The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

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 week. Founder and podcast co-host Tommy Vietor says it's hard to encourage people to pay attention to politics, and he's hoping the podcast can help with that.  "We're noticing that after the 2016 election - there are people who have never thought about politics before, never knocked on a door, never made a phone call... the challenge is, around the presidential elections, the electorate just looks totally different."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. The show stars Sainsbury himself, as well as Kiwi actress Morgana O'Reilly. "It's changed from the podcast, there are some characters that are exactly the same and some storylines that are the same - but we've had to expand it, change it, change the ending, all that kind of stuff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 younger man and is having a fabulous time, running through the money which might otherwise be their inheritance. It’s full of jokes, puns and Kathy’s trademark wit but she’s making a serious point - that the bonds between women are what keep us all sane, and that we need to have one another’s backs. Seed by Elizabeth Easther, who is a New Zealand journalist, book reviewer, playwright and author. This is also about the bonds between women - in this case between four women, each of whom is struggling with conception or pregnancy and the various modern ways by which those things might happen - fertility treatments, dating apps, autonomy over decisions affecting their own bodies and the impacts of these things with the people in their lives. It will speak very strongly to readers of a certain age - specifically, women who find themselves in the midst of those years, and it feels very true, and very real.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Megan Singleton explained further - and revealed her itinerary for a perfect four days in Thailand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 children, and to be honest I find that a relief. Getting your child educated isn’t always straight forward. But if I was, I would be pleased with Education Minister Erica Stanford’s announcement this week about changes to reporting a child’s progress in primary and intermediate schools.  As a parent who had to suffer through the pointless student led conference era whereby your child would present you with a curated collection of their recent work - this is welcome news. Not only did the student led system not provide a parent with any practical information as to how their child was progressing, or what they could do to help, but it replaced valuable one-on-one time a parent could’ve had with a teacher getting those details with something a parent could pop in and do at the beginning or end of the day on their own anyway. The one thing that was drilled into me as a parent of a new entrant was that we’re all in this together. Your child’s learning success doesn’t just come down to a competent teacher, preferably in a single classroom with adequate teacher aid support - it requires parents to participate in and take responsibility for their child’s education.  But if you don’t have a clear understanding of where your child is at, whether they’re thriving or quietly struggling, and probably more importantly, knowing how you can help them along, then we’re not really all in it together. We’re all just floundering. These early years are critical for establishing foundational literacy and numeracy skills - if you struggle during these years you’re more likely to continue to struggle. The use of 5 clear progress markers to describe your child’s learning progress has taken a bit of flak for being, shall we say, a little too sophisticated, but it comes with an explanation of why a progress marker was chosen, so I’m sure parents will get their heads around it. More importantly, it comes with information for how parents can support the next learning steps, and will be followed up with twice-yearly progress check-ins for students in Years 3-8 which will allow parents to see progress over the year.  None of this is intended to add pressure or judgement on children, or undermine the student voice. But if it provides the better clarity and more detailed reporting on academic achievement that Stanford promises it does, then it’s another step in the right direction to provide students with the support they need to flourish.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 one of the worlds most listened to new and political podcasts. The team head to New Zealand this week. Pod co-host and former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor joins Francesca to discuss a divisive time in US politics. Tenby Powell has returned from six months of humanitarian work in Ukraine, he talks about what it's like on the ground and just how much things have changed in the four years of this war. Francesca applauds changes to assessments and reporting changes in schools as a win for parents trying to help their children. And if you need a Super Bowl snack, Mike van de Elzen has his chicken wings with hot sauce recipe for you. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 worry about him potentially becoming Prime Minister? It's been a big few days for entertainment - the Grammy Awards took place last Monday and we've got the Super Bowl coming up. Do we mind that more celebrities are using their platforms to get political? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 wellness expert Erin O'Hara revealed how to take advantage of meal prepping. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 black pepper   Mike's hot sauce   1 tbsp sunflower oil ½ red onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp tomato paste ½ tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp smoked paprika   400gm diced tomatoes   ¼ cup water   4 tbsp soft brown sugar   3 tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp Dijon mustard   1 tsp salt & white pepper   3 fresh red chili, chopped seeds and all Preheat oven to 180*C (fan-forced). Separate the wings at the first joint. Set aside the first joint of the wings for making stock.   Place the remaining plump wings into a pot with wine and soy sauce. Add just enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain, then place chicken wings in fridge to cool. In a large bowl, mix together the Panko crumbs, poppy seeds, oil, salt and pepper. Place flour and eggwash in two other separate bowls. remove skin from chicken and pass through flour, then eggwash, then poppy crumb.   Place on a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes. Serve with hot sauce   Mike's hot sauce   Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Reduce heat, add tomato paste, cumin and smoked paprika and stir. Add all remaining ingredients. Stir until combined, and cook until slightly thickened (approx. 10 minutes). Taste and adjust salt, pepper and hot sauce if necessary. Blitz until smooth.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 brain responds to disgust.  The study found that long-term exposure to bodily waste significantly reduces parents’ disgust reactions, and that this effect can last well beyond the childcare years. The findings, shed new light on how caregiving reshapes the brain and may have implications for professions where managing disgust is part of the job.  Disgust is a basic human emotion that evolved to protect us from disease. The familiar 'yuck' response triggered by spoiled food, dirty environments or bodily fluids helps keep us away from potential sources of illness. It’s not just psychological, the body often reacts automatically, with nausea or an urge to move away.  What scientists have long debated is whether repeated exposure over months or years can truly dull this reaction. Parenthood offered a natural test case.  The researchers studied 99 parents and 50 non-parents, analysing both questionnaire responses and observable behaviour, such as how much participants looked away from unpleasant images. The study included parent-specific scenarios and visuals, including pictures of heavily soiled nappies.  As expected, non-parents showed strong avoidance when viewing images of bodily waste. Parents, however, reacted very differently, but only once their children had begun eating solid food.  Parents of weaning or weaned children showed little to no avoidance of soiled nappies or even other forms of bodily waste. Their reactions suggested that prolonged, unavoidable exposure had desensitized them to disgust. Notably, this reduced response wasn’t limited to child-related messes; it extended to bodily waste more generally.  By contrast, parents whose youngest children were still exclusively milk-fed showed disgust responses similar to those of non-parents, even if they had older children. This surprised researchers and suggests that disgust may remain heightened during the earliest months of infancy, when babies are especially vulnerable to infection.  The researchers believe this pattern may reflect an evolutionary adaptation. Strong disgust early on could help protect fragile infants from disease, while later desensitization allows parents to provide hands-on care when children are older and more resilient including when they’re sick.  The study suggests that parenthood can fundamentally reshape how people experience a deeply ingrained emotion. Researchers say these insights could help inform strategies to support healthcare workers, caregivers and others whose jobs require regular contact with unpleasant substances.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Grammy Awards has come and gone, with rapper Bad Bunny making history as the first Latin artist to win Album of the Year in the 68-year history of the event.  During his acceptance speech, the singer addressed ICE and earned a standing ovation from the crowd for remarks about the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown and subsequent clashes. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall recapped the event, discussed the other big winners and speculated ahead of Bad Bunny's appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jono Ridler's on a record-setting journey to swim the 1350km length of the North Island's east coast. The journey is expected to take 90 days to complete, and he's doing it all unassisted, meaning it's all done in togs, cap and goggles with no wet suit in sight.  Live Ocean co-founder Blair Tuke is heavily involved in Ridler's journey and he says he's covered over 550km so far as he reaches the Bay of Plenty. "In a week, he'll be halfway, so he's going really nicely...it's just an incredible human endurance feat that he's taking on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi charity founder Tenby Powell has been recognised by the Ukrainian President for his humanitarian efforts in the country’s red zones.  Zelenskyy awarded Powell the Order of Merit for the work his charity Kiwi K.A.R.E has carried out - with the organisation raising over $7.5 million to help fund recovery during the ongoing conflict. Tenby Powell says a majority of the newer casualties are caused by drones - and that's impacting the ongoing humanitarian efforts being carried out by the charity. "We now have drone identification handheld devices, but all that does is identify that there's a drone in an area, usually in close proximity, which gives the guys a chance to exit the vehicle if they feel that they are under direct threat."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Waitangi Day has come and gone, but questions have been raised about the political drama that impacted this year's events. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour faced some hecklers, but the big event overshadowing the weekend was Senior Labour MP Peeni Henare announcing his departure. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi singer-songwriter Cassie Henderson had a busy year in 2025, and she's set to keep the momentum going in the new year. She's confirmed to play at the 2026 Synthony Festival, alongside Shapeshifter, Kaylee Bell and The Exponents next March.  She says she's also working on her own musical projects, and she's promised 2026 will be another exciting year.  "I have been in the studio all of the end of 2025 - and at the moment as well. So there's a project coming, which is really exciting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy is set to return to our shores again, with his latest tour taking him across both sides of the Tasman. He's well-regarded as a master of observational comedy, and he's been a regular presence on the global comedy scene for over 25 years. He says this tour will look at how the world has changed over the last ten years - and he's promised it'll go deeper than petty grievances. "It's a very different feel to the show - but actually, a lot of people said to me afterwards that they feel that it was almost cathartic to be talking about stuff which has bothered everyone."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet The Newmans by Jennifer Niven. Del and Dinah Newman and their two sons have been the stars of a reality TV series about their family life for two decades, but in 1964 it feels as though the world is changing and America is falling out of love with them. Their on-screen lives portray a perfect family, but in reality their world is imploding and they all have secrets they’re hiding from one another. As the show limps towards its final episode, Dinah hires a young woman to help write the perfect ending, but it turns out they have diametrically opposed views as to what that should look like. This is a real slice of ‘60s life - nostalgic, still relevant, and very entertaining. The Winner by David Baldacci. This was first published back in 1979 and has been reissued and is as good as it ever was. LuAnn Tyler is a young, 20 year old mother, with a life which promises nothing when she’s contacted by someone who tells her that he can rig the national lottery and she can win $100m. There are strings attached of course, but the opportunity is too good to turn down and afterwards she leaves the US for a decade, enjoying her newfound wealth. Ten years on though, its time to come home but an enterprising journalist working on a story about the lottery tracks her down and the FBI are on her trail. Baldacci writes terrific thrillers and this is no exception. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dolly Parton recently revealed her new SongTeller Hotel in Nashville will be open to the public this June. Fans can reserve their spots ahead of the opening, and pictures have been revealed - letting prospective travellers know what to expect. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained what the hotel has on offer, including a themed bar and I Will Always Love You romance packages.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, Coast Day host Lorna Riley and broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina O’Keeffe joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki led a group of protestors in a demonstration at Auckland CBD. Were the police right to intervene? Should we be worried about his influence?  Prime Minister Chris Luxon is set to head to Waitangi this week, but he won't be there for the day itself. What do we make of this? And why are so many politicians cautious about Waitangi Day?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Sunday 1 February 2026, Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy is a master of observational comedy, he's heading here this week and talks about pushing the boundaries of a traditional stand up show. Cassie Henderson is a star on the rise, the Kiwi pop star talks about how she plans to top a huge year in 2025 and the impact The Voice Australia has had on her career. From today GPs can diagnose and treat ADHD, there are fears it will cause a tsunami of neurodiverse patients. Chair of the General Practitioners Association, Dr Angus Chambers, on how GPs are preparing for the change. And should we all be going for fart walks to improve our health?   Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.