Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

In the 1950s newly independent Malaysia needed educated leaders and professionals to provide services. This is where the Colombo plan came in: a co-operative agreement with New Zealand to boost education in the region. Over 5000 students studied here across the 60s and 70s. RNZ Digital journalist Sam Mythen has just returned from a trip to explore that legacy.

The stars of Kiwi horror film Grafted join Jesse on Friday the 13th to talk about the new film. It follows Wei, a bright but socially awkward Chinese student who has a facial disfigurement. After the death of her father Wei wins a scholarship to a prestigious New Zealand university. It explores culture clash, body image, and just how far people will go for acceptance. Jesse talks to lead actress Joyena Sun and her costar Sepi To'a about making the film.

Hawke's Bay charity Re-Source takes old pillows destined for landfill and cleans them up for people in the community that need them. It's a scheme that's seen 1200 pillows of varying condition go through their doors. Jesse talks to Re-Source general manager Nadine Rees Gaunt.

The Treaty Principles Bill, sponsored by the ACT Party, will soon be introduced into Parliament. We all know about the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi, but what are the principles? It's time for a dose of history to clear up the present with Dr Grant Morris.

NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson asks if business is ready to do their part to arrest climate change.

Dr John Hellemans has coached four Olympic triathletes and six world champions.

We all have one, but there's a lot we don't know about them. 

In the19th century it was common for museums and private collections to exchange human remains.

Kiwi dance trio Flamingo Pier are back with a new EP: Supro.

This week, we’re hanging out in the terahertz area of the light spectrum! Sandwiched between infrared light and microwaves, terahertz has been the long-forgotten cousin of the light family. But no longer. At the Australian Synchrotron, intense and focused beams of terahertz light are used to test new materials for carbon capture, clean energy and the next generation of computing.  

Zaid Jilani is something that feels very unusual in the United States right now. He's a journalist who doesn't want to tell stories that fit into narratives on the left or the right. Fiercely independent and frustrated with a media environment that rewards extremes on either side of the political divide, he started his own website and Substack to tell stories and challenge thinking for everyone. It's called The American Saga. One of his recent pieces is about some research out of Oxford University, mostly ignored by mainstream media, that found race and gender does not put American voters off candidates. Zaid Jilani What other stories might we be missing?

Sam offers this delightful dish that is ready in 30 minutes: includes 'velveting'! Get the full recipe here.

Podcast critic Jemima Huston reviews two installments of the 'The Rest Is...' series by Goalhanger: 'The Rest is Money' and 'The Rest is Politics'.

Today Jesse heads to the Devonshire seaside town of Torquay, which local hotelier Basil Faulty says is well worth the visit. Basil is currently in New Zealand running a series of informational evenings about the area and some of the upmarket accommodation options he has available.

Dunedin Craft Distillers' has been transforming bread waste into award-winning gin since 2020. Now the company is looking to speed up production with the goal of processing up to a third of Dunedin's total bakery waste each year. To do this they'll need a bigger mash kettle. Dunedin Craft Distillers co-founder Jenny McDonald joins Jesse to chat about the process and their fundraising efforts.

Cutting out fruit and veg from your diet doesn't sound like the best health advice, but "meatfluencers" - those who promote a carnivore diet - have reported impressive weight loss results. Some have even made claims that the diet has helped cure diabetes and arthritis. The diet craze is gaining popularity, with carnivore-friendly products and businesses reporting a surge in customers. So, what do health professionals think? Today Jesse asks dietician Lily Henderson.

This month the Doc Edge Film Festival is screening "Human Forever". The film follows 24-year-old activist Teun Toeves as he strives to improve the lives of people with dementia. His journey spans three years and 11 countries. The filmmaker Jonathan De Jong is currently in Samoa working on a follow up, but he's made time to speak with Jesse today.

Think historically, act with the future in mind.

Our Australian correspondent Brad Foster share the latest news from across the ditch.

Pip Adams reviews books about the future.