Afternoons

Former All Blacks captain Sir Wayne 'Buck' Shelford joins us for this week's Sporting History. Sir Wayne's career in Rugby Union includes joining the New Zealand Cavaliers on their controversial tour of apartheid South Africa and winning the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup. He then captained the All Blacks for a three year, 14 game unbeaten streak Buck is also credited with revitalising the Ka Mate haka the All Blacks perform before matched. Teaching the team the correct tikanga. Oh and there's also the infamous "Battle of Nantes" which resulted in Sir Wayne 'Buck' Shelford being knocked out, losing several teeth and a testicle!

Elliott Childs accepts a listener's recommendation and gives a podcast hosted by two marriage celebrants a hoon.

Author Vanessa Robertson joins Jesse to talk us through the process of collecting a family history.

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? If memes are to be believed, men think about it every day. But it's not just the men. University of Canterbury Associate Professor Alison Griffith does too. Alison teaches students about Roman society through a traditional Maori lens. She joins Jesse to explore how we can use that knowledge and apply it to our own society and culture.

Australian redback spiders found their way to New Zealand in the 1980s.   These dangerously venomous spiders are now found in Central Otago and New Plymouth, where they pose a risk to both people and our native endangered species.  To control these invasive spiders, a team of scientists at Plant & Food Research is working on a cunning trap.   It's a targeted, environmentally friendly alternative to pesticides.  But first, to get the trap working, the scientists need to enlist the help of the spiders themselves.  We join Ellen Rykers in the lab as she meets Dr Andrew Twidle and 800 redback spiders.

The way our immune system fights off malicious bacteria and viruses is pure poetry to John Trowsdale, emeritus professor of immunology at the University of Cambridge.

This isn't your ordinary mac 'n cheese, thanks to a few surprising ingredients. Get the recipe here.

The Sherrif of Sounds himself, Matthew Crawley - is our music reviewer.

Kiwi journalist Claire McCall and her partner set off on an epic walking adventure to tackle a 3034km route.

Over the few days, Oamaru residents and visitors to the town will be able to escape the 21st Century and step back into the Victoria era.

When we die, most of us will end up in a brown box, but the more eccentric among us may want something a little more ... them.

Dr Elizabeth Dunn and PhD student Dunigan Folk from the University of British Columbia decided to study the studies that claim to understand what makes us happy and found some surprisingly results.

Jese is joined by Michael Rennie, a member of the Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara nations and a presenter and senior producer for NITV, the National Indigenous branch of Australia's SBS.

Afternoons book reviewer Catherine Robertson offers her latest literary recommendations.

Comedian and podcast titan Tim Batt delivers the latest in the world of tech. Today Tim and Jesse discuss Australian's new social media ban.

A Hawke's Bay bird-watching experience has been voted one of the top 15 family-friendly excursions in the world.

After 15 years the hogs have come back to the Canterbury A&P Show.

Released in 1984, Vigil was a watershed moment for the New Zealand film industry.

If genius is the ability to see things exactly as they are, singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen fits the bill according to Professor Christophe Lebold. For 20 years, Lebold has traveled in Cohen's footsteps and poured over his writing. The two became friends after a chance meeting and spent time together before Cohen's death. In a biography that is part analysis, part ode to the beloved troubadour, Lebold excavates how the man and his music shines a light in the darkest places. The biography is called Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall.

Rachel Antony is the CEO of Greenstone TV and is ready to answer your questions about TV and how to make it.

Every week Jesse calls an information center, out of the blue and at random.

Our TV critic Dominic Corry reviews the spinoff Dune: Prophecy and checks in on The Simpsons.

We all like to think we've touched the lives of others in some way, but it's hard to go past Reverend Barbara Walker.

The last 12 months have not been easy for our fresh produce producers, says United Fresh.

Last week it was reported that former heavyweight boxer Dave Letele's South Auckland foodbank would not have enough stock to last until Christmas.

Is it a bird or a bug? The answer is neither! Ladybirds or ladybugs are beautiful beetles that are a great help in the garden, where they can eat up to 100 aphids per day. This week's critter is the papapa kopure or orange-spotted ladybird (Coccinella leonina), an endemic species with a glossy black body and bright orange spots. Ladybirds are beloved creatures. Since the Middle Ages, they have been associated with the Virgin Mary, and many people still believe they bring good luck.

Rachael Quinn is a professional organsier and housekeeper, she's here to answer any and all questions around cleaning and keeping the house shipshape. Today she's talking about ways to create a schedule for yourself, so you avoid the frantic rush to clean the house or grocery shop just days before hosting a Christmas party.

Sabato's director Jacqui Dixon shares a special delicious stuffing recipe just in time for Christmas.

Live from the Otautahi, Christchurch studio RNZ presents Goodwill, the latest project from Will McGillivray.

Hotshot producer and film review Sam Hollis reviews Jason Reitman's Saturday Night Live and Aubrey Plaza's latest:  My Old Ass.

Greyhounds As Pets is a charity organisation dedicated to finding homes for retired racing greyhounds.

Greg tells a tale of a scared stand of trees and the spookiness that ensued.

Planetary health labelling is food labelling which contains data that can be used to calculate the environmental impact of the product.

A couple of months ago the wider Kaikōura district became our newest Dark Sky Sanctuary. Exciting news for Kaikōura, but it does mean the Council will have to make some changes.

Today historian Dr Grant Morris joins Jesse from Victoria, Australia. He's been learning all about the region's history and has prepared a few tidbits to share with us today.

Why has wool it been in terminal decline?

Today seasoned sports journalist Dylan Cleave joins Jesse to talk cricket, specifically the Black Caps winning the inaugural World Test Championship.

Afternoons podcast critic Nick Robinson joins Jesse to review two podcasts. The first tells the story of the broom that very nearly destroyed curling, while the second details the rise of one of the world's most famed contemporary artists.

The Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand (EDANZ) has expressed concerned that the Health Star rating adorning products on supermarket shelves may have negative impacts.

Photographer and journalist Vivien Beduya wanted to cut back on her screen time and found the solution in "dumbing down" her phone.

Invented in 1947, Subbuteo players simulate a game of football by flicking miniature figures to try and score goals and win matches.

The MRI technique advances coming out of the Mātai Medical Research Institute in Gisborne have been described as ‘pioneering’, ‘groundbreaking’ and ‘world leading’. Claire Concannon speaks to chief executive and research director Dr Samantha Holdsworth to learn why, and about their big plans for the future.

For 20 years, journalist Tom O'Neill immersed himself in an investigation of one of the most bizarre and gruesome crimes in America, the Manson Murders.

A simple weeknight soup with the most gorgeous flavour.

Wellington resident Michael Szabo is editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, and he has written Wild Wellington Nga Taonga Taiao - published by Te Papa press.

It's National Oral Health Day and the 'Switch to Water' campaign focusses on the 15 to 25 age group, who consume the sugariest drinks.

Imagine being able to carry your own solar panel around with you, rolled up in your pocket.

It's time for a new season of Thrift and today: too many clothes in your wardrobe? Don't worry you're not alone. But how many wears are you getting out of each item? And could you ditch a few to make some extra money? Katy Gosset looks at how to shop mindfully.

Educational technology is not the panacea we've been told it is says Amy Tyson.

Bernard discusses the tail end of the kerfuffle over Anthony Albanese's connections to Qantas and the free upgrades they gave him and the government forgiving 20% student debt.

These are all books about young people whose normal, relatable lives were ripped apart overnight due to conflict, constitutional change or violence.

Vertech managing director Daniel Watson has some tips to avoid Christmas scams.

A new exhibition at Tuhura Otago Museum showcases the sari's historical significance and its evolution.

Eight years ago, an idea was hatched to help address those in the rural sector facing mental health issues. The idea? To get farmers off the farm and out surfing.

Today on the pre-panel producer Olivia Wilson joins Wallace Chapman & Jesse Mulligan to preview tonight's show.

Jason Reitman is the director and co-writer of a new film called Saturday Night that follows the chaotic 90 minutes before Saturday Night Live launched in 1975.

Today's expert topic will have a little something for everyone - hair styling.

Every week Jesse is forced to cold call an information center somewhere in New Zealand.

Linda Burgess talks about the latest series about Donald Trump. She then swerves to discuss the final of The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes and then muse son the impact of The Repair Shop.

Simon Sweetman is a Wellington-based writer, broadcaster, podcaster and RNZ semi-regular. His new collection, The Richard Poems, is out this month, and has an accompanying soundtrack.

Jesse talks to Anna McKenzie Hawea, General Manager of the Ngā Manu Trust, which is fundraising.

The Adrenaline Adventure Park just outside of Whangarei is the brainchild of brothers Cody and Klay Rouse.

Today on the pre-panel producer Olivia Wilson joins Wallace Chapman & Jesse Mulligan to preview tonight's show.

This Sunday, November 3rd, is World Jellyfish Day, a time to celebrate these mysterious and wonderful gelatinous sea creatures. The katiaho rere or by-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella) are unique and fascinating marine critters that live on the sea surface, drifting here and there with the wind and waves. Katiaho rere are otherworldly looking: they have a disc-like electric blue body that sits on top of the water and a stiff, shimmery 'sail' that catches the wind.

Time to look ahead to the weekend with a good dose of gardening advice.

Autumn is developing into Spring and to help with the transition, chef Martin Bosley has the perfect dish. Get the recipe here.

Dom Corry calls in from a secret location to review the latest film from Tom Hanks.

Listener Trish regales Jesse with a story of strange happenings and hints of the supernatural at the Waiouru Military Camp barracks.

Alicja Nowacka is based in the Cognitive Psychophysiology Lab at the University of Auckland. Her research explores how people maintain emotional and cognitive bonds with those who've died.

The main event of the Hunterville Huntaway Festival is the Shepherds' Shemozzle.

We head to beautiful Le Bons Bay, just north of Akaroa, where a fundraising effort is underway to purchase a large piece of land to create a public reserve.

The FMA recently published its annual KiwiSaver report for the year and there were some big changes recorded. Mary breaks it down and explains what it means for your money.

Today we're digging into the history of an iconic Kiwi event, the New Zealand Grand Prix.

Today Jemima Huston reviews The Prosecutors, true crime stories as told by two prosecutors. She also discusses Legacy, a podcast about famous figures.

New Zealand Army Corporal Paddy Whare discovered her great grandfather's service in two world wars almost by chance.

Blenheim marathon swimmer and endurance athlete is on a mission to conquer the Ocean Seven.

This week, we head south to Tautuku in the Catlins.   It’s the site of Forest & Bird’s largest conservation area – the Lenz reserve is 550 hectares and is part of the catchment for the Tautuku and Fleming rivers.   And it’s home to a host of threatened native birds and critters.   Claire Concannon catches up with project manager Francesca Cunninghame to learn about a small wetland bird and its ongoing battle against introduced predators.

October is Spooky Lake month, and writer and hobby limnologist Geo Rutherford takes us on a tour of some of the creepiest lakes on earth.

This uses leftover cooked and cooled rice to make this flavour-explosion of a salad.

Today on Heading Off we are focusing on Tokelau, three tropical coral atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Emily Turnbull's husband, Darryl Paton died by suicide five years. Emily then established an initiative called Chatterbox - bench seats which encourage connection and conversation.

Dr Jessica Turner and her team from the University of Waikato is uncovering how robots are edging into spooky territory.

Let's go back to 1974, when five young jewellery makers were about to open a collective to sell their work in central Auckland.

At the top of the South Island, the Kahurangi National Park and adjoining areas are home to many plants and animals that aren't found anywhere else on the planet. Kahurangi means precious; to be prized and award-winning writer Dave Hansford wants all New Zealanders to understand why the biodiversity and beauty of this region is exactly that, prized and precious. His new work is more than a coffee table book with stunning pictures of the landscape and wildlife. It's a plea to protect this sacred and wild land from the political, economic and social forces that jeopardize its future. The book is called Kahurangi: The Nature of Kahurangi National Park and Northwest Nelson

Afternoons' resident friend across the ditch talks about stories making news in Australia.

Claire Mabey discusses her pick from the Booker shortlist; previews author Patrick Ness' visit to New Zealand and enthuses about The Changeover by legend Margaret Mahy and it's 40-year anniversary.

Tim Batt is in the Auckland studio to look at ways outside forces are trying to influence the US election.

Philip White shares his experience as an intern with the Blue Wilderness Research Unit in South Africa.

General Manager of National Football League for Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord joins Jesse to talk about the rise of the sport of Flag Football.

Jesse speaks to the photographer behind a fundraiser for Allan Adams who died recently.

To celebrate World Reptile Day, we're talking about the elusive and cryptic Moko-papa Waitaha gecko.

It's a long weekend so everyone is itching to launch into those long gestating projects around the house. Our resident builder Stan Scott answers everyone's burning questions about home DIY.

A perfect recipe for Labour weekend.

RNZ producer and film critic Sam Hollis joins Jesse.

Jesse once again explores the spooky, coincidental and strange experiences of his listeners.

Jo Hart speaks to Jesse about its history and importance of the Runanga Miners' Hall.

Finalist Kyla Mathewson - who has come out top in the amenity sector - speaks to Jesse.

The Spinoff has slowly published their critic' picks for the best New Zealand TV shows since the turn of the century. Senior writer Alex Casey joins Jesse to break it down.

Today on the pre-panel producer Tom Riste-Smith joins Wallace Chapman & Jesse Mulligan to preview tonight's show. Plus Tom shares the news Northland has been anointed one of the worlds top destinations by National Geographic.