Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

We hear lots about “mindfulness” – it seems to be everywhere. But what actually is it and what does it do? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the common queries from the Garden involves the phenomenon of leafcurl on the leaves of peaches, nectarines, apricots, almonds …. STONE FRUIT in other words. It is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. The leaves (especially in spring) are discoloured and contorted (if there is such a word) disfigured and looking quite awful. Colours vary from pale green to pink and deeper purple colours, but the distortions are very diagnostic: as if the leaves have become a lot “thicker” The affected leaves fall off the trees along with infected small fruits. Infection As soon as the leaf buds have “swollen” to produce spring-time leaves, the infections take place. Later in spring and early summer, when most of the affected leaves have fallen off, the leaves appear to be “normal, but the tree will have been weakened. By then the damage has been done. With newly-formed peach leaves in spring, you are NOT advised to spray copper on those leaves, as copper often causes “burn” on those leaves and - besides – you’re too late controlling the fungus at that time. A spray with Myclobutanil (“Fungus fighter”) might be more effective as that (non-organic) material will control the fungal infection – albeit too late for that year’s crop! Timing of Infection The reason we’re talking about leaf curl at this time of the year (July) is that from Late Autumn to Early Winter (right now!) the fungal spores of Taphrina deformans are infecting the leaf buds that are being formed on the twigs for the new spring growth. Control Grab yourself a double dose of Copper spray (or a mixture of Copper and Sulphur (both regarded as organic sprays) and drench those new buds two or three times (2 weeks apart). I have the feeling that you can’t go wrong with three or even four sprays of copper from all angles, so the buds are thoroughly sprayed and the fungal spores are given a run for their money! Some folk advise to do apply another copper spray just before the leaf buds swell (in spring) and produce leaves. But it’s quite simple: if you can control the Taphrina deformans at this time of the year, you’ll control the leaf curl too and have a much better crop of stone fruit in spring. If you still get some leaf curl on the new leaves, a quick dose of fungus fighter will “mop up” the fungus before it goes into its summer state. Hygiene Don’t forget to pick up fallen, infected leaves and fruit from the ground underneath the tree.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS Wine: Neudorf 2022 Tiritiri Chardonnay, Nelson $28 Why I chose it: - Neudorf is one of the country’s top chardonnay producers - It is less than one/third of the price of Neudorf’s top chardonnay - “Special occasion” wine What does it taste like? - Appealing, accessible chardonnay with an initial hint of fruit and alcohol sweetness leading to nicely integrated acidity that helps drive a lengthy finish. A mix of subtle mineral and citrus flavours. Great value at this price. Why it’s a bargain: - It is one of those wines that I spot on the shelve and think they have made a mistake by underpricing it. Where can you buy it? - Moore Wilson’s, Wellington $26.95; - Neudorf Vineyards, Upper Moutere $28. - Wine retailers know that they don’t have to discount the wine to sell it. It has such a good reputation. Food match? - Freshly shucked Nelson Toi Point oysters garnished with a squeeze of lime. Most seafoods. Will it keep? - It offers great drinking now but will still be delicious in 4-5 years. therealreview.com LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are your kids up to on Instagram and Messenger - you can now find out more than ever Just how much time are they spending chatting to friends? The new "Messenger Supervision Tools" will show that and lots more. Parents will be able to see contacts lists, who messages with their child and who can see their Stories. They can't however see the actual messages themselves. These are available now in the USA, Canada and UK. Will roll out globally over time. Over on Instagram, if a kid isn't following someone and they try to send a message, they'll get an invite to connect before any photos or videos can be received, or calls are connected. An update about Meta blocking links to news sites in Canada Well Google is doing the same now. It'll be removing all news content from Google Search, and Google news. They haven't said if links to stories about Canada from foreign publishers would be allowed. Google is calling the Online News Act "unworkable" - especially because it forces the tech companies to the negotiating table with no guidelines on what a reasonable deal should be valued at. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Kevin Milne joined Jack to chat about his win in the Lotto draw this week, and what he’d do with $33 million dollars. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hijack: Idris Elba stars in this drama about a negotiator who has to use his professional skills when his flight from Dubai to London is hijacked (Apple TV+). The Witcher: The popular dark fantasy series sees Henry Cavill return for a third season as a monster-hunter available for hire, navigating a world where people are more wicked than beasts (Netflix). Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorised Story of American Gladiators: This docu-series follows the dramatic rise and fall (and all the behind the scenes drama) of one of the biggest TV shows of the 1990s (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy Chin is responsible for capturing some of the most famous outdoor photos and documentaries of our time alongside his wife, Chai. The pair shot the Oscar winning documentary Free Solo, following climber Alex Honnold conquering the 900 metre vertical rock face of El Capitan in Yosemite… without any ropes. Jimmy and Chai have a new project that’s been picked up by Disney called Wild Life. It follows Kris Tompkins and her partner Doug, who helped pioneer the likes of Patagonia, The North Face, and Esprit. They then turned their attention to creating National Parks throughout Chile and Argentina through one of the largest private land donations in history. Jimmy Chin joined Jack Tame to chat about this latest project. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This beautiful fruit is in abundance right now, and it’s a great ingredient to work with given it lends itself to both sweet and savoury dishes. Often paired with blue cheese, I recently enjoyed it at a fab restaurant in Wellington, High Water on Cuba St, where they paired it with fresh burrata. This is my version of that dish. Serves 2 Ingredients: 3 tablespoons currants, soaked in boiling water to plump 1 firm persimmon, sliced very thinly (I used a mandolin) 100g burrata or fresh mozzarella or cottage cheese Small handful of toasted hazelnuts Honey, pomegranate molasses, balsamic vinegar or vincotto Dressing: 2 tablespoons good olive oil 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar Whisk up the dressing in a little bowl. Method: Choose your favourite plate and dollop some of whatever cheese you’re using around it in spoonfuls or torn pieces. Cover these with the thin slices of persimmon. Drizzle over the dressing, scatter over the currants and hazelnuts. Add a final flourish of whatever you’re using, the honey, molasses etc. Eat quietly and reverently. Note: Vincotto is a beautiful, fruity, tangy viscous vinegar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA. The Last Rider American cyclist Greg LeMond wins the 1989 Tour de France to complete one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Isaac Newton missed a trick. Albert Einstein did no better. Archimedes was good, sure. But he still failed to describe one of the most obvious principles defining almost every aspect of our mortal existance: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. So far as I’m concerned, the Theory of No Free Lunch applies to every aspect of our lives. It’s the rule of payoffs. The rule of compromises. Sure, you can drive a massive V8 that sounds awesome and goes like the clappers, but it’s probably gonna’ be terrible for the environment and a nightmare to maintain. Sure, you can have a meaningful, purposeful, nourishing job, but you’re probably only going to earn a 50th of the salary of someone trading derivatives or trafficking weapons for a living. But perhaps nowhere is the Theory of No Free Lunch more applicable than at lunch. Sure, you can have a fast, convenient, delicious meal, but it’s probably not gonna’ be very healthy. You can enjoy a highly-nutritious, wholesome, plant-based dish, but it’s probably not gonna’ be quite as tasty or convenient as some other options. Think about how we use salt and sugar. Up to a point, is it too cheeky to suggest that every sprinkle makes a dish both a bit more delicious and a bit less healthy? There are very few unicorns when it comes to the Theory of No Free Lunch, which is why I for one am not surprised in the slightest at the news on Aspartame. The World Health Organisation is reportedly preparing to define the artificial sweetener as a possible human carcinogen. Aspartame is the miracle ingredient that makes things like Diet Coke, toothpaste, and sugar-free chewing gum delicious. Sure, you’re not consuming good old-fashioned sugary calories, you’re not rotting your teeth and clogging your arteries, but there’s a cost to that deliciousness that has to be paid somewhere. You can’t have something for nothing. We have to wait a couple of weeks for the final WHO report, but that it’s taken this long to define aspartame as possibly carcinogenic is yet another great example of how stunningly little we seem to actually understand about the science of nutrition. Aspartame is in 6000 products worldwide. It’s been studied and studied and studied. Diet Coke is 41 years old! And yet if the reports are true, it’s taken until 2023 for the WHO to finally decide aspartame meets the carcinogenic threshold. The good news, if there is any, is that it’s likely you’ll need to consume a huge quantity of the stuff for it to have a significant effect. I don’t think anyone is suggesting aspartame is on the scale of leaded petrol or tobacco. I occasionally have a diet fizzy drink. I used to be addicted but I weaned myself off it for exactly this reason. I figured it had to be bad for me, somehow. But really, the thing for me is chewing gum. I chew gum like an Australian cricketer. And will this news stop me? Of course not. Because like I said... it’s not news to me. Whether carcinogenic or something else, for sugarfree gum to taste that delicious, I’ve always known there had to be a cost. I knew, and I will always know, that there is no such thing as a free lunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Returning with their first album of new material since 2019's chart-topping Run Home Slow, Melbourne's The Teskey Brothers have unveiled their third official long player The Winding Way. They’re playing in NZ later this year. “Our old recording studio was on a street called Winding Way in Melbourne. We moved out of that house in 2021 just before recording this album,” Josh explains. “When we were trying to come up with a title we realised ‘The Winding Way’ is the perfect metaphor for all the recent changes we’d been through in our lives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese From the New York Times-bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine. Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India's Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning -- and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl -- and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi -- will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants. Search History – Amy Taylor A young woman’s online obsession with her new boyfriend’s deceased ex fuels this sharp and honest portrait of modern love “brimming with humor, insight, and uncomfortable truths” After Ana flees to Melbourne in the wake of a breakup, all she has to show for herself is an unfulfilling job at an overly enthusiastic tech start-up and one particularly questionable dating app experience. Then she meets Evan. Charming, kind, and responsible, Evan is a complete deviation from her usual type; Ana feels like she has finally awoken from a long dating nightmare. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to chat about his recent trip cruising down the Mekong Delta, taking in the sights of Vietnam. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next phase of the government’s plastic ban is kicking in from July, with single use plastic straws, tableware and cutlery, and plastic bags all being phased out. Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall joined Jack Tame to chat about the ban, what it’ll mean, and how people can get ready for the changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to winter! So you want to grow that tropical Pomegranate? Punica granatum is likely to have originated from Persia or Central Asia; a closely related ancestor (Punica protopunica) came from Yemen. The Pomegranate was quickly transported by humans throughout the Mediterranean basin, California and Asia; that was made possible by the fact that these trees are extremely adaptive to various climates and soil conditions. So yes, they would probably grow nicely in Canterbury on the port hills! What made this fruit (and bark, leaves and flowers) so desirable was its medicinal use: bio-active chemicals (and anti-oxydants) were found to be anti-microbial and anti-bacterial and pretty useful in the battles with diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Not sure how much real scientific work has been put into these medicinal claims, but as per usual, in our modern language, this fruit became a “Super Food.” Growing the Pomegranate tree/shrub In full sun is best. In any type of soil, but well-drained soil with organic material/compost gives best results. I think that if you have rather wet soils, it may pay to “raise your bed” at least 30 centimetres to avoid inundation of the roots; Pomegranates can stand rather dry soils, which means you can water the plants when you have time – and use liquid fertiliser! There is a dwarf variety called “Nana.” It can be planted in a large pot and will grow to 1 meter high. Advantage: can be shifted to a warm spot to ripen the fruit in autumn. Use a good container mix with some slow-release fertiliser. Grow them in an area where you get warm summers, slowly extending the nice temperatures to 6 or 7 months. They're pretty resistant to cool winters, but require at least 6 months of warm temperatures to ripen the fruit. Planting time. In Auckland you can plant them in late autumn/early winter (soil temperatures are not too low and the soil not too wet); In Canterbury I would plant them in autumn when the soil is still relatively warm You need patience. Pomegranates need to get established into the soil first – they slowly start to put down their roots and create flowers on the next shoots. Don’t expect too much fruit in the first year or two. Fertilisers and watering. Not required in winter and early spring – you can ignore them! But once flowers have started to show, water the tree and chuck down some fertiliser (best to use “flowering fertiliser” for tomatoes or roses) and keep up the “care” to allow the fruit to ripen in autumn. Pruning in winter: lightly prune to remove dead branches and keep the tree in shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money Personalities. The Retirement Commission this week released a study which identified 5 main Money Personalities – an enterpriser, a minimalist, a socialite, a realist, and a contemporary. Hannah McQueen has seen thousands of clients over the years, does this hold true, and does it matter? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News is disappearing from Facebook in Canada Canada's Online News Act passed on Thursday which forces tech companies to negotiate with news publishers to link to their content. There's even a provision for binding arbitration if needed. Meta isn't happy. They said back in May that it's "like asking email providers to pay the postal service because people don’t send letters any more". Meta's argument is stronger than Google's because users choose to share the news on Facebook & Instagram, rather than Facebook itself. The tech companies have six months before the legislation comes into effect, but Facebook plans to start blocking access immediately. Amazon wants in on the AI race too AWS is allocating $100 million to a program to work with companies to use their AI tech. They're adding data scientists, engineers, and solutions architects. Amazon is in a slightly different position to Microsoft & Google because they don't have the same access to datasets from crawling the web. What they do have is connections for an enterprise to their own data inside the AWS data servers thanks to their position as the cloud-leader. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Class of ’09: An American thriller that follows a group of FBI agents in three distinct time periods as they grapple with the changes to the US criminal justice system as it is altered by artificial intelligence. (Disney+) Black Snow: When a time capsule is unearthed at a Queensland high school, a small town is forced to confront the past and an unsolved murder of a student. (TVNZ+) Carpool Karaoke: A star-studded, song-filled ride in this five-time Emmy award winning series that sees celebrities sharing a car, singing along to their favourite songs - including Succession’s Brian Cox singing The Spice Girls?! (Apple TV+) LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz was the song of the year back in 2008, going on to achieve the relatively rare diamond status the next year, and going platinum a total of ten times. The US artist has had a successful career, with worldwide tours, multiple Grammy wins, and is a Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree. Jason has released a brand new album called Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, and joined Jack Tame this morning to chat about both it and his career. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s soup season and this has got to be one of my absolute favourites because it’s rich with flavour but so cheap to make! Serves 1-2 Ingredients: 1 tablespoon each butter and oil 2 onions, sliced thinly (see note) 1 scant tablespoon plain flour 3 cups beef, chicken or vege stock (or water) Splash of white or red wine (optional) 1 bay leaf ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp brown sugar Decent grind black pepper 1-2 thick slices of bread ¼ cup grated cheese – gruyere is traditional but you can use any Method: In a heavy pot cook the sliced onions on a medium heat in the butter and oil. Do this with the lid on to let them sweat down. After 5-7 minutes given them a stir (lower the heat if they are getting too brown) and keep covered and cooking for 10 more minutes. Stir the flour through the onions, add a splash of the stock and cook for 1 minutes until the flour has thickened then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer, lid on, for 20-30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve: Grill bread on both sides, top it with cheese and grill until cheese is melted then place on top of soup in a bowl. Enjoy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No Hard Feelings On the brink of losing her childhood home, a desperate woman agrees to date a wealthy couple's introverted and awkward 19-year-old son before he leaves for college. Starring Jennifer Lawrence. My Sailor, My Love A retired sea captain and his daughter must reassess their strained relationship after he begins a new romance with a widowed housekeeper. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Kevin joined Jack Tame to say goodbye to one of New Zealand’s most endearing stars: Piggy Sue. She was adopted by Kevin and his wife Linda after starring in Vodafone ads back in 2015, but recently had to be put down after an illness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been utterly compelled from the very start. I first read about the missing Titan submersible a few hours after it was publicly reported missing, and I’ve been hanging on every update ever since. That’s not to say I ever thought there might be a happy ending to the whole saga. This is perhaps a confronting thing to say, but in that vessel, at that depth, at that location, an instantaneous catastrophic implosion was a preferable alternative to one in which the occupants suffered over days or were conscious of what was happening. I just think –more than any other news story in recent memory– the whole thing says so much to us about human nature. First of all, the occupants themselves. Curious, daring. Fantastically wealthy. Was anyone terribly surprised to learn they were all men? And what does it say about our species that for those people who can afford it, of all the oceans in the World and all the incredible things to see, they chose an already extremely well-documented shipwreck that happens to be in a very tricky and unpleasant stretch of water. When you think about, a trip to a wreck where 1500 people died and you can still catch glimpes of shoes in the sand is a pretty morbid. Did the tourists really want to see the Titanic? Or did they just want to be able to say they’d seen the titanic? For us, watching from the outside, that a search for five men could engross the World says so much. We are utterly compelled by the horrors of the deep. We compelled by exploration. By hubris. By the faintest hope of an extremely unlikely rescue. We picture ourselves in that situation. Would I go in that submarine? What would I do now? Human beings aren’t even-handed in their interest or attention. Sadly, we don’t give nearly the same resource or news coverage to sinking migrant ships filled with poor and nameless people, missing in the Med. Is it just? Of course not. Ultimately though, nothing in this saga said more about human nature than the CEO of Oceangate, who died with his vessel. Stockton Rush was smart and resourceful enough to build a device which could make it kilometres below the surface of the ocean, but not wise enough to heed the warnings of myriad experts and engineers in what is a very small community. Ultimately every dive was a game of Russian roulette. As the film director James Cameron noted, there is something awfully poetic about the whole situation and its parallels to the original Titanic disaster, in which a captain blithely ignored warnings and steamed into the path of icebergs. Ultimately Stockton Rush will be remembered for publicly courting attention and media, boasting of his creation and lambasting his critics, only to perish by the flaws of his own design. There’s one word for it: Shakesperean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlike the two previous records, his first to include the Cat Stevens moniker since 1978, King of a Land is made up of all new material. Not much has changed in Yusuf / Cat Stevens' music over the past half-century. He even sounds remarkably the same, singing in a voice that's lost none of its geniality and compassion, even if the world has. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yellowface – RF Kaung White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel Killing Moon – Jo Nesbo This killer will get inside your head... Two women are missing, their only connection being they attended the same party, hosted by a notorious real-estate magnate. When one of the women is found murdered, the police discover an unusual signature left by the killer, giving them reason to suspect he will strike again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city's bling-bling urban verve is surging, but it's Saigon's history that still attracts most travellers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

47 is statistically proven to be the most depressing point of your life...but here's how to turn it around. Numerous scientific studies have shown that happiness is U-shaped – it declines and bottoms out in your 40s as you struggle with the pressures of working life, lack of new experiences, financial worries, and the weight of responsibility. No longer thirty and thriving? A recent study1 suggests that 47 years old is the most ‘depressing’ point of your life. But with every problem comes a solution, and Tourism Fiji has collated a series of holiday experiences designed to turn that middle-aged frown upside down. According to the research, happiness declines and bottoms out in your 40s before slowly hiking upwards again in the mid-50s. Combine tweenaged children with mortgages, high-interest rates and depleting collagen, and you’ll potentially find yourself a miserable 40-something-year-old. Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland claims that there is a method to the miserable-ness: “Your 40s are a time in life when you feel the weight of responsibility most strongly. Many people will have dependent kids, alongside duties that come with ageing parents, plus potentially increasing levels of responsibility at work. All of these things can eat into your general sense of life satisfaction.” “In your 40s, you look back with fondness at the care-free days of youth and look ahead to semi-retirement and enjoying the ‘good life’. You’re caught in the middle and stuck in a dangerous cycle of comparison.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was excited to go to my favourite circus: Cirque du Soleil; they’re back in town!! Great costumes – lots of art – and creative music. Most of all: fabulous performers that can do incredible things with their bodies; this, by the way, is something that makes my old body ache, just looking at it! Safety has to be an enormously important part of the show, yet you rarely see obvious signs of safety lines and nets, really… Fast-Forward to some of our jumping spiders; their Family name is “Salticidae” from Latin “Saltare”, meaning: to jump Some of our species are absolute masters at it – they come inside the house, look around for potential prey and then the stalking starts. Jumping spiders have great eye-sight – total of eight eyes, two are large front eyes for perfect stereo vision… The following “jump” is also extremely fast and accurate, but what most people don’t see is that during this jump the spider reels off silk from a gland in the abdomen. (at lightning speed!) This silk line is the spider’s safety line, in case it misses the target or falls of the window sill, table or other precarious edge where the jump takes place. Looking at these spiders you’ll see an entomological version of Cirque du Soleil with “web-sites” and bungy cords, safety lines and safety nets, daring jumps and lightning fast reflexes, all made from Natural fibres that are strong and efficient and - most of all – Biodegradable! Not surprised then that some scientists think they have observed jumping spiders going into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleeps… No doubt dreaming about their miniaturecircus acts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cataracts Very common as get older. 400,000 thought to be living with cataracts Not treated can lead to blindness How do we now we are getting cataracts? Notice haziness in vision especially at night or bright light. May see halo’s around lights. Worsens vision becomes cloudy. Due to lens front of eye turning yellow or clumps protein. Reaction to UV light. Who’s at risk? Age biggest risk factor – unusual before 40. Rarely children and develop congenital cataracts. Some things worsen risk: Smoking, diabetes, increases exposure to UV light – working outside. Why UV sunglasses so important! What can we do about it? Surgery only long term option! Short operation 45 minutes under local anaesthetic – your awake. Small cut in cornea (front of the eye) – lens removed and plastic one inserted. Can’t be rejected , can’t develop another one once done. Few days off work so as not to strain eyes. How do we prevent? Regular eye checks with optometrist. Protect eyes – wear sunglasses See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Full Monty: 26 years after the unemployed men from Sheffield first stripped off in the iconic movie of the same name, they’re back - older, certainly - but are they any wiser? (Disney+) Arnold: Following his recent return to our screens on Netflix’s Fubar, this three part documentary series looks back at the varied life of the Austrian bodybuilder and his pursuit of the American dream (Netflix) Our Planet II: Sir David Attenborough’s latest nature documentary series follows the astonishing stories of animal migration across our planet (Netflix) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great NZ Toastie Takeover finalists have been announced So, let's talk toasties, how much we love them, MY TOP TIPS FOR MAKING A GOOD ONE and encourage listeners to check out the finalist's offerings - their website is fantastically easy to navigate and find one near you. With a whopping 120,000 toasties served up since mid-April , the competition’s 185 entries have now been whittled down to 14 finalists from around the country - winner will be announced on TUESDAY 20 June. This is such a popular competition - I love the way consumers can actually get to try the toasties during the comp and the names and combos the chefs come up with are incredible: "Baabaa Ganoush" - Sprig & Fern Tavern (Nelson): House smoked lamb shoulder, baba ganoush, peppery rocket, Thor’s Hammer Manchego style cheese, McClure’s Sweet & Spicy Pickles, fresh hop aioli, on Don Rodrigo’s quinoa sourdough bread. Served with house cut twice cooked chips seasoned with rosemary and garlic Marlborough sea salt flake. "Come out with your hams up" - Cafe Polo (WELLINGTON) Croc MonShaw: - Good Day (Orakei): Thick cut free range smoked ham (from local butcher the legend Mr Chris Knight), lashings of cheesy, mustardy bēchamel sauce, crunchy McClure’s Sweet & Spicy Pickles and more cheese for the ultimate melt, on local baker the Dusty Apron’s grilled sourdough. "Sheep Thrills" - Roasted X Toasted (Lumsden) Slow roasted Southland lamb, Old Yella mustard, creamy mayo, McClure’s Bread & Butter Pickles, three cheese blend and Kel’s homemade McClure’s pickle jelly. The Joestie: - Shining Peak Brewing (New Plymouth) An in-depth delve between land and sea. Smoked eel, kawakawa aioli, smoked cheddar, McClure’s Pickles, puha, topped with McClure’s pickle caviar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madeleine Sami is a busy woman. Out this week is Double Parked a comedy series she both stars in and directs featuring Antonia Prebble. She stars in a new black comedy series with the Aussies called Deadloch – released earlier this month to great reviews. And if that wasn’t enough - Madeleine is in a band with her equally as talented sisters – called, of course, The Sami Sisters. Madeleine Sami joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant – yes, he has put his name in the title of the film During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of gruelling terrain. Extraction 2 Back from the brink of death, commando Tyler Rake embarks on a dangerous mission to save a ruthless gangster's imprisoned family. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hope, one day, to be rich enough to take at least one long haul flight in business class. But every time you think you can afford it, you discover that business class seats are selling at an even more outrageous price, so you’re back to economy again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think it rates as among the single most selfish acts I can ever recall. A North Canterbury farmer, disgruntled with his local council over the water connection rates he’s being charged for an as-yet uninhabited subdivision, has decided to launch a protest against the Waimakariri District Council. In a part of New Zealand where droughts are common, and where water access is an especially contentious subject, he’s been pouring 10,000 litres of drinking water down the drain, every day. 10,000 litres. It’s like leaving a shower on for eleven or twelve hours every day. I’m sorry, but that’s not a protest. That’s environmental vandalism. It should be a crime, as far as I’m concerned. The whole situation is yet another reminder of why New Zealand councils all need to introduce water metering. I know it’s a contentious subject, but it’s outrageous to me that people like this farmer can so wilfully waste a precious resource without any financial impact. At the moment, we have a bit of a hodgepodge patchwork of water metering for different councils across the country. Some regions and cities have metering, where you’re charged relative to your usage, but many still don’t. They rely on connection fees or other forms of rates to try and finance the pipes and infrastructure. The value of metering is pretty obvious. Water metering also helps to detect leaks across the pipe network. People who are charged by their usage as opposed to their connection are incentivised to be more thoughtful about their water use. When the Kāpiti Coast introduced water metering, Stuff reported that water usage dropped 25%. That’s massive! Not only did it save the resource, it meant the maintenance on the region’s water infrastructure could be deferred for longer because the assets weren’t being hammered so hard. New Zealand lags embarrassingly compared to other countries. when it comes to water metering. It’s commonplace overseas. By the year 2000, two-thirds of OECD countries had water metering for more than 90% of their single family homes. Imagine what that number is today! Fiji has water metering! The Ivory Coast has water metering! The main criticism of metering is usually that water is a human right and metering will impact poorer families. I think we’re sophisticated enough to introduce targeted support for those people, like we do for other things. I get that it’s not a vote winner. But water metering seems an obvious thing for the new Three Waters entities to standardise across New Zealand. The thing about that farmer’s protest is that, in a way, I agree with his gripe. He says he’s protesting an annual water connection fee for sections that haven’t yet been built on. Instead of that fee, I think a per-litre charge would be much more effective tool. It’s a shame they can’t retroactively introduce it and charge him an absolute premium. Wasting 10,000 litres every day is about the most profoundly selfish thing I can imagine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years after his last release, the 29-year-old singer has jumped feet first into the spotlight to promote third album The Show. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything is Beautiful, Everything Hurts – Josie Shapiro Mickey Bloom: five foot tall, dyslexic, and bullied at school. Mickey knows she's nothing special. Until one day, she discovers running. Mickey's new-found talent makes her realise she's everything she thought she wasn't – powerful, strong and special. But her success comes at a cost, and the relentless training and pressure to win leaves Mickey broken, her dream in tatters. Years later, when Mickey is working in a dead-end job with a drop-kick boyfriend, her mother becomes seriously ill. After nursing her, Mickey realises the only way she can overcome her grief – and find herself – is to run again. A chance encounter with a stranger sees Mickey re-ignite her dreams. The two women form an unbreakable bond, as Mickey is shown what it means to run in the right direction. The Forgotten Girls – Monica Potts An unforgettable story of friendship and lost promise in 21st-century America Growing up gifted and working-class in the foothills of the Ozarks, Monica and Darci became fast friends. The girls bonded over a shared love of learning as they navigated the challenges of their declining town and tumultuous family lives - broken marriages, shuttered stores and factories. They pored over the giant map in their classroom, tracing their fingers over the world that awaited them, vowing to escape. In the end, Monica left Clinton for university and fulfilled her dreams. Darci, along with many in their circle of friends, did not. Years later, working as a journalist covering poverty, Monica discovered what she already intuitively knew about the women in Arkansas. Their life expectancy had steeply declined - the sharpest such fall in a century. She returned to Clinton to report the story, trying to understand the societal factors driving disturbing trends in the rural south. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Waterfalls and cascades are a huge draw in Vanuatu. Where's best? - If you've got a head for heights, the Sky Bridge sounds like a plan. - And there's a ziplining trek as well, right? - What about day trips to islands beyond the mainland? - And they have massive coconut crabs on Lelepa! - What about Mozo and the Turtle Sanctuary. - Further afield. Tanna Island Coffee. Can you visit the island? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Acknowledging how brilliant it is that people are becoming more aware of the detriments of plastic and avoiding it more often. - Discussing what plastic is found in: chewing gum, tea bags, our clothes, makeup (IN the product, not just the packaging!), paper coffee cups (lined with plastic) - In preparation for Plastic Free July we can become more aware of where plastic is and start using alternatives - Alternatives to that list = no chewing gum (I use mouthwash and tongue scraper instead to reduce bad breath), loose leaf tea (I use a reusable metal tea bag replacement), clothes made from natural fibres (wool, cotton), makeup free from plastic, no cup no coffee + BYO reusable + sit in + use a reusable cup scheme. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bic Runga is a true icon of New Zealand music. She’s been awarded just about every music award in the country and was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006. And can you believe, it’s been 20 years since the release of her hit album Beautiful Collision. It has tunes like Something Good and Listening for the Weather and Bic is celebrating by going on tour across the country next month. Tickets to Bic’s tour are available at LiveNation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why I chose it: - Pinot Gris is to wine what mashed potatoes is to cuisine – a bit taken for granted. It’s a comfort wine, a crowd pleaser that is quietly growing both locally and internationally. - This is classic example – smooth textured and pleasingly fruity – seductively easy to drink. - Pinot Gris falls into two categories: Lusciously intense wines in the style of the French wines from Alsace and the leaner, drier and often tangy wines Pinot Grigio from Italy. (both are made from pinot gris grapes). This follows the French model. What does it taste like? - Attractive floral/honeysuckle aromas and flavours suggesting ripe pear, nectarine and peach with a subtle spicy influence. The wine has a nice sweet/sour balance with some pleasing tension. Why it’s a bargain: - A lot of bang for a high quality wine priced at around $15 Where can you buy it? - The Good Wine Co., Auckland $13.99, Vino Fino, Chch $13.99 and Wine Freedom Ltd, Otago $13.99 Food match? - Quite a versatile food wine, my favourite match is onion tart. The sweetness in the onions matches the subtle sweetness in the wine. Will it keep? - Drink up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just before we start winter (almost 12 more days to go) on 22 June at 2.57 am, it might be a nice idea to look at planting trees The soil is still relatively warm – and hopefully not too wet yet What am I looking for there? Fruit trees you really like – take your favourite variety of apple or pear or an elegant, fast-growing Sanguine peach that doesn’t show a lot of brown rot or any other typical peach diseases. Your heart goes out to spring and summer and now’s the time to plant that stuff Remember: if you are short of space, grab a young tree with two (or three) varieties grafted on the Main stem/Trunk; Have a look at the catalogues of New Zealand’s best tree Nurseries. As an entomologist, this is what I’d be looking for: host plants/Trees for our native insect taonga. Mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus) (AKA marble leaf) is one I use all the time. Tree weta love to eat it (and I use heaps of the leaves to feed my captive specimens. Maori use the soft wood of mahoe to make fire, by rubbing it with Kaikomako (Pennantia corymbosa) a very hard wood species, endemic to NZ. Both small-ish trees produce fruits that are devoured by some of our native bird species: the violet-blue Mahoe seeds are eaten by kereru and geckoes. The purple berries of Kaimakomako are in demand by birds, large and small. Plant both trees and you can make fire, boy-scout style! Another great example is planting a putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus) also known as marble leaf. Native of New Zealand and serving many creatures well. One of the most favourite host plants of the Puriri moth. The caterpillars live inside this tree for many years – growing into a beautiful bright-green moth in the North Island of Aotearoa. When the moths have vacated their tunnel in the putaputaweta, they leave behind a perfect second-hand dwelling for our Tree weta. Planting this tree will support a heap of native species through an ecological system and food chain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FaceTime on your TV Instead of gathering around a phone, or a laptop to connect with family or friends, why not gather around the biggest screen in your house - the TV. The new feature allows you to use your iPhone as a camera, connected to your Apple TV. Plus, it'll have the 'centre stage' capability so if you move around it will automatically reframe you. Would have been amazing for the pandemic lockdown, but will still be future going forward. Your iPhone as a smart display Apple is calling it StandBy. When your phone is charging (usually beside your bed) your phone will turn into a smart display showing you the time in a large font (like an old clock radio), what time your alarm is set for and other things like the weather forecast. Obviously, Siri is right there too - which now doesn't need the "hey". Plus - wait for it- you can now have more than one timer at the same time. Huge. Interactive widgets On your iPhone and iPad you'll be able to interact directly with the widgets. Today they take you to their associated app. On Mac, you'll b able to add these interactive widgets to your desktop, allowing you to quickly see and do things you'd usually need to open an application to do. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tour de France Unchained: A new documentary series on Netflix. Through tears and triumph, this series follows several cycling teams as they compete in the 2022 instalment of the world's most gruelling bike race. Fortitude: A crime thriller starring Richard Dormer, Dennis Quaid and Stanley Tucci, set on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Fortitude is one of the safest towns on earth, where there’s never been a violent crime - until now (Neon, 3 seasons). Based on a True Story: Kaley Cuoco stars in this true crime satire about a realtor, a former tennis star and a plumber who seize a unique opportunity to capitalise on America's obsession with true crime (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, you read that right – broccoli on a pizza and let me tell you, it’s AMAZING! Makes 4 GF pizza base Makes 3-4 medium 450g gluten free flour, plus extra for dusting ¼ baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 tsp sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 80ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing 160mls lukewarm water - Sift gluten free flour, bicarb of soda, salt and sugar into a large bowl. Pour in egg, olive oil and water and mix to combine. - Divide dough into 3-4 portions and roughly knead each into a ball. - Working with each portion of dough, use floured hands to press and flatten and then roll out to desired shape and thickness – I aim for an oblong shape. Transfer to lined tray, brush with oil and now it’s ready for any toppings you choose. Topping 1 head broccoli, cut into florets, stem sliced Juice and zest from one lemon ½ cup grated mozzarella 50g grated parmesan 100g feta, crumbled Sauce ½ cup sour cream ¼ cup cream ¼ tsp sea salt Freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 220-250 C. Add broccoli to food processor and pulse briefly to roughly chop. Mix with zest and juice and cheeses. In a bowl whisk together sour cream, cream and seasonings. Spoon this sauce over pizza bases, top with broccoli/cheese mix and bake for 12-15 minutes until broccoli is cooked and even charred in some places. Serve immediately.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry A seemingly unremarkable man in his 60s named Harold one day learns his old friend Queenie is dying. He embarks on a walk, only to keep going for 450 miles until he reaches Queenie's hospice, much to the despair of his wife Maureen. The Tank After inheriting his mother's abandoned coastal property, Ben and his family accidentally unleash an ancient, long-dormant creature that terrorized the entire region -- including his own ancestors -- for generations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne joins Jack Tame to talk about what he's learning as a grandparent looking after a baby for one day a week - and how he sleeps so well after it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I first realised it this week, running through the city and around Hagley Park on one of those beautiful, still, cold South Island evenings. For me, it was a long time coming. Twelve years and three months, all up. Maybe others felt it earlier. Maybe others haven’t reached the point yet. I know those who’ve lived in Christchurch right throughout, who never left the city, might have a completely different perspective, and that’s ok. But as a Cantab at heart, for the first time I feel I can say it with absolute confidence. It’s emphatic. Christchurch has crossed the threshold. For the first time since 2010 I reckon the city today is better than it was before the quakes. There’s no one thing. There’s one project or development that’s pushed it past that point. It’s a collection of little things that make Ōtautahi so good. For starters, the city. Finally the Cathedral isn’t just lying in ruin. The remote-controlled digger cleaning up the masonry and bird crap finished its job in record time. The build’s progressing, and fast. Te Pae, Christchurch’s glorious new convention centre, is a stupendous venue. Across the road, Tūranga, the new library is surely the best of any big city in New Zealand. The art gallery is amazing. The Margaret Mahy playground is the stuff dreams are madeof for kids and adults alike. The food in Christchurch is so good. Christchurch’s old strip was seedy as, but Riverside Market, The Terrace, and New Regent Street have energy and life. The central city’s new shape works with Ōtakaro, the Avon River. The water’s clear and clean and meanders from the gleaming new buildings down near the splendid historic Arts Centre, and into the World-class Botanic Gardens. I bristle with envy when I think of all the things on Christchurch’s doorstep. Taylors Mistake, New Brighton, and Sumner have surf. Mt Hutt has snow. Lyttelton has perhaps the most interesting music and arts community in New Zealand. Hagley Oval has a gorgeous cricket ground and the Christchurch Adventure Park is the gateway to World-class mountain biking. There are young people in the city and they want to be there. At a time when many New Zealand universities are being forced to cut jobs, Canterbury University is hiring. This year, they tell me the university is on track for a record number of students. Domestic enrolments are up. International enrolments are up. There are students from 100 countries studying at Canterbury, from Mozambique to Myanmar to Mongolia. The number of people enrolled is up 7% at the end of March compared to the same time last year. It’s the University’s 150th birthday this year, and the halls of residence are at absolute capacity. The cost of housing in Christchurch is so much cheaper than Auckland, and the quality is so much less depressing than in Wellington. It’s younger than Tauranga, more coastal than Hamilton and warmer than Dunedin. I know it’s not perfect. I know how much pain and stress it’s taken to get things to this point. I’m under no illusions that places out East – Bromley, in particular – have a hell of a long way to go. The sprawl North and West means the traffic can be a total pain. But with good leadership and planning, the city should only get better. Maybe it’s too big. Maybe it’s too expensive. But just imagine the atmosphere in town for that first All Blacks test in Te Kaha. Years ago when I was living in New York, I asked the city’s chief urban designer about lessons from Manhattan’s recovery after the 9/11 attacks. He had a tear in his eye when he spoke to me about the transformation he’d experienced. “Instead of asking yourself what happens if you get it wrong, ask yourself the opposite,” he said. “What happens if Christchurch is too good? What happens if you remake your city and it’s so good that everyone wants to live there?” I don’t reckon we’re far off. Christchurch has energy. Christchurch has mojo. Christchurch is better than ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Fishwick left school at the age of 16, determined to become the largest supplier of minibuses in the UK as well as a self-made multi-millionare. During the economic crisis of 2011 banks stopped lending money overnight, so Dave picked up the slack. He began lending money to struggling businesses in his hometown of Burnley, starting the Bank of Dave. Dave joined Jack Tame to have a chat about the business and the Netflix film based off it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a stunning response to the pain of last year... As is the rest of the album, which hums with an intensity and focus that Foo Fighters' more recent outings have lacked. Musically, it's back to basics. Muscular chords and melodic riffs are the order of the day, as the band power through their sadness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.