Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

The Paper   Following up on the story from "The Office," the documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch discovers a disappearing Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters. This mockumentary follows the daily lives and struggles of dreamers in love with journalism, and their less-than-competent co-workers, trying to deliver accurate news without the resources or training to do a great job (TVNZ+).     In Flight   Jo Conran's son is imprisoned for a murder he denies. A gang blackmails her into smuggling, pushing her into a world of corruption and violence to save her child's life (TVNZ+).     Bay of Fires   Betrayed and in immediate danger, Stella is forced to move her family to the last place on Earth anyone would expect, a place where the locals hide secrets and outsiders are viewed with suspicion bordering on the murderous (TVNZ+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Roses   Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo and Ivy: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. However, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentments soon emerge when Theo's career nosedives and Ivy's own ambitions take off.    Ice Road: Vengeance   A grieving American ice road trucker, Mike McCann, travels to Nepal to fulfil his late brother's final wish and scatter his ashes on Mt. Everest. There he meets Dhani, a skilled mountaineer, who agrees to guide him along the infamous Road to the.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the perfect thing for a Father’s Day brekky or brunch – it’s so easy and you can adapt it for your dad’s taste buds by adding bacon, chorizo, flaked smoked fish, avocado, and the rest.   Serves 4     Ingredients  500g Agria potatoes, washed   1 medium onion, sliced thinly   2 tbsps. olive oil   2 tsp curry powder   1 tsp sea salt + decent grind black pepper   4 eggs   Cooked bacon, chorizo, smoked fish, or avocado to serve   Dad’s favourite relish or chutney to serve   Parsley or chives to garnish     Method  Preheat oven to 200 C.   Parboil washed potatoes in well-salted water. When cool enough to handle, slice thickly or crush roughly if they’re smaller potatoes. We want lots of surface area to get crispy.   Tumble potatoes into a large shallow roasting dish. Scatter over onion, then add oil and seasoning and toss to coat. Roast for 20 minutes or until crispy and cooked through.   Make some gaps in the potatoes and break eggs into the gaps. Bake for a further 10 minutes or until eggs are cooked to dad’s liking.   Serve alongside bacon, chorizo, etc.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re young you can’t imagine a point in your life when you’re living with physical limitations.   I mean, sure, maybe you’re not as strong as you’d like to be. Maybe you’re not quite as quick and fit as some of your mates. But for me at least, the thought of a relatively straightforward physical action being too difficult or too painful never even crossed my mind. You take health and dexterity, mobility, and general limberness for granted.    I remember Dad getting home from his football games when I was kid. He’d limp through the front door, strap ice packs to both of knees, and splay himself out on the couch, still in his grubby kit. When you’re a kid, you can see your dad’s in pain, but you never pause to wonder if that might happen to you, one day, too.     A couple of years ago I couldn’t get past a sharp pain in my left hip. I thought I’d pulled a muscle, and I went to the physio for the first time in my life. But a series of scans moved me quickly up food chain. Physio-sports doctor-surgeon. One of the specialists said I had the hip of someone in their sixties, and it was probably only a matter of time before I’d have to get a new one. In the meantime, the best advice they could give me was don’t do stuff that hurts.  Truthfully, I’ve found that harder than it sounds. Although I haven’t played a single game of squash in at least a couple of years, a weekly game of very average social football has been the most consistent social activity in my life. You know what they say about men and how they have to be doing stuff together? Well, guilty as charged. I don’t want to just sit around and talk about stuff, I want to be kicking a ball! I’m convinced there’s something about physically competing, albeit in a lowly social league, that does an awful lot of good for the top few inches.   What it doesn’t do is much good for my hip. I turn like a waning container ship at the best of times, but the short-twitch reactions required in midfield have not been aided by my swiftly decaying cartilage. I picture it, rotting away like a paper bag in a puddle. Halfway through last year I started proactively taking painkillers before games. Sometimes I struggle to walk normally for days afterwards.    I know this isn’t good. I know I shouldn’t play. I know, rationally, that constantly agitating and inflaming the same injury is going to cause more problems down the track. And if sometime in the future I can’t tramp or ride my bike, I’d be furious with myself. But quitting football has felt like a threshold. I’ve never had an injury that didn’t improve. I’ve never not been able to play something.   Then last week, I faced a reckoning. I visited a primary school, and the kids encouraged me to sit with them on the mat and pose for a photo. You know how these things go... Crossing your legs and sitting on the mat is the kind of thing you give zero notice to. Until one day you can’t do it. It was agony. I folded myself down as best I could and yet in the photo, I don’t even get halfway to the ground. My butt’s on the ground but my knees are up at nipple height. I look like a capital X.    When I finished at the school there was a text waiting. Who’s in for football next season? Most of the guys quickly replied, ‘Yep, keen.’   When you’re young most of us don’t imagine a point in life living with physical limitations. We didn’t ask when Dad started wincing when he reached for his shoelaces. We didn’t question why Grandma shuffles.    And then one day it begins. You have to start saying no. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lynda La Plante is the queen of crime fiction.  She has 50 novels to her name and is the creator of hit TV shows like Prime Suspect, Widows, and Above Suspicion. Her works place compelling and determined women centre stage – Anna Travis, Jane Tennison, and Lorraine Page just a few of them.   La Plante’s latest novel introduces a new lead detective, CSI Jessica Russell, as she brings together a team of scientists and experts to deal with a complicated and brutal crime.  She joined Jack Tame to discuss the inspiration behind 'The Scene of the Crime’ and its focus on forensics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fourth studio album from Auckland-based band The Beths, ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ explores some deeply personal topics within the band’s classic indie-rock sound.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the band’s introspective album.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Bobbing about on my bucket list for far too long, I’ve finally just enjoyed my first foray to heart-stealing Hamilton Island. Glamourous and gorgeous in equal measure this holiday jewel in the Whitsundays archipelago completely smashed my expectations. With an embarrassing surfeit of island vacay options in Queensland, I had assumed Hamilton Island, or Hamo as the locals call it, might just be another pleasant dime-a-dozen speck of palm-fringed sand, edging warm ocean water.   "But Hamo is so much more." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a common belief that having a pet is good for one’s wellbeing. You often hear stories about how looking into a dog’s eyes gives you an emotional boost or that using real and fake animals in rest homes boosts residents’ moods, but it turns out it’s not a guaranteed path to better mental health – reality is more nuanced.   Some studies do find that pet owners report lower anxiety and loneliness, and greater life satisfaction. However, other studies show no significant difference, and some have even found that pet owners actually reported lower wellbeing, including higher loneliness, than non-owners.   The type of bond between owner and pet plays a crucial role.   Owners with insecure attachments (e.g. anxiety about separation or doubts about their pet’s affection) tend to report higher depression and anxiety – this likely to be worse if your pet also has insecure attachment and worries when you’re not there!   Feeling a shared identity with a pet (e.g. similar traits or habits) is linked to better wellbeing, so if you look like your pet, you feel better – not sure what that says about me as I’ve got two miniature schnauzers!   Mindful interaction with pets —appreciating their present-focused nature— can help owners stay grounded. This is the idea behind support animals for people with various types of disability   Pets require time, energy, and financial resources, which can be stressful, and it’s sometimes the reason people give up pets early.  During the pandemic, pet ownership was linked to lower wellbeing among women, parents, and those with unstable employment – probably because it was yet another thing to think of/worry about.  Caring for sick pets or dealing with behavioural issues and grief after loss can be emotionally taxing.   So, think carefully if you’re thinking about getting a pet! It’s not necessarily all it’s cracked up to be – but we wouldn’t give up ours for anything!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manhattan Down by Michael Cordy   On the anniversary eve of the 9/11 terror attack, New York swelters under a heat dome of record temperatures. Even the global leaders assembled at the UN HQ are forced to admit that the climate crisis has reached boiling point and the world's time is running out.   That same day, at precisely 5-25 p.m., everyone on Manhattan Island - every man, woman and child, including all the world leaders at the UN - falls unconscious. Everyone that is, except for Samantha Rossi, a single mother reeling from devastating personal news and Nick Lockwood, a wounded NYPD detective who wakes from a coma just as the City That Never Sleeps falls into one.   Rossi's first concern is her daughter. Lockwood's is his city. As night draws in, they must work together to unravel the mystery of what has happened and why. Each must decide how far they will go and what lines they will cross to save what matters most to them.   Manhattan Down is a pulse-pounding contemporary thriller which dares to imagine the unimaginable, a leaderless world being held to ransom by forces unknown for reasons unknown. The questions it asks are terrifying - and so are some of the answers.     The Cut Throat Trial by S.J. Fleet, The Secret Barrister   It is one of the biggest trials of the year. Three seventeen-year-old boys are accused of the brutal murder of an elderly teacher on New Year's Eve.  Each boy denies it. Each points the finger at the other two. But they can’t all be innocent.  The three defence barristers have only one job: to persuade the jury that their client is not guilty. But they’re up against a prosecutor who needs to win the case, no matter the cost.  Because when the game is murder, the competition is deadly.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 30 August 2025, the grand dame of crime fiction, Lynda La Plante joins Jack to discuss how her characters fit in the modern world of publishing and her new book ‘Scene of the Crime’.  Jack weighs up the balance between transparency, trust, and the public service.  As thoughts turn towards summer, travel correspondent Mike Yardley explores Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays.  Tech expert Paul Stenhouse explains the use of AI in the US's 911 call centres.   And are pets as good for our wellbeing as we like to think? Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland explores life satisfaction as a pet owner.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iron deficiencies are an important but often hidden issue – the most common mineral deficiency in the world. Not having enough iron in the body can lead to a range of health problems.      Why is iron so important in the body?   It’s important for making red blood cells in our blood, which carries oxygen around the body.   If we don’t have enough iron, we don’t produce enough red blood cells – we call this anaemia.  It’s also important for the immune system and growth and development in children.       How does it affect us if we don’t have enough iron on board?   There are all sorts of symptoms that develop, the most common of which is feeling tired or fatigued.   Headaches, feeling short of breath, and interesting things like hair loss or brittle nails, racing heart, or ‘feeling the cold’.  You may just look ‘pale’.      What causes it to happen?   There are three big groups of causes:   Blood loss over time.   Commonest cause is women with heavy menstrual bleeding.    Sometimes hidden blood loss in the gut can indicate a serious issue like bowel cancer – if concerned, we will investigate it.   Not eating enough iron in our diet.   That can be an issue especially for if you are vegetarian or vegan, as big source of iron is meat. Sometimes an issue for children.   What we call ‘malabsorption’.   Not absorbing iron through the stomach. Can be due to things like stomach bypass surgery for weight loss or some stomach infections.       What can we do about it?   It’s important if you are feeling tried or run down you see your GP for a simple blood test, which will tell us if you’re iron deficient.  If there is an underlying cause like blood loss, it will be treated or we’ll look for bowel issues.   If you are iron deficient, diet is incredibly important.   Obviously, meat or fish is an important source.   If you are vegan or vegetarian making sure adjust your diet to include more iron – green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Fruit (Vitamin C) with meals as helps iron be absorbed.   Be careful as tannins in coffee and tea stop iron being absorbed.   Sometimes you do need iron supplements to boost your iron or occasionally an iron infusion at the GP to get your iron store back up.  If you are concerned see your GP.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understaffed 911 call centres are turning to AI to help   911 callers come with some of the most urgent and serious issues, most of the time. But people also, stupidly, call 911 for noise complaints, lost wallets, and more. People see 911 as the way to reach the police.    This means the operators are run off their feet dealing with all sorts of nonsense. Now there's a startup training its AI agents on 911 calls to help triage and get humans on the more important calls. It's being used in around a dozen call centres today.    But can you imagine hearing, "I'm sorry, but I didn't quite understand you... can you say it again... police? Fire? Ambulance?" How do you feel about this one?     Tech is helping make fake leather smell like real leather   The company, Uncaged, says they can create a durable, animal and climate-friendly material that feels and even smells like leather. Hyundai has partnered with the company to test it for its cars and trucks and joins Jaguar Land Rover on their client list. A car can take anywhere from two to 14 cowhides to do the interior, delivering a carbon footprint 95% lower than that of leather. The automakers need it to be able to withstand hot temperatures for 500 hours, which can be a challenge for non-leather.   Companies have been trying this for years – Apple moved away from leather cases for iPhones to a material called "FineWoven" that didn't hold up, and they've subsequently discontinued.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atomic   Two civilians get caught up in a cartel's uranium smuggling across North Africa. Facing a nuclear threat, they must decide whether to save themselves or stop the bomb delivery while evading agencies and traffickers (TVNZ+).    King & Conqueror    In the mid-11th century, noblemen Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy are exploited as pawns in royal plots on both side of the Channel. The coronation of King Edward in England leads to the pair's first encounter. Harold warns his father, Earl Godwin, of a rival's treachery - but he is ignored (Neon).    Hostage   When the British prime minister's husband is kidnapped and the French president starts receiving threats, both leaders must face an impossible choice (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Courier smiled as he deposited the two catalogues on our door-step – he knows we’re Nature Nerds, and so do the lovely folk at Kings Seeds.    We both settled in front of the fireplace, going through the Nurture/Nourish reading. I was checking all the tomato varieties and other food delicacies, while Juuls browsed all the pretty stuff in Kings Seeds line-up.   Always interesting to see how two people focus on the plant species that is close to their Heart, Art, and Stomach! I kept my Tomato wishes in the same group it's always been: Bloody Butcher and Tigerella, while sniffing around the Cherry Tomatoes in all their magnificent colours.   Last March I managed to harvest the seeds of Tomato Gardeners delight, so those are also ready to be sown, along with Black Krim and Tessaloniki and some more tomato seeds living in my shed. Now it is a matter of sorting out where they’ll go in the tunnel house.  Watermelon Sugar Baby is something I haven't grown for far too long – it's a yummy dessert!   Remarkably, Julie decided to interfere in my choices by flagging the tomatoes Brandy Wine Pink and Kellogs Breakfast. This feels like an attack on my tunnel house too. But then again, she reckons that beefsteak tomatoes are very useful when cooking!   She’s right, of course!   Her Botanical knowledge is quite amazing and going through a catalogue is like re-arranging the garden:   Aster King Size Apricot feels like one of those new varieties that she needs to try. I reckon it's probably decades old and had (so far) escaped her attention – it's pink!   Talking about "pink": How about a Banana ornamental Pink!   Julie has always loved Cosmos. She just fell in love with the Cosmos double click Rose Bon bon simply because it is part of "creative writing" – something that English Teachers really appreciate. Rose Pink Blooms with multiple layers of ruffled petals -what's not to like?   Lysimachia Beaujolais is something I cannot remember having seen before. It’s a stunning plant that looks like it would dominate the borders in your garden with dark wine-coloured flowers on spikes. I look forward to Julie’s decision of where to plant it.   Poppy Amazing Grey is not your regular bright red poppy, but a purple-grey variety that would work well with a coloured background. This is a great flower to experiment with. As is often the case with poppies, keep the seeds for a few weeks in the fridge before sowing.   I was invited to take a close look at a new Thalictrum, Thalictrum White – “Just want to point out this plant will be attracting bees and other Entomological critters”. I reckon I should go out at night and bathe the pure white flowers in UV Torch-light!   Zinnia elegans is a group of wonderful cut flowers in amazing colours. Have a look at the Kings Seeds Catalogue: 20 different varieties giving your garden surprising powers of accent. Zinnia Queen Lime blush ended up as Julie’s choice of 2025/26.    Lime coloured!  Finally we agreed on a regular food item for Spring, Summer, and Autumn: a decent type of Lettuce, Lettuce Little Caesar.  But this one? Honestly?   Gotta be English! Organic Pumpkin New England Pie.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caught Stealing   When his punk-rock neighbour asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender Hank Thompson suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him.     The Thursday Murder Club   Four retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is surely the quickest dinner at under 15 minutes from start to finish and you can serve it hold or cold!   Serves 2   Ingredients   160g dried soba noodles   2-3 cups good quality vegetable stock   150-200g fresh NZ salmon, 3cm cubed   2-4 stalks broccolini, halved lengthwise   ½ cup snow peas, halved lengthwise   1 teaspoon sesame oil   Black or white sesame seeds to serve   Wedges of lime or lemon to serve   Salt to season   ¼-1/2 teaspoon minced chilli to serve (optional)     Method  In a medium pot, bring well-salted water to the boil. Add soba noodles and once they’ve collapsed into the liquid and it’s come to the boil again, time it for 5 minutes, then drain and rinse well under cold water.   In the same pot you cooked the noodles in, bring the stock to a rapid simmer. Add in the cooked noodles and the remaining ingredients, except the sesame seeds. Simmer for one minute, or a little longer of you prefer your salmon well-cooked instead of blushing in the middle.   Serve in bowls, sprinkled with sesame seeds and with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over. Add salt or chilli to taste.     Nici’s note: Keep it simple as I have or add in soy sauce, grated ginger or miso to your broth.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s the government, international organisations, higher education, or the media, one of the defining dynamics of the social media age is the deteriorating trust in public institutions.  It’s extraordinary, really. At a time when humans are on the whole wealthier, healthier, and more dominant than at any other time in our species’ history, we’re more distrustful of the institutions that are supposed to serve us.  Saturday Mornings is usually a monetary policy-free zone, and I promise to mostly keep it that way for now. But it was pretty remarkable at the close of play last night to see an announcement from the Finance Minister about the Chair of the Reserve Bank. Neil Quigley had resigned, effective immediately, following further revelations about his handling of former Governor Adrian Orr’s departure. Nicola Willis confirmed to Newstalk ZB that if Quigley hadn’t offered his resignation, she’d have asked for it.  I don’t expect everyone to follow all of the Reserve Bank dramas. But the long and short of it is that former Governor Adrian Orr got in a dispute with the government over the bank’s funding. It turned into a showdown of sorts, the Reserve Bank Board raised concerns with him about his conduct (some of which he disputed), and after taking leave for a few days he ultimately resigned. But instead of being absolutely transparent about the dispute and what had actually happened, the RBNZ Chair Neil Quigley told media that Orr had resigned for “personal reasons”.  If this was just some rando then no harm no foul. But Adrian Orr was the Governor of the Reserve Bank, one of the most powerful public servants in the country. His pen stroke and the decisions of his Monetary Policy Committee could be the difference between thousands or hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs or homes.  Like many journalists, I didn’t buy the “personal reasons” explanation and felt we all deserved to know more detail about what had actually happened. Ater all, this wasn’t a private company. The Reserve Bank serves us. After Neil Quigley’s explanation, and after the Reserve Bank declined for Adrian Orr to be interviewed, I even went to the extreme length of sending him a letter at his home asking him to front. It’s something I’d almost never do, but the public deserved an explanation. And it’s taken until now and a ruling from the ombudsman for us to get the full story.  I think there are lessons in this for all of us who work in jobs that purport to serve the public. In my role, I think about trust a lot.      And look, I know this is very different to the Reserve Bank, much lower stakes, but I had the chance to reflect on my own work this week, and tried to lean into the spirit of introspection and openness.    I was on a podcast, re_covering, in which Newstalk ZB’s Frank Ritchie asks journalists to reflect on a story they covered.  I didn’t choose one which I’d absolutely nailed. Instead, I reflected on my five years as TVNZ’s US Correspondent, and on my surprise at the first election of Donald Trump. As I said on re_covering, the fact so many of us were so shocked by the result (including Trump!) shows I and the rest of the news media covering that election had done a massively insufficient job of reflecting the scale of the anger and dissatisfaction with the status quo in the US. That election changed the world. Ultimately, I hope reflecting on my surprise will make me more sceptical of conventional wisdom, and better at my job today.    Humans are fallible. We all make mistakes. But the Reserve Bank episode demonstrates the best thing a public institution can do to protect its reputation is not try and protect its reputation. Just admit when you got things wrong. Admit things that make you look bad. Learn lessons the hard way. Convince the public you have nothing to hide by showing us you have nothing to hide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A true New Zealand music legend, Don McGlashan has written some of our most-loved tunes.  From ‘Anchor Me’ in his time with the Mutton Birds, through to his incredible work as a solo artist and his compositions for film and television.  In 2023 McGlashan went on a very special tour around New Zealand, and off the back he’s released his first solo live album – ‘Take It To The Bridge’.  Although he’s been part of the making of a dozen or more studio albums, McGlashan confessed to Jack Tame that he was never really interested in live albums.  “It sort of surprised me, that in the middle of this tour,”  “I suddenly felt this would be great, this is really special – I should be, we should be recording everything.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The Sunshine Coast’s sparkling reputation as a powerhouse of premium local produce continues to raise the bar. Brimming with over 900 food and drink producers, grazing from this constantly replenished larder of goodness helps underpin the region’s bragging rights as holiday heaven. I’m just back from a fresh dip with the Sunshine Coast, after indulgently noshing and sipping my way around her beachfront and hinterland hotspots." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The third album from Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey, ‘A Matter of Time’ represents a shift towards vulnerability and emotional expressiveness.  Her two earlier albums were heavily influenced by the ‘Great American Songbook’, filled with her now iconic blend of jazz, classical, and pop influences.  ‘A Matter of Time’ is a look inwards, Laufey’s interest in seeing how she could draw out the “most flawed parts of [herself] and look at them directly in the mirror”.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo    This killer has a story.  When a small-time crook is shot down in the streets of Minneapolis, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has vanished into thin air.  To tell it, he needs to get caught.  When the shooter strikes again, it’s maverick detective Bob Oz they call in to crack the case. They don’t think this victim will be the last.  And this wolf wants the world to know...  As the body count rises, Oz suspects something even more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets to the truth, the more disturbed he becomes. Because this serial killer reminds him of someone dangerous: himself.  He’s only just getting started.     The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards   Summer 1999. Will joins five other idealistic graduates working for an eccentric psychology professor. They’re going to launch a website to change online dating forever.  No-one expects it to end in tragedy.  Twenty-five years later, Will gets an invitation: a dinner party. A chance to see the old gang again.  But as soon as he arrives, something doesn’t seem right.  There’s an unexpected guest. The hosts are clearly keeping a secret. And on the way in, Will is sure he heard crying.  Everyone has something to hide about what really happened that summer.  But only one of them is willing to kill to find the truth…    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing your own vegetables is one way to stay sustainable in the kitchen, but it’s not the only way to keep your food habits sustainable.   It’s not just about the garden, there are simple kitchen swaps that reduce waste and packaging, and Kate Hall joined Jack Tame to run through a few of them, including:  DIY basics: making your own yoghurt, bread, or soda water (less packaging, fewer additives).   Preserving and fermenting (e.g. sauerkraut, kombucha) is cheap, healthy, and reduces food waste.   Planning meals to avoid throwing out food. Focus on the “use what you have” mindset.   Buying in bulk and refilling pantry staples.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haydn Jones is a little late to the trend, but this week he started baking sourdough.  Falling in between the craft beer and veggie garden stages, nothing says you’ve hit middle-aged quite like a sourdough starter.  This was exemplified for Haydn by the visit he and his friend made to Briscoes on their hunt for a good baking dish.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 23rd  August 2025, music legend Don McGlashan joins Jack to discuss his first ever solo live album, ‘Take It To The Bridge’, recorded during his very special 2023 NZ tour.  Jack reflects on the official confirmation of famine in Gaza. Good things come in twos and Francesca Rudkin contrasts two brand new comedy films – NZ film Workmates and the Liam Neeson action flick The Naked Gun.  Plus, Nici Wickes shares two soup recipes to keep you warm from the inside out.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we lose our Winter Scenes, it might be an idea to get up at sunset and look around your garden (or a nearby forest, if you like). Spiders are in many places, despite the cold, icy conditions. The best time to see their “websites” is on dew-laden mornings – the owners are nearby and await the rising of that wintry sun.  Spider silk glands have liquid proteins called spidroins. They're actually kind of gooey and are pressed out gently to form silk. It’s strong, yet light and flexible – a fabulous building material that serves many purposes. Those webs have sticky and non-sticky strands of silk, so the spider can walk on them without getting stuck themselves.  Websites can be incredibly fascinating in the way the spider builds them – this sheetweb is extremely strong and contains silken supports above and below the sheetweb’s “trampoline”. If a moth or beetle flies over the web and accidentally hits the guy-ropes, the poor insect loses its balance and ends up on the silken trampoline.   In no time the spider works out where the prey ended up and dinner is served!  But winter finds that spectacularly weird phenomenon, known as “gossamers”. Small websites in conspicuous places, often made visible by fog or fine rainfall. The spiders usually hide under their web and grab overwintering insects (often very small critters), which sustains them and allows them to grow. If weather allows, they will “balloon” with a soft wind and disperse to new living quarters.   But if their massive living place suits them for a little bit longer, they just stay in their dwelling.   In spring, huge numbers of small spiderlings will take to the sky in large numbers of flying Arachnids, who don’t even have wings!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seifried Zweigelt 2024, Nelson. RRP $20.00   A distinctive, ripe, and exuberant red berry fruit bouquet with suggestions of plums, then violets, blackberry, and boysenberry followed by lees and a delicate positive reduction. A nicely dry wine on the palate with flavours of boysenberry and tart plums, violet and spice. Taut and still developing with best drinking from 2026 through 2030+.    The Food:   Zweigelt is a cross from St. Laurent & Blaufränkisch developed in 1923 by Dr Friedrich "Fritz" Zweigelt. It has the softness and elegance from the St Laurant and robustness and backbone of acidity and tannins from the Blaufrankish. This means the wine will work rather well with foods that a little vigour, but not too much.   My suggestion is therefore a venison sausage with an onion jam and side of lyonnaise potatoes. Higher quality venison sausage has both and earthy quality and meaty quality without being gamy, there’s always a little fat layer in the sausage as well. So the Zweigelt uses it’s St Laurant parent as the contrasting fruity side to the earthiness and the Blaufrankish parent as the contrast and deeper fruit flavours to the fatty side. The wine is also softened by the cream used in the potatoes.      The Season: 2024    Nelson had a very good growing season in 2024. There was expectation for an El Niño year —there was 3 La Niñas in a row— however it was a hot, dry summer season. It gave growers a great flowering set and yields were predicted to be high. So overall, a great season – there was however a frost event, but any damage was mitigated by the plants reactive repair mechanism. Truth is there was some variability across the region, yet I do not think wine drinkers will have noticed anything at all.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google's big product announcement was... unique?   It was more like a talk show crossed with the shopping channel. US Late Night host Jimmy Fallon hosted it, and it had celebrity cameos from athletes like Stephen Curry, podcaster Alex Cooper, and the Jonas Brothers even made an appearance. Reddit users dubbed it as “unwatchable". They launched new phones, enhanced their folding phones, but of course AI was everywhere:   Gemini Live will gain a new audio model that will detect your tone — like whether you’re excited or concerned   The Pixel phone camera will have a photo coach built in to help with composition.  They're trying to make these AI suggestions more contextual and push relevant things to you rather than you needing to seek them out, e.g. you're at the airport, here's your boarding pass. Or you're in a car, here's the directions to your next appointment, etc.    A software developer has been sent to prison sabotaging his former employer   This wasn't a hack of systems after he was fired, or a mass deletion of data before he was walked out the door, this was pre-planned. The 55 year old developer had created a "kill switch" designed to be used if he was ever fired, and he designed it in such a way it was smart enough to know when he was fired. The software was tracking to see if his work email account was active, and then when it was deactivated the "kill switch" was automatically triggered, crashing the servers.   The incident locked out thousands of employees from accessing the company’s systems and cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.   He was discovered in part because of his search history, looking up things like “methods to escalate privileges, hide processes, and rapidly delete files”. He's been sentenced to four years behind bars.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alien: Earth    When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, Wendy and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat (Disney+).    Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser   Former contestants and producers reveal the intense, damaging reality behind the success of ‘The Biggest Loser’ (Netflix).    Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time   Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented tragedy that demonstrated America's lack of concern for Black people. Through images, witness accounts, and interviews, hear the real story (Disney +).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Naked Gun   Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr becomes a police officer like his legendary father and must save the police department from shutting down by solving a case.     Workmates  An accident threatens to shut down the small, underfunded theatre that Lucy and Tom have built together. Lucy realises she'd do anything to save the theatre and keep her friend, who she might be in love with.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I like to try and kick things off on Saturday mornings with a bit of cheer, but I tell you what, it’s hard to look beyond yet another bleak milestone in the appalling war in Gaza. Overnight, the UN-backed food security body has confirmed famine in Gaza City. It has officially reached that threshold, the first time famine has ever been declared in the Middle East.  As the UN Secretary General declared, this is a man-made catastrophe. There are many, many third party countries that want to get more aid into Gaza. A shortage of food is not a problem, access is.  Two years ago, immediately after the October 7th attacks, I said a few things on this show. I want to share with you again a few words from that day.  “Israel has the right to exist in peace. Palestine should have the freedom of statehood. Both of those things can be true. The deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians is an appalling, utterly inexcusable act of violence. The systematic flattening of Gaza, no water, no power, no food, is an unacceptably brutal collective punishment for a huge civilian population where almost half of people are children. Both of those things can be true, too.”  As the war has progressed, the scale and nature of Israel’s reprisals has made it obvious to many millions of fair-minded people that a country born from the gravest atrocities last century is now also responsible for them. Figures from a leaked Israeli database this week suggest 83% of those killed in Gaza have been civilians.  Of course, Israel denies genocide and war crimes. But independent verification is nigh impossible, as no journalists are allowed in and many of those on the ground have been killed in Israeli attacks.  One of the many great tragedies for all of this is that it has become increasingly clear that Israel has played into Hamas’ hands. Evil as the strategy might have been, Hamas wanted to spur an extreme and disproportionate response. Motivated by their own agendas and self-preservation, Israel’s leaders fell for it. And now we have kids, mere minutes from the Mediterranean, with ribs sticking out of their skin, dying of malnutrition.  The thing I still don’t understand is how any Israeli leader thinks this will ultimately make their people safer. Maybe in the short-term Israelis can sleep easy at night, but every innocent person killed in Gaza breeds hate in five other survivors. The war in Gaza has condemned generations of Palestinians and Israelis to insecurity.  I’ll finish with a line I wrote and shared with you immediately after the October 7th attack, which sadly feels just as relevant today.  “It’s a cycle. Hate and violence is a cycle. There is no way for any party to kill and fight their way to a lasting peaceful resolution. Hamas’ attack has spurred the Israeli reprisal. The reprisal will spur Palestinians into violence in the future, which in turn will spur an Israeli reprisal. Rinse the blood and repeat. Hate breeds hate breeds hate.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an unprecedented move we're going to zip through not one, but two soup recipes this week! In a world where everything is shrinking, we're giving more, 2 for 1, etc.     Turmeric and Ginger Chicken Broth     I swear this is a steaming pot of goodness, capable of chasing away any winter ails.    Serves 2-4      Ingredients  1 chicken frame, either from your butcher or supermarket, or left over from a roast chicken dinner    1 large onion, diced    ½ leek, white and green bits chopped   2 carrots, diced      Thumb-sized piece of ginger, plus extra strips to garnish    40g fresh turmeric, grated (can use 1 heaped tablespoon dried turmeric or 50mls turmeric juice)    1-2 teaspoons sea salt    ½-1 teaspoon black pepper   Finely diced chives or spring onions to garnish        Method  In a large pot, cover the chicken frame with water and bring to a rapid simmer. Use a slotted spoon to skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.   Remove chicken frame and strip the meat off the bones. Add this back into the soup.    Taste for seasoning. Turmeric likes plenty of salt to balance its earthy flavour, so add salt and pepper (see note) as needed.    Serve in large bowls with sticks of ginger and chives or spring onions to garnish.       Nici’s note: The black pepper is important in this recipe as it helps the body absorb the curcumin which is the active anti-inflammatory ingredient in turmeric.          Greens, Garlic, Lemon and Lentil Soup  This deceptively simple soup is deeply nourishing.    Serves 4    Photo / Todd Eyre Ingredients  ¼ cup olive oil    1 large onion    3 cloves garlic, crushed    4-5 big handfuls of chopped chard, spinach and/or silver beet    400g brown lentils, drained and rinsed     750mls–1 L water   1 teaspoon sea salt & ¼ teaspoon pepper    Juice from 1-2 lemons     50g frozen feta cheese       Method  Gently fry onions and garlic in oil in a large pot on low heat.   Increase the temperature to medium and add chopped greens and cook until they wilt and even char in places.   Add the lentils. Pour over water, add salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.   Squeeze in lemon juice and taste for seasoning.   To serve, use a microplane or fine grater to grate frozen feta on top.       Nici’s note: Charring the greens gives this soup a wonderful smoky flavour.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pixies changed the alternative rock game forever.  The legendary band out of Boston, Massachusetts has been credited by the likes of Kurt Cobain for their off the wall, guitar shredding influence.  And they’re making their way back to our shores soon with a very special set of shows.   Pixies are playing two nights each in Auckland and Wellington – one night showcasing the entirety of Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, and the other a collection of their greatest hits.  The reason behind the two shows, guitarist Joey Santiago explained to Jack Tame, is twofold.  “First of all, selfishly for me, we get to stay in the same city twice,” he said.  “And I get to look around and relax, you know, so that’s good for us.”  The other reason caters to the fans, who Santiago says will be able to experience two different shows if they choose to go to both.   It’s been over 30 years since the release of both Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, but in Santiago’s opinion, they got them right the first time.    “Every time we make a record, I’m proud of it,” Santiago explains.  “After a while, when I get home I go, god damn ... did I do everything I can? Did I give it 100%?”  “And I do, but it’s like, y’know, what’s more than 100%?”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Volunteer numbers at grassroots and community sport clubs around the country are dwindling rapidly, with clubs having fewer than half the volunteers they had five years ago.  It comes as the levels of referee abuse and disorderly behaviour on the sidelines rises, with volunteers facing abuse and vitriol from the public.  However, there are still positives to getting involved – volunteer coach Haydn Jones joining Jack Tame for a chat about the pros of giving your time to a local team.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One half of the iconic Kiwi musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie is back with another solo album.  ‘Freak Out City’ is a collection of songs he developed while performing live across NZ and the US with his eight-piece band The State Highway Wonders.   The album is eclectic, filled with comedic and theatrical elements, and Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Beyond the seductive necklace of balmy beaches studding the Sunshine Coast, elevate your playground to the host of treats and treasures tucked away in the hinterland." "My hinterland base was the leafy township of Yandina, staying at the namesake hotel which has been serving up yarns and coldies since 1889. Built by Australian pioneers as a staging depot on the route between Brisbane and the Gympie goldfields, this venerable wooden pile, with wrapround balcony, is one of the Sunshine Coast's oldest watering holes." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Inside Job by Daniel Silva   Gabriel Allon has been awarded a commission to restore one of the most important paintings in Venice. But when he discovers the body of a mysterious woman floating in the waters of the Venetian Lagoon, he finds himself in a desperate race to recover a lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.  The painting, a portrait of a beautiful young girl, has been gathering dust in a storeroom at the Vatican Museums for more than a century, misattributed and hidden beneath a worthless picture by an unknown artist. Because no one knows that the Leonardo is there, no one notices when it disappears one night during a suspicious power outage. No one but the ruthless mobsters and moneymen behind the theft—and the mysterious woman whom Gabriel found in a watery grave in Venice. A woman without a name. A woman without a face.     What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci   ‘Sharing food is one of the purest human acts'  Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.  In What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating, in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.  Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable, to the comfortingly domestic, to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialized in this diary are a prism through which he reflects on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks – and mourns – the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and prepares himself for what is to come.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to managing stress, we often think about the big things —job loss, death of a loved one— but what about the everyday stressors?  Things like buying a house, getting married, and speaking in public occur much more regularly, and can potentially have a bigger cumulative effect over time.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss the long-term impact of everyday stressors and what can be done to mitigate potential harm.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a tennis player have to do with investing?  Roger Federer was a Swiss tennis player, ranked world No. 1 in men’s singles for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks.   He won 80% of his matches, but only 54% of points, and Ed McKnight thinks there’s something here that can be applied to investing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 16 August 2025, legendary guitar shredder Joey Santiago of Pixies joins Jack to discuss the unique format of the band's current tour, which is heading to New Zealand soon.  Jack considers the levels of fairness and transparency in the latest Covid Inquiry.  Haydn Jones joins Jack from the pitch to discuss the pros of volunteering for your local sporting clubs.  Nici Wickes shares a delightful recipe for orange-caramel custard filled crepes.  And Ed McKnight's finances have been inspired by a tennis great.  Plus, Jack shares the breaking updates of Putin and Trump's press conference in Alaska, as it happens.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When rain and cold weather stops for a day, I go out into the garden.  Just looking – Julie often has new inhabitants in the garden and some of those are surprising.   Grevillia is a species that hails from Australia. Some older TV Gardening Show watchers may remember Don Burk doing his hour-long shows every week – he loved Grevillia and so do I. In mid-winter, birds and pollinating winter insects will look for these flowers, filled with nectar.  White Magnolia are coming out right now. No pollinating going on, just plenty of off-white colours that lighten up your boring garden background.   Miscanthus chinensis, still waving in the wind. A froglet sitting quietly.  Gaura Butterfly Rose with an emerging kiwi.   “Just a Daffodil”, according to Julie – bright colours in winter.  These are Hamamelis (also known as Witch Hazels). Many of these wonderful plants have an excellent smell – our yellow variety (H x Arnold Promis) is probably the exception, not much smell at all, but the bright colour stands out in a bare winter’s day.   The red Witch Hazel is known as Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena. The colours sometimes float in a copper direction, with a smell that’s just divine.   “Hamamelis” comes from two Greek words: hama (meaning “simultaneously”) and melon (“fruit”): it refers to that in autumn flowering varieties the flowers as well as the fruits that occur on the plant at the same time.   I love those Hamamelis shrubs – and while researching a bit about our specimens I came across a spectacular hybrid: Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diana’. Bright red flowers in winter but also preceded by bright red leaves before they fall in autumn.   Guess what: I’m searching for that specimen mentioned above!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reunion   Deaf man Daniel Brennan is leaving prison after ten isolating years inside and is now a man on a mission for revenge. Shunned by his parents and community, Brennan has nothing left to lose, until he is reunited with his estranged daughter, Carly (TVNZ+).    The Family Next Door   A stranger arrives in a Victorian coastal town, searching for answers. Her quest to solve a mystery raises suspicions among four neighbouring families (ThreeNow).    George Clarke’s Homes in the Wild  George Clarke travels across the wild coastlines and islands of New Zealand and Australia to explore extraordinary homes hidden in nature. Each episode highlights inventive designs that combine wilderness settings with sustainable, off-grid living (Sky Open).     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Sports giant ESPN is signalling its TV days are numbered   The media company has announced it's going direct to fans with exactly the same thing you can get through a Pay TV provider. In the USA, the leagues make deals with networks, who then make deals with Pay TV operators, who sell bundles of networks to consumers. ESPN has just announced it’s cutting out its old friend the Pay TV operator – ouch. Why? About 35 million households have stopped paying for the sports cable channel ESPN over the past 15 years, and they think they can win them back if they don't need to buy all the other cable stuff just to get the thing they want.   In NZ terms —not that this deal is international yet— it would mean instead of only being able to get ESPN through Sky, you would be able to get exactly the same channels directly from ESPN.   A digital environment means that you're not constrained by the number of channels – you could have 50 events taking place at the same time, instead of being forced to make decisions about what to show on your 5 channels. It comes with risks too, sports streaming can be laggy and grainy, sometimes struggling with the fast motion of a game. Linear broadcast has had that solved for decades.     The US Government wants a piece of Intel?   According to Bloomberg, the US Government is reportedly in discussions to take stake in Intel to help the company expand its US manufacturing efforts, including its much-delayed Ohio chip factory. It's the latest instalment in the tech tariff and China-AI arms race story, where chip giants Nvidia and AMD will pay the US Government 15% of Chinese revenue to secure export licenses to China. The US had previously banned the sale of powerful chips used in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) to China under export controls usually related to national security concerns, and had threatened large blanket tariffs on the import of semiconductor chips.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A weekend spent in Wellington inspired me to re-create a dish from Ortega Fish Shack’s dessert menu: Crêpes filled with a delicate custard and doused in a caramel orange sauce – I swear they’re the best I’d ever had. This is my attempt at these and they’re very, very good.   Makes 10-12 crêpes.     Ingredients  100g plain flour   a pinch of salt   2 eggs   300ml milk   butter for frying   ½ cup store-bought thick custard   softly whipped cream      Orange caramel sauce   ½ cup caster sugar   3 tablespoons water   zest and juice of 1 orange   a splash of brandy or rum      Method  Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre then break in the eggs and pour in half the milk. Whisk together, gradually incorporating the flour to make a smooth thick batter then stir in the rest of the milk. Leave to rest for 15 minutes.   Heat a little butter in a medium frying pan. Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of batter into the pan, tilting the pan as you pour, until the batter thinly coats the base. Cook over a moderate heat for 30–60 seconds until golden brown on the underside. Then flip and cook the other side for another 30–60 seconds. Repeat with remaining batter.    When the crêpes are cooled, dab a teaspoon of custard and spread it on one quarter. Fold the crêpe in half then over again to form a triangle.   Make the caramel by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan without stirring until it begins to colour, about 4 minutes. Let it bubble and deepen to a light caramel colour before adding in orange zest and juice and alcohol. Simmer for a few minutes more until it thickens.   To serve: Return folded and filled crêpes to the pan, drizzle in the caramel sauce and gently heat until crepes are warmed through. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream. Pure decadence!     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Friend   New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. The huge dog immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life.     Jane Austen Wrecked My Life   Desperately single and plagued by writer's block, Agathe gets invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency in England. Caught in an unexpected romantic triangle, she must let go of her insecurities to decide what she really wants for herself.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think we are all served best by transparency in government.     Leaders should be accountable for their decisions, and they should be willing to take our questions and answer them in a public format.    But it’s pretty clear to me the Covid Inquiry has fallen victim to bad and even cynical design, shaped by politics rather than a sincere desire to get a full accounting of our response.  It’s a shame, because it threatens to undermine some of the inquiry’s more useful conclusions. It is a missed opportunity.    In my view, there’s plenty of blame to share. I think the first phase of the Covid Inquiry, introduced by the last government, missed some critical elements in its terms of reference. Worst of all was the decision not to include vaccine efficacy. For something so fundamental to the response, and so important to some New Zealanders that they were willing to lose relationships, jobs, and livelihoods over it, I think the effectiveness of vaccines and whatever slim risk they carried, should have been included. I think it’s clear that different vaccines had different impacts on different variants. You can see how this might impact our procurement decisions in future.  In principle, I supported expanding the inquiry until I saw the refreshed terms of reference. If it was to be a sincere effort to consider our Covid response, the good calls and the bad, in order to move forward and better prepare for the next pandemic shock, how could you leave out the first year of the response? Sure, much of the second phase of the Inquiry might have focused on vaccines, but it also focused on lockdowns and control measures. If you really cared about our Covid response, you’d start that line of inquiry with, you know, the start of the pandemic. To exclude the period when it wasn’t just Labour in government and to exclude what have proved to be the more popular components of the government’s response was disingenuous and cynical.  The Covid-19 response was vast and complex. It’s almost impossible to unpick every decision because you have to try and separate the information we have now from the information we had at the time. The virus has cast a long shadow in New Zealand. Our response undoubtedly saved a lot of lives, but it wasn’t without costs. The pandemic might have been over ages ago, but the economic and social impacts endure.  One thing I’d add to the Royal Commission’s conclusions is that next time we need to find a better, respectful way to hear and consider dissenting views. Media obviously plays a critical role in this. But although I think we did a reasonable job last time, I reckon next time is going to be much more difficult.  Depending on the circumstances, it may not massively change government policy or the public health response. Given the conspiratorial nature of the fringiest elements, it may be an impossible task. Nevertheless, I think one of the key lessons from the Covid years is that somehow making people feel heard and respected instead of ostracised is a vital part in preventing the worst of the societal division that still afflicts us, years on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guy Sebastian is an Australasian icon with a career that’s nothing short of extraordinary.  From winning the first season of Australian Idol back in 2003, to carving out a place on the charts, to mentoring new talent as a coach on The Voice Australia – he's been in the spotlight for over two decades.  And now he’s embarking on a new chapter with the release of his tenth album ‘One Hundred Times Around The Sun’.  The album has taken Sebastian nearly five years to make, a much longer period than the typical six months to two years most artists these days create them in.  He told Jack Tame that in the early stages of his career, he felt pressure to create quickly.  “Don’t take longer than a year,” Sebastian explained. “Or you’ll disappear into obscurity.”  “Then there’s like, the pressure of doing the right thing by the fans, y’know, you don’t wanna make them wait too long.”   It’s a mentality that used to govern much of Sebastian’s process, but one that he’s managed to grow beyond.  “I just got to this point where like, I don’t want to release anything until I’m stoked with it,” he told Tame.  “I wanna love every song. I don’t want a filler on there, I want every song to be great.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Estelle Clifford is hitting rewind and taking it back to 2005, looking at some of the iconic albums released before music streaming services really took off. Among the albums nearly old enough to drink in the United States are Bloc Party's 'Silent Alarm', Black Eyed Peas'  'Monkey Business', and Paramore's 'All We Know is Falling' - but that's not the end of her list. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Brooding, imposing, ruggedly beautiful and spilling with forth with a storied history, Edinburgh stirs the senses of even the most jaded traveller. I’ve just reacquainted myself with the striking Scottish capital, as part of a riveting romp around the UK on Trafalgar’s Real Britain tour." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Unlikely Doctor by Timoti Te Moke   Born into love but then thrust into violence, and shaped by struggle, Timoti Te Moke was never destined to be a leader. After an early start as a bright boy in the eastern Bay of Plenty, nurtured by his reo Māori-speaking grandparents, Timoti's life changed sharply when his mother took custody of him when he was six. He survived abuse, state care, gangs and prison, his life marked by trauma and pain. By fourteen, he was behind bars. By twenty, he'd crossed the Tasman, trying to leave his past behind. But it was a moment in a prison cell — a glimpse of blue sky — that sparked a life-altering question: What if this isn't all there is? Through grit and an unyielding drive for justice, Timoti transformed his life. He returned to Aotearoa, became a paramedic and, after facing racism and an unsupported manslaughter charge that nearly derailed his life, became a medical student in his fifties. Timoti is now a fully qualified doctor — proof that brilliance can come from anywhere, and that our society must change to allow it. A powerful, confronting memoir of injustice, identity and the cost of lost potential, The Unlikely Doctor is not just Timoti's story — it is every child's. Because when we remove the barriers for success, we don't just help individuals — we help reshape a nation.    The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson   Thea, a young woman crushed by guilt, flees to Central America to escape her life in New Zealand. In Guatemala, she meets the charismatic Chris and his partner, Sarah, and the three of them form a tight bond. While the rest of the world is caught in the grip of the global financial crisis, the three friends find a false reality in the backpacker party town of San Pedro. Surrounded by the dark volcanic beauty of the Guatemalan highlands, Thea starts to come to terms with her past. But everything changes when a tragedy occurs.  Knowing she has to leave Central America, but not ready to return home, Thea settles in Tasmania and into a new relationship. Bonded by grief, she and her partner make a life for themselves in Hobart. But years later, when tragedy strikes again, all Thea's old grief and guilt - together with unanswered questions - come to the surface. Against the backdrop of the pandemic and lockdowns, Thea begins to question the trust she has in her partner. She realises that if she wants to know the truth, she will need to come clean about her past. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winter can feel drab and we often end up reflecting that feeling in what we wear.   Layers on layers can leave you feeling like there’s not a lot of room to play. So, how can you keep things feeling fun while staying warm... and sustainable?   Creative connoisseur Evie Kemp joined Jack Tame for a chat about livening up your winter wear while still keeping things sustainable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.