2024 was a bit of a rough year, with job losses, hard economic times, and low business confidence. The new year offers a chance to reset. 

Dr Dougal Sutherland offers his top tips for starting 2025 off with some oomph: 
If you have a job, count your blessings! Lots of people lost theirs last year and so it’s important to remember that even though it may not be the best job in the world, at least you’re in paid employment!  
Plan out your holidays for the year as best you can. Have a look for the public holidays that are happening in 2025, can you make any of these into longer weekends (e.g. four days instead of three) and give yourself that extra time to rest and recover? Looking ahead I can see there is quite a gap of public holidays between Matariki and Labour Day – can you plan for some leave then? Four months is a long time to go without a break, especially in winter. 
Make a daily ‘Have to, Hope to, Love to list’ – “Have to” are things you must do today; “Hope to” are things that you can do if you have time; “Love to” is at least 1 thing per day that fills your cup – make sure to give this as much priority as “Have to”. 
Take some time to reflect on 2024 – what did you learn from the year? What went well and you would like to keep doing? Anything that you would like to avoid doing again that you did last year?  
Think about the people in your life – are there some who you would like to see more of? Can you plan ahead to make time for them? On the other hand, is there anyone who it may be better off not to have in your life? Are there some (polite) ways that you ease off these relationships? 

LISTEN ABOVE 

2024 was a bit of a rough year, with job losses, hard economic times, and low business confidence. The new year offers a chance to reset.&nbsp;
Dr Dougal Sutherland offers his top tips for starting 2025 off with some oomph:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>If you have a job, count your blessings! Lots of people lost theirs last year and so it’s important to remember that even though it may not be the best job in the world, at least you’re in paid employment! &nbsp;</li>
<li>Plan out your holidays for the year as best you can. Have a look for the public holidays that are happening in 2025, can you make any of these into longer weekends (e.g. four days instead of three) and give yourself that extra time to rest and recover? Looking ahead I can see there is quite a gap of public holidays between Matariki and Labour Day – can you plan for some leave then? Four months is a long time to go without a break, especially in winter.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Make a daily ‘Have to, Hope to, Love to list’ – “Have to” are things you must do today; “Hope to” are things that you can do if you have time; “Love to” is at least 1 thing per day that fills your cup – make sure to give this as much priority as “Have to”.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Take some time to reflect on 2024 – what did you learn from the year? What went well and you would like to keep doing? Anything that you would like to avoid doing again that you did last year? &nbsp;</li>
<li>Think about the people in your life – are there some who you would like to see more of? Can you plan ahead to make time for them? On the other hand, is there anyone who it may be better off not to have in your life? Are there some (polite) ways that you ease off these relationships?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Dr Dougal Sutherland: Starting 2025 with some oomph

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a78166fc-1f64-4c04-9cc0-b2690001b721/transcript

Nearly a million people in New Zealand are currently receiving Superannuation, getting payments of between nearly $600 and just over $1000 every fortnight.  

But in this cost of living crisis, how easy is it to survive on the pension? 

Ed McKnight tried living on it for a week and came to a couple of conclusions around what it would be like to retire. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Nearly a million people in New Zealand are currently receiving Superannuation, getting payments of between nearly $600 and just over $1000 every fortnight. &nbsp;
But in this cost of living crisis, how easy is it to survive on the pension?&nbsp;
Ed McKnight tried living on it for a week and came to a couple of conclusions around what it would be like to retire.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Best of 2025: Ed McKnight unpacks how easy it is to live off the pension

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a254c139-ec02-4b04-8038-b3d10029593f/transcript

"A snapshot in time": Guy Sebastian discusses his creative process, latest album 

Guy Sebastian is an Australasian icon with a career that’s nothing short of extraordinary. 

From winning the first season of Australian Idol back in 2003, to carving out a place on the charts, to mentoring new talent as a coach on The Voice Australia – he's been in the spotlight for over two decades. 

And now he’s embarking on a new chapter with the release of his tenth album ‘One Hundred Times Around The Sun’. 

The album has taken Sebastian nearly five years to make, a much longer period than the typical six months to two years most artists these days create them in. 

He told Jack Tame that in the early stages of his career, he felt pressure to create quickly. 

“Don’t take longer than a year,” Sebastian explained. “Or you’ll disappear into obscurity.” 

“Then there’s like, the pressure of doing the right thing by the fans, y’know, you don’t wanna make them wait too long.”  

It’s a mentality that used to govern much of Sebastian’s process, but one that he’s managed to grow beyond. 

“I just got to this point where like, I don’t want to release anything until I’m stoked with it,” he told Tame. 

“I wanna love every song. I don’t want a filler on there, I want every song to be great.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

<h2>"A snapshot in time": Guy Sebastian discusses his creative process, latest album&nbsp;</h2>
Guy Sebastian is an Australasian icon with a career that’s nothing short of extraordinary.&nbsp;
From winning the first season of Australian Idol back in 2003, to carving out a place on the charts, to mentoring new talent as a coach on The Voice Australia – he's been in the spotlight for over two decades.&nbsp;
And now he’s embarking on a new chapter with the release of his tenth album ‘One Hundred Times Around The Sun’.&nbsp;
The album has taken Sebastian nearly five years to make, a much longer period than the typical six months to two years most artists these days create them in.&nbsp;
He told Jack Tame that in the early stages of his career, he felt pressure to create quickly.&nbsp;
“Don’t take longer than a year,” Sebastian explained. “Or you’ll disappear into obscurity.”&nbsp;
“Then there’s like, the pressure of doing the right thing by the fans, y’know, you don’t wanna make them wait too long.” &nbsp;
It’s a mentality that used to govern much of Sebastian’s process, but one that he’s managed to grow beyond.&nbsp;
“I just got to this point where like, I don’t want to release anything until I’m stoked with it,” he told Tame.&nbsp;
“I wanna love every song. I don’t want a filler on there, I want every song to be great.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Best of 2025: Guy Sebastian talks career, creative process, latest album on Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b1759d42-53fc-43c0-9211-b3ce00296528/transcript

"Fit for a King": Nici Wickes' Lamington Cake 

If you ever need to produce a celebration cake, this is it!    

Serves 8-10  

 Ingredients:  

Sponge cake   
130g unsalted butter, softened  
1 cup caster sugar  
2 teaspoons vanilla extract   
3 large eggs   
2⅓ cups self-raising flour  
1 pinch salt  
1 cup milk  

  

To decorate   
1/3 cup raspberry jam, warmed slightly   
1 ½ cup icing sugar   
30g butter, softened   
½ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen, defrosted)   
3-5 tablespoons, boiling water  
1 ½ cups coconut thread  
300mls cream, whipped with one tbsp icing sugar   

  Method: 
Preheat the oven to 170 C fan bake. Grease two 20cm round cake tins and dust with flour.
Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until well beaten. Stir in the flour and salt then the milk and mix until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
Divide the batter between the cake tins, one third in one and two thirds in another. Bake for 25 minutes or until they spring back when gently pressed. The thicker one will likely need 5-7 minutes more cooking time. Leave to cool for 12-15 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut tops off each sponge to level them if necessary, then split the thicker one into two layers.
Mix icing sugar, butter and half of the boiling water. Press the raspberries through a sieve to collect the juice and add this to the icing. Aim for a smooth, runny icing, adding more water or icing sugar as needed.  Pour out onto a shallow dinner plate. Sprinkle coconut onto another dinner plate.
Roll the sides of each cake layer in the icing to get the cake sides evenly coated, then roll in the coconut to cover.
To assemble, place one sponge layer on a serving plate. Spread with jam, then dollop on whipped cream. Top with second sponge layer and repeat with jam and cream. Top with the final sponge layer. Spread the top with icing then sprinkle over coconut.
Chill for 30 minutes before ready to serve.
Use a serrated knife to cut and enjoy!

 Nici’s note:   

Feel free to use two store-bought sponges if you want to save time.    

  

LISTEN ABOVE 

<h2>"Fit for a King": Nici Wickes' Lamington Cake&nbsp;</h2>
If you ever need to produce a celebration cake, this is it! &nbsp; &nbsp;
Serves 8-10 &nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h5>Ingredients: &nbsp;</h5>
Sponge cake &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>130g unsalted butter, softened &nbsp;</li>
<li>1 cup caster sugar &nbsp;</li>
<li>2 teaspoons vanilla extract &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>3 large eggs &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>2⅓ cups self-raising flour &nbsp;</li>
<li>1 pinch salt &nbsp;</li>
<li>1 cup milk &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
To decorate  &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>1/3 cup raspberry jam, warmed slightly &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>1 ½ cup icing sugar &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>30g butter, softened &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>½ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen, defrosted) &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>3-5 tablespoons, boiling water &nbsp;</li>
<li>1 ½ cups coconut thread &nbsp;</li>
<li>300mls cream, whipped with one tbsp icing sugar &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h5>Method:&nbsp;</h5>
<ol>
<li>Preheat the oven to 170 C fan bake. Grease two 20cm round cake tins and dust with flour.</li>
<li>Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until well beaten. Stir in the flour and salt then the milk and mix until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.</li>
<li>Divide the batter between the cake tins, one third in one and two thirds in another. Bake for 25 minutes or until they spring back when gently pressed. The thicker one will likely need 5-7 minutes more cooking time. Leave to cool for 12-15 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut tops off each sponge to level them if necessary, then split the thicker one into two layers.</li>
<li>Mix icing sugar, butter and half of the boiling water. Press the raspberries through a sieve to collect the juice and add this to the icing. Aim for a smooth, runny icing, adding more water or icing sugar as needed. &nbsp;Pour out onto a shallow dinner plate. Sprinkle coconut onto another dinner plate.</li>
<li>Roll the sides of each cake layer in the icing to get the cake sides evenly coated, then roll in the coconut to cover.</li>
<li>To assemble, place one sponge layer on a serving plate. Spread with jam, then dollop on whipped cream. Top with second sponge layer and repeat with jam and cream. Top with the final sponge layer. Spread the top with icing then sprinkle over coconut.</li>
<li>Chill for 30 minutes before ready to serve.</li>
<li>Use a serrated knife to cut and enjoy!</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h5>Nici’s note: &nbsp;&nbsp;</h5>
Feel free to use two store-bought sponges if you want to save time. &nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Best of 2025: Nici Wickes' King's Birthday Lamington Cake

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef2f756a-a315-4eb5-b19e-b3c900304dde/transcript

Dr Dougal Sutherland: Starting 2025 with some oomph

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