In the first 2025 edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, former CIA analyst turned thriller writer David McCloskey talks his third book and how he captures CIA life. 

New Zealand's own Morgana O'Reilly is a cast member on The White Lotus and tells Francesca what it was like on set and what audiences should expect from the hit show's third season. 

And Jake Bailey captured the nation's attention when he was at high school with a cancer diagnosis. He's beaten the disease and has become a speaker on the international scene and talked his new book. 

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 first 2025 edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, former CIA analyst turned thriller writer David McCloskey talks his third book and how he captures CIA life.&nbsp;
New Zealand's own Morgana O'Reilly is a cast member on&nbsp;The White Lotus&nbsp;and tells Francesca what it was like on set and what audiences should expect from the hit show's third season.&nbsp;
And Jake Bailey captured the nation's attention when he was at high school with a cancer diagnosis. He's beaten the disease and has become a speaker on the international scene and talked his new book.&nbsp;
Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's&nbsp;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 9: David McCloskey, Morgana O'Reilly and Jake Bailey

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a4643f93-01e8-49ad-824f-b290011859f1/transcript

Former NZSAS soldier Mark Law became a national hero on December 9 2019, following the Whakaari-White Island eruption.

After learning of the eruption, Mark, alongside his colleagues, flew to the island, comforted the injured and flew 12 stranded survivors home.

Mark's actions ultimately saved lives, and he was New Zealand's second highest bravery honour, the Bravery Star, for his actions - however his company, Kahu NZ, was charged and fined by WorkSafe for past tours on the island.

He wrote about the experience in his new memoir - Lucky You're Tough. 

"The rest of the recovery, the rest of the day are pretty clear, so I've been able to recall that easily." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Former NZSAS soldier Mark Law became a national hero on December 9 2019, following the Whakaari-White Island eruption.
After learning of the eruption, Mark, alongside his colleagues, flew to the island, comforted the injured and flew 12 stranded survivors home.
Mark's actions ultimately saved lives, and he was New Zealand's second highest bravery honour, the Bravery Star, for his actions - however his company, Kahu NZ, was charged and fined by WorkSafe for past tours on the island.
He wrote about the experience in his new memoir - Lucky You're Tough.&nbsp;
"The rest of the recovery, the rest of the day are pretty clear, so I've been able to recall that easily."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Law: helicopter pilot who rescued White Island victims on his new book Lucky You're Tough

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/100598d6-d563-4419-b428-b4a800187516/transcript

Knitting is seeing a resurgence, largely thanks to five-time Olympic diver Tom Daley going viral for knitting in the stands between events.

After the Tokyo Olympics wrapped up, Tom now owns a knitting brand and has even been known to knit creations for celebrities - and he's now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter.

He says he taught himself to knit, and it eventually became his 'superpower.'

"It became my mindfulness, it became my mediation, and it became my way of switching off from the world around me, and taught me to slow down and be present, be in the moment." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Knitting is seeing a resurgence, largely thanks to five-time Olympic diver Tom Daley going viral for knitting in the stands between events.
After the Tokyo Olympics wrapped up, Tom now owns a knitting brand and has even been known to knit creations for celebrities - and he's now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter.
He says he taught himself to knit, and it eventually became his 'superpower.'
"It became my mindfulness, it became my mediation, and it became my way of switching off from the world around me, and taught me to slow down and be present, be in the moment."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Tom Daley: British Olympic diver on hosting knitting-based competition series

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2b7e4fe2-4142-4a4e-b99a-b4a800111521/transcript

The Governor by Lynda la Plante. The creator of the Jane Tennison series of books, Prime Suspect, has another story about a woman working in what was typically a male dominated industry - as governor of an English prison. Helen Hewitt is in her early 30’s and appointed to the top job where she goes up against unruly prisoners, staff who don’t want her in the job, and the politics of the prison service which undermine her from the start. Her time in the job changes her perspective on the role of prisons in society and the best way to manage punishment and rehabilitation. First published in 1995 it was made into a TV series and has recently been reissued by her publisher.

The Four Wives of Windsor by Simon Vigar - a royal watcher and journalist for many years. This is a look at the four women who have had the greatest profile and, to a greater or lesser degree, influence, in the modern UK monarchy. Diana, Camilla, Catherine and Meghan each of whom came from the outside, but ended up performing pivotal roles in the evolution of the House of Windsor. For monarchists, these women are endlessly fascinating. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Governor by Lynda la Plante. The creator of the Jane Tennison series of books, Prime Suspect, has another story about a woman working in what was typically a male dominated industry - as governor of an English prison. Helen Hewitt is in her early 30’s and appointed to the top job where she goes up against unruly prisoners, staff who don’t want her in the job, and the politics of the prison service which undermine her from the start. Her time in the job changes her perspective on the role of prisons in society and the best way to manage punishment and rehabilitation. First published in 1995 it was made into a TV series and has recently been reissued by her publisher.
The Four Wives of Windsor by Simon Vigar - a royal watcher and journalist for many years. This is a look at the four women who have had the greatest profile and, to a greater or lesser degree, influence, in the modern UK monarchy. Diana, Camilla, Catherine and Meghan each of whom came from the outside, but ended up performing pivotal roles in the evolution of the House of Windsor. For monarchists, these women are endlessly fascinating.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Whitcoulls Recommends: The Governor and The Four Wives of Windsor

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/597233ab-df3a-45ec-8b41-b4a8000d0d37/transcript

Episode 9: David McCloskey, Morgana O'Reilly and Jake Bailey

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin

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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

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