Podcasts about Victoria University

New Zealand is a land formed by volcanoes, including some still active. Claire Concannon meets a researcher analysing ash deposits to determine if a future eruption might have dangerous levels of hazardous chemicals. Plus, she learns about a voyage to Vanuatu and the Solomen Islands to study the gases and ash of an active volcanic chain there. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Researchers continue to study New Zealand's active volcanoes like Whakaari and Ruapehu to try to understand their patterns of eruptions.When Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha‘apai, just north of Tonga's main island, erupted in 2022 it caused a worldwide tsunami. Ellen Rykers dug into the science behind the phenomenon.The work of the National Geohazard Monitoring Centre is to keep on eye on earthquake, volcano, landslide and tsunami hazards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Auckland is built on a network of volcanoes, and underground lava caves.Guests:Dr Jenni Hopkins, Victoria University of WellingtonDr Ian Schipper, Volcano Waka LabGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation, paving the way for new leadership in the British Labour Party. Starmer had been increasingly criticised by the public and his own party for not taking decisive enough action given his sweeping majority in the previous election. The frontrunner to become the new Prime Minister is former Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield by-election, putting him in the position to become the next Prime Minister.  I spoke to Aeron Davis, Professor of Political Communication at Victoria University of Wellington, about the political situation in the United Kingdom, the differences in leadership between Keir Starmer and the incoming Andy Burnham, and what impacts these changes will have.

Would it surprise you to learn that New Zealand's workplace fatality rates are way higher than other developed countries? And by way higher - we mean twice the rate of Australia and five times that of the UK. That's according to the annual ACC injury report that came out in the last few days. To discuss why and what could be done to change our death and injury rates, Emile is joined by Chris Peace. Chris has worked in the risk management space across New Zealand and the UK, and is currently an Occupational Health and Safety lecturer at Victoria University [picture id="4KSVBFJ_2024_03_23_CPP_001811_edited_b_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Is your phone correcting words like "were" to "we're" and "public" to "pubic"? If so, you're not alone. More and more, predictive text seems to have a mind of its own. Marcus Frean is an Associate Professor at Victoria University's School of Engineering and Computer Science. A specialist in statistical and probability-based machine learning. He talks to Mihingarangi about why he thinks auto correct is out of control.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Penny Ashton and David Farrar. First up, MPs perks have been deeply scrutinised lately. They're unapologetic about the perks, but are we paying politicians more than what they'd get in the private sector? And if not should they? Geoff Plimmer, associate professor for the school of business and government in Victoria University, joins the panel to discuss. Then, a traffic island at the end of Courtenay Place is the only physical evidence of the Golden Mile dream - now it may have to be altered. Wellington columnist Dave Armstrong opines about the now dead project.

Over-optimized systems are quietly killing the human soul of our services by obsessing over speed and efficiency. In this episode, discover how to break free from the "efficiency trap," embrace design as a genuine practice of hope, and use localized indigenous wisdom to design with authentic care and deep community respect.

Brad Johnson holds the Western Bulldogs games record - 364 games. 558 goals, six All Australian selections, a Hall of Fame inductee. He is, by any measure, one of the greats of his generation. This is a beautiful conversation with a genuinely extraordinary person that still trains like he's trying to earn his spot - he drove an hour to be first at the track the morning this conversation was recorded. He's genuinely, almost inexplicably, one of the happiest people you'll ever come across - and, according to Luke, has been that way since he was seventeen years old. In this episode of Empowering Leaders, Luke Darcy sits down with his former teammate, and longtime friend for a conversation about what it actually looks like to give everything to something - in football, in business, in family - and still be standing tall on the other side. They talk about Brad's son Jack, who is chasing a career in motorsport at serious cost, and what it means to be a dad who shows up without getting in the way. About his daughter Ella, whose singing career paused through COVID and might just be starting again. About the eight years he and wife Donna spent building Zena - a protective sportswear brand for women in contact sport - starting from nothing, holding strong through two years of dead ends, to now being stocked in Rebel Sport and sold internationally. Brad opens up about his cancer diagnosis last year - a lump under his arm, six weeks of radiation, an operation, and a first clear scan six months later. He talks about what it took to stop trying to work through it and about Donna telling him to for once in his life to focus on himself. You'll hear this brilliant past episode referenced: Paul Waterson: From intensive care nurse to running pubs with the Australian Venue Co. Check it out or re-listen now. 01:49 AFL Legend Brad Johnson & Luke Darcy: 17-Year-Olds at the Western Bulldogs03:49 The Athlete Brad Johnson Was — Endurance, Speed & Strength04:52 Brad Johnson's Positivity: Natural or Performed?06:02 Parenting Kids Who Chase Big Dreams — Ella's Singing & Jack's Motorsport Career08:31 Supporting a Motorsport Career: The Real Cost of Jack Johnson's Racing Dream10:33 Leadership Lessons from Jack Johnson's Pitch to Melbourne Business Leaders12:01 Brad Johnson on Parenting Differently to His Own Father14:34 364 Games for the Western Bulldogs: Habits, Discipline & the Scotty Wine Story17:16 What AFL Players Underestimate When They Retire18:42 Brad & Donna Johnson on Starting Zena Sport — Building a Business from Scratch23:36 Finding Your Lane: Stop Chasing Everything (The Hedgehog Moment)25:17 Brad Johnson on the Aleda Leadership Community26:21 What Brad Johnson Is Most Proud Of at 5031:10 Brad Johnson's Cancer Diagnosis: Radiation, Surgery & First Clear Scan34:04 Brad Johnson's Daily Routine After Cancer — Walking, Sauna, Weights & Golf35:24 Leadership Advice: Bring Your Quality to the Table39:12 Collaboration, Paul Waterson & Learning Outside the Sporting Bubble42:09 The AFL Premiership Brad Johnson Never Won — and How He Made Peace With It We are privileged to have Brad as part of our Aleda Connect community. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Meet with founders Luke Darcy, Matt Wadewitz or one of the amazing Aleda Connect facilitators to learn how you can grow alongside people like Brad within our signature leadership program. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has been released that shows the impact of human-induced climate change on global sea levels, focusing on the change from 1900 to 2005.  It found that, worldwide, one in a hundred-year flooding event had a median increase to the 1 in 8-year event average over this time. Even more concerningly, the study found that the increase was not geographically balanced, and Wellington coastal floods have increased to roughly a twice-per-year occurrence. Relevantly, last week Wellington faced large swells up to 9 metres, resulting in a state of emergency and mandatory evacuation orders at numerous bays in the area. To discuss the results of the study and how best to respond to the findings, host Thomas talked to Victoria University Professor of Climate Science & Physical Geography, James Renwick.

A new study has been released that shows the impact of human-induced climate change on global sea levels, focusing on the change from 1900 to 2005.  It found that, worldwide, one in a hundred-year flooding event had a median increase to the 1 in 8-year event average over this time. Even more concerningly, the study found that the increase was not geographically balanced, and Wellington coastal floods have increased to roughly a twice-per-year occurrence. Relevantly, last week Wellington faced large swells up to 9 metres, resulting in a state of emergency and mandatory evacuation orders at numerous bays in the area. To discuss the results of the study and how best to respond to the findings, host Thomas talked to Victoria University Professor of Climate Science & Physical Geography, James Renwick.

Elon Musk is set to become the world's first trillionaire as SpaceX finally hits the US stock market. Max Rashbrooke, senior research fellow of economic inequality at Victoria University of Wellington told Andrew Dickens, "we live in a world where a lot of people have got nothing or they're may be worth a dollar and it's sort of hard to think that someone is 1 trillion times more worthy or has contributed 1 trillion times more to humanity than someone else. "So, I find it very hard to justify." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insurer IAG says political parties should join in making New Zealand more resilient to climate change. Its new report highlights our recovery bill is north of $4.2 billion dollars every year. It says New Zealand has major gaps in climate adaptation - and no clear strategy, a lack of consistent and effective rules, poor funding tools and no incentives. Victoria University Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston says it's a tough political sell. "It's a kind of lose-lose situation, there are very few brownie points in not preparing people for disasters." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Timmy Bristow was nine years old when he ruptured his pancreas playing footy at recess, crawled to the tap, and waited alone in a dark staffroom until his mum finished her shift. By the time she arrived he was blue. A few hours later he was on an ambulance plane to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne with a thirty percent chance of surviving surgery. While Timmy was in hospital, of the young AFL players who showed up on the ward to help cheer up the young patient was… Luke Darcy. But in that moment - neither of them could have possibly known they'd end up here, having this conversation today. Timmy grew up in country Victoria, excelled on the sporting field, and for twenty-one years carried the secret that he'd been sexually abused by someone in a position of authority and trust - in an institution that covered it up. He held it through his teens, through footy, through becoming a husband and a father. Until his sister said she'd tell their parents herself if he didn't. In this conversation on Empowering Leaders, Timmy and Luke talk about what that silence cost and what breaking the silence felt like. They talk about the 28.5% of Australian children who will experience sexual abuse before they turn eighteen, about Timmy’s mammoth effort to run seven marathons in seven states in seven days for Bravehearts, and about what Timmy has built on the other side of all of it - an incredible school he leads the way he wished he'd been led, a personal philosophy of connection, vulnerability and consistency, and a refusal to become a statistic. We are privileged to have Timmy as part of our Aleda Connect community. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Meet with founders Luke Darcy, Matt Wadewitz or one of the amazing Aleda Connect facilitators to learn how you can grow alongside people like Timmy within our signature leadership program. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Dr. Lawrence Muganga discusses identity, belonging, education, and the future of Uganda. From his childhood selling rabbits to becoming Vice Chancellor of Victoria University and later being nominated as State Minister for Internal Affairs, Dr. Muganga reflects on his journey, the debate surrounding Uganda's Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, his arrest on allegations of espionage, and the politics of recognition and citizenship. We also explore whether Africa's education systems are preparing young people for an AI-driven future, the limits of traditional university degrees, and what success looks like in a rapidly changing world.Sponsors:Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/                                               Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com African Languages Experts: https://africanlanguagesexperts.comJoin our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.comProduced by LF Media 

Virgin Media O2 surveyed 6000 people over a year in the UK, with results indicating about 35 percent of phone use is without intent. It also estimates people there spend almost five years of their waking lives doom scrolling. Victoria University senior lecturer Alex Beattie spoke with Lisa Owen.

Four New Zealand MPs who visited Taiwan last month have been banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau for a year. National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson were visiting as part of a cross-party Parliamentary group to improve relations with Taiwan. The Chinese embassy has said the ban could be reduced or waived with an apology. It’s the first time China has imposed such a move-- so does this mark a turning point in China–New Zealand relations, or is it a targeted, symbolic strike that won’t fundamentally change anything? Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington Contemporary China Research Centre director Jason Young is with us to unpack what’s behind China’s decision, why it happened now, and what the backlash could mean for our future relationship with Beijing. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria University student Nate Wilbourne is one of two kiwis to be named in Forbes Magazine's prestigious 30 under 30 list in Asia-Pacific. He was recognised after co-founding Gen-Z Aotearoa, which encourages young New Zealanders to address issues like climate change and social justice. Wilbourne spoke to John Campbell.

On The Space Show for Wednesday, 13 May 2026:Space Show News: The Australian Federal Budget — An analysis of the space and astronomy sections of the 2026 Federal Budget. Extraterrestrial Life - Could We Cope? The US government has released a first batch of 160 previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings and alien life. The files include a 1947 report of "flying discs" and a photo of "unidentified phenomena" taken from the Moon's surface during the Apollo 12 lunar mission in 1969. In light of these releases, we'll first hear comments from President Trump, then a fascinating retrospective discussion, largely philosophical in nature, between the New Zealand astronomer and television presenter Peter Read and Professor Alan Forbes of Wellington's Victoria University on how humanity might cope with the discovery of extraterrestrial life. (Inserts Fox News, WH and NZBC)The Andy Thomas Space Foundation: Nicola Sasanelli (Adjunct Professor and then Chief Executive Officer, Andy Thomas Space Foundation, Adelaide) on the formation and purposes of the Foundation. (Recorded by The Space Show at a meeting of the Space Association of Australia, South Melbourne)SMILEA preview of the China-ESA satellite SMILE (or Solar-wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer), which is due to be launched on 19 May 2026. SMILE is a collaborative satellite mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) designed to study how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic shield.

When Lexi Edmondson walked down to Bondi Beach to celebrate finishing her master's degree, she had no idea her life was about to change forever. What began as a summer evening by the water for hundreds of people became one of Australia's most devastating acts of violence - and Lexi ran towards it. In her most in-depth interview since the December attack, Lexi sits down with Luke Darcy to take us inside the night itself. She talks about the chaos, the moment her training kicked in, and about how the iconic Bondi community responded in the aftermath. Lexi shares the healing power of reconnecting with the people she helped, and the extraordinary gesture from Rabbi Levi Wolf and the Jewish community that brought everyone together. Armed with fresh surf lifesaving training and sheer instinct, Lexi and fellow volunteer Jimmy McIntosh became part of the community of first responders who helped treat and carry 60 people to safety that night. In the days that followed - amid the grief, the trauma processing, and the slow work of rebuilding - Lexi and Jimmy fell in love. In the six months since Lexi has been able to identify what a tragedy like the deadly Bondi attack can strip away - the corporate ambitions, the performative rituals of modern dating, the conditions we place on living fully. Lexi shares why she has walked away from a path she thought she wanted, returned to clinical practice to help people one-on-one, and said yes to a relationship that moved at the speed of life. Plus: the ChatGPT proposal fail, the ring they promised not to buy (and then bought!), and the moment Lexi's mum clocked Jimmy before Lexi even had a chance. Lexi speaks beautifully about the importance of community, finding courage, championing feminine leadership, and finding the light when everything feels so dark. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Moffitt spent decades inside one of the world's most demanding institutions - Australia's Special Air Service Regiment. He's served in conflict zones across the Middle East including Afghanistan, lost friends, mentored some of the country's most elite operators, and now works as a corporate psychologist helping leaders, athletes, and organisations perform under pressure. He's also the author of Eleven Bats and The Fourth Pillar, a book about a pillar he believes most high performance programs are missing entirely. In this conversation on Empowering Leaders, Luke and Harry explore what it means to train the whole human. Not just the body or the mind, but the philosophical and moral interior that most people never think to tend to. Harry traces the idea back to a remarkable Australian coach named Percy Cerutty, who in the 1950s and 60s built what might have been the world's first institute of sport from a tin shack on the beach at Portsea. His STOTAN philosophy blended the best of the Stoics and the Spartans into a radical approach to resilience and human performance. Harry also speaks candidly about the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes case, one of the most significant and divisive legal proceedings in Australian military history. Harry has worked closely with people on both sides of the investigation and brings a perspective that is measured, informed, and unflinching. He talks about what the case has done to the SAS community, why he believes there is worse yet to come, and what integrity looks like when loyalty and accountability are in direct tension. Harry speaks with the kind of hard-earned clarity that only comes from actually living what you're writing about - the cost of being away from home, what he now understands about presence, about community, about the difference between chasing things and building a life. He talks about grief for his friend Lochlan Muddle, about leadership under pressure, about walking the floor as a leader, and about why talking to yourself out loud might be one of the oldest and most powerful practices a human can cultivate. 03:29 The four pillars of high performance05:50 Percy Cerutty and the STOTAN philosophy09:33 The whole human: Ancient wisdom and modern performance14:46 A philosophy for living a meaningful life18:41 Absence, regret and family20:45 The SAS brotherhood22:33 Lochlan Muddle: loss and pride25:42 Ben Roberts-Smith and a divided community31:51 Fog of war, moral armory and where the line is35:17 Afghanistan: did we win?40:37 What great leaders do consistently45:50 The ancient art of talking to yourself51:15 Routines, habits and self first57:05 Walk the floor: the one piece of advice1:00:14 Who would Harry collaborate with?1:04:34 The greatest leader in Harry's life Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Choice generates agency, agency generates engagement, and engagement is where learning begins. If you aren't ‘falling over' as a teacher, you probably aren't pushing yourself or your learners to take ownership of the language." We sit down with the esteemed Professor Jonathan Newton. Jonathan is an Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, where he leads postgraduate programs in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. With over 30 years of experience, his work focuses on the "black box" of classroom interaction and how task-based language teaching (TBLT) can foster learner agency and ownership. He has published over 80 articles and several seminal books on classroom interaction and task-based pedagogy.   In this episode, we discuss: The "Black Box" of communication: understanding the actual mechanism that explains how learning occurs during interaction. The power of choice: why giving learners agency is the most direct path to motivation and ownership. Unlearning the security blanket: moving beyond rigid PPP formulas to embrace the "falling forward" of real teaching. The "Magoo" (MG-O-O) criteria: a simple heuristic for tweaking textbook activities to strengthen meaning, gaps, and outcomes. Tasks for absolute beginners: why input-based tasks are the perfect entry point for learners with zero English. Negotiation for meaning: measuring the tangible acquisition of vocabulary through group-work interaction. The "Atlas Complex" in teaching: letting go of the burden of being the sole source of authority in the classroom. The desk as the enemy: how small physical shifts in the classroom can reignite learner engagement.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM JONATHAN NEWTON: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit his website    OUR PARTNER: FLUENTIZE Want to teach your best lessons — without all the prep? Fluentize turns real-world videos into interactive ESL lessons for teens and adults. Explore 650+ ready-to-teach lessons designed to engage your students, simplify lesson planning, and save you hours of preparation. Start for free here.   SUPPORT US:

We usually think of forgiveness as something personal between the person who was hurt and the person who caused the hurt. But research done here in New Zealand suggests forgiveness may have effects that reach far beyond the individuals involved. In fact, forgiveness may even have the potential to be a powerful public health tool. Dr Richard Cowden is a psychologist and research scientist with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. His work has consistently shown that holding onto resentment and unresolved hurt can take a real toll on both mental and physical health. Now in collaboration with researchers from Auckland and Victoria University, he's explored whether increasing forgiveness could have benefits on a larger scale.

What separates the leaders and athletes who perform under pressure from those who crack? According to Dr Phil Hopley, it comes down to one overlooked discipline: daily recovery. Phil is a consultant psychiatrist and one of the world's leading experts in mental performance. Through Cognacity - the specialist psychology organisation he leads - Phil has worked inside elite sport, global boardrooms and high-performance teams across Premier League football, Formula One, rugby and Olympic sport. His organisation was the appointed specialist team for the London Olympics and Paralympics. In this conversation with Luke Darcy, Phil unpacks the science behind sustainable high performance, the hidden cost of distracted working, and why the greatest predictor of long-term leadership success isn't intelligence or ambition - it's self-awareness. Phil explains the "tipping point" that separates productive pressure from burnout, shares what Kenyan distance runners can teach every corporate leader about recovery, and reveals the Big Five personality assessment his team uses to identify high-risk hires before catastrophic cultural damage is done. He also talks in-depth about building psychological safety, dialling up kindness in competitive environments, and why the greatest leader in his own life is his 90-year-old father. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, figures published by RNZ showed that Afterpay made close to $20m in late fees in Aotearoa New Zealand, in the year to December 2025. This revenue is an increase on their 2024 earnings, and comes after legislation was introduced to bring Buy Now Pay Later lending services—such as Afterpay—under similar regulation to other lenders. Prior to September of 2024, buy now pay later lenders were exempted from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act that governs other lenders. This is because, unlike other lenders such as credit card companies, buy now pay later schemes do not charge interest or any other fees—so long as the debts are repaid on time—meaning they did not meet the definition of a ‘consumer credit contract'. After September of 2024, however, they came under the act, with some exemptions, such as that they don't have to carry out the same checks as other lenders to see if a borrower can actually afford a loan. A later amendment exempted them from the prohibition on charging unreasonable fees and also exempted them from being required to ensure default fees do no more than reasonably compensate the provider for their costs. Earlier this year, Consumer New Zealand and FinCap (with support from Victoria University and funding from the Borrin Foundation) published the second stage of their report examining Buy Now Pay Later schemes in Aotearoa New Zealand, before and after these regulatory changes. So, to discuss the recently reported Afterpay late fee revenues within the wider context of what that report found, producer Theo spoke to the senior policy advisor at FinCap, Jake Lilley.

The World Health Organisation has set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer. New Zealand health experts are optimistic we can do it, but suggest there are challenges to achieving that aim.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Listen to The Panel Plus with Wallace Chapman, discussing the release of the Cancer Society's election manifesto and treatment options for cancer.Read about the Matariki Fund's plans to eliminate cervical cancer across the Pacific.RNZ's Māori issues reporter Pokere Paewai wrote this article on the need to extend free cervical screening.The efficacy of the HPV vaccine was discussed on Morning Report, following a study which showed a 60% reduction in cervical cancer.Guests:Professor Bev Lawton (Ngāti Porou), is founder/director of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine (the National Centre for Women's Health Research Aotearoa) at Victoria University of WellingtonNicola Coom, Chief Executive of the Cancer SocietyAlice Hyatt, cancer survivorGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alisa Camplin is one of Australia's most decorated and driven high performance leaders - an Olympic gold medallist in aerial skiing, Australia's first female winter Olympic gold medallist, and most recently, the first woman to lead an Australian Winter Olympic team as Chef de Mission at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. Alisa shares so many of the mental frameworks that powered her greatest performances - and how those same skills carried her through the unimaginable loss of her son Finnan, who passed away after just 10 days following open heart surgery. Together with her husband, she channelled that grief into Finnan's Gift, a foundation that has now raised over $4 million for paediatric cardiac care. She opens up about recovering from two knee reconstructions in the lead-up to her second Olympics - the last one just 56 days before the Games - and why she believes the most important thing you can do after any setback is get up, find a plan, and be all in. She also shares what 16 years at IBM, a boardroom career, and leading an Olympic team have taught her about honest conversations, coaching people as whole humans, and the small daily habits that create real, lasting change. This conversation is a masterclass in what it means to lead with integrity, show up with discipline, and keep going when life gets hard. We’re privileged to have Alisa as part of the Aleda Connect community - connecting inspiring leaders from across Australia and around the world. Learn. Lead. Collaborate. Start your leadership journey today. Head here to find out more about our signature, cross industry collaboration program, Aleda Connect. Curated and facilitated by experts, running for 8 fortnightly sessions, Aleda Connect is the learning experience of a life-time. Empowering Leaders is proudly partnered with Victoria University. Find more information about studying at VU here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political science lecturer says party affiliation isn't everything in Māori seats, as Mariameno Kapa-Kingi breaks away. She's cut ties with Te Pati Māori to create the Te Tai Tokerau Party and run in the seat of the same name. Te Pati Māori's wished her well - but is promising to put up another candidate to take her on. Victoria University's Lara Greaves says it's an open race for all seven seats. "They're hyper-local, so local issues are really important - but also, sometimes, strategy is important. Again, really hard to tell." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University student groups want the Government to reconsider the scrapping of the fees-free study scheme. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it'll end at the Budget, with 2026 being the final year students are eligible. Victoria University of Wellington Student Association President Aidan Donaghue says it's being binned as the cost of living bites. "There's huge opportunity costs...we can't work full time while also studying. So energy, heating, groceries, fuel - those are all just compounding on students as they try and better themselves." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the SBS Nepali podcast, we speak with former Executive Director and spokesperson of Nepal Rastra Bank - the central bank of Nepal - Laxmi Prapanna Niroula. Currently serving as an Independent Director at Sanima Bank, Niroula was recently in Australia to participate in the Leadership Development Program organised by Victoria University and the Banking Finance and Insurance Institute of Nepal (BFIN) in Melbourne from April 27 to 30. At SBS studios, we spoke with Niroula about Australia-Nepal economic ties, Nepal's financial sector and a range of contemporary economic issues. - एसबीएस नेपालीको यो पोडकास्ट अङ्कमा हामी, नेपाल राष्ट्र ब्याङ्कका पूर्व कार्यकारी निर्देशक तथा पूर्व प्रवक्ता लक्ष्मीप्रपन्न निरौलासँगको कुराकानी प्रस्तुत गर्दैछौँ। मेलबर्नस्थित भिक्टोरिया युनिभर्सिटी र ब्याङ्किङ फाइनान्स एन्ड इन्स्योरेन्स इन्स्टिच्युट अफ नेपाल (बीफीन)द्वारा गत एप्रिल २७ देखि ३० सम्म मेलबर्नमा आयोजना गरिएको ‘लिडरशिप डेभलप्मेन्ट प्रोग्राम'मा भाग लिन उनी अस्ट्रेलिया आएका बेला, हाल सानिमा ब्याङ्कका स्वतन्त्र सञ्चालक रहेका निरौलासँग, अस्ट्रेलिया र नेपालबिचको आर्थिक सम्बन्ध लगायत समसामयिक र आर्थिक विषयवस्तुमा केन्द्रित रहँदै हामीले एसबीएसको मेलबर्नस्थित स्टुडियोमा कुराकानी गरेका छौँ।

New Zealand universities have been caught up in a global hack of an online learning platform, leaving the personal details of students potentially exposed. The Canvas system is accessed online and used for assignments, to get grades and communicate with tutors. Impacted Universities include the University of Auckland, AUT and the Victoria University of Wellington. Aidan Donoghue is President of the Victoria University Students Association and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Now to a "cleantech" startup aiming to eliminate carbon emissions from the making of steel. The idea involves replacing carbon with hydrogen, and CullBeck founders say it will reduce ironmaking processing times and overall costs. It also promises the generation of critical minerals - which are of geopolitical importance. Incubated at Victoria University of Wellington, the idea is now being backed by something called Aurora Climate Lab with the aim of commercialisation. CullBeck founder Martin Hacon is with Jesse.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jenni Giblin and Mike Williams. First up, according to a leaked TAB report the horse racing industry needs further tax breaks to survive. Victoria University of Wellington's tax specialist Lisa Marriott says the industry has a legacy of tax concessions Then, the Moa Point sewage disaster has played havoc on local businesses. The Panel hears from Steve Walters, General Manager of Destination KRL, who represents businesses in Kilbirnie, Rongotai and Lyall Bay.

Dr Stephen Skalicky, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington joins Emile to explain.

The lower North Island continues to take a battering today, with an orange weather warning still in place for Wellington. More than 150 weather events - things like landslips and flooding - have been reported so far. Flights are cancelled, and schools and council facilities are closed today. In the wake of all this, many are asking why more serious warnings were not issued. Jesse is joined by Dr James Renwick, Professor of Climate Science at Victoria University and former Principal Climate Scientist at NIWA.

Assurance MetService gave the most notice possible before yesterday's flash flooding in Wellington. The record breaking 77-millilitre an hour deluge inundated the Capital from about 4am. Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay south of Tutira still sit under an Orange heavy rain warning until later tonight. A slip's burst a wastewater pipe in Vogeltown - forcing a household to evacuate. Victoria University professor James Renwick says MetService uses the best forecasting technology. He says it's a bit like earthquakes, which are unpredictable, but can be detected as they happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Chinese robot has just run a half marathon six minutes faster than any human ever has. Professor Dale Carnegie from Victoria University spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Professor Phil Lester, an ecologist and entomologist at Victoria University of Wellington, joins Emile Donovan to discuss the latest developments and the ongoing response to the hornet threat.

A senior lecturer at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington, Tina has built a distinguished career examining the Maori-Pakeha experience. 

Great news! We've been nominated for a Webby Award! Our three-part Katrina series is a finalist for Best News & Politics limited series podcast. Now, we need your help. Voting ends Thursday, April 16! Cast your vote at bit.ly/webbybipisci    Antarctic scientists have long known the region's ice sheet holds clues to the planet's ancient past. Yet even the field's foremost experts were shocked when they extracted a six-million-year-old ice core — twice as old as expected and the oldest recorded so far. Researchers say it will provide one of our best looks ever into Earth's climatological record. In a relatively more recent past, the discovery of 40,000-year-old notches and lines carved into artifacts and cave walls in Germany, examples of protowriting, suggest humans began documenting ideas thousands of years earlier than thought. Those timescales pale however, when compared to the age of the Earth's most ancient rocks, which have a story to tell too. Find out how the planet's most venerable rocks, formed billions of years ago, reveal the geological conditions that allowed life to get a foothold.  Guests: Huw Groucutt – Archeologist, Department of Classics and Archeology, University of Malta Ed Brook – Paleoclimatologist and professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University Simon Lamb – Earth scientist and professor of geography in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand.   Author of “The Oldest Rocks on Earth: A Search for the Origins of Our World.” Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great news! We've been nominated for a Webby Award! Our three-part Katrina series is a finalist for Best News & Politics limited series podcast. Now, we need your help. Voting ends Thursday, April 16! Cast your vote at bit.ly/webbybipisci    Antarctic scientists have long known the region's ice sheet holds clues to the planet's ancient past. Yet even the field's foremost experts were shocked when they extracted a six-million-year-old ice core — twice as old as expected and the oldest recorded so far. Researchers say it will provide one of our best looks ever into Earth's climatological record. In a relatively more recent past, the discovery of 40,000-year-old notches and lines carved into artifacts and cave walls in Germany, examples of protowriting, suggest humans began documenting ideas thousands of years earlier than thought. Those timescales pale however, when compared to the age of the Earth's most ancient rocks, which have a story to tell too. Find out how the planet's most venerable rocks, formed billions of years ago, reveal the geological conditions that allowed life to get a foothold.  Guests: Huw Groucutt – Archeologist, Department of Classics and Archeology, University of Malta Ed Brook – Paleoclimatologist and professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University Simon Lamb – Earth scientist and professor of geography in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand.   Author of “The Oldest Rocks on Earth: A Search for the Origins of Our World.” Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A top climate scientist is warning New Zealand may soon struggle to cope with the impact of storms made worse by climate change. Victoria University of Wellington's professor of climate science James Renwick spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Max Rashbrooke is a senior research fellow in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington and joins Emile Donovan. 

Susie explores the multi-sensory art installations in Whanga - The Cove at Victoria University's School of Architecture in a celebration of nature, bird song and the city it calls home. She also gets to ask a real-life philosopher, Professor Simon Keller, a question!

Louis Theroux's recent documentary, 'Inside the Manosphere' put the spotlight on some really concerning content and content makers circulating online. These influencers are widely popular despite seemingly spreading messages of hate - so are they resonating with our boys and if so, what can we do to combat it? Here to give us her perspective is Dr Samantha Keene, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and a gender-based violence researcher at Victoria University.

A scientist is hoping the current fuel crisis might be disrupter that is needed to turn people away from fossil fuel. It comes as a new report on the state of the global climate paints a dire picture. In 2024 greenhouse gases reached their highest levels in 800 thousand years. 2025 was one the warmest on record. Victoria University of Wellington professor of climate science James Renwick spoke to Lisa Owen.

Reporting shortages without prompting petrol panic. Also: a social media post about the Labour Party leader ended up as headline news - in spite of denials and no-one knowing what's really true. Does the right to tell a story override others' right to privacy - or the public interest? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:00:50 How the media reacted to the prospect of fuel shortages and the possibility of heavy measures to manage them, and rekindling memories of carless days.11:00 Newsroom Pro editor Jonathan Milne on reporting shortages without prompting panic - and the bigger picture of our oil dependence and the reality of energy supplies.17:05 Damaging personal allegations about Labour leader Chris Hipkins spread widely in social media after a single post by his former partner, creating a dilemma for news media.22:03 Media law expert Nicole Moreham on the legal limits on the right to tell your own story when it clashes with the privacy rights of others, defamation and the public interest.Guests: Nicole Moreham, professor of law at Victoria University of Wellington; Jonathan Milne, editor of Newsroom Pro.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

You might recall that this time last year we spoke to someone from Wellington's South Coast whose house had been inundated by 100s of Portuguese millipedes; in the bathtub, climbing the walls, even in bed! To give us the latest we're joined by Victoria University pest control expert Professor Phil Lester.

To find out what is says, and what we can learn from NZ's response, Professor Marc Wilson from Victoria University's school of Psychology chats to Jesse.

An expert says time is ticking for MPI to eradicate the invasive yellow-legged hornet before the Autumn breeding season. Phil Lester, Professor of Biology at Victoria University of Wellington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This week on Sinica, recorded at Yale University, I speak with Michael Brenes and Van Jackson, coauthors of The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy. Their argument is that framing the U.S.-China relationship as geopolitical rivalry has become more than just a foreign policy orientation — it's a domestic political project that reshapes budgets, norms, and coalitions in ways that actively harm American democracy and the American people. Rivalry narrows political possibility, makes dissent suspect, encourages neo-McCarthyism (the China Initiative, profiling of Chinese Americans), produces anti-AAPI hate, and redirects public investment away from social welfare and into defense spending through what they call "national security Keynesianism."Mike is interim director of the Brady Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale, while Van is a senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington and host of the Un-Diplomatic Podcast. We discuss the genesis of their collaboration during the Biden administration, how they navigate China as a puzzle for the American left, canonical misrememberings of the Cold War that distort current China policy, the security dilemma feedback loop between Washington and Beijing, why defense-heavy stimulus is terrible at job creation, how rivalry politics weakens democracy, recent polling showing a shift toward engagement, and their vision for a "geopolitics of peace" anchored in Sino-U.S. détente 2.0.5:47 – The genesis of the book: recognizing Biden's Cold War liberalism 11:26 – How they approached writing together from different disciplinary homes 13:20 – Navigating China as a puzzle for the American left21:39 – How great power competition hardened from analytical framework into ideology 28:15 – Mike on two canonical misrememberings of the Cold War 33:18 – Van on the security dilemma and the nuclear feedback loop 39:55 – National security Keynesianism: why defense spending is bad at job creation 44:38 – How rivalry politics weakens democracy and securitizes dissent 48:09 – Building durable coalitions for restraint-oriented statecraft 51:27 – Has the post-COVID moral panic actually abated? 53:27 – The master narrative we need: a geopolitics of peace 55:29 – Associative balancing: achieving equilibrium through accommodation, not armsRecommendations:Van: The Long Twentieth Century by Giovanni Arrighi Mike: The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991 by Vladislav Zubok Kaiser: Pluribus (Apple TV series by Vince Gilligan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II. My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life.Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world. Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval EmpireRoutledge (2022)Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.