Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

Louis Theroux's recent documentary, 'Inside the Manosphere' put the spotlight on some really concerning content and content makers circulating online. These influencers are widely popular despite seemingly spreading messages of hate - so are they resonating with our boys and if so, what can we do to combat it? Here to give us her perspective is Dr Samantha Keene, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and a gender-based violence researcher at Victoria University.

If you've noticed one too many leaves starting to change colour and you're doing everything you can to hold onto those summer vibes, this conversation might be exactly what you need. From the 26th - 29th of March in Christchurch's Sumner, it's The Single Fin Mingle. Founder, Ambrose McNeill spoke to Jesse.

All this talk of supply chain issues has led to a resurgence of interest in self-sufficiency, to find out how you can live off the land we're joined now by Author of 'The Good Live: A self-sufficiency and modern homesteading guide" Gillian Swinton.

New Zealand vegetable growers have been dealt another blow with McCain announcing it is closing its Hastings vegetable processing plant by January 2027. That news comes as Watties proposes to stop all production of frozen vegetable lines in New Zealand, affecting 220 growers in Canterbury. These announcements got us thinking about our food systems: what we produce versus what we import, how much we pay for food and how it is all worked out. And unlike more than 100 other countries, New Zealand doesn't have a national food security plan So if we see disruptions to global food supply chains - similar to what we're seeing with oil right now - well.... then what? Jesse chats to Katy Bluett from Future Food Aotearoa

Most parents have a favorite child. There's no sense in pretending otherwise, the kids know it and if parents are honest, they know it too says Dr Laurie Kramer. She's a psychology professor at Northeastern University and a renowned expert in sibling relationships. Instead of ignoring the topic of who's the favorite, a better approach is to acknowledge the different treatment each child gets and to talk openly about it. When kids feel less favored, the effects include poorer mental health, more strained family dynamics, and even lower academic outcomes. Dr Kramer offers practical advice on how to talk about favoritism and how to help siblings get along.

Each week we ask for your help with an irk, a tricky situation or a problem. It's called You're the Judge. This week we're discussing whether a single friend should have to split the cost of a bach rental 50/50 with her friend and her kids. Text 2101 or email jesse@rnz.co.nz with your reckons and we might even call you!

Afternoons Podcast Critic Linda Burgess joins Jesse to share what she's been listening to. The Rest is Politics US The News Agents The Slow Newscast

Author Kate Langdon joins Jesse to discuss The Correspondent by Virgina Evans and Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, our segment where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing, how they're working to solve them and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Kapiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow joins Jesse.

A few weeks ago, Jesse spoke to University of Otago Professor Michael Baker who was part of a team of experts calling for the Misuse of Drugs act to be thrown out. They argue that rather than reducing drug-related harm, the 50-year-old act is "instead a major driver of harm". During that conversation the success of Portugal's' decision to decriminalise the possession of all drugs for personal use was discussed and it was clear from the messages we received that you wanted to hear more. We reached out to Steve Rolles who is a Senior Policy Analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, he joined Jesse to discuss whether Portugal's drug law reform has been successful.

Here on Afternoons, we are always keen to highlight positive business stories. Especially those small businesses who are trying to make the world a better place along the way. So, when we heard the about a local jeans manufacturer in Auckland who is doing just that, we were keen to find out more. Roskill Supply Co is the brainchild of Gregory McNeil, he joined Jesse.

With all the issues surrounding fuel supply at the moment we wanted to check in on Hydrogen. Does it offer us a pathway away from imported fuel? What's the situation with it here in New Zealand? And long term, could it be a replacement for our diesel use? Dr. Linda Wright from the Hydrogen council spoke to Jesse.

Citizen's advice Bureau's national policy advisor Louise May joins Jesse to respond to the government's support package.

The iPhone didn't start the loneliness crisis around the world. Long before technology, other forces were reshaping our lives. We've exchanged independence, convenience and loosening the neighborhood and community ties for more privacy and control. That tradeoff is what brought us here, say Dr Erik Larson and Andrew Trousdale. They explore the limits of technology, the strain it puts on human connection, and what it might take to rebuild it in an essay on the Substack AfterBabel called "Scrolling Alone".

Afternoon critic Caitlin Cherry shares her thoughts on: Resident Alien (Netflix) The Walsh sisters (TVNZ on demand)

It's time for our expert feature, where we take on a topic and put all your questions to the relevant expert. Today we're joined by funeral celebrant Carla Rotondo Carla is here to talk about funerals, how to give your loved one the best possible send-off and how to truly honour their life and story. If you have a question for Carla, text us on 2101 or email us jesse@rnz.co.nz.

Every Monday afternoon Jesse hits the clubs. We'd love to hear from you if you're part of a cool club - the quirkier the better. Text us 2101 or email afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today we're talking to Gabby Ugalde from Aracnation - an aerial arts club.

We get the latest from our man in Australia, Brad Foster, on what's hitting the headlines there.

We're going to talk manufacturing now, because our next guest says, as an industry it gets a bad rap. Especially with young people. And that's an issue because the industry predicts that there will be a manufacturing workforce shortfall of up to 40,000 later this decade To discuss, Catherine Lye from Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, joins Jesse.

A new play about Helen Clark is set to hit Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre this April 'Helen Clark in Six Outfits' tracing her journey from a Waikato farm girl to New Zealand's first elected female Prime Minister. The play is written by award winning playwright Fiona Samuel, who wrote last year's Pike River, she tells Clark's story through the lens of her wardrobe, highlighting how often Clark was judged on her appearance, rather than her political shrewdness. Fiona Samuel who was awarded 'the member of the New Zealand order of merit' for services to television and theatre joins Jesse.