Tommy Vietor: Pod Save America founder and co-host ahead of the team's one-off NZ show

Pod Save America is one of the world's most successful news and politics podcasts and the team's set to take their show to our shores. The Hopefully Just Visiting tour will have live shows across Australia and New Zealand, with the one-off Auckland show taking place at Bruce Mason Theatre this wee…

Tom Sainsbury and Morgana O'Reilly: Small Town Scandal actors on the podcast making the jump to television

In 2023, comedian Tom Sainsbury released his award-winning murder mystery podcast Small Town Scandal. The podcast is being re-launched as a television show coming to Neon and Sky, with the series following disgraced journalist Toby Buchanan as he investigates the murder of his millionaire uncle. …

Whitcoulls Recommends: The Sisterhood Rules and Seed

The Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette, who must be one of the funniest women in the world. It’s about twin sisters who have been estranged for five years, ever since Verity stole Isabel’s husband - but they come together to take their mother in hand when they discover that she’s taken up with a much …

Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on Thai Airways re-launching direct flights between Auckland and Bangkok

Thai Airways recently confirmed the return of its non-stop flight route from Auckland to Bangkok - set to launch in the second half of 2026. The Covid-19 pandemic saw a halt to flights, which included the direct link between the two cities, shutting down in March 2020. BloggerAtLarge.com writer M…

Francesca Rudkin: Are Erica Stanford's reporting changes a step in the right direction?

Well, congratulations to all the parents out there of school-age children - most returned to school last week, only then to be home again for the long weekend. Anyway, as of tomorrow, there’s a sense the year begins proper now and we can all get on with 2026. I am no longer a parent of school chi…

Full Show Podcast: 08 February 2026

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 8 February 2026. Rural New Zealand, an automatic mower and murder ... Tom Sainsbury and Morgana O'Reilly share all the behind the scenes details of bring Tom's award winning podcast to life on the tele. Pod Save America is on…

The Sunday Panel: Is this the year of Winston Peters?

Today on the Sunday Panel, partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, and journalist and TV producer Irene Gardiner joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is this the year of Winston? How much power does he have in the current election year? Should we …

Erin O'Hara: Naturopath and wellness expert on the best ways to meal prep

Meal prepping is viewed as an easy way to stay healthy and get ahead of a busy week - but how can we make the most of it? A busy schedule is one of the top reasons why people choose quick takeout meals, which are often high in calories and a contributor to expanding waistlines.  Naturopath and we…

Mike van de Elzen: Crispy chicken arms with hot sauce

Crispy chicken arms with hot sauce  Cook time: 2 minutes  Prep time: 45 minutes  Serves: 2 12 plump free range chicken wings   1 cup red wine   6 tbsp soy sauce   2 cups Panko crumbs  5 tbsp poppy seeds  5 tbsp sunflower oil   1 cup flour   3 eggs, beaten with 1 tbsp water   Salt and bl…

Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on how parenthood can inoculate people from disgust

From dirty blowouts to spit-up and stomach bugs, parents quickly learn that unpleasant messes are part of everyday life.   Now, new research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology suggests that this constant exposure doesn’t just test patience - it actually permanently changes how the…