- The science of magic2025/05/11
In the past 15 years, more than 150 papers have been written on the 'science of magic'.
- April the Cow: one of the best mums in the business2025/05/11
To coincide with Mother's Day, New Zealand's largest herd improvement organisation LIC has inducted a super-cow into its ‘Hall of Fame’.
- The industry that takes people to the top of the world2025/05/11
Award-winning writer, journalist, and avid amateur climber Will Cockrell joins Jim to discuss his book Everest, Inc. The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World.
- Autocracy Inc: The dictators who work to keep each other in power2025/05/11
In her latest book Autocracy, Inc, Pulitzer-prize winning historian Anne Applebaum examines the power structures currently running the world.
- It was the worst of all opening sentences...2025/05/11
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest invited entrants "to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels" - that is, one which was deliberately bad.
- Humanoid robots: what should we expect?2025/05/11
American tech journalist Kurt Knutsson discusses the regulations he believes should be put around humanoid robots for the safety of the human race.
- Opulomania: the addiction to buying luxury goods2025/05/11
The founder of a luxury mental health clinic in Switzerland says he's seeing a rise in 'opulomania'- an addiction to buying high-end goods.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz2025/05/11
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz.
- Russian satellite Kosmos-482 crashes back to Earth2025/05/11
More than 50 years after being launched, Soviet satellite Komos-482 has crash-landed back to Earth.
- Can you post photos of suspected thieves?2025/05/04
Is it legal to post photos or footage of another person, especially when claiming they may be scoping your property?
- Why are restaurants so noisy?2025/05/04
Loud music, whooshing coffee machines, clanging cutlery and raised voices fill the air in many restaurants. Professor Carl Hopkins discusses why noise can be so uncomfortable.
- Report from the Vatican: Conclave set to begin2025/05/04
The papal conclave forms to start the selection process for a new pope on Wednesday and Cardinals from around the globe have been gathering at the Vatican.
- Barrie Cassidy on the results of Australia's Federal Election2025/05/04
Australia's incumbent PM Anthony Albanese re-won his seat in the 2025 Federal Election last night, ending a heated election which saw opposition leader Peter Dutton run a very "Trumpian" campaign.
- How the CIA's book smuggling helped lift the Iron Curtain2025/05/04
During the Cold War the CIA managed to smuggle ten million books across the Iron Curtain. The banned titles included Hannah Arendt, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, George Orwell, and Agatha Christie.
- Best Song Eva: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe2025/05/04
Black Ferns legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe joins Jim to talk about what lured her out of retirement, and she also chooses her Best Song Eva.
- Calling Home: Jude Fleming from Warren, NSW2025/05/04
Award-winning contemporary landscape artist Jude Fleming lives a six-hour drive from Sydney in Warren, population 1365.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz2025/05/04
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz.
- What the UK local elections mean2025/05/04
How important were the UK local elections? Not very, you might suppose at first glance, but global media have covered them assiduously.
- Canada Elections 2025: Is early voting muddying the waters?2025/04/27
With less than one week to go before their election day, Canadians are voting early in record numbers - but what does this mean for pollsters and predictions?
- Kiwi aid worker returns to Syria after fall of Assad2025/04/27
Although Kiwi agency ReliefAid has been delivering aid to Syrian families since 2015, founder Mike Seawright had been prevented from entering the country under the dictatorial regime.
- Sarah Garfinkel: Interoception - your untapped sixth sense2025/04/27
The ability to count your own heartbeat could be the answer to lowering anxiety and managing other conditions like PTSD, psychosis and even some aspects of autism. This skill is called interoception.
- Graydon Carter: The glamorous heyday of print magazines2025/04/27
In his early years as editor of Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter's budget had no ceiling. It was a time of lavish parties, unchecked expense accounts, hugely expensive photographers - and it was the last golden age of magazines.
- Irish writer Colm Tóibín on new book 'Long Island'2025/04/27
Colm Tóibín's latest book Long Island returns to the world of his novel Brooklyn, a book that was so popular in Ireland that one every 150 people bought a copy.
- Calling Home: Alan Duncan from Prince Edward Island2025/04/27
Prince Edward Island is a place where the winters are cold, the beaches are long, lobster is affordable, and there's an abundance of potatoes.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz2025/04/27
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz.
- The Pope's legacy in his homeland of Argentina2025/04/27
Argentinian writer and Journalist Marcela Mora Y Araujo joins Jim to discuss the Pope's legacy in his homeland, his huge passion for football, and whether or not his family were able to make it to Rome for his funeral.
- The power of labyrinths for meditation2025/04/20
The Reverend Dr Lauren Artress first realised the power labyrinths at the height of the AIDS crisis, when she was Canon at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral.
- Should websites have 'safety ratings'?2025/04/20
Should websites help protect users safety and privacy by having safety ratings, as we do for cars, appliances and even restaurants. Netsafe's Sean Lyons joins Jim to discuss.
- A cultural history of bagpipes2025/04/20
From the Roman Empire to Russian Tsars and the Scottish Highlands, Richard McLauchlan's new book The Bagpipes: A Cultural History explores the instrument's huge impact across the centuries.
- Is it time to ditch your phone case?2025/04/20
When he bought his new iPhone, BBC technology correspondent Thomas Germain was keen to join what he calls the "case-free cult".
- Can singing help treat persistent pain?2025/04/20
Music is well-known to lift the spirits, but a pilot programme led by the Welsh National Opera suggests it can help people suffering with chronic pain.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz2025/04/20
Wake up your brain and have a go!
- We need to talk about the elephant in the closet!2025/04/20
During his 32 years as a sales executive at Ford in Detroit, Mike O'Brien collated an incredible spreadsheet of mixed metaphors and malaprops uttered in company meetings.
- Rebecca Hayter: High heels and gumboots2025/04/20
In her book, Rebecca Hayter candidly tells of her adaptation to a new way of life - where she struggled but ultimately developed new skills and gained confidence.
- Calling Home: Bruce Maunsell from the Marquesas Islands2025/04/13
Bruce Maunsell is currently sailing his 40ft yacht Bob around the Pacific. He left New Zealand in 2023 and has sailed to Japan, Micronesia and Saipan, up to British Columbia and down to Mexico. He's now in the Marquesas Islands.
- Martin Hawes: are you Retirement Ready?2025/04/13
New Zealand financial writer Martin Hawes has been planning for his own retirement. He didn't get it all right. In his new book Retirement Ready he writes about what he should have done.
- Happiness with Marc Wilson2025/04/13
Victoria University Psychology Professor Dr Marc Wilson joins Jim to share his views on happiness and whether being in a live-in relationship has any impact on cognitive decline.
- Dan Baumgardt: How the brain can switch off pain2025/04/13
Dr Dan Baumgardt is both a GP and a lecturer in neuroscience and physiology at the University of Bristol. He joins Jim to discuss the science of pain.
- Comedian Jimmy Carr gets philosophical2025/04/13
Regarded as one of the hardest working comedians in the biz, British comedian Jimmy Carr is making his way to New Zealand next year for a string of dates with his live show Laughs Funny. He joins Jim to discuss his unique philosophies on life and comedy.
- How good are we at reading dogs’ emotions?2025/04/13
Dr Juliane Kaminski says we are bad at reading dogs' emotions. She joins Jim to discuss what we can do about it.
- Polk: the new doco on the gripping trial of Philip Polkinghorne 2025/04/13
RNZ's Serena Solomon was at the screening Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne and joins Jim to discuss the hype surrounding the three-part documentary series launching tonight on TV3.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz with Hamish McDouall2025/04/13
With our regular quizmaster Jack Waley-Cohen taking a break this week, your Sunday morning brain teaser is brought to you by former Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall.
- Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition2025/04/13
Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition is back to talk protein - how much do we actually need?
- Talking Tariffs with Jeffrey Halley2025/04/13
With the Trump tariffs now on pause - with the exception of China - will the markets soon settle down? Financial commentator Jeffrey Halley joins Jim to discuss.
- Understanding Hitler's rise to power2025/04/06
How did Hitler rise to power in Germany, and are there parallels with what could happen in the world today?
- Tina Pemberton: online dating in your 70s2025/04/06
Tina Pemberton last dated in her 20s before she was married. Now divorced, the 70-year-old is on dating apps daily.
- Bob McMurray on the Japanese Grand Prix2025/04/06
With Liam Lawson having been demoted into Red Bull's junior team Racing Bulls, all eyes will be firmly on his replacement Yuki Tsunoda at this weekend's F1 race in Japan.
- How will Trump's tariffs impact New Zealand?2025/04/06
Financial commentator Jeffrey Halley joins Jim to discuss the prospect of any economic recovery for New Zealand in the next few months, and the impact US tariffs on New Zealand and our trading partners.
- Research NZ asks how businesses are coping in current climate2025/04/06
Research NZ canvassed 600 businesses to see how they are coping in the current economic climate.
- Give peas a chance: The Frozen Peas Cookbook2025/04/06
Frozen peas have been a staple in New Zealand since the 1940s and now there's a cookbook to celebrate them.
- Do we need to wash the soles of our feet?2025/04/06
Dermatologist Dr Louise Reiche joins Jim to discuss the art and the benefits of washing our feet.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen2025/04/06
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning question.
- Is daylight saving bad for us?2025/04/06
Professor Erik Herzog says scientists, physicians, and medical societies agree that permanent standard time is better for humanity. He joins Jim to explain why.
- Rodents observed attempting ‘first aid’ in surprising research2025/03/30
A team of researchers at the University of Southern California observed mice trying to help "resuscitate" their companions.
- Is your brain older than your age?2025/03/30
Brain scans show our brains shrink over time and researchers can deduce whether a brain is ageing faster or slower than expected.
- Andy Griffiths: The art of writing youth fiction2025/03/30
Info (Show/Hide)Australian children's writer Andy Griffiths is perhaps best-known for his phenomenally successful Treehouse series which have sold millions of copies worldwide. Following the retirement of his illustrating partner-in-crime Terry Denton, Griffiths has teamed up with new artist Bill Hope for his latest title The Land of Lost Things. Ahead of his trip across the Tasman for Auckland Writers Festival in May, Griffiths joins Jim to discuss the magic of writing for young people.
- Diego Maradona – Death by negligence?2025/03/30
When Argentinian football superstar Diego Maradona died in 2020 there was a nationwide outpouring of grief. Now, his former healthcare team is on trial for allegedly failing to provide him with adequate medical care.
- What’s my book about: Naomi Arnold2025/03/30
Author Naomi Arnold spent nine months walking the Te Araroa trail from south to north and experienced painful loneliness, fear, injuries and exhaustion amongst moments of exhilaration.
- How can we protect ourselves against drink spiking?2025/03/30
Auckland resident Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo was the victim of drink spiking late last year and says the experience made her feel shocked, anxious, and humiliated. She joins Jim to share her story.
- Liam Lawson comes to grips with Red Bull F1 demotion2025/03/30
Motorsport expert and former McLaren F1 team member Bob McMurray joins Jim to discuss Red Bull's decision to demote Kiwi driver Liam Lawson.
- The death of the adverb2025/03/30
Do we need to act quick? Massey University linguistics lecturer Dr Eleanor Ridge joins Jim to discuss disappearing adverbs.
- The Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen2025/03/30
Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning question. J
- US Correspondent Mitch McCann2025/03/30
We get the latest from the US from our correspondent Mitch McCann in New York.
