The Latest from The Sunday Session https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/ NZME THE SUNDAY SESSION WITH FRANCESCA RUDKIN9am-Noon Sink into your Sunday with the best session around. This is the show that delivers a little bit of everyth 2024-03-29T13:37:01.834Z en Joan's picks: The Call and The Trading Game : A Confession https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-call-and-the-trading-game-a-confession/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-call-and-the-trading-game-a-confession/ The Call is about Detective Sergeant Honey Chalmers who, after surviving a brutal attack goes back to her small home town to care for her mother. In the course of her work she’s become too close to an informant who’s linked to a gang made up of 501 returnees from Australia, and she’s pretty sure the informant, Kloe, is now in trouble. Honey’s private life is complicated and when Kloe turns up in the small town, events converge. This is a terrific thriller, based in our own backyard and I hope will be the first in a series.  The Trading Game : A Confession by Gary Stevenson. Gary grew up in poverty in east London . The one thing he had going for him was his intelligence – he’s a maths whizz and put that to good use to win a place at the London School of Economics where he discovered that rich people think that poor people are stupid – something he then used to his advantage. He got a job at Citibank where he started to make really stupid money and discovered that enough is never enough. He worked incessant hours and had no other life, losing friends along the way - eventually having a breakdown after which he got his life back together. He now campaigns against inequality, having come to realise that while the money was good it can be at the expense of his soul.  LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-24T01:00:29.000Z Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge writer reveals some 'crazy' travel based facts https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-reveals-some-crazy-travel-based-facts/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writer-reveals-some-crazy-travel-based-facts/ BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton returns with a list of 'crazy and bizarre' travel facts for the weekend. Between the rule that you can't photograph the Sistene Chapel ceiling and the impact cabin pressure has on your tastebuds, there's not shortage of unique travel facts to drop into conversation. Listen to Megan's other unexpected travel facts here. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-24T00:57:42.000Z The Sunday Panel: What did we think of the speculation surrounding Princess Kate? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-did-we-think-of-the-speculation-surrounding-princess-kate/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-did-we-think-of-the-speculation-surrounding-princess-kate/ This week on The Sunday Panel, Chelsea Daniels from the Front Page podcast and NZ Herald Senior Writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Following Princess Kate's shocking cancer diagnosis announcement, do the trolls and speculators need to take a proper look at themselves? What have we come to as a people when our first reaction is extreme theories and to poke fun at doctored photos?  The Herald's Liam Dann has asked in an opinion piece if the Government needs to put their promised tax cuts on hold until the country can afford them. Do we agree with this? Have hot cross buns gone too far? Do we really need one with cheese and onions mixed in? LISTEN ABOVE     2024-03-24T00:44:44.000Z Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on the rise of cancer in young people https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-the-rise-of-cancer-in-young-people/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-the-rise-of-cancer-in-young-people/ Princess Kate's announcement that she's undergoing cancer treatment confused and shocked people all over the world.  There has been a notable increase in cancer in young adults, with people aged 18-49 being impacted more than usual. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-24T00:36:36.000Z Vanya Insull: Easter cheesecake cups https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/vanya-insull-easter-cheesecake-cups/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/vanya-insull-easter-cheesecake-cups/ Vanya Insull: Easter Cheesecake Cups - VJ Cooks  COOKIE CRUMB  150g Super Wine biscuits  75g butter, melted  CHOCOLATE WHIP  100g milk chocolate  225g cream cheese  50g icing sugar  250ml cream  TOPPING  90g Mini easter eggs  Cookie crumble: Place the biscuits in a food processor and blitz to a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and blitz again until combined.  Spoon half of the cookie crumbs into the bottom of 4 glass tumblers.   Chocolate Whip: Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave, then set aside to cool slightly.  Place the cream cheese and icing sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk until smooth.   With the mixer still going, slowly pour in half a cup of cream. Pour in the rest of the cream and continue to whip until soft peaks form.  Remove the bowl from the mixer. Gently pour in the cooled, melted chocolate carefully folding it through as you go until there are white and chocolate swirls. Do not combine completely.  Spoon half of the chocolate whip on top of the cookie base evenly amongst the cups. Add another layer of cookie crumb and then the rest of the chocolate whip.   Add the mini easter eggs to the top then chill for at least 4 hours until ready to serve.  2024-03-23T23:38:15.013Z Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist explains biological factors behind teenage stink https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-biological-factors-behind-teenage-stink/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-biological-factors-behind-teenage-stink/ If you have ever had a teenager in your home, you know that they have their own unique teenage aroma. New research out this week was able to confirm that teenagers typically smell of goats, cheese and urine- and there is a chemical reason why. Published in the journal Communications Chemistry, the researchers sewed cotton wool pads into the armpit area of pyjamas to collect the sweat from 36 volunteers who wore them overnight. 18 of the volunteers were infants aged 3 and under and 18 of the volunteers were teenagers aged 14-18. The extracted sweat was then analysed using both a gas chromatography-olfactometry device for chemical analysis as well as professions human smellers. The infants had their own unique smell which was described as smelling like violets and due to a higher level of the ketone α-isomethylionone. They found that chemically two steroids 5α-androst-16-en-3-one and 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol were only present in the teenage sweat. These steroids are reported to have a smell that is similar to sweat, urine, musk and sandalwood. The teenagers also had elevated levels of six different carboxylic acids which smell of goat, cheese, capsicim and wax according to the professional smellers. The change in the smell of teenagers is due to the onset of activity of sweat and sebum glands combined with hair growth, and microbes on the skin. Sebum is an oily substance that helps to protect your skin and these glands become very active around puberty. While the study didn’t come up with a conclusion as to why the smell of teenagers changes, previous research into stickleback fish found that related sticklebacks dislike each other's smell once they reach sexual maturity which might help them to avoid inbreeding. Whatever the reason – the likelihood is that your teenager stinks and there isn’t much anyone can do about it. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T23:32:49.000Z Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on the remake of Road House https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-remake-of-road-house/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-remake-of-road-house/ The 1989 action movie Road House, remembered by audiences as a classic guilty pleasure, has been remade. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and boxer Conor McGregor, in his acting debut, the film promises to give audiences a fresh take on familiar cheesy 80s charm. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains the film further. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T23:27:36.000Z Justin Pemberton: Escaping Utopia director explores the inner workings of Gloriavale through interviews with escapees https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/justin-pemberton-escaping-utopia-director-explores-the-inner-workings-of-gloriavale-through-interviews-with-escapees/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/justin-pemberton-escaping-utopia-director-explores-the-inner-workings-of-gloriavale-through-interviews-with-escapees/ The insular Greymouth community of Gloriavale has kept Kiwis enthralled as testimonies keep emerging. A new TVNZ documentary, Escaping Utopia, promises to unveil the stories of people who've left the community- and the struggles they've endured. Co-director Justin Pemberton says Gloriavale is going through a transitionary period following the death of their former leader. "The community is now imploding, it's going through some sort of- either regeneration or collapse, and we don't really know which yet, it's very much a live story. I think that's why we felt so compelled to need to go and visit." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T23:11:37.000Z Rachel House: Kiwi actress ventures into the world of directing with new film The Mountain https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rachel-house-kiwi-actress-ventures-into-the-world-of-directing-with-new-film-the-mountain/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/rachel-house-kiwi-actress-ventures-into-the-world-of-directing-with-new-film-the-mountain/ Kiwi actress Rachel House has built up quite a screen presence, having appeared in many local and big-budget international films. She's also a dedicated acting coach and she's been a passionate advocate behind getting Disney films translated into Te Reo. And now, she's making her way into the world of directing through her new film The Mountain, arriving in theatres this week. Rachel says her experience as an actress prepared her for directing her first full feature film. "I think more film directors should do theatre, and I think more film directors should do acting as well, because you learn how to break down the beats, you learn how to really dissect a script and you learn how to give performers direction."  LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T22:50:36.000Z Dr Juber Hafiji: dermatologist weighs in on the uptick of under-13s using anti-aging skincare https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-juber-hafiji-dermatologist-weighs-in-on-the-uptick-of-under-13s-using-anti-aging-skincare/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-juber-hafiji-dermatologist-weighs-in-on-the-uptick-of-under-13s-using-anti-aging-skincare/ A chain of well-known Swedish pharmacies made headlines by introducing age restrictions for certain skincare products. Social media has led to an explosion of under-13s using skincare loaded up with ingredients including retinol, AHAs and peptides, and there's concern surrounding the impact on young skin. Dermatologist Dr Juber Hafiji says these products have their benefits, but there's risk of swelling, itching and flare-ups if people use them too early in life. "The products in and of themselves have benefits for the skin in terms of anti-aging, so reducing fine lines, pigmentation, improving skin texture and the quality of the skin- but it's all in the timing." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T22:08:48.000Z Sophie Trigger: ZB senior political reporter ahead of Chris Hipkins' State of the Nation speech https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/sophie-trigger-zb-senior-political-reporter-ahead-of-chris-hipkins-state-of-the-nation-speech/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/sophie-trigger-zb-senior-political-reporter-ahead-of-chris-hipkins-state-of-the-nation-speech/ A chance to hit the refresh button, and lay down Labour's values now in Opposition. Party Leader Chris Hipkins is giving his verdict on the State of the Nation this afternoon. Senior Political Reporter Sophie Trigger says it's Hipkins' first major speech as Opposition leader, and it's an opportunity for a reset five months on from election defeat. She says he's speaking to party faithful in South Auckland, considered traditional Labour heartland- and he's expected to draw on party values of old, and outline what Labour stands for in 2024. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T21:47:52.000Z Jo Robertson: Make Sense co-founder on Spark becoming New Zealand's first internet provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jo-robertson-make-sense-co-founder-on-spark-becoming-new-zealands-first-internet-provider-to-join-the-internet-watch-foundation/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jo-robertson-make-sense-co-founder-on-spark-becoming-new-zealands-first-internet-provider-to-join-the-internet-watch-foundation/ Telecommunications giant and internet service provider Spark is set to introduce more firewalls, filters, barriers and protections to protect Kiwi users. From April, Spark will be the first New Zealand-based provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in order to reduce exposure to malware, scams and sexual abuse material. Make Sense co-founder Jo Robertson says Spark will go from blocking a few hundred URLs to blocking at least 6,000 objectionable links per day.  "What they're doing is- they're essentially removing so much more child sexual abuse material from their platform than other internet providers." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T21:40:17.000Z Russell Myers: Daily Mirror royal editor and Pod Save the King host on Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/russell-myers-daily-mirror-royal-editor-and-pod-save-the-king-host-on-kate-middletons-cancer-diagnosis/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/russell-myers-daily-mirror-royal-editor-and-pod-save-the-king-host-on-kate-middletons-cancer-diagnosis/ It's been 24 hours since the Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis was revealed to the world via social media. Kate Middleton announced yesterday she's receiving preventative chemotherapy, following weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts. Daily Mirror royal editor and Pod Save the King host Russell Myers says Kate's 'emotional' and 'personal' statement has generated sympathy from all over the world. "Regardless of your opinion of the royal family- we've been poring over the intrigue, the scandal, the in-fighting of them over recent years. But as people in the palace have said to me very recently, they're humans too." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-23T21:26:10.000Z Joan's Picks: The Hunter and The Long and Winding Road https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-hunter-and-the-long-and-winding-road/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-hunter-and-the-long-and-winding-road/ The Hunter by Tana French. Sequel to her earlier book, The Searcher though can easily be read on its own. Cal is a retired Chicago detective who’s moved to a small Irish village looking for a quiet life. He befriends Trey, a young girl who’s long lost Dad suddenly turns up with a get rich scheme for the locals which he desperately needs them to fall for. He reckons though without his daughter who has ideas of her own and some big motives for revenge which she is meticulously planning. This is a very fine novel from a writer at the top of her game. The Long and Winding Road by Lesley Pearse, She’s known for her novels – she’s written more than 30 – all of which have strong female lead characters who have challenges to be overcome and she’s beloved by millions of readers. This new one though is nonfiction – it’s her memoir, and reading it it’s very easy to see where she gets both her ideas and her empathy from. She’s really lived a life – spent time in an orphanage as a child before going to live with her father and stepmother; scrounged for survival doing a number of dead end jobs; gave up a child at the age of nineteen; was at the heart of the swinging 60’s in London and eventually published her first book at the age of 48. Anyone who loves her novels will also love this – it reads just like they do. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-17T00:19:18.000Z Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer with her highlights and recommendations for Perth https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-highlights-and-recommendations-for-perth/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-with-her-highlights-and-recommendations-for-perth/ Travel expert and BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton has been seeing the sights across the ditch in Perth. Megan's been taking in the sights of the city and touring the Swan River- as well as checking out the coffee and indigenous food available. Read more about Megan's recommendations for visiting Perth here. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-17T00:16:41.000Z The Sunday Panel: What happens next for the Green Party? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-happens-next-for-the-green-party/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-happens-next-for-the-green-party/ This week on the Sunday Panel, political commentator and Director at Capital, Ben Thomas, and TV producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Where can the Green Party go from here? They've had a bad year so far, between a change in leadership, Golriz's arrest and Darleen Tama's alleged role in an exploitation scandal. Does the party need a reset? How damaging could this all be?   More rumours swirling around Kate Middleton's absence- is the public owed an explanation? Will Kate's disappearance be that damaging? Is the public and media reaction over the top? LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-17T00:09:29.000Z Erin O'Hara: Naturopath and wellness expert examines why New Zealand seems to get fatter every year https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-examines-why-new-zealand-seems-to-get-fatter-every-year/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-examines-why-new-zealand-seems-to-get-fatter-every-year/ New data has confirmed New Zealand is getting fatter every year, with obesity stats reaching new heights. Excess weight is problematic for numerous health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and chronic disease- which impacts our taxpayer-funded health system, Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara says the rise in sedentary jobs and the cheaper cost of process food has driven these stats up- and education is key to reducing weight woes. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T23:53:33.000Z Mike Van de Elzen: Potatoes with wilted greens and anchovy cream https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-potatoes-with-wilted-greens-and-anchovy-cream/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-potatoes-with-wilted-greens-and-anchovy-cream/ Potatoes with wilted greens and anchovy cream: Cook time: 20 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: 6 1 kg little farm potatoes, washed 10 cloves garlic 300 ml milk 6 anchovy fillets 2 tsp Dijion mustard 2 tbsp cider vinegar 150 ml olive oil 200 gm winter greens like kale, swiss chard, spinach and wild rocket 2 tbsp sunflower oil Salt Place the potatoes into a pot and cover well with cold water, season with salt and bring to the boil, turn down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are just undercooked. Approx 12-15 minutes. Turn the water off and allow the potatoes to sit in the water for 5 minutes before draining. For the dressing, place the milk into a small pot along with the garlic and anchovy fillets. Bring to a simmer and cook until the garlic is soft (around 10 minutes) turn off and pour mix into a blender and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Add in the dijion mustard and cider vinegar. Carefully turn the blender on and blitz, slowly add in the oil and check the seasoning. To serve, heat a cast iron pan until hot. Place the winter greens into the pan along with a tbsp of water and a pinch of salt. Sauté quickly until the leaves just start to wilt. Mix through the potatoes and drizzle over the dressing. LISTEN ABOVE   2024-03-16T23:45:53.000Z Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist explains the health benefits of menopause https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-the-health-benefits-of-menopause/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-the-health-benefits-of-menopause/ For most women, menopause is a natural phase of life and part of biological ageing. While the symptoms that go with it may be challenging, this week new science research finds that the benefits of menopause probably outweigh the hot flashes and weight gain. To find out more about menopause, researchers looked at five whale species that go through menopause and compared them to 27 related species to see if they could find any insights, and their findings were published this week in the journal Nature. Menopause is rare in the animal world, and only a handful of mammals experience it, including humans, one population of chimpanzee and some whales. It’s much more typical for female animals to stay fertile and keep producing eggs up until the end of their life – helping to increase the chance that their genes will be passed down to the next generation. The scientist looked at whales that go through menopause including killer whales (Orcas), false killer whales, beluga whales, short-finned pilot whales and narwhals and found that when compared to related species like dolphins and sperm whales, the menopausal female whales lived for 40 years beyond their predicted lifespan. The researchers noted that menopause occurred in social species and found that non-fertile grandmother whales took part in babysitting calves and shared food with their grandbaby whales. The grandmother whales also led their pods on long journeys to find food if it was scarce. It seems that rather than compete with their daughters for the same resources by being pregnant at the same time, menopausal whales increase their ability to pass down more of their genes by supporting their daughters to bring up their genetic grandbaby whales. In exchange for this grandmother help, the older female is able to enjoy her postmenopausal time by living for an extra 40 years. While this study was on whales – not humans, the social dynamics and projected lifetimes are very similar. For example, female killer whales (like humans) can breed until their 40’s but can live until their 90’s! These numbers aren’t far off what a human female goes through which could lead to a conclusion that while menopause symptoms are tough – they might be buying you an extra 40 years of life. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T23:41:04.000Z Dr Bex Bell: author and expert unpacks imposter syndrome in new book Inner Critic to Inner Coach https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-bex-bell-author-and-expert-unpacks-imposter-syndrome-in-new-book-inner-critic-to-inner-coach/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-bex-bell-author-and-expert-unpacks-imposter-syndrome-in-new-book-inner-critic-to-inner-coach/ Research shows an estimated 70 percent of people will experience impostor syndrome at least once in their lives. It's been revealed that several big names have been impacted by this condition- including Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and our own former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Author and expert Dr Bex Bell unpacks the nature of imposter syndrome in her new book Inner Critic to Inner Coach. "It really struck me how prevalent the imposter syndrome is in students in an academic setting- and I knew from my own lived experience how much it sort of hammered me while I was at university as well."  LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T23:29:22.000Z Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on Lee Tamahori's new film- The Convert https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-lee-tamahoris-new-film-the-convert/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-lee-tamahoris-new-film-the-convert/ The award-winning director behind Once Were Warriors, Along Came a Spider and the James Bond vehicle Die Another Day has returned to his Kiwi roots in his newest film.  After wowing audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, The Convert gives viewers a look into a long-running blood feud between Māori tribes in the 1830's. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says many familiar local Kiwi faces can be found starring in this film. LISTEN ABOVE   2024-03-16T23:09:50.000Z Adam Pearse: NZ Herald political reporter on Green MP Darleen Tana being accused of migrant exploitation https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/adam-pearse-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-green-mp-darleen-tana-being-accused-of-migrant-exploitation/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/adam-pearse-nz-herald-political-reporter-on-green-mp-darleen-tana-being-accused-of-migrant-exploitation/ More bad press for the Greens, as one MP has been caught at the centre of an exploitation scandal. Green MP Darleen Tana ha been stood down after allegations of migrant exploitation at E Cycles NZ, a business owned by her husband. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says the party's co-leaders, Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick, will want to want to make sure things are more settled among the Party going forward. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T22:54:42.000Z Anton Ashcroft: DivergenThinking co-founder on helping educators understand neurodiversity https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/anton-ashcroft-divergenthinking-co-founder-on-helping-educators-understand-neurodiversity/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/anton-ashcroft-divergenthinking-co-founder-on-helping-educators-understand-neurodiversity/ A registered psychologist believes more action needs to be taken to help neurodiverse learners in the classroom. Next Monday marks the second-annual Neurodiversity Celebration Week- and this year, the focus is on training teachers to educate neurodiverse students. DivergenThinking co-founder and psychologist Anton Ashcroft says he's seen the fallout from an education system that fails to support neurodiverse tamariki.  "I think the challenge is- that when you've got a huge number of diverse children in your classroom, responding as just one teacher to those individual needs is really quite a challenge." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T22:34:29.000Z Abraham Verghese: Author and academic ahead of the 2024 Auckland Writer's Festival https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/abraham-verghese-author-and-academic-ahead-of-the-2024-auckland-writers-festival/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/abraham-verghese-author-and-academic-ahead-of-the-2024-auckland-writers-festival/ Abraham Verghese is a renowned infectious disease doctor, a professor and vice chair at Stanford University and a recipient of America’s National Humanities Medal.  He's also made headway as a best-selling author, having written Cutting for Stone, The Tennis Partner and The Covenant of Water- all smash hits in the literary world. He's been confirmed as one of the big names set to appear at the 2024 Auckland Writer's Festival, and he's 'excited' to join this line-up of writers. "I've never been, I've never been to that side of the world before, that's particularly exciting for me."  LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T22:11:20.000Z Gemma Rasmussen: Consumer NZ Head of Advocacy and Research on the company's mission to tackle 'greenwashing' https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/gemma-rasmussen-consumer-nz-head-of-advocacy-and-research-on-the-companys-mission-to-tackle-greenwashing/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/gemma-rasmussen-consumer-nz-head-of-advocacy-and-research-on-the-companys-mission-to-tackle-greenwashing/ A call to action from Consumer NZ to help get on top of false environmentally-friendly claims on our products. It says issues of 'greenwashing' are rising, and it needs the public's help to send in examples to determine the full scope of the problem. Almost half of Kiwis find it difficult to decipher whether a product's green claims are true. Consumer NZ's Head of Advocacy and Research, Gemma Rasmussen, says it's easy for products to enter the market without any checks run on sustainability claims. "It takes our investigative team hours to look at a product, go to the website, talk to the manufacturers and really try to keep up with what is going on- and I think that is part of the problem in New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVE   2024-03-16T21:39:23.000Z Satish Ranchhod: Westpac Senior Economist on the bank confirming 125,000 extra houses will be needed to keep up with migration https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/satish-ranchhod-westpac-senior-economist-on-the-bank-confirming-125-000-extra-houses-will-be-needed-to-keep-up-with-migration/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/satish-ranchhod-westpac-senior-economist-on-the-bank-confirming-125-000-extra-houses-will-be-needed-to-keep-up-with-migration/ Westpac Bank says New Zealand will need to ramp up house-building prowess to keep up with increased migration. The bank estimates 125,000 homes will need to be built within the next 5 years to meet demand amid soaring post-pandemic migration. Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod says even if migration slows down to more average rates, the population is likely to increase by 300,000. "Just thinking about the number of people that's going to be required to be housed- it pushes it up to those really high levels of building over the next few years." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T21:24:10.000Z Francesca Rudkin: Why are we so obsessed with Princess Kate? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-princess-kate/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-princess-kate/ OK. So what am I missing? Why are we so obsessed with Princess Kate? How did we go from some simple facts - abdominal surgery, recovery and back to work after Easter - to conspiracy theories, divorce rumours, a photoshop fail with nefarious undertones. Even the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have got in on the story - by making it about themselves. How has this become such a thing? How has this become a thing at all? If I concentrated, I think I could come up with 100 more important things. Every hour. For at least a week. And before you blame the media; they’re not completely at fault. In this world of data and analytics, if the readers doesn’t click on a story it tends to go away. Clearly this is a story we can’t get enough of. Look I get it. Princess Kate is a publicly funded member of the royal family. She is one of the most recognisable women in the world, a future Queen and mother of an heir to the throne of England. I understand some people feel we have a right to know details about her state of health, but that’s largely because we’re nosey and like a bit of gossip. The norm is, and has always been, to respect the royal family’s privacy when it comes to their health, and I think it’s perfectly reasonable for the Princess to keep sensitive details about her health private. The medical advice was for the Princess to rest for 6 weeks post-surgery and return to work after Easter. So just leave the woman to it. We don’t know what the surgery was, but assuming it was not minor then all the more reason to leave her to recover in peace. The public comparison to the way the King’s cancer diagnosis has been handled is also ridiculous. Of course the reigning King couldn’t just disappear for months without an explanation – imagine the column inches then! But he has hardly been open about his situation. All we know is he is being treated for cancer. We don’t even know what kind of cancer. So why should Princess Kate be required to tell us anything more than it was abdominal surgery? Why can’t we show her the same sympathy and courtesy being shown the King. As for the photoshop debacle. Good god. Someone thought it would be nice if Kate posted a pic to say Happy Mother’s Day, and they made a hash at it. Yeah sure, Kensington Palace should have done a better job – they are slicker than this, but people have photoshop fails and bad days at the office all the time. Doesn’t make me trust the royals any less. Quite the opposite, it reminds us what we see on social is often manipulated – for better for worse. Maybe I’m naïve and the scandal of the century is being covered up. But even if it was – would it impact any of our daily lives? Nah. So can we please drop this crazy health hunt and leave the woman in peace. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-16T21:03:37.000Z Joan's picks: The Warm Hands of Ghosts and Beyond Hope https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-warm-hands-of-ghosts-and-beyond-hope/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-warm-hands-of-ghosts-and-beyond-hope/ The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Set during WW1, Laura Iven is a nurse who returns from the battleground to her native Halifax, where her parents are suddenly killed by the massive explosion resulting from the collision of two ships in the harbour, one of which was carrying munitions for the war. This real event had an extraordinary and terrible impact on the town. When she receives word that her brother and only surviving family member, has been killed in the trenches, something doesn’t add up and she heads back to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving she hears whispers about ghosts moving amongst the living, and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives the soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie, her brother – but if so, where is he?   Beyond Hope by Bariz Shah. Memoir of an Afghani man who came to New Zealand as a child refugee, grew up struggling with a sense of not belonging and ended up with the wrong crowd and a stint in Auckland prison. Once he’d served his sentence he did an engineering degree and turned his life around, becoming a pillar of the Christchurch Muslim community and receiving a Civic Award from the City Council there after the 2019 attacks. This is a story of redemption – of finding belonging, a sense of home, and a real life purpose.  LISTEN ABOVE     2024-03-09T23:57:49.000Z Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on Air New Zealand urging travellers to follow carry-on luggage rules https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-on-air-new-zealand-urging-travellers-to-follow-carry-on-luggage-rules/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlargecom-writer-on-air-new-zealand-urging-travellers-to-follow-carry-on-luggage-rules/ Air New Zealand is cracking down on travellers who abuse the limits for carry-on luggage. The airline has noticed people are trying to get around the 7 kilogram, 118 centimetre rule- and are requiring rulebreakers to check bigger bags in. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton says she's noticed people carrying medium-sized bags that appear to violate the limits. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:54:21.000Z The Sunday Panel: What will Chlöe Swarbrick bring to the Green Party? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-will-chloe-swarbrick-bring-to-the-green-party/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-what-will-chloe-swarbrick-bring-to-the-green-party/ This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast day host Lorna Riley and Damien Venuto from One Plus One Communications joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has been confirmed as the new co-leader of the Green Party, replacing James Shaw. What will she bring to the role? How will she transform the Greens? More media industry losses- TVNZ has announced they plan to cut 68 jobs one week on from Newshub's closure. What does this mean for the state of the media industry? LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:43:28.000Z Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on controlling and reducing food cravings https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-controlling-and-reducing-food-cravings/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-controlling-and-reducing-food-cravings/ Everyone struggles with craving sweet, salty and crunchy snacks- how can we fight these urges? Wellness expert Erin O'Hara says it's important to pay attention to these cravings, as they might signal essential nutrients are missing from your diet. She explains how to counteract the urge to consume sugary and salty snacks here. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:28:12.000Z Mike Van de Elzen: Smokey marinated eggplant https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-smokey-marinated-eggplant/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-smokey-marinated-eggplant/ Smokey marinated eggplant: Cook time: 20 minutes Prep time: 20 minutes Serves: 4-6 2 eggplants, sliced lengthways into 1cm thick slices 1 cup oregano leaves 2 cups coriander leaves 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 3 cloves garlic, peeled juice of one lemon flaky smoked salt 1 fresh chilli de-seeded 3 tbsp olive oil Brushed the sliced eggplant with a little bit of oil before grilling over a hot BBQ or Engel fire until well coloured and tender. Place the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth. Spoon the marinade over the top of the eggplant and mix through until all the eggplant are covered. Set aside and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes before serving. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:19:35.000Z Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist explains why Labradors are more likely to be fat https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-why-labradors-are-more-likely-to-be-fat/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-explains-why-labradors-are-more-likely-to-be-fat/ Is your dog fat? If it’s a Labrador, then science now provides an excuse.All dog owners know the challenge of resisting your pet's big, sad eyes as they beg for one more treat, but there is one dog breed that pushes its owners by begging more than others according to new research published this week in the journal Cell Metabolism. That dog breed is the Labrador Retriever, which was found in the study to be more likely to engage in behaviour that related to getting extra food - including begging. The scientists genetically tested 33 Labradors, of which 18 were fit and healthy, and 15 were obese. They found that the obese dogs were more likely to be carrying a variation in the gene called POMC. The variation in this gene turned off hunger cues in the dog meaning the dogs were much more food motivated and more likely to overeat. They then expanded the genetic study to include 700 more Labradors and found that the gene variation was in 23 percent or 1 in 4 of the Labs. All of the dogs that had the gene variant were also obese- and according to their owners, renowned for scavenging food and begging. To see if it was just Labradors, the researchers then studied 38 other dog breeds. They found this gene variation occurred in only one other breed - flat-coated retrievers, which are related to Labradors. The conclusion of the study was - if you own a lab and it constantly pesters you for extra treats - you as the human owner are going to need more will power to deny them if your dog is going to remain fit and healthy. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:15:27.000Z Liam Dann: NZ Herald business editor at large on his new business industry guide BBQ Economics https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-on-his-new-business-industry-guide-bbq-economics/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-on-his-new-business-industry-guide-bbq-economics/ Veteran business journalist Liam Dann aims to educate readers about business, money and the economy in his new guide- 'BBQ Economics'. The book is designed to answer challenging financial questions in a familiar, entertaining and Kiwi-specific way. Liam Dann says he's noticed business news felt 'sectioned-off' with all the jargon and language- and he hopes to break down the barriers. "The debate around interest rates and inflation- people are very engaged and sometimes there are barriers around the language, and I hope that I'm helping to translate some of that stuff for people." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T23:04:00.000Z Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor ahead of the 2024 Oscars ceremony https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-the-2024-oscars-ceremony/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-ahead-of-the-2024-oscars-ceremony/ Grab some popcorn, because it's almost time for the 2024 Oscars. Hollywood's biggest night will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on Monday (NZT) and will see some of the biggest films of last year — including Oppenheimer, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, and of course Barbie — all go head-to-head. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall shares his predictions and picks ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T22:47:29.000Z Robin Campbell: UB40 founding member on the band's 45-year anniversary https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/robin-campbell-ub40-founding-member-on-the-bands-45-year-anniversary/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/robin-campbell-ub40-founding-member-on-the-bands-45-year-anniversary/ Reggae band UB40 have released their first single in over three years to celebrate their upcoming anniversary. The band has a new album, UB45, out this April to commemorate 45 years of music- featuring new songs and re-records of fan favourites. Following the release of the single 'Gimme Some Kinda Sign' founding member Robin Campbell says celebrating decades of music is 'surreal'. "We took it very seriously, we intended for it to have some kind of longevity. I think we thought 10 years would be a good innings, but to get to 45 and still be doing something that we dreamt of doing and something that we loved doing- it's all a bit surreal." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T22:06:49.000Z Claudine Crabtree: NZ School Library Association president on the shortage of libraries in schools https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claudine-crabtree-nz-school-library-association-president-on-the-shortage-of-libraries-in-schools/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/claudine-crabtree-nz-school-library-association-president-on-the-shortage-of-libraries-in-schools/ The School Library Association warns that a 'critical' educational resource is gradually fading away. New data estimates two thirds of schools don't have working libraries. Of around 2500 schools, there are only 56 full-time librarians, and 873 part-time. Association president Claudine Crabtree says libraries are crucial, as they encourage children to value reading. "Reading for pleasure has been shown to be the single biggest indicator of a child's future success- more than their family circumstances, their parent's education background and their income." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T21:46:13.000Z Dr Chris Jackson: professor and cancer specialist on the Government's cancer health target https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-chris-jackson-professor-and-cancer-specialist-on-the-governments-cancer-health-target/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-chris-jackson-professor-and-cancer-specialist-on-the-governments-cancer-health-target/ The Government's new cancer health target is being described as easy to measure- but unlikely to make a difference. The target aims for 90 percent of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat. Cancer specialist Professor Chris Jackson says it's a bit like saying all bus trips will take 10 minutes, without counting the time spent at the bus stop. He says the Government could have opted for different targets, such as the cure rate, or the time from diagnosis to treatment. "So rather than from decision to treat, put the time from actually getting a diagnosis, because that takes into account more of those scans and diagnostic pathway stuff." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T21:26:17.000Z Jason Walls: ZB political editor ahead of the Green Party confirming James Shaw's replacement https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jason-walls-zb-political-editor-ahead-of-the-green-party-confirming-james-shaws-replacement/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jason-walls-zb-political-editor-ahead-of-the-green-party-confirming-james-shaws-replacement/ James Shaw's replacement as co-leader of the Green Party will be named this morning. Shaw announced his resignation in January after nearly nine years at the helm - but will stay an MP to support one last piece of environmental legislation. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says it will almost certainly be Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick. He says her only challenger was activist Alex Foulkes, but he is outside Parliament. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T21:11:05.000Z Francesca Rudkin: Hopefully this is a wake-up call for media https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-hopefully-this-is-a-wake-up-call-for-media/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-hopefully-this-is-a-wake-up-call-for-media/ The upheaval within the television industry continued this week, with TVNZ announcing cuts to its news and current affairs department on Friday. It’s not just news bulletins proposed to be cut, but also flagship shows such as Sunday and Fair Go. It’s a devastating time for those involved, and another brutal hit to the industry on top of the shock announcement of Newshub’s proposed demise last week. I’ve been involved in the media for 28 years, and for 26 years colleagues with more experience have been telling me the industry would soon be unrecognisable. Admittedly, a lot has changed in those 28 years, especially in television. There have been too many restructures, strategy shifts and changes to programming priorities to list; but amazingly the demise of traditional free-to-air commercial television never quite came the way it had been prophesised. Until now. I’m amazed at both how long it took - it’s hung in well all things considered – and at the industry’s defiance; which is why I’m a bit taken aback that the hit has finally come. But here’s the thing. The challenges facing media, and in particular television, have been known for decades. We have known there aren’t enough advertising dollars to support the number of media outlets. We have known that in the digital era, eyeballs are moving to smaller screens. We have known that digital simply can’t be monetised like TV. We have known it’s all changed. I was never in the heart of all the action, but I can remember over a decade ago there were conversations between TV3 and TVNZ about sharing news resources. These conversations didn’t just start a few weeks ago. There were conversations about news bulletins, and how many we needed, there were conversations about to compete against streaming services and the need to offer digital streaming services as quickly as possible. So, has everything moved too slow? Did we hold on to a good thing for too long just because we could and not because we should? It’s been an impossible balancing act, media know they need to be where the audience is growing on digital, they also know that they’ll made less money as their audiences get there. And harder still, the money from television enables the investment in digital services. Restructures are hugely unsentimental beasts driven by the bottom line - they do not reflect the talent, work ethic or personality of those impacted. And it is concerning to see the journalists and shows that both hold our politicians and others to account and which reflect our unique place in the world have been the target of cuts. But any business owner will tell you that if your business is not in a solid position when a recession hits then you’re already on the back foot, making the fight to survive harder. I can only hope, now that the blinkers are off and the brutal state of the media industry has been revealed, that the conversations about the industry’s future leads to action. No more sitting on our hands as advertiser dollars head overseas to Meta, Google and fair payment is made in exchange for content. Let’s speed up collaboration between state owned media – maybe with less consultants this time - and we see a more aggressive transition to being competitive in this new landscape. A strong fourth estate makes for a strong democracy, and a vibrant, cohesive country. It’s worth fighting for. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-09T21:04:10.000Z Joan's picks: The Women and Same as Ever https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-women-and-same-as-ever/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/joans-picks-the-women-and-same-as-ever/ The Women by Kistin Hannah who is well known for terrific historical fiction. The Nightingale is probably her best loved work, but I’m also a huge fan of The Four Winds. This new one is set during the Vietnam War. Frankie McGrath’s family have a proud history of military service, but when she volunteers to go to Vietnam with the Army Nurse Corps they’re appalled. So too are the American public, who on her return ostracise her, many refusing to believe that women served. The naïve young girl who went to war comes back wiser and wearier, needing to remake her life in the shadow of so much chaos and destruction. This is wonderful storytelling set against the landscape of history.  Same as Ever by Morgan Housel. He talks about how when people are planning for the future we tend to fixate on all the things that we don’t yet know about which might happen – the what-ifs. He takes an alternative view and says that a better focus is to identify the things that stay the same and never change, as they’re more likely to enable better forecasting; knowledge of the things that never change is more useful, and more important, than an uncertain prediction of an unknowable future. He makes his point through 24 short and highly entertaining stories where he gives examples to support his premise. He’s the author of another book, The Psychology of Money. His premise there is that doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know; it’s about how you behave.  LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-03T00:07:53.000Z Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge writer's recommendations for people going to Paris for the Olympics https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writers-recommendations-for-people-going-to-paris-for-the-olympics/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/megan-singleton-bloggeratlarge-writers-recommendations-for-people-going-to-paris-for-the-olympics/ Crowds of tourists are expected to head to Paris in the coming months, ahead of the 2024 Olympics. When fans aren't sitting in the stands watching athletes represent their countries, there's plenty for out-of-towners to do and see in the city. BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton recommends the Montmartre neighbourhood, the Catacombs and the various walking tours based off the Da Vinci Code or Emily In Paris- once you're done with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Read more about Megan's favourite things to experience in Paris here. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-03T00:05:00.000Z The Sunday Panel: Does Luxon's promise of austerity ring hollow? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-does-luxons-promise-of-austerity-ring-hollow/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/the-sunday-panel-does-luxons-promise-of-austerity-ring-hollow/ This week on the Sunday Panel, podcaster Brodie Kane and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week- and more! Prime Minister Chris Luxon has pulled a rapid U-turn on his claiming of an accommodation allowance after taking $52,000 to live in his mortgage-free Wellington apartment. Is this a good look for a Prime Minister who promised financial austerity? The Government's first 100 days are almost up- how much have they accomplished? Are we feeling better or worse about the direction of the country?  Voice messages/notes- do we love them? Do we hate them? LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-02T23:54:22.000Z Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on gut microbiomes and mental health https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-gut-microbiomes-and-mental-health/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/erin-ohara-naturopath-and-wellness-expert-on-gut-microbiomes-and-mental-health/ In recent years, science has been examining the relationship between gut microbiomes and the resulting effect on mental health. New research has revealed the gut microbiome has a critical role in mood disorders, as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate are impacted by gut health. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara offers tips and tricks for keeping both in perfect shape. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-02T23:40:33.000Z Mike Van de Elzen: Smoked fish and kumara top pie https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-smoked-fish-and-kumara-top-pie/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-smoked-fish-and-kumara-top-pie/ Smoked fish and kumara top pie  Cook time: 12 minutes  Prep time: 15 minutes  Serves: 6  1kg smoked fish, broken roughly  2 large kumara, peeled and diced  1 onion, peeled and diced  1 tbsp curry powder  4 eggs, boiled till hard, peeled and chopped  3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed  1 onion, peeled and diced  3 tbsp butter  3 tbsp flour  1 cup grated tasty cheese  300ml veggie stock  Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees  Place the diced kumara into a pot of cold water with a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Cook until tender and drain. Once it has cooled slightly smash with a fork or potato masher.  Heat a pan over a medium heat and saute the garlic and onion in the butter, then whisk in the flour and curry powder to make a roux (like a paste). Make sure it is nice and smooth, then whisk in the stock and continue to whisk until it becomes thick.  Once the sauce has thickened, then add your roughly broke flakes of fish and combine well with a spatula and check for seasoning. Place into a 20cm x 30cm roasting tray and cover with the smashed kumara and top with the grated tasty cheese. Bake for 30 mins on 180 degrees. LISTEN ABOVE  2024-03-02T23:30:35.000Z Dr Michelle Dickinson: Nanotechnologist reveals why humans don't have tails https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-humans-dont-have-tails/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-reveals-why-humans-dont-have-tails/ Why don't we have tails? This was the question asked by geneticist Bo Xia as he recovered from a tailbone injury. Around 25 million years ago, apes (and therefore humas) diverged from monkeys and in the process they lost their tails. Tails play a crucial role in the animal kingdom helping creatures to communicate, balance, send signals, regulate body temperature and defend themselves. This makes humans and apes unique among mammals, and our tail loss is thought to be the evolutionary change that led to our transition to walking on two legs. This week scientists have finally figured out how this happened and published their results in the journal Nature. The researchers looked at the genomes of six species of apes and 15 species of monkeys that had tails to see what the differences were between the groups. They found a significant gene mutation in a gene called TBX in both humans and apes. To see if this gene was related to tails, they used CRISPR to create that same gene mutation in mice embryos. All of the mice went on to be born with either shorter tails or totally without tails, proving to the scientists that this gene mutation millions of years ago was the cause of our tail-free state. The study highlighted the significant impact that even minor changes in our DNA can have. In addition to being tail-less, the scientists found that the mice with altered genes also experienced a higher rate of birth defects related to the closing of the neural tube, which forms the spinal cord and brain. This suggests that while losing our tails may have provided some benefits when it came to moving- it may have also increased the risk of specific health issues in humans that involve the neural tube like spinal bifida. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-02T23:25:14.000Z Cohen Holloway and Chelsie Preston-Crayford: Kiwi actors ahead of the release of Dark City: The Cleaner https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/cohen-holloway-and-chelsie-preston-crayford-kiwi-actors-ahead-of-the-release-of-dark-city-the-cleaner/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/cohen-holloway-and-chelsie-preston-crayford-kiwi-actors-ahead-of-the-release-of-dark-city-the-cleaner/ A new crime drama brings horror, intrigue and secrets to New Zealand’s garden city. Based on the bestselling novel by Kiwi crime author Paul Cleave, Dark City: The Cleaner depicts a darker version of Christchurch plagued by serial killers.  Stars Cohen Holloway and Chelsie Preston-Crayford say it's a unique experience to depict serial killers that have more depth than most. "You always have to find what you like about the character, you go through a process of finding out who they are- you go through that process with the script, you go through that process with the director." Dark City: The Cleaner debuts on SoHo, Neon and Sky Go on Monday, March 4th. LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-02T23:16:49.000Z Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on the release of Dune: Part 2 https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-release-of-dune-part-2/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/steve-newall-flicksconz-editor-on-the-release-of-dune-part-2/ Several years after 2021's Dune, the long-awaited sequel has finally arrived in theatres. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård all return to reprise their roles, alongside newcomers Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, and Austin Butler. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall says viewers will get to properly experience the film as a cinematic event this time, after the original was impacted by Covid-19. LISTEN ABOVE   2024-03-02T22:55:55.000Z Jude Walter: BrainFit coach warns people to prioritise brain health this Brain Awareness month https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jude-walter-brainfit-coach-warns-people-to-prioritise-brain-health-this-brain-awareness-month/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/jude-walter-brainfit-coach-warns-people-to-prioritise-brain-health-this-brain-awareness-month/ Experts are calling on people to look after their memory and overall health this Brain Awareness month. Research shows the brain can grow and change - and deteriorate - over the years, so strengthening your mind is essential to stopping health conditions later on in life. BrainFit coach Jude Walter says the brain needs a variety of challenges to stay in shape. "Our brain is not a muscle, but it behaves very much like any muscle in our body. If I was to go to the gym and lift weights only with my left bicep, I'd have a beautiful rippling muscle on one side and nothing on the other." LISTEN ABOVE 2024-03-02T22:24:42.000Z Dylan Firth: Brewers Association NZ executive director on nationwide beer consumption going down https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dylan-firth-brewers-association-nz-executive-director-on-nationwide-beer-consumption-going-down/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dylan-firth-brewers-association-nz-executive-director-on-nationwide-beer-consumption-going-down/ The demand for beer nationwide has dropped significantly, according to new figures. Stats NZ data shows consumption has dropped by 4 percent, the largest drop in 15 years. Brewers Association NZ executive director Dylan Firth says smaller breweries have taken a significant hit as consumers look to curb their spending. "With interest rates being very high and consumers looking to curb their spending, I think a lot of those smaller businesses have been struggling a bit."  LISTEN ABOVE   2024-03-02T22:05:01.000Z