smith spoke to Jesse.

Everybody Eats is a social restaurant concept. It's three course meals are open to all: Lawyers, students, hospitality staff, the homeless, whomever. And all on a "pay what you can" basis. Since starting in 2017 it's grown from a pop up to three restaurants, serving hundreds of people five nights a week. Amidst declining revenues, they've launched a new project to help pay the bills - Meals That Matter.

Singles are falling out of love with online dating apps, meaning a return to real world introductions, and for some younger daters that's a totally new experience. Match group, the US tech company that owns Tinder, Hinge and OK Cupid saw a 5% drop in paid users in the first quarter of this year. Relationship expert Jess Carbino, who was the sociologist for the dating apps Tinder and Bumble said Gen Z is using apps less. She spoke to Lisa Owen.

Sir Michael Hill is being mourned by his family and friends, as well the lives he touched through his jewellery empire, the golfing world and arts community. Former Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Every day, millions experience a bit of Kiwi creativity thanks to Christopher Yu. He left New Zealand for London 25 years ago as a tax attorney, but after being made redundant, he followed his nose to a new role, leading companies that transform perfume and candles into experiences of storytelling and design. Now, after decades at the center of Europe's luxury fragrance world, and with some encouragement from his mum in Lower Hutt, Christopher Yu is coming home to help redefine Kiwi luxury.

Air New Zealand has unveiled its plan for its new flagship Koru Lounge at Auckland International Airport. Air New Zealand customer general manager Alisha Armstrong spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A mash-up of memoir, science writing and cultural critique, Casey Johnson's new book is a take-down of diet culture. 

What's going on in our soggy backyards this time of the year? Our resident gardener Hannah Zwartz explains soil-biology and why she's been converted to no-dig gardening.

Stats across Australia and New Zealand reveal that autistic people are being left behind in the workplace - either not being used to their full capacity or simply struggling to be hired at all.

Leading British physicist Professor Dame Athene Donald discusses the factors that drive women to give up on a career in science. 

Arts and culture can help revitalise a once prosperous town - Featherston, Aotearoa's only Booktown and one of 23 worldwide, is the living proof. 

Chef Del Holland shares her tips for turning scraps into snacks, reducing food waste in the kitchen and making delicious fuss-free food.