Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Kaua'i has some beautiful and distinctive features, and according to Mike Yardley, it's a wonderful holiday destination. For more tips on tripping the delights of Kaua'i, Mike's article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many kiwis are tight on funds at the moment, but Kate Hall has a few tips so they can make sustainable choices will keeping to their budgets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruud Kleinpaste joined Francesca after his trip to Hawai'i to chat about the islands' biodiversity, and the threats the ecosystems face. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sweetness of nectarine and the richness of extra virgin olive oil makes this the most wonderful summer cake. Serve it warm for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of fruity olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. LISTEN ABOVE RECIPE Makes one 20 cm cake 3-4 ripe nectarines, sliced 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup + 2 tbsps extra sugar 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon Greek yoghurt 1 1/3 cups plain flour ½ tsp baking powder Pinch baking soda Preheat oven to 180 C or 160 fan bake. Grease a 20x20cm square cake tin and line with baking paper. Toss nectarines with ¼ cup of the olive oil and 2 tbsps sugar. Leave to sit for 10 minutes. In a bowl whisk eggs with remaining ½ cup sugar until pale and thickened. Whisk in remaining olive oil and yoghurt. Sift in flour, baking powder and baking soda and stir until combined. Fold in fruit mixture and juices. Scrape batter into tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before removing from tin. Serve with vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctor Bryan Betty joined Francesca to chat about health and Atrial Fibrillation: what it is, its symptoms, and how to deal with it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Chief of Staff for Labour, Neale Jones joined Francesca to chat about Chris Hipkins and his nomination for Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Manson, bestselling author of Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck joined Francesca to chat about making his book into a movie and filming it in NZ. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

M3GAN: A young girl is given a prototype AI, programmed to be a child’s companion and a parents ally. M3GAN can listen, watch, and learn, for better or for worse. The Menu: Hawthorn is an exclusive dining experience operated by celebrity Chef Julian Slowik, and the diners of the night are in for an unmatchable and unforgettable experience. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday, Kevin did something he never thought he'd do and picked up a brand new car. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Until Thursday, I would have described 2023, all 19 days of it, as been all about extreme weather, Harry and Meghan’s attempt to burn down the House of Windsor, and potholes. But nothing gets a newsroom going like a surprise resignation of a Prime Minister. Who would have thought one of our most popular Prime Ministers would join the great resignation trend. I was both shocked, and somehow not surprised. The Prime Minister said “I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along. Having reflected over summer I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple.” And it is. We always hear politicians say the job is a privilege and that it’s an honour to serve. But it can be a thankless task. Unless you are a politician or married to one, I don’t think anyone really understands what the job fully entails - the work load, the hours, the constant critiquing of your performance and policies. If you worry about what other people think of you then the job for not for you. I appreciated her honesty around it. Quite simply, she’s burnt out. There should be no shame or judgement in that - save that for her political legacy. Who wouldn’t be depleted after the last five and a half years she’s had, years unlike what any previous prime minister has had to deal with. I’m sure it felt like twice as long. I’d be buggered too. There will be those who feel that since she was elected by the people, she should stick it out until October 14th. That she is leaving because of a drop in the polls and can read the writing on the wall. That she cannot handle the vitriol and nastiness many women in politics experience, and on a growing level. Sure, these issues probably contributed to Ardern’s decision but it’s not one thing alone that leads to burnout. Anyway if there is more to her resignation, we will probably have to wait until the memoir. And considering her reputation around the world I’m sure the offers won’t be far away. But running New Zealand, with all the challenges it faces heading into 2023 is not a job that can be done on an empty tank. It is not a job you can quietly quit. The Prime Minister’s resignation does put the labour party in a difficult position. Whether you agree with her policies and politics or not, Jacinda Ardern is a very good communicator and leader. One of a kind. The party has a tough year ahead as an election looms and we hold them to account for their performance and delivery over the last 2 terms. Whoever tries to fill Ardern’s shoes won’t have an easy time of it. Should she have called a snap election? Some believe so. We will have a Prime Minister we didn’t vote for, and you’ve seen how that played out it in the UK. Aware that whoever takes over her role cannot be seen as a caretaker PM, Ardern has opted to give a new leader time to cement themselves into the role, and to give them a fighting chance to have made their mark by 14th October. While the decision to resign is unexpected, the Labour party will want to give off the impression they are united and calm in the face of it all. That said, I still believe Ardern has made the right decision for us, for her family, and for herself. Her move might even be the best thing for the Labour Party. The Prime Minister resignation is a reminder we have all been through some tough years, and there’s nothing wrong with taking time to fill up the tank. It’s a message we should all take on in 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes lists her best reads of 2022. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estelle Clifford takes Jack Tame through her top listens of 2022. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the holiday season dawns, the great New Zealand summer calendar is adorned with some sure-fire hits to add some extra zing to your holiday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes lists her best reads of 2022. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Litivenko: David Tennant stars in this drama that follows the Scotland Yard Officers who worked to prove who was responsible for the death of Alexander Litvinenko, in one of the most complex and dangerous investigations in the history of the Metropolitan Police (TVNZ+). 1923: Harrison Ford and Dame Helen Mirren star in this prequel to Yellowstone, where the Dutton ancestors must face a new set of challenges in the early 20th century, including the rise of Western expansion, Prohibition, and the Great Depression (Prime Video from 19 December). Top Class: The cream of Aotearoa's music and comedy talent pay tribute to the Topp Twins in a live concert at Auckland's Civic Theatre for their 40th anniversary, with legends like Don McGlashan, Annie Crummer, Dame Hinewehi Mohi and Troy Kingi (Neon). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wine: Akarua Rua 2001 Pinot Noir, Central Otago $27 Why I chose it: - It is my best buy of 2022 - Really good PN doesn’t often dip below $30 - Everyone who loves PN as much as I do should try this wine - Perfect with ham and turkey What does it taste like? - Akarua’s entry level Pinot Noir famously offers great value. Bright fresh wine with pronounced fruit flavours. Sweet cherry, ripe plum, a hint of floral and an attractively spicy finish. Why it’s a bargain: - I’d be happy if I had paid $45 for it. Where can you buy it? - Whisky and More, Waikato $22.99; Winesale.co.nz, Lower Hutt $22.99; The Good Wine Co, Auckland $24.99 Food match? - Smoked salmon is my favourite Will it keep? - Drink within two years while it remains fresh and fruity Wine Tip - Don’t drink red wine too warm. Pop your glass of wine in the fridge for 5-10 minutes (it takes longer to chill the whole bottle) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Dromgool has some advice about how to create the 'magic' of Christmas despite hard times. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new tool called 'Rewind' has been developed for the latest generation of Macs which effectively stores everything you've ever displayed on your screen. It can also record your Zoom meetings and transcribe them, aiming to give you a search engine for your life. None of this information ever leaves your laptop, so there is nothing in the cloud. Their big breakthrough is the crazy compression they've been able to accomplish. The founder, Dan Siroker, is a serial entrepreneur who started to lose his hearing and found a super power when he got a hearing aid. It got him thinking, what if we could do the same for our memory? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doug Stamper became everyone’s favourite calculating character in the beloved Netflix series House of Cards, played with chilling intensity by actor Michael Kelly. It gained Michael an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor. House of Cards, of course, wrapped a few years ago amidst allegations against Kevin Spacey. It was a tough goodbye for Michael who played Doug for nearly a decade, but he’s now in the thick of the action on the new Jack Ryan series as a CIA agent. Michael Kelly joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the cake for summer! So easy to put together and worthy of the Christmas table or a family get together or just a BBQ with mates. Make it, you’ll love it! Serves: 10-12 Cake 1 1/3 cups caster sugar 3 eggs 300ml light olive oil 2 tsp vanilla essence 2 cups plain flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 cup unsweetened Greek yoghurt ( 6 Tbsp Barker’s Sundae Strawberry Sauce or make your own strawberry puree) Icing 200g cream cheese ¾ up icing sugar 1 cup cream 1 tsp vanilla essence To serve 1 cup fruit compote, I used Barker’s rhubarb & strawberry compote 1 punnet each fresh strawberries, blueberries & raspberries Cake Preheat oven to 160ºC fan bake / 180ºC conventional. Grease 3 x 20cm round cake tins and line with baking paper. Place sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until thick and creamy (about 5 minutes). Gradually beat in oil and vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt over the top and mix until mostly incorporated. Stir in yoghurt and mix until well combined. Divide mixture evenly between prepared tins. Drizzle two tablespoons of Barker’s Sundae Strawberry Sauce over each cake and use a skewer to swirl in. Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean. Leave to cool for at least 10 minutes before carefully turning cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Icing: Using an electric beater, beat cream cheese until smooth. Briefly beat in icing sugar. Add 1/2 cup cream and beat until well combined. Add remaining cream and vanilla and continue to beat until icing reaches a thick, spreadable consistency (similar to whipped cream). To Serve: Place one of the cake layers on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread with a thick layer of icing. Drizzle with 1/3 cup compote and top 1/3 of the berries. Add a second cake layer on top and add the same quantities of icing, compote and berries. Top with the final cake layer, more icing, compote and the remaining berries. Refrigerate until ready to serve. NOTES: Cake can be assembled a couple of hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avatar: The Way of Water Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne reflects on 25 years of Saturday mornings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Uncle Jaaack...” “Yes, Ren?” “I want to play Jonah.” Jonah. It’s not chess! Basically I position myself in the middle of my sister’s lounge, resting on my knees. My nephew starts on one side of the room and has to try and run past me to score an imaginery try on the couch. My job is to tackle him three times out of four, but then to act bamboozled and let him slip through for glory. His little sister Elsie is just at the age where she likes physical play, as well. Both of them are allowed to do jumps from the couch onto a bean bag. Skydiving in the lounge. I fly down on Monday. I can’t wait to see them. 2022 has been a lousy year. An economy rapidly souring, news headlines threatening nuclear war, and about three years’ of sickness wedged into one. Most of us have had Covid. Many of us have had multiple infections. There’s one guy in our office who reckons he’s had it four times so far. It might be at a different stage, but you couldn’t say the pandemic’s over. I’ve had more loss this year than any other in my life. Family members, colleagues, and friends. My uncle passed this week. 2022 sucks. And for some families close to me, this is going to be a really tough Christmas. I reckon recharging is a two part process: connection and disconnection. Normally, I wake up every day and immediately feel compelled to reach for my phone. I scour the news headlines. I check my emails and social media incessently. The first step in recharging is the disconnection. I try and break up with my phone. I turn off notifications and bury my emails and social media deep in an obscure folder, so it takes a longer, more deliberate effort to get there. With a bit of luck the compulsion will wane after a few days, and before too long I’ll be going ages without so much as glancing at my phone. The second step is connection. Jonah with my nephew. The guinea pig village with my niece. I’ll play sous chef to Mum and music with my Dad. There will be backyard cricket with never-ending smack talk. My brother and I will drag our fattened Christmas rigs off for a couple of deeply unimpressive jogs in the bush. My girlfriend will gently tease me over Monopoly Deal. Connection and disconnection. These are the things that make Christmas special for me. And at the end of a trying year, I for one cannot wait.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading Ashes in the Snow by Oriana Ramunno and Diddly Squat - 'Til The Cows Come Home from Jeremy Clarkson. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hall has some advice around second-hand gifting this Christmas and encourages people to break the norm. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the time of the year to have a look at Hymenoptera – Hymen (Membrane) – Pteron (wing); It’s the group of insects known as ants, Bees, sawflies and wasps. We are looking at 2000 to 3000 species in New Zealand. The most famous members are the German and common wasp (Vespula species) as well as the three species of Paper wasps (Polistes species) One thing they all have in common: no sense of humour Yes, I realise it won’t be summer for another week or so, but the following critters are just a few gardeners’ mates to observe and adore; and they all do a great job, especially our native Hymenoptera are worth a look; but there are crazy exotics as well: Talking about pollinators… have a look out for the Wool Carder Bee! It’s another introduced pollinating insect from Europe and it has some quite amazing behaviours. It loves to hover and fly around the Lamiate flowers in your garden: stuff like Salvias and lamb’s ear. These types of plants are its favourite food and it defends its patch fiercely by chasing away other pollinators: bees, bumble bees, and even wasps! Wool Carder Bee plus a nest When wool carder bees start nest building, they scrape off the fine, light-coloured hairs off the leaves of certain plants (remember lamb’s ear!!) and work these fibres into the most delicate, soft and insulating ball that act as nest nurseries for their larvae and pupae in development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With how high interest rates could now go scaring some people a little, and with terms of four and five years only fractionally higher than terms for one or two years, some are probably wondering whether they should opt for a little more certainty and go long, especially if anything over 7% becomes problematic for them. But fixing long term can be problematic in the context of the economic environment we’re heading into – and there are some lessons from the GFC on this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The internet is abuzz about a new AI chatbot that is a massive step forward in computing It's impressive! ChatGPT has some of the biggest names in tech gob smacked with just how advanced it is. Built by OpenAI (a non-profit) and has indexed much of the internet, just like Google, but effectively has a machine brain on top of that. You can ask it to do things like write code or check code.. right the way through to ask it to write a news story. You can give it inputs, or draw on its knowledge, and even tell it what style to write in. You can ask it for business strategy ideas, write a poem in the voice of a pirate, or generate marketing copy. It's already having real-world impacts There is a dyslexic contractor, Ben Whittle, who has always struggled with writing business-style emails which has hindered his dreams of starting his own contracting swimming pool business. He was lucky to have a met Danny Richman who started mentoring him and helped him write these emails a couple of times a week. But now, Danny has turned to ChatGPT to write the emails for them based on some very brief inputs. Ben gets professional sounding and formatted emails whenever he needs them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry & Meghan: The first three episodes of the much-anticipated docuseries about the royal couple has landed on Netflix. A Spy Among Friends: Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce star as Nicholas Elliot and Kim Philby, two spies and lifelong friends at the heart of the most notorious betrayal in British Intelligence history (TVNZ+) Colin from Accounts: An Australian rom-com about Ashley and Gordon, two single-ish, complex humans who are brought together by a car accident and an injured dog (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Booker Prize is one of the most sought-after awards in the literary world. This year’s winner, Shehan Karunatilaka, is not only the second ever Sri Lankan author to win it – he has ties to our very own country. And no, this isn’t a case of classic Kiwis grasping on to the tiniest connection... Shehan grew up in Colombo but came to New Zealand to attend Whanganui Collegiate and then study at Massey University in Palmerston North. He’s gone from a relatively little-known author to a household name in weeks for his book The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, but still describes himself as a failed cricketer and failed rockstar. Shehan Karunatilaka joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lamb is such a winner for the festive table and this year we’re moving away from ‘whole leg’ to some of the smaller cuts - less time to cook, plenty of flavour, easier to control the cooking and paired with plenty of plants, it’s the perfect centrepiece. I’m using lamb racks but you could use rumps, loin, leg steaks or medallions. You choose! Serves 8-12 3-4 lamb racks (or enough for 2-3 cutlets pp) or use 3-4 lamb rumps or loins 2 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup breadcrumbs 3 tablespoons wholegrain mustard 2 teaspoons sea salt & decent grind black pepper Salad: 1 kg jersey benne or other small, new potato 8-12 fresh baby beets (can use leaderbrand or even canned) 2 bulbs NZ garlic, cut in halve through the waist Splash of olive oil 1 teaspoon sea salt & Decent grind of black pepper 8-12 small vine-ripened tomatoes 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary sprigs A few handfuls of baby spinach or chopped lettuce leaves Handful of green beans, trimmed and blanched ½ cup toasted, skinned, hazelnuts One handful mint leaves Dressing: 3 tablespoons citrus juice – orange or lemon 5 tablespoons good quality olive oil Salt and pepper to season Prep the lamb: This can be prepared 1-2 days ahead. Rub lamb with oil and brown in a pan or on the BBQ, 5-7 minutes. Cool immediately. Cover and chill until ready to cook through. Prep salad: Par-cook washed potatoes in salted water. Scrub fresh beets clean and halve. Toss potatoes, beets and garlic in oil and sprinkle salt and pepper. Lay in a single layer on a tray or 2 and roast at 200 C for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through, adding tomatoes and rosemary to the tray in the last 10 minutes. Prep dressing: Shake dressing ingredients together with cooked garlic in a jar. To cook lamb: Heat oven to 220 C. Combine oil, breadcrumbs, mustard, salt & pepper. Pat this onto lamb as a crust. Heat an oiled tray then place lamb racks (or other cuts) meat/mustard side up and cook for 14-17 minutes (longer for rumps, say 20 minutes). Cook times will vary depending on size of your lamb cut so use the press test to check for doneness. Rest for 15 minutes while you assemble the salad. Assemble & serve: Use a large platter or board. Toss leafy greens, beans and potatoes in dressing and spread out onto serving dish. Cut rested lamb into 1-2-bone cutlets and lay these on the salad bed. Add beets and tomatoes, mint leaves and hazelnuts. Drizzle over any remaining dressing and serve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It’s not the colour of cushions,” my girlfriend said. “It’s the combination of the colours of the cushions.” She stood on one side of the room, hands on her hips, as her eyes passed unsparingly across the new lounge suite. There are a few experiences that will test even the long-lasting, most joyous of relationships. Meeting the in-laws? Check. Travelling overseas together? Check. Moving house and settling on an interior design aesthetic? Hmm. The good news is we’ve survived the furniture hauling. We unrolled my brand new World Map wallpaper, shipped from a specialist map shop in America, almost three metres wide, and managed to stick it to the wall with only a few bubbles. Balancing on a cupboard, pressed to the wall, her arms spread wide as she held the unweildy canvas in a level position, my girlfriend maintained an impressive degree of patience and good humour. I cannot reflect quite so generously on my own behaviour during the installation. If a crime writer were to find themselves with a creative block, struggling with character dialogue, I can recommend interior decorating to inspire the filthiest, gnarliest bad language. It’d make a mobster blush. The walls are almost good to go. My girlfriend has selected a range of elegantly-framed prints, French and Japanese artists, impressionist and modern works. She hit a few sales and got a few deals, but it doesn’t leave much space for my more man-cavey momentos: pictures of rappers, guitarists, and graffiti art. “Maybe downstairs.” Said my girlfriend, with a smile. “Maybe.” I’d feel a stronger urge to make my case if deep down, I didn’t know my girlfriend is right. Pains me as it does, there are more than a few fashion and design choices which I’ve made over the years, that act as a gentle reminder of my taste’s propensity to stray. There were my paisley trackpants, a little tighter than necessary around the crotch, that for some reason I insisted wearing in public for several years while living in New York. It wasn’t until someone on the subway sincerely asked it I was going to a pyjama party that I thought maybe it was time to switch to jeans. I’m embarrassed to acknowledge that for many years in my early twenties, I had a large framed pencil sketch of a woman in a state of undress, displayed prominently in my home. I bought it at an art fair and thought it was sophisticated, until it was pointed out by several visitors that the picture had an underlying fourth-form-giggling-pubescent-boy quality to its penmanship. Furniture choices have been little better. Couches, lamps, armchairs: almost every time I’ve decided on something bold, I’ve come to see that actually; perhaps subtle would have been a better option. And of course, there’s my long term commitment to minimalism. Friends at my old apartment would comment that it felt like a hotel room crossed with a hospital ward. Not really the aesthetic anyone goes for. For the first time in my adult life, with my girlfriend’s gentle insistence, I’m now the owner of a coffee table. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of them but they’re good for both aesthetic and practical reasons. We also bought a jute rug, something I’d literally never heard of until two weeks ago. And hey, it looks great! The experience of moving and decorating has clarified my perspective. It’s not that I have zero taste. It’s that I have near-zero taste. I have just enough taste to know my taste cannot be trusted. It’s a blessing and a curse. Someone with no taste whatsoever is not aware of their lack of taste. They live blissfully, surrounded by tasteless things but beautifully, totally, naively unaware of the hideousness of their own aesthetic and surroundings. Someone with near-zero taste can appreciate good taste, but struggles to implement it themselves. It means that when it’s time to decorate a home and comes to matters of aesthetic, sometimes it’s better to delegate. My girlfriend moved the cushions from the couch.JaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emancipation Will Smith’s movie! A runaway slave forges through the swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey to escape plantation owners that nearly killed him. Guardians of the Galaxy Xmas Special The Guardians are on a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill and head to Earth in search of the perfect present. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has some thoughts about why December 11 is the most common day for relationships to end, and why he might be in for the chop. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thrill of the Chase is the fourth studio album by Norwegian record producer and DJ Kygo The Norwegian DJ and pop hitmaker released the record with no warning, chasing the thrill of the increasingly common surprise digital drop. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desert Star, Michael Connelly LAPD detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch work together to hunt the killer who is Bosch's 'white whale' - a man responsible for the murder of an entire family. A year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the force in the face of misogyny, demoralisation and endless red tape. Yet after the chief of police himself tells her she can write her ticket within the department, Ballard takes back her badge, leaving 'the Late Show' to rebuild the cold case unit at the elite Robbery-Homicide Division. SAS Brothers in Arms, Daniel Lewis Damien Lewis's new bestseller tells the action-packed, riveting story of the band of mavericks and visionaries who made the SAS. Using hitherto untold stories and new archival sources, Damien Lewis follows one close-knit band of warriors from the SAS foundation through to the Italian landings - chronicling the extraordinary part they played as the tide of the Second World War truly turned in the Allied's favour. This is a narrative of wall-to-wall do-or-die action and daring, chronicling the exploits of some of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the twentieth-century. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been touring the Big Apple. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is reasonable well-known among New Zealand Gardeners that insects tend to be attracted to lights; especially lights that are rather blue-ish white in colour. The reason is very simple: these lights contain a rather decent dose of Ultra Violet (UV) light; Insects can see UV better than any other frequency. I have a UV torch at home that allows me to go out walking in the garden and it shows me – more or less – what moths see when they fly through the garden. Some folk use this trick to catch the Guava moths that are on their way to lay eggs inside the new very small guava fruit and feijoa fruit that are being formed in summer; a light coupled with a container with diluted dishwashing liquid is the way to kill those buggers before they start the puncturing and subsequent entering of the tiny fruits… “Get the buggers, before they get our fruit” I have always objected to this idiotic way of “pest control”, simply because there are far better options to stop the guava moths laying eggs on the developing guava and feijoa fruits: Cover the branches with a fine muslin cloth that stops the moths from coming near the fruit’s skin. Those insect-excluding cloths are available in most garden shops. If you must use some pesticides, then Neem Oil or Success are chemicals that can prevent about 50% of the damage occurring too! Light trap “pest control” is really very ineffective as you simply catch a heap of moth (and other) insect species that have nothing to do with fruit of crop damage; most of them are native and have an interesting job to do in the ecosystem. These beetles (Heteronychus and Odontria) are good at pruning shrubs and trees and grasses, but in turn are excellent food for birds, geckoes, skinks, Centipedes and Owls The absolutely imposing huhu beetle emerges from a log of rotting wood where it has been instrumental in the decomposition of that wood and turning it into nutrients for the next generation of our forest. The beetle is devoured by Morepork; of course, the huhu grub is also edible and full of protein; ask the kaka! When I take Teachers out at night with a mercury vapour light-trap (full of UV light) we not just look at beetles, but also at a huge range of moths and other flying insects. Some are just beautiful, like the Lichen moth (Izatha) and the native Scoparia moth, belonging to a very special and numerous group of moths in Aotearoa. All food for insectivorous organisms in your garden; without these native species our birds would go hungry! But one of my absolute favourite moths is this one: Chrysodeixis eriosoma. The architecture of that Noctuid is outrageous and the silver dots on the wings just elegant. And no… I’m not going to describe the larval activities of that species – I’m sure you know it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Dromgool has been talking with clients about how to deal with cancel culture and online trolls. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is concussion? Mild brain injury Bump or blow to head – for example Falls, contact sport, car accidents, previous concussion. Can interfere with brain function and may or may not be associated with loss of consciousness Why does it occur? Brain like jelly – shakes or bounces around in the hard skull, causing minor injury Can cause bleeding within the skull – small or large. Can be cumulative – recurrent concussions – may in some cases longer term damage. How do we recognise? Affects brain function for short period of time. Immediate: dazed, confused, vomits, loss consciousness, poor balance, Longer term: headache continues, fatigue, poor concentration. Certainly more serious: drowsy, fit, slurrrd speech. How do we treat? Most recover within 2 weeks. Children 4 weeks. Brain needs to rest – toughing it out or ignoring symptoms can make worse, Immediate rest 48 hours, Avoid loud music, screens, hard physical activity, alcohol. Return to work or sports activity once fully recovered – often hard for sports people to accept. If return before fully recovered- increased risk of second concussion which can be serious. Other things to watch out for? Symptoms worsening see a doctor as soon as possible. If persist more than 3-4 weeks long concussion syndrome – specialist support. Important any concussion reviewed with your Doctor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spirited - A Christmas Musical A musical version of Charles Dickens's story of a miserly misanthrope who is taken on a magical journey. The Road Dance A young girl lives in the Outer Hebrides in a small village in the years just before WWI. Isolated and hard by the shore, her life takes a dramatic change when a terrible tragedy befalls her. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Francisco is preparing for robots with guns The San Francisco Police Department has prepared a draft policy which would explicitly allow robots to be able to be armed with guns or explosives to be used when the risk to human life is too great. Today most of the robots in their fleet are for bomb disposal but some can be equipped with weapons. They say that deploying a robot like this would be a rare and exceptional circumstance. Apple's new emergency satellite service has officially saved a person A man traveling in Alaska on a snow-machine had become stranded at 2am. He used the SOS feature, and the Apple Emergency Response team sent the coordinates to local first responders who arranged for a search team to be sent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Pines: Alfred Molina stars as a detective investigating cases beneath the idyllic surface of the Quebec village, Three Pines, finding long-buried secrets and facing a few ghosts of his own (Prime Video). Willow: The legendary sorcerer, returns in a new series set many years after the events of the original film. An unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world (Disney+). Ally McBeal: take a nostalgic trip back to the 90s with all five seasons of the legal dramedy landing on Disney+. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was more than a decade ago that a famous boy wizard and his evil counterpart appeared on our screens. No one could predict the success of the Harry Potter films, least of all the kids who grew up on set at Hogwarts. And who could forget the first time we were introduced to that blonde haired, blue-eyed sneaky Slytherin antagonist. Tom Felton a.k.a Draco Malfoy is one of the beloved characters of Harry Potter, but finding his feet when filming stopped hasn’t been so easy. He’s written about it in his new memoir, Beyond the Wand. Tom Felton joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To reduce the stress of the Christmas lunch or dinner it’s a good idea to include a dessert that can be prepared ahead of time. This is the most gorgeous and show-stopping Christmas dessert and it’s actually very easy to assemble last minute. 1½ sheets puff pastry (use Paneton flaky puff for the ultimate buttery layers) 2 tablespoons icing sugar, plus extra to serve 3 cups mixed berries - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries Flowers to decorate, optional Mascarpone cream 250g mascarpone 300ml cream ¾ cup icing sugar 1 teaspoon extract Heat oven to 200 C fan bake. Cut the full sheet of pastry in half and place the 3 puff pastry sheets on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Dust with icing sugar then cover with another sheet of baking paper on top and another baking tray to sandwich the pastry. If they don’t all fit on one tray, cook them in batches. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is dark brown and caramelised. Allow to cool completely. Trim the edges of each cooked pastry sheet with a bread knife making sure they are all the same size. These will now store for up to a week in an airtight container until ready to assemble and serve. For the filling; Whisk mascarpone, cream, icing sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Watch it carefully from this point as you don’t want to overwhip it. Whisk on low a little longer until it holds its shape. To assemble: Spoon cream into a piping bag if you want to be fancy (or just spoon it over the pastry) and pipe a third of the cream over one piece of the pastry, then top with a third of the berries (cut large strawberries smaller) and repeat for the two remaining layers, sprinkling over small flowers and a dust of icing sugar to serve. To serve: Use a sharp bread or other serrated knife to cut into slices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football is pretty much the only sport where I feel comfortable supporting Australia. But tomorrow morning, even though they’re occupying that rarest position for any Australian sporting team – Underdog - I won’t be backing the Socceroos in the knock-out stages of the Football World Cup. I’ll watching and hoping like anything that Argentina gets up. Not because I feel a deep, personal bond with Argentina, although any country whose identity centres on red wine, red meat, and tango is obviously good with priorities, but because I’m desperately hoping that this immoral World Cup might at least result in one of sport’s greatest fairytale endings. For me, it’s simple. Leo Messi is the greatest player of the greatest sport. Think about it: no team sport is simpler than football. No team sport has a lower barrier to entry. No team sport has a greater global appeal. Anyone, anywhere can play football. And that means no team sport requires a higher standard of individual excellence for a player to become the World’s best. Lionel Messi’s story is everything a sporting fairytale should be. He was a small kid with a hormone deficiency, born into a poor family in Argentina. He was a prodigious talent as a child, left-footed, with a superhuman ability to dribble a football. If not for the hormone injections he received as a teenager, he might never have made it into the top men’s leagues. In 2022, the professional age, surrounded by supreme physical specimens, Leo Messi, the World’s greatest player, is only 5’7”. But Messi’s size is an asset. La Pulga, they call him. The flea. Somehow he’s still fast enough. Still strong enough. And if you watch his highlights in slow motion, it’s obvious that part of his brilliance is his ability to shift his weight much faster than his bigger opponents. In a way, he looks like a boy playing with men, and he threads space and runs through teams with an unrivaled impossibility. How many times in the last 17 or 18 years have defenders, commentators, teammates wondered: how the hell did he do that? You do not have to be a football fan to appreciate Messi’s brilliance. But contrary to his chief rival for the title of World’s greatest, Messi is not the hardest trainer. He’s not an underwear model. He isn’t remotely charismatic when he speaks. What he does have is genius. I was in the stands to watch Messi score at Maracena Stadium in the Brazil World Cup eight years ago. He was in his playing prime, but that cup wasn’t to be. I was in Argentina four years ago in a packed public square when the South Americans were eliminated from the tournament. This is it, they said at the time. Messi’s last chance. But here he is. 35, and surely at his last World Cup. My head says his team doesn’t have a good enough defensive line. They’ve already lost to Saudi Arabia. And in football years, Messi is an old man. But my heart says something different. He might have won however many club trophies. He might have lifted his family from a poor neighbourhood in Rosario to a life of wealth and security. But sport is just a vehicle for stories. And what a magical final chapter it would it be if football’s greatest player ended his dazzling career by lifting football’s greatest prize. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Kevin tried out Flotation Therapy for the first time. That's where you float in a closed pod of with 500 kilos of Epsom salts in about 30 cm of water. Keeps you at zero gravity or weightlessness. It's supposed to be the ultimate in relaxation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Servants of the Damned, David Enrich In his acclaimed #1 bestseller Dark Towers, David Enrich presented the never-before-told saga of how Deutsche Bank became the global face of financial recklessness and criminality. Now Enrich turns his eye towards the world of “Big Law” and the nearly unchecked influence these firms wield to shield the wealthy and powerful—and bury their secrets. To tell this story, Enrich focuses on Jones Day, one of the world’s largest law firms. Edda Mussolini, Caroline Moorehead A thrilling biography of Edda Mussolini - Benito Mussolini's favourite daughter - and a heart-stopping account of the unravelling of the Fascist dream in Italy, from award-winning historian and biographer Caroline Moorehead See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley once again making us all jealous with his galivanting through Singapore. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educator, activist and blogger Kate Hall has an interesting take on having children. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.