Podcasts about life and society

The royal family has stripped Prince Andrew of his royal titles and ordered him to leave his 30-room residence, after intensifying pressure over his association with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. So what happens now and what does this mean for the future of the monarchy? Royal commentator Juliet Rieden talks to Jesse.

Time for Freaky Friday! Because today is the Halloween - the spookiest of all days - we've put together a special treat for you; we've got not one, not two, but three ghost stories coming up across the next couple of hours. Not all the Freaky Friday submissions we get are ghosts, but come on, it's Halloween, how could we not?!

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

Tonight kids across the country will be walking the streets in their best spooky costumes hoping to score some sugary treats. Halloween hasn't typically been celebrated in New Zealand, but over the years it's grown in popularity. Christchurch woman Sammy Dickenson is a Halloween fanatic and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A treasure trove of movie history has gone under the hammer in Lower Hutt, with items from a private Wellington cinema being sold off. Time Cinema was owned by John Bell who died earlier this year and featured thousands of items including human sized projectors and thousands of movies. Nick James reports.

On today's episode, Oyster farmers are outraged after what is believed to be the biggest Wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River, this year; Fonterra shareholders have voted in support of the sale of its major brands, including Mainland and Anchor, to French dairy giant Lactalis; Auckland Grammar has been hit by the latest measles outbreak; A Halloween fanatic Christchurch woman and her husband pour their time and money into decorating their house; And it's Friday so we check in with our Aussie correspondent Kerry Anne Walsh.

A couple of weeks ago Jesse spoke to a woman named Mychelle for our Freaky Friday segment. She shared a story about her Dad, who migrated to New Zealand from Bulgaria post-World War II and wound up in a displaced persons camp. Lots of you got in touch during and after that conversation about displaced persons, so we did a bit more digging. Mychelle is involved with a project called 'Untold Stories', which is slowly bringing together Kiwis with migrant parents who spent time in these camps. Tania Kopytko is the leader on the project, and she chats to Jesse.

From today, three retro taxi cabs will be cruising around Newmarket, Ponsonby and Takapuna waiting for people game enough for a trip to a mystery destination. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

We are joined by two experts who come down on different sides of the issue, clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein and media lecturer Dr Alex Beattie.

Reuben Munn has been a pastor for twenty years and joins Emile Donovan to explain.

New Zealand has had its fair share of iconic outdoorsmen - some real, some created, some a bit of both - but all genuine characters.

Panel beaters say more people are opting to drive with damage from fender benders, because insurance claims are so expensive.

If you are in Tāmaki Makaurau today, you might want to head out to the Ōtāhuhu Food Festival - the country's largest.  

Yes, it's that time of the week when we dig into your strange or harrowing stories. Now next Friday is the 31st of October, Halloween, and we want to make sure we have the spookiest story we can find .. so, if you have a scary encounter to share do let us know - 2101 or email afternoons@rnz.co.nz. Today, we're joined by Kevin, whose tale is less spooky and more surreal.

Imagine being told, as a teenager, that the treatment that could save your life might also take away your chance to ever have children. Well, there's one doctor in New Zealand providing a rare fertility-saving procedure to change this. Dr Leigh Searle helps girls who are about to start cancer treatment by removing and freezing a tiny piece of their ovary - a literal time-capsule of fertility that could one day give them the chance to have children.

Interior designer Sylvia Sanford joins Jesse to talk lighting - and how to make sure you get it right in your home.

In part two, do you remember swimming lessons at school? Water Safety NZ says not enough kids are getting on the waka, with under half of the country's children doing lessons according to a 2023 report. Then, a community choir with a special twist is celebrating 10 years of song with a star-studded concert in a few weeks' time.

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

Susan Mudie is the Rainbow's End CEO and she joins Emile Donovan.

Auckland's amusement park Rainbow's End is officially welcoming thrill-seekers to ride its brand-new Pirate Ship, Pacifica. Rainbow's End chief executive Susan Mudie spoke to Coin Dann.

What started as a tiny fan event has grown into one of New Zealand's biggest pop culture celebrations. Armageddon Expo founder Bill Geradts spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tonight, Dan takes on perhaps the ultimate question in Western philosophy: if God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-beneficent, how can there be so much suffering in the world?

Self-help isn't helping one of the biggest problems of our time: we've forgotten how to come together. Priya Parker has written a Substack guide on the lost art of coming together.

As Kiwis dust off their BBQs ahead of summer, a new national sausage champion is ready for grilling. Owner of Westmere Butchery David Rossiter spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Massey University has updated its retirement expenditure guidelines, which show how pensioners around the country are spending their money - and what you'd need to save to have that same lifestyle. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A halloween-themed art show has horror enthusiasts crawling out of the woodwork - and into queues on the capital's Cuba Street. Wellington reporter, Mary Argue went to Thistle Hall to find out what the hype was all about.

A new initiative is offering spot prizes for commuters in the Nelson Tasman district who ditch their petrol or diesel cars one day a week. One of the organisers, Jim Sinner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

** OHH: Episode 164: New Music ** We're back with this episode dedicated to NEW MUSIC - tune in! New Music Amber Mark & Anderson.Paak - Don't Remind Me Isaiah Falls & Chase Shakur - Enticing (from Lucky You EP) UK R&B * Elmiene - Miss Hot July * Mnelia - burn * Nippa - Insecure Kali Uchis & Mariah the Scientist - Pretty Promises Stacy Kidd & Tiffany Jenkins - Look in My Eyes Coflo - Yapperz Stimulator Jones - Paradise Untold (Single) Cardi B & Lourdiz - On My Back Chance the Rapper - STAR LINE (Album) Chris Brown feat Bryson Tiller & Usher - It Depends (The Remix) (un) Folded - Kehlani & Brandy

** OHH: Episode 165: Politricks ** Too much stuff going on, that's why this episode is longer than typical episodes. Tune in as we catch up up. No Kings Day - Oct 18, 2025 Charlie Kirk California - Prop 50 LA County Board of Supervisor approved to give $2mil check to current CEO Fesia Davenport Katie Porter running for governor Trump commutes sentence of Rep. George Santos Ice raids continue National Guard in Oregon & Chicago Government shut down - going on 3 weeks Dept of Education cuts Supreme Court * Voting Rights Act (VRA) current case is Louisiana v. Callais * reportedly challenges Section 2 of the VRA Venezuela - shot down 11 boats,with multiple casualties near Venezuela ports - Trump said reason was because of drug cartel boats/Narco trafficking, but no way to verify without survivors (CNN) - proxy war Argentina - gave them 20 billion dollars to bail out country

Krystal Gibbens reports on weather conditions across the South Island and Lower North Island.

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel with José Barbosa.

We cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Ongaonga, in Central Hawke's Bay celebrated its 150th jubilee over the weekend - with a parade, markets, singing, dancing, and even a golf tournament. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook reports.

What is mana? Are you born with it, can you earn it and can you have it taken away? Indigenous rights activist Tame Iti explores what mana really means in his memoir Mana. 

Long running magazine Reader's Digest has stopped publishing a printed edition, moving exclusively online after 75 years. GM of Publishing and Sales Asia Pacific for Reader's Digest, Sheron White spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about the hefty cost of living remote.

Dunedinites are being encouraged to don their finest tweeds and spring frocks for the 10th anniversary of Dunedin's Tweed Ride. Co-organiser Ruth Barton joins Emile Donovan.

Run by The Open Fort for Auckland's Play Month, the tournament is part of Midtown Market happening across the CBD this weekend.

New research from the Red Cross shows New Zealanders are only wearing about a third of what's in their wardrobe. Director of Retail, Talei Kitchingman spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Jim Bolger, New Zealand's 35th Prime Minister and National Party leader for 11 years, has died aged 90.

Jim Bolger, who was Prime Minister for much of the 1990s, has died aged 90. Bill Hickman has more on the life of the politician nicknamed The Great Helmsman.

Parliament's Speaker is planning to bring some higher standards to the House, particularly looking at attendance and dress code.Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to Green MP Ricardo Menendez March.

Cambridge residents being woken by things that go bang in the night. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

Sir John Key spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss following the death of Jim Bolger.

The Warehouse Group is ending direct shipping to both Great Barrier Island and the Chatham Islands citing rising carrier costs making it unsustainable for the company. Owner of the Currach Irish Pub Orla Cumisky on Great Barrier Island spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

If you're one of the many who feel the clouds of the winter blues part on the first sunny day, you're not alone and there's a reason. Clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland spoke to Corin Dann.

Hospice New Zealand have launched a world-first project inviting people who are dying and their caregivers to review the everyday services around them. Hospice NZ Chief Executive Wayne Naylor spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

With the cost of living crisis hitting hard and unemployment on the rise, how is the mental health of employees fairing? 

The government plans to introduce changes to our adoption law which will be open to public submissions. 

One of life's biggest and most stressful events is moving house ... putting your world into boxes can take a toll ... and that's before you take into account the job of decluttering and cleaning. Rachael Quin from The Housekeeper has just gone through it all .. she joins Jesse now to share her tips and tricks to surviving it all.