Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

The Secret – Lee Child and Andrew Child Jack Reacher has returned in yet another novel from Lee and Andrew Child. ‘The Secret’ is the 28th book in the series and was released only a few months before the second season of the TV show is set to be released in December. The Woman in Me - Britney Spears Britney Spears’ hotly anticipated memoir The Woman In Me has finally hit shelves after already topping bestseller charts. It’s Spears’ first official memoir, though she has already written two books with her mother Lynne. She reportedly started writing it shortly after her 13-year conservatorship ended. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flanked by jagged mountain spires scratching at the sky and slashed by the crystal waters of the mighty Snake River, the valley of Jackson Hole sets the stage for some wild Wyoming adventures, where the spirit of the West sings out loud. Early fur trappers used the term “hole” to describe a valley entirely encased by mountains, which perfectly sums up Jackson Hole’s terrain. Thickly forested mountains are carpeted in fir, spruce and Lodgepole pine trees. Lodgepole trunks served as trusty tipi poles for Native Americans. Then there’s the lush alpine meadows and the silvery-gray-green sagebrush flats - all guarded by the Tetons’ towering peaks, that are part of the Rockies. Crossing over into Wyoming from Idaho, the vertigo-inducing Teton Pass, at an elevation of 2500 metres, served up my first eagle’s perspective of Jackson Hole. It’s a mesmerising perspective and searing reminder that this is a land of rugged adventurers and stoic settlers. This sprawling valley not only plays host to hordes of wildlife, but the Grand Teton National Park and the ebullient town of Jackson. As the warm autumn sunshine bathed the bucolic landscape in a soft glow, I was staggered how many road-trippers were out in force, well past the summer peak. But nature’s towering glories, whether you’re magnetised by the ski slopes, the hiking trails or serendipitous wildlife encounters, underpins Jackson Hole’s year-round pulling power. Travel correspondent Mike Yardley talked to Jack Tame on the best things to do in Jackson Hole in Wyoming.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is ADHD? Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms include difficulty focusing attention -often cant’s keep focused on something but sometimes get “hyperfocused” on something and can’t move off it when need to; acting suddenly without thinking (impulsivity); being really disorganised; fidgety, restless, can’t sit still for long; changing jobs a lot, messy and disorganised, misses deadlines, often seen as unreliable; can affect friendships Why is it an issue in the workplace Historically ADHD was thought to only exist in children and that they would grow out of it Now know that about 2/3 of people with ADHD as a child continue to have symptoms and signs as an adult Lots of people missed being diagnosed in childhood but now realising that they might have it – so lots more people getting diagnosed as adults Also increasing number of women being diagnosed in adulthood who were likely overlooked during childhood How to support at work Recognising it’s ADHD is a good start rather than assuming someone is “lazy” or it’s something to do with their personality Adjusting work environment to reduce distractions Figuring out with the person how best they work – sometimes having tight deadlines is really useful as it creates positive pressure to get a job done. A number of journalists have commented to me that they think they have ADHD and news media is a great place for them to work as the content is constantly changing and the deadlines are tight and quick LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Nautilus 2023 Albarino, Marlborough $30 Why I chose it: - Exciting new (to New Zealand) grape variety with a great future in this part of the world - Nautilus makes my favourite Albarino - Great summer wine – crisp, refreshing with mouth-watering acidity What does it taste like? - A delicious albarino with classic citrus/mandarin/orange flavours. A kiss of sweetness is perfectly balanced by fruity, mouthwatering acidity that leaves a refreshing finish. Memorable wine that makes perfect summer drinking. Why it’s a bargain: - High quality wine at a reasonable price Where can you buy it? - Wine Freedom, Otago $24.99; Whiskeyonline, Auckland $25.99; Society Liquor, Wellington $25.99 - More likely to find it at fine wine stores rather than on supermarket shelves Food match? - Most seafood, my favourite is scampi seared on the BBQ Will it keep? - Drink it up LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring: everything wakes up. All sorts of creepy crawlies are gunning for your crops and sometimes we need to be ahead of the game. Apples have stopped flowering and the smallest beginnings of the fruit are on your trees. Those tiny fruitlets are known in English as “Codlings” Hence the name for the moth who’s caterpillars love to invade these codlings: Codling moth Parents (moths) are now laying eggs on these codlings, so let’s avoid the caterpillars tunnelling into your tiny, developing fruit! MADEX is the spray to use from now on; every two weeks or so until February. Madex is a codling moth granulosis virus that will affect the small brutes before they enter the apple. Only works on Codling moth species (Cydia pomonella); and the virus will not harm us either. Noticed the black sooty mould on your lemon tree leaves? That stuff grows on all sorts of citrus! That’s a fungus that grows on the excrement of sap-sucking insects, especially scale insects, mealybugs and citrus whitefly. Those tiny whitefly have really become the bigger pest on citrus, especially north of Christchurch. Trying to remove the black, sooty mould is literally useless, as the sap-suckers will continue to drop their sweet poos; So: we need to control those whitefly etc., right now by giving them a weekly dose of Neem Oil. Aim for the top-side of the leaves and the bottom-side of the leaves. The regularity of spraying halts the egg-laying part of the life cycle, simply by killing the susceptible juveniles before they become adults. Lemon tree borer is another troublesome critter on citrus; this one grows its babies (rather large beetle grubs) in tunnels in branches, twigs and trunks of citrus trees. The female beetle lays her eggs on freshly-made pruning cuts, so the very first thing we must not do is prune our citrus in spring and summer. To remove the grub from its tunnel is tricky, but can be achieved with a “hypodermic needle” filled with insecticide. You can literally squirt that stuff into the grub’s tunnel by access in the “toilet hole” from the outside. That way you won’t cause any extra damage to the branch but still halt the destruction inside the branch Clever, eh? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YouTube is cracking own on ad-blockers If you have an ad-blocker you'll likely get a warning that using it violates their terms of service. It's been a slow road here - they previously had allowed you to watch one video before blocking you, but no more. The big streamers are doing the same, but with account sharing - everyone is focused on profitability at the moment and are tightening up where they can. Apple really wants you to buy a new laptop They released their new M3 chips on Tuesday and put those into MacBook Pros and the iMac. They referenced multiple times that 'Intel-based' Macs were slow, and that it's a great time to upgrade! They also did their "scary fast" event at a new time - 8pm in the East, 5pm in the West - I imagine hoping to get in front of consumers rather than industry folks.The trouble is that most people don't have a need for these more powerful chips right now.. and the sales reflect that with Q3 of 2023 was down 34% compared to Q3 of last year -- they did $7.6 billion in sales. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the Light We Cannot See: Adapted from the novel by Anthony Doerr, this tells the story of a blind French teenager who crosses paths with a German soldier as they both try and survive the devastation of World War 2. (Netflix) The Gilded Age: The return of Julian Fellowes’ sumptuous costume drama about a young woman who moves to New York to live with her aunts, and is exposed to an exciting new world on the brink of the modern age (Neon) Wolf: A British drama where anything goes. Set in an isolated house in the country, a family find themselves the victims of a terrifying psychopath’s cruel games (TVNZ+) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The term ‘MasterChef’ Is not a term to be taken lightly. Yes, it comes with all the TV star glory but it’s also about incredible talent and skill. Starting out as a young boy running an Auckland takeaway shop and local dairy, Sam Low has gone from strength to strength making a name for himself in the food industry as an award-winning barista and latte art champion. He took the crown in last year's MasterChef New Zealand. Now he’s combined a collection of delicious recipes in his new cookbook - “Modern Chinese”. Sam Low spoke to Jack Tame about it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Week returns in November 2023. Over a week NZ ice cream, gelato and sorbet makers will celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the country’s growing industry and encourage Kiwis to buy and enjoy locally made. The week kicks off with Ice Cream & Gelato Sundae on Sunday 5 November 2023 – with specials in scoop shops across the country. NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Week is from Sunday 5 until Sunday 12 November 2023 with ice cream and gelato stores featuring; tastings, competitions and special promotions. Kiwis can head to www.nzicecreamandgelato.co.nz to vote for their favourite NZ Ice Cream or Gelato maker AND your favourite NZ Scoop Store – and go into the draw to win ice cream & gelato Affogato! This is the perfect little sweet treat pick me up; ice cream drowned in espresso coffee and topped with toasted, crushed hazelnuts. Add a shot of liqueur if you fancy. Bellissimo! Makes 4 ½ cup hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped 1 cup very strong espresso coffee 4 big scoops good quality ice cream 4 tablespoons amaretto, Kahlúa or other liqueur (optional) Scoop vanilla ice cream into small, pre-chilled glasses or cups. Pour over ¼ cup hot espresso over the top and top with hazelnuts. Add a shot of liqueur (optional) and serve immediately. Nici’s note: For kids, use decaf coffee or hot chocolate and leave out the liqueur. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francesca Rudkin reviews Kiwi comedian Tom Sainsbury's new horror film Loop Track and Till, about the search for justice following the lynching of African American teenager Emmett Till in 1955. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's top swimmer, Lewis Clareburt, is having to move to Auckland and find a new coach because he can't get consistent training time at Wellington city council's top pool. Why? Because their community pools are "heavily used" by swimmers and other water sports. Kevin Milne talked to Jack Tame about it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The results are in. Not the final, final results. The super-dooper recounted and not-subject-to-further-legal-challenge results. But as final as results are going to be for a bit longer. And on the numbers released by the Electoral Commission yesterday, I think we can reasonably dub the 2023 General Election the ABL-Vote. ABL. Anyone. But. Labour. The left has gone more left. The right has gone more right. Winston Peters and New Zealand First have hoovered up whatever remains, and we wait to see what kind of deal might be struck between the governing parties. These are the things that stand out to me: 1) Labour’s vote has almost halved on the result three years ago. Maybe it’s the polling or just the general widespread sense of dissatisfaction with the government, but I still think we haven’t paused and considered the scale of that reversal, enough. They received 50% of the party vote in 2020. I get it. It was an extraordinary result for an extraordinary political moment. But in just three years they’ve shed almost half of that support Almost a quarter of all New Zealand voters have left them. And as if that weren’t painful enough for the party’s members, what is there to show for that historic majority government? 2) With just over 38% of the vote, by National’s traditional standards, this is not an impressive election result. It was enough. And it only needed to be enough. But if you take out the 2020 drubbing, this year’s result was the lowest party vote result for National for more than 20 years. But for 2020, the last time they were lower than 39% was the 2002 election. 3) Both the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are celebrating their largest-ever caucuses. A big part of their success is surely the ABL factor. Anyone but Labour. But I also think they ran the two best campaigns of the election. The Greens were super-disciplined. They put out well-constructed policies early in the campaign, soaking up a lot of political discourse before the other parties switched into campaign mode. Te Pāti Māori understood better than any other party except for maybe New Zealand first, how to mobilise their supporters. 4) I think ACT will be a bit disappointed by their final numbers. Of course, the result is great by the party’s traditional standards and winning the Tamaki electorate was a huge boon symbolically, but compared to where they were polling a few months ago, it’s a notable drop. 5) New Zealand First’s result marks a masterful sprint to the electoral finish line for our most experienced and seasoned politician. Winston Peters saw the space opened up by National’s dithering and seized it. The party didn’t confirm its policy platform until well after voting had already opened but their supporters don’t care. New Zealand First might have been largely absent from politicial discourse for most of this parliamentary term, but their result goes to show how important timing and momentum are in a political campaign. So what happens now? Negotiations will be fascinating. My impression is that David Seymour will be intensely focused on achieving policy concessions. I suspect New Zealand First will be less interested in big, meaty, high-workload Cabinet portfolios, but I could be wrong. I think the triumphant reaction from the Greens, while understandable at one level, shows they’re completely focused on themselves and are deluded about the constraints of opposition. No one seems to note that a record election result for the party isn’t actually worth that much if you’re languishing in opposition, and the governing parties are pledging to restart oil and gas exploration, delay emissions pricing on farms, and even scrap the Zero Carbon Act. I think Labour’s totally adrift. And I think the new Prime Minister has his work cut out. The ABL factor will give him a honeymoon glow for a bit, but this is still an incredibly tricky economic and political moment, and if this election has shown us anything it’s how quickly voter sentiment can change. Three’s a crowd and managing relationships between ACT and New Zealand First is potentially complex. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the next government will know they can only trade on being Anyone But Labour for so long. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’ve been described as the Beetles for kids. And now after more than a decade of spreading joy to generations of children, the Wiggles – Anthony, Murray, Greg, and Jeff have reunited on screen to tell how the magic happened. It wasn’t all upbeat and colourful skivvies, as the film sheds light on some of the struggles they faced as individuals. Yellow Wiggle Greg Page and Purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt joined Jack Tame to chat about the documentary, the history, and the success of the Wiggles. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the Wellington City Council committed to complete earthquake strengthening and renovations of Wellington Town Hall, approving an eyewatering $328 million budget. The reason they’ve committed to this figure is because if they closed the site and demolished the building, it would allegedly cost about the same amount. Kevin Milne is struggling to wrap his head around this fact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour The cultural phenomenon continues as pop icon Taylor Swift performs hit songs in a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience. Ms Information As the nation plunges into pandemic, Gwen Isaac’s observational documentary delves into the trenches with Siouxsie Wiles, the fuchsia-haired microbiologist who emerged as a national hero and a satanic witch in the minds of a divided New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Party Robyn Malcolm stars in this New Zealand drama about a woman whose world implodes after she accuses her husband of a sex crime but nobody believes her (TVNZ1 from Sunday, and TVNZ+). Last Stop Larrimah An HBO true crime documentary series about the Australian outback town of Larrimah, population 11, and the mysterious disappearance of one of the residents that turned everyone else into suspects (Netflix). Hot Potato: Story of the Wiggles A documentary about the incredible story of The Wiggles, who sang and danced their way into the hearts of millions of people around the globe (Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Exchange – John Grisham What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country? It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide. Lola in the Mirror – Trent Dalton A girl and her mother have been on the run for sixteen years, from police and the monster they left in their kitchen with a knife in his throat. They've found themselves a home inside a van with four flat tyres parked in a scrapyard by the edge of the Brisbane River. The girl has no name because names are dangerous when you're on the run. But the girl has a dream. A vision of a life as an artist of international acclaim. A life outside the grip of the Brisbane underworld drug queen 'Lady' Flora Box. A life of love with the boy who's waiting for her on the bridge that stretches across a flooding, deadly river. A life beyond the bullet that has her name on it. And now that the storm clouds are rising, there's only one person who can help make her dreams come true. That person is Lola and she carries all the answers. But to find Lola, the girl with no name must first do one of the hardest things we can ever do. She must look in the mirror. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The results are in and it’s looking very likely we’ll have some form of National-led government for at least the next three years. So, what will this actually mean for our finances and the housing market? Will it be the boost some were hoping, or will the impact not be quite as much as people expect? Hannah McQueen joined Jack Tame to give her insight and answer a few questions about what kiwis should expect. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you’re sizing up embarking on an epic roadie across the great American West, Idaho is the pitch-perfect launch-pad.” “With a similar sized population to Christchurch, Boise beats to a leisurely tempo, flanked by golden hills and verdant forest, sliced by the Boise River. It’s a picturesque setting and the compact, leafy city centre exudes good looks and an easy-going grace.” “Hitting the road, I scooted across Idaho’s central folds on a three-hour drive to Ketchum and Sun Valley. As the soaring Sawtooth Mountains shuffled into view, we passed through gorgeous tourist villages like Hailey and Bellevue.” Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate "Ethically Kate" Hall is back with more sustainability tips! This time she's got her top tips for reducing food waste both on a personal and community level. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cucurbits: melons, squash, pumpkins, courgettes, zucchini, gherkins and… cucumbers. A bit “touchy” —don’t like cold spells of weather— cool southerly winds are no good; frost tender. That’s why it’s best to sow them later in spring (from end of October onwards). I sow them in medium-sized pots with seed-raising mix (high in organic material); these cucurbits appreciate a good organic feed (compost, sheep’s poo, Seafood Soup – a great liquid fertiliser) on a regular basis. But what you have to be careful with is too much water when they have germinated: their new roots are very susceptible to rotting in wet potting mix! A well-draining mix helps to keep the young roots safe from the rots. Keep your seedling in a nice, warm spot; around 18 degrees or more during the daytime hours and no less than 7 or 8 degrees at night. Sunlight is important: at least 7 hours per day direct sunlight. My tunnel house easily gets those numbers (and allows earlier planting and better regulation of watering too!). I’m not too keen on courgettes (which have a habit of becoming marrows – even worse!); nor am I a pumpkin aficionado. Let’s face it: in Winter there are heaps of pumpkins on the market and they cost bugger-all! I usually concentrate on Cucumbers, watermelon, and gherkins. These fruits are usually largely made of moisture – which means that when the flowers develop into fruits, the plants need more water (compared to the seedling stage); It’s the watering (liquid fertiliser!!) that really helps them to expand the fruit to a good size. Watermelon grows nicely on warm soils – sprawling all over the place; if you want to help them with lovely warm soil, perhaps cover the soil with some black plastic. Gherkins and Cucumbers are best grown on a trellis or climbing rack. Again: fruit develop best with increased watering / liquid fertiliser. Cucumbers need to be harvested regularly to make the plant set new fruit. Summer snack: Pickled gherkins? (or watermelon??). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK's Online Safety Bill has become law This is hugely controversial and could lead to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and iMessage shutting down their services in the UK. It's a fight over encryption and internet privacy. The government wants to improve internet safety by forcing these providers to remove harmful content such as child sexual abuse, extreme violence, animal cruelty, terrorism, promotion of illegal weapons or drugs, and more. They've also outlined new laws for 'cyber-flashing' and "deepfake pornography". But monitoring for this content would mean the tech companies would need to be able to see the content - something they are fiercely against. The government says Ofcom would only ask tech firms to access messages once "feasible technology" had been developed, but we're unclear what that means. How would you feel if your next Uber didn't have a driver? If you're living in Phoenix, Arizona it now might not! The future is here if you choose to accept! When you book a ride in the Uber app, you'll be able to select to go driverless. Waymo will still have their own app - which will allow you to grab a ride in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and soon, Austin. But this partnership with Uber makes it frictionless to try the new service. It won't be any cheaper than a car driven by a human though! A PlayStation 5 might actually be able to be put under your Christmas Tree Supply Chain issues have made the PS5 a tough thing to get with some people waiting months for their game console to arrive. Chip shortages have seriously limited the availability for the past three years, making them a rare commodity. Good news is that PlayStation says their supply chain is fixed and they have lots of availability now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our go to summer salad that you can get creative with! Change up the grain and vegetables dependent on what you have in the fridge or garden. We love serving this with any plant based or animal protein, especially chicken or salmon. If you are GF, we recommend replacing the couscous with millet or brown rice. Serves: 4-6 Time: 20 minutes Ingredients 1 cup israeli couscous Water 2 tbsp cooking oil 1 head broccoli, cut into florets 1/2 tsp sea salt Herb Oil: 1 cup herbs, roughly chopped 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp sea salt To Serve: 1/2 cup flaked almonds, toasted 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted 1 cup herbs, roughly chopped Method: Add the couscous into a pot and toast over a medium heat for a couple of minutes. Then add enough water to just cover the couscous. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat up the oil in a pan and add the broccoli and sea salt. Allow the broccoli to sit and cook in the oil for a couple of minutes, then give it a toss. Then allow it to sit and cook for another couple of minutes. Once it is nice and crispy, remove the pan from the heat. For the herb oil, add all of the ingredients to a small blender and blend until a vibrant green oil is formed. Alternatively, you can use a handheld stick blender. Set aside. In a large bowl, add the cooked couscous, broccoli, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle over the herb oil and gently toss everything together. Lastly add the herbs and give everything one last final toss before serving. This salad will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Please note if you are wanting to keep it over the 3 days, leave the herbs out and add them just before enjoying. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Historically, the All Blacks haven’t faced too much adversity. But here it is. The team is at odds and ends. The players are being criticised. The coaches and their bosses are being hammered in the press. Maybe they will falter. Maybe we’re watching the unravelling of a once-mighty team. Maybe Silver Lake has bought a dud. Or maybe, through whatever changes are necessary, and through the pluck and determination of a unit that can only be truly tested when its back is against the wall, the All Blacks will find a way to rise up.” Those were the words of famed rugby analyst Jack Tame on a radio station called Newstalk ZB, shortly after the All Blacks had lost a home series to Ireland for the first time. 15 months on, I’ll be honest, my thoughts have been a bit muddled this week. Yes, I can rationalise that we’ve improved massively since that last encounter with the Springboks back in August. A 28-point deficit? Surely that won’t be repeated. I can rationalise that we’re fit. We’re coming off a slightly longer break. We’ve weathered the Irish storm. Our set piece is a thousand times better than it was, we’ve barely lost a lineout in the tournament and our outside backs are maybe the most exciting in World rugby. Buuuuuuuuuut, still. South Africa. They’re good. I feel for Dane Coles missing out. For years he’s defined what a hardy, mischievous hooker should be. I’m not bothered by the locking decision either way - Retallick to start and Whitelock on the bench - except to say that Sam Whitelock is a titan of a leader, and I can’t imagine a Rugby World Cup victory without him playing a massive role, whether off the bench or in the starting 15. Buuuuuuuuuut, still. South Africa. Gulp. The Springboks have named a 7-1 split. Seven forwards on the bench. That’s a gamble. Gambles can backfire. But if there’s anything… any one thing that can push the All Blacks over the edge… that can propel them to Word Champion status… That can secure a record fourth Rugby World Cup… It’s the story. It’s that doing so will be the pièce de résistance… the cherry on top of the whole Ian Foster fiasco. I was not someone who thought Ian Foster was the best man for a job. I’m still not! But I also think he’s been treated woefully over the last few years. And in the midst of a pretty awful situation, I think he acted with dignity and grit. Finishing up as the coach of the World Champions wouldn’t just be an incredibly satisfying conclusion to his All Blacks career. It’d be a hell of a middle finger to the haters. And I can never underestimate the power of stories in sport. Stories are what give sport its magic. I want to finish with another quote of mine from last year: “Maybe it’s lunacy to even ponder a World Cup victory next year. But crazier things have happened in sport.” “Often the greatest sporting narratives are those in which an athlete or a team overcomes adversity. Victory against all odds.” I said my thoughts had been a bit muddled this week. My head and my heart in a furious battle. But the closer we get to kick-off, the more clarity I have. Ultimately, I do know what I think. I think I was right to maintain that sliver of optimism even during trying times. I think the All Blacks will win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Twat Files by Dawn French Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Clown is the latest album by 25 year old New Zealand singer Paige. The South Auckland artist debuted the song Aquarian at a show at Auckland's The Cloud during the Women's World Cup. Simon Gooding, who has also worked with Pink and Neil Finn, is the producer for this album. Billie Eilish has also shared one of Paige's songs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Blenheim might be a byword for grapes, but beverage-making doesn't just stop with wine production. - What about DNA Brewery? - And Moa Brewing is under new ownership? - There's a lot of tasting experiences at Vines Village. ( Gin and whisky and cheese) - Did you check out Dodson Street Beer Garden? - Any other tasty bites to add to the bingo card? For more tips on savouring Blenheim's best brews and bites, Mike's article is on the website. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/ LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The perfect light summer dessert. Sweet ripe strawberries, zesty orange, tangy pomegranate molasses, maple syrup and delicate vanilla. If strawberries aren’t in season, in winter we love marinating pears and roasting them. Serve with vanilla ice cream and our sweet and salty crunch. Serves: 4 Time: 30 minutes One punnet of strawberries, sliced Zest and juice of 1 orange 1 tsp pomegranate molasses 2 tsp maple syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract Sweet + Salty Crunch: 1/2 cup nuts of your choice, roasted 2 tbsp maple syrup ½ tsp sea salt To Serve: 8 scoops of plant based or dairy vanilla ice cream Method: Add the sliced strawberries to a medium sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Allow the strawberries to marinate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the fruit to infuse the syrup flavours. Meanwhile, make the sweet + salty crunch. In a small bowl, combine your choice of nuts with maple syrup and sea salt. Once marinated, divide the ice cream between bowls and top with the marinated strawberries and sweet + salty crunch LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been warned – a dry spell is coming our way this summer in the form of El Niño. (little Boy!) We’ve seen this before, of course but I reckon it may need a bit of a reminder: Temperatures, Rainfall and Wind direction are the key elements of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. El Niño is characterised by more westerly winds, dropping more rain on the west coasts and less rain on the east coast. It also tends to create warmer summer temperatures in the east, making the drought conditions even trickier for gardeners. The North Island may likely see the worst effects. Keeping water tanks as full as possible might be a good idea. Planting drought-tolerant species will certainly ease the stress; so I went on a hunt for species that would be reasonably drought-tolerant. Southern Woods (South of Christchurch) has a good range of trees, shrubs and plants and Chris Smith sent me a few great tips, as well as a list of their best performers during El Niño. Brachyglottis greyii – Daisy Bush (aka shaggy Ragwort) Brachyglottis monroi – Monro’s Daisy; evergreen with yellow flowers Carmichaelia australis – common native broom – an insect magnet Coprosma acerosa – ground cover for dry/hot/coastal Coprosma brunnea – wiry ground cover with white to blue fruits; cold tolerant too. Birds and Lizards Coprosma crassifolia – divaricated shrub with small leaves – North and South Island Coprosma rugosa – “Needle-leaved Mountain coprosma – nice orange-brown species – stands out! Coprosma virescens – an orange and green species – another favourite of mine; Cordyline australis – good old cabbage tree: hardy in wetlands and in drought! Pain for lawnmowers Corokia cotoneaster - My plant to find native bees on spring flowers – colourful. Dodonaea viscosa - hopbush or “ake ake”; green version is NZ Native; reddish-brown ex Australia Elaeocarpus hookerianus known as Pōkākā; can do dry, but also cold Kanuka – Great flowering tree – a source of nectar for heaps of insects Melicytus alpinus – porcupine bush; brilliant mountain shrub – grows well at lower levels too Muehlenbeckia astonii – tough as! However I feel it’s a bit “over-used” in NZ gardens. Olearia – tree daisies – many types to choose from Ozothamnus – cottonwood Pseudopanax crassifolius – Lancewood! The story of Juvenile foliage and adult foliage Sophora microphylla – Sth Island Kowhai; watch the tui and bellbirds, the silver eyes and the Kereru Teucrium parvifolium – rather rare shrub endemic to New Zealand and quite at home on eastern side of our Islands, which indicates tolerance to dry spells Do a bit of research and see what would look great at your place. When you plant them, ensure you don’t “bury” them too deep and water them in for a few days to allow them to settle in. Of course, mulching will help (reduce evaporation), and if possible, planting in the cooler seasons Watering is often tricky: water well periodically rather than every week. If you let these shrubs dry out between waterings, they’ll send their roots in all directions to “look for water”. That sets them up to survive El Niño! If you are in Canterbury: go and see Chris and the team at Southern Woods – and a Dutch tip: time it well with their spring sale!!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Type 2 diabetes? Body not able to control sugars – sugars become in body high Basically due to the pancreas wearing out over time not producing enough insulin or insulin becoming ineffective. We are seeing more cases in younger people especially Māori and Pacific. How big a problem is it and what harm to the body does it cause? Thought to be approximately 300,000 in NZ living with type 2 diabetes. Health system cost 2.1 billion year – 0.67% GDP! Individual cost: increased rates renal failure, heart disease, blindness, leg amputation, if not controlled. What are the new medications? Diet, exercise and weight reduction central to treatment. Medications are needed such as metformin and insulin. Now available two new medications: Jardiance daily tablet: causes us to ‘pee’ sugar out of the body when we urinate. Trulicity- weekly injection: mimics a hormone that means we feel full and eat less and absorb sugar within body and can lose weight. Why are they important? Gives more treatment options in addition to metformin and insulin. Major differences don’t just lower sugar in body: also protect kidney from damage , and reduce chances of heart disease, and weight reduction: first time ever! In Higher doses Trulicity the weekly injection: has been used overseas for weight reduction ( Ozempic, Saxena New Zealand – not funded here) – has been in news Lead to worldwide shortages at times that have affected New Zealand. What should we do? Important over age of 40 have regular blood sugar tests to see if developing problem. Need to review regularly with GP and nurse: diet, exercise in combination with medication is important. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media platform X (formally Twitter) is using New Zealand as a testing ground for a plan to charge new users. The platform's owner Elon Musk plans to charge new users $1 a year to use X.Users can opt out, but that means they won't be able view posts and not post anything. Musk says this is to weed out bots on the platform.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bodies A crime drama set over four different time periods where the same dead body keeps turning up in the same place in London across those four time periods (Netflix). The Pigeon Tunnel A new documentary film exploring the life and career of famed spy novelist John le Carré (Apple TV+). Sheperdess A celebration of rural women where filmmakers visit and interview different women about their lives in rural settings (Sky Open from tomorrow). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have completed a resounding 44-6 victory over Argentina, propelling themselves into the final to face either England or South Africa.Will Jordan had a standout game scoring three tries with both Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell bagging two tries each. Newstalk ZB's rugby commentator Elliot Smith spoke to Jack Tame about the result and what happens next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic Kiwi band Drax Project has been collaborating with the upcoming Australian pop artist Charley. They've released their new single 'Disrespect,' and Jack Tame has managed to get three of the artists in one interview to discuss the song. Shaan Singh and Matt Beachen from Drax Project and Charley hopped in a call to chat about how it all came together. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Are We There Yet?’ is the new, long awaited album from Rick Astley via BMG. His ninth studio album overall, it’s the third in a row of which Astley has written, recorded, played and produced himself at his home studio in London. Featuring the single ‘Dippin My Feet’, an invigorating twist on his signature style, ‘Are We There Yet?’ is the sound of Rick reflecting and building upon the experiences he’s gone through since the release of 2018’s ‘Beautiful Life’. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Armour of Light - Ken Follett The long-awaited sequel to A Column of Fire, The Armor of Light, heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond. The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world order: A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war. Rambling Man: My Life on the Road - Billy Connolly Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across something I couldn't get a laugh at. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that's a whole other story . . . In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a sustainable bathroom look like? Kate 'Ethically Kate' Hall has a list of alternatives for common bathroom necessities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"500 year old giant rimu, tentacular rata vines and red beech anchor the forest, with a supporting cast of lush ferns and ponga. Once over the saddle, it's a steady descent through bush and farmland to reach Nydia Bay, with sporadic glimpses as far as Kenepuru Inlet, whose peninsulas fold into the distance. Indignant-looking cows grazing in paddocks cast me a suspicious glare, as if to say “What an earth are you doing in my paddock?” Finally, the gently lapping waters of the lake soundtracked my the final stretch of the first day’s walk." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You started it, Jack! Last week you mentioned that dreaded word: Passionfruit vine. It’s not that I don’t like passionfruit – I love them. But after many, many years of trying to grow these vines I have to confess to gangrene thumbs. Here are some of the conditions and growing tips that I have collected over the past 45 years in Aotearoa – stuff from growers and producers of the vines, so… Grab what you like of these notes: They need exceptional drainage and full sun. I have always strived to provide these conditions. Open, free-draining soils: If you have clay or such heavy soils with tiny particles that clog-up the watering, the ground needs to be raised or drainage improved. To improve drainage, a large hole can be dug out and drainage gravel and pumice incorporated with good topsoil before back-filling the hole. Of course, if you simply dig a large hole with the best gravel you are literally constructing an enormous sink, with the plug-hole still in it. So it pays to literally create some kind of pipe or system that takes the excess water away. If this is all too much work you can plant the passionfruit vine in a large pot with good quality Tub-Mix (Growing mix) and drainage holes in the bottom. Make sure the pot will be slightly raised above the ground so the water can actually leave the bottom of the pot through the holes. Do not forget to feed and water the plant; plants in large pots can dry out quite quickly. Instead of a large pot with a good growing mix, you can always build a “raised garden bed”, say 40 cm higher than your current soil level. Once again: make sure the water can drain away effortlessly Give the passionfruit roots ample space to establish in the raised garden bed or in the large pot. Do not over-water these roots but – on the other hand – don’t let them dry out too much. In terms of “full sun”: I think that it might be an idea to face the plant a bit more “North-East”, rather than “North-West” (The mid-day to afternoon sun tends to be quite a bit hotter than the morning sun!) Passionfruit is not keen on harsh winters – it hates the cold winds and frosts as these will stress the plant; couple that with wet, rainy winters days and you can see how these factors will knock the plant around. It also shows you how important good drainage is in winter! Passionfruit are rapid growers and consequently benefit from 2 to 3 applications of a general slow release fertiliser during the spring and summer growing period. Nitrogen makes lots of new leaves. If you have a young plant don’t prune them fiercely as they set fruit on the new growth – keep your new growth to actually get that fruit. Once the vine is well-established, you can prune it a bit more heavily, but remember to keep plenty new growth on that vine – get rid of diseased parts of the plant. Best time to prune is right now, when warmth comes back to your garden and frosts are no longer an issue. I hear from experts that passionfruit doesn’t last much longer than 5 or 6 years, so plant the next generation before your plant kicks the bucket… I planted mine every year and got totally sick of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The violence in Israel & Gaza has spread online The EU Commissioner has written to TikTok to request they "urgently step up" efforts to combat misinformation and respond "within the next 24 hours" how it is following European law. TikTok has an especially young audience - children and teens - and therefore has an even stronger obligation to remove violent content and terrorist propaganda. Meta and X have also been asked to comply with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) law. This requires them to proactively remove illegal content and show they've taken measures to do so. Meta says they immediately spun up a situation room with Hand Arabic speakers to assist with content moderation. "Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation." X says they've removed content and accounts - but says they haven't been informed of any illegal content they need to remove. Adobe has showcased its AI experiments Incredible advances -- They showed how they could remove people from the background of video. They showed generative fill changing a man's shirt and giving him a tie. They showed removing reflections from photos. They also showed videos of being able to translate audio from one language into dozens, while keeping the sound of the original speaker's voice - effectively showing what it would be like if you were speaking another language. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Paul Jaboulet 2022 Viognier, France $23.73 Why I chose it: - It‘s a delicious dry white wine at an attractive price - If you like NZ Viognier you will love this wine - Viognier is an aromatic grape variety which means it often has a floral character (in this case “wildflowers”) - Often blended with Syrah to make it softer and more perfumed. What does it taste like? - Ripe, attractive viognier with classic apricot and wildflower flavours supported by subtle citrus characters. Appealing wine that is dry without being austere and has weight without being at all clumsy. Excellent value at this price. Why it’s a bargain: - Average price for Viognier in this country is $31 and this is well above average quality Where can you buy it? - Vino Fino, Christchurch $22.99 - Vine Online, Auckland $24.99 - Wine Central, Auckland $24.00 Imported by Dhall and Nash Food match? - Roast chicken Will it keep? - Drink it up LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malpractice: A British medical thriller about a doctor who finds herself embroiled in a medical scandal (TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from Sunday). Lessons in Chemistry: Brie Larson stars in this 1950s drama about a woman who dreams of being a scientist but is forced to take a job as the host of a TV cooking show - and sets out to teach a nation of overlooked housewives a lot more than recipes (Apple TV+). Special Ops: Lioness: This American action thriller follows a young Marine recruited to join the Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organisation from within (Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mix of roasted rhubarb, juicy orange and vanilla-scented cream tumbled together with shards of crisp, nutty filo pastry and white chocolate sauce is simply sensational! Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 sheet filo 2 teaspoons butter, melted 2 cups rhubarb, chopped into 4 cm lengths 1 tablespoon caster sugar 70g white chocolate, chopped roughly 2/3 cup cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tbsp thick Greek yoghurt, unsweetened 2 oranges, segmented Method: Preheat oven to 180 C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Brush filo sheet with melted butter and sandwich between the lined trays. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until very golden brown. Remove and cool. Break into shards. Toss rhubarb in sugar and, using the same lined tray(s), roast the rhubarb for 15 minutes until softened. Set aside to cool. In a small pot heat a third of the cream to near boiling. Throw in chopped chocolate, cover with a tea towels and leave for 5 minutes before whisking to a smooth sauce. Cool. Whip remaining cream with vanilla to a soft whip consistency. To assemble: Choose small glasses, jars or bowl and layer up rhubarb, the cream mix, shards of filo, orange segments and topping it all off with the white chocolate ganache. Be prepared to be delighted! Nici’s note: Plums (fresh or tinned) in place of the rhubarb are just as good in this recipe so feel free to mix it up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anatomy of a Fall A woman is suspected of her husband's murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness. In The Land of Saints and Sinners Hoping to leave his dark past behind him, former assassin Finbar Murphy leads a quiet life in a coastal Irish town, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. When menacing terrorists show up, Finbar soon discovers that one of them has been abusing a local girl. Drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angel Face is Stephen Sanchez’s debut album, filled with a collection of ‘50s and ‘60s style songs that chronicles the life of the fictional Troubadour Sanchez. It focuses on the love story between the Troubadour Sanchez and Evangeline, who is currently in a love affair with a mobster. The album brings a fresh take to old fashion blues, ballads, and rock ‘n’ roll. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uproar A 17-year-old is forced to clamber off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whānau, and his future. The Show Me Shorts Film Festival Show Me Shorts is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading international short film festival. Our mission is to connect New Zealand audiences with short films and share New Zealand short films with the world. Screenings in 35 cinemas across New Zealand during 6-29 October 2023. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If you’re planning a fling with the entertainment capital of the world, a trip to Tinsel Town tingles with a distinct blend of escapist reality. Beyond the time-honoured staples of the studio tours like Universal and Warner Brothers, a frolic through the Dolby Theatre, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I checked a few other ways you can chase the stars on a visit to Hollywood." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beckham Featuring never-before-seen footage, this Netflix docuseries follows David Beckham’s rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom (Netflix). Lupin A new season of the delightful thriller based on the classic French story about Arsène Lupin, the world-famous gentleman thief and master of disguise (Netflix). The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this Wes Anderson adaption of the Roald Dahl story about a wealthy man who wants to master a new skill in order to cheat at gambling games (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Code Red – Vince Flynn Mitch Rapp hates owing anyone a favor—especially when it’s the world’s most powerful crime lord. But when Damian Losa calls, Mitch is honor-bound to answer. The Syrian government appears to have created a highly addictive new narcotic that it plans to distribute throughout Europe. It’s a major threat to Losa’s business and he’s determined to send someone to keep him on top by any means necessary. With far more than Damian Losa’s interests at stake, Rapp devises a desperate plan that forces him and his team onto a battlefield where the United States is virtually powerless and allegiances shift almost hourly. Further, if Russia uncovers their plot, it will set off a confrontation between the two countries that could change the course of human history. The Running Grave – Robert Galbraith Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside. The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths. In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . . LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent Gallup poll shows that a majority of workers in NZ are not engaged or are “quiet quitting”. 4/10 say they are experiencing high levels of stress, 4/10 looking for new job, with managers playing a key role in determining whether people thrive or disengage at work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.