Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

A couple of weeks ago we talked about feeding birds in your garden. In view of a decent week off, Jack was training his birds to do without food – slowly getting them used to going and finding food elsewhere for the next week or so. I realised that this requires some scientific back-up with observations from the distant past and very recent past, to see if the Tauhoa are really going to be affected by a week or so of no fodder. About 18 years ago (I was living in Auckland – before I saw the light) my office was looking out over a trained citrus bush, right outside my window. From time to time flocks of silvereyes would visit in winter to look for scale insects and mealybugs, aphids and other delicacies. I love this biological control and kept an eye on these birds – always been interested in birds, even more so later in life. When the flocks kept on returning regularly, in spring I decided to take a look at what they were after and discovered a decent but unwanted population of scale insects that were causing quite a bit of pressure on my lemon (they also attract ants that feed on “honeydew” excreted by scale insects). Luckily, a good flock of Tauhou descended and started working away at eating scales. Pictures show that this removed more than 50% of the sap-sucking plant pests. Before helpers. 5 minutes after help arrived! Not only were those little birds a great indicator of certain damaging garden pests, they were actually part of the Biological Control Squad. In summer, they kept on coming back to the citrus to decimate the scale population. In our current garden we feed the Tauhou with those meatballs from the Mad Butcher. I also make lard blocks, presented to them in small, metal cages. Up to 40 birds at a time of census!! So… I stopped feeding them for 5 days, just to see what would happen. They were not impressed at all!! Kept on flying into their tree where the food parcels used to hang. Making lots of noise – “bad mood Bear”. Other species were also returning to the food cart (sparrows, Green finches, Starlings and chaffinches). It slowly tapered off to a dozen or fewer than that – but they always flew over the site for a check-up. And in the end a couple would sit in their food tree for a bit of preening. I discovered that Silvereyes have a routine of visiting the local feeding stations in people’s garden. I reckon they have a circular trajectory from our place to Jan’s next door, 50 meters east, then across the road and another one (or two) west, and as far as 200 meters away, before returning to our side of the road via neighbours a few houses down (north-west); I reckon they usually fly clock-wise. When I hung up a fresh ball and timed the return, this morning, after 5 days of no food, it took 3 minutes before 19 Tauhou were gorging themselves – this grew to the usual congestion and fights 5 minutes later. One other little experiment took place this year by banding a good number of silvereyes in our garden in autumn and winter: it was total of 81 individuals (73 newly banded and 8 “recaptures” – older birds). In the past week I attempted to count feeding flocks of around 30 birds – the average number of banded silvereyes was around 2 and a half (2.5) of those 30. I know… It’s pretty hard to count those fast-moving birds! And you never know if you’ve missed a banded individual when you quickly count the chaos before you. If 1/12th of the birds you see are banded, (and you have 81 banded individuals in the population) you can guestimate that there must be 972 birds regularly in your garden flocks – give-or-take. Almost a thousand of these little blighters passing through your garden on a regular basis… every day in winter! And I reckon they’ll know exactly who’s got the food cart in the garden… LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One topic that is very common and can be quite distressing for patients is ‘cold sores’ sometimes referred to as ‘fever blisters’. A very common presentation to the doctor! What are cold sores? - Small fluid filled blisters appear on the skin, often in patches. - Usually on the lips, chin or cheeks, or nostrils. - Sometimes can occur in the roof of the mouth or gums. - Often start with tingling or itching. Over 48 hours blisters develop, then burst and ‘crust over’, and dry out. - Can take 2-3 weeks to heal completely. - Occasionally you also get a temperature, sore throat, and headache. What causes them? - They are caused by a virus – herpes simplex virus 1. - They can be spread through close contact – kissing, shared utensils, towels. - More likely to spread when the blisters burst. - The virus can hide in nerve cells and be triggered by: - Stress, fatigue, fever, trauma, sun, or wind. How do you treat them? - They get better over 2-3 weeks. - Use sunblock lip balm outside. - Paracetamol can help the pain. - Avoid salty food. Also, ice or warm flannels. - You can be prescribed or buy antiviral cream from a chemist to speed up the healing. Is there anything else I should think about? - It’s important to avoid close contact such as kissing, touching, or sharing towels when you have cold sores. - They can recur and be triggered, so avoid trigger factors if possible – sun, stress. - There is a natural remedy: kanuka honey-based cream shown to be effective. - See your GP if it’s not healed within 14 days, occurs near the eye, very large, or you have other issues such having chemotherapy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time Bandits The Taika Waititi-Jemaine Clement reboot of the 1981 fantasy film is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin (Apple TV+). The Decameron A dark comedy about a group of 14th century aristocrats and their servants, who retreat to a villa in the Italian countryside in the hope of avoiding the plague (Netflix). Simone Biles Rising A documentary series about gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns and then embarked on a journey to prepare for her triumphant return (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 27 July 2024, NZ's favourite Irish comedian, Ed Byrne joins Jack to chat winning The Chase and landing back on Kiwi shores for his Tragedy Plus Time tour. Jack hopes for a redemption story for one of the Olympics' greatest athletes as an extravagant ceremony officially opens the games. The perfect leftovers-for-lunch meal comes in the form of a Savoury Leek & Mushroom pancake recipe from Rosa Flanagan of Two Raw Sisters. And, as WhatsApp hits 100 million monthly users in the US, Jack and techxpert Paul Stenhouse joke about the stress of the family group chat - though clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland reflects on how group chats can be an approachable way to combat loneliness. 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 week on from CrowdStrike's outage and not all systems are back online CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said in a post yesterday that "over 97%" of systems running its software were back online as of 25 July. Microsoft estimates that 8.5 million PCs had been disabled, so that suggests approximately 250,000 devices remain offline. In the US, Delta Airlines is the most high profile victim with lingering issues well into this week continuing to cause flight disruptions, seemingly related to issues with the systems for crewing planes with pilots and flight attendants. The stock price managed to make a little bit of a recovery on Tuesday, but is continuing to slide, and it’s down around 10% since the outage. It's taken them back to December 2023 levels, effectively wiping out their 2024 gains. There are reports today of a new blue screen of death issue - but this time it's not related to CrowdStrike. Microsoft’s latest blue screen can’t be blamed on CrowdStrike, which is popping up on Windows 11 machines that use BitLocker. BitLocker is Microsoft's hard-drive encryption tool that protects data from unauthorized access or theft. The issue isn’t widespread, but those impacted will have to enter a recovery key to get a PC to boot properly. WhatsApp now has 100 million monthly users in the US It's the big metropolitan cities showing the biggest growth - Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Seattle. They're also the cities that have the most immigrants. WhatsApp now has more than 2 billion users in over 180 countries, but the dominance of Apple’s iMessage in the US has proven to be a hurdle since the 2014 acquisition for $16 billion. As Google and Apple both adopt RCS messaging, Meta will continue to face an uphill battle. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr Blake at Your Service A widowed British businessman takes a job as butler of a manor house in France to remember his late French wife. His life takes a turn as he navigates the eccentric behaviour of the lady of the manor and the household staff. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a group of military officials hatch a daring plan to neutralize Hitler's fleet of German U-boats during World War II. Made up of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, the top-secret combat unit uses unconventional techniques to battle the Nazis and change the course of the war. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One half of Two Raw Sisters, Rosa Flanagan joined Jack Tame to serve up a recipe for Leek and Mushroom Savoury Pancakes. Serves: 2 Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 3/4 cup chickpea flour 3/4 cup water 1/4 cup plant based or dairy yoghurt 1/2 tsp sea salt 3 tbsp nutritional yeast or freshly grated parmesan 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup coriander, chopped 1 tbsp cooking oil 1 brown onion, diced 1/4 leek, thinly sliced into rounds 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground turmeric 3 white button mushrooms, cut into small pieces Method: In a bowl, add the chickpea flour, water, yoghurt and sea salt. Whisk everything together with a fork, until all of the clumps in the mixture are removed. Then add the nutritional yeast or parmesan, baking powder and coriander. Mix to combine and set aside. Heat the oil up in a non-stick fry pan and add the onion, leek, garlic, sea salt, cumin and turmeric. Sauté until the onions start to become translucent and then add in the mushrooms. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add the onion mix to the chickpea flour mix, then mix to combine. Using the same pan, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil. Once hot, add 1/2 of the mixture and swirl around so that one big pancake is formed. Cook the pancake for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until bubbles begin to form on the surface. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the pan and continue the same cooking process for the remaining half of the mixture. Transfer the pancakes onto two individual plates and top with your favourite toppings. We are loving a combination of any of the following….. pesto, hummus, aioli, leftover roast vegetables, boiled eggs, avocado, smoked salmon, fresh greens, stir fried greens, herbs, pickles, tahini. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has some iconic advertisements. Jingles and scenes everyone knows, things you can start quoting and someone else in the room will chime in to finish off. Kevin Milne has been thinking about his favourite ads, and joined Jack Tame to run through a few. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s upon us. We are exactly eight minutes away from the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Yes, the Opening Ceremony is a total cheese-fest. Yes, about a third of the athletes will have caught a cold from standing out in the rain for so long. But I for one, am fizzing. I love the Olympics. Absolutely love them. Always have, and even though of course I can see clearly enough that they are an obscenely commercialised orgy of hyper-capitalism, consumption, and junk food sponsorship deals, I’ve never wavered in suspending my cynicism for a few weeks every four years, and I doubt I ever will. Usually, the only things that get the whole World’s attention are bad things: wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. The Olympics are about as close as humanity comes to a shared experience of, and shared interest in something good. It’s about our only truly shared collective celebration. I remember once filming alongside a super-conservative Mennonite community in rural Pennsylvania. The Mennonites eschew most modern technology and deliberately cloister themselves from much of the rest of the World. Twelve years ago, I asked a woman from the community if she’d heard of the Olympics. She’d never watched them, she said. But she’d heard of them. Was it something where people from different countries came together? Yeah, I said. It is. My favourite Olympic events are the primal ones. Ones where you don’t need crazy specialised equipment. Ones where the barriers to entry are relatively low. Who can swim the fastest? Sprint the quickest? Jump the highest? Do the most impressive flips? Outside of New Zealand’s medal prospects, these are the three sports I’m most excited about at the games: The 1500m. An absolute classic. Maybe it’s the legacy of Snell and Lovelock etc, but the thing I love about the 1500m is it’s the shortest running race to be properly tactical. I was in the front row of the stands at the Olympics in Rio, and remember my shock at seeing just how fast the 1500m runners were moving. TV gets you close, but you still lose something in perspective. In the men’s contest this year, the favourite is Norway’s defending Olympic champion. If Jakob Ingebrigtsen wins again, I think most middle-distance running fans will consider him the greatest 1500m runner ever. My second event is another running race and another all-time great. Eilud Kipchoge is the boss of Olympic marathoning. He was Olympic champion in 2016 and Olympic champion in 2020, and he’s pursuing a third consecutive title. Again, TV is good, but you can’t appreciate how fast they’re running until you see it! The athlete I’m most excited about at these games is Simone Biles. There aren’t really sufficient descriptors for what she’s capable of doing, but seeing her at her best, spinning and flipping and throwing herself into unbelievably complex and dangerous contortions really pushes my engrained understanding of what the human body is capable of. I was team Simone when she pulled out at the last games. How could you throw yourself into the stuff she does without absolute, supreme confidence? I’ve watched all the redemption documentaries. I know she’s getting on a bit in gymnast years, but she’s clearly an all-time great and I’m desperate for her to pull off a gold… or five. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Try this cake for the school lunch boxes this week – it’s quick to make and bake, soft and moist, incredibly delicious and square pieces are much more ergonomic in the lunch box. Makes 20x25 rectangle cake INGREDIENTS 150g butter 2/3 cup water ½ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda Pinch salt 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 1/3 cup yoghurt, sour cream or creme fraiche 2 medium eggs, lightly whisked 200g (about 2 medium) chopped apples, I used unpeeled granny smiths ½ cup frozen blackberries, thawed ICING 1 ½ cups icing sugar 1 tbsp melted butter 2 tsp vanilla extract METHOD Preheat oven to 200 C. Grease and line a shallow swiss roll tin or other rectangle tin measuring about 20cmx30cm. Twist the corners of the baking paper to get the sides to stand up a bit higher than the tin. In a medium pot bring the butter and water to a boil. Stir in the sugars followed by the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and mix until combined. Add in yoghurt and eggs and stir to combine then fold in the chopped apples and berries. Pour batter into the prepared tin spreading it into the corners. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until it springs back to the touch. Cool for 10 minutes then ice while warm. For the icing: Heap icing sugar into a large bowl and add melted butter and vanilla. Whisk, beat or stir until you have a smooth, pourable icing – loosen with boiling water as needed. Spread icing over just warm cake and leave to set. Slice and eat! Make it your way: You could grate the apple but I like the chunks. Leave out the cinnamon and replace with vanilla or ginger if you fancy it. Leave off the icing and eat warm as a pudding with custard and cream. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"As you wander around the Peloponnese Peninsula, it's like myth and history just constantly overlap. For history buffs, there's just so much to blow the mind in Southern Greece. Western Peloponnese is home to the Valley of the Gods. I went to Epidaurus in the Peloponnese, and you get a real flavour ancient sporting conquests. The place is home to Asclepius, the God of medicine, and is where they staged many sporting contests. You can still see the ancient stadium and theatre, which seats about 14000 people, and a coin drop there could be crisply heard from the highest seats - you cannot beat old school acoustics! Read the full article here LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from my beautiful wife, of course, the last person I thought of before I dozed off last night, was Dave. Dave had texted me a few hours earlier when I was filling in for Heather on Newstalk ZB Drive, to say he was driving home from Levin to Palmerston North when he’d stopped to fill up the car and had encountered a bit of a problem. He’d filled up the tank, but as he walked over to the foyer and tried to transfer money between his banks accounts in order to pay for his petrol, his internet banking wouldn’t work. There he was, stranded, waiting for an enormous global technology outage to be sorted so that he could transfer the cash, pay for his gas, and finally get back home. Although some of the tech outages had been fixed, they’re still affecting thousands upon thousands of significant operations around the World: Airports, airlines, hospitals, emergency call centres, TV and radio stations, and banks. Who’s to say Dave isn’t still out there, madly swiping at his phone and refreshing a blank page on his internet banking? The outage was caused by Crowdstrike, a cyber security company which is ironically charged with protecting its clients. And there’s no reporting at this stage to suggest it was caused by a malicious act or a cyber attack. It’s just a plain old error. Already some experts are describing it as the largest IT outage in history. “This is what Y2K wishes it was,” someone said on Reddit. It’s a salient reminder just how fragile and interconnected many of our modern digital systems really are. I’d describe myself as being mid-tier when it comes to the uptake of technology. I have a Chat GPT account. I back up my data on the cloud. I use Apple Pay on my phone. And I absoluetely abhor cash. I hate it. Notes? Coins? Seriously?! All that clutter?! I want to go about my business with the fewest things possible. I don’t think I’ve had a wallet that was capable of carrying hard currency in at least fifteen years. But if the last thing I thought of before I hit the hay last night was poor old Dave, miserable in the dim light of a Levin petrol station forecourt, the first thing I thought of this morning was how to avoid his predicament. On the way to the studio I stopped by an ATM and withdrew a bit of cash. Not a crazy amount, mind. Just enough for a tank of gas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 20 July 2024, all-time great of NZ athletics Dame Valerie Adams joins Jack in studio ahead of her trip to Paris - to attend the Olympics as a spectator for the first time since the year 2000. Jack reconsiders his aversion to cash usage following the global Crowdstrike outage. Catherine Raynes dishes on the juicy revelations in House of Beckham, a new book from renowned investigative journalist Tom Bower. And, in Screentime, Tara Ward shares a new BBC thriller series perfect for fans of Broadchurch. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard me talk about the winter months for Yeeaaars! The big message is one of slowing things down and protecting your soil from heavy frosts. Keeping everything protected end give the earth a rest.Seeing most plants are now absolutely dormant they have shut down the growth; That means: no more taking up fertilisers (N-P-K) into the root systems – and no more transporting these goodies into the leaves to help with photosynthesis.Besides: the sun is basically low over the horizon which reduces the amount of energy that comes down on earth and onto the plants. But there are some plants that are forming flower buds right now: Cymbidium orchids have taken in a heap of nutrients during summer and early autumn – especially Nitrogen. It resulted in new bulbs and new stalks, from which the flower spikes will grow. Now’s the time to turn everything into flower buds and a little bit of K (Potash) will keep the buds in good shape, ready to blossom in late winter.An Orchid Flowering fertiliser (high in potash) will ensure a decent display in a month or so. A few of the most common questions I get on talk-back radio are about this “potash”. Question 1. “why is my fruit tree not producing any fruit?”The answer is found in the make-up of fertiliser regime: The Potash (K) is used by the plant for reproduction; it lets the plant grow Flowers and subsequently Fruit. That means that many of our flowering and fruiting plants would really appreciate a dollop of Potash in spring and early summer. I often suggest a fertiliser with a higher percentage of “K”; stuff such as Tomato fertiliser or Flowering fertiliser.The Wet & Forget “Seaweed Tea” is a liquid fertiliser that brings the potash in an easy to absorb formulation. Question 2) “Can I use the ash from my fireplace to deliver Potash?”Yes indeed you can! The origin of the word ”Pot-ash” indicates that the ashes from your fireplace and Ultra-Low Emissions Burner is quite high in Kalium (the word for “Potassium Carbonate” used in Germanic Languages in the 17hundreds).It’s a long and chemical story, but we ended up naming Kalium “potash”. The way to spread the potash over the soil underneath flower-bearing or fruit-bearing plants, shrubs or trees is literally by spreading it on a windy day when the tiny particles are dispersed. Make sure you don’t put a too heavy load on the soil, as the white powder could “set” like a very thin, brittle concrete layer. So: little bits at-a-time; and before a good rain shower would be perfect timing! The droplets will wet the potash and push it lower into the topsoil. A good dose of water from your hose will also spread it around.Potash doesn’t stay in the soil profile for very long periods of time, I understand, but 3 months is all you need for the roots to wake up in spring to start feasting on the Kalium See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week out from the 2024 Paris Olympics, the excitement and pressure is beginning to build. There’s one person who knows those pressures well, having represented New Zealand in five Olympic Games. Dame Valerie Adams is one of the country’s most well-known athletes, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, four-time World Champion, four-time World Indoor Champion, and three-time Commonwealth Games Champion, who was virtually undefeated in shot-put. Although she’s no longer competing, Adams is going along to this year’s games as a member of the World Athletics Council, and she told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that her preparations have been a little bit different. “I think the stress levels are a bit different,” Adams said. The types of stress are also different, Adams revealed, as competing has you training “pretty much at the cliff edge”, whereas in her current role, her stresses are caused by more mundane things like travel and preparing council meetings. There’s plenty of sports on offer this year, and Adams is looking forward to the intensity of basketball and the novelty of gymnastics. “And obviously, following the New Zealand crew,” Adams told Tame. New Zealand is sending 195 athletes to compete in the Games across a total of 23 sports. The Athletics team is 15-strong with “heaps of potential”, as Adams puts it, but they’re also facing quite a lot of pressure. “We’ve had a good history of bringing back medals at every Olympic Games since I competed, apart from Athens. So there is a lot of pressure on there, but so much potential.” “I hope spectators and viewers, especially us Kiwis back here supporting, remember and know and realise that everybody out there competing for our country is doing their ultimate best,” she told Tame. “Whatever the results will be, will be, and just be a bit kinder with any comments or remarks that you might want to make.” Having competed in so many high-profile events, Adams knows what it’s like to be cast into the spotlight and faced with New Zealand’s infamous ‘tall poppy syndrome’. “I know what it’s like to perform well and succeed, and I also know what it’s like to underperform and actually get ridiculed and abused for it, and then win the gold medal seven days later, and then I was a national hero.” “It’s not a good place to be.” Although being at the Games is set to stir up some nostalgia, Adams is quite sure that five was enough, and being able to make a change in her capacity as a World Athletics Council member is special as well. “You know, if you want to make change, you’ve got to be at the table, not serving coffee to people at the table.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eminem’s newly released album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ has had a mixed reception. Many critics are calling it a mixed bag, saying it feels like yet another late-period Eminem album as opposed to anything new. The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis says the album “has successes and misfires in equal measure. It’s not bad enough to count as terrible, not good enough to count as great.” Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstein Millar Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need. What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor. That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever. Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan For decades, the Kennedy name has been synonymous with wealth, power, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the Kennedy men's legacy of physical and psychological abuse of women, part of a tradition of toxic masculinity that spans generations and has ruined untold lives. Through scandal after scandal, the family and their defenders have managed to keep this shameful story out of the spotlight. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys' hidden history of abuse and exploitation, laying bare their rampant misogyny and restoring women to the center of the dynasty's story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Mary Richardson, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren't nearly as well known – but rightfully should be. Drawing on years of fierce reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled American family, showing how the Kennedy myth and their raw political power has enabled the clan's many predators while also silencing generations of traumatized women and girls. At long last, Callahan also redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys' orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves—and giving voice to the countless others who could not do the same. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more you connect, the less you connect! Over recent years explosion of technology has helped us increase our connection with others, both in local communities and around the world. Many positives come from increased social connection, but one downside is when connecting with people outside the home leads you to “phub” significant people in the home, particularly your partner. Phubbing = phone + snub. It’s where your focus on connecting via your phone causes you to snub people in your immediate surrounds. Often occurs with a partner. Partners can play a crucial role in our wellbeing including helping with better work-life balance and wellbeing. 75% of people choose to share their emotional struggles with their partner as the first port of call. Partners are usually the most available people in our home life too. Good partner support is also associated with our own career success. On the other hand, phubbing has been linked to poorer quality of relations with partner, and lowered sense of self-esteem in the partner. What can people do about it? It’s not about throwing the baby out with the bathwater – it’s still important to connect with work colleagues and share work-related stressors with them. Wherever you are – be there! If you’re at work, connect with people at work. If you’re at home, connect with people at home. Set some limits around use of phones in your relationship e.g. no phones during dinner, not using phones after a certain time at night, not using them in bed. Workplaces also have a role to play in this by setting appropriate expectations around replying to emails, messages, etc., out-of-hours. Hard to be present with your partner if your boss is messaging you demanding an immediate response! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunny A dark thriller about an American woman living in Japan, who after her family disappears in a mysterious plane crash, is given a robot by the technology company her husband worked for (Apple TV+). Colin from Accounts This delightful Australian comedy series about two strangers bought together after they have to care for a stray dog is back for season two (TVNZ+, July 17). Marcel the Shell with Shoes On A quirky and heartwarming stop-motion film about a tiny shell called Marcel who lives with his grandmother, and is searching for his shell family (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many millionaires are there in New Zealand? Did you know that 24% of Kiwi households are millionaires? Ed McKnight didn’t! Is this stat really true? How did they get their money? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Athens’ rich arsenal of antiquities needs little introduction. From the emblematic glories of the Acropolis to the ancient residential neighbourhood of Plaka, history hangs heavy in the Athenian air. As the ancient cradle of Western arts, culture and democracy, there is much to digest. But it’s the Greek capital’s culinary treasures that captured my attention on my latest swing through Athens. Epic finds await the curious foodie and an in-the-know walking tour through central Athens unlocks a treasury of tastes to savour." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi band Shapeshifter is showing no signs of stopping. They’re pioneers of one of New Zealand’s most popular music genres, carving out a niche within the DnB scene. With seven albums and four EPs, the band is celebrating 25 years of success with a tour later this year. Nick Robinson plays the bass, synth, and the MPC for Shapeshifter, and told Jack Tame that reaching 25 years is probably the proudest thing they’ve all felt. “We all respect each other so much as musicians and as friends, we’re all willing to flex, there’s no ego there,” he said. “So, I think we can sort of bounce of each other and get the best results, and you know, really sort of... it’s just been so enjoyable.” Robinson said that there’s been ups and downs throughout the 25 years they’ve been performing, but the passion and fire is still there. “We just sort of love what we do and we, we sort of love the way we’ve done it on our, on our own terms.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 13 July 2024, the pioneers of one of New Zealand's most popular music genres have been celebrating 25 years together - Nick Robinson of Shapeshifter discusses the quarter century. Jack considers the countdown on Biden's withdrawal. Blockbuster Twisters is in cinemas, and Jack recounts to Francesca Rudkin his experience chasing tornados. While Nici Wickes brings a sweet winter treat, and Jack agrees there is just something special about warm citrus in winter. 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.

Flowering and fruiting seems like a long way from now, but honestly, it’s time to get out and prune the trees that will give us our apples. There are a heap of varieties. They all taste different and ripen at different times, but when it comes to flowering and fruiting they can roughly be put into two groups: Spur-Bearing varieties and tip-bearing varieties. Why is that important? Well… if you prune the “spurs” off in winter you’ll end up with fewer flowers (hence fruit) in summer. Example: Granny Smith is a tip-bearing variety. Its flowers and fruits set at the end of the branch. When flowering you often see a configuration of flower buds that can produce as many as 5 or 6 flowers as a “cluster”. When these flowers are pollinated, each can grow into an apple. Tip-bearing variety. Photo / Supplied. The next year, when the branch extends further out it has another terminal cluster of flowers at its tip. The previous year’s swollen fruiting spur can still be found further down the branch, and it will still produce apples. Photo / Supplied. The so-called Spur-Bearing varieties have their spurs somewhere on the branch and these spurs will keep on producing fruit for a number of years. Look how easy they are to identify as the spurs: rather fat buds that really stand out on the branches. If you want to trim the branches try to cut them a centimetre or two down from those spurs, so they can keep on producing. This picture shows the early ripening variety “Initial”. It’s one of my first apples in summer. Photo / Supplied. A slightly later Apple variety (Mid-Season harvest) is Peasgood Nonsuch. It, too, is a Spur-Bearing variety and the picture (flowering profusely) shows clearly where the apples are produced on the branches. It also indicates how to create a structure of horizontal branched at regular intervals, to keep the tree growing and give the (extremely Huge) apples some space. Photo / Supplied. When it comes to shaping an apple tree after planting it in winter, you have a few great choices: “Cordons”, “Fans”, “Espalier” etc. Seeing now is the time to plant these trees, it might be a good idea to make some decisions about what your trees are going to look like. See if you can grab a copy of last June’s New Zealand Gardener where Bill Brett explains the very best ways to achieve your Apple “Look”. Just be aware that espaliered trees work best with Spur-Bearing Varieties (not the tip-bearing ones). Waimea Nursery has a good list of Spur-bearing varieties and also indicates which ones fruit early or later. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samsung had their big mobile product launch event The sixth generation of the Fold has a much less noticeable crease in the middle of the screen. Samsung is using a new display coating. Galaxy Buds 3 - looks like the Apple EarPods got a Tesla Cybertruck styled makeover. There are some quite prominent angles! But it's the Galaxy Ring which got the headlines, the first major brand to launch what is effectively a health tracker on your finger. It comes with an accelerometer, heart rate sensor, and skin temperature sensor to allow you to track sleep, heart rate data, and activity. It comes in gold, silver, and black on a titanium frame. It is a ring though so it can't be adjusted, which is why they have a sizing kit. It'll be an Android-only product, but when connected to your phone will allow you to do a double pinch gesture to control your phone’s camera or dismiss an alarm hands-free. Texans got help tracking the power outages from an unlikely hero The "Whataburger" burger chain app turned into a lifeline for people in Houston to know where in the city had power. The app has a map feature to show all the store locations which conveniently has a feature to show which stores are open and closed. And because there are so many locations in Houston, seeing the clusters of stores closed gave a very clear visual of the power situation in the city. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twisters Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma. Ka Whawhai Tonu Set in New Zealand in 1864, follows the story of a crucial conflict of the nation's first land warfare, fought between Maori and colonial soldiers against insurmountable odds. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month saw Northlanders cut off from the power grid due to a fallen pylon. Kevin Milne has been keeping an eye on the coverage this week, and finds Transpower’s statement about why the pylon fell rather humorous. He thinks their "It's unprecedented that so many nuts were removed at once" will be remembered like the Kiwi classic, "You have to blow on the pie." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This pudding is just the ticket in winter! I truly love the way it is both comforting and refreshing. Serves 4 Ingredients 70g butter, melted 1 small-medium egg 1/3 cup regular white sugar 1 orange ½ cup plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 2 heaped tbsps ground almonds 1-2 tbsps milk, if needed Sauce 1 ½ cups boiling water 1/3 cup brown sugar, loosely packed 1 tablespoon butter Juice from remaining ½ orange 1 tsp cornflour Method Preheat oven to180 C. Grease a small ovenproof dish. In a bowl, whisk egg with sugar. Add in the melted butter & whisk. Blitz half the orange —skin and all— until it’s pulped then stir this in. Add in flour, baking powder and almonds. Stir until combined. Add in 1-2 tbsp milk if it’s too stiff. Scrape batter into the greased dish. In the batter bowl (scraped clean) mix the boiling water, brown sugar, butter, cornflour and juice from the remaining half orange. Gently pour this over the batter. Bake for 40 mins, or until cake bit is cooked through. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. Make it your own Use any citrus – mandarin, lemon, tangerine For very pithy fruit, use the skin and flesh of the orange but not all the pith – too bitter LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s two weeks since Joe Biden and that disastrous debate, and still the drum steadily beats. I’m obsessed with this story. Obsessed! I think this is an absolutely monumental moment in global politics. Every morning I wake up, grab my phone, and immediately check my news apps. Is he still in the race? In a way, I suppose, you have to hand it to him and his team. Not once has Biden publicly expressed anything other than absolute total commitment to remaining the Democrats’ nominee. He knows that the moment he publicly expresses a scintilla of doubt, it’s all over. But the more I’ve reflected on that debate, the more I find the response of the White House and Biden’s supporters, kind of insulting. They’re gaslighting by trying to convince hundreds of millions of people to un-see what they saw. Don’t forget, Joe Biden asked for the debate. It was held entirely on his terms. He publicly promoted it as a moment in which he would prove to everyone he still had his edge. And in that moment, he was incoherent. So far, few of Biden’s colleagues have come out and explicitly called on him to stand down. Again, it’s gaslighting. They saw what we saw. And you just know that all of the conversations being held behind closed doors are exactly the same as this one. They just don’t want to risk their own skins. George Clooney’s op-ed was particularly devastating, this week. Not because Clooney is a Hollywood movie star, but because as someone co-ordinating fundraising campaigns worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, he thinks Biden needs to stand down. Like everything in U.S. politics, it pays to follow the money. Would you stake your fortune on Biden right now? The post-NATO press conference yesterday was the first one of its kind that Biden has held in eight months. Forget his performance. Forget his competence and comfort with foreign policy and the fact he made several gaffes with names and introductions. Eight months! The fact alone tells you more about Biden’s state and capacity than anything else you need to know. NATO is done. The Democrats convention is next month. If they’re gonna force him out, they’ve got a few weeks to act. Two weeks deep though, it’s clear this story and this issue are not going away. With every bad poll, every donor with cold feet, the pressure is sustained. And fundamentally, the news will not move on because the problem hasn’t gone away. And here’s the thing: It won’t go away. To campaign for President you have to be out in public, day after day after day. It requires vast energy. There will be more gaffes. There will be more blunders. There will be more moments of incoherence. And with every instance, voters will be left wondering… if this is Biden now… how’s he gonna be in another four years? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best known for his career-launching band Atlas, Sean Cunningham has released a new and very personal album. The ten track album is an exploration for Sean, blending a variety of genres and sounds as he tries to figure out what his style is. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish Charlotte and Perry have owned their clifftop holiday home in Pine Ridge for years. They’ve worked hard for it – why shouldn’t they enjoy it? Even if the locals can’t afford to live in the village these days… Now city friends Amy and Matt have bought a second home nearby and when the two families descend, they plan lazy days at the beach and evenings sipping rosé and watching the sun set from Charlotte’s summerhouse veranda. But this summer is different. A group of locals – headed by the charismatic Robbie – will stop at nothing to make the second home owners pay for their holiday. By the end of their break, marriages will be torn apart, friendships shattered and crimes exposed. And one of them will have lost their life. The Haters by Robyn Harding Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender. Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her? As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madam Mack Leigh, faced with a philandering husband and a mountain of debt starts up an ethical brothel in small town New Zealand to provide for her family and put a new spin on sex and work (Three and ThreeNow). Brats Actor and director Andrew McCarthy reunites with Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy in this documentary to explore what it was really like to be one of the so-called "Brat Pack” during the 1980s (Disney+). Sprint With the Olympics only a few weeks away, Netflix’s new behind the scenes documentary series takes us into the world of international athletics and follows sprinters from around the world as they compete to be the best (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bikeriders Over the course of a decade, a Midwestern motorcycle club evolves from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang, threatening the original group's way of life. The Taste of Things Cook Eugenie and her boss Dodin have grown fond of one another over 20 years, and their romance gives rise to dishes that impress the world's most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie's reluctance to commit, he begins to cook for her. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate ‘Ethically Kate’ Hall is undertaking another challenge. July marks the halfway point of her local food challenge, where for the entirety of 2024 she’s only buying food that’s made in Aotearoa New Zealand. She joined Jack Tame to chat about the biggest surprises and challenges so far, and give an insight into why she decided on this undertaking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Men’s Health Week took place in June. It's an important topic as men often consider themselves bullet proof, and think they don’t need to see the doctor. So why is men’s health important? There are some underlying statistics that are important to reflect on: - Overseas study: men are twice as likely never to have visited the doctor. Three times as likely not to have visited GP in 5 year period. - They die 3.5 years younger, on average, than women. - They develop heart disease 10 years younger than women. - They develop diabetes younger. It’s a concern! Why should they visit the GP? There are hidden risks that can affect health that you won’t know about until you have a regular ‘warrant of fitness’ check-up: Cholesterol: -Increases risk of heart disease. -Only detected through a blood test. Diabetes and blood sugar: -Need to be checked from age of 35. -Sugars can creep up men and damage the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. -Only detected through a blood test. Blood Pressure, the hidden killer: - Can feel perfectly OK with raised blood pressure. - Puts pressure on the heart leading to heart attacks and increases risk stroke. - Only detected through a blood pressure check. What other issues should men be concerned about? The prostate: - From the age of 50 should be seeing your doctor to discuss a prostate check. - Simple blood test and slightly uncomfortable rectal exam! - Early detection of prostate cancer leads to early cure! Bowel cancer: - From the age of 60 - Two yearly bowel cancer screening. - Early detection of bowel cancer leads to cure! In addition, if you have been about in the sun (especially farmers) a regular skin check for early signs of skin cancer is necessary. If you're feeling depressed, irritable, or stressed talking to your GP is a good first step to help. When should men we go for a check-up? - Definitely from the age of 50 yearly check-up is important. - Prior to that 2 to 5 years from the age of 30. With all these things early detection saves lives, and detecting problems early means major health issues can be reduced by early intervention with lifestyle, medication and occasionally specialist intervention. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Has a Greek Islands cruise been flirting with your imagination? Recently, I renewed my Greek Islands love affair, joining my sister on a week-long adventure cruising the Aegean Sea aboard Celestyal Journey. The flagship vessel for Celestyal Cruises is deployed on their most iconic cruise, Idyllic Aegean, which is a 7-day highlights reel of the region. It’s like the Aegean’s greatest hits, with port calls in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki and Milos. From Ephesus —site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World— to the cube houses and windmills of Mykonos and blue-domed churches of Santorini, the Aegean is as dreamy as reality gets." 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 6 July 2024, Kiwi music legend Julia Deans joins Jack to chat noughties nostalgia as Fur Patrol reunite for a New Zealand tour. Inspired by man-in-the-garden Ruud Kleinpaste, Jack talks about the record number of tūī in his trees since hanging a bird feeder. And Ruud offers advice on how to avoid birds squabbling over the new treat. Andrew Saville is in Dunedin ahead of the first All Black's test of the season, against England who haven't played in New Zealand for a decade. Plus, Nici Wickes shares a Parisian pudding from her brand-new book ‘More From a Quiet Kitchen’ and chats with Jack about finding joy in meals for one. 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.

My dear darling sister (with the beautiful name of Roos) sent me a picture from the Netherlands; it was a pretty orange slug hiding inside her robotic lawn mower named Albertus. It came out of the mower to show itself in all its glory. Roos immediately linked this slug to a complete disaster when she came home from Holidays in France: Albertus had failed to keep up with his task as the grass was a couple of feet from touching the Matariki stars. Investigation of the inner workings of Albertus showed a heap of soft, sticky and shredded plant material, covered in sloppy slug slime. It’s a great habitat for the mollusc pests in the garden and at the same time a magnificent form of transport to your favourite plants. In such a wonderful, sheltered spot slugs and snails can have a great theatre for reproduction: eggs will be stuck to all surfaces, and they’ll hatch as soon as temperatures are becoming a bit milder… Photo / Supplied But that was not all that Roos found. How about a rather large and active ants-nest full of white “eggs” around the battery and other electric wiring! By the way, those white “eggs” are actually the larvae and pupae of the ants; when you disturb an ants-nest they’ll run around to save as many babies as they can. Photo / Supplied These ants may well be the electrical disruptors of your technology. I’ve seen them short-circuiting a switch in the wall of my old house in Auckland: an ant (accidentally?) touching both switch plates and getting fried in 240 volt, while releasing a “panic smell” of formic acid. This acid also works as a defence mechanism and deterrent against predators (not very effective when you are battling the 240 volts!). The nearby ants respond immediately to this SOS call for help and are also electrocuted. In the switch you can hear the massacre taking place with each ant increasing the formic acid cloud. In my wall we vacuumed up hundreds and hundreds of fried ants. The smell was amazing! You can also imagine that these kind of disruptors can cause the beginning of a fire. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix, Paramount ask Canadian courts to ditch local news funding rule The new 5% tax —called the Online Streaming Act— which is to go into effect on September 1 is targeted at streaming services who pull in more than C$25m and aren't affiliated with domestic broadcasters. The expected $200m in funds will go towards creating local content, including supporting Black and Indigenous creators. The Motion Picture Association of Canada, who represent studios including Netflix, Paramount & Disney, say they support the law, but there's also a component to fund local news content which they have asked the courts to strike out. They say this news content mandate is "unreasonable" and "is neither appropriate in consideration of the nature of the services they provide, nor equitable.” Amazon has got into the luxury department store game The parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, in a partnership with Amazon, will buy its rival department store chain Neiman Marcus in a US$2.65 billion deal. Amazon will take a minority stake in the new company, called Saks Global, and will provide technology and logistical expertise, according to the Wall Street Journal said. Salesforce is also part of the deal - which is a departure from their usual investments in software startups. Commentators say the luxury market is an area Amazon has been struggling to break into. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has an issue with his calendar. It’s not the type you’d expect; it’s not a manufacturing error or a technological glitch, but rather a clash he didn’t anticipate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s all-time favourite bands is back. Fur Patrol first appeared in 1998 with their EP ‘Starlifter’, three albums and songs topping the charts all through the 2000s. They’re returning to Kiwi audiences later this year on a New Zealand tour, visiting Christchurch, Auckland, and Nelson. Fur Patrol last performed together in 2022, and frontwoman Julia Deans told Jack Tame that getting together feels like being back in the family again, and everything just kind of locks into place. She said that when they did the shows for the Pet anniversary tour, everyone was so excited and happy, and they’re hoping to generate that kind of buzz again. Tour Details FUR PATROL WITH SUPPORT FROM TOM LARK FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER: THE LOONS, LYTTELTON SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER: DOUBLE WHAMMY, AUCKLAND + NEW SHOW ADDED THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER: THEATRE ROYAL, NELSON LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was Ruud Kleinpaste who inspired me. Even since my fiasco with the trees in my backyard, in which I inadvertently oversaw a much, much, much more aggressive winter prune than intended, (and which for the sake of marital harmony we need not re-litigate!), I’ve been looking for opportunities to make amends to Mother Nature. Along with my regularly Nutella’d rat trap, Ruud suggested that what the native birds had lost in terms of a leafy canopy, I might make up to them with a bit of sugar water. Native birds, it would seem, are like school children (or indeed, me). The quickest way to their hearts is through their stomachs and the more sugary the incentive, the better. I bought one from Predator Free NZ: a Pekapeka bird feeder with a dripper bottle up the top for the nectar feeders and a little attachment for hanging energy balls or fruit underneath it. Winter is the time when the native birds benefit most from a bit of supplementary feed. Putting a bit of food in the feeder was obvious. That would please the sparrows. But it wasn’t at all clear to me how the native nectar feeders might work out that the bottle was dripping out the avian version of Fanta. I spent a day or two Googling various theories and methods for attracting them before the bottle arrived, but as it turned out I needn’t have worried. The moment I strung it up and turned my back on the feeder, it was swarmed by an incredible flock of tauhou, silvereyes. The pudgy little cuties swarmed the feeder’s platform and pecked at the feeder nozzle. Six or eight at a time they squabble, with more queueing up in the nearby plum tree, waiting to gorge. In the few weeks I’ve had it up, I’ve become less concerned about attracting birds, and more worried that somehow I’ve created a dependency. As well as the silvereyes, every tūī in Auckland must have had the word. They swoop down, iridescent, gorgeous, greedy. The tauhou scramble. I’ve no idea what the record is —maybe you can outdo me— but at one point yesterday I counted no fewer than six tūī in my backyard, all of them lined up to guzzle down the sugar water. It’s a good thing they don’t have teeth to brush, but can tūī get diabetes? Maybe it’s middle age. I dunno. Maybe it’s a weird form of nesting. I just cannot believe what joy it’s giving me to sit down and watch the native birds squabbling over sugar water. The tauhou, like furry little ping pong balls. The tūī, bullies, but such beautiful bullies. My feeder is not bringing back a dense tree canopy to my backyard. But it’s certainly brought back a bit of life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I’ve always gained a great deal of pleasure out of cooking — it’s one of the most exquisite ways to look after yourself, to stay grounded, to keep yourself company and be reminded that we are all far more capable than we know. And I’ve needed this more than ever of late.’ Nici Wickes has written a number of books, spending six years as a food editor for Viva and NZ Herald, and five creating and testing recipes for New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, and contributing her craft to various other media. Over the last few years, she’s been through a lot, the pandemic, floods, cyclones, and a bout of covid saw her losing her appetite not only for her beloved craft, but also the search for life’s joys. ‘More From a Quiet Kitchen’ is a celebration of her return to her joy, crammed with heart-warming dishes such as ‘chowder for comfort’, ‘corn and bacon risotto’, and delicious desserts such as ‘lemon cheesecakey cake’. To celebrate the book’s release, Nici’s recipe of the week is ‘Parisian rice pudding with salted caramel sauce’, a taste of what this new cookbook has to offer. Parisian rice pudding with salted caramel sauce Good old rice pudding – elevated to exceptional heights! Ingredients 1 ½ cups whole milk ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon risotto rice 2 tablespoons sugar 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract) ¼ cup cream, whipped Salted caramel sauce ½ cup caster sugar 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon butter 100ml cream ½ teaspoon sea salt or more to taste Method Bring milk, rice, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds to a slow simmer in a pot. Simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring every time you think of it, until it thickens and the rice is creamy and cooked. Set aside to cool. While the rice cooks make the caramel. In a small pot, heat the sugar and water over a medium heat, swirling the pot if needed but not stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until it has turned a lovely dark golden colour. Remove from the heat, whisk in the butter, cream and salt (it will spit and froth, but don’t worry). Whisk until you have a smooth sauce. To serve, fold whipped cream through the cooled rice pudding. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle over hazelnuts. And dream of being in Paris! Note: The sauce stores well in the fridge, needing just a little heat to bring it back to drizzling consistency. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The release of Anna Coddington’s fourth studio album 'Te Whakamiha' coincided with Aotearoa’s Matariki celebrations. It sports eight uplifting waiata sung in both English and Te Reo, tunes that Coddington describes as her own take on Māori funk. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Storm Child by Michael Robotham The mystery of Evie Cormac’s background has followed her into adulthood. As a child, she was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Many of her captors and abusers escaped justice, unseen but not forgotten. Now, on a hot summer’s day, the past drags Evie back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach. There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells police their small boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but recognizes immediately that Evie has some link to the tragedy. By solving this crime, he could finally unlock the secrets of her past. But what dark forces will he set loose? And who will pay the price? Agent Zo by Clare Mulley This is the incredible story of Elzbieta Zawacka, the WW2 female resistance fighter known as Agent Zo, told here for the very first time. Agent Zo was the only woman to reach London from Warsaw during the Second World War as an emissary of the Polish Home Army command, and then in Britain she became the only woman to join the Polish elite Special Forces, known as the 'Silent Unseen'. She was secretly trained in the British countryside, and then the only female member of these SOE affiliated forces to be parachuted back behind enemy lines to Nazi-occupied Poland. There, whilst being hunted by the Gestapo who arrested her entire family, she took a leading role in the Warsaw Uprising and the liberation of Poland. After the war she was demobbed as one of the most highly decorated women in Polish history. Yet the Soviet-backed post-war Communist regime not only imprisoned her, but also ensured that her remarkable story remained hidden for over forty years. Now, through new archival research and exclusive interviews with people who knew and fought alongside Zo, Clare Mulley brings this forgotten heroine back to life, and also transforms how we see the history of women's agency in the Second World War. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The Sunshine Coast’s compact layout belies its bounty, richly necklaced with nature-based experiences in easy reach of each other. I hop-scotched about the place like a frisky roo, lapping up its elemental riches. The welcome mat is being thickly laid-out, with Air New Zealand direct services from Auckland to the Sunny Coast underway, and with Jetstar flying the route from later this year. "You’ve got 100 kilometres of glittering beaches at your disposal- no matter what shade of sand takes your fancy; world-class wildlife experiences; plus an enchanting hive of hinterland gems, from fabulous forest walks to characterful villages. But don’t just throw your togs in the suitcase when heading to the Sunny Coast because there’s some seriously scenic mountain trails worth packing your hiking boots for, too." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary and George The story of the Countess of Buckingham, who moulded her son to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover through intrigue, making her family richer, more titled, and more influential than England had ever seen (TVNZ+). I Am: Celine Dion Serving as a love letter to her fans, Celine Dion highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit as she struggles with a life-altering illness (Prime Video). The Bear The third season of the brilliant but stressful award-winning series about chef Carmel (Jeremy Allen White) as he tries to turn his family-owned diner into a fine dining restaurant (Disney+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Dry July kicking off in a couple days, Dougal Sutherland believes it's a good time for people to think about their alcohol consumption. It’s a stressful time at the moment, with a cost of living crisis, workplace stresses, and drastic weather, and when times are stressful, people tend to turn to “unhealthy” coping mechanisms. Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to chat about the telltale signs that someone’s alcohol consumption may be becoming problematic, and a few tips for those thinking of taking on Dry July. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Allan Scott Cecilia Brut, Marlborough $24 Why I chose it: - I like it very much, especially the price. - It’s a perfect “stand-by” wine in case of unexpected visitors. - It is a real crowd-pleaser. - A wine for all seasons. - I haven’t chosen a sparkling wine for while. What does it taste like? - A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay with a creamy, yeast-infused palate that is both fresh and mellow with restrained complexity. A perfect balance of subtle sweetness and mouth-watering acidity. Why it’s a bargain: - Bottle-fermented sparkling wine is expensive to make, you won’t find too many good examples under $25. Where can you buy it? - Whisky and More, Waikato $20.99 -Big Barrel stores $less than $23 - Glengarry, Auckland $22.99 Food match? -Canapes, especially seafood, particularly oysters. It doesn’t need the complication of food. Will it keep? - Good for a few years although it isn’t vintage-dated. Drink it up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve always thought about creating the Greatest Hits (or Greatest Myths) for gardeners. There are so many things you should and shouldn’t do when gardening and creating compost. Starting a compost system: Do we really need a “Compost Starter” to kick it off? The easiest way to make compost is by sticking (roughly) to a ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen of something like 30:1. If you chuck a big heap of chipped wood (C) in the bin, you will need some grass clippings (N) to fire it all off. Even a simple pee on the heap will do the trick, or some Urea fertiliser, or even some old soggy lettuce. Crushed egg shells around your vegetables are said to stop the slugs and snails as they won’t be able to cross the sharp egg-edges with their soft and tender “foot”. Molluscs do not actually come in contact with the sharp substrate as they glide over the slime they produce themselves! And if you put the crushed shells into the compost bin, the calcium will eventually turn into useful calcium – eventually means “a few years later at least”, so don’t bank on a quick-release fertiliser! Besides: they don’t really add a lot of value to your compost. Ah! To speed up composting waste material, do we need to turn the heap every now and then? Good question! Aeration will indeed help the process a bit… but so do mice and rats digging tunnels for their nests. Perhaps the question should be: how much time do you, personally, have to “turn” the compost? Every 3 or 4 weeks. Cooked food in the compost bin? Why not? It’s basically the same as un-cooked food, so why chuck it in the rubbish bin? Dead Animals or left-over meat in the compost bin? Everything that once lived is compostable – simple as that. Animals and old meat will take longer and it might start to smell somewhat, but it certainly will compost. Can weeds be composted? Of course! Weeds are simply plants too and when you pull them out, they will decay and form compost, just like any other organism, but should you? That depends on the kind of weed it is and if it has set seeds or survives on a vigorous root-system. How fast can you make compost? Depends on what you make it from; You’ll need C and N plus support from fungal organisms and microbial life-forms. In general, it’ll go quicker when you are in a warm part of the world and slower in a cool area. Here’s another bit of science: a compost tumbler is usually quite a bit smaller than a wooden compost bin, sitting on the soil. That means the tumbler won’t heat up as much (or at all!) as the larger bin and that may slow the process down – but it certainly will work albeit not so fast. What can we Learn FROM Nature making its own compost? Leaves fall down; twigs and sticks break off and join the leaves. Fruit and seeds join the party and every now and then a big branch with deliver a lot of Carbon. “Recycling insects” and Microbes help the compost process out; worms transport the end-product to deeper layers in the soil where it’s needed by the roots… and it just carries on in its own tempo… LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.