Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

This recipe is just so divine and though it sounds complicated it really is very simple. My mum would cook this for our family dinners, to satisfy the vegetarians in the family.   Serves 6-8    Ingredients 3 - 4 very large onions  450 g fresh washed spinach or silverbeet  275 g ricotta  2 eggs  50g Parmesan cheese, grated  a good pinch of thyme or oregano  salt and pepper    Sauce  250ml cream  450g tin of tomatoes  cayenne pepper and salt    Method Preheat the oven to 180 C and butter a large oven proof dish.  Cut the onions (with the skin still on) from top to bottom only half way though, through to the heart.  Put them into a large pot of boiling water and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes. They will have opened up a little. Remove from the pot and let cool.  Now parboil the trimmed spinach or silverbeet until wilted then strain and squeeze all the water from it. Chop.  Mash the ricotta, eggs, cheese and seasoning then add the chopped greens and set aside.  Now the fun part....stuffing the onions: Remove the skin off the onions and separate the layers of onions - you should get 6-7 layers from each onion, place them on a tea towel to drain. The hearts of the onions can be chopped finely and added to the stuffing.  Place a spoonful of stuffing (don't overstuff) on each onion section and roll up and place seam side down in your oven dish so that they all fit snugly.  Now puree the tomatoes and whisk together with the cream and seasonings and spoon over the onions to coat them.  Bake for 45 minutes and spoon over more of the sauce if they look as though they are drying a little.  Lovely served with a salad.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first thing I noticed was Mava’s thirst.  In the years I’ve known my wife, I can’t think of a time when she’s voluntarily consumed a glass of water. Coffee? Sure. Iced latte in the morning, Pepsi Max in the afternoon. But water? Water has never really been her jam. And yet here she was, all of a sudden, glugging back glass after glass of the good stuff.  “You’re pregnant,” I said.  The next thing I noticed was her sweet tooth, or rather lack thereof.  “Do you want a treat?” I called from the kitchen. One of my wife’s finest qualities is she never says no to dessert. And yet... No.  “I just don’t feel like it,” she said.  “You’re pregnant,” I said.  It’s amazing how much a line on a stick can change your life.  I think when I was younger, I didn’t properly appreciate that sometimes life doesn’t go the way you expect it will. I have a lot of friends for whom getting pregnant and having children hasn’t been anything like our experience so far. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen, and it can be the most painful, traumatic experience. I feel so fortunate, in that sense.  Crazy how quickly the algorithms get you. You sign up for one baby app —‘this week your baby is the size of a turnip’— and all of your ads change in an instant to pushchair brands with soft Nordic names and umlauts. Oh, to have invested in the baby business a few decades back.  I’ve learnt a lot about my wife over the last 6 months. She’s tough. Retching at the traffic lights one minute, and back on with her day the next. How ever many billion years of evolution and pregnant women are left with scientifically-dubious acu-pressure bands and ginger tea?! The good news is her sweet tooth’s back. And her sense of humour never left.  I’ve found myself thinking about the other parents in my life, and particularly my own. I’m one of four. Four! And my folks had no help. I can already see why people rate raising children as their greatest accomplishment.  Although I understand it all in a theoretical sense, I’m not sure the full weight of impending fatherhood has yet sunken in, or will until our baby is born.  Mava is due in February. We’ve got a pram. We’ve got a cot. We’ve tossed around a few ideas for names, and I’ve been mesmerised by the images on the ultrasound screen. But even as I place my hand on my wife’s bump and feel something, someone, a bit of me shift and wriggle and kick, for now it’s all just magic.  I know there will be tough times ahead. Exhaustion and exasperation. But I also know the magic will only intensify.  A new baby. A new generation. A new life. And the sense that mine will change forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Popular relocation series Moving Houses has returned for a third season, a former All Black behind the wheel.  The show isn’t one you’d expect to be as gripping as it is, but it turns out there’s plenty of space for danger and suspense when you’re moving a house on the back of a truck.  After a colourful rugby career, Andy Ellis has honed his craft as a landscape designer, and has now taken over as host for the show.  He told Francesca Rudkin that he really enjoyed meeting all the people involved in the show, from the truck drivers to the people moving their homes.   “Their stories are actually really fascinating.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In the heart of Orange County, Anaheim is a glittering hospitality hot spot, cultivating a red-hot reputation as a foodie destination, with all the Southern California feels. From fuss-free street snacks and quick bites to spectacular gourmet glories, you’re seriously spoilt for choice. Underscoring Anaheim’s epicurean stripes, the Anaheim area boasts over 30 Michelin-recommended eateries." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coldplay’s Eden Park concerts have been a magical experience for many.  The band is being praised for the spectacle of the show, with a riot of colour, fireworks, and fun technology contributing to the overall effect.   Estelle Clifford celebrated her birthday at last night’s concert, and she says it was a magical night.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marry Me in Italy by Nicky Pelegrino   A dream wedding in Italy? It's the chance of a lifetime! Skye has been with Tim forever and the last thing she's thinking about is saying 'I do'. It's Tim that enters the dream wedding competition - he's longing to win an all-expenses-paid trip to romantic Montenello. An escape to a beautiful Italian hill town might be just what they need to find love again... Ana definitely isn't interested in getting married - she doesn't need a man to make her happy. But when she loses her job at a glossy food magazine, she jumps at the chance of a new life, renovating a crumbling Italian farmhouse. Her handsome (and very distracting) neighbour definitely isn't part of the plan. One thing's for sure, this summer has surprises in store!      No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle   Eve Sylvester is young and broke and needs a job fast. After years of foster homes, backpacking and a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean, she has lost contact with friends and family. She is alone, desperate-and pregnant. Then she meets Julia and Christopher Hygate, a charming and glamorous couple, who seem to have the perfect life: loads of money and a breathtakingly beautiful mansion on a remote Tasmanian island. They make her a lucrative offer. Eve can move into their empty summerhouse and take up a very easy job. Eve thinks she's fallen on her feet-she has found a home, and her child will grow up in the aptly named Paradise Bay. But some things about the job don't add up. Why must Eve stay out of sight? Why have the Hygates employed an ex-con to run their yacht-charter business? And what about the mysterious boats sailing in and out of the Hygates' private marina? Has Eve made a deal with the devil? It's too late to ask questions. Eve is already in far too deep. Set against the stunning backdrop of a windswept island and its mysterious lighthouse, No One Will Know is a propulsive, seductive novel of suspense that reveals the terrible consequences of greed, staggering lies and fatal mistakes.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne decided to take this morning to pay tribute to two exceptional entertainers.  He joined Francesca Rudkin to reminisce about renowned radio broadcaster Lindsay Yeo, who passed away earlier this week, and chat about Stephen Fry, who’s show he saw in Wellington on Wednesday.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While everyone knows about white noise, there are a few more colours of noise out there, each with a different sound and potential impact. Recent studies have found that pink and white noise improved concentration and memory for adolescents and young adults – but only those with ADHD. Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Francesca Rudkin to run through green, brown, pink, and white noise, and the impacts they can have on people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 16 November 2024, former All Black Andy Ellis joins Francesca Rudkin to chat about turning his hand to hosting duties on the new season of Moving Houses.  Francesca proposes that redress for abuse in state care is not something to do half-heartedly.  Chris Schulz reviews the biggest film of the year, Gladiator II, and shares his hot take after attending Friday night's Coldplay concert.  Estelle Clifford celebrated her birthday at the Coldplay show and gives a full rundown on the experience.  Plus, Margo Flanagan of Two Raw Sisters shares the best way to brilliantly grill asparagus.  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.

Isn’t it just wonderful to suddenly get wind of a perfect idea that makes soooo much sense?   On my departure for Tauranga to do Nature Nerd stuff at the Bay of Plenty Garden and Arts Festival, I received a fabulous email from Laura, who runs the Envirohub Bay of Plenty.   Space for Nature.   This is the picture:   Nature doesn’t just belong in our National Parks, our rural areas and wild, open spaces.    If we use our spades and our plants, we can create a Biodiverse area around our homes as well. In cities and villages, in the centre of towns, all the way to the outskirts of those sterile new subdivisions.   It’s a matter of creating the right kind of habitat which will attract lizards, insects, birds, and magnificent fungi in autumn.   Your garden could become an important corridor of Native species nearby, allowing them to move deeper and further into your “hood”.  Trapping pest species is another way to add to the Biodiversity of your Quarter Acre Paradise.   Imagine becoming part of such a community that links us all together for the same generous reasons: creating a much better and enjoyable ecosystem, which will be making bird song a regular concert of the Neighbourhood.   There are many ways you can go about creating your own little Paradise: join a restoration team in your area (planting, trapping, weed removal, etc) and learn what works well in your district to get Biodiversity back in the backyard. You can also go for a walk in your local forest and identify what native trees, shrub, and plant species do well – identification is pretty easy when you use iNaturalist (an app on your smart phone).   You can also visit your local Botanic garden and learn from the professional Botanists!   Envirohub Bay of Plenty came up with another grand idea: sign the pledge to make Space for Nature in your Backyard and you’ll receive advice and resources to help you in your journey – plus a sign for your gate or letterbox (“We’re Providing Space for Nature”).  Plus, a Native Tree and a Trap to get rid of the unwanted critters   Such a simple idea.  Thank you Laura! You made my day.  For more information, visit their website here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rentvesting. The ‘own here, live there’ method seems to be gaining popularity among potential homeowners. The practice refers to renting a home to live in in an area that suits your lifestyle, while buying an investment property in an area you can more easily afford.  Ed McKnight joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss the practice – its pros, cons, and how to know if it’s the right option for you.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is in everything - and it's giving us a lot of stuff we don't need.  Personally, I am sick to death of AI in everything, from phones and computers to TVs and fridges now.   The problem isn't the helpful AI that you can choose to use like ChatGPT and Midjourney, it's the annoying ones that they're installing without asking on our technology, like Copilot on Microsoft, Gemini on Google, Meta AI on Facebook, Grok on Twitter, etc    They're unavoidable and inconvenient and they're almost never fit for purpose. You can't actually rely on them to provide accurate info or do what you want them to. You can't delete Gemini from your Android smartphone so it's taking up space for nothing. I have a particular gripe about Facebook Meta AI, where the button is inconveniently positioned right next to the search button.   Everyone wants to be on the cutting edge of tech and position themselves as thought leaders, and that means forcing AI into consumer technology that no one's asking for.  I don't think it reflects how normal tech consumers think or act - we don't want to automate our lives, we just want things to make sense, be as they were when we left them, and if you're launching new features, let us choose when and where we want to use them.   We're in a tricky phase of AI adoption, where extensive and expensive investment has been made into the development of AI tools. Many big tech companies are now looking to justify that investment, by inserting the tools into just about everything there is.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day of the Jackal   An elite sniper, a master of disguise and a highly trained killer, the Jackal is an assassin, coldly carrying out hits for a fee. Following an attack on a high-profile and notorious politician, he's offered his riskiest job yet, one that could pay him enough to leave this life for good. But his work has attracted the attention of Bianca, a tenacious British intelligence officer, whose world-class expertise in firearms makes her the ideal candidate to hunt him down.   What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, as the Jackal works to carry out his new mission, while being pursued by Bianca. However, as the hunt continues and more casualties are caught in their crossfire, it becomes clear that there may be other forces pulling the strings. As both Bianca and the Jackal's personal lives clash with their work, they risk everything, pushing themselves to their limits with disastrous consequences. (TVNZ+)     In Cold Water: The Shelter Bay Mystery   This true crime doc-series explores the mysterious drowning of a Canadian school teacher while on a fishing vacation. The only witness to her death was her New Zealand husband – former Napier city councillor Peter Beckett – who was later charged with her murder. (Prime Video; also on Sky Open 18-20 November)     Bad Sisters   A welcome return of the delightful Irish drama created, written by and starring Sharon Horgan, about five sisters who are bound together by the death of their parents and the promises they made to each other.  (Apple TV+)     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gladiator II   Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.    My Old Ass  An 18th-birthday mushroom trip brings Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. When the older Elliott starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn't do, she realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what's becoming a transformative summer.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We always make this in summer when asparagus season is at its peak, fresh fragrant herbs are in abundance and your body naturally begins to crave fresher, lighter foods.      Simple Swaps / Additions    Asparagus for zucchini chunks    Mint for any other herb e.g coriander, basil or parsley    Pine nuts for any other nut or seed e.g pumpkin seeds, almonds or walnuts      Serves: 6   Time: 15 minutes       2 tbsp cooking oil   2 bunches of asparagus, left whole     ½ tsp sea salt       Mint, Lemon Pine Nut Salsa   1 cup mint, chopped   1 avocado, cut into chunks    3 tbsp pine nuts, toasted    Juice 1 lemon    2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil    ½ tsp chilli flakes    ½ tsp sea salt        Method:   Heat the oil in a  pan over a high heat. Once hot, add the asparagus. Allow to cook over a high heat for about 3 minutes, tossing every so often.     To make the salsa, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and gently toss to combine.    To serve, place the grilled asparagus on a flat platter and top with the salsa. This salad is best eaten and enjoyed soon after making and assembling.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, and public sector leaders formally apologised to survivors of abuse in care. They spoke with sincerity and an understanding of what these victims had been through, but the most powerful words of the day belonged to survivors.    The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry took six years. The final report is 3000 pages long and features 130 recommendations. Tuesday was the first step in addressing this horrific abuse of vulnerable people - acknowledging it through a formal apology.    This might not sound like much, but many a leader in opposition has spoken out about this issue only to shy away and protect the Crown from liability when in power. So it was something.    But as we all know, as sincere and empathetic as those words were, it’s what happens next that matters - the actions taken that will make a difference to survivors' lives. It is the responsibility of this government, and those to come, to support survivors of abuse, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent it happening again.    This is a difficult task. There are many individual circumstances, over an extensive period of time, committed by a variety of institutions. It is going to take time to structure a system through which people are fairly compensated.    But they must be compensated.    Money does not make up for what happened. But for those who have been abused, ignored, lived lives filled with trauma and shame —some unable to live their lives to the full, hold down jobs, have fulfilling relationships— then compensation is a form of validation, and goes some way to helping with the pain.    When asked about what some have termed the ‘can of worms’ the inquiry and apology has opened - I was impressed with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s resolve to deal with it, while acknowledging it will be messy and hard and that the government will not satisfy everyone’s expectations.   But just because something is hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. If you’re in politics and avoid doing something which is so fundamentally right and moral because it's hard, then please pack up and go home.    For victims waiting up to 70 years for redress; I can understand the scepticism around what comes next. Something tells me though that Erica Stanford, the Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s response to the report, can do hard things.    The Prime Minister, who has read all 3000 pages of the Royal Commission’s report, said if you want to understand the gravity of what has happened go and read a few of the survivor’s accounts. I took his advice.    And this is what I got from it: this is not redress we want to do half-heartedly. Equally, it needs to be done with some urgency.    While the Government is hoping to have a structure and process in place for better financial redress in the first half of next year, there is also the challenge of making sure this does not happen again. How far the Government will go to legislate against abuse in care will show us how committed they are to taking responsibility.    Let’s do this once. Let’s do this right. Let’s do all we can to make sure it never happens again.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi musician Ladyhawke was a fixture of the late 2000s.  In 2009, Pip Brown, better known as Ladyhawke, stormed to number one on the New Zealand albums chart in 2009 with her self-titled debut and hit song ‘My Delirium’, leading to a slew of music awards, and international tours.  15 years later, she’s coming full circle, performing her debut album at the upcoming ‘Others Way’ festival in Auckland.  Ladyhawke told Jack Tame that she has a few tours and shows coming up, but wanted to do something special for the 15 year anniversary.   “I thought, why don't I do something special and do the first record front to back,” she said.  “There's a couple of songs on it that I'd never played live before.”  Although festival goers will be the only ones to get the full album experience, Ladyhawke has been playing a few of her older hits on her tours throughout the UK and Australia.  “Everyone's just, like, really happy. And I love looking out and seeing everyone singing along,” she told Tame.  “I know it's a bit of a nostalgia trip for people, which is, which is awesome for me too.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Returning to the industry after four years, Grammy nominee Laura Marling has released her eighth studio album ‘Patterns in Repeat’.  The album comes after the birth of Marling’s daughter, an 11 track work exploring motherhood and the circle of life.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on this new release from the celebrated folk musician.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey   John Grisham is known worldwide for his bestselling novels, but it’s his real-life passion for justice that led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. Together they offer an inside look at the many injustices in our criminal justice system.  A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty, there is very little room to prove doubt. These ten true stories shed light on Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and corruption in the court system that can make them so hard to reverse.  Impeccably researched and told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of winning freedom when the battle already seems lost and the deck is stacked against you.     The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel   For decades Marie Curie was the only woman in the room at international scientific gatherings, and despite constant illness she travelled far and wide to share the secrets of radioactivity, a term she coined. She is still the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.  Her ingenuity extended far beyond the laboratory walls; grieving the death of her husband, Pierre, she took his place as professor of physics at the Sorbonne, devotedly raised two daughters, drove a van she outfitted with x-ray equipment to the front lines of World War I, befriended Albert Einstein and inspired generations of young women to pursue science as a way of life.  Approaching Marie Curie from a unique angle, Sobel navigates her remarkable discoveries and fame alongside the women who became her legacy – from Norway’s Ellen Gleditsch and France’s Marguerite Perry, who discovered the element francium, to her own daughter, Irene, a Nobel Prize winner in her own right. The Elements of Marie Curie deftly illuminates the trailblazing life and enduring influence of one of the most consequential figures of our time.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Presidential Election is coming in hot, with Election Day set to arrive on November 5th.  Jack Tame is over in New York at the moment, and this week, instead of sharing his own thoughts, Kevin Milne decided to pick Jack’s brain about the race and the current state of US politics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 has been a tricky year for many organisations and businesses – whether it be through having to make significant changes or being affected by the current economic environment. Now is a good time to stop and take stock of how the year has impacted on your people. One great way to do this is through a psychosocial risk assessment.   What’s a psychosocial risk assessment? It looks at all the psychological and social hazards in a workplace that can potentially cause mental or physical harm to your people.   Some easy examples are:   Bullying   Micromanagement   High workloads   Less obvious examples include   Job insecurity   Lack of clear role description   Physical work environment e.g., spending all your working day in the cab of a crane   Psychosocial hazards are a leading cause of mental health problems at work (e.g., stress, depression, anxiety) and also physical health problems (e.g., musculoskeletal problems, high blood pressure, heart problems). Now is a good opportunity to look at what hazards are at your place to set your people and organisation up to perform at their best in 2025.   First steps you should take:   Make sure management is involved and supportive – you’ll hit a ceiling in how far this can go if they’re not on board. If they need any convincing, there have been a number of cases in court recently where organisations have been fined anywhere between $50k and $1.8million for not looking after the mental health of their staff   Talk to staff to find out what things are really like at the coal face. Leaders can sometimes make the mistake of thinking they know all the ins and outs of an organisation and while they will know some of it, nothing beats talking to people who are actually doing the job   Look at data you already have, e.g. are there areas with high levels of sick leave or with high annual leave balances – why might this be the case?   Lastly, you might need to call in the external experts, which is where organisations like ours can help out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Beyond the undeniable dazzle of Disneyland, the Orange County city of Anaheim rewards the explorer with a slew of surprising experiences and eye-opening cultural encounters. With the 2024 White House race top of mind, get your fill of presidential prestige, by taking a jaunt through the Richard Nixon Presidential Library." "The historic heart of the city is known as Anaheim Colony, in deference to the original German settlement that took root in 1867, developing Anaheim as a wine production settlement. Anaheim takes its name from the Santa Ana river and the German word for home, ‘heim.”" Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 2nd November 2024, Kiwi music legend Ladyhawke reflects on her career as she prepares to circle back in time and perform her debut album at Auckland's Others Way festival.  Jack considers the qualities that define the US presidential race. And, Kevin Milne quizzes Jack in an open conversation about his take on the election.  Can AI create an app tracking presidential race calls across networks in real-time? Tech expert Paul Stenhouse put AI to the test and shares his learnings.  Sporto Andrew Saville spills all on the packed weekend of sport and Estelle Clifford gushes about the brand-new album from indie darling Laura Marling.  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.

BOB’S BEST BUYS  Taylors Jaraman 2022 Shiraz $26 Why I chose it:   I needed a big rich Aussie red to match my braised lamb shanks. Taylors is my “go to” wine producer when I’m looking for a classic Barossa-style red (this is made from a blend of Clare Valley and McLaren Vale grapes).     What does it taste like?   An intense wine with rich, ripe berry-fruit, vanilla, black pepper and chocolate/mocha flavours.     Why it’s a bargain:   It delivers more bang for the buck than just about any other red wine I can think of. I don’t know how they can make a wine of this quality at such a modest price.     Where can you buy it?   The Good Wine Co., Auckland $25.99  Whiskeyonline, Auckland $25.99  Winesale.co.nz, Lower Hutt $25.99     Food match?   Braised lamb shanks or similar hearty roast lamb dishes     Will it keep?   It is delicious now but should become even mellower and more complex in a few years.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seeing as Jack’s in the US (and we are home in NZ) it might be nice to just grab a few plants, structures, and colours that belong in our hearts and minds. If I remember well, America has some stunning trees, shrubs, and plants that knock the eyeballs out of your head. What I remember well are the dogwoods, known here by their Genus name of Cornus.   This is a brilliant tree from Athens (Georgia):     Just so you know: we can grow these here too – flowering in spring and often deep autumn colours too. Easy in full sun and part shade with fertile, well-drained soils   Julie would also go with “white” and “America”.   Some years ago, she took some cuttings from an ancient plant that grew around a very ancient building, here in the Halswell Quarry – that building is now history, but the cuttings are not!   The Philadelphus (also known as a Mock Orange) hails from the American New World, is easy to grow and known for its magnificent, sweet scent.   Juuls grows it on a fence – you can also grow it as a shrub or even a wobbly hedge.   It loves sunlight and well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Don’t let it dry out too much – water every now and then but don’t make it too wet.   Mulch is useful, as is some general fertiliser every now and then plus some potash before it flowers in spring. Take cuttings in Autumn… Easy!   I am a fan of spectacular colours.   And you simply can’t get past dense blues. A Meconopsis was “born” in South-East Asia and there are many, many species. Unfortunately, they have quite a few negative ‘habits’.  They are tricky to grow and often short-lived. Very difficult to successfully sow as seeds (sow them in late summer) and are very sensitive when you want to split them up by diversion to plant them in early spring.   Part shade, and no full sun, and a nice mulch of rotten manure or compost – it feels like spoilt brat.   Despite all this, it’s a plant known as “Blue Poppy” and belongs to the Papaver Family   We’ve managed a couple of successes, and it makes me go down the garden when they flower.   This is what I call “Spectacular”.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can AI build an app? Tech expert Paul Stenhouse puts it to the test. I had an idea. ‘All The Calls’ - an app that tracks presidential race calls across networks in real-time. It absolutely is possible, however it's not without its headaches and frustrations. But wow – it is absolutely impressive.    You need to be very, very good at describing things. I have never thought about my words so much.  Things I learned:   You absolutely need to still be technical.   Once you head down a bad path with the AI Bot you're stick on that track.   Was it a total pain in the backside at times? Yes.   Did I find myself in frustrating loops fixing something only for it to break again on the next prompt? Yes.   Did it suggest some terrible solutions? Yes.   Do I think my mum could have built this? No... but maybe with some learning.   Over the course of the week, I found my rhythm on how to interact with it. What context it needs, what words to use.     The takeaway: it actually showed me the power of communication, and the need for the skill to communicate.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Diplomat   A second season of the excellent American thriller starring Keri Russell, who plays a career diplomat who must juggle her new high-profile job as ambassador to the United Kingdom and her turbulent marriage to a political star (Netflix).     A Remarkable Place to Die  Detective Anais Mallory returns to hometown Queenstown, New Zealand and faces startling homicides. She cracks cases while confronting personal ghosts from her past (TVNZ+, from Sunday).    Special Ops: Lioness  A new season of the American CIA thriller starring Zoe Saldana as an undercover agent fighting against the war on terror.   Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program enlists Cruz to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here    A generational story about families and the special place they inhabit, sharing in love, loss, laughter, and life.  A Different Man   An aspiring actor undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. However, his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve found a whole new way to make pizza – on the BBQ! All you need is one of those hooded BBQ's and a loaf of Turkish pide, ciabatta, or another flatbread, and you’re away.    Fungi pizza bread Ingredients   1 large loaf store-bought ciabatta, focaccia, Turkish pide, or similar   ½ cup crème fraiche   ½ cup grated cheese - I used parmesan    2 cups sliced mushrooms    Sprigs of rosemary or thyme    Drizzle of olive oil   50g blue cheese, crumbled   Fresh herbs to serve - I used parsley     Method  Heat BBQ or oven to 200 C.   Use a serrated knife to remove the top crust off your bread.   In a bowl mix the crème fraiche and half the grated cheese and spread over the cut side of the bread. Scatter over remaining grated cheese, mushrooms and herbs.  Season with salt and pepper. Finish with a decent drizzle of oil and bake on the top rack of the BBQ (or upper level in the oven) for 10-15 minutes until bubbling and golden. Add the crumbled blue cheese as soon as it comes off the heat and scatter with parsley.     Slice, eat and enjoy!      Other toppings in place of the mushrooms:    Prawns, dill, chilli sauce & squeeze of lemon    Grapes, honey and flaked almonds   Chopped bacon or ham & pineapple   Pork & fennel sausage pieces & olives    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who’s gonna win?   How I wish I could tell you. But from here in the heart of Washington DC I’m happy to be humble. I think anyone who says with supreme confidence or with certainty that they know who the next President of the United States is gonna be, is just blagging.    I’ve spent the week on the road. I’ve been through parts of Arizona, Georgia, New York, and DC. From a Donald Trump rally in Atlanta to Kamala Harris’ Closing Argument in front of the White House.    I’ve spoken with African American voters backing Donald Trump, new migrants voting for the first time, abortion rights advocates, business owners, a cryptocurrency organiser, and a professor of constitutional law.    One of the consistent qualities is how exhausted people are by the whole thing. They’re so ready for this race to be over. Here’s what I think could be the qualities that ultimately define the race:  1) The gender divide. There is a 16-17 point difference between male and female preferences in this election. More than 60 million votes have already been cast and, given we still have a weekend before election day, it seems highly likely that more than half of voters will cast ballots before Wednesday.    Here’s why that’s notable: of the votes cast so far, women are voting at much high levels than men. It’s about 55% vs 45%.    A married couple who are really good friends of mine experience this first hand. He loves Trump. She loathes him. They just agree to mostly avoid talking politics at home. Something similar must be playing out in tens of thousands of American households.    Donald Trump’s strategy relies on turning out a lot of young men – hence the bro podcasts, the UFC, the embracing of crypto and Elon Musk. This is risky, in that young men belong to the demographic most likely not to vote. But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that Donald Trump has made a real habit of bucking conventional wisdom in politics.    2) The economy always factors in people’s choices, but aside from that and aside from Donald Trump’s character... there are two highly motivating issues in this election. One is the border security and immigration, the other is abortion access. If you go to the rallies or hear the candidates speak, Trump absolutely hammers the border issue and Kamala Harris hammers reproductive rights.   3) The polls. I told myself in 2016 I wouldn’t trust the polls again. I told myself in 2020 I wouldn’t trust the polls again. The problem is the pollsters don’t release their modelling. How do they account for Donald Trump’s support among young men if young men don’t usually vote in the same numbers as other demographics? If people misled pollsters by telling them they were supporting Hillary when they were really supporting Trump, will they do that again? Or has Trump shame passed as a notable phenomenon? Right now, Kamala Harris is doing worse in the polls than Hillary Clinton and worse than Joe Biden, but is there a chance the pollsters have overcorrected?    The election is Wednesday. I think it’s pretty unlikely we’ll have a result that day and it’ll take time before either Harris or Trump is officially the President-elect. Regardless of who wins, I think, sadly, the American electorate is going to remain bitterly divided.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wiggles have been going strong for over three decades, and their lineup has changed a bit along the way.  Going from four to eight, the current lineup includes the original Blue Wiggle, Anthony Field, alongside a cast of newer faces: Tsehay Hawkins, Lachy Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, and Lucia Field.  Tsehay Hawkins joined the Wiggles at age 15, taking over from Emma Watkins as the Yellow Wiggle in 2021.  "That was a pretty, pretty surreal moment,” she told Jack Tame.   The Wiggles team is a pretty close-knit group, Hawkins revealed.  “Everyone’s friends, we’re all actually mates, so that makes it so much easier.”  “It doesn’t feel like work.”  The Wiggles are coming to New Zealand this summer, bringing their Sound System Dance Party to Christchurch and Mount Maunganui.  It’s our first-ever dedicated dance festival for toddlers, featuring reimagined dance versions of the classic hits, and Dorothy the Dinosaur on the turntables.  “She’s levelled up,” Hawkins said.  “She still does all the Wiggle stuff, but now we've got remixes of the OG Wiggles songs, but we've made it like, club vibes. We’ve got full house, techno, and that’s what we’re doing in January next year.”  “We're so stoked to be coming back.”  For more information, visit kyaevents.co.nz.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Tame isn’t the only one with fond memories of New York.  Kevin Milne visited the city back in 1996, spending a week there filming a video for TVNZ’s travel programme.   He joined Jack to reminisce about the experience and his memories of the city.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying property is an expensive and often difficult task, so how do you get the best deal?  Ed McKnight of Opes Partners joined Jack Tame to offer up some tips and tricks to get the best deal when dealing with the property market.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If you’re heading to the West Coast via Lewis Pass, make a date with the starring town of Reefton. From Springs Junction, the highway threads through the verdant beech forest finery of Victoria Forest Park, New Zealand’s largest conservation park of its type, spanning 180,000 hectares. There are gold mining and quartz mining relics in the area, with a variety of sublime hikes, from short strolls to epic, multi day tramps. But the hospitality beacon is Reefton, the Town of Light, where the glint of gold gave birth to its name courtesy of the vast quartz reef that spawned the 1870 gold rush." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just over a week after its release, Kylie Minogue’s Tension II has netted her a landmark 10th Official Number 1 album in the UK.  The 13 track album also debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA Chart, and in Minogue’s words, it’s a continuation of an era she’s delighted to explore.   “I can’t possibly let it be over just yet! Welcome to Tension II.”  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waiting by Michael Connelly   In cold cases, it’s not the hope that kills you. It’s the waiting.  Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-four, so the genetic link must be familial: His father was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.  Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department ammunition to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her mission draws her into unexpected danger. With no choice but to go outside the department for help, she knocks on the door of Harry Bosch.  At the same time, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit: Bosch’s daughter Maddie, now a patrol officer. But Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls—a case that may be the most iconic in the city’s history.     The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell   When a tragedy breaks a family apart, what can bring it back together?  The Birds seem to be the perfect family: mother, father, four children, a picture-book cottage in the country.  But one Easter weekend, something happens - something so unexpected, so devastating, that no one can bring themselves to talk about it.  The family shatters, seemingly for good.  Until, years later, they are forced to return to the house they grew up in, and to confront what really broke the family apart...    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 26th October 2024, Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins joins Jack to chat about the energy it takes to be a part of the iconic group, and her incredible passion for dance.  Jack offers his thoughts on why New York is the best city in the world.  Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin shares two movie picks, perfect for the long weekend.   And, Australian icon Kylie Minogue dropped her new album, fresh off her Vegas residency and heading into a major world tour - how did the 80s nostalgia dance tracks stack up?  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.

Warmer days are on their way, and sunny days bring with them increased risk of skin damage.  There’s plenty of sunscreen brands and SPFs on the market, but not all of them will treat the planet as well as they’ll protect your skin.  Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall joined Jack Tame for a chat about what to look for when hunting for sustainable sun protection, and what else you can do to protect your skin.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guess what – last week I found my first gorgeous Tineola bisselliella moths of the season.  A pretty yellow-brown, tiny moth with an orange hairdo. I remember this critter from the Netherlands all those years ago, and it has reached New Zealand not terribly long ago, as far as I can see.   This cosmopolitan moth is becoming more and more common in the Christchurch region. Although it’s spreading to a few New Zealand Centres: Wellington, Napier and who knows where else.  This attractive moth has a very descriptive vernacular name: Webbing Clothes Moth.   Its larvae (also known as caterpillars) chew on woollen materials, as well as taxidermied skins and feathers.   From now on they’ll be on the wing at my place, laying eggs in our woollen rugs and woollen carpets, chewing holes in all those natural products that keep us warm.   It really hacks me off if I find them in my taxidermied pheasant or kiwi. They also destroy feathers!   But when Julie finds evidence in her fancy clothes cupboard, I will be severely questioned “when is the last time you sprayed their favourite habitat?”   “Do something!”   And off I go to my mates at Safeworx, a company that stocks the most effective Pyrethroid insecticide aerosols on the planet – I should know, because in the days when I was a real entomologist (and working for the Ministry of Agriculture) we developed these insecticides for aircraft quarantine reasons, so that no nasty interlopers would enter Aotearoa: creatures such as Mosquitoes that transmit human diseases, Malaria, Dengue, Ross River Virus etc, etc.   This was a long time ago: the nineteen eighties!   Spraying the walls, ceiling and floor of Aircraft holds to measure the efficacy of the Synthetic pyrethroid on flies, mosquitoes, moths, and beetles…   Those were the fun days!   Ask the folks at Safeworx for a few aerosol cans of the residual aircraft hold spray – I’m sure they’ll find the right one.   Spray the surfaces where the damage is found; aim at a distance of around 60 centimetres and move over the woollen materials in a brisk tempo. The spray dries relatively fast and will be killing insects for at least 8 weeks (and much longer if the treated areas are out of direct sunlight).    This spray formulation works very well on most insect species and its residual activity is suitably long.   If you have trouble with house borer (another cosmopolitan pest that causes damage in New Zealand), a quick spray over the timber, furniture and wooden antiques will knock the borer beetles out as they emerge from their timber “homes” where they developed over the past year or so.   Timing is everything! The beetles usually emerge early December to mate and lay eggs, if you spray the infested timber in the last week of November the beetles will not survive this part of their life cycle.   It’s worth a try.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another week, more AI advancements.   A crazy powerful AI is just months away  Reporting from The Verge says OpenAI will release a new model, codenamed "Orion", in December. The report says the launch strategy is different - instead of making it available in ChatGPT first, it's going to be given to their paying partners via APIs.   OpenAI's CEO says this is "fake news", but if the reporting is true, it's said to be potentially up to 100 times more powerful than the current GPT-4. They just closed a $6.6 billion funding round and are working to restructure themselves as a for-profit company. Maybe it'll be "ClosedAI"?       Adobe says artists need to get on the AI bandwagon   Their VP of Generative AI says they’re “not going to be successful in this new world without using it". It's all-in on the tech, and there won't be a product in its suite without it.   "We’ve always innovated with conviction, and we believe in the conviction of what we’re doing here". The company says the AI features, such as their Firefly tool that extends and generates bits of images for you, are some of the most adopted products Adobe has ever released. But will it kill art? There's a growing backlash to the tech in the creative community, but the VP goes on to say that "human creativity will be a critical part of it" and there "will be a thirst for artists who do things by hand".  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Territory  When the world's largest livestock farm is left without a successor, the most powerful factions in the Australian outback: miners, landowners, cowboys and gangsters, start preparing their weapons (Netflix).      Simone Biles Rising: Part 2  The redemption arc for Simone Biles is complete, with the final instalment of this documentary series that follows the American gymnast as she competes in the Paris Olympics (Netflix).        Line of Duty  It’s an oldie, but a goodie. All six seasons of the brilliant British police drama about investigating corrupt officers has just dropped on Netflix.  As a result of refusing to participate in a cover-up, DS Steve Arnott joins a special and controversial unit dedicated to rooting out corruption within the police.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lee   The story of photographer Elizabeth `Lee' Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.   Venom: The Last Dance   Eddie Brock and Venom must make a devastating decision as they're pursued by a mysterious military man.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a good idea with a long weekend to make a big batch of some staples that can be eaten for lunch or dinner, dressed up of down. This rice salad is the perfect example; serve it with smoked salmon or a steak or teriyaki chicken or just on its own.    Makes about 6 cups       Ingredients  4 cups cooked brown rice or sushi rice    1 cup shelled edamame beans (avail in frozen section of supermarket)    ½-1 telegraph cucumber, sliced thinly    3-4 radish, sliced thinly    1 cup pickled mushrooms – see below    Options to add – tuna, hot smoked salmon, shredded carrot    ¼ cup store-bought roasted sesame dressing    Squeeze of lemon juice    Black sesame seeds to serve      Method  Toss all of the ingredients together (hold some radish and the sesame seeds back, to garnish), tumble onto a serving plate and drizzle over sesame dressing, some of the mushroom pickling juices and the lemon juice.   Scatter over remaining radish and sesame seeds to serve.       Pickled mushrooms   Makes one jar    Ingredients  200g brown button mushrooms, thinly sliced   1 tbsp finely diced onion   1 tsp grated ginger    1 tsp brown sugar    75mls rice wine vinegar    1 tbsp soy sauce   Boiling water      Method  Cram sliced mushrooms, onion, ginger and sugar into a jar. Pour over rice wine vinegar, soy sauce and then boiling water to cover. Leave for 2 hours or overnight. Seal and keep in fridge until ready to use.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m writing this in Central Park. I’m right up in the North East corner, sitting on a bench by the Harlem Meer, 100m or so from the apartment where I lived for the second half of my twenties. It’s so familiar. The warm evening air, people laid out with picnic mats, a guy with a big plastic bin of churros. Kids chasing each other, squealing, skylarking, the sound of traffic crawling down Fifth Avenue. Across the road, staring down the length of Central Park is my favourite obscure building in all of Manhattan. The views from this thing would cost enough to make an Oligarch’s gulp. But it took until a couple of years ago for the city to finally convert it from its previous use: a low-security prison. I haven’t been in New York for two years. When I was last here, post-Covid, it felt a bit dark. Back in the day, I used to be so blasé about safety – I felt more threatened in central Christchurch late at night than I did in East Harlem. But Covid changed that. You could sense people were fearful and untrusting. It’s better now. More like the New York I remember. When I landed this week, I did my usual thing. I got a coffee and a pastry, I put in my headphones, and I walked. It took me a morning until I had the rhythm of the traffic, j-walking with confidence and checking the right way up the streets as I crossed. I rode the subway everywhere. I mostly didn’t need the map. Amazing how you can feel nostalgic for the gentle resistance of a turnstile bar, for the lurching, screaming, and shuddering of a metal subway car, staring dead-eyed through the windows into the black. Even when a city is familiar, taking time away and coming in with fresh eyes gives you a perspective you don’t have when you’re immersed in it, living it. I’m realistic enough to accept it probably means you look at things with rose-tinted glasses. But there’s a reason all of my friends here have moved out to the suburbs. The thing that has surprised me most is that I feel it too. It’s not that I’m tired of the city, it’s just that I’m not sure I have the energy and the patience for the hustle and the horns, the concrete and the studio apartments. One thing doesn’t change though: New York is the best city in the world. For two simple reasons. Number one: diversity. There cannot be a city with a greater spread of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and socio-economic extremes. The thing that everyone has in common is that everyone is different. And the result of that diversity is the greatest concentration of interesting food, music, and art on the planet. And the other reason it’s the great city is public space. Because almost everyone lives in small spaces, everything public is always busy, and every public space is used. There’s a collective experience, whether people are conscious of it or not. It means the tiny little strip of land on the corner of Madison and 110th has been converted into a community garden. It means the benches alongside the triangle of green at Broadway and 72nd are always filled with people, just watching the World go by. And it means here, tonight, on a random Autumn evening, as Central Park’s leaves turn gold, and the sun drops below the West Side, there are hundreds of people out enjoying the moment, socialising, playing, eating, relaxing. It feels vital, alive. Even a bit magical.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Morpurgo is a literary treasure.  The author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, he’s written around 150 books, loved particularly among children and young people.  He’s returned with yet another novel, Cobweb following a little dog heading to London in the aftermath of Britain’s triumph at Waterloo.  Morpurgo told Jack Tame that much like many of his stories, Cobweb was inspired by a friend of his who walked 250 miles from the West Coast of Wales to London on a drovers’ road.   Drovers’ roads are the paths farmers would use to bring their livestock from their farms to the market, as back before vehicles and public transport became common, walking was the only way to reach the big cities.   While researching drovers’ roads, Morpurgo realised that their stories, and the stories of drovers’ dogs in particular, aren’t well known.  “And I thought, that's a story that mostly no one knows, so why don't you tell it? Tell that tale? So that's what I did.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A painful form of arthritis, gout is the second most common form affecting New Zealanders.   A major international study involving around 2.6 million people, has revealed that genetics are a major cause, not lifestyle choices.   Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to run through the study, what gout looks like, and how it impacts people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi musical icon Kimbra is back with another album.   Idols & Vices (Vol. 1) is a collaborative album, featuring the likes of BANKS, Dawn Richard, DRAM, Skrillex, and Sahtyre, and while Kimbra doesn’t stray too far from her experimental pop sound, there is more R&B and hiphop influences in this work.  Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  “It grows on me day by day, this album.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell   When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing – and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes – on both sides of the Atlantic – remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.  At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnelli into Italy’s ‘uncrowned king’ on the international stage and after moving to the US brought a struggling Democratic party back to life, hand-picking Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulting him to the presidency.  Picked as Ambassador to France, she deployed her legendary subtle powers to charm world leaders and help efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, playing her part in what was arguably the high-water mark of American global supremacy.  There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th Century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra. Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigor that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, KINGMAKER re-asserts Harriman’s rightful place at the heart of history.  See Less      The Valley by Chris Hammer   Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are back – and Nell is thrown into her most emotionally fraught investigation yet.  A controversial entrepreneur is murdered in a remote mountain valley, but this is no ordinary case. Ivan and Nell are soon contending with cowboy lawyers, conmen, bullion thieves and grave robbers.  But it's when Nell discovers the victim is a close blood relative that the past begins to take on a looming significance.  What did take place in The Valley all those years ago? What was Nell's mother doing there, and what was her connection to troubled young police officer Simmons Burnside? And why do the police hierarchy insist Ivan and Nell stay with the case despite an obvious conflict of interest?    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Savouring Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands is an adventure to relish. Swathed in lush jungle greens, pepper-potted with shapely hills and anchored by a gloriously soothing lake at its heart, the seduction is fast and sweet in the gateway city of Kandy. The very name Kandy conjures visions of splendour and mystique. It’s a city that proudly keeps its legends, traditions and folklore alive." "Another huge highlight was visiting the storied Geragama Tea Factory. Located close to Kandy, this is one of your classic old-school tea factories, specialising in long leaf tea for over 120 years. They do a great job in chronicling the rise of Ceylon Tea and how the nation remains one of the world’s top five tea producers." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been so anxious that your stomach started hurting? In addition to its well-known impacts on mental health, stress can also make people feel physically ill—and a new study could help explain why.   Although it’s fairly common knowledge that the gut “talks” to the brain by releasing hormones into the bloodstream, this recent study showed the relationship going back the other way: from the brain to the gut to the immune system.   Researchers have found that removing key glands (called Brunner’s glands) in mice, which line the walls of the small intestine, triggered inflammation and increase the chance of infection. Similar thing happens in humans who’ve had tumours removed in their gut.   It seems that removal of these glands leads to a reduction in gut bacteria which triggers inflammation and subsequent pain.   When the researchers took a closer look at these glands, they discovered a connection to the vagus nerve that goes from the base of the brain to the internal organs, influencing digestion, blood pressure, and even memory and mood. Fibers that connect to Brunner’s gland lead directly to a region of the brain known as the amygdala, which plays a key role in emotion and the stress response.   Researchers found that when mice are under chronic stress their glands shut down—causing gut bacteria to dwindle and intensifying inflammation.   The take home message: being under mental stress can lead to a painful stomach! It highlights the importance of monitoring your stress levels and keeping good gut bacteria.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.