Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

New Zealand is filled to the brim with beautiful food and delicious ingredients, and Thursday night saw some of our top producers celebrated at the Outstanding Food Producer Awards.  Nici Wickes decided to focus in on a couple of the winners — Conscious Valley Lamb and Akaroa Salmon— and offer up a few simple cooking techniques for each.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G20   When terrorists take over the G20 summit, US President Danielle Sutton uses her governing and military experience to defend her family, fellow leaders, and the world.    Crossing   Lia, a retired teacher, has vowed to find her long-lost niece, Tekla. Her search takes her to Istanbul where she meets the lawyer Evrim.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end it was kind of an anticlimax.    After almost 18 months of anger, obfuscation, hīkoi and haka, and hundreds of thousands of submissions, the Treaty Principles Bill was voted down in fairly emphatic style. I suspect the majority of New Zealanders are so over it.    Looking back, I’d say David Seymour and ACT largely got what they wanted. Te Pāti Māori were perhaps even greater political beneficiaries. And the whole saga will endure as a bit of a stain on Christopher Luxon’s tenure as Prime Minister. It was telling that once again, just as for the first reading, this week’s vote was scheduled for a time when the PM wasn’t in the house. I think being there and suffering through it would have shown greater leadership.   I watched the speeches in Parliament and thought David Seymour was right in his observation. Almost none actually considered the substance of the government’s defined Treaty principles. Like most of the debate outside of Parliament, they were all emotion. At times, I think what was supposed to be a constitutional debate was boiled down to pretty a basic and unedifying level: pro-Māori vs anti-Māori!     Personally, I tried to engage with the detail of the bill in good faith. I think one of the most underrated qualities in people is a genuine capacity to think critically or even change your mind. It’s a curiously strange thing these days to come across someone who doesn’t instantly default to their team or side.    It seemed to me though that there was a fundamental problem with proposed principles. They didn’t accurately reflect what the Treaty actually says. Te Tiriti specifically guarantees Māori tino rangatiratanga. It has, if you like, a Māori-specific carve-out that did not appear in ACT’s interpretation. In my view, that absence was absolutely critical.  Many of the bill’s opponents accused ACT of a cynical approach to the debate. I can’t speak for the party’s motivations, but I do think the most honest approach would have been to define the principles by what is clearly said in the Treaty, rather than what anyone thinks should be said in the Treaty.  And that leads me to my final point: the Treaty is clearly an imperfect document. The English and Māori versions say different things. There is no returning New Zealand to 1840, and in the context of the modern day, it’s clunky. I do think David Seymour’s broader desire about more purposefully defining the Treaty’s application and meaning in modern New Zealand, is a good one (or at least worthy of more consideration). For example, I wonder if 200 years from its signing, New Zealand should aspire towards developing some sort of a written constitution underpinned by the Treaty, that gives it better and clearer effect in the modern World.    I think the Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi was meant to unify New Zealand. If we’re honest, this debate probably had the opposite effect. But I still have faith that once the dust settles, we can collectively find a way to constructively have these conversations and move Aotearoa forward.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s finest voices, Marlon Williams has released his fourth studio album – written entirely in te reo Māori.    The Kiwi musician has a global presence, having collaborated with the likes of Florence + the Machine, and toured with legends like Bruce Springsteen, bagging six NZ Music Awards and an APRA silver scroll.  But for ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’, Williams returned to his roots.  Translating to ‘Messy House’, Williams told Jack Tame the title is a metaphor for the pains of chaos and creation, and how creativity often comes from disorder.  “You have a house full of, of ideas, and, and you sort of sit quietly and let them talk to each other, and then hopefully they form some sort of cohesive thing.”  The idea of writing an album entirely in te reo has been floating around Williams’ brain for a while, he was just waiting for an excuse to begin.  “I grew up speaking a little bit,” he told Tame.   “I went to Kōhanga Reo, but it all sort of drifted away from me again as I went into my, moved on into childhood, into primary school.”   Although he drifted away from speaking the language, Williams didn’t stop singing in te reo.  “It's just such a, a beautifully, a beautifully sung language.”  “I always knew at some point that I was gonna come back around and, and give myself an excuse."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was Murphy’s Law, of course. An inevitable that’ll-teach-ya for breaking one of the golden laws of parenting: never take off a nappy if you don’t have a replacement immediately to hand.    Especially when your six-week-old baby has been stewing and straining and writhing in his cot. And double-especially (that’s a thing) when he just had the live rotavirus vaccine and it’s playing havoc with his belly.    It was just as I bent his legs up and put a little squeeze on his stomach that I sensed it. Something in the air. A drop in barometric pressure. A little facial expression, perhaps.   It might have been 2am but I threw myself back and across the room, out of the line of fire. It was like that scene in The Matrix, where time stops and Neo dodges bullets.    You know in a horror movie when someone has their throat slit, and the blood sprays on the wall? It’s a pattern, an arc, a kind of parabola of crimson gore.    It was like that. Except yellow. An explosion of you-know-what was in his tummy one second, and literally dripping down the wall the next. And the bin. And on the laundry basket, the exposed floorboards and the corner of the chunky woolknit carpet. Somehow, he got it through the crack of the door to my wardrobe, a patina of tiny little specks down on my shoes.    The distance he covered was unbelievable. I actually pulled out a tape measure the next morning... from the change table to the wall was 90-odd centimetres: twice his height.    In relative terms, it’s as if I pulled, twisted, and strained and pulled up my legs and propelled my last meal across three and a half metres of open territory. Guiness World Records, give us a call!    I hosed him down, delivered him to his mum, fetched the disinfectant and started scrubbing the walls.   The next morning, I put him on the change table again.    This time he wasn’t squirming. His tummy was a bit more settled.    As I re-dressed him and pulled on his onesie, I sang to my son, and he stared up into my eyes.    “It’s our problem freeeee,” I sang. His face changed just a little as he cooed... was that a smile?    “Philosophyyyyy,” he squealed.    “Hakuna Matata,” his little mouth broke out in a giant smile. No question. An unmistakable smile. His whole face, his whole body seemed to smile with him. Just for me.   I felt my chest flood with endorphins. It was the craziest physical reaction, just this rush, this sweep of joy and love.    It said it all, really. Dripping walls one days and his first smiles for Dad the next.    Welcome to parenting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Who Believes in Angels?’ is a trip outside of the comfort zones of Elton John and Brandi Carlile.  The collaborative album features ten songs, written and recorded from scratch in just 20 days.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the joint release from these two talented artists.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great Swiss city of Zurich is one of the more picturesque, pixel-burning European gateway destinations. Within minutes of exiting Zurich Airport, armed with my trusty Eurail Pass, I was blissfully whizzing into the city centre on a 10 minute train ride. Strolling across the cobbles of this time-honoured city in the crisp spring air, there’s so much urban eye-candy to lift the spirit. I sized up the largest clock face in Europe, on the edge of the Limmat River. It’s bigger than Big Ben. Riding the skyline, the historic tower of St Peter Church is imbued with a trusty timepiece, as are the oh-so punctual church bells that loudly reverberate across the Old Town from the four historic churches, including mighty Grossmunster Cathedral. No wonder everything runs to time in Switzerland. According to legend, Zurich’s 13th-century landmark cathedral was founded by Charlemagne, built on the graves of the city’s patron saints, Felix and Regula. It was also the starting place of the Protestant Reformation in Zurich. Culture is writ large in Zurich’s Old Town, where the narrow-cobbled streets gave rise to the Dada art movement just over a century ago. I popped into Cabaret Voltaire, at Spiegelgasse 1, which was the birthplace of Dada and the avant-garde artistic movement in 1916. Absinthe is the drink of choice here, among Dada’s ghosts. Strolling along Bahnhofstrasse, flanked by chic designer boutiques and swanky department stores, Café Sprungli deserves a pit-stop. This prized Zurich institution is rightly lauded for its heavenly macaroons and hand-crafted chocolates. They are like exquisite works of art – as were the Easter chocolate displays. It’s like a bespoke art gallery in chocolate. Don’t mind if I do. Further down the street, if feeling a little decadent, make a date with Teuscher for its famed champagne truffles. In a city of water and stone bridges, a top vantage point to survey the elemental landscape, above the twisting lanes of the Old Town, is the Lindenhof. This was the site of a former Roman customs house and fourth-century fort, perched above the water. Alongside soaking up the city vistas, this elevated park with its Linden trees and giant chess sets is the pitch-perfect spot for a cheeky picnic. The vast assortment of guildhalls is core to Zurich’s backstory, and they’re great fun to explore. In 1336, Zurich’s first independent mayor, Rudolf Brun, established the guild laws, effectively shifting power from the abbeys to the merchant nobility. The handsome guildhalls, with all their intricate decorative features, lend themselves to a leisurely inspection. I started at the bakers’ guild, in Oberdorfstrasse, before heading over the river’s east bank to Niederdorf, to admire the guilds of the carpenters, builders, the food and wine dealers, the textiles and spice merchants, all along Limmatquai. Then, on Munsterhof, you’ve got mansions of the weavers, saddlemakers, painters and winemakers. In German-speaking Zurich, the street food tradition of wurst remains wildly popular – particularly for lunch. In the Old Town, tuck into some great sausage at Wursteria by Hinz and Kunz. This part-butcher shop and part deli serves up super spicy bratwurst in a fluffy bun. So good! As its name suggests, Cafe Conditorei 1842, on Napfgasse, is an old-school establishment, chock-full of sweet indulgence. Spanning four floors, food lovers can enjoy patisserie, cakes and hot drinking chocolate – they claim to be Zurich’s best. On the ground floor of this historic confectioner’s store, impressively decorated in neo-baroque style, you’ll struggle to find a finer array of patisserie, cakes and tarts. I could have stayed there all day. And yes – the steaming mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream was magnificent. Speaking of chocolate, the Lindt and Sprungli factory has called Zurich home, since 1899. Seven years in the making, Lindt Home of Chocolate, was designed to complement the historic building and serve as a beacon to chocolate lovers everywhere. From cultivation to production, the interactive museum does a sterling job telling the story of Swiss chocolate making, not only about Lindt, but its predecessors. While the maze of white, milk, and dark chocolates is impressive, the Lindt Home of Chocolate also boasts another record: the world's largest chocolate fountain. Standing at about 30 feet tall, even Willy Wonka would be impressed by this show-stopper. Zurich is home to FIFA’s world headquarters and in a bid to stop pesky football fans from loitering in the lobby, the FIFA Museum was created nine years ago, in the heart of town. Spread over three floors and loaded with interactive exhibitions, the FIFA Museum examines all aspects of the global game and how it passionately stirs people’s emotions. Football is the great equaliser. Along with the original FIFA World Cup Trophy, the museum displays over 1,000 items of exclusive memorabilia and apparel, including the national shirts of all FIFA member associations. Th

There’s been a fair few changes in the electric vehicle market in the past few years, but when it comes to actually using one, how do they fare?  Kate Hall has just finished up a two month trip around New Zealand – driven entirely in an electric car.   She joined Jack Tame to recap the experience, and answer a few questions about the logistics of the trip.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young   James and Johnny Golden were once inseparable. For as long as she can remember, James shared an almost supernatural connection with her twin brother, Johnny, that went beyond intuition—she could feel what he was feeling. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life.  When James arrives in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to revisit the ominous events of their shared past and finally face Micah, the only other person who knows their secrets—and the only man she has ever loved.  But as James delves deeper into Johnny’s world, she realizes that their unique connection hasn’t completely vanished. The more she immerses herself in his life, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was hiding something, and he’s not the only one. The deeper she digs, the more she is compelled to unravel the truth behind the days leading up to Johnny’s death. Ultimately, James must decide which truths should come to light, and which are better left buried forever.     Dream State by Eric Puchner   Cece is in love. She has arrived early at her in-laws' beautiful lake house in Salish, Montana, to finish planning her wedding to Charlie, a cardiac anaesthesiologist with a brilliant future. When Charlie asks Garrett, his best friend from college, to officiate, Cece can't imagine anyone less appropriate for the task. Garrett doesn't believe in love, much less marriage. But as she spends time with him and his gruff mask slips, her long-held expectations for her life with Charlie begin to crumble, leading to an impulsive decision that will alter the three friends' lives forever - the events of that July reverberating through marriage, parenthood and across generations.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Achilles tendon?    It’s the largest strongest tendon in the human body.   A fibrous cord that attaches the calve muscle of the lower leg to the heel.   You can feel it at the back of your ankle.   It’s critical to walking, running, and jumping.       How do we injure it?   The most common situation is during an active sport – rugby, soccer, basketball, etc.   Happens with forceful movement sprinting, jumping.  Quick stops or change in direction, direct trauma to the tendon.  For older people, the tendon can weaken and rupture.      What are the symptoms?   A sudden sharp pain back of lower leg or heel.   There’s often a popping or snapping sound.   People are unable to walk or stand on tiptoes, and there’s swelling or bruising lower back of leg.   You can sometimes see or feel a gap or indent in tendon.       What do you do about it?   You need diagnosis: a doctor will examine you and often order an ultrasound or MRI.   Non-surgical: try and get to heal up on your own – only applies for a partial tear or a ‘non athlete’.  Often put in special moon boot for up to 2 months   Orthopaedic Surgeon: For a complete rupture, athletes, younger healthier patients – no surgery fails.   Often within two weeks of injury, they stitch the tendon back together   3-6 months of recovery and physio involved to rehab and strengthen the tendon and get moving again.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 5 April 2025, the man with the velvet voice Marlon Williams joins Jack in studio for a chat about his brand-new album – it’s a little different from his last.  Jack ponders Trump's success rate against the global downturn his tariffs have caused.  Tech expert Paul Stenhouse discusses the fallout for big companies already feeling the effects of the new policies.  And Nici Wickes' heart is a-flutter with the thought of quince possibilities.  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.

Bergerac   A reboot of the classic British drama about a police detective living on the island of Jersey. Ex-cop Jim Bergerac is forced to confront a troubling past case when a wealthy woman is murdered, pushing him to overcome personal demons and reignite his investigative prowess to navigate family tensions and law enforcement scrutiny (TVNZ+).   Am I Being Unreasonable?  Nic is a lonely mum who is grieving a loss she cannot tell anyone about. She feels trapped in her life, her depressing marriage, and the cat is missing. Her young son Ollie is the only thing that keeps her going because he is her main source of happiness. When new mum Jen moves to town, she and Nic quickly develop a deep friendship that brings a lot of joy and laughter, but threatens to bring up old history and secrets that Nic feels are better left in the past (TVNZ+).   Last One Laughing UK   Famous for his dark humour, one liners and THAT laugh, Jimmy Carr challenges 10 of Britain’s funniest comics to spend the day together without so much as cracking a smile. The 10 comics use every ounce of their comedic talents to try and break their opponents without cracking up themselves (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seeing as it’s now autumn, a number of bulbs can be planted in the garden. Here’s a few of them:     Tulip   A fabulous early spring colour. There’s some historical stuff with the Dutch making heaps of money out of often virus-ridden “varieties” (early 1600-s AD) selling them for Fl 3000.00 per bulb (while the average yearly wage of a skilled craftsman was around Fl 300.00) – the bulb bubble burst in 1637 AD. These days they are a bit cheaper and more reliable.  They grow well in South Island with very cool winters – up north they need winter chilling (taking out of the soil and put in fridge for 8 weeks). In mild climates it pays to plant later in the year, in May or June.  But in South Island, planting the bulbs can start in a few weeks; order them now!  Great bulb outlets: Bulbs direct  Garden Post  NZBulbs  Fiesta Bulbs  Hadstock Farm in Springston   Work the soil to 20 cm deep in sunny to semi-shade positions(bulbs prefer well-drained soils). Plant 15 cm spaced and 15 cm deep – in warmer climates, plant them a bit deeper (20 cm deep).   A bit of mulch over the planting site will keep weeds down. Bulb fertiliser is recommended and after flowering, some blood and bone will feed the green leaves.   Do NOT cut those green leaves after flowering: they gather sunlight (photosynthesis) for re-stocking the food reserves inside the bulbs underground.     Narcissus Daffodils   Prep the soil to 40 cm or so – daffodils’ roots go way down!   Plant them 10 cm deep and spaced to 10 cm apart. Well-drained soils work best – perhaps under deciduous trees. Hagley Park is a great example. Planting them in full sun is okay too. Mass planting works well, and the bulbs will come up year after year.  They are not as fussy as tulips in terms of cool winter soils. Apart from the far north, the whole of New Zealand is daffodil country. Bulbs will multiply.    Crocus: the lovely smelling spring flowers  Plant the corms in autumn a couple of centimetres deep and closely-spaced for best effect – they are best lifted after the foliage dies down.  Of course, Saffron is a crocus, but it flowers in Autumn (March).    Leucojum, also known as snowflake   It has a special place in my heart: we used to have a rare and endangered native species in the wetlands where I used to roam as a nature nerd in the Netherlands.   Many different varieties now – flowering in early spring, planting in early April.    Bulbs in containers   Most of these bulbs do well in containers. Picture a terracotta pot with these plants massed together – you can shift them inside when they flower to enjoy, or put them on the patio so you see them through the ranch-slider.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple is going to take a beating   Goods shipped from China to the US will face 54% tariffs, and Vietnam —where Apple has shifted some of its manufacturing— has tariffs of 46%. The only good news for consumers is the inventory that's already in the US isn't subject to tariffs, and companies have been stockpiling inventory – but that will change.   We also don't know how much of these tariffs will be absorbed into the profit margin, and how much will be passed on. It's partly why Apple's stock has taken a beating, because they're either going to see decreased revenue if consumers hold onto their devices longer, or their profits crunched by increased costs.     Nintendo's halting pre-orders on its new console   The hotly anticipated Switch 2 won't be taking pre-orders in the US on April 9th, as was the plan just two days ago. The company says it's taking the step "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions”. Nintendo says the console’s June 5th release date is unchanged. They also haven’t said where its new consoles will be made.    Initial feedback from the launch was about the price – from the console to the games to the accessories, things are more expensive all around. Switch 2 will hit stores at $449.99 USD / $799 NZD, along with new games “Mario Kart World” and “Street Fighter 6″. It's larger and faster than the OG Switch and includes a dedicated button to launch a chat with your friends. The improved processors mean 24 racers can compete in Mario Kart World at the same time.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding a place to live can be challenging whether you’re a renter or a potential buyer.  Kevin Milne’s been thinking about real-estate, particularly deadline sales and sales by tender and the pressures they place on buyers – first home buyers in particular.  He also heard from his son living over in London, that renting a flat is no longer a matter of getting your application in first, but rather you have to be willing to bid for it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novocaine   When the girl of his dreams gets kidnapped, a man turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected advantage as he fights a bunch of thugs to get her back.     A Minecraft Movie  A mysterious portal pulls four misfits into the Overworld, a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master the terrain while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected crafter named Steve.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quince paste, or membrillo, is a sweet, thick fruit preserve made from quinces, sugar and lemon juice. Popular in Spain and Portugal, it has a firm, jelly-like texture and a deep amber colour. Traditionally served with cheese, especially Manchego, its floral aroma and tart-sweet flavour creates a perfect pairing.   Make one sandwich tin of paste     Ingredients  6 medium-sized quince    1 ¼ cup (or ¾ of the weight of your cooked & pureed quince)   Juice of 2-3 lemons     Method  Peel and quarter the quinces. Place in a large baking dish, half cover with water, cover with foil and bake at 180 C for 2 hours or until very soft. Drain the liquid (this can be kept to flavour soda water etc).    When fruit is cool enough to handle, remove the core with a spoon. Puree the fruit in a food processor or blender.   Weigh this, then spoon into a saucepan with ¾ the amount of sugar. For example, I had 1.5kg puree so added about 1.1kg sugar. Squeeze in lemon juice (about one lemon per cup of cooked quince).    Bring to a simmer and cook for about 45 minutes to one hour, or until it reduces to a thick paste. Stir it as often as you pass the stove and watch it carefully once it begins to darken as it will want to ‘catch’ on the bottom of the pot.  The quince paste is done when it is a darker red-brown and a wooden spoon drawn through the mix leaves a distinct trail that takes several seconds to close up.   Pour the paste into a baking paper-lined tin, smoothing the surface into an even layer.  Allow to set and cool to room temperature.   Refrigerate quince paste, uncovered, until cold, then cut paste into squares, using a hot knife. Store covered.    Serve with cheese.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s been right before.    There are occasions when he’s come out with something seemingly crazy —totally bananas— earning him all the ire and ridicule of the expert class and the media, only to maybe be proven right over time.  The one that springs to mind is the travel ban with China, shortly after Covid-19 took off. One minute he was being rinsed for it, the next, everyone had a travel ban with China.  That being said, it is so hard to see how his extraordinary move this week is going to work out as he says it will.    Overnight, China has reacted to the tariff plan and share markets around the world have continued to shed trillions of dollars in value. Today is not the day for checking your KiwiSaver balance! But even as the US Federal Reserve says America should expect slower economic growth and higher inflation, the White House insists his plan is working.   One of the curious things about this term is how little he’s seemed to care about the stock market. In his first term as President, anything that hurt share prices elicited an immediate backdown, and Trump constantly bragged about how he had the strongest economy ever. It’s going to be extremely difficult to make that argument when almost everything costs more.   Still, if we’ve learnt anything from the past it shouldn’t be that sometimes Trump is right to buck conventional wisdom, it’s that in the absurd polarised world we live in, personality and teams are more important than facts. This applies to many of his opponents as well – people on the absolute opposite end of the political spectrum. But Trump’s keenest cheerleaders are so slavishly loyal, many refuse to even acknowledge the most obvious objective failings.   So his team accidentally messaged war plans to a journalist? Well, we’ll just insist they weren’t classified. So he’s slapped tariffs on uninhabited sub-Antarctic islands? Of course he has! Those penguins have been getting away with murder! He’s kicked off a global trade war that’ll leave a majority of us worse off? Fantastic. All part of the genius.    It’s a fool’s game to try and predict Donald Trump’s next move but for the little it’s worth, my best guess is that none of these tariffs are set in stone. Countries are going to try and placate him. Companies in the US are going to try and negotiate their own little carve-outs. Trump’s gonna absolutely love picking favourites, but his approach will lurch all over the place, defined only by spur-of-the-moment whims and incoherence.    Regardless of what happens, he will claim success. His supporters will agree, but the global order looks that much more unstable.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 29 March 2025, Toto's lead vocalist Joe Williams joins Jack to discuss the band's endurance and his musical multiformity ahead of the band's NZ tour. Jack got stuck into Tara Ward's screentime recommendation Adolescence this week, andcan't stop thinking about it. Should salmon be baked or grilled? Chef Nici Wickes offers her take. And, Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas had a perfect wine match. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American rock band Toto are hitting are gracing New Zealand shores next month as part of their global tour. The band was formed in 1977, mixing the right blend of groove and melody that swept up crowds. Band member Joe Williams talks to Jack Tame about their incredible history and visit to our country. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See How They Fall by Rachel Paris Turner Corp, a luxury goods empire, has been rocked by the death of its founder. As his three sons gather at the family's opulent estate for a long weekend, tensions rise when an illegitimate heir is introduced - and no one could predict the tragedy that follows. Skye, who married into the dynasty, is uneasy in her husband's world, hiding her own secrets while trying to maintain a normal life for their six-year-old daughter. The weekend quickly morphs into any parent's worst nightmare, leaving Skye desperate to uncover the truth about the Turner family. Mei, the detective assigned to the case, faces pressure from her superiors to close the investigation swiftly. However, as she begins to unpick the complex web of lies and betrayal, she realizes that pulling at these threads might just bring down an empire... Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben A year after the devastating events that took place in Fool Me Once, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce's college days comes back to haunt him. The present day is hard enough for Kierce, but his past isn't through with him yet. MALAGA, 2000 Sami Kierce, a young man backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning. He is covered in blood. There's a knife in his hand. Beside him, the body of a woman. Anna. Dead. He begins to scream. NEW YORK CITY, 2025 Kierce, now a disgraced detective, is teaching night classes when he recognizes a familiar face in the crowd. Anna. It's unmistakably her. But as soon as he makes eye contact with her, she runs. For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the mystery that still haunts his every waking moment. His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past. Soon he discovers that some secrets should stay buried...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people know about the impact mental and physical health can have on absenteeism (i.e., being off work due to ill-health) and the associated effect this has on productivity. People are less familiar with presenteeism – that’s where you go to work with mental or physical health problems and don’t function to the full extent of your ability Hidden cost as difficult to spot 25% of the 8500 people we surveyed said they had experienced presenteeism in the past month Impact on their work is, on average, working 33% below best possible performance Cost of $2000 per month per employee (based on average salary estimates) More than $46billion cost per annum to NZ if extrapolate that across all orgs – note that this is an estimate and we need more research Lower productivity can be due to: Being distracted Low energy levels Can’t focus on goals Unable to finish tasks Interestingly 4 types of presenteeism: Dysfunctional (described above) Overachieving -where you work really hard to make up for it, but increase your chances of burning out Functional – everyone is aware that you’re not operating at 100% but manager has altered workload to help in the short-term and you build back up to full capacity Therapeutic – performing less than usual, possibly due to long-term condition, but it’s good for you to be at work This is an emerging area for many businesses, so raising awareness is key and understanding potential impact on productivity Need further research in NZ as little studied Would want to move to a position where employees feel they can take time off if they need it to recover rather than returning to work And, having workplaces where these sort of issues can be discussed openly without fear of retribution and employee and manager can work together to structure workload to help recovery and return to full productivity quicker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re tripping your way around Europe independently, travelling by train is the incomparable transport mode of choice. It’s the fast, efficient and faff-free way to travel, with the added bonus of depositing you in the absolute heart of dream European destinations. But across Europe, their grand and venerable railway stations also house some remarkable restaurant experiences – the real hidden treasures housed within these grand-scale transport hubs. So why settle for an underwhelming grab-and-go sandwich when Europe’s busiest stations host some brilliant trackside brasseries and bistros? They’re also a great way to herald your arrival or departure from some glittering destinations. More and more of these station restaurants have really upped their culinary game in recent years. So where should you go to sample some of the best in class? Starting in London, Booking Office 1869 is located within St. Pancras Station. As the name suggests, it was originally the vast ticket office for the station. Four years ago, the space was redesigned as a Victorian-style winter garden, with towering palm trees and plant-themed chandeliers. Each one of features 275 hand-cut brass leaves! Backed by exposed brickwork, a superb 22-metre-long bar, carved from marble and walnut. Dining? Expect British classics alongside nods to far-flung destinations. The Scottish charcuterie board is perfect for lunch. It’s also a great spot for high tea. Paris? You cannot beat Le Train Bleu at Gare de Lyon. Dating back to 1901, this explosion of Belle Époque grandeur fast became a meeting place for artists, poets and playwrights, and the decor was inspired by the Mediterranean coast’s most glamorous destinations. The walls are lined with priceless watercolour paintings, while chandeliers, gilt-framed mirrors, frescos and leather banquettes ramp up the luxury. Headlining the delectable menu, Provençal-style octopus stew and the roast leg of lamb, carved tableside. You may recall this is the restaurant from the Bean Movie, where Mr Bean had some trouble trying to swallow the king prawns. For a memorable first-class dining experience in Amsterdam, the Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas is located by Platform 2 of the Centraal Station. It also embodies the timeless romance of rail travel, with the restaurant preserving its original look and elegant style of the 19th century. It was originally the first-class waiting hall. The extensive menu offers quick turnarounds, while the croquette and bitterbal tasting is very popular. True to the weird and eclectic Dutch sense of humour, a rather talkative cockatoo called Elvis, perched by the bar. Tripping to Spain? Estación Barcelona-Sants station is home to La Mundana. This recent Bib Gourmand recipient serves up masterful takes on Spanish, Japanese and French classics, tapas-style. Artistically plated, it’s a stirring dining experience, but also sharply-priced and unpretentious. For steeply-priced posh nosh in Brussels, La Brasserie de la Gare Brussels Midi has earned the Michelin Guide’s stamp of approval. But aside from the cuisine, it’s the décor that is the big draw, with antique train lanterns, train timetables and railway workers’ hats richly adorning the restaurant. For a bite that won’t weigh too heavily on your wallet, whistle up some shrimp croquettes. If you’re Itay-bound and find yourself at Stazione Centrale in Milan, check out All’AnticoVinaio. This exuberantly decorated eatery and its owner has become a Tik Tok sensation, with videos galore of him constructing his double-decker Italian subs. Made using the freshest schiacciata bread, sink your teeth into the ‘Favolosa’ sandwich, which is stacked with salami, pecorino cheese, artichoke spread and spicy eggplants. If you’re after a Golden Arches experience to blow your hair back, Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest, Hungary, is home to what is claimed to be the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s. It has just reopened after a tip-to-toe restoration to the 150 year old building. The antique lamps and painted stucco ceilings have been refreshed, keeping the vintage designs in place, including the huge glass windows that go around the entire building, as well as copper-covered light fixtures. Amid all the neo-Classical glory from the Hapsburg empire, the touch-screen ordering kiosks look curiously out of place. Finally, a newcomer to the star-factor scene of railway restaurants can be found in Athens at Rouf Station. Greek actress Tatiana Ligari founded Wagon Restaurant restoring several vintage train carriages - including the original dining car from the 1926 Simplon Orient Express. A century later, the carriage is a fabulous restaurant and bar once again. The evocative romance of rail lives on. Spending some time in some of these restaurants is virtually worth missing your train for. Grab a ticket to ride on the European railway network with a Eurail Pass. On popular rail routes, it certainly pays to make a seat reservation in advance. Lock in you

DNA is up for sale, now that 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy It has the DNA of 15 million customers - that's the major asset of the company - so what's next? The company says it intends to continue operating during the sale process, with no changes to the way it stores, manages or protects customer data, the statement said. It's always important to read the fine print! The privacy policy says if users’ data is sold as part of a bankruptcy or acquisition, the same provisions will apply to the new entity.. but the policy also states it can be changed at any time.New York's Attorney General issued an alert encouraging customers to “take action to safeguard their data” and people are - with the website going down multiple times this week.California has the toughest privacy protections in the country, but that legislation is being tested. If the company has no employees, who is there to help process the delete request and physically destroy samples? How would a company handle tens of thousands of requests in a week?The AI note-taker in your meeting now has opinions OtterAI is slowly rolling out the ability to take actions in your meetings. You can summon it like Siri and ask it to send emails, or lookup meeting information in the call. The company is also launching live sales coaching assistance during calls to help close deals and handle complaints. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sixth Commandment - (Neon) Timothy Spall stars in this BAFTA-winning true crime drama that follows the meeting between an inspirational teacher and a charismatic student that led to one of the most complex and confounding criminal cases in recent memory.  The Studio - (Apple TV+) An American comedy about a legacy Hollywood movie studio striving to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and business to live together.  The Last Anniversary - (ThreeNow) Based on the book by Liane Moriarty, this Australian drama is about a family who lives on a remote island, where everyone is hiding secrets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yep – it’s getting cooler – it means that tomatoes - from now on – will slow down. Seeing bumblebees will also slow down and disappear it might be a good idea to harvest your own tomato seeds for next year’s crop. Note: Do not expect any miracles from the seeds found in F1 Hybrid varieties! They are unlikely to come “True to type”. In fact: it will be surprising how different the off-spring can be! F1 Hybrids are cross-pollinated plants with two very different “parents”. F1-s are bred to get an incredible vigour and superior yield. If you like certain F1 Hybrids: just purchase them and you’ll know what you’re going to get next year. The so-called “Open-Pollinated” varieties are the ones that will give you a good chance of getting your favourites (such as Tigerella, Black Krim, Thessaloniki and all the “heirlooms”).  This year I got some really nice tomatoes from a birding mate in Te Anau: It’s called Gardeners Delight. Open-Pollinated, juicy and sweet and the size of a rather large cherry tomato This became my project for 2025-2026 season; First of all I will try to grow plants from my current harvest Second: I will buy a packet of Gardeners Delight from Kings Seeds as comparison with my own seed Thirdly – if you’re lucky – I may send you some seeds as well, Jack!  Cut the fully-ripe tomatoes open and scoop out the seeds. Put them on some kitchen paper to remove as much of the sticky pulp as possible “Fully Ripe” is NOW, before it gets too cold Chuck the seeds in a strainer/colander under cold water to get most of pulp off the seeds – and dry them all over night; I usually try to clean them again the next day to remove even more of the sticky stuff.  Then dry the seeds for two days on paper towel (out of direct sunlight) Pack the seeds in paper envelopes and store in cool, dry area till sowing. If you are in an area with relative humidity, it might pay to add some Silica Gel in the envelope to absorb the moisture and keep the seeds viable for a few yearsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vintage: 2022 Flavour: Always a fuller-bodied expression with flavours of grapefruit and green melon, some tropical ideas like pineapple and vanilla. Peg' Bay always has the knack of just the measure of new and aged oak barrels to bring shape and form to the bouquet and palate. The frame of this wine is bold and impactful with fruits and non-fruit flavours reflecting the bouquet along with a satin-cream mouthfeel. Cost: RRP at $45.00 Food pairings: Salmon with skin on, pan-seared or baked topped with a soy-glaze, served with lentils (or something earthy), something green and baked jacket potato with lots of sour-cream. Topicality: It's officially autumn, though daytime temps are still warmish, the evenings are definitely getting cooler - so a richer, weightier dish makes sense. Food that is filling and easy to prepare is always a plus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid Liam Lawson's Red Bull disappointment, experts are saying he was set up to fail with the car he was driving. Sports Reporter Andrew Saville said there's no quick fix for the issue.  "You would need to rebuild Liam Lawson a whole new car if they wanted to move away from the type of car that it's set up for Max Verstappen."  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig - (in cinemas) Judge Iman, paranoid amid Tehran's unrest, loses his gun. Suspecting family, he imposes harsh rules, straining relationships as society destabilizes. A Working Man - (in cinemas) Jason Statham stars as Levon Cade, a man who left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life of working construction. However, when human traffickers kidnap his boss's daughter, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love salmon for an un complicated dinner that somehow always feel special and it makes an easy dinner for one. I find baking salmon too rich for me so I suggest grilling it instead which gets rid of some of the oil and the caramelisation is gorgeous. Serves one 150g salmon fillet, skin on a splash of soy sauce 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger ½ tsp brown sugar vegetable suggestions: leafy greens, grated carrot, pickles ½–1 cup cooked brown rice toasted sesame seeds lemon wedge to serve  Preheat the grill of an oven to high. Place the salmon fillet on a foil-lined tray. Mix soy, ginger and sugar together and brush over the salmon. Grill until browned but still moist and tender. Remove skin and grill this to crispy.  Arrange the salmon, vegetables and rice in a shallow bowl. Sprinkle over sesame seeds and squeeze over lemon juice and serve with crisped skin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Car safety ratings are important when buying a new car, but are they too harsh?  Kevin Milne is in the market for a new car for his daughter and talks to Jack Tame about it.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The time was 3.34am on a Wednesday morning and I lay there wideawake. I pressed the screen on my phone to check the time any messages, I wondered? I flipped my pillow, shifted my weight and tried to sleep. The obvious cause of my insomnia was the five-week-old grunting and squirming in his sleep sack, a few feet away from me. But it wasn’t the humidity, or the Police helicopter making one of its swoops over the neighbourhood, and this insomnia wasn't caused by a baby. It was caused by Adolescence. My wife and I had watched the final episode, episode four, a few hours earlier. The episode finished, like most of them, in devastating fashion. I sat there, turning over the story in my mind. If you haven’t yet caught the Adolescence buzz, the show has had more hype in the couple of weeks since it came to Netflix than almost any other show in recent times. It’s broken all sorts of records. After just eleven days, it broke the record for the highest-number of Netflix streams in a two week period. Tens of millions of views Worldwide... with millions more everyday.  In a sense, Adolescence is a simple concept. It’s a four-episode series set in the U.K about a knife crime.  A young woman has been stabbed to death. Every episode Hasan incredibly ambitious production quality in that it's all one shot. The whole thing. 45 minutes or an hour. One take. And in the words of the creator Stephen Graham, it’s less of a Who-dunn it than a Why-dunnit? As someone who’s worked in the telly for twenty years, I feel I have a pretty good sense of how hard it into make a one-shot show. Technically speaking, it is ridiculously complicated. I don’t think most people appreciate how hard it is to light a single scene. But then going from indoors to outdoors to classrooms to hallways to drone shots, a hundred metres off the ground. Sound recording is such a pain. And what if an actor screws up a line 20 minutes in? You start again, that's what. I read a piece which explained many of the crew dressed as extras for the show’s production, so if they were caught in the back of shot it would hopefully make sense. A friend reckoned the single-continuous shot thing might be a bit of a gimmick. What’s the point? He asked. Personally speaking, I just found it never gave me a chance to subconsciously look away, or to catch my breath. No chance to check my phone. The story didn’t pause because the people didn't pause, the scene didn’t end until the episode ended. And what scenes. Sheesh. The speed of Episode One. I just love how it had all of the banal procedural stuff, the process. The chaos of Episode Two at the school. It was a stunning vision of a totally dysfunctional space, the teachers yelling to try and control the kids. The teachers who just didn't care. Episode Three? What a brave, bold call. Just two people in an empty room nothing of visual interesting. Just two actors in conversation; the volatility, the brinksmanship, the unravelling. And episode Four, all that was lost. The desperation. The performances in Adolescence, especially Stephen Graham, were astonishing. I immediately became that person annoyingly texting all of his friends and group chats and asking who had seen it. We think of movies as being art. Well, film, cinema! We probably don’t think of TV as being art in quite the someway. Or at least as often. But how do you define good art? Surely it’s a creative work that makes people feel.. that affects them that sticks with them that has them tossing and turning in bed at 3.34am in the morning, replaying scenes in their head. It's been a long, long time since a TV show affected me like Adolescence. As a story, it was devastating. But as a TV drama, it was close to perfect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi icon Lucy Lawless has shifted her focus.  She’s made the move from actor to director – her debut film a documentary about Margaret Moth, an unconventional war correspondent.  The documentary ‘Never Look Away’ premiered at last year’s New Zealand International Film Festival and is coming to Rialto Channel today as a special celebration of International Women’s Day.    Lawless told Jack Tame she was approached by Moth’s best friend to make the documentary, and was immediately swept up by the idea.  “I wrote back immediately, I mean, within 90 seconds, making all these crazy promises,” she told Tame.  “Saying, I will find the money, I will find the producers – the story has to be told.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying shares at the bottom of the market isn’t all it's cracked up to be. Instead, Ed McKnight offers a few ideas on what to do instead.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennie is emerging from BLACKPINK’s shadow, with the release of her debut album as a solo K-pop artist ‘Ruby’.  While she’s known as a rapper in the industry, Ruby showcases her talent as a vocalist, with lush R&B infused tracks showing off the full range of her voice.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on Jennie’s debut album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"As much as hospitality can be a fluid and fickle industry with a lot of churn, it’s fair to say that Wellington has been buffeted by some tough times lately. Business closures have been tough on the capital’s self-confidence over the past 12 months, particularly when some legendary establishments have also ended up closing their doors.  "But I was encouraged to detect a clear upswing in morale amongst a swag of bar and restaurant operators, as I struck out on an urban food safari recently. With over 400 restaurants competing for your affection, the treasury of culinary temptations is phenomenal." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell    On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change her life. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, Ciara straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe.  It was meant to be an escape. But with dwindling savings, no job, and her family across the sea, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. As summer passes and winter closes in, she must navigate raising her children in a hotel room, searching for a new home and dealing with her husband Ryan's relentless campaign to get her to come back.  Because leaving is one thing, but staying away is another.     One Hundred Years of Betty by Debra Oswald   Meet Betty: storyteller, feminist, eternally curious and phenomenally old. On the eve of her hundredth birthday party, Betty tells us her story.  Born into poverty in pre-war London, and growing up fast during the Blitz, Betty grabs the chance at a bigger life by migrating to Australia. On board the SS Asturias she meets three people who will influence the course of her life—Pearl, a good-hearted party girl; Athena, a Greek woman on her way to marry a man she has never met; and Leo, a German Jew who lost his family in the war.  In Sydney, Betty is making ends meet as a waitress at the famous Trocadero dance hall when she stumbles into a rushed courtship with Donald, a wealthy businessman, and dedicates herself to being the ideal 1950s suburban housewife. But life has other plans for Betty, and soon she must find a way to do more than survive.  Set against a century of world events and social upheavals, Betty takes us to the frontlines of the anti-war protests and the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, to the AIDS crisis during the 1980s, to Mexico and eventually becomes a TV screenwriter. Even in her nineties, Betty is still passionately engaged with the world, still surprising us.  From the creator of Offspring and bestselling author of The Family Doctor, One Hundred Years of Betty is the saga of a strong, intelligent woman born too early in time to make the most of her talents without having to fight for everything. It's about the defining force of motherhood, the family we make, and how the determination to live to the hilt, with all the joy and sorrow that entails, can lead to a life beyond one's wildest imaginings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It can be hard these days to know if you’re buying from ethical sources, with drop shipping, exploitation, and cheap labour all common in the business world.   Kate Hall has cultivated a list of questions to ask brands before you give them your hard earned dollar, and, if you don’t have time to do it yourself, her Ethical Directory is filled with brands she’s already vetted.  Questions  Where are all your products/materials sourced from and how are they produced? (details of each material type if there are multiple)? - E.g. countries, certifications, including swing tags, packaging etc.   Where do your products end up at the end of their life?  How can they be recycled and kept in the resource loop?   How are your products shipped to customers?  e.g. packaging and carbon neutral shipping.   What is the NZ shipping cost  & where in the world do you ship?   Who makes your products?  (as specific as possible please)   How do you ensure  the people who make your products are paid a fair wage?   Aside from the people who make your products,  Tell me about your team culture and how your head office/staff are treated. E.g. living wages, bonuses, staff wellbeing.   What do you do with  returns/samples/unsellable items?   How do you foster diversity and equity in your business?  practical examples please. e.g. diversity of models/staff etc.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 22 March 2025, screen legend Lucy Lawless joins Jack to discuss her switch from acting to directing with a new documentary about lesser known tv legend, Margaret Moth.  Jack discusses when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is at his best.  Estelle Clifford schools Jack on the world of Korean pop music.  Apple is under fire for its Apple Intelligence advertisements, as predicted last week by tech expert Paul Stenhouse.  And sustainability queen Kate Hall shares tips on how to ask brands about their ethical practices.  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.

A couple of weeks ago our Kiwi Trust (Save the Kiwi) visited Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (Waikato) – not just for a board meeting, but to see how a modern-day “muster” and translocation looks these days.   It reminded me of a restoration exercise in a huge garden!   Imagine having a sizeable territory of pretty cool forest, surrounded by a predator-proof fence. We’re talking about 3400 Hectares of safe habitat for all sorts of New Zealand Native/endemic species from a couple of Kakapo to Takahe, stitchbird and saddleback as well as noisy kaka.   And oh yes, there are more than 2000 North Island (Western) Brown Kiwi thriving in there as well.   Thriving is the operative word.   It certainly didn’t always go that well in the past: the decline of North Island Brown Kiwi was about 2% per year, which triggered the then Prime Minister John Key suggest we should have a go at turning -2% into +2%.   John MacLennan (Scientist and Trustee of Save the Kiwi) came up with the concept of Kohanga Kiwi.  Imagine allowing a heap of kiwi to “do their thing” in such a forest and use that “Kohanga Kiwi” as a Nursery from which we can “harvest” plenty of birds to translocate to predator-controlled areas elsewhere – Capital Kiwi (Wellington), Tongariro Forest, Taranaki Mounga. Last year 222 birds were shifted to new and safe habitats in the North Island.   This year it looks like there will be even more travellers in the Kohanga Kaupapa!   Birds are caught during the day and at night with highly trained, muzzled kiwi dogs. The birds are tagged by bands or transponders, weighed and health-checked, before kept in a smaller forest enclosure. A day or so later, the birds are transported to their final destination: a forest that is protected from predators.   The cool thing is that this Maungatautari Muster is taking place in the forest and in the local Pukeatua Primary school (Handy to have a spare classroom to assist in the kaupapa!).  The kids follow what’s happening with the Scientists and volunteers who catch the birds. They record the sizes, the weights, the age, and whether the birds are male or female. They also observe the health checks and note everything down on their own observation sheets.   My goodness! I wish I was at such a primary school when I grew up, learning about the operations Manual of the Planet and how to restore our Ecological systems.  HQ of Maungatautari Muster 2025   Kiwi out of forest and back to school   Kiwi health check. Photo / Kim McGuire and the Maungatautari team  This photo is a really good example of female vs male. Gaia (left) is holding a sub adult female and Steven (right) a sub adult male. Both weigh just a little over 1.8kg, and yet you can see they carry that weight differently. The female has a longer body, flatter head, larger feet and curved bill. The male is a smaller bird, has a rounded head and much shorter body and smaller feet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Residence    Cordelia Cupp, an eccentric detective, arrives at the White House in order to solve a murder which happened during a state dinner (Netflix). Good American Family  A couple adopts who they believe is an 8-year-old girl with a rare form of dwarfism, but questions soon arise concerning the actual identity of the adoptee (Disney+). The Leftovers   Three years ago, two percent of the global population disappeared without a trace. Now, 'the leftovers' in the small town of Mapleton try to move on with their lives in the wake of this inexplicable event (3 seasons, Neon).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple has been sued for false advertising over Apple Intelligence   As we predicted just last week, Apple has been sued in federal court, saying the features they were promised haven’t been delivered. The complaint says people would have reasonably expected the transformative features, but the delivery has been misleading.   One ad showed Game of Thrones and Last of Us actress Bella Ramsey asking Siri for the name of someone they had dinner with at a specific restaurant – capabilities Siri doesn’t have.     Google says news is worthless to their ad business   They ran an experiment in eight European countries, removing all news results for 1% of the audience, for 2.5 months. What happened? Zero impact on their business.   In an absolutely brutal statement, they said the value “could not be statistically distinguished from zero”. There are laws in the EU which forces Google to pay news publishers to use snippets of content in their results.   This study will no doubt give Google leverage in future negotiations - based on this study, it seems the news business needs Google more than it needs news.     TikTok’s ‘chubby filter’ has been removed   Instead of adding makeup or glam, fun vintage effects, or cartoon scenes, this filter added a few pounds. People started posting their “before and after” pictures, with some posting how surprised how good they looked when they were a little heavier. That didn’t go down well.    TikTok says they have removed the filter uploaded by one of its sister companies and will not be recommending the videos in its algorithm.        LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House flies seem to be making a comeback after a quiet summer, and Kevin Milne has been wondering why you can never seem to catch the pesky insects.  He did a bit of research, and it turns out their reaction time and flying speed is much more than we can keep up with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These little fritters are just the thing to make before corn disappears for another year and cherry tomatoes are still around for a bit longer too. Sometimes called hush puppies, they’re puffier than usual fritters, crispy and soft. Watch that the corn in them doesn’t leap out and bite you!    Make 6-8      Ingredients   1 large egg    3 tablespoons plain flour    ½ teaspoon baking powder   ½ teaspoon salt and pinch pepper    1 cup corn kernels    100g cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered    1 tsp cumin seeds   Small handful fresh coriander, chopped    Splash of iced water as needed   Cooking oil for shallow frying    3 tablespoons sour cream to serve   Pinch chilli powder to serve    Lime wedges to serve       Method  In a bowl whisk together the egg, flour, baking powder and salt and pepper. Stir in the corn, tomatoes, cumin and coriander until combined to a thick, chunky batter. Add a little iced water if it seems too stiff.    Heat enough oil in a small pan or saucepan to be able to shallow fry tablespoonfuls of the batter until golden brown. Cook in batches.    Mix chilli with sour cream and serve with fritters.       Variations Replace cumin with grated lemongrass.   Add 2 rashers of chopped bacon or ham.   Replace cumin with chopped basil or oregano and shower with grated parmesan to serve.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firebrand  In Tudor England, Katherine Parr reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII. Her consent to marry him carries great personal risk, given her predecessors are either vanquished, beheaded or dead. Perceived as a threat by Henry's courtiers, they start to cast doubts about her fidelity and turn the increasingly paranoid king against her.      The Electric State  An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the polls, I reckon the last two weeks have been among the best for Christopher Luxon in his time as Prime Minister.   Sure, the numbers aren’t showing him and his government much love. School lunches still have their issues and the Treaty Principles episode is far from over, but at a time when Luxon faces significant pressure on the domestic front and a pretty grumpy voting public, you can’t deny his efforts at the Infrastructure Investment Summit and in India represent a full-court press in the government’s push for economic growth.    I know we don’t have big tangibles yet. I know we don’t yet have a Free Trade Deal. I know that if we do get one negotiated and signed, our biggest primary export sector may end up with very little. But at a time when most of us are feeling really glum about the economy (despite this week’s GDP figures), when unemployment continues to rise, and when our second-biggest trading partner and world’s biggest economy is being led by an erratic and highly-unpredictable President, the welcome that Luxon and his delegation received in India and the resumption of negotiations were meaningful. Sure, it’s a stretch to think get a comprehensive deal signed in the next 18 months, but you can’t argue we’re not in a better position today than we were when Luxon took over.    It’s my view that on several occasions as National’s leader, the Prime Minister has suffered from having a bad political radar. I think he’s made some misjudgements that perhaps MPs with more political experience would have been able to avoid. But of his many public-facing responsibilities, I think he’s probably at his best when he’s alongside international business and political leaders in salesman mode as it were, hustling.    I was at APEC in Peru with him last year. It was the same. The PM flew in and flew out.  The time zone was a dog. He was only the ground for about 48 hours. There were breakfasts and dinners, official meetings, multiple bilaterals all across town and twenty different leaders to meet. I just remember that when he landed, before he even went to his hotel or had a shower, after 17 or 18 hours in the air, Luxon insisted on swinging past the Australian delegation from an impromptu visit to Anthony Albanese. By anyone’s measure, it was a gruelling schedule with no down time, and Luxon always had to be ‘on’. And I asked him just before he flew home how he was feeling.   ‘You must be exhausted?’ I said.    Honestly, it was as though the possibility had never crossed his mind.    ‘Huh?’ He said.    ‘No... I love this!’ he said. I believed him.    There are plenty of levers governments can pull that impact economic conditions. This government’s critics will argue that a part of New Zealand’s current economic malaise is the result of its policies. Nonetheless, at a time when the world’s biggest superpower is spraying around tariffs and speedily retreating from its traditional international role, I do think there’s value —symbolic or otherwise— in a Prime Minister overtly hustling for his country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone has heard a Train song.  Their signature blend of rock and pop was a staple of the 2000’s - the band winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling more than 10 million albums worldwide.  They’re most well-known for ‘Drops of Jupiter’ and the iconic ‘Hey, Soul Sister’.  Train has recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, and are making their way down under to tour New Zealand and Australia.  Frontman Pat Monahan told Jack Tame he’s very excited to be coming back to our shores.  “I think it’s been too many years.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Grid: The Inside Track on Formula 1 by Luke Smith   I've always vowed the moment the grid stops being the best part of my race weekend, it's time to stop working in F1. It's everything about the sport distilled: the sounds, the smells, the tension, the glamor, the people. This is the story of life in F1.   Luke Smith has spent over ten years reporting on Formula 1 from all over the world. The grid is his playground, the track his literal running track. In On the Grid he takes us behind the scenes of the past, present and future of Formula 1, telling its story through the eyes of the people who create it - not just the superstar drivers and larger-than-life team principals, but also the pit crew, the engineers, strategists, PR gurus, the fans and more.   There's plenty of thrilling drama, cutting-edge technology and glamour, but Smith also shows us the critical mid-race decisions, how that 50-pence screw in the wrong place could cause a GBP15m car to break down, how F1 has influenced not just the cars we drive but our fridges, life-saving medical equipment and even croissants.   On the Grid brings to life what the sport is really like, revealing the extraordinary minds and characters that give it such colour and intrigue, while also tracing the origins of the sport's traditions and impact beyond the track. For both long-time fans and newcomers, it's the definitive, access-all-areas account of the people, personalities and culture that make F1 stand alone in world sport.     Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin   From her first words to her first day at school, Little Alien can't help but get things wrong. She doesn't understand the world the way others seem to, and the world doesn't seem to understand her either. Her anxious mum and meticulous dad, while well-intentioned, are of little help.   But when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript - a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script - she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom.   So begins Little Alien's story, told from the perspective of an older, wiser linguist, whose guidance will help Little Alien navigate a world that makes her feel like she doesn't belong.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The era is coming to an end for Shihad as they perform one last time tonight at Wellington’s final Homegrown festival.  The iconic Kiwi rockband has been performing since 1988, but frontman Jon Toogood says they’ve been thinking about bringing it to an end for a while.  Chris Schulz attended their final Auckland concert last night, as well as their special show at the Powerstation on Wednesday, and has a few thoughts to share.  For more of Chris’ thoughts, click here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In a city awash with world-class hiking and biking trails, plus geothermal spectacles, it doesn’t take long to work up an appetite amid the sizzle of Rotorua. There are dining temptations aplenty, but here’s some tried-and-true belly-pleasers that I’d strongly suggest you reserve some stomach room for." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.