In the latest episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from multi award winning and delightful Australian author Trent Dalton on his latest book, Gravity Let Me Go. He also celebrated his theatre production coming to Auckland. 

Francesca catches up with Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey. She's taking Hollywood by storm with a starring role in Yellowjackets but came home to star in the new Pike River film. 

Plus we learn the art of writing historical novels from the iconic Ken Follett.  

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session. 

Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

LISTEN ABOVE

In the latest episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, we hear from multi award winning and delightful Australian author Trent Dalton on his latest book, Gravity Let Me Go. He also celebrated his theatre production coming to Auckland.&nbsp;
Francesca catches up with Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey. She's taking Hollywood by storm with a starring role in&nbsp;Yellowjackets but came home to star in the new Pike River film.&nbsp;
Plus we learn the art of writing historical novels from the iconic Ken Follett. &nbsp;
Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session.&nbsp;
Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Get the very best from Newstalk ZB's Francesca Rudkin as she brings you the top interviews from her chats from The Sunday Session. 

Hear from the big names globally as well as those making headlines right here in New Zealand. 

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin is the home of in depth, enlightening and entertaining conversations. 

Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Get the very best from Newstalk ZB's Francesca Rudkin as she brings you the top interviews from her chats from The Sunday Session. 
Hear from the big names globally as well as those making headlines right here in New Zealand. 
Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin is the home of in depth, enlightening and entertaining conversations. 
Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Episode 16: Trent Dalton, Melanie Lynskey and Ken Follett

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/af2d1cea-9288-4f7f-9efc-b3850108008f/transcript

Cider, star anise and pineapple roasted ham 

Cook time: 60 minutes 

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Serves: 8-10

3kg free range cured and smoked Christmas ham  

2 x 330ml dry cider or apple juice  

6 star anise  

10 cloves  

2 cups fresh pineapple, peeled, sliced and cubed  

2 tbsp Dijion mustard  

300 gm brown sugar

Preheat a oven on fan-bake to160c.  

Slice the skin of the ham and score the fat in a diamond pattern.  

Combine the cider, star anise and sugar in a pot and bring to the boil, reduce until syrupy (bubbles will increase in size and slow) Dice the pineapple into thin dice and then stir into the cider mixture. Allow to cool. 

Place the ham into a roasting tray. Smear the Dijion over the ham, followed by 3 tbsp of the cider glaze. Use the cloves to prick through the pineapple to keep it in place. Place the ham in the middle of the oven oven for 1 hour depending on size, checking and baste until caramelized. Serve hot or at room temperature if transporting.  

Keep the remaining cider syrup to re-glaze once on the table.  

Sumptuous! 

LISTEN ABOVE

<h2>Cider, star anise and pineapple roasted ham&nbsp;</h2>
Cook time: 60 minutes&nbsp;
Prep time: 10 minutes&nbsp;
Serves: 8-10
3kg free range cured and smoked Christmas ham &nbsp;
2 x 330ml dry cider or apple juice &nbsp;
6 star anise &nbsp;
10 cloves &nbsp;
2 cups fresh pineapple, peeled, sliced and cubed &nbsp;
2 tbsp Dijion mustard &nbsp;
300 gm brown sugar
Preheat a oven on fan-bake to160c. &nbsp;
Slice the skin of the ham and score the fat in a diamond pattern. &nbsp;
Combine the cider, star anise and sugar in a pot and bring to the boil, reduce until syrupy (bubbles will increase in size and slow) Dice the pineapple into thin dice and then stir into the cider mixture. Allow to cool.&nbsp;
Place the ham into a roasting tray. Smear the Dijion over the ham, followed by 3 tbsp of the cider glaze. Use the cloves to prick through the pineapple to keep it in place. Place the ham in the middle of the oven oven for 1 hour depending on size, checking and baste until caramelized. Serve hot or at room temperature if transporting. &nbsp;
Keep the remaining cider syrup to re-glaze once on the table. &nbsp;
Sumptuous!&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike van de Elzen: Cider, star anise and pineapple roasted Christmas ham

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3eb091f7-9fd4-4c97-8f4a-b3b20174b604/transcript

I’ve already talked this year about research that shows staring at a seagull will prevent it from stealing your chips, but as beach season starts again - here is another science backed tactic that you can use.

According to new research published in the journal Biology Letters the best defence might be the simplest - just shout at the gull! 

The researchers tested 61 on how they responded to human voices after placing a portion of chips in a gull hotspot. As soon as a gull approached, the team played one of three recordings: 
A male voice shouting: 
“NO, STAY AWAY, THAT’S MY FOOD, THAT’S MY PASTY!”
The same voice speaking the same words in a normal tone.
Birdsongs from a robin.

All recordings were played at the same volume, so “shouting” didn’t mean louder, just sharper and more commanding. 

Gulls are surprisingly sensitive to the tone of human speech, even when the loudness stays the same. 

Nearly half the gulls exposed to the shouting voice flew away within a minute. 

Only 15 percent flew away when they heard the normal speaking voice and many walked away. 

70 percent of gulls who heard the robin stayed exactly where they were.

This is the first known study showing that wild animals can distinguish between different emotional tones in human speech. Dogs, pigs, and horses can do this, but it’s never been studied in seagulls.

A future version of the study may test whether a woman’s voice works just as well, or perhaps even better. 

It’s not often science gives us an excuse to yell in public, but in this case you can claim it’s for your own good.  

LISTEN ABOVE

I’ve already talked this year about research that shows staring at a seagull will prevent it from stealing your chips, but as beach season starts again - here is another science backed tactic that you can use.
According to new research published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0394">Biology Letters</a> the best defence might be the simplest - just shout at the gull!&nbsp;
The researchers tested 61 on how they responded to human voices after placing a portion of chips in a gull hotspot. As soon as a gull approached, the team played one of three recordings:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>A male voice shouting:&nbsp; “NO, STAY AWAY, THAT’S MY FOOD, THAT’S MY PASTY!”</li>
<li>The same voice speaking the same words in a normal tone.</li>
<li>Birdsongs from a robin.</li>
</ul>
All recordings were played at the same volume, so “shouting” didn’t mean louder, just sharper and more commanding.&nbsp;
Gulls are surprisingly sensitive to the tone of human speech, even when the loudness stays the same.&nbsp;
Nearly half the gulls exposed to the shouting voice flew away within a minute.&nbsp;
Only 15 percent flew away when they heard the normal speaking voice and many walked away.&nbsp;
70 percent of gulls who heard the robin stayed exactly where they were.
This is the first known study showing that wild animals can distinguish between different emotional tones in human speech. Dogs, pigs, and horses can do this, but it’s never been studied in seagulls.
A future version of the study may test whether a woman’s voice works just as well, or perhaps even better.&nbsp;
It’s not often science gives us an excuse to yell in public, but in this case you can claim it’s for your own good. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist reveals unexpected tip to stop seagulls from stealing your chips

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/61e4d737-680e-44b5-b388-b3b201721947/transcript

James Cameron’s third instalment of the hugely successful Avatar franchise could be his last.

The Hollywood director's latest film - Avatar: Fire and Ash - premiered in Wellington yesterday, and is scheduled to release worldwide next week.

But Cameron says its future remains unclear, with consumer tastes changing, and better rebate schemes for studios overseas.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals what we know so far.

LISTEN ABOVE

James Cameron’s third instalment of the hugely successful Avatar franchise could be his last.
The Hollywood director's latest film - Avatar: Fire and Ash - premiered in Wellington yesterday, and is scheduled to release worldwide next week.
But Cameron says its future remains unclear, with consumer tastes changing, and better rebate schemes for studios overseas.
Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals what we know so far.
LISTEN ABOVE

Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor ahead of the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/00467ff8-d593-450b-b951-b3b2016f88af/transcript

Episode 16: Trent Dalton, Melanie Lynskey and Ken Follett

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