Saturday Morning
Presented by Susie Ferguson and Mihingarangi Forbes, this podcast features in-depth interviews, current affairs, and news across a broad range of topics.
Episodes
Bill Kristol: Trumped on 4th of July
On July 4th, Americans will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence but with celebrations already underway, President Trump has been accused of hijacking and politicising the event. He set up his own organisation committee, Freedom250, to work separately to a bipartisan group established by congress a decade ago. Millions more has been spent by the
Vasa Fia Collins speaks out on the coroner's findings
Fa'anana Efeso Collins was a Matai, Green MP and Community Leader. This week the findings of a coronial inquiry into his sudden death were released.
Del Holland: Three savvy seasonal suppers
Cooking and food waste regular, Del Holland joins Mihingarangi with three budget supper ideas using prawns.
Maxim Adams: Eradicating pests and encouraging insects
While creepy crawlies aren't everyone's cup of tea, rodents are much less appealing and on Australia's remote Lord Howe Island, a pest eradication programme has got rid of the rats and mice. In their place, insects and lizards are flourishing - and it's all based on role-modelling from New Zealand. Maxim Adams is lead researcher at the University of Sydney. He speaks to Susie about how they d
Dr Buzz Burrell: common winter ailments
Dr Buzz Burrell answers the most common questions he gets from older patients in his clinic.
Matthew Wilson: Mapping future floods with VR
Researchers at the University of Canterbury are helping communities visualise the risk of flooding using virtual reality.
Laura Guckian: Motherhood's not easy and that's okay!
When Laura Guckian was first handed her newborn son, she expected to feel a surge of love - but she didn't. Instead, Laura felt frightened and alone.
Andrew Cornaga: The art of World Cup photography
Award-winning photojournalist Andrew Cornaga is the director of Photosport New Zealand, has twice been named New Zealand Sports Journalist of the Year and is currently exhibiting his football photographs as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. Andrew is about to head off to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over the next month, he'll be following Darren Bazeley's All Whites who play three gro
Maggie O'Farrell: from page to screen
A zoom call with Oscar winning director Chloé Zhao convinced Irish British novelist Maggie O'Farrell to agree to a film adaptation of her novel Hamnet.
Claudia Hammond: Dealing with feeling overwhelmed
For many, having too much to do and too little time to do it in, is an everyday occurrence.
Royd Tolkien shares his Middle-earth bucket list
The great grandson of J. R. R. Tolkien, Royd Tolkien, has a special connection to New Zealand but not just because of its role as Middle-earth.
Remembering Jools Topp at the Gold Guitar Awards
It's day two of auditions at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore. Jenny Mitchell won the senior competition in 2017. She's back this year as both a showcase performer and volunteer helping out on stage - because that's just what you do! A highlight of the Tussock Country festival, Gold Guitars launched her country music career - one that has taken her to Tamworth and Nashville. Now bas
Tusiata Avia: Telling her truth
Poet, performer and award-winning author, Tusiata Avia has forged her own path as a Pasifika voice on themes like racism and identity delivered with humour, honesty and courage. The 2026 International Institute of Modern Letters Writer in Residence for the Academy of New Zealand Literature, her latest work is called Giving Birth to My Father. A collection of poems, it is an exploration and ex
Gardening tips with Hannah Zwartz
Our regular gardening expert Hannah Zwartz is back with more advice for the green and not so green fingered amongst us! Today she talks to Susie about why we prune in June and she has her top tips for planting - size, spacing and why sprinkling seed is a good alternative to mulch.
Dr Nadine Levy: Celebrating an ordinary life
Being ordinary or doing ordinary things isn't usually something people aspire to - but Dr Nadine Levy says we should.
Sam Cox: Mr Doodle
Sam Cox turned his obsession with doodling into a global art sensation. But at one point he believed he really was his alter ego, Mr Doodle.
David Silbersweig: Earworms
Most of us have a song at some time or another we just can't get out of our head. It's called an earworm - and you can get rid of them!
Choosing brotherhood in the Middle East
After decades of conflict, it's hard to imagine a peaceful Middle East. But Maoz Inon, an Israeli and Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian believe it is possible.
Sam Hogg: The secret to farming success
Concerned that their dairy farm was both financially and environmentally unsustainable, the Hogg family decided to return to their organic roots. Sam Hogg led the farm's conversion to permaculture - and increased their profits by a staggering 500%. He talks to Susie Ferguson about how he did it!
James Muldoon: Finding love with AI
Would you date an artificial intelligence companion? James Muldoon did.
Bryan Crump: Classic Conversations
With a name inspired by a beautiful and remote part of New Zealand, The Doubtful Sounds choir is all about making beautiful noise. Directed by RNZ's Concerts very own Bryan Crump, the choir performs Bryan's a cappella arrangements of popular music from around the world at global competitions and village halls The award-winning community choir has a special treat in store for Saturday Morning
Nick Becker: Auckland FC's Grand Final
It's a massive night tonight for footy fans, with Auckland FC facing off against Sydney FC in the A-League Grand Final at Go Media Stadium. CEO Nick Becker speaks about the club's explosive rise in just two seasons as momentum builds to the main event.
Reading for pleasure with Kate de Goldi
Our resident reader Kate de Goldi is back with her latest picks - an American novel The Gossip Columnist's Daughter by Peter Ormer and a New Zealand picture book You Can't Pat a Fish by Ruth Paul.
Wild magic and Traitors with Rachael King
Rachael King is one of New Zealand's best-known children's authors. She's back with her latest offering Song of the Saltings - a folk horror for young adult readers. She's also a contestant on the new season of The Traitors reality TV show.
Lonely Planet's Jessica Lockhart: Travel dos and don'ts
How good is your travel etiquette? Lonely Planet's Destination Editor for Oceania shares her top tips.
Lindsay Bartels: Cancer and motherhood
Lindsay Bartels tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene meaning her risk of cancer was higher and this could be passed onto any children she might have.
Alan Davies: Return to stand-up
Jonathan Creek star and resident QI panelist, Alan Davies is coming to New Zealand in July with a brand-new standup show Think Ahead. It's a decade since Alan's been behind the stand-up mic. He speaks to Susie about why he's back now.
Dr Dick Chamla - the story of Ebola
The number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has breached the 600 mark and the outbreak is evolving fast in an area of the DRC where parts of ground zero - Ituri province - are run by militia.
Christine Dawood: Life after the Titan tragedy
Christine Dawood's husband and 19- year-old son died on board the doomed Titan submersible. She tells Susie Ferguson the whole story.
Economic update with Liam Dann
With high rates of youth unemployment and ongoing global uncertainty over oil prices, the country is braced for what is likely to be a challenging Budget later this month.
Abigail McClutchie: Follow your dream
What's the worst career advice you've ever received?
Roddy Doyle Ha Ha Ha
One of Ireland's best loved writers, Roddy Doyle is known for bringing working class Ireland to life. He's in New Zealand for the Auckland Writer's Festival.
Jen Sherman: The Shitty Housewife Gets Nerdy
Five years ago Jen Sherman changed her family of four's diet completely - swapping out ultra processed foods for healthier alternatives.
The art of being joyful
Kate Bowler wants us to stop trying to be happy.
Daniel Kereopa: World Surfing comes to Raglan
It's day two of the WSL (World Surf League) in Raglan and someone who knows the Manu Bay swells very well is multi-national title holding surfer Daniel Kereopa. Daniel has dedicated his life to pushing the limits, riding all types of waves in a variety of ways. He's mana whenua and along with his partner Renee, Daniel runs DK Surf School in Raglan. He talks to Mihingarangi about why the WSL i
New research: Smart phones and teenage depression
The push for a ban on social media for under-16s has been paused despite both National and Labour supporting it. Several other countries are moving to restrict young people's access to social media, following Australia's lead. Meanwhile, new research shows children who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to develop depression and anxiety as teenagers. Dr Chen She
Taking down a cult leader: Dr Christine Marie
Cult expert Dr Christine Marie found herself in the unique position of becoming an FBI informant and taking down a cult leader - somewhat by accident.
Rebecca Kuang: Writing from lived experience
Considered one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature, Rebecca Kuang's latest novel draws on her lived experience.
Caterpillar star Anais Shand
New family drama Caterpillar explores the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. It's the feature film debut of star Anais Shand.
Becky Dell: Paying it forward with music
Citizens of the World Choir includes refugees from around 30 different countries and showcases the power of music to unify and create positive change.
The highs and lows of weather forecasting
Scientists are now forecasting hazards on timescales from decades ahead to literally minutes before impact. But how accurate can those forecasts really be and how do you prepare for events that are inherently uncertain?
