Podcasts about life and society

Tuesdays means our regular weekly segment 'You're the Judge' where we read out an irk and get your feedback on it. Today's question is about proposals - and whether our correspondent Scott should propose to his girlfriend at their friends' wedding. Text 2101 with yes, no or just to let us know what you think!

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's edition of The Panel.

Jordan Watson of How to Dad fame is about to find out. A new six part web series called 'Out of My League' sees Jordan pitted against former Olympians. A link to the series is here.

AA Principal Policy Adviser Terry Collins joins Emile Donovan to explain.

Mitre 10's Stan Scott is with us to answer any DIY questions you might have, and to talk us through creating a path and paving in general.

A Bay of Plenty man has begun walking with a club in case he has to fend off roaming dogs. There are growing calls for an overhaul of the 30 year old dog control act in the face of increasing attacks. Tommy Wilson, who lives in Te Puna in the Bay of Plenty, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Cashing up clutter is becoming a national obsession. But there's still billions of dollars' worth of pre-loved goods lying idle in homes around Aotearoa according to a new report on the so-called circular economy. The report commissioned by Trademe surveyed 4000 New Zealand based people in October and November last year. The results show about 75 percent of them currently have unused or unwanted items they could sell. Head of Trade Me Marketplace, Lisa Stewart spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's time for group chat, our chance to talk about the fodder that might be filling up your chats, distracting you from chores or helping fill the silence in a lift. Film Critic Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons' Senior Producer Olivia Wilson chat to Jesse.

Behind a corrugated iron fence in Whanganui sits one of the country's quirkiest backyard creations, a fully working miniature railway built track by track over 11 years. Now, after more than a decade of passion and patience, 70-year-old Ian Jones is ready to hand over the keys. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Here to help navigate the issues is Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology. This week she's looking at family feuds, outspoken friends and thin-skinned colleagues.

Laneway Festival is on at Auckland's Western Springs Park today with some big stars like Chappelle Roan headlining along with lots of local acts. Gates opened at 1230 and the event ends at 10pm, so it's a big ole day for festival goers. Fortunately, comedian Chris Parker has made a guide of sorts to surviving the gig, especially if you are over 30.

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

In part two, the Government is in talks with the Trump administration on a critical minerals deal - Greenpeace executive director Russel Norman says that puts New Zealand at risk of becoming a pawn in a bigger quest. Then, there's nothing more joyful than a sunflower, and Greg Webster's family has been growing them in Oamaru for 50 years.

Chief Social Scientist at the Curiosity Company Carl Davidson explains why human beings love forming single-file queues.

A moggy with a taste for mince is on the prowl in Kerikeri. Keen hunter, Bella the cat burglar, has been bringing home a surprising midnight feast for her owners, sausage rolls in brown paper bags. In a bizarre series of gift giving that might sound unbelievable, Bella's sausage roll deliveries have happened not once, not twice, but three times, prompting a post on Facebook in search of answers. Bella's owner Siran Young spoke to Lisa Owen.

Our weekly segment where we ask the audience to help with irks or pickles that listeners have sent in. Today it's a conundrum between siblings. One sister is accusing the other of using an ADHD self-diagnosis for poor behaviour.

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

Post-Covid decluttering is continuing to help small community organisations and businesses thrive. Nona Pelletier reports.

It feels like every year we have conversations about the importance of having a will, and yet the number of people without one remains stubbornly high. While it can be tempting to put it off, dying without a will can create far more problems than you might expect. To guide us through the process we're joined by Gary Fitzpatrick. Gary is the co-founder of Comac Trustees and has over 30 years' experience in the trustee industry.

For lots of students all over New Zealand, going back to school today is about settling into a new classroom and reconnecting with mates. For many Mums, going back to school includes figuring out the parent politics and mum groups that form every year. This summer, former High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale shared her experience with adult bullying in an Essay for New York Magazine called Breaking up with my toxic mum group. She describes getting iced out of a Mum's group she joined when her daughter was a baby. Clinical psychologist Dr. Christie Ferrari hears versions of this story all the time and offers advice on how to handle mean-mum dynamics.

This week Jesse hits the Machine Knitters Club - and chats to club delegate Jeena Monk. If you've got a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day, message us on 2101 or email us, afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Boopsie Maran and Ed McKnight. First up, GPs and nurse practitioners can now diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD. But not everyone is convinced this is the right way to tackle the massive backlog on diagnoses. Psychologist Giselle Bahr breaks down her concerns. Then, school principals are being stripped of their ability to weigh in on the justification of absences. The Government says the approach was inconsistent and too lenient - but the president of the New Zealand Principals' Federation, Jason Miles, says it's not so straightforward.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Louise Williamson (pseudonym) joins Wallace to recount the unnerving experience of watching her husband fall down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole. Her memoir is called My Husband, the Rabbit Hole and Me: When Marriage Became a Cult.

In part two, the long-awaited Court Theatre in Christchurch has drawn in excited crowds since opening night - but more than a few have left grumbling about cramped seats and restricted views. Reviewer Sophie Gray gives her two cents. Then, with the future of Te Huia still unknown, a weekend rally was held to support the train between Hamilton and Auckland. It drew a crowd of hundreds, complete with Mr Whippy. Rail advocate Lindsey Horne joins the show.

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

Heard of 'friction-maxxing'? Director of the New Zealand Institute Wellness and Resilience Dr Denise Quinlan joins Emile Donovan to discuss whether this new trend has merit.

Last week's severe weather has highlighted the differing ways some small communities approach the cleanup, with some saying locals need to be empowered to muck in themselves rather than waiting for council contractors. Residents are generally discouraged from clearing slips on public land and roads and told to wait for emergency services or council contractors. However, this doesn't discourage some residents from taking matters into their own hands. So, should isolated communitiies given more power to deal with damage from weather events? Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

Whether you love losing yourself to dance - or dancing like no one's watching - for many dance brings joy. But it also keeps people active, provides community spaces and can help young New Zealanders find their tribe if traditional sport isn't their thing. In fact, according to our next guest, more and more kids are choosing to dance. Ash Habgood the owner of Auckland dance studio Neverland talks to Jesse.

Freaky Friday - that time of the week where we hear your spooky, ghostly or simply unexplainable stories. If you've got one to share, get in touch on 2101 and one of our producers will be in touch.

Gardens really don't take holidays do they? If only you could put the weather on hold for a month, so our gardens stay in a holding pattern too! Lynda has lots of helpful advice for sorting out wild gardens.

A study out of Netherlands has shown that being a hands on grandparent is good for your brain. Researchers found that grandparents who had some childcare responsibilities scored higher on cognitive tests than those who didn't. We chat to some grandparents about what they love about spending time with their grandchildren.

A lot has been happening in the world of pop culture over the last few weeks, and for my next guests, the notifications on their group chats have been going off! Jesse is joined by film critic Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons' Senior Producer Olivia Wilson.

A British man who goes by the name Flat White Frank is on a mission to find the best flat white in the world - and he is currently in New Zealand sampling the best brews we have to offer. Frank spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss (who likes her coffee with oat milk).

A much-loved and famous three-legged cat from Wellington's Aro Valley has died, and tributes have been rolling in from far and wide. Krystal Gibbens reports on the death of Lola the Cat.

Most of us have been back at work for a couple of weeks now and some of you might be realising your job is no longer sparking joy. In fact, according to our next guest, three quarters of us would change careers if we felt we could. It's easy to come up with reasons not to take the plunge - but what about reasons to just do it? Career coach and head of the Career Development Association Jennie Miller joins Jesse to discuss.

Gary Moodie, owner of Flex Fitness gyms in Kaiapoi and Rangiora is about to compete in his very first Hyrox race.

For a healthy 2026, ignore most of what you hear from the multi-billion-dollar wellness industry and just eat the ice cream.

Did you set a New Year's Resolution? And more importantly, have you stuck to it? Global data and research shows that weight loss and health related goals are consistently people's number one New Year's Resolution, but experts are concerned that meeting such resolutions might see people choosing the likes of Ozempic or Wegovy as an easier solution. While a lot has been said and written about going on Ozempic; what happens after you've been on it for a while, or try to go off it? Registered dietitian and co-founder of The Food Tree website Rachael Wilson chats to Jesse.

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

It's Tuesday the 27th of January and for many of you, the school holidays are still going. Some of you might in fact be wondering if they will ever actually end. Lots of you are back in the office and now juggling parenting, work, weather woes and children. But we are here to help! To give us some ideas on surviving the final couple of weeks Jesse is joined by Parenting Place's Dayna Galloway.

New Zealanders are famous for many things, but apparently nothing makes us stand our more than wearing shorts in the freezing rain or snow while out in the wilderness.

Mustering the energy to walk the Te Araroa trail is one thing, carrying an extra load while you do it, is another feat entirely. But that's exactly what one British hiker has done. Katie Evans has been on the trail since November, she was deep in the woods near the Lake Sumner stretch when she came across a little black kitten. Katie joins us from our Christchurch studio to tell us what happens next.

Conversations about AI seem to be everywhere, the pros, the cons, the what ifs, the why nots, the list goes on. On Afternoons we've spent time discussing how AI can affect learning. On one hand it's wonderful that you can type a question into your device and get an immediate answer, on the other hand, it takes away the chance to research, to consider, some might say to actually think critically. Are we doing ourselves, and younger people, a disservice by letting AI give us all the answers? To discuss, Professor Deborah Brown, director of Queensland Universities 'Critical Thinking Project', joins Jesse.

"This is Donald Trump's world and we're all just living in it", so begins the annual issue of The Economist magazine's "The World Ahead in 2026" edition. Every year, we kick off the new year talking to Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and Editor of the special issue that gives us a cheat sheet for what we might expect to see in world events. 2026 will continue to be a year of Trump shaking things up and the world trying to adjust. Standage and his team also say 2026 will also be the year of cheaper GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, peak wine consumption and possibly the end of the Commonwealth Games.

After two on a Monday means it's time to hit the clubs! Jesse has chatted to the Hawkes Bay Racing Lawnmower Club ... the Christchurch Quilters... Manawatu Cactus and Succulent Society among others. If you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day, please get in touch .. we'd love to hear from you on afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today, we're talking to Warren Harris from Ham Radio Club.

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

Hundreds of lawn bowlers have descended on Taranaki this week for the region's men's open fours competition - considered one of the largest and most prestigious club championships in the country. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

SPCA inspectors in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato have been getting up to 4 calls a day for dogs left in hot cars this summer. Jason Blair leads the team and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Locals in northern Auckland say busloads of people are turning up to beaches and taking everything from sea cucumbers to starfish out of rockpools. Jessica Hopkins reports.

The Northland town of Kerikeri has been smashing temperature records in recent days - but the sweltering conditions come as the town loses access to once-popular swimming spots. Reporter Peter de Graaf reports on what locals are doing to cool off.