Podcasts about life and society

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.

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.

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

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The run of hot weather is ideal for the estimated 160,000 recreational boaties who launch into the waters in and around Waikato each year. RNZ's Waikato reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod jumped on a harbourmaster boat as it set out on an Operation Neptune patrol.

This time of year sees a surge of people filing for divorce or breaking up with their partners. Divorce coach, Kelly Sutton spoke to Lauren Crimp.

Despite record visitor numbers and hundreds of job opportunities, workers in Queenstown say the cost of living is making it increasingly difficult to stay. Katie Todd 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.

A Christchurch father has been left out of carpet - and out of pocket - after pulling it up during a major recall of coloured sand. He spoke with Kim Baker Wilson.

A Southland GP says skin cancer is reaching an almost epidemic level. She's so concerned that she's opening the region's first specialist clinic. Dr Sophie Sharpe spoke to Lauren Crimp.

It was a deadly weekend at the country's beaches and rivers as kiwis hit the water to escape the scorching sun. Water Safety NZ chief executive Glen Scanlon spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

While parts of the country experienced scorching temperatures yesterday, other areas were hit with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Napier almost broke a near 50-year record, reaching 36 degrees; New details in the Manage My Health data breach show more than 80,000 of the 125,000 patients affected by the hack are based in Northland; Kiwi-based Iranians are watching with worry as Iranian military forces continue their violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. Forough Amin who has been in New Zealand for 11 years, says she hasn't heard from her family in Iran since the phones and internet were switched off there; The owner of a new supermarket in Christchurch says sales in the first three days were more than double what they expected. Ethan Vickery and his father Shane opened Kai Co to give shoppers an alternative to the Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarket duopoly; Scrabble boards were put to serious use as New Zealand hosted its first national women's Scrabble championship in Auckland. Twenty competitors battled for the title, with Joanne Craig finishing third after losing her final match to the eventual champion.

We all know that we should use public transport more but there's nothing fun about being left on the side of the road when you're trying to catch a bus. Bill Hickman headed to the streets to ask people if you have to wave to get that bus to stop.

The phrase "cost of living" has become synonymous with a struggle faced by increasing numbers of Kiwi families just to make ends meet. The news is full of stories about the price of butter, pain at the pump, and pay parity - but it's not a new concern. Our reporter Kate Green takes a dive into the history of tough times.

Scrabble boards were put to serious use as New Zealand hosted its first national women's Scrabble championship in Auckland. Twenty competitors battled for the title, with Joanne Craig finishing third after losing her final match to the eventual champion. She spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Woolworths sold more than 1.7 million hot cross buns last Easter - and that demand has them back on shelves just days after Christmas. RNZ's Life Editor Lucy Corrie spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Reporter Peter de Graaf talks to the Puzzleman about his puzzle shop's remarkable longevity.

** OHH: Episode 166: What's Poppin'! ** _We're back this week with an episode of What's Poppin' - this week we dive into the latest, right before we wrap up 2025. Tune in, and let's get into it! _ Brandy & Monica “The Boy is Mine Tour” The Chocolate Nutcracker review Our picture featured on ABC news Happy Holidays!! Snoop hosts a star studded half time show in AZ New Shows: High Horse - Compton Cowboys featured (Peacock) Bel-Air (Final Season on Peacock) Anjela Johnson Comedy special - Say I Won't Dave Chapelle Comedy special “The Unstoppable Nigger” 50 Cent's Diddy documentary on Netflix Music Box series on HBO New Movies: Marty Supreme w/ Timothy Chalamet and Tyler Okonma, Gweneth Paltrow Avatar Fire and Ash - Nubia the Creator Favorite Christmas Movie - Jake Paul & Anthony Joshua fight (Jake finally got his ass KO'd) Jamie Foxx comes to Compton!! Invited by ChefBoy Beyonce, Venus Williams & Nicole Kidman will co-chair the next Met Gala in May 2026 Venus Williams gets married Andrea Preti Beyonce and Jay-Z expand their home - next album is rock & roll - we suspect In September, Nicole Kidman filed for divorce from Keith Urban. Ya'll know she Australian? *Article in OK Magazine: Three Siblings, One Mic, and the Art of Uncovering Conversations on Pop Culture & Politics *

** OHH: Episode 167: New Music ** We're back with this episode dedicated to all the NEW MUSIC of 2025. Tune in as we track what was in our ears the last year. New Music *Top Artists and Hits of 2025 * K-Pop Demon Hunters, Shaboozy, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kehlani Folded Single, Beyonce Album, Bad Bunny, Drake, Kedrick Lamar & Sza tour, Summer Walker Album, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Pink Floyd, Mariah Carey, Biggest Tour: Chris Brown and Beyonce _ **Year started off with _** * Sexxy Redd / Bruno Mars - Fay Juicy, Wet - SINGLE * Leon Thomas - MUTT single POP * Sabrina Carpenter - Expresso * DRAKE - $ome $exy $ongs 4 U * Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die with a Smile - SINGLE ** R&B** * Lady Wray - Cover Girl / BEST for US single * Thundercat - Upside Down (Candy Crush) - * Leon Thomas - PHOLKS / Just How You Are - SINGLE * Jane Handcock - It's Me, Not You / Stare at Me - SINGLE * Jenevieve - CRYSALIS * Kehlani - Folded * Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA * Summer Walker - Finally Over It, The Afterparty * Heart of a Woman - SINGLE * Go Girl * SAULT - 10 * TEYANA Taylor - Escape Room * 803FRESH - Boots on the Ground * Mariah Carey - Here for it All * SZA & MoRuf - PT Cruiser - SINGLE * Chris Brown - RAP * GloRilla & Sexxy Redd - Whatchi Kno about me Gospel Say the Name - Deitrick Haddon

** OHH: Episode 168: Politricks ** _since we last had a politricks episode, the government shut down then unceremoniously re-opened. Let's get into this episode will al the frills and trickery that happened in 2025. _ US * End of government shutdown * DOJ released Jeffrey Epstein files, redacted pictures with Trump * Trump Tariffs and long term impact on American people of changing decades long trade policies * Nikki Minaj supporting Trump at recent rally Local * New Dept of Homeless services LA County effective Jan 31 * Running for mayor in city of compton - Andre Spicer * Starting Jan 2026 - landlord responsible and have to provide a working stove and refrigerator * New law - folic acid added to corn tortillas, can cancel contract with contractor for homeowners via phone or text message Global * LA preparing for 2028 Olympics - cleaning house with homeless population

Whatever Christmas means to you, there is no doubt that the way we celebrate it looks very different to the way it was celebrated a generation or two ago. 

Mihingarangi reports live from the Northcote Saturday Market where they are using recycled materials to build a miniature town centre. 

Weekend stuff with Lynda Hallinan

We hear from Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, along with ACT Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.

Time for some more Christmas messages from political party leaders. We hear from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

We've got some Christmas messages from the political leaders at Parliament to bring you throughout the programme. First up we have the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Labour leader, Chris Hipkins.

2.5 million passengers will travel through Auckland Airport in its busiest five weeks of the year. Travel can be a great joy but also a legal minefield; who covers costs with a cancellation, what if you get bumped from a flight that is over booked, and what's the deal if the replacement flight is more expensive. Jessica Walker from Consumer NZ spoke to Lisa Owen with tips for travellers.

The classic summer festival is the latest loser in the cost of living crisis, with another iconic event announcing it's downfall today. Splore is part of a growing list of struggling festivals with big names like WOMAD and One Love also on pause. But with many young people still crying out for a summer experience, some smaller events are hoping they'll pick up punters let down by the big festivals. Evie Richardson reports. 

NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main talks to Lisa Owen about the 10 million parcels being delivered in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

A Northshore woman's at risk of losing her guide dog after several encounters with out of control dogs have left her working dog fearful and potentially unable to do its job properly.

We all love to receive gifts - especially at this time of the year - but there is joy to be had in giving too. And the latest results from a study of over 200 children suggests that that joy can be experienced from a very young age. Professor Annette Henderson, director of the Early Learning Lab at Auckland University joins Mihingarangi to explain what this can mean for children and their parents.

At 50, Katherine Leamy packed her bag and headed off on a big international trip with nothing more than a backpack weighing 5 kgs. 

At 97, Maureen Maclean is one of several seniors to sign up for a 31-day New Year yoga challenge at their local studio in Hamilton. 

Experts are warning there could be further drownings at notorious black spots this summer.