Travis Knight: Wildwood director on the film's creative journey and the impact of stop-motion animation

Film director Travis Knight and his studio Laika have built up a name for themselves in the world of stop-motion animation, but his newest project is his most ambitious one yet. Wildwood is in theatres now, after 16 years in development - and it took 6 years of filming, 233 handmade puppets and ov…

Ke Huy Quan: Oscar-winning actor on his new memoir 'Never Say Die'

Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan's had a memorable Hollywood career, but there's more to his story than the fame and accolades. He got his start as a child actor, having starred in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Goonies - but he took a hiatus after he couldn't find any new roles in his 20…

Whitcoulls Recommends: London Station and Peck & Peck

London Station by David McCloskey. This is the fourth book in his series about Artemis Aphrodite Procter, a CIA operative who’s a bit of a maverick and does things by her own rules. The author used to work at the CIA and clearly knows his way around and some of the background in the stories is fasc…

Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on Maui's recovery after the fires three years ago

Three years after the devastating fires tore through the village of Lahaina, Megan Singleton visited the seaside town as part of her day in Maui.   Officials have been working to rebuild residential homes, and it's expected more new businesses will be opening in 2028.   Amid the ongoing recovery …

The Sunday Panel: How could officials reach younger voters?

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB Wellington mornings host Nick Mills and Resident Economist at Opes Partners Ed McKnight joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Enrolments are due to close tonight, with early voting beginning on Monday. 92 percent of …

Full Show Podcast: 25 October 2026

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 25 October. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert explains the rise of neurowellness

Neurowellness is an emerging health and wellness framework aimed at regulating the autonomic nervous system. New data indicates anxiety and mental health problems are on the rise, with Gallup’s 2025 global survey of 144 countries finding that 40 percent of people are reporting high anxiety on any …

Mike van de Elzen: Roasted pineapple and lime custard layered meringue

Roasted pineapple and lime custard layered meringue  Cook time: 30-40 minutes  Prep time: 30 minutes  Serves: 6 1/2 fresh pineapple   1 tsp sunflower oil   1 tbsp dark brown sugar   Lime leaf custard   200ml milk   300ml cream   6 makrut leaves, lightly crushed   1 vanilla pod, scraped a…

Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on whether blocking out noise during surgery can reduce sickness

Could blocking out noise during surgery stop you from feeling sick afterwards?  If you've ever had surgery under general anaesthetic, you might remember waking up feeling nauseous, dizzy or desperately wanting to vomit.  It's a surprisingly common side effect of anaesthesia, and despite doctors r…

Steve Newall: entertainment correspondent on new data showing only 4 percent of music streamed in NZ was made locally

New data has revealed only 4 percent of music streamed in New Zealand over the 2025-2026 timeframe was made by Kiwi artists. Despite revenue being up, it's harder for Kiwi musicians to earn their share, with more people gravitating towards international artists. Entertainment correspondent Steve …