The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin is a Sunday morning programme from Newstalk ZB. It covers news, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment. Francesca Rudkin hosts the show.
Episodes
Joseph Moore: Kiwi comedian on his new role with Saturday Night Live UK
Kiwi comedian Joseph Moore has been working behind the scenes as a writer on many iconic TV shows like Taskmaster, 7 Days and Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee - and he's hit the big time overseas. Earlier this year, he got chosen from hundreds of applicants to write for the new Saturday Night Live UK - and he's proven popular, with his 'Pub Song' skit going viral. &n
Full Show Podcast: 27 September 2026
Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 27 September. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Whitcoulls Recommends: Hollow Bones and That Woman
Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult. This is Jodi doing what she does best. It’s the story of Molly Fitzgerald and her husband Jesse (he was a character in Jodi’s much loved book My Sister’s Keeper and there is a reference to that previous work in here, although it wouldn’t matter if you haven’t read the previous book - it’s just a nice continuation for anyone who did). Molly’s mother died in the Twin To
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on the top things to do in Rarotonga
The school holidays have gotten underway, with many Kiwis jetting off for the break. Air New Zealand has recently confirmed Rarotonga is now the most popular South Pacific destination for Kiwi travellers, and travel expert Megan Singleton has looked into why this is. She highlighted the accommodation choices, the food, the beaches and snorkelling tours - with plenty of opt
The Sunday Panel: Do we see the big debates making a difference?
This week on the Sunday Panel, Resident Economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight and host of The Front Page Chelsea Daniels joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The election campaign has officially launched and the big Leaders Debates are due to take place - with the first one happening on Thursday October 1st. Do we see these upcoming debates changing the mind
Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on the differences between chronological and biological age
We all want to live long and healthy lives, but there's a difference between living longer and living longer well. Biological age measures the health and functional state of your cells and tissues, reflecting how well your body is aging compared to your chronological age. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further, and revealed the sleep and nutrition steps to
Mike van de Elzen: Mike's chicken enchiladas
Mike's chicken enchiladas Cook time: 40 minutes Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 4-6 4 flour tortilla wraps 3 cups shredded left over chicken 1 large onion, peeled and sliced 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 can black beans, drained 2 cans diced whole peeled tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp dried mixed herbs 2 tsp sm
Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on the idea of paying students to sleep to improve their grades
What if one of the simplest ways to improve students' grades wasn't more homework, tutoring or extra study, but instead paying them to go to bed? Research published in the Journal of Political Economy tested exactly that in an experiment involving more than 1,100 university students. The researchers offered some students US$4.75 if they managed to get at least seven hours of sleep on a
Chris Henry: entertainment correspondent on Taylor Swift releasing four new songs
Taylor Swift recently expanded The Life of a Showgirl, and dropped four new songs last Friday. The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore came with the songs Patient Zero, Cleveland!, Pink Clouding, and Babylon. Entertainment correspondent Chris Henry says these songs were recorded after the album's initial release, and there's speculation she's trying to get more attention on the project ahead of next ye
Ronan Keating: Irish singer-songwriter speaks ahead of New Zealand tour
Irish singer-songwriter and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating has launched his latest tour, and he's set to play in Auckland and Christchurch in March 2027. Since launching his music career as a 16-year-old, Ronan has 19 albums across both the band and his solo career and sold over 45 million albums. He says it's been a long time since he brought an international tour of this size and scale to l
Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on former Labour Speaker Trevor Mallard appearing on the campaign trail with Hipkins
Both major parties are kicking off their campaigns today in Auckland, with Labour and National hitting the trail to reach out to voters. Labour made an appearance at the Ōtara markets on Saturday - and a familiar face from the Ardern era made an appearance alongside Hipkins. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper said the emergence of former Labour Speaker Trevor Mallard could remi
Kieran McAnulty: Labour campaign chair speaks ahead of the party's campaign launch
The election race has gotten into full swing, with both parties set to hold their campaign launches today. Labour's event in South Auckland is set to take place this afternoon, and it's likely some new policies will be unveiled ahead of the election. Labour's campaign chair Kieran McAnulty says Chris Luxon is out of touch with the average New Zealander, and they'll be calling out the Government's
Simeon Brown: National campaign chair on the campaign season officially getting under way
The election race is officially under way, and National has revealed how they plan to address the opposition's policies. Both National and Labour are holding campaign launches today, with plenty of new announcements set to be made. National campaign chair Simeon Brown says voters should know the left-bloc wants to tax, borrow and spend more. "We cannot have a capital gains tax, a wealth tax, an in
Francesca Rudkin: Will the upcoming debates be useful for voters?
The school holidays are upon us again, the clocks changed for daylight saving this morning, and this week saw the final sitting of the House before the election. You know what that means - stump speeches are being refined, hustings are well under way as the debate comes out of the House and into the public arena. Let the entertainment - or as one Newstalk ZB listener called it this week, the non
Dame Silvia Cartwright: former NZ Governor-General on her new memoir 'That Woman'
Dame Silvia Cartwright has been a trailblazer for women in the fields of law and justice, and she's detailed her life story in a new memoir. She was one of two women studying law at Otago University in the 1960s, and went on to become New Zealand's first female High Court judge and the second woman to hold the role of Governor-General at a time when the sector was overly male. She's been on
Keala Settle: singer and actress on her upcoming performance in Sunset Boulevard at Wellington Town Hall
Actress and singer Keala Settle was launched into international stardom thanks to her role in The Greatest Showman as the bearded lady, Lettie Lutz. She sang the film's biggest hit This Is Me, which won a Golden Globe and got an Oscar nomination - and it ensured the Tony-nominated actress became a household name. Keala Settle spent a lot of time in New Zealand visiting family as she grew up,
Whitcoulls Recommends: The Pirate Queen and Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon. Fiction, based on the real life of Grace O’Malley who lived in the 16th century and gained renown as a fiercely independent woman and a fearless pirate who controlled an army of men, key maritime routes and trade in the west of Ireland. Suffering English rule, she bowed to no one and her story is extraordinary. This is by the author of The Frozen River which is on
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer and travel correspondent on how to make the most of Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Travel expert Megan Singleton recently went to the Cook Islands and she's revealed how to make the most of one small island - described as 'heaven on Earth'. The tiny island of Aitutaki is about 220km north of Rarotonga, and easily accessible on a short flight from the region. Megan says you'd need three or four days on the island to see all that it has to offer - and outlined her recommenda
The Sunday Panel: Will National's supermarket policy announcement lose votes?
This week on the Sunday Panel, Partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers Liam Hehir and journalist, TV producer and commentator Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! National has proposed to, if elected, break up Foodstuffs in a bid to bring down food prices for Kiwi consumers. Has National made a mistake with this policy? Does this completel
Full Show Podcast: 20 September 2026
Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 20 September. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on how to perfect a seasonal reset ahead of spring
September marks a big period of change, as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer. It's the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and get outdoors, especially with daylight saving due to kick in next weekend. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike van de Elzen: Fired broccolini with grated ginger, parsley and parmesan
Fired broccolini with grated ginger, parsley and parmesan Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 1 pkt broccolini Flaky sea-salt 2 knobs ginger 1 cup flat leaf parsley 1 cup finely grated parmesan 4 tbsp olive oil Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and plunge in the broccolini. Cook until just under. This will take 2 minutes. Remove and plunge int
Dr Michelle Dickinson: Nanotechnologist on whether blue water would stop you flushing the toilet
As New Zealand heads towards what could be a drier-than-usual summer, here's an unusual way we might save water - stop flushing the toilet quite so often. The old water-saving advice goes: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.” The problem is that many of us find an unflushed toilet really unpleasant. Now researchers at the University of Surrey have investigated a surpri
Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on the state of Ed Sheeran's tour after openers pull out
The show is set to go on - as Ed Sheeran looks to take the stage without any opening acts as his tour continues. He's set to play at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field later today, in his first show since Macklemore was dropped over his pro-Palestinian remarks onstage, and his other openers quit in protest. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall says ticket prices have fallen significantly s
Ethan Vickery: Kai Co founder and operations director on National's bid to break up Foodstuffs
The supermarket competition debate continues on, with National indicating they'll make changes if re-elected. The party's proposing to increase competition by splitting Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square - as long as the Commerce Commission agrees. Kai Co founder and operations director Ethan Vickery says it's hard to tell how this proposed change will impact Kiwi consumers. "It's really com
Azaria Howell: Newstalk ZB political reporter on the Government rushing some new bills under urgency
Parliament unanimously passed a new law reforming building rules, with thousands of buildings no longer considered earthquake-prone under this change. Building and Construction Minister Simon Watts said this change would save building owners and the New Zealand economy $8.2 billion. Newstalk ZB political reporter unpacked the changes further - and revealed why we could be in for some interes
Dan Schnur: US political analyst explains what new Greenland security deal means for Donald Trump
The US and Denmark have announced a deal, which President Donald Trump says will grant the US permanent control over Greenland’s security. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have welcomed the deal, but say it won't compromise the region's sovereignty. It follows months of tension over Trump’s threats to take control of the Danish territory. US political analyst Dan Schnur says this is a face-sav
Monty Betham: former Warrior ahead of the team's must-win finals clash against the Newcastle Knights
It's do or die for the Warriors this evening, as the team gears up for their elimination round against the Knights. The must-win clash will take place at a sold-out Eden Park at 6:05 PM, and excitement is brewing among Kiwi fans. Former Warrior Monty Betham says he's feeling nervous, and he knows all eyes will be on the Kiwi side as they look to move past their last loss against the Dolphins. "I t
Francesca Rudkin: Ed Sheeran was caught between a rock and a hard place
Ed Sheeran found himself between a rock and a hard place this week, with a rather uncomfortable question hanging over his US tour - can you be the nice guy who keeps politics out of your concerts while allowing someone else on your stage to talk about politics? The answer for Sheeran, after a week of intense global media pressure, having his songs removed from playing on Ireland’s biggest commerci
Whitcoulls Recommends: The Ruins and Never Say War
The Ruins by Becky Docton. This is a generational story across three decades, which begins in 1937 when a mother abandons her young girl on a Devon railway station, leaving her in the care of strangers and from which point the child is forced to navigate the rest of her life. It’s a very compelling and moving story set in a period of enormous change throughout the world. Never Say War by Asne Seie
Full Show Podcast: 13 September 2026
Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 13 September. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Margo Flanagan and Rosa Power: Two Raw Sisters founders on the release of their sixth recipe book 'How We Cook'
Sisters Margo Flanagan and Rosa Power are the team behind Two Raw Sisters, and they've got a new recipe book out this week. They published their first book seven years ago and they've written five earlier cookbooks - but this one promises to be different, with over 100 recipes you're gauranteed to turn into household staples. The pair have built the brand out of utilising healthy food that
Josh Thomson: New Zealand actor and comedian on his new dark comedy-mystery series Good Bones
Kiwi comedian and actor Josh Thomson is a regular presence on New Zealand's favourite comedy panel shows - and he's got a new TV project in the works. He's also earned some international acclaim, including roles in shows like Pixar’s Win or Lose, The Office Australia, Young Rock and Time Bandits. Good Bones is a dark comedy-mystery, and it's set to drop on ThreeNow and Neon on September 17. "It's
Whitcoulls Recommends: Little Wonder and The Farm
Little Wonder by Sophie Chen Keller. Song’s son River is a musical prodigy and at the age of eleven he’s invited to study with a great master - but on the journey they become separated in the chaos of the Beijing railway station on the busiest day of the year. Over the following years, each in their own way tries to find their way back to the other as they both carve out new lives which only take
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on the risks that come with overpacking
There's plenty of risky travel mistakes we can make, but over-packing is an underlooked issue. People can risk getting back injuries by not being careful when handling their luggage, and new data from physios shows these injuries are becoming more common. Travel expert and BloggerAtLarge writer Megan Singleton outlined the risks further - and shared her own travel tips. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.
The Sunday Panel: Are we seeing enough new ideas in this election?
This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist and editor Jo McCarroll and Director at 818 Chris Henry joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Election season is well under way - with the hoardings for various parties going up this weekend. What do we make of the campaign so far? Do the parties need to improve their strategies besides repeating slogans and attack ad
Full Show Podcast: 06 September 2026
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 6 September, Kiwi comedian and actor Josh Thomson has had a hot run of international roles in recent years. His latest role though is a local show and Josh joins Francesca to talk about that and the demand for him overseas. Bestselling cookbook authors, Margo Flanagan and Rosa Power aka Two Raw Sisters, join Francesca to talk
Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert outlines self-care strategies for dads
There's still a stigma around men utilising self-care, with many under pressure to dedicate everything to their jobs. Between climbing the corporate ladder or pushing themselves in their own businesses to help provide for their families, the stress can take a toll on their personal wellbeing. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacked the issue further - and outlined some self-care
Mike van de Elzen: Citrus roasted chicken with lentils and mint
Citrus roasted chicken with lentils and mint Cook time: 60 minutes Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 6 bone-in chicken thighs 2 tbsp sunflower oil 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 1/2 cup fresh oregano, destalked and chopped 2 lemons, zested and juiced 1/2 tbsp salt 1 x 400gm whole peeled tomatoes, crushed 1 tbsp fennel seeds, toas
Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on David Byrne's new song for upcoming Elon Musk documentary
David Byrne of the Talking Heads has written a song for a 'scathing' new Elon Musk documentary - reportedly comprised of the billionaire's quotes. The new feature-length documentary, made by Alex Gibney, is out this October, and it's described as 'definitive and unvarnished examination' of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. Musk has been quick to criticise, labelling the documentary a 'hit piece'. Entertai
Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on the new blood test designed to detect serious heart conditions
A 'broken heart' can look just like a heart attack, and now a new blood test may tell the difference. A broken heart isn't just an expression. Extreme emotional or physical stress can sometimes cause a genuine heart condition that looks remarkably like a heart attack. It's called Takotsubo syndrome, or 'broken heart syndrome', and it overwhelmingly affects women after menopause. Someon
Matt Johns: Pōkeno Whisky co-founder on the company being chosen for world-first climate study
Waikato distillery The Pōkeno Whisky Company has been selected for an international study into how different climates shape the maturation, chemistry and taste of whisky. The study, titled Climate-Driven Maturation Signatures in Global Whisky: A Comparative Multi-Continental Chemical and Sensory Study, examines whiskies from The 8 Continent Series - including one matured in Antarctica. Pōken
Peter Dunne: former Minister and commentator on the start of the election billboards and hoardings going up and what it means for the campaign
A former party leader says political parties need to have big bold ideas - not just slogans. Former United Future leader Peter Dunne says both National and Labour are fighting to keep their voters and trying to reach people who may be eyeing up the minor parties. He says that doesn't look to be working at the moment. Dunne says there's yet to be a standout moment from the campaign so f
Monica Schweickle: clinical psychologist on MDMA getting approval to treat PTSD in NZ
An Australian clinical psychologist says she's excited to see New Zealand following Australia in offering MDMA as a treatment option for PTSD. Medsafe has given two psychiatrists approval to prescribe the drug. Monica Schweickle says she's had the ability to use MDMA in treatment for the past three years. She says it can be a much quicker option for treatment - but it won't be g
Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on the All Blacks losing to the Springboks 29-24 in Soweto
The All Blacks are smarting physically and mentally from the 29-24 loss to the Springboks in Soweto. A shoulder injury to Ardie Savea means he won't be heading to Baltimore to attempt to level the series and Quinn Tupaea is also nursing a banged up knee. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the there's a lot of lessons the Kiwi side can take on board from this loss - including not lett
Francesca Rudkin: There's something deeply unsatisfying about this election campaign
So on Saturday morning, driving around Auckland, the sledgehammers were all go pounding election billboards into the ground. As once neat and tidy patches of grass were being transformed into a visual assault of names and faces just waiting to be vandalized by some smartarse, I thought to myself, only 9 more weeks to go. I love elections, I love a contest of ideas, I love watching my son be
Nic Russell: writer and health advocate opens up about the hard times she's faced in new book Bollix
Irish-born Kiwi author Nic Russell has dealt with an unrelenting amount of hardship and grief - and she's turned her experiences into a book. She's survived breast cancer, she’s lost a child, had a heart transplant and been diagnosed with Parkinson's - all before the age of 50 - and that inspired Kenzie’s Gift, a charity that supports young people through times of grief. She's shared her stories i
Vea Mafile'o: film director on exploring Jonah Lomu's life in new documentary
Hundreds of family videos and years of research have gone into an intimate new documentary about rugby legend Jonah Lomu. The film draws on archive footage to tell the story of the All Black, who died 11 years ago aged 40. It follows Lomu from his time at Wesley College through his rise to the All Blacks, and the pressures that came with being in the limelight. Co-director Vea Mafile'o says
Whitcoulls Recommends: The Body and the Blood and Big Little Truths
The Body and the Blood by Molly Crighton. This is a crime thriller set in and around St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin’s Octagon. A woman is found on the floor beneath the organ loft - initially the police assume she’d fallen, but a young police administrator senses that something more sinister was afoot and recruits a notorious journalist to help get to the bottom of it. For people who know Dunedin
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on the risks of using airport wi-fi
About 8.7 million passengers were affected by a cyber attack on a group of airports in the UK last week. Data relating to car park, lounge and fast-track security bookings at three major airports was accessed in the hack, including passengers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton says this is a cautionary tale about the dang
Mike van de Elzen: Fresh pappardelle with lemon gremolata
Fresh pappardelle with lemon gremolata Cook time: 2-3 minutes Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 6 1 batch fresh pasta 3 lemons 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 cup parsley, chopped 2 tbsp grapeseed oil Sea salt Cracked pepper Good parmesan Zest the lemons and then juice into a bowl, add the oil, then add the crushed garlic and chopped parsley. Season well
The Sunday Panel: How can we enforce the teen social media ban?
This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and host of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! There's calls to make changes to the health system, with General Practice New Zealand outlining a 10-year plan and calling for a bipartisan approach to make changes. Do we think these changes
Full Show Podcast: 30 August 2026
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 30 August, Jonah Lomu was a giant of the rugby world and a global superstar. A new documentary coming to cinemas this week sheds light on the life of Jonah behind the scenes. Director Vea Mafile'o joins Francesca in studio to share what she learned about Jonah Lomu from her time working on the film. A quote from her web
Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on whether sugary drinks increase your risk for cancer
Having one sugary drink a day probably doesn't feel like a particularly dangerous habit, but a large new study published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances suggests regularly drinking sugar-sweetened beverages could be associated with a large increase in the risk of stomach cancer. The researchers found that people consuming more than one sugary drink a day had around 2.5 times the risk
Erin O'Hara: Naturopath and wellness expert on the rise in chronic fatigue
Experts have noticed chronic fatigue syndrome is on the rise, and there's plenty of theories about why this is. Between long Covid, post-viral fatigue, and chronic stress, there's a lot of factors at play and experts are trying to get a handle on it. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara outlined some measures that could boost recovery, including supplements, herbal medicine, exercise, and en
Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on the death of Dolly Parton
Country music legend, songwriter and humanitarian Dolly Parton died last week, and tributes have been rolling in from all over the world. Parton died in Nashville from cancer aged 80, and her music has seen a significant bump in streaming. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall looked back on the stories people have shared about her. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio
Liz Mitchell: WoolOn judge and fashion designer on the wool creations at this year's event
From sheep to chic - wool has taken centre stage on the runway for another year. Off the heels of New Zealand Fashion Week, the hugely popular annual WoolOn Gala Awards Evening has been hosted in Central Otago. 69 designers showcased their work, each meeting the challenge of their garment containing at least 75 percent wool. Award-winning Kiwi fashion designer Liz Mitchell says it's wo
Ethan Griffiths: Newstalk ZB political reporter on how the teen social media ban could see Facebook blocked in NZ
The Government has unveiled a proposed bill designed to ban under-16s from social media - and it could stop all Kiwis from accessing certain platforms if the companies don't comply. Section 38 of the bill lays out 'access restriction orders' which gives the High Court power to require access service providers to stop providing access to these platforms. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan G
Justin Butcher: GPNZ interim chair outlines 10-year blueprint for the health system
General Practice New Zealand's pitching its 10-year blue print for healing our health system. Measures include long term workforce planning, a shared electronic care record, funding model reviews and sustained GP investment. Interim chair Justin Butcher says the country's health sector has been through challenging times and will likely go through more - and a unified approach is needed. 
Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on the Springboks beating out the All Blacks 33-26 in Cape Town
The Springboks empire has struck back in Cape Town, levelling the Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks at one-all. South Africa claimed a 33-26 win, outscored four tries to three by the All Blacks but the difference was the superb goal-kicking of wing Cheslin Kolbe. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the All Blacks were left chasing their tails - leaving South Africa 'fully
Francesca Rudkin: We need politicians willing to have honest conversations about taxes
This week’s political noise was all about tax. It’s perhaps the key battleground heading into the election, even if the main parties seem determined to make their tax policies as uninspiring as possible. And that's not an accident. Our politicians know something very important about New Zealand voters, we don't like paying more tax. In fact, we tend to regard a tax increase as a perso
Sam Gibson: hunter, trapper and conservationist talks new book, A Bushman's Book of Yarns
Famed Kiwi outdoorsman Sam Gibson's found some more stories in the bush - and he's turned his findings into a new book. Sam is deeply passionate about hunting, foraging, trapping, fishing and conservation, and even spent some time working for the Department of Conservation. A Bushman's Book of Yarns aims to teach readers about New Zealand's unique ecosystems and wildlife. "Now that I'm
Mel Parsons: Kiwi singer-songwriter on the success of her new album 'Castle Hill'
This week, Lyttleton singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has landed a big milestone - after seven albums, she’s hit the top spot on the Kiwi charts. Castle Hill has debuted at number one on not only the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums Chart, but the Top 40 Albums chart. She says she's happy to see people enjoying it - and her kids appreciate how high it got on the charts. "The kids all think that we're ric
Whitcoulls Recommends: The Unselected Journals of Emma M.Lion and Agrippa
The Unselected Journals of Emma M.Lion by Beth Brower. This is a series of journals published by a writer purporting to be a 20 year old woman, in 1883 London, writing about her family, her housing situation and the events of her days. They’re charming and whimsical and become quickly very moreish with two books in the series just published and many more apparently to follow. Emma’s father has lef
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on how you can donate resources when you travel
During Megan Singleton's big group holiday in Fiji, she visited a local school in order to give them some much-needed supplies. She'd contacted the head teacher prior, and her group brought over reams of coloured paper, pens, pencils, learning posters, books, stickers, paints, scissors and more. She revealed her tips for carrying out a similar exercise, including how to find a school, how to
Full Show Podcast: 23 August 2026
Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 23 August. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sunday Panel: Do we have enough donors for ACT's cancer centre concept?
This week on The Sunday Panel, TV producer, journalist and commentator Irene Gardiner and Front Page podcast host Chelsea Daniels joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! ACT has expanded on their proposed cancer centre concept after Paul Henry spoke of the idea last month. Do we think this is a good idea? Does New Zealand have enough donors to get this through?
Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert on why we love quick health fixes
Thanks to social media and similar online platforms, quick health fixes are more available than ever, and people are often drawn to solutions that feel simple and immediate. Quick fixes offer instant gratification, provide a sense of control, and help us avoid the hard work and discomfort of making long-term lifestyle changes. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further. LISTEN AB
Mike van de Elzen: Hot beef jerky
Hot beef jerky Cook time: 6 hours Prep time: 20 minutes 1kg beef silverside or blade steak Marinade 1 cup sweet apple cider (or unsweetened apple juice) 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp fish sauce ¼ cup Dijon mustard ¼ cup honey 2 tbsp freshly cracked black pepper 2 tbsp smoked paprika 3 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp onion powd
Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on AI creating viruses not found in nature
The headline sounds like something from a science fiction movie, but the reality is both less alarming and far more scientifically interesting. Published in the journal Science, researchers designed viruses called bacteriophages, which infect only bacteria with the hope to use them as living medicines to fight infections that no longer respond to antibiotics. Scientists have used artifi
Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent examines The End of Oak Street
The End of Oak Street is currently in theatres, and entertainment correspondent Steve Newall reveals whether it's worth a watch. Starring Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery, the film is about a family whose suburban neighbourhood has been transported from 1982 into the age of dinosaurs. Steve Newall says it's 'punchy' and doesn't shy away from the 'menacing' details.
Laura Marquez-Garrett: Counsel of Record for successful Meta lawsuit on what current Meta trial could mean for social media
There's hopes an unprecedented lawsuit against Meta will change social media as we know it. The Facebook and Instagram owner is on trial in California over claims it deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive to young people. More than half of US states have joined the lawsuit, seeking billions of dollars and changes to the platforms. Laura Marquez-Garrett, Counsel of Record in a su
Paul Henry: ACT Party candidate on the party's bid to build a world-class cancer clinic
ACT is hoping big-money backers will support its cancer hospital plan, paired with some Crown funding. The party wants to build a $2-billion-dollar world-class cancer clinic in New Zealand - with campuses in both Auckland and Christchurch. It's an idea Paul Henry shared when he was announced as a candidate last month, and has been fleshed out by the party since. Henry says it's importa
Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on the All Blacks securing a 33-16 victory over the Springboks
A gritty All Blacks performance has delivered a statement 33-16 win over South Africa at Ellis Park, scoring five tries to one. But the ABs battled to get their scrum going, with several penalties either side of halftime before it stabilised. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the Kiwi side's victory didn't come easy, with the 55th minute scrum penalty against South Africa as the tur
Francesca Rudkin: Can Harry and Meghan bring something useful to a modern monarchy?
There’s something appealing about Harry and Meghan returning home. Sure, Harry once said he couldn’t imagine bringing his wife and children back to Britain. Given everything that happened you could hardly blame him. But people change, circumstances change, and children change everything. Archie and Lilibet are now seven and five, and Harry has spoken previously about how sad it was tha
Mark Law: helicopter pilot who rescued White Island victims on his new book Lucky You're Tough
Former NZSAS soldier Mark Law became a national hero on December 9 2019, following the Whakaari-White Island eruption. After learning of the eruption, Mark, alongside his colleagues, flew to the island, comforted the injured and flew 12 stranded survivors home. Mark's actions ultimately saved lives, and he was awarded New Zealand's second highest bravery honour, the Bravery Star, for his actions -
Tom Daley: British Olympic diver on hosting knitting-based competition series
Knitting is seeing a resurgence, largely thanks to five-time Olympic diver Tom Daley going viral for knitting in the stands between events. After the Tokyo Olympics wrapped up, Tom now owns a knitting brand and has even been known to knit creations for celebrities - and he's now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter. He says he taught himself to knit, and it eventually became his 'superpowe
Whitcoulls Recommends: The Governor and The Four Wives of Windsor
The Governor by Lynda la Plante. The creator of the Jane Tennison series of books, Prime Suspect, has another story about a woman working in what was typically a male dominated industry - as governor of an English prison. Helen Hewitt is in her early 30’s and appointed to the top job where she goes up against unruly prisoners, staff who don’t want her in the job, and the politics of the prison ser
Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on retirement cruise gap years
There's a new travel trend gaining popularity among older people, and it can be affordable if you do the sums. People are spending their first years of retirement living on cruise ships before downsizing to retirement villages - or buying a residence on one of the new residential cruise ships. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for
Full Show Podcast: 16 August 2026
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 16 August, British Olympian Tom Daley went viral at the Tokyo Olympics as he sat in the stands knitting between events. Now he's somewhat of a celebrity knitter and joins Francesca to talk about his new show Game of Wool and why the show, and knitting, are appealing to younger generations. The day Whakaari White Island
