Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Wine: Marisco 2021 The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc $21.99 Why I chose it: - Tasted blind in a lineup of mostly 2022 Marlb. SB it was a standout (gold medal). - 2021 much better than 2022. - SB a great antidote for warm, muggy weather. What does it taste like? - Intense, pristine sauvignon blanc from a very favourable vintage. Bright, vibrant wine with passion fruit, capsicum, lemongrass and lime/citrus flavours. Refined wine with a crisp, dry finish. Why it’s a bargain: - Only a handful of Marlborough SB reach gold medal quality and if you buy it on special for $18 or $19 it is well below average price. Where can you buy it? - $21.99 is the RRP, but you can usually buy for a better price than that, for example: Super Liquor Golden Bay $17.99; Wine Central (Auckland) $18.99 Food match? - I like it with feta cheese of young parmesan cheese on a cracker. Both cheeses have enough natural acidity to make the wine taste rich and creamy. Will it keep? - I quite like four or five year-old Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc but most people prefer it at its freshest best. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercedes is charging you a monthly fee to go faster So you’ve just purchased an expensive car, laying down tens of thousands of dollars.. then to get the most out of it, you need to pay a monthly fee to unlock features. The car maker is purposely limiting capabilities behind a paywall, which you need to pay to get through. BMW recently tried (and failed) to make you pay to access CarPlay or Android Auto. They also charge you monthly for heated seats! It seems everything is becoming a subscription now. Why? That’s because companies love the idea of recurring revenue and the ability to use software to differentiate vehicles, rather than needing to change the physical product. The top 200 passwords have been released - it’s sad reading “Password” is not a good password! Neither is 123456 or 654321. Use a password manager. Even writing unique passwords in a physical notebook is better than nothing. And use 2FA. Please. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Echo 3: An America action thriller about a scientist who disappears on the Venezuelan-Columbian border, and the attempts of her husband and brother to find her (Apple TV+) Wednesday: Tim Burton directs this fresh - and very dark - coming of age story about the youngest child of the Addams Family (Netflix). This Country: The BAFTA-winning British mockumentary series about the lives of cousins Kerry and Kurtan finally arrives on TVNZ+, following their day-to-day lives as they grow up in a small village in the Cotswolds (TVNZ+). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was more than a decade ago now when the I Quit Sugar movement took hold and swept the world – and the brains behind just so happens to be across the ditch in Aussie, Sarah Wilson. The cookbooks became bestsellers around the world and her business was set to skyrocket – until Sarah decided to sell and donate all the proceeds to charity. Sarah’s gone on to live an incredibly inspiring life – travelling and living out of one bag for eight years, becoming a leading voice and author on anxiety and hosting her own podcast called Wild. She’s also taken on perhaps our greatest fight of all...climate change. Sarah Wilson joined Jack Tame from Sydney. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beauty of this slice is EVERYONE loves it AND you can pretty much use any type of cereal (cornflakes, rice bubbles, muesli, cocoa pops or even oats) or even Weetbix! Makes 20-24 squares 50g rice bubbles or cornflakes (about 1 ½ cups) or 3 crushed Weetbix 1 cup coconut 1 cup plain flour (or ¾ cup GF if making GF) 3/4 (150g) cup sugar 2-3 heaped tablespoons cocoa or milo 1 teaspoon baking powder 180g butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla extract CHOCOLATE ICING 1 ½ cups icing sugar 1 heaped tablespoon cocoa 1 teaspoon soft butter Boiling water, added one teaspoon at a time Preheat oven to 180 C. Line a baking tin (20x30cm approx.) with baking paper. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients until well mixed. Crush Weetbix or cornflakes if using as you go if using. Pour in melted butter and vanilla and stir until fully combined. It takes quite a bit of mixing until you have no pockets of flour left. Tumble into the prepared tin and press until firm and smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes and remove from the oven, set aside to cool Make the icing: Beat all ingredients together adding water a teaspoon at a time and mixing until you have a smooth icing that can be drizzled – not too thick, not too thin. When slice is almost cooled, spread over icing and spread to cover. Allow to set overnight or in fridge. Slice and serve or store in an airtight container. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne would like to consider how he'd feel if he were 17 and had been denied the opportunity to vote in the General Elections. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Cute Sheila, a young woman grappling with suicidal thoughts, discovers that a tanning bed in a nail salon is a time machine. Traveling back 24 hours, she relives the best date night of her life over and over, only to decide that her boyfriend, Gary, needs some fixing. Unaware that meddling with the past could ruin the future, Sheila goes even further back in time to turn him into the perfect man -- even though he was already pretty perfect. Poker Face A tech billionaire gathers his friends at his home for a high-stakes poker game. Things go awry when his mansion is invaded by a dangerous killer. The People We Hate at the Wedding The film follows struggling American siblings Alice (Kristen Bell) and Paul (Ben Platt), who reluctantly agree to attend the wedding of their estranged, wealthy half-sister (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) in the English countryside alongside their mother, Donna (Allison Janney). Over the course of the wedding week, the family's many skeletons are wrenched from the closet, and the unlikely reunion gives everyone the motivation to move their own lives forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No, I haven’t bought a new air fryer. Tempted as I might have been, I’ve resisted the urge to upgrade my TV. So far, I’ve only bought two things in the Black Friday sales and I think even the most staunch anti-capitalists would have to agree, neither could be deemed particularly luxurious: a compost bin for my kitchen, and a shower squeegee. Woo-hoo! It’s one of those curious little quirks of 2022 that this year’s Black Friday should coincide perfectly with the Reserve Bank’s steepest-ever increase to the Official Cash Rate. At the same time as we’re being bombarded by ads for HUGE DISCOUNTS!, we’re being urged, albeit in a slightly more restrained fashion, to stop spending, and fast. HUGE SALES! MASSIVE DISCOUNTS! UP TO 80% OFF!! ‘Cool your jets’ said Adrian Orr. Talk about mixed messaging. Maybe the Reserve Bank needs to take on the big retailers at their own game. I was at Infrastucture New Zealand’s Building Nations conference this week, and ANZ economist Sharon Zollner suggested to the audience the Reserve Bank should take our some billboards in prominent positions around the country. ‘Stop spending so much money or we’ll crank up your Mortgage even more!’ Sharon was joking and the audience laughed... but I dunno... I thought it was actually a bloody good idea! Maybe we need a bit of left-field thinking to help the inflation fight. There’s a good chance it’s too late to do much about the spending over Black Friday weekend. We should turn our attention to what is usually an inevitable Christmas splurge. With the big day less than a month away, my only advice is don’t give people crap for the sake of giving them crap. In the Tame family, we made a pact a few years ago to run a Secret Santa for all the adults. $50 maximum. We put names in a hat and randomly assign gifters and giftees. You only buy one gift and the idea is that you sit around and try to guess who bought yours. You can be a bit creative. I think last year I had gave my Dad a t-shirt with a photo of the family dog. Hardly a life-changing gift but not nothing! It’s fun. It takes a good chunk of the expense out of Christmas, and it ultimately means you’re not ending up with heaps of stuff you don’t want, or spending for the sake of spending. Who knows, what’s good for inflation might ultimately be good for your Christmas, too!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Off the back of the release of his brand-new album The Hardest Love, global superstar Dean Lewis has announced The Future is Bright World Tour which will head to New Zealand in March 2023. The 10-track The Hardest Love album includes previous singles ‘Looks Like Me’ and ‘Hurtless’, as well as the emotive ‘How Do I Say Goodbye’—a devastating song about the looming loss of a parent. With over 7.5 billion streams, Dean was welcomed into the Spotify Billions Club with his hit song 'Be Alright'. Over the past few years, Dean has performed to hundreds of sold-out crowds worldwide, including headline tours and major festivals in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, and the 2019 AFL Grand Final in Australia. Dean has recently collaborated with Dutch DJ / producer Martin Garrix and Norwegian DJ / producer Kygo. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love Untold, Ruth Jones The funny, moving and uplifting new novel from Ruth Jones, co-creator of Gavin & Stacey and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Never Greener and Us Three. Four generations of one family. Four women: Grace, Alys, Elin and Beca. Each of them has a secret. Each has been misunderstood. And each of them longs for just one thing... to feel loved. When McKinsey Comes to Town, Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsyth An explosive exposé of the world's most prestigious and successful management consultancy. McKinsey earns billions advising almost every major corporation as well as countless governments, including Britain's, the USA's and China's. It boasts of its ability to maximise efficiency while making the world a better place. Its millionaire partners and network of alumni go on to top jobs in the world's most powerful organisations. And yet, shielded by non-disclosure agreements, its work remains largely secret - until now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley once again is making us jealous with the tales of his travels to the Swiss Reviera. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are commitment issues a big deal in a relationship? What makes it so serious? What can you do if you think your partner is unsure? What can you do if you are unsure? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift's fans feel let down by Ticketmaster The pre-sale earlier this week was Ticketmaster's biggest event ever. To put it into perspective, they had 4x the number of system requests than their last peak. There were 3.5 million registered verified fans, who purchased 1.5 million tickets. There were long digital queues, and now resellers are taking advantage of the demand putting tickets back up on Ticketmaster's own site for thousands of dollars. In a strange move, Ticketmaster has now canceled a public sale of her tickets “due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet that demand”. Seems to be a mixed message! Did they sell too many? Taylor hasn't been on tour since 2018 so the Swifities are eager to see her IRL again. Elon Musk's ultimatum to staff - are you hardcore or not? Staff had to pledge they would be hardcore if they wanted to keep their jobs, or they'd be paid three months salary and need to leave. It seems hundreds of folks have left. Many of the teams that used to be critical to the operation of the site are either wiped out, or down to a couple of people. There's a new policy for their Twitter Blue subscription service which gives you a verified checkmark - new accounts won't be able to buy the service for 90 days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s never how anyone plans it when they get married, but divorce is very common – which means it could be a curveball you have to contend with. On the financial as well as the personal – it can be devastating. So how can you best navigate the dollars and cents side of divorce? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tulsa King: Sylvester Stallone stars as New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi, who is released from prison after 25 years and exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma (TVNZ+). 1899: A historical mystery. Passengers on an immigrant ship traveling to the new continent get caught in a mysterious riddle when they find a second vessel adrift on the open sea (Netflix). Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?: A new documentary about a young man who attempted to win a fighter jet in a Pepsi sweepstakes during the 1990s, and who began a David versus Goliath court battle for the history books. (Netflix). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COQ AU VIN AKA CHICKEN IN WINE Wine in cooking adds a certain something to a dish that is irresistible. Not only does the kitchen smell divine as it’s cooking but the taste is incredible – perfumed, aromatic, delicious. Here is my very basic, no-fuss version of that French classic, coq au vin. Serves four to six 20g butter 3 rashers smoky bacon, diced 2 medium onions, quartered 2 stalks celery (leave whole) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces, excess fat removed (or use 6–8 chicken pieces) 1 cup red wine 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 1 dozen small brown button mushrooms, stalks removed salt and pepper 1 tablespoon flour and water to thicken (optional) For this dish, use a large pot or flame/ovenproof casserole dish (Le Creuset or similar) that has a lid. Melt the butter in the pot and add the bacon, onion and celery stalks. Sauté until golden, remove and set aside. Add the olive oil to the pot and brown the chicken pieces. If necessary, do this in 2–3 batches so as not to overcrowd the pot. Once finished browning, return the chicken, bacon, onion and celery to the pot. Add the wine and bring to a rapid simmer for 2 minutes — this allows the alcohol to cook off. Add the stock, bay leaves and thyme. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour (or cover and cook in a preheated oven at 160°C for 1½ hours), until the chicken is very tender and wanting to fall away from the bone. Halfway through the cooking, add the mushrooms and season to taste with salt and pepper. Just before serving you may choose to thicken the gravy slightly with flour mixed with a little water. Pour it into the pot and cook for a further 10 minutes. You want a sauce that is not too thick, not too thin, just right! Serve with crusty bread. Note: Without a doubt, this dish is better made the day before, cooled, then reheated. It deepens the flavours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know you’ve probably cracked life when TIME Magazine names you in the top three most-fun people in show business. That’s Alan Cumming. The Scottish star has been nominated and awarded for just about everything you can think of both on screen and on stage - and Alan’s not slowing down anytime soon. He’s bringing his own show to our shores next year called Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age - a joyful and mischievous exploration of ageing. Alan Cumming joined Jack Tame. *Tickets are on sale for Alan’s shows in Wellington and Auckland in January from Ticketmaster now* See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne wants to talk about Taika Waititi wearing a demure pleated skirt while MCing the MTV Music Awards in Dusseldorf. He says "Good on him" and explains why. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GAMBLING REFORMS MISS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH POKIES I was in Las Vegas for work once upon a time, staying at an aging casino, and I witnessed something I’ve never forgotten. I went out to film a story at about 6pm one evening and as I headed out, I passed a guy sitting two or three seats in on a long row of slot machines, trying his luck. The shoot went late. I came back to my hotel room at about 1am. And as I crossed the casino floor I looked down at the same row of slot machines. The guy was still there. I had a flight to catch the next morning. I got up. Packed my suitcase. Came down at about 8am. You can see where this is going... Same guy. Same clothes. Same machine. Same dead eyes as he hit that button over and over again. I dunno what it is about pokies. There is something about them, some little piece of psychological witchcraft, that short circuits the human brain. And while here in New Zealand you’d hope we’re at the stage where no one can sit and mindlessly whittle away their money on a pokie machine for fourteen hours straight, it’s hard to overstate how destructive a gambling addiction can be. The Government’s announced a review of pokies and the Gambling Act, alongside some pokie reforms that’ll come into force next year. But the reforms are much weaker than what was initially proposed. For the time being, there will be no cuts to pokie jackpots, no ban on free rolls, and softer penalties for pub owners who don’t follow the rules, compared to what was proposed. Instead, the changes that have been confirmed concern where pokies and ATMs can be positioned in an pub, and rules around how pub owners should check for and treat problem gamblers. It’s not nothing, but it’s also not a profound change. Some problem gambler advocates have expressed disappointment, but I must admit to being a bit surprised to read comments from the Chair of the Gaming Machine Association. Peter Dengate-Thrush told Stuff that even his organisation felt the changes didn’t go far enough, the Minister had missed an opportunity, and facial recognition software to identify problem gamblers should be introduced across New Zealand. For me though, there’s a fundamental problem with pokie machines in New Zealand that still needs to be addressed. And so far, almost no one wants to touch it. Under our law, a minimum of 40 percent of pokie proceeds have to be returned to the community as charitable grants. We’re always reminded when a sports club or a dance group has been supported by a grant from a charitable gaming trust. Many people don’t give it much thought – a charitable grant sounds great! But I see it differently. The ends don’t justify the means. The community funding structure is a very clever way to excuse, normalise, and even subtly promote hugely damaging, antisocial behaviour. Can’t we find a better way to fund community organisations? A way that doesn’t mean our sports clubs and hobby groups are relying on New Zealanders pouring their money into pokie machines in order to survive? Money doesn’t grow on trees but we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. What’s the point in supporting one community with a charitable grant if you have to damage another community in order to get the money in the first place? These government reforms are a start but if you really want to smash the problem, follow the money. The whole structure has to change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Counting Crows has sold more than 20 million records and spent two decades touring the world. After a bit of a hiatus, they released a new album last year and are returning to our shores in March. Lead singer Adam Duritz has led the way through it all and he joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not the first home I’ve ever owned. That privilege goes to my apartment, which I officially bid farewell to last month after almost six years. But it’s the first house I’ve ever owned. And who knows? Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans, right? But I bought it thinking it might just be the first family home I ever own. I picked up the keys last week. The agent met me at the front door. A big old villa in a great location with much more space than I have furniture for, and a backyard with a feijoa tree. I even bought a lawnmower. Me! A lawnmower! My first ever lawnmower. A home that would be perfect for kids. Perfect for BBQs. Perfect for visiting inlaws. I feel very fortunate, indeed. At least, I did. Ever since we went unconditional I’ve been counting down the days until my first sleep in the new pad. I thought my girlfriend and I would share a delicious dinner. I’d bring in my bed, make it up with my fanciest linen, and slip between the sheets for a glorious night of rest, blissful in the peace and security of my own four walls. Instead, I spent my first night in the new pad alone, tossing and turning and tangling a sleeping bag on a blow up mattress with fever dreams and a dehydrated mucus mouth. Thanks Covid. There will be other milestones to celebrate. My first night in a real bed. Our first meal at the dining table. Our first full mortgage repayments. GULP. So many people have reassured me that after a few months, you just get used to paying the mortgage and don’t think too much of it. Given the size of my mortgage, I’m not quite so sure I’ll be forgetting it anytime soon. Doing the maths makes me want to throw up in my mouth. But even though over the course of my adult lifetime I’ll be paying the equivalent of several years’ income in interest payments, there is one little thing I keep reminding myself of in an effort to quell my disgust. Sure, I’ll be handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest, but at least I’ll be handing it over to a New Zealand-owned bank. I’m not suggesting the system is perfect. But don’t forget, as customers we still have choices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne is trying to track down a sport that he says has disappeared from New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enola Holmes 2 Enola Holmes takes on her first case as a detective, but to unravel the mystery of a missing girl, she'll need some help from friends -- and brother Sherlock. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make this gorgeous slice and serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for a dessert that heroes rhubarb or cold with a cuppa! Makes 12-16 squares 250g cold butter 415g (about 3 ¼ cups) plain flour Decent pinch salt 3-5 tablespoons cold water 1 cup whole almonds ¾ cup raw sugar 500g chopped rhubarb Grease and line a Swiss roll tin (23x33cm), leaving some of the baking paper hanging over the long sides. Rub/grate chilled butter into the flour and salt (or do it in a food processor). Toss the butter in the flour. Divide this mixture equally into two bowls. Into one, pour 3-5 tablespoons of ice-cold water, stirring first with a knife to a scraggy mess then add a bit more water before turning out to knead briefly so it comes together. Flatten to a disc, wrap and chill for 20 minutes. Heat oven to 180 C. Blitz almonds in a food processor until it’s a coarse crumb. Add this crumb and the sugar to the other half of the flour/butter and mix to combine to a crumble. Roll chilled dough on a well-floured bench to fit your tin, big enough to come up the sides, and carefully transfer to your tin. Press into the corners and up the sides. Cover with chopped rhubarb then spoon over crumble topping. Bake for 50 minutes or until browned on top and juice from the fruit has started to bubble through. Cool in the tin until just warm then slice. Eat with scoops of ice cream. YUM! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're watching a company implode, in real-time, because of self-detonation Elon Musk fired half the company last Friday, then after the weekend reportedly asked some of the folks to come back. They launched new "official account" labels on profiles to differentiate between the blue paid-for checkmarks, then suddenly scrapped them. Launched the $8 Twitter Blue plan on Wednesday, and now, two days later have already pulled it from the app. This came after basically all the worse-case scenarios came true: companies had accounts created with their logos and names, became verified, then began announcing things that weren't true. Fake accounts for politicans popped up, looked real because of the checkmark, then began tweeting crazy things. Like a fake George W Bush account that said he missed killing Iraquis, or a fake Donald Trump account that apologized to President Joe Biden. Jesus became verified. Someone already made a Chrome extension to change the labels to indicate what are paid for, and actually verified accounts. A swath of their executives have left - including those in privacy, policy and security. Oh, and they have a communications team of zero. They're losing $4 million a day. Elon sold an additional $4 billion of Tesla stock to pump into Twitter. Advertisers are bailing. They're being watched closely by the Federal Trade Commission. And Elon says bankruptcy may be in the future. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The English: Emily Blunt and Rafe Spall star in this Western series set in Wyoming about a woman seeking revenge on the man she sees as responsible for the death of her son (Prime Video). The Crown: Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville join the cast of Netflix’s popular drama about the British Royal Family (Netflix). The Black Ferns: Wāhine Toa: An inspiring two-part documentary following the world champion Black Ferns as they prepare to defend the Rugby World Cup (Neon/Sky Go). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Bryan Betty talks diabetes with Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spots on Leaves. A very common plant health problem that makes leaves look rather tatty and unhealthy. A good example is black spot on roses; dark brown to black in colour, often with a distinct yellow “ring” around it. These are fungal disorders and the best way to battle them is by prevention. Keep your plants spaced-out, in other words: give them room to dry out in the wind after a rain shower. The quicker those leaves are dry, the shorter the infection time will be. Spittle bugs South Island gardeners will know them well – it seems a typical critter in our neck of the woods. The larvae of these frog hoppers love to extract juices out of their host plants (lavender is wonderfully affected in my garden, but Coprosma and lots of other plants are also a target. The way these insects protect themselves is by creating a wet bubbly bubble that gives them a good shelter site, so that predators (birds, and predatory insects) cannot find them. Try wiping the spittle away and you’ll find a nice, green insect staring at you. It might even show you its clever “move”, with abdominal contractions blowing air into it’s wet nest, causing those spittle bubbles. It protects them from dehydration and temperature fluctuations. Their damage to the plants is quite minor, so don’t even worry trying to control them. Spiders Spiders are another critter that becomes quite obvious at this time of the year. For starters there will be heaps of these arachnids on your plants already, feasting on whatever might fall into the spider trap (the “website”). Some spiders literally go hunting on foot, grabbing small prey like caterpillars and moths, beetles and crashed flies. But the coolest arachnids are those that make some significant spider egg sacs full of hatching eggs. I found some egg sacs on my wall with hundreds of tiny spiderlings dispersing in all directions on silken threads. “Ballooning” is one of the cleverest ways to move long distances, away from hungry brothers and sisters. Little Jumping spiders also make their presence known inside the house – hunting for small flies in your kitchen and lounge areas, with agility and precision. Those Spiders are really my favourite critters of the summer - I can watch them for hours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hall has a few points to make when it comes to recycling soft plastic in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley talks to Jack Tame about his travels in Bern, Switzerland. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last weekend’s semi-final was one of the most exhilarating, desperate, thrilling rugby games I’ve ever seen in my life. It felt chaotic. Totally unpredictable. The French dominated at the breakdown. The New Zealanders played at such a tempo, lunging and scrambling and hurling the ball wide. God, it was exciting. After 80 minutes, you’d have to say agree, no team deserved to lose that game. But the best teams will take every flicker of good fortune they can muster. And so tonight, the Black Ferns contest the final. I’ve told you before about my past experience with the women’s sevens rugby team. It was eight years ago in Brazil, when the team had just been formed to compete on the World tour. I flew down and spent a week living and working with them in Rio de Janiero. Because rugby sevens was to become an Olympic sport, and because there was now a Women’s World’s Series to contest, New Zealand Rugby had started investing in women’s rugby in a way they hadn’t before. Still, back then, few Kiwi rugby fans would have known the players’ names. I was only there for a week, but by living, and eating, playing cards and even exercising with the team, I had a really special insight into a group of young women would be soon be stars. They were captained by a workhorse called Sarah Hirini. They had a star winger called Portia Woodman and a young smartass cracking jokes in the locker room and putting gangsta’ rap on the stereo, called Ruby Tui. They were young. They were very fresh. But already you could sense extraordinary potential. That team won Sevens World Champs after Sevens World Champs, but when it came to the Rio Olympics, they had to settle for silver. It was a tough experience. I was there at the Olympic Park that night in 2016, watching the match slip from their hands. They didn’t deserve to win but nonetheless it was very emotional. But you might also remember how it ended for the Sevens Sisters. Five years later at the Tokyo Olympics, they turned it around. Five years of graft, separation from their families, and Covid-19 disruption, and they did it. They were the darlings of New Zealand’s Olympic team, and they returned home with gold medals swinging from their necks. Sarah Hirini, Portia Woodman, and Ruby Tui will all start tonight. This game is different, I get that. England are the dominant team in World rugby. Their forwards are incredible. And most obviously, this is a game of fifteens, not rugby sevens. But finals are decided by moments. And perhaps even more valuable than form, is a team’s capacity to respond to pressure. This will be the biggest crowd to ever watch a women’s rugby match. And pressure does funny things. No matter what happens, nice to know that within that amazing Black Ferns squad, there are players who’ve been there and done that. I don’t need to state the obvious but I will anyway. Win or lose, the Black Ferns have been a joy to watch throughout this World Cup. Their humanity as individuals makes them far more fun to support than the men. They don’t hesitate to show emotion. For their sake, tonight, I really hope it’s joy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Passenger – Cormac McCarthy Traversing the American South, from the garrulous bar rooms of New Orleans to an abandoned oil rig off the Florida coast, The Passenger is a breathtaking novel of morality and science, the legacy of sin, and the madness that is human consciousness. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing – Matthew Perry 'Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.' So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a four-year wait, Mitch James has released his second studio album, patience. The album arrives half a decade after James' breakout single, 'No Fixed Abode’, and is the work of an artist who's emerged from various private and professional challenges with a greater sense of purpose. The 27-year-old James lives in the Auckland suburb of Mission Bay, but he created much of patience in Los Angeles with producer and former Tonight Alive guitarist, Whakaio Taahi. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are an Australian rock band formed in 2010 in Melbourne, Victoria. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter is a hot mess I just can't look away from As one employee asked - Has the Red Wedding begun yet? Reference to the massacre scene in Game of Thrones It's estimated that 50 percent of the company has been fired via email. Employees are now suing the company for violating labour laws which in California require notification of large layoffs. Those effected had their access to email and Slack cut off, and their laptops wiped. Then got an email, to their personal email address, with more details on "next steps". Elon Musk says Twitter has seen a drop in revenue since taking over, which makes sense because advertisers are worried about what content will be on the platform, or its stability, after layoffs. Twitter was also not a "must buy" from an advertising perspective, so is probably an easy decision to cut from media plans. Then there's what's next for the product - lots of rumours, lots of speculation, but apparently it launches Monday. There's a renewed call for a TikTok ban This time from a commissioner at the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). He had previously called for Google & Apple to ban the app from their app stores - but that wouldn't stop direct access because it's also available on the web. The FCC has no power to ban TikTok but is drawing parallels to Huawei or ZTE. What we know so far.. There is currently a negotiation in place between the US government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the USA. US user data is now sitting on Oracle powered servers in the US, but Bytedance hasn't committed to cutting off data flows to China. The concern is that China's government could use that data to track individuals - which could expose undisclosed military sites, real-time locations of US officials and their families, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wingspan (the Bird of Prey Trust, located in Rotorua) has been an attraction for decades. These wonderful people have been looking after injured falcons, kahu and owls for decades. The way they re-habilitate these birds is by applying ancient falconry techniques which are thousands of years old. I am absolutely in love with this Trust for the amazing work and research they do and for the fact they use their knowledge and facilities for education of our younger and older generations. https://www.wingspan.co.nz/ Go and take a look when they train and fly their falcons at Wingspan; see how these agile birds become fitter and fitter through flight training. The coolest aspect of these flying spectacles is the “drone hunt”, whereby a falcon chases a polystyrene drone in the shape and colours of a Magpie (called a “ro-magpie”) It truly is an aerial battle between falcon and drone… ending in a real live falcon literally surfing a polystyrene drone to the ground Incredible! Now, falcons have not just been used to fly for fun (A big hobby in the Middle East!); initially these birds were used to hunt delectable prey, such as rabbits, pheasants, partridge and quail, to name a few targets. This was a food-gathering exercise! Falcons have also been used to scare away the small birds that love to eat ripening grapes in vineyards; and in some countries falcons are also used to remove birds from places where they can cause dramatic damage (like around runway airports) Rotorua airport is situated near the lake and quite a few birds tend to cross the runway at the most inappropriate times (when planes land or take off). That could cause “bird strike”. Something to be avoided at all cost. The Wingspan crew were asked what the options were to scare birds away from these areas and the crew came up with a plan to use the scary magpie drone, instead of a real live falcon. Falcons are not always reliable when it comes to cruising the open skies in a pre-planned pattern (they sometimes refuse to come back to the falconer’s glove!!) A ro-magpie drone, on the other hand, is something that can be operated from a safe distance and with reliability. And that large Black and White Magpie is a really dangerous predator, in the eyes of a small song bird, a plover or a duck See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Raynes has been reading Colditz by Ben Macintyre and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan Rondel has been in the news this week, standing up for the little guy against the big celebrity driven companies – calling out a cake company who released cake kits that look very similar to hers. There was also the added complication that these kits were associated with Chrissy Teigen – who Rondel had just collaborated with. Some are questioning whether all publicity is good publicity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Campbell has been sipping on the Rapaura Springs 2022 Sauvignon Blanc to keep cool in this muggy weather for just $19.99 a bottle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside Man: David Tennant and Stanley Tucci star in this drama about an American death row prisoner with a sideline in solving mysteries, who helps a British journalist search for a friend who has suddenly disappeared (Netflix) Rogue Heroes: Inspired by true events, this British drama is set during the darkest days of World War II when a band of maverick soldiers banded together to form the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS (TVNZ+). This Country: Two seasons of the BAFTA-winning mockumentary about the lives of cousins Kerry and Kurtan, as they grow up in a small village in the Cotswolds (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strawberry, radish and cucumber salad with mint dressing SERVES 4 PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: NIL FOR THE DRESSING: 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, washed and dried ½ tsp honey 3½ tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 3½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil ¼ tsp salt FOR THE SALAD: 250g (1 punnet) strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced 1 medium-sized telegraph cucumber, peeled, deseeded and sliced 1 cup sliced radishes (about a small bunch, depending on size) 150g feta, crumbled small mint leaves, for garnishing Sweet, crunchy and refreshing, with creamy, salty crumbs of feta and a hint of heat from new-season radishes, this is a complete pick-me-up. It’s best enjoyed soon after making. Make the dressing first: put all the ingredients in a blender or small food processor and whiz until smooth. Taste for seasoning and set aside. Tumble the sliced strawberries, cucumber, radishes and crumbled feta into a serving bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss gently. Garnish with mint leaves and serve. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne joined Francesca Rudkin to talk about the decision by the Automobile Association to now attend to bike breakdowns as well as cars. This is much to do with the increasing number of e-bikes in use. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Car is the seventh album by Artic Monkeys, released just last week on the 21st of October. Estelle Clifford has been listening to the album and has a few thoughts to share. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley has been exploring the streets of Genova. For more tips on tripping the treats of Genova, Mike's article is on the website. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult “MAD HONEY has all of the things: alternating narratives, suspense, courtroom drama, and a love story at its core. It’s about authenticity, identity, and it explores the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become our true selves.”” Abyss - Max Hastings Bestselling author Max Hastings offers a welcome re-evaluation of one of the most gripping and tense international events in modern history—the Cuban Missile Crisis—providing a people-focused narrative that explores the attitudes and conduct of Russians, Cubans, Americans, and a terrified world that followed each moment as it unfolded. In The Abyss, Max Hastings turns his focus to one of the most terrifying events of the mid-twentieth century—the thirteen days in October 1962 when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. Hastings looks at the conflict with fresh eyes, focusing on the people at the heart of the crisis—America President John F. Kennedy, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, and a host of their advisors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainable fashion is more about how you WASH & CARE for your clothes than what you buy: + Most of us are washing our clothes wrong + When we wash our wardrobes properly, our clothes last longer, stay in better condition, we keep our favourite garments alive for longer, save water/energy, and buy less + Wash 30 degrees or lower + Spot wash + Front loader is generally more gentle on clothes than top loader + Don't do 'one wear, one wash' + Hang things out to air dry (Tim & I have a wooden rack where our washing basket used to be - we hang things there to air that can be worn another time) + Hand wash things that need it (you can do this in your shower!) + Spring/summer is a great time to re-adjust your washing habits + I personally spend more time caring for my clothes than at a mall - saves me money, it's my happy place (I know it's not for everyone), and I feel more loyal to the clothes I own Essentially, no one talks about how to wash our clothes enough. Even in the sustainability world! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctor Bryan Betty has the run down on Bell's Palsy and what is looks like. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disastrous week for big tech Meta's, aka Facebook, shares fell off a cliff after posting a second straight quarterly decline. Revenue is down, and spending is off the charts. It's Realty Labs division has lost $9 billion so far this year trying to make the metaverse happen. It warned that Q4 isn't looking much better. Alphabet's, aka Google, stocks plunged 9% when they posted their earnings which showed year-over-year revenues sliding. They’re going to review every project the company has in an effort to cut cost. Elon's now in charge at Twitter The former CEO and CFO are out - Elon is now in charge. He tweeted the "bird is freed". Twitter has been delisted from the stock exchange as the $44 billion deal closed overnight. Ahead of that, he made an appearance at HQ, and even brought some Tesla engineers to spend time reviewing Twitter code. So what's next? We'll see. Musk has said that he's willing to reverse lifetime bans on people (read: Donald Trump). He wants to cut costs - he's looking at forcing employees to return to the office hoping it'll cause some to quit. He says they'll be looking at new ways to make money. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Designing your garden can be somewhat troublesome; You can buy all the book in the world (or in New Zealand) and that only helps to give you the idea of what kind of plant, shrub or tree you’d like the look of. But will they survive, after you’ve planted them? Do they “cope” with that spot and your local climate? This week I drove south, along the fabulous spine of the South Island. In Christchurch is was 24 degrees; Geraldine 21 degrees, Burkes Pass 17 and in the Lindis Pass (my Favourite pass of all!) Just 13 degrees. There were lots of tussocks (the character of that pass) but also lots of smaller Alpine plants. Imagine you’d like to plant some of those alpines in your garden, much lower to sea-level, you may find them to be pretty frost-tender. In fact, many alpine plants will be killed in a severe Inland Canterbury frost. Why? Because in the mountains the temperatures might be reallllly low, but the plants will certainly be protected by the layer of snow on top of them. Little tricks of the local conditions – something we need to learn. 1) Go and visit your local Botanic Gardens and see what survives in your neck of the woods. Honestly, those gardens are your local library for your local meteorological conditions. 2) A walk around your neighbourhood will also give you hints of what grows well 3) Now’s the time to visit the various Garden festivals around new Zealand: Hurunui 27-30 October Rural open gardens in the coolest foothills Taranaki 28 Oct to 2 Nov (Fabulous Garden fest with lots of open gardens for a week) Garden Marlborough (another famous long-lived event) 3-6 November Wairarapa Garden Tours 5-6 Nov Waiheke Garden fest 5-6 Nov Bay of Plenty Garden and Arts Festival – 16-20 Nov… Juuls and I go there every year – just because! No doubt there will be others - check your local papers!! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White Lotus: a new series of the American satire set in a tropical resort, which follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week (Neon, from 31 October). The Devil’s Hour: Peter Capaldi and Jessica Raine star in this British thriller about a woman who wakes up every night at exactly 3:33am, in the middle of the so-called devil's hour between 3am and 4am (Prime Video). The Playlist: In this fictionalized account about the early days of Spotify, a Swedish tech entrepreneur and his partners set out to revolutionize the music industry with a legal streaming platform (Netflix). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.