This England: Kenneth Branagh stars as Boris Johnson in this drama based on the British prime minister's tumultuous first few months in Downing Street, as he grapples with the first wave of the Covid-19  pandemic (TVNZ1, Sunday).

The Watcher: Naomi Watts stars in Ryan Murphy’s latest drama about a married couple who purchase their dream home only to be threatened by terrifying letters from a stalker, signed "The Watcher” (Netflix).

The Empress: a sumptuous costume drama series based on the life of the 19th century Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Netflix)

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This England: Kenneth Branagh stars as Boris Johnson in this drama based on the British prime minister's tumultuous first few months in Downing Street, as he grapples with the first wave of the Covid-19  pandemic (TVNZ1, Sunday). 
The Watcher: Naomi Watts stars in Ryan Murphy’s latest drama about a married couple who purchase their dream home only to be threatened by terrifying letters from a stalker, signed "The Watcher” (Netflix). 
The Empress: a sumptuous costume drama series based on the life of the 19th century Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Netflix) 
LISTEN ABOVE

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

Tara Ward: This England, The Watcher, The Empress

Eminem’s newly released album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ has had a mixed reception. 

Many critics are calling it a mixed bag, saying it feels like yet another late-period Eminem album as opposed to anything new.

The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis says the album “has successes and misfires in equal measure. It’s not bad enough to count as terrible, not good enough to count as great.”

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release.

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Eminem’s newly released album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ has had a mixed reception.  
Many critics are calling it a mixed bag, saying it feels like yet another late-period Eminem album as opposed to anything new. 
The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis says the album “has successes and misfires in equal measure. It’s not bad enough to count as terrible, not good enough to count as great.” 
Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the new release. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Estelle Clifford: Eminem - The Death of Slim Shady

Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstein Millar 

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.



Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan

For decades, the Kennedy name has been synonymous with wealth, power, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the Kennedy men's legacy of physical and psychological abuse of women, part of a tradition of toxic masculinity that spans generations and has ruined untold lives. Through scandal after scandal, the family and their defenders have managed to keep this shameful story out of the spotlight. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys' hidden history of abuse and exploitation, laying bare their rampant misogyny and restoring women to the center of the dynasty's story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Mary Richardson, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren't nearly as well known – but rightfully should be.

Drawing on years of fierce reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled American family, showing how the Kennedy myth and their raw political power has enabled the clan's many predators while also silencing generations of traumatized women and girls. At long last, Callahan also redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys' orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves—and giving voice to the countless others who could not do the same.



LISTEN ABOVE 

Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books by Kirstein Millar  
Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need. 
What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor. 
That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever. 
 
Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan 
For decades, the Kennedy name has been synonymous with wealth, power, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the Kennedy men's legacy of physical and psychological abuse of women, part of a tradition of toxic masculinity that spans generations and has ruined untold lives. Through scandal after scandal, the family and their defenders have managed to keep this shameful story out of the spotlight. Now, in Ask Not, bestselling journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys' hidden history of abuse and exploitation, laying bare their rampant misogyny and restoring women to the center of the dynasty's story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Mary Richardson, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren't nearly as well known – but rightfully should be.  
Drawing on years of fierce reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled American family, showing how the Kennedy myth and their raw political power has enabled the clan's many predators while also silencing generations of traumatized women and girls. At long last, Callahan also redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys' orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves—and giving voice to the countless others who could not do the same. 
 
LISTEN ABOVE

Catherine Raynes: Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books and Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

The more you connect, the less you connect!

Over recent years explosion of technology has helped us increase our connection with others, both in local communities and around the world. Many positives come from increased social connection, but one downside is when connecting with people outside the home leads you to “phub” significant people in the home, particularly your partner.

Phubbing = phone + snub. It’s where your focus on connecting via your phone causes you to snub people in your immediate surrounds. Often occurs with a partner.

Partners can play a crucial role in our wellbeing including helping with better work-life balance and wellbeing. 75% of people choose to share their emotional struggles with their partner as the first port of call. Partners are usually the most available people in our home life too. Good partner support is also associated with our own career success.  

On the other hand, phubbing has been linked to poorer quality of relations with partner, and lowered sense of self-esteem in the partner.



What can people do about it?

It’s not about throwing the baby out with the bathwater – it’s still important to connect with work colleagues and share work-related stressors with them.

Wherever you are – be there! If you’re at work, connect with people at work. If you’re at home, connect with people at home.

Set some limits around use of phones in your relationship e.g. no phones during dinner, not using phones after a certain time at night, not using them in bed.

Workplaces also have a role to play in this by setting appropriate expectations around replying to emails, messages, etc., out-of-hours. Hard to be present with your partner if your boss is messaging you demanding an immediate response!



LISTEN ABOVE

The more you connect, the less you connect! 
Over recent years explosion of technology has helped us increase our connection with others, both in local communities and around the world. Many positives come from increased social connection, but one downside is when connecting with people outside the home leads you to “phub” significant people in the home, particularly your partner. 
Phubbing = phone + snub. It’s where your focus on connecting via your phone causes you to snub people in your immediate surrounds. Often occurs with a partner. 
Partners can play a crucial role in our wellbeing including helping with better work-life balance and wellbeing. 75% of people choose to share their emotional struggles with their partner as the first port of call. Partners are usually the most available people in our home life too. Good partner support is also associated with our own career success.   
On the other hand, phubbing has been linked to poorer quality of relations with partner, and lowered sense of self-esteem in the partner. 
 
What can people do about it? 
It’s not about throwing the baby out with the bathwater – it’s still important to connect with work colleagues and share work-related stressors with them. 
Wherever you are – be there! If you’re at work, connect with people at work. If you’re at home, connect with people at home. 
Set some limits around use of phones in your relationship e.g. no phones during dinner, not using phones after a certain time at night, not using them in bed. 
Workplaces also have a role to play in this by setting appropriate expectations around replying to emails, messages, etc., out-of-hours. Hard to be present with your partner if your boss is messaging you demanding an immediate response! 
 
LISTEN ABOVE

Tara Ward: This England, The Watcher, The Empress

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