Mike Seawright founded the international humanitarian organisation ReliefAid whose work also continues in Gaza, Syria, and Afghanistan. He joins Jim. 

Ralph McTell joins Jim to talk about his six-decade-long career including his knack for songwriting, life on the road, and rubbing shoulders with Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone and Tom Waits. 

Dr. Amanda Kvalsvig received her first cochlear implant in Christchurch. She joins us for a very special edition of "What I'm Listening To". 

Dr Alycia Fong Yang joins Jim to explain why we should be hitting the dancefloor over the gym.

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master.

In a recent article for The Times, science editor Tom Whipple pondered what he'd spend his money on if he became infinitely wealthy. He joins Jim. 

Government 'resets' immigration and welfare; another way to make Google and Facebook to pay for journalism; media milk Kiwi Swifties' stadium FOMO.

This week's Calling Home guest is Frank Cawkwell who has swapped the Far North town of Maungaturoto for the tropical Caribbean.

Dr Jack Watling looks back at two years of brutal warfare and considers what any future opportunities for peace might look like.

 Award-winning science writer David Robson joins Jim to discuss the latest research into the "perfect face".

Goodnature co-founder and ethical pest control expert Craig Bond joins us on the show to share his top tips for keeping your home - or supermarket! - rat free.

Dr Nick Fuller from the University of Sydney joins Jim to discuss weight loss trends. 

Auckland's transport turmoil reports lack full facts; publishers pitch to Parliament to make Google and Facebook pay for their news.

Lucy Corry joins us to discuss Salamagundi - a type of "composed salad" which can include vegetables, meat, seafood, eggs, fruits and pickles. 

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master.   

California-based Barbara Rae-Vener is a pioneer in the field of genetic genealogy and her work played a crucial role in identifying Joseph James DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer.

For over thirty years Rangahau Aotearoa Research New Zealand has helped dozens of government and not-for-profit organisations understand what Aotearoans are thinking across a range of social issues. In the lead up to Waitangi Day they conducted a nationally representative survey to uncover people's key issues of concern. Research NZ managing partner Emanuel Kalafatelis joins Jim to discuss the surprising results.

An estimated 30-40% of the global population suffer from allergies, be they hay, peanut, lactose or something less common. That's billions of people, and the number just keeps rising. According to Medical anthropologist and Associate Professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology Theresa MacPhail " Our very old immune systems can't keep up with modern lifestyles and diets. In her book Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World Theresa examines the mostly unwanted phenomenon that has us sneezing, coughing, and carrying around epi-pens. She joins Jim Mora to discuss: What are allergies? Why do we have them? And is there anything we can do about it?

Lorena Fernández de la Cruz is a Senior Researcher and Docent Professor at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, where she leads the Health Consequences and Lifestyle Modification group. Her recent study into OCD revealed that people with the condition are 82% more likely to die earlier than the general population. The study, which looked at 60,000 Swedish people with OCD, comparing them to the non-OCD general population found that for those with OCD the mean age of death is 69 years, whilst the non-OCD population lived to a mean age of 78. Lorena joins Jim to explain the results of the study.

In 2010 Chris Bruerton left a teaching job he loved at Burnside High School in Christchurch, to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer in the UK.

Force Of Nature: The Dry 2 is in cinemas now. The follow up to the hugely successful The Dry sees five women taking part in a corporate hiking retreat with only four coming out the other side. Australian actor Eric Bana stars as detective Aaron Falk who heads off into the Victorian mountain ranges to get to investigate the disappearance. Filmed on location Eric described filming as "pretty brutal" & "a real physical challenge to cast and crew", but ultimately worthwhile. "We really loved being where we were, once you took the leeches out." He joins Jim Mora to discuss his formidable career, acting techniques and his latest role.

Waitangi tensions test politicians - and the media; Why is Sky screening more top-dollar sport for free?

Dr Zazie Todd, Sunday Morning's go-to expert on both cats and dogs joins us once again with more scientific, pragmatic and joyful ways to lead happy lives with our pets. She's the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She's the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and she's currently putting the finishing touches to a book on fear and anxiety in dogs, due out this year.

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC quiz show Only Connect which is known for being both difficult to crack and totally obvious. It's Sunday morning, so wake up your brain and have a go!

Most of us who took some time off over the holidays will be getting back into the swing of things by now. But why are we feeling so tired? Professor Ian Hickie, Co-Director of Health and Policy at The University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre says that it is not just Kiwis and Australians that are feeling burnt out.

Songstress Ali Harper is currently starring in production The Supper Club at Circa Theatre in Wellington - which is taking audiences back in time to the glitz of the 1920s. The production, directed by Ian Harman and soundtracked by bandleader Tom McLeod, features songs from the glamorous twenties through to the present day The star of the show Ali Harper joins Jim on Sunday Morning to tell us all about the production which runs until 17 February.

Following a huge response to her chat last week, Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition joins us once again to answer your questions on the different cooking oils, their benefits and how to make the most of them.

Will Stone is a health and science reporter at NPR - he joins Jim on Sunday Morning to discuss the keto diet. 

Our U.S. correspondent Karen Kasler has the latest from the ongoing election campaign.

South China Morning Post journalist Lisa Cam joins Jim to discuss some unique Chinese New Year traditions.

Only Connect quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen was such a hit over the summer that we've invited him back as our resident Sunday Morning question master. 

Daniel O'Donnell joins Jim to discuss his first New Zealand tour since 2017. 

The Steiner family call home from Morocco and talk to Jim about their non-stop travels and the people they have met along the way.

This week on Mediawatch, does bad news about the economy trump good news? The end of the line for goneburger? 

Music 101 host Charlotte Ryan spoke to Jim about music journalism's shifting sands.

British stand-up comedian Russell Howard is currently on a nine-date Aotearoa tour and dropped into the RNZ Auckland studio to talk to Jim.

Former RNZ Maori news editor Jamie Tahana joins us with the latest headlines from London.

Technology journalist for the LA Time, Brian Merchant joins us to talk about his book Blood in the Machine and his thinking around how we respond to the current moment of AI job automation.

Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition joins us once again. In her first chat of 2024, Ali looks at different cooking oils, their benefits and how to make the most of them.

Crystal Hefner, widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner opens up about life with the late tycoon in her new memoir, "Only Say Good Things: Surviving 'Playboy' and Finding Myself." The sex, the drugs, the misogyny, Crystal offers a vulnerable and clear-eyed look at her experience with arguably, one of the most influential men of the 20th century.

Calling Home this Sunday is Queenstown native Jaime Kruijer from the Winter sports destination of Revelstoke in British Columbia.

What you missed over summer: harmless sharks, woke worries, sewage smells and water woes flood the holiday news drought; media cop flak for coverage of Golriz Ghahraman's downfall.

For many of us oral health is a matter of shiny teeth and a nice smile, but science journalist, Jasmin Fox-Skelly has been drilling into the topic and it turns out there's vast array of viruses, fungi and bacteria living in our mouths - which, if kept in balance can prevent conditions from Alzheimer's disease to cancer.

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen was such a hit over the summer that we've invited him back as a regular Sunday Morning guest. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's infamous quiz show 'Only Connect', known for being both really hard - and at the same time totally obvious. Wake up your brain and have a go!

New Zealander Dr Andrew Read is the director of its Institutes of Life Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. He works at the forefront of international research on Covid and specialises in the ways infectious diseases work, He joins us to explore the emergence of the JN1 variant, its worrying ability to target lung cells and what this means in a world of semi-immune populations.

Film buff and regular reviewer for RNZ Afternoons, Sam Hollis shares his top pick for festive film viewing.

The Bugman, naturalist, columnist and broadcaster, Ruud Kleinpaste takes a look all the creepie-crawlies lurking in out carpets, pantries and bedrooms.

Tamaki Makaurau-based, husband-wife duo Ra Charmian introduce us to their new single, 'Papatuanuku He Ataahua Koe' - which is a stunning te reo Maori interpretation of 'What a Wonderful World'. Band members, Ra Charmian Toia-Booth (Ngapuhi, Tainui) and Hayden Booth talk to Jim about how, having both lost their dads this year this track has helped them move through their grief.

Award-winning broadcaster, host of the BBC television series Grand Designs, writer, environmentalist, and storyteller, Kevin McCloud is coming to New Zealand in February for a series of special evening talks and discussions. He talks to Jim Mora about housing, his career and why he prefers New Zealand buildings to those in England.

Dr Michelle Wong a cosmetic chemist and science educator with a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and runs the popular Lab Muffin Beauty Science blog. She joined us last week to talk about the science of skincare and so many of you got in touch with questions we've asked her back to answer them.

Covering news all over the country is a struggle for media companies dealing with rising costs and falling income. But some local outlets are surviving - and even thriving. Mediawatch's Hayden Donnel finds out who's doing the business in Horowhenua - and how they're doing it.

Award-winning food writer, author of Homecooked: Seasonal Recipes for Every Day and RNZ's Lifestyle & Entertainment editor, Lucy Corry, the Kitchenmaid has some has some excellent ideas for your festive tables this year including, the best roast potatoes and her very special Chilli Chocolate Pretzel Sandwiches.

Calling Home this morning is Brendon Johnston in the far North of Finland just below the arctic circle in a place called Ranua. Brendon lives with his partner Natalie, their two boys, and a howl of huskies.

Dozens of elite Russians have died in suspicious circumstances over the past few years in what the Sydney Morning Herald has called "a global murder mystery." Waikato University's International Law professor Alexander Gillespie is the author of the multi-volume series The Causes Of War and A History Of The Laws Of War. He speaks to Jim.

Jeffrey Halley is a Kiwi in Jakarta and Singapore who until recently was the senior market analyst for Asia Pacific for the OANDA corporation, with his analysis regularly sought by Bloomberg, the BBC, Reuters, CNBC, MSN, and the New York Times.

US journalist, novelist and playwright George Packer may be best known for his work in the New Yorker and The Atlantic regarding U.S. foreign policy, and for his book The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq. The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, also won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. In his latest book, Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal, George considers diagnoses America's slide into a failed state, and envisions a path toward overcoming injustices, paralyses, and divides.

Last year, billionaire Elon Musk tweeted that population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming. It is a trend occurring in many countries and although fertility remains high in some regions. Today, close to half of the world's population lives in a country where lifetime fertility rates are below replacement levels - with New Zealand's fertility rate declining by about 25% per decade. Musk's view is shared by others who describe themselves as pronatalists, a movement of pro-birth activists. At the centre are Simone and Malcolm Collins. They are co-founders of nonprofit initiative pronatalist.org, podcasters and authors - who say the situation is a "demographic catastrophe." Yet for those whose only cultural reference point for a pronatalist society is 'The Handmaid's Tale' the ideas can seem problematic. Simone and Malcolm Collins join Jim to argue their case.

The international consensus is that one in ten people who get Covid will feel long-lasting effects. That would mean that of the 900 or so cases being reported every day in this resurgence we're experiencing, 100 people will not get over this virus anytime soon. Yale University's Dr Lisa Sanders is working hard to unravel the mysteries of Long Covid.

Parliamentary pomp and ceremony - but no honeymoon; 'From Paper to Platform'- media's online dependence; Todd Niall - local matters really matter

Fewer wrinkles, a fresher complexion and younger skin are sought by many, but what’s behind beauty industry hype?  Dr Michelle Wong is a science communicator who runs the popular Lab Muffin Beauty Science blog where she tests skin products – turning her into a global beauty influencer. Michelle is a cosmetic chemist and science educator with a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry. 

Calling Home this morning is Sarah Davison in Barcelona. People with long memories may remember her as Fiona Dalgleish who once starred in the popular TV show Country GP. Sarah went to Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch, then Canterbury University. At age 23 she set off to live in Europe. She was in London for 18 years, worked as a children's presenter on the BBC, acted, sang, narrated documentaries, and made language learning recordings for Oxford University Press. ah went to Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch, then Canterbury University, and at age 23 she set off to live in Europe. She was in London for 18 years, worked as a children's presenter on the BBC, acted, sang, narrated documentaries and made language learning recordings for Oxford University Press.

Martyn Craddock is the chief executive of United St Saviour's, the charity behind Appleby Blue, a new block of social housing for over-65s in Southwark, South London that's hoping to re-shape how we view housing for older people.

All Blacks Mental Skills Coach Gilbert Enoka, is moving on to on new pastures. 

You'll find planespotters camped out at most airports around the world watching incoming and outgoing aircraft.

Sebastian Faulks, worldwide bestselling author of Birdsong, is back with a new thriller, inspired, he tells us by a tweet from Richard Dawkins. 

Victoria University of Wellington Professor of Psychology, Dr Marc Wilson, joins us once again.

Claims of media 'bribery' derail new government on day one; politics shows off air just as politics hots up; mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports.

After our chat with Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition last week, many of you got in touch with questions. 

If there was life on other planets, what might it look like, and would they even bother coming to Earth? 

'I am Pilgrim' was a worldwide bestseller in 2013 and THE Christmas present of the year. Nine years later Terry Hayes, now 72, is gifting his readers a follow up: 'The Year of the Locust'. He returns to the world of intelligence with another spy novel, but this time with completely new characters. Hayes is a former journalist whose investigative work has led him to knock on the doors of the criminal underworld. His writing was noticed by the Mad Max film director in 1979, which led to a screenwriting career and a momentary, glamorous life in Hollywood. One million words later, Terry speaks to Jim.

Perhaps this year's letter to Santa will reap more benefit than just what's under the tree on Christmas morning. Daniel M. Oppenheimer is a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences. He discusses if the pen is indeed mightier than the laptop.

Anna Ptaszynsk joins Sunday Morning to tackle sport's weirdest rules, its most unlikely heroes, and promises to cover everything from pole-vaulting priests to professional pillow-fighting.

Most of us feel better once we get the blood pumping a bit, but are there exercises that work better for our mental health than others? Catherine de Lange is a science author, specialising in bioscience. She has written the book Brain Power: Everything you need to know for a healthy, happy brain. She digs into the science behind exercise and our mental health.

Parties seal the coalition deal to end long limbo for media; watchdog warns media laws need urgent upgrade; media tuning out of music journalism; Covid response reckons ramp up in inquiry season.

Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition joins us once again. This time she looks at the link between fructose and obesity and also the dangers of fried rice syndrome.

On Saturday, Kim Hill brought the curtain down on a 38-year career at RNZ. After making her name as an unparalleled interviewer, she switched places and let Sunday Morning's Jim Mora ask her questions.

We find out what's in the headphones of New Zealand Golfer, Ben Campbell, after his win at the Hong Kong Open.

Author Phillip Norman has written biographies of many musical greats including Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. His books on the Beatles are considered by some as definitive. After biographies on John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he now tackles "the quiet one", George Harrison.

Once considered a fringe science, circadian rhythms have gone mainstream. Professor Russell Foster is the Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford. His book Life Time: The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health, has been a surprise best seller. Jim Mora finds out why.

Originally from Green Island, Dunedin, Sue McGregor speaks to us from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Sue (or Sister Sue as she's often known) initially thought she'd be there for a year. That was in 2004. She lives in the Presentation Sisters convent and works with people in the city affected by substance misuse.

If you want to make your life feel more meaningful, try seeing it as a hero's journey. Researchers have found that the hero's journey is not just for legends and superheroes, but that individuals can achieve greater well-being and resilience by 'restorying' their lives. Lead researcher Benjamin Rogers is an assistant professor in the Management and Organization department at Boston College's Carroll School of Management.

Media campaign of the century; producers push for tax on streamers; the legacy of a 'true newspaperman'.

Is life worth living after 90? Ask the experts! Writer Rachel McAlpine was shocked to the core when her GP predicted she would live to 99. Like most people, she had opinions about very old age but no experience. She asked local people in their 90s about their lives and found their revelations broke all the stereotypes. She also walked the footpaths of Wellington asking people how they see their life unfolding at 90. Her new play The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People erupted from those conversations.

As conflicts erupt around the world, the technology of war and warfare is evolving. Dr. Jack Watling is no stranger to Sunday Morning on RNZ. Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, he has regularly provided his expert analysis on the war in Ukraine both from an academic perspective and as someone who has also served on the frontline. In his new book, The Arms of the Future, he examines the ways modern technology is reshaping the weapons of warfare.

High blood pressure has become a focus of attention in many quarters. The condition affects one-third of adult New Zealanders and disproportionately more Maori and Pacific people. It's the biggest risk factor for cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death here and globally - and researchers are now studying its links to dementia in later life. Professor Julian Paton from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences says it's clear we don't yet know everything about controlling high blood pressure, but his research aims to urgently find a new way.

With Armistice Day being marked across Europe and the World, we head to Christchurch where the period before, during and after New Zealand's involvement in World War I the city became a flashpoint for pro- and anti-war sentiment. In her book 'I Don't Believe in Murder': Standing up for peace in World War I Canterbury, local writer and historian Margaret Lovell-Smith tells the stories of the people who made Christchurch the leading city in the peace movement, and of the men who refused to fight, enduring imprisonment, hardships and loss of civil rights.

Mike Seawright is the Aucklander who was once an investment banker with a yacht. Then Mike discovered a new purpose in life - he founded the NZ charity ReliefAid, run by hard working volunteers on the ground here, and ReliefAid has also been on the ground in most of the major conflict and natural disaster situations we can think of over the past few years. Now Mike's team are on the ground in Gaza.

London based New Zealander Robinson introduces us to her sparkling new EP Chasing Nirvana. She chats to Jim about her songwriting, the approaching London winter, and finding her creative groove. She shares her newest. prettiest song yet with Sunday Morning, 'It's All Over You'.

Ex-Rangitoto College student Liam McEwan is calling home from Los Angeles, California. After humble beginnings at Flea FM in Devonport, he's now made a name for himself interviewing the stars. Elton, Ringo, Miley, and Ariana are among the A-Listers he's interviewed and is working on getting on a first name basis with. He shares his journey to the red carpet, his most memorable celebrity smiles and snubs, and the stars he'd most like to interview.

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the most polarising motorbike in the world and also the most legendary, made so by movies like Easy Rider in 1969. One of our most peripatetic writers has just put out a book about them. George Lockyer has already penned Long and Winding Aotearoa, Kiwi Garages, Tales and Trails Down Under and Living The Dream. Now comes Kiwis on Harleys, with stories of 27 New Zealanders who own, collect and sometimes race these noisy, misfiring but mighty machines

This week Mediawatch looks at how the media have followed the formation of the next government going on behind closed doors.   Also: a push to persuade policymakers to emulate Ireland’s economy - and local media people lamenting the decline of what was the media’s favourite social media platform, Twitter.  [picture id="4KZR3WE_Bury_the_Bird_ad_jpg" crop="original" layout="full"] 

Cambridge University neuropsychologist Professor Barbara Sahakian talks about new research from her team using data from the UK biobank to reach conclusions about mental health. The study used neuroimaging to see the differences in the brain, changing volumes of areas like the hippocampus, vital for memory and learning, and the amygdala, for emotional regulation.   At last count more than 12% of New Zealanders were on antidepressants, 16% of females, 9% of males, 22% of women over age 65. We asked Barbara Sahakian about her latest findings.  [picture id="4MLTFVV_copyright_image_244774" crop="16x10" layout="full"] 

For the very first time in Aotearoa New Zealand, world-renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter joins forces with the NZSO.  [picture id="4KZT4LR_fileadmin_media_presse_2015pix_2_2015_12_ANNE_SOPHIE_MUTTER_01_034_V3_FINAL_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]  Mutter, a longtime friend and collaborator with movie music legend John Williams, will perform Williams’ music from Star Wars, Harry Potter and more in Wellington and Auckland this month.  She joins Jim Mora to talk about music life and why she decided not to retire at 50.  [picture id="4KZT4LR_2022_JWilliams_ASMutterbyHilaryScott_A31A2734_1_jpg" crop="original" layout="full"] 

It's the evening of Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, in the UK. Pro-Palestinian marchers have rallied in London in large numbers, and former defence force generals there have defended their right to do so, in the face of opposition from Home Secretary Suella Braverman. She described the rallies in advance as "hate marches" and accused the police of favouring left-wing groups over right. BBC producer Will Flockton, formally RNZ Morning Report, was there.

Award-winning, Otautahi based folk singer and songwriter Amiria Grenell introduces us to her latest single, the gentle track 'Lanterns'. Daughter of legendary country musician John Grenell and known for her crystalline voice Amiria has followed her heritage into a colourful and long-standing career as a touring artist and respected songwriter.

Originally from Dunedin, Honor Hagar's career has taken her around the world - London, Newcastle, Brighton, Amsterdam, Zagreb, Berlin, and Riga - before she landed in Singapore where she now works in one of the city's most distinctive buildings, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum.

You may have heard the saying 'Gossip is the Devil's radio', but does gossip actually deserve the bad rap it gets? Dr Erica Brozovsky is a sociolinguist, and the host and writer of popular PBS Youtube series 'Otherwords', an educational series about language and linguistics. Erica's videos explore the weird and whacky lesser-known history behind words and language, they've garnered hundreds of thousands of views. She argues that gossip is not only a part of our human nature, a tool that's helped us to build better social connections and community, but it could also be the origin of language itself.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again has a new book about what it takes to improve and succeed. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist, Wharton's top-rated professor for seven straight years, and the New York Times bestselling author of three books that have sold over a million copies and been translated into 35 languages His New Book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things digs into how we can all rise to achieve greater things.

Today marks the start of NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Week. Lucy Corry joins us with her DIY recipe for a Kiwi favourite.

Rugby in recovery as a media spectacle; keeping it confidential to protect sources; Musk trashing Twitter.

Emmy Award Winner, 3-time Grammy nominated recording artist, installation artist, and environmental activist Toni Childs joins us ahead of her gig with the Corrs next week. She talks about recovering her voice and her upcoming underwater gig on the Great Barrier Reef.

As the weather warms and summer approaches, many of us are looking forward to getting into the ocean. Professor Rob Brander, aka 'Dr Rip', is a coastal scientist, beach safety researcher and science communicator in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNSW Sydney in Sydney. His book Dr Rip's Essential Beach Book: Everything you need to know about surf, sand and rips dives into the science of waves and currents, how beaches form and behave, how they respond to storms and climate change, as well as some less common hazards including tsunamis and sharks.

Jeffrey Halley is Sunday Morning's man on the money. Jeffrey's a kiwi in Jakarta and Singapore who until recently was the Senior Market Analyst for Asia Pacific for the OANDA corporation, with his analysis is regularly sought by Bloomberg, the BBC, Reuters, CNBC, MSN and the New York Times.

Are your choices ever really yours to make? It's an age-old philosophical question, but one that regularly rears its head with advances in our understanding of genetics and neuroscience. Recent publications from two leading neuroscientists have lent wight to the argument that free will is an illusion and that our choices are pre-determined by the make-up of our brain. The theory has thorny implications for moral dilemmas and ideas about crime and punishment. If our choices are not our own, should we agonise over them? And do we have the right to punish people for their so-called decisions? We speak to Clare Wilson - a New Scientist journalist focused on medicine, health policy, and neuroscience - who has taken a deep dive into this philosophical and scientific conundrum.

Mark Reason, Stuff's senior sports columnist, gives us his post-match analysis of the Rugby World Cup Final between the All Blacks and Springboks.

The first 1000 days are the most important of our lives - why? Because in those first three years of life our brain is rapidly changing and developing, our neuroplasticity is at its peak. It was once thought that this remarkable capacity to remodel ended with youth, but the brain's plasticity is a constant force in shaping who we are. Change can come about unconsciously and, interestingly, through conscious effort. Science journalist and BBC Future reporter Melissa Hogenboom, recently decided to test the theory of mindfulness and its power to physically alter the mind - book ending the experiment with MRI scans. At the end of six weeks, she had the results of her effort to rewire her brain.

Don't ask Fiona Hugues what she does, because it's impossible to answer briefly. It appears, however, that the skilled art director and cook - who doesn't mind a creative cuss word - can turn her hand to anything and has been recognised for her foodstyling prowess (in particular) both here and overseas. For Halloween this year, she is treating her social media followers to a 'dastardly treat' you'll have to see to believe.

Sir Bryan Williams - former All Black and coach of the Samoan national rugby team - gives us his unbridled take post-Rugby World Cup showdown between the All Blacks and Springboks.

Will it be jubilation or devastation for Kiwi All Blacks' fans? We soak in the atmosphere - whatever it may be - from Stade de France with Christina Persico. Christina is RNZ's Pacific Bulletin Editor.

In the space of a few short years, discussions around 'anxiety' and 'feeling anxious' have entered the mainstream. While the rise in anxiety among humans is a well-documented phenomenon, the similarly rapid rise in our companion animals has flown under the radar. Yet, our pets, particularly pooches, are increasingly prescribed anti-anxiety medication. So, are our animals really more anxious? Or are we pathologising normal pet behaviour? The jury is out. Dr Zazie Todd is an animal behaviour expert who founded Companion Animal Psychology in 2012 to explore ways in which science can help us to have happier pets.

Covering news from all over the country is a struggle for media companies dealing with rising costs and falling revenues. But some local outlets are surviving - and even thriving. Mediawatch's Hayden Donnel finds out who's doing the business in Whanganui - and how they're doing it.

Christina Persico - RNZ's Pacific Bulletin Editor - is match-side at the Rugby World Cup Final. She joins us at halftime from the Stade France.

Cantabrian Giles Cooper has many strings to his bow - lawyer by day, bar owner by night. Arriving in the Vietnamese metropolis of Hanoi in 1999, he opened a New Zealand style café, Puku, and hasn't looked back since.

Duncan Paterson is in the eye of the Rugby World Cup storm. He speaks to us from his packed Parisian pub - The Black Sheep Society - a slice of Kiwi paradise on Rue Daval.

We speak to Al Gillespie about the latest from the conflict in the Middle East and China's 'fantastical' economic statistics. Al Gillespie is a professor of law, specialising in international law related to war, the environment and civil liberties, at the University of Waikato.

The team behind a unique research project looking into loneliness in aged care homes in Australia has garnered international attention for its approach. Study lead, Monash University Sociologist Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves worked with award-winning author Josephine Wilson and with illustrator-artist Amanda Brooks to create an academic paper, but with creative non-fiction and comic book-style art. Barbara joins us to talk about the study and how using creatives can help us better understand academic data.

Mark Reason, Stuff's senior sports columnist brings us the latest from the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, as England take on South Africa.

In a busy world, many of us find it difficult to stick to the recommended 7 to 8 hours each night, but a new report has highlighted what happens in the body if we cut that short - even over a short period. After just six weeks of shortened sleep, the study found, the cells that line our blood vessels are flooded by damaging oxidants. This results in cells that are inflamed and dysfunctional, an early step in the development of cardiovascular disease. Sanja Jelic is the director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Columbia and professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at Columbia University.

Take me to your leader - political press pack gets off on wrong foot with our new political leaders; media in the middle of Gaza claims and counterclaims; World Cup fever - and Irish anguish.

In a rapidly changing world many of our customs and traditions, particularly those around partnering remain deep-rooted and unchanged.

Reported benefits of a cold plunge include relieving sore muscles, helping recovery post-workout, reducing inflammation, and boosting immunity. Some also report mental health benefits, like reducing anxiety or depression and improving clarity. Author and broadcaster Will Stone dives into the science for us.

In an address from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden set out his case for U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel, but how did this play out on the international stage and who will be the major players in fostering - or hindering - peace. Al Gillespie is a professor of law, specialising in international law related to war, the environment and civil liberties, at the University of Waikato.

The hygiene hypothesis is the idea that kids must be exposed to germs to develop healthy immune systems. Unexpected results from a recent study suggest hygiene hypothesis might not be so clean cut though. Researchers compared laboratory mice with high infectious exposures from birth to 'clean' mice and found little evidence that the antibody response was altered in any meaningful way. The 'dirty' mice had the same, if not greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than the 'clean' mice. Jonathan Coquet, co-author of the study and Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden joins Jim Mora to discuss the study's results.

We look at the All Blacks' performance in this World Cup with of New Zealand's most respected rugby writers and columnist for the NZ Herald, Gregor Paul.

How does a poet laureate celebrate their birthday? If you're Chris Tse, you mark the occasion with a gathering of fellow poets - and by writing a new poem about your love of Celine Dion.

Jo McCarroll, Sunday Morning regular and NZ Gardener magazine editor has a new book out for anyone wanting to save a bit of money or to grow some fresh healthy food. Vege Patch from Scratch offers easy-to-follow steps for starting and sustaining your very own vegetable garden.

Celebrating, commiserating, or waiting in anticipation... If you stayed up late Saturday keeping up to date with the election coverage, you'll need a good breakfast to recover. As a bonus, it might help you if you were up early watching the rugby too. Lucy Corry AKA The Kitchenmaid joins us.

On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Natasha Frost is the New York Times correspondent based in Melbourne.

Former All Black and coach of the Samoan national team, Sir Bryan Williams joins us with his reaction to events as they unfolded between New Zealand an Ireland in Paris.

The latest trend began in Europe, which has now gone global according to the BBC, this new idea that your employer could pay the cost of your holiday instead of increasing wages. We ask Dr Jarrod Haar, Professor of Management and Maori Business at Massey University whether that's something we might see here.

What can be done about chronic pain, avoiding or reducing the need for pills? Dr Whitney Scott is a lecturer in clinical health psychology at King's College, and she also works at the INPUT Pain Unit at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London.

New Zealander Natasha Frost is the New York Times' correspondent in Melbourne. She joins us with the latest from across the Tasman.

Andrew Scott is a political journalist who goes by the pen name of Otto English. His latest book, 'Fake Heroes: Ten False Icons and How they Altered the Course of History' dives into the hidden lives of some of history's biggest names. 

Rugby Writer and columnist, Scotman Gregor Paul is in Lyon with the All Blacks, but has been keeping a keen eye on the action at the Stade De France between Ireland and Scotland.

How you talk to yourself can mean the difference between a good day or a day spent wallowing with your head under the covers. Award-winning Professor of Psychology and Management at the University of Michigan Ethan Kross shares his insights and techniques learnt from his more than two decades of research.

Media shift blame for misleading tax policy headlines; political parties' policies for the media; Rupert Murdoch steps down and starts up the succession - or does he?

Princess Chelsea refers to her 2023 Taite Music Prize winning album as her 'nervous breakdown' album. She speaks to Jim Mora about her journey to personal recovery and reconnecting with fans.

Actor, comedian, broadcaster and author, Michael Palin, has documented the extraordinary life and tragic death of a First World War soldier - his great-uncle Harry in latest book Great-Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire. 

Michael Vlismas' Risking It All sets out to say how Musk's childhood shaped him, and the other themes are perseverance, strategising skills and a remarkable ability to handle pressure.

After her chat on the show a couple of weeks ago, Dr Lisa Sanders from Yale University's Long-COVID clinic joins us once again to answer some of your questions.

Assistant Professor at Stanford's Quantitative Sciences Unit has crunched the numbers around weight, BMI and health and found some surprising data.

Dr Alex Burgoyne, a cognitive neuroscientist says there's something else to know about mindfulness.

Many of us grew up in a time when mental health just wasn't discussed. These days though mental wellness is being promoted in many aspects of daily life and the language of psychiatry has entered the vernacular.

Calling home this week is Simon Butchard, who grew up in Christchurch but now lives in Warsaw with his wife Ania and their twins.

The undecided could decide the election; giving youth a voice in the election; ZB's 'straight talking' subscribers' service.

Whilst spying seems like a strong word, that's the accusation made in a study by the Mozilla Foundation. David Linklater is the Deputy editor of DRIVEN CARGUIDE at NZME. He joins us with the details.

How we shop has a greater effect on our happiness than what we buy. Emily Guy Birken is an award-winning writer, author, money coach, and retirement expert. She tells us how to get more bliss for our buck.

The All Blacks thumped Italy in the RWC, a cause for celebration. Is there also a cause for caution? Sports writer Mark Reason joins Jim, Mark's a senior sports writer for Stuff and Mark's covered every Rugby World Cup since 1991.

The quote attributed to American Baseball plater Satchel Paige, goes "How old would you be if you didn't know what age you were?" Most of us feel an age that bears no relation to our physical age. Anna Kornadt is a professor in psychology at the University of Luxembourg with a focus on aging and lifespan development and head of their Institute of Lifespan Development, Family and Culture.

Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition joins us once again. This time we find out if eating eggs can really make us happier.

We may never solve the question of what happens when our hearts stop and electrical activity in our brain flatlines, but science is giving this a good go now. Dr Sam Parnia is a British associate professor of Medicine at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, where he is also director of research into cardiopulmonary resuscitation, director of the Human Consciousness Project at the UK's University of Southampton and author of the book The Lazarus Effect: The Science That is Rewriting the Boundaries Between Life and Death. He has been studying the moment of death for more than two decades.

Sports journalist, Lavina Good joins us from Hangzhou, China with the latest from the 19th Asian Games.

How can we bring more happiness into our lives? How do we translate a yearning for happiness into the sort of action that will enable us to grasp it? How do we live, now, in a less-and-less happy world. A Professor at Harvard Business School, best-selling author of 13 books and writer of the Atlantic Monthly's How To Build a Life column, Arthur C. Brooks joins us. His new book, written in tandem with Oprah Winfrey, is called Build The Life You Want.

As two of the favourites for the Rugby World Cup - South Africa and Ireland - go head-to-head at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, we go live for the latest from Mark Reason, Stuff's senior sports columnist.

A curling team from New Zealand have been 'adopted' by a retirement home in Calgary, Alberta. In return for four months of accommodation, the team integrate with the residents; similar to an intergenerational scheme ran in the Dutch city of Deventer They're in Calgary to practice with their eyes on qualifying for the World Men's Curling Championship 2024 in Switzerland, and eventually the 2026 Olympics. Vice-skip Brett Sargon joins us.

Debate statemates add to election frustration; the current and future state of Stuff; some good - but overdue - news for Dunedin.

Most of us learned to do laundry from our parents, and at some point we were told the story of the red sock making the laundry pink. But according to some, we don't need to separate laundry anymore. Jack Chen, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Auckland University of Technology joins us.

Put down the soap and step away from the shower gel. Having a low-soap shower several days a week is probably enough, according to a US dermatologist who says obsessive cleanliness is harming our skin.

Neuroscience researcher, writer and author David Robson joins us once again. This time he's been looking at advice and where we get it. Interestingly, it's not always the most successful people that are best-placed to give advice.

Nuclear weapons have unfortunately been brought to the fore once more with Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite most experts agreeing deployment is unlikely. No nation has detonated a nuclear weapon in conflict since 1945 and many of those weapons are getting pretty old. Alex Wellerstein is a nuclear weapons historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology. He talks to Jim about the state of nuclear weapons and how reliable they are.

It's been reported that 1 in 5 Covid sufferers in NZ have long-COVID symptoms. Otago University estimate that up to 150,000 New Zealanders may be battling, or have been battling long-COVID, another estimate was up to 300,000 earlier this year. The only publicly funded long-COVID clinic in the country will shut up shop at the end of this month. Dr. Lisa Sanders is a physician, a professor of internal medicine and a longtime New York Times medical columnist and at Yale University's long-COVID clinic, she is doing what she can to understand the mysteries of the disorder.

Duncan Paterson is calling home from Paris, currently the centre of the Rugby World Cup. Duncan's bar is called The Black Sheep Society, a slice of kiwi heaven on the streets of Paris.

Un-spun numbers don't derail duelling versions of the economy; Stuff keeps AI at arm's length; medical school row - and a made-up university.

Most of us had never heard of cookiecutter sharks until a week or so ago, when they managed to sink a catamaran off the coast of Australia. New Zealand marine scientist and Auckland University's shark man Dr Riley Elliott gets his teeth into the details.

With summer on the horizon, we talk to neuroscientist and journalist, Dr David Cox to find out how much we should drink every day, and what we should be drinking.

Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul joins us with his take on the latest from France in the Rugby World Cup.

Sarah Peirse is best known for her screen roles as Kate in Rain and Pauline Parker's mother, Honora, in Heavenly Creatures. She reprises her role as the formidable American writer, Patricia Highsmith in the acclaimed thriller Switzerland presented by Auckland Theatre Company which opens at the ASB Waterfront Theatre on September 19.

NY Times Australia correspondent, Natasha Frost joins us from Melbourne with the latest news from across the Tasman.

As the NZ Aerospace Summit gets underway next week in Christchurch, we're joined by NASA astronaut, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper. Astronaut Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, STS-115 mission specialist, took this self-portrait having just unstowed the forward Solar Array Blanket Box (SABB) on a space walk on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA Heide has performed five spacewalks, she's been up to the International Space station and down to the bottom of the ocean as well, as a Navy dive commander. Her work now is to encourage other young women to pursue careers in space.

Richard Osman has now joined the ranks of those people in the United Kingdom who are referred to as a 'national treasure'. Even if you don't read his books and know his name you will almost certainly know his face if you watch TV, as a droll presence on many panel shows like Would I Lie to You? Or quiz shows such as Pointless. Richard is the also author of the hugely popular The Thursday Murder Club books. His latest book The Last Devil to Die is out now.

Susan Goldin-Meadow is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago and one of the world foremost experts on gestures. She has found that gestures express substantive information which otherwise might not be conveyed in the speech it accompanies revealing secret thinking to those who pay attention.

Angst over advocacy adverts and content as official election period begins; AI - coming ready or not for news and music.

You're born, you live, you die - ageing, it would seem, is linear. Wrong. It turns out, the human body tends to age in parts, with some organs more susceptible to the ravages of time than others. However, geneticist Michael Snyder says nailing down which body part will fail first is a bit of a gamble because, "Everybody's ageing differently". But don't despair yet, recent studies have revealed that we are likely to belong to one of four different ageing pathways - and figuring out which 'ageotype' you are, might be the key to staying healthier for longer. Dr Snyder, director of Stanford University's Center of Genomics, joins Jim to discuss.

Getting the snacks in for the game isn't quite as simple for this Rugby World Cup. Early morning match times here in NZ means the usual pizza, chips and dips aren't so appealing. Award-winning food writer Lucy Corry, aka The Kitchenmaid joins us with some inspiration for snacks for watching the Rugby World Cup.

With the Rugby World Cup already in full swing, Mark Reason, senior sports columnist for Stuff joins us from France.

We've faced several crises in recent years, but the one we're currently eyeing might be the most troubling of all. In a new documentary airing Sunday night, Bryan Bruce asks the question, why does food cost so much?

New Zealand, a United States ally and China trade partner, is walking a tight rope as tensions between the economic superpowers ratchet up.

Increasingly, smartphone users are becoming aware, and with it, more concerned about the extent to which their phone is spying on them.

American folk singer Connie Converse was the "invisible woman of the 20th century", despite being ahead of the curve in every respect.

She may have been born in Aotearoa, but it feels almost inevitable that Rachel Bickler would end up in Brussels the heart of the European Union.

Mongrel and maths collide as campaigns launch - and media ponder National's tax plan; scrutiny of candidates' online footprints prompts pushback and claims of 'agendas'.

One hundred years ago, it was common for streets to be filled with whistling the crying call of milkmen and builders on construction sites, everyday people going about their business. So, what happened to this tradition? Professor of Music at the University of York Rachel Cowgill, says while the streets are now quieter, a keen core of whistlers remain.

Fred Dagg only had three or four years of peak popularity before he left New Zealand for Australia, but he changed comedy in this country and inspired a number of the top comedians today with his casual style.

Calling Home this morning is Dr John Feathersone, Dean Emeritus of the School of Dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco. He's won numerous national and international awards, including the International Association for Dental Research distinguished scientist award for research into dental caries, and the Norton Ross Award for excellence in clinical research from the American Dental Association. This year he'll receive the American Dental Association's highest award, their Distinguished Service Award.

Are there tricks that can maximise your lottery winnings? Should you avoid the number seven, for example or only pick numbers over 31? Mathematician Peter Rowlett from University of Sheffield Hallam in the UK has some psychological strategies that may (or may not) improve your chances when playing the lottery.

Chris Patten, Lord Patten of Barnes was a top Tory politician, prime ministerial material, and Chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK who went on to be the 28th and last Governor of Hong Kong, from 1992 to 1997. His brief was to make the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China smooth, but also to protect the rule of law and to safeguard democracy. In the end the politics, as he puts it, were a snake pit. His book, The Hong Kong Diaries, is a journal of his time there, including his thoughts on the situation today.

We're taught as children not to fidget. Is fidgeting just a sign of being restless? Or is there more to it? What if fidgeting can help us maintain a healthy weight, manage stress, or even add years to your life? Janet Cade, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Leeds and her colleagues analyzed survey data from more than 12,000 women over the course of twelve years, uncovering that fidgeting can reduce your risk of long-term ill health as it interrupts the amount of time our bodies stay sedentary.

Victoria University of Wellington Professor of Psychology, Dr Marc Wilson is back, this time covering the harrowing case of nurse Lucy Letby over the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others in her care at the Countess of Chester hospital in the UK.

Brought to you by 'partners' - critics question sponsorship deals pushing clients' content into news media; IMANZ - a new umbrella body for independent local media marketing agencies; low key reveal of legislation to push big tech platforms to pay for local news.

A new survey has confirmed what Millennials and Gen Z already knew - ordering food at restaurants can be stressful. For some, it can be so stressful that it's affecting the way they navigate eating out. Almost half of Gen Z and Millennials experience menu anxiety, stemming from everything from the taste, cost, and length of preparation time to the food's environmental impacts. Michael Dearth runs The Grove Restaurant in Auckland. He joins us to talk about how this phenomenon is impacting our eating out culture.

Forty-six-year-old Bryan Johnson has spent millions of dollars to slow his body's aging process. He made his millions selling a tech company to eBay and has since pursued ventures in health tech, including his anti-ageing mission, Project Blueprint. He has a team of more than thirty doctors and health experts monitoring his every move, with the goal of reversing the aging process in every one of his organs. Bryan joins us to talk about his anti-aging mission and the potential takeaways for generations to come.

The All Blacks have suffered their worst-ever defeat - 35-7 against the Springboks at Twickenham, in front of 80,000 rugby fans. They have a fortnight before they play France in the Rugby World Cup and now there's deep soul-searching for the ABs as they head to a base in Germany. Mark Reason is a senior sports columnist for Stuff. He has covered every Rugby World Cup since 1991 for major media, as well as Olympic Games and many big golf tournaments. He spoke with Jim Mora.

Dai Henwood is one of our best-known comedians, star of Dancing With The Stars, Seven Days, Family Feud and Legomasters. Folllowing his cancer diagnosis, he's just finished his latest round of chemo and has gotten together with his mates, some of the biggest names in comedy, to host a night of stand-up comedy to raise money for The Cancer Society.

Scientists have been researching the cooling ocean east of New Zealand for a while, but more recently it has really been getting attention. Dr Pedro DiNezio is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado's department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. He calls it "the most important unanswered question in climate science".

A face-to-face amiable debate, the polite airing of contrary view seems to be becoming increasingly rare. Are we losing the art of conversation? Dr Paula Marantz Cohen is the distinguished professor of literature at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her book Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation looks at the art of good conversation, how it connects us in ways that social media never can and explains why simply talking to each other freely and without guile may be the cure to what ails our troubled society.

What's it like to land a jet on an aircraft carrier or have your Cessna crash in flames in rugged farmland? Aviation expert and pilot Fletcher McKenzie has interviewed dozens of kiwi pilots who've flown all sorts of planes all around the world for his book From the Pilot's Seat: Kiwi Adventurers in the Sky.

England and Spain go head-to-head at Stadium Australia in the World Cup final later. Joining us for her thoughts on this game is one of our most illustrious footballers. Sarah Gregorius from Lower Hutt played nearly a hundred games for the football Ferns competing in three World Cups and going on to play for AFC Amsterdam. Throughout the tournament, Sarah has provided her unique insight and analysis on Sky Sports and while of course keeping up the day job as the FIFPRO World Players Union as its Director of global policy and strategic relations.

Dr. Nick Laing, originally from Christchurch has been living and working in Northern Uganda for several years where he is the co-founder and country director of OneDay Health which operates 36 Remote rural health centers in the region.

Our World Cup runneth over - what legacy will it leave? Lifting the lid on exploitation of migrant workers and human trafficking.

Jane Austen once said "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Whilst we'd all be happy to see that idea consigned to the dustbin of literary history, it seems it may have currency again. With some even asking if the requirements of modern dating, and finding a life partner, are becoming reminiscent of Jane Austen's time… because of housing costs. Frances Cook, BusinessDesk investments editor, podcaster and best-selling author of Your Money, Your Future and Tales from a Financial Hot Mess joins us

As the last of the Covid-19 restrictions are dropped in New Zealand, hospitalisations are on the rise and the implications of long covid are only starting to emerge. Throughout the height of the Covid pandemic we talked regularly with New Zealander Dr Gary Mclean, an emeritus professor at London Metropolitan University, and immunology researcher at Imperial College.

More and more people are working from home under the watchful eye of strangers - and the strangers are being paid for the privilege. According to Annie, the concept of 'body doubling' is nothing new: People are more likely to stay focused on work if they know others are keeping an eye on them. Annie speaks to Susana about the principle and its link to ADHD treatment.

He was commended and condemned in equal measure, but his decision to fight for his troops ultimately saw him walk the plank. In 2020, Captain Brett Crozier disembarked the US Navy's most powerful aircraft carrier for the last time - relieved of duty after pleading with superiors to protect his sailors from Covid-19. As the virus swept through the ship, his letter begging for help hit the headlines. Two years later he retired. In his new book, 'Surf when you can' he reflects on his life, his work, and that career defining moment.

Following this week's announcement that the government is to partner with US asset managers, Blackrock in a $2bn green energy fund, we're joined by political economist and economic geographer, Professor Brett Christophers who is visiting NZ from the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Sweden's Uppsala University. He's the author of several books, including Our Lives in Their Portfolios: Why Asset Managers Own the World.

Ohio Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joins us once again. She takes a look at USA vs Trump following the indictment handed down against the former president while at the same time under heavy scrutiny by media Trump and Biden are pretty well neck-and-neck in polling for the next US presidential election. And in Karen's home state, Ohioans voted down a proposal that would have made it harder to pass future proposed constitutional amendments in the state, including one in November about abortion rights.

Reporters' report on crime coverage urges new thinking - and highlights electoral 'crime crackdown' pattern; RNZ's Richard Sutherland calling it quits after 30 years; free sports streaming options on the up.

Ever dreamed of living on your own private island? Loon Island on Pavilion Lake - a four-hour drive from Vancouver - is currently on the market for less than half the average price for a home in the neighbouring BC city. According to realtor Kevin Scharfenberg, the lake is famous for its brilliant emerald glow in the summer, and that's not the only natural attraction. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency are currently researching a mysterious karst formation that resembles ocean coral. The island listing boasts 175 metres of waterfront panoramic views, two cabins, and a 2015 solar powered house - your own slice of paradise, for $NZ734,000.

The link between memory and smell has long been established - but what if you could harness odours to not only maintain cognitive ability as you age, but deter dementia? The result of a University of California Irvine study has indicated just that. For six months a fragrance wafted through the bedrooms of adults 60 years and older. The findings? A 226% increase in cognitive capacity.

The chances of finding a large eel in Loch Ness are around 1 in 50,000 for a 1-metre creature. Researchers at the University of Otago looked at the DNA of Loch Ness inhabitants, concluding that perhaps sightings of Nessie were actually large eels. But now, data scientist Flow Foxon says eels don't get that big. Professor Neil Gemmell is the AgResearch Chair in Reproduction and Genomics at the University of Otago. Neil joins the programme to discuss.

An expedition of women from Arabia and Europe set out to find the North Pole as the ice caps melt. Award-winning filmmaker Holly Morris recorded the mission - it could be the last. She used the latest tech, with first-of-its-kind Virtual Reality/360 footage on Google Jump Halo, and Rylo 360 cameras. Holly is known for her documentary, Babushkas of Chernobyl, about women living in the shadow of the failed nuclear reactor in Ukraine. Holly joins the programme.

AI can do many things, but what can't in replicate? Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup in the UK. Tomas' new book is I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique.

The most commonly used letter in the English language is E, followed by A, and R. The least-used letter is Z, followed by Q … But the letter that has made headlines around the world is 'X'. Tony Thorne's been writing, teaching, and broadcasting about linguistic and cultural change for three decades, he joins us to discuss the conflicted nature of the letter, 'X'.

The rise in cocaine use across New Zealand has brought cartels back into the public consciousness and headlines around the world. But are they responsible for the reported spike in drug use?

It was a semi-finals showdown last night, with netball's big four battling it out for a spot in the World Cup Final. The Silver Ferns faced off against the English Roses, while Jamaica's Sunshine Girls went toe-to-toe with the Australian Diamonds. RNZ reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe was court side and joins the programme from Cape Town.

Political road rage - budget holes & emissions omissions; what went wrong with RNZ's online news - and putting it right,

The world is looking at China in a new way. What was once billed as the next dominant superpower is facing economic headwinds.

Drawing on unpublished archival material and new reportage, author and journalist Walter Marsh's book, Young Rupert pieces together the paper trail giving us a glimpse of the Australian media landscape at an extraordinary tipping point.

Is it ethical to watch movies during a strike? Should moviegoers strike too? Will the strike actually kill Hollywood? Sarah McMullan is familiar to the RNZ audience. She watches a lot of films and writes about some of them.

How much do we have to exercise, really, to be healthy? And does a lot of the research done in gyms pertain to men, not women? We're joined by our go-to exercise expert, New Zealander Dr Mandy Hagstrom, senior lecturer at UNSW, School of Human Nutrition.

At some time or another most of us will enter a maze and try and get out of it again. There's an easy way to do that, believe it or not. Dr Katie Steckles is a Manchester-based mathematician who lectures at a university in Sheffield, speaks at science festivals, and talks on the BBC about matters mathematical as well.

Originally from Pukekohe, Jack Boulton now lives in Orkney, completing a PhD on Transitional Engineering studying ways to move petrochemical companies away from carbon use.

Minister's downfall triggers election speculation - and another resignation at RNZ.

Experts are claiming dogs separated at eight to 12 weeks won't forget about their siblings for up to two years, and these same dogs often recognise their mothers beyond the two-year mark. Dr. Lucy Scott from Veterinary Behaviour Services NZ is a vet with a special interest in behaviour and training.

We all know people who wolf their food down, and probably we disapprove. But what if it's not actually all that bad? Dr Katherine Wu, a Harvard-trained microbiologist, and now a staff writer for the Atlantic Monthly joins us.

An Oxford University study has concluded that if all the meat eaters in the UK cut down their ingestion of meat it would be the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road. Dr Ali Hill joins us from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition.

On Monday, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission in more than 50 years. The space agency hopes to establish the first long-term presence on the moon and, using knowledge gleaned from those efforts, send the first humans to Mars. Joining us to discuss the new is the chair of Women in Space Aotearoa, Space sector consultant and Aerospace Engineer, Kate Breach.

The Rainbow Warrior bombing back in 1985 is fairly familiar to us here in Aotearoa. There have been TV documentaries and even a feature film telling the tale too. But it's not so well known around the world - until now, perhaps. A new three-part documentary series called Murder in The Pacific has just screened in the UK on BBC TV. The reviews are in - and they're good. TVNZ tells us 'Murder in the Pacific' will screen here later this year. Colin Peacock asked director Chloe Campbell and executive producer Caroline Hawkins how they pitched it to the BBC.

25 years ago the Good Friday Agreement was signed in Northern Ireland. It effectively ended armed hostilities between Republicans (or Nationalists) who wanted a united Ireland and Loyalists who wanted to remain part of the UK. A whole generation has come of age in this new era. Among them is the man who hosts BBC Ulster's Sunday Morning show, Steven Rainey.

Calling home this week is Julian Kirwan, a former flight attendant from Christchurch who has established a successful café chain and is well and truly settled in the Dutch metropolis of Amsterdam.

Do you sometimes get the feeling that music just isn't as good as it used to be? You might not be alone. Tom ter Bogt, a cultural psychologist and professor of pop music at the University of Utrecht might be able to explain.

One of the surprise streaming hits of the last few months is a show called Colin From Accounts. Our own Colin from RNZ spoke to co-creator and actor Patrick Brammall.

With the 87th Masters Golf Tournament taking place in Augusta, Georgia, we talk to Stuff's Senior Sports Columnist, Mark Reason.

Netflix's latest political thriller series, The Night Agent has been at the top of the charts on the service lately. Local talent, Luciane Buchanan plays the role of a cybersecurity expert who gets caught up in White House skulduggery and international espionage.

The number 1 bestselling author of numerous thrillers including Don't Let Go, Home, and Fool Me Once, with more than 70 million books in print around the world and books published in 45 languages, Harlan Coben has just published his latest book ' I Will Find You'. He joins us from his home in New Jersey.

With the long weekend coming up, outdoors author, editor and photographer, Shaun Barnett joins us to take your questions on the best ways and the best tracks to get out tramping this Easter.

Otautahi songwriter Bryony Matthews has just released the title track from her upcoming album and is about to begin a short tour around the country. The track is called We're All the same.

Clarkisha Kent is a Nigerian American writer, editor and pop culture critic who's writing has been featured in outlets like Entertainment Weekly, HuffPost, MTV News, The Root, and more. Her debut memoir called Fat Off, Fat On. A Big Bitch Manifesto chronicles her long journey to deprogram herself from the anti-fat socio-cultural messaging that she absorbed while growing up. And she's hoping it will act as a guide to help readers deprogram themselves too.

Arts Access Aotearoa was established in 1995, it's mission to increase access to the arts for people who experience barriers to participation as artists, performers, audience members, and gallery and museum visitors. It does this by working in the disability, mental health, and Deaf communities, and through a network of community arts organisations. It also advises the Department of Corrections and advocates for the arts as a tool to support rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into the community on release. Kaiwhakahaere Matua/Chief Executive Richard Benge Joins us.

New Zealand's unique landscapes and Jurassic-like environments feature in a new tv documentary series on tyrannosaurs. The series, which will also be seen on giant IMAX screens, and in natural history museums around the world, is a follow on from the hugely popular Dinosaurs of Antarctica, which was also filmed in new Zealand. The production has just finished filming in New Zealand. We catch up with director Dave Clark in Washington DC.

It's been three years since celebrated New Zealand chef Peter Gordon returned to New Zealand from the UK. He was lucky to get a flight home as the country was going into lockdown. He'd spent 31 years based in the UK, celebrating, and sharing flavours of New Zealand with the world and even cooking for royalty. But he left in a hurry, and hardly had a chance to say goodbye to his mates, thinking he'd be back in a few months. But our borders closed and that didn't happen. He is now celebrating three years in Auckland.

The untidy end of Today FM - and 30 years of talk radio history; further fallout from coverage of the short-but-sharp visit of provocateur Posie Parker - and the protest that drowned her out.

Donald Kerr is the former head of Special Collections at the University of Otago library. He's written numerous books on fascinating New Zealand characters, collectors and collections. They include Hocken: Prince of Collectors, The Smell of Powder: A history of Duelling in New Zealand and Amassing Treasures for All Times; Sir George Grey Colonial Bookman and Collector. His latest book, which is nearing completion, is about a man named Ernie Webber. Not a name most Kiwis would be familiar with, but someone with a fascinating story.

One of Aotearoa's leading Maori history scholars is to be recognised for his work revitalising te reo Maori as a researcher, translator, writer, and editor. Ross Calman has authored more than a dozen works, including books on the Treaty of Waitangi and the New Zealand Wars, edited more than 100 books in te reo Maori and English, translated a number of books into te reo Maori, and written numerous articles and chapters on Maori history and traditional Maori society. One of his most well-known books is He Pukapuka Tataku i nga Mahi a Te Rauparaha Nui - A Record of the Life of the Great Te Rauparaha. He has described it as a pinnacle in his career,. Ross will receive an Honorary Doctorate from Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha University of Canterbury in a ceremony next week.

Australia's first purpose-built office space designed by the Deaf, for the Deaf has just opened in Melbourne. The office is home to Expression Australia, which is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing organisation. CEO Nicky Long joins us.

The Phoenix Foundation is one of New Zealand's most well loved bands, and the fact they're still going after nearly 25 years is testament to that. Next Saturday they are the headline act at the One Fine Day Festival in Whanganui

The Ten Tenors have been a concert experience since 1995, and are the world's longest-running classical crossover act seamlessly transitioning between operatic arias and modern day ballads with amazing 10 part harmonies. They're about to tour New Zealand and there are two Kiwis in their mix. Cameron Barclay and Andrew Papas.

The news that the Oxford English Dictionary has added 'chur' and 36 te reo words to their collection prompted AudioCulture's Chris Bourke to look into the history of the word.

Whanganui born Alex Rothman is calling home from Tashkent in Uzbekistan where he teaches high school history.

In the small town north Canterbury town of Amberley, Rachel Scott has made bread her life. 

UK provocateur captures media's attention; lifting the lid on lobbying, ministers - and the media; a source burned and spurned - in the public interest?

Dr Owen Jones is research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Otago University. An expert in memory, Alzheimer's and the much rarer, earlier-onset fronto-temporal dementia - brought to public attention recently following actor Bruce Willis' diagnosis. He joins us to talk about how our memory works and how we can keep it healthier for longer.

An international collaboration between Dutch and New Zealand artists sees the opening of a new exhibition, 'Smells like Roses - Rozengeur' at Foxton's Mapuna Kabinet Art Gallery. We're joined by co-curator, Arjan van der Boon.

New Zealand Rugby hopes to triple the number of women referees in the game announcing a new scholarship for women referees this week. One of the best in the game, referee Natarsha Ganley joins us to tell us what it takes.

Last week Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced a change in focus to what the Labour Government considers are its two main priorities: recovery from cyclone Gabrielle and helping New Zealanders cope with the cost of living Crisis. This has prompted some quarters to call for a parliamentary review into the big profits being made by banks. Research New Zealand have been looking into what aspects of New Zealanders' spending are being impacted by the cost of living crisis and what appetite - if any - there is for investigating the profits of our retail and finance industries. Managing partner of Research New Zealand, Emanuel Kalafatelis takes us through the results.

Stewart and Tricia Macpherson are celebrating 50 years on the road as NZ's longest serving promoters and probably the world's longest serving duo. They have stories to tell about Kenny Rogers, Donny Osmond, Glenn Campbell and Boy George to name but a few.

A prolific researcher, Professor Ray Jayawardhana investigates the diversity and origins of planets and the prospects for life in the universe, using the world's largest telescopes. His discoveries have garnered widespread attention and numerous accolades. He speaks to Anna about where his fascination with the Universe began and how close are we to finding life beyond Earth?

How many times do you check your emails a day - do you send emails outside regular work hours? Do you check your work emails after you knock off work, if you wake in the night will you check your emails or socials? An extensive study by a US psychologist has found that on average, we check our work emails 77 times a day. How But what kind of affect is that having on our mental health and life in general? Psychologist Dougal Sutherland, CEO of workplace consultancy Umbrella Wellbeing joins us.

Calling Home this week is writer, photographer and researcher Kayt Bronnimann, who lives in Taichung City , Taiwan. This is Kayt's second stint living in Taiwan, she decided with the cost of living rising in New Zealand and the opportunity to travel returning, it was time to return to the hostly contested island nation in the South China Sea.

Polls and policy bonfire create climate contradiction; a muted media response to March 15; apology; talk radio outbursts spark apology.

How much exercise do we really need to stay healthy? Only 11 minutes of brisk walking a day could help prevent premature death, according to new research.

Chef Al Brown is no stranger to Sunday Mornings. He's cooking up a Cyclone Gabrielle relief banquet, hoping to create New Zealand's "biggest-ever dinner party". Backed by the Restaurant Association, 'Cooking up a Storm' will be hosted in hospitality establishments across the country on March 20.

New Zealand's aid efforts to the Ukraine, have come in many forms to date: our troops have been training Ukrainian soldiers, the government and people of New Zealand have given millions of dollars and there are kiwis on the ground delivering much needed food and medical supplies and performing evacuations in some of the hardest hit areas. Kiwi Kare is one of those agencies. They have just acquired a fleet of retired St John ambulances to take over to the war torn country. Kiwi Kare founder and director, Tenby Powell joins us.

Don MacLean's most famous song, American Pie turns 50 this year and the award-winning singer and songwriter brings his American Pie 50th Anniversary Tour to New Zealand. He joins us to talk about his love for New Zealand the songs that make him happy.

If you've ever been in Auckland or Wellington when the Tongan national Rugby Union or League team is playing you'll know how passionate their fans are. A new feature film, Red, White and Brass brings that passion to the big screen. Co-writer and co-producer Halaifonua (Nua) Finau and lead actor John-Paul Foliaki are with us.

What sort of conversations do we have with money? If they involve swearing, that probably isn't the right way of going about things. According to Lynda Moore the way to make your money grow involves a different kind of language. The money coach and former accountant talks to Anna about her new book Conversations With Money - A Love Story and how to change your money language. 

Each year New Zealander's are swindled out of millions of their hard earned dollars by scam artists and fraudsters. The NZ International Fraud Film Festival 2023 returns to Auckland later this month with a line-up of films that exposes the underbelly of fraud and its impact globally and locally. This year's Festival programme explores the psychology of fraudsters, how the public can be exploited, institutional corruption, forgery, scam prevention, cyber criminals and more Paul O'Neil is a former acting director of the Serious Fraud Office and is the spokesman for the festival.

The Corrs rank among the most successful Irish bands of all time, having sold 40 million albums worldwide across a career spanning three decades. The band will play Auckland's Spark Arena on Thursday, November 9 before heading to Christchurch's Hagley Park on Saturday, November 11. We're joined by the 'big sister' of the band - violinist, vocalist and keyboards player Sharon Corr 

It's the start of Sleep Week. Dr. Rosie Gibson and Dr Karyn O'keefe from the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at Massey University join us to answer your sleep questions. 

Calling Home this week is director, producer, and designer Jo Luping. Jo grew up in Wellington - but her family ties to Sabah, Malaysia prompted her to move there where she is helping develop the region's creative industries. [picture id="4O2VBFR_0adb2400_3a62_47e9_907a_d411803ac9cf_jpg" crop="1x1" layout="full"]

Media run the rule over policy on kids and consultants; Michelle Duff on journalism and switching to fiction; awkwards questions over media merger bills - and what comes next.

Rio Hemopo of TrinityRoots and Breaks Co-op fame is part of an all-star band of Aotearoa musicians bring us The Bill Withers Social Club. Alongside vocalists Troy Kingi, Dallas Tamaira, L. A. Mitchell, and band members Iraia Whakamoe, Ryan Prebble, Adán Tijerina and Daniel Hayles - they will perform a tribute to the late Bill Withers as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Video games may not be the waste of time you thought they were.

Sir Rod Stewart returns to New Zealand in April with shows in Dunedin, Napier and Auckland. He talks about getting older, how he keeps fit and what keeps him happy.

A lack of information for families of those living with complex mental health conditions prompted my next guest to pursue a degree in psychology - but even that wasn't enough. Journalist Elfy Scott's book "The One Thing We've Never Spoken About" is an account of her childhood where her mother's schizophrenia was rarely, if ever, discussed.

King's Counsel Catherine Callaghan is calling home from London.

One of the biggest bands of the 1970s is going to be celebrating its 50th birthday in NZ.

Documenting the March 2 convulsion one year on; apology to Tim Beveridge; claims that AM radio is in jeopardy; is the G-word still fit for primetime TV?

Lesley Paterson's journey to bring "All Quiet on the Western Front" to the big screen has all the drama of an award-winning screenplay itself.

With lives lost and countless homes and businesses devastated, it may seem trivial to talk about gardening, but for many our gardens are a source of joy and a place that helps us recover after a crisis. Gardener, author and broadcaster Lynda Hallinan takes your questions on how to restore a weather-damaged garden.

As another academic year start, most students don't need to be told that procrastination is bad, but they may need to know it can cause health problems. Fred Johansen from Sweden's Karolinska Institute and Stockholm's Sophiamet Medical University joins us to talk about his research into student health and procrastination.

Joining us again is our U.S. correspondent Karen Kasler, the Statehouse Bureau Chief for public radio and television in Ohio. She takes a look at the current candidates for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and how the legal wrangling over an obscure section of U.S. Telecom legislation could have wide-reaching implications for the internet worldwide.

The last few years have been difficult for most of us - and it's been particularly tough recently for many across the North Island. Professor Marc Wilson, from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University's School of Psychology joins us once again to look at techniques for overcoming anxiety and depression, and also to discuss the idea of going to the supermarket on a first date.

Once, to many, the ultimate symbol of deviance and defiance, tattoos are now much more firmly in the mainstream. Dr John Miller is a Senior Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature at the University of Sheffield. His book The Philosophy Of Tattoos is a broad and very personal exploration of tattooing from around the world as a unique expression of individual, cultural and national identity.

Catherine Costello was home in NZ over the summer showing her French partner a Kiwi Christmas. They live in Lyon, France, where she works for a company teaching English to French business people. Wellington born and bred, Catherine has, over the past five years or so, established a new life in France.

Claims and counter-claims on post-Gabrielle crime spike; boring old infrastructure surges to the top of the agenda; climate minimisation still has a foothold in the media.

As the West remains resolute in its opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, many are wondering where Russia might look for support. Al Gillespie is a Professor of Law, specialising in international law related to war, the environment and civil liberties, at the University of Waikato.

Vladimir Putin's plans for a swift victory a year ago failed spectacularly. But now, Russia's president appears to be preparing for round two. We gauge the mood inside Russia with former ABC Moscow correspondent Norman Hermant, who has been speaking to Russians including some who have left the country.