Synopsis
Jesse hosts an upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time.
Episodes
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Supply versus Demand: Finding housing for our elderly
01/12/2025 Duration: 09minWhere are you planning to live when you retire? Stay in your own home as long as possible? Move in with family maybe? Or are you keen to move into a retirement village? Global property firm JLL recently released their 2025 report on the state of New Zealand retirement villages, and it has found that in the next 8 years demand is set to out strip supply by over 11 thousand places. That's a deficit that's only expected to grow as our population ages. WSP fellow and Deputy Director at the Helen Clark Foundation Kali Mercier joins Jesse to discuss.
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Critter of the Week: Olearia Owlet Moth
28/11/2025 Duration: 13minFriday afternoon means it's time to talk about the endandgered critters that are endemic to New Zealand. This week Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki and Jesse are looking at the Olearia Owlet Moth.
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Food: Mussels with Fennel, Crème fraiche and Saffron
28/11/2025 Duration: 06minMartin Bosley from Yellow Brick Road shares Skye Gyngell's delicious recipe: Mussels with Fennel, Crème fraiche and Saffron
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NZ Live: Troy Kingi
28/11/2025 Duration: 32minTroy Kingi joins us for NZ Live to celebrate his new album, Night Lords.
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Film Review
28/11/2025 Duration: 14minDominic Corry is in our Auckland studio to talk movies, and this week he's looking at: Wake Up Dead Man - A Knives Out (new in theatres this week) After the Hunt (Prime Video) Die My Love (new in theatres this week).
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Freaky Friday
28/11/2025 Duration: 04minIt's time for Freaky Friday, the space for all your weird, spooky, and strange experiences. If you have one you'd like to share please reach out via text - 2101 - or you can email us, afternoons@rnz.co.nz. Neville in Paraparaumu joins Jesse to share his spooky tale.
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NZ researcher dubbed the "Indiana Jones of microbiology"
28/11/2025 Duration: 12minJesse spoke with Matthew Stott, a recipient of one of the University of Canterbury's 2025 Research Medals. He's been described as the "Indiana Jones of microbiology," Stott studies extremophiles, life forms that thrive in some of the planet's most extreme environments.
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90-year-old attempts to break world record
28/11/2025 Duration: 09minMerv Grewar proves that age is no barrier. He'll be 90 when he attempts to break a rowing world record next Saturday to raise awareness and funds for Dementia Canterbury.
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Weekend Stuff: Gardening
28/11/2025 Duration: 08minLynda Hallinan joins Jesse to share her gardening tips.
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Tips on how to cool down
28/11/2025 Duration: 04minWe're in for a hot weekend! Napiers on a heat alert, Christchurch and Hastings aren't far behind... Records have already been broken for hottest November day in parts of the country this week. It isn't just you lying wide awake, melting into the sheets - hot temperatures actually change the structure of our sleep. Senior Lecturer at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre Dr Karyn O'Keeffe spoke to Jesse.
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Kiwi driver Liam Lawson's future
28/11/2025 Duration: 08minThere's a lot of suspense swirling around Formula 1 this week - especially for kiwi driver Liam Lawson. Red Bull is about to lock in its 2026 line-up, and Lawson is still waiting to find out whether he's part of their future. Red Bull will make the announcement after Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, which I'm sure many New Zealanders will be watching keenly. RNZ Senior Sport Journalist Barry Guy joins us spoke to Jesse. [picture id="4JXIBK0_PSNEWZ_00318066_0005_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
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The pre-panel for 27 November 2025
27/11/2025 Duration: 08minWallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.
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History with Dr Grant Morris
27/11/2025 Duration: 08minWe're going to talk history with Dr Grant Morris and this week he is looking at stories of the New Zealanders who have, and who do, identify as Catholic.
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Solving the World's Problems with Dave Armstrong
27/11/2025 Duration: 08minTime now to solve some of the world's problems. Dave Armstrong is with Jesse from our Wellington studio and this week he's turning his attention to some of the issues plaguing the capital.
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NZ Sporting History: Gilbert Enoka
27/11/2025 Duration: 26minIn this week's NZ Sporting History, we go behind the scenes to speak to a man who has coached many of our finest teams in mental toughness - and worked out how to find that winning edge. Author of Become Unstoppable, Gilbert Enoka is best known for his time with the All Blacks - he worked with them for 23 years - during which time they won two Rugby World Cups and dominated the Tri Nations and Rugby Championship series'. Now other international teams are calling on his insight - in fact Gilbert joins Jesse fresh from working with the English cricket team in Australia as they attempt to regain the Ashes.
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Relationships: Advice for those tricky moments in life
27/11/2025 Duration: 11minOkay it is time to talk relationships now, whether romantic, professional or somewhere in between, Jesse is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology Do let us know if there are any topics you would like Kirsty and Jesse to cover at afternoons@rnz.co.nz.
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From cooking on the Rainbow Warrior to becoming a Buddhist Nun
27/11/2025 Duration: 08minNot many cookbooks - if any - are launched with a live theatre performance. But then Jade Reidy isn't your average author. Jade has not only been a professional non-fiction writer for 40 years, she is also a Buddhist philosopher, environmentalist and cook, and goodness does she have some stories to share. Jade chats to Jesse.
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National Erebus Memorial Location Revealed
27/11/2025 Duration: 07minThis afternoon it has been announced where the memorial to honour those killed in the Mt Erebus flight will be built. Jesse speaks to Rev Dr Richard Waugh, the instigator of the National Erebus Memorial and close friend of the families.
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Are Australians becoming more progressive as they age?
27/11/2025 Duration: 14minDr Sarah Cameron is a political scientist at Griffith University's School of Government and International Relations and a Chief Investigator on the Australian Election Study. She has found that, for the first time, Australian millennials are becoming more progressive as they age, and identifying with the political "left". Sarah talks to Jesse.
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Why creativity is an important as health and exercise
26/11/2025 Duration: 20minWe know the usual pillars of health; sleep, exercise, watch your diet and maintain social connections. Dr Daisy Fancourt says her research shows we need to add a fifth pillar, creativity. She's a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London and Director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center on Arts. Her research explores the powerful impact of engaging with art in any form, from music and dance to literature, cultural sites, and even street art. She shares what science says about the power of art