Hey, Did You Know? - An AUT Podcast

SummaryNote: This episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast was recorded on 8 October 2025.  In the second episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, public international law expert Dr Myra Williamson chats to host Susan Strongman about Palestinian statehood, the role of the United Nations, New Zealand’s foreign policy, and whether international law really is law. Dr Williamson is a senior lecturer at AUT with a broad range of research interests. She’s published extensively on terrorism, the use of force by states, human rights, gender equality and justice, renters’ rights, seabed mining, genocide and more. Dr Williamson previously taught law at Waikato University, at universities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and at an international school in Aleppo, Syria. In the 2023 general election she ran, unsuccessfully, for the Labour Party in Hamilton West, where she was born, raised, and currently lives. Main Topics and Discussion Palestinian statehood & foreign policy  - A UN finding of genocide in Gaza adds pressure on NZ to recognise a Palestinian state: https://theconversation.com/a-un-finding-of-genocide-in-gaza-adds-pressure-on-nz-to-recognise-a-palestinian-state-265473   - The World Court says Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land is illegal: 4 steps NZ can take now: https://theconversation.com/the-world-court-says-israels-occupation-of-palestinian-land-is-illegal-4-steps-nz-can-take-now-235878  - New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters addresses United Nations General Debate, 80th Session: https://youtu.be/yQvYd5rgR6U?si=sNBZUbhheFE96S1f Calls to Action 1. Rate and Review on your chosen podcast app 2. Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/autuninews/⁠ 3. Tell us what you want to know about next: ⁠media@aut.ac.nz⁠ Credits Host – Susan Strongman Editors – Velvl-Kai Ryder, Susan Strongman Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Igusa Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team  

Summary In the first episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, Dr Rebecca Trelease (Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi) chats to host Mike Kilpatrick about television and particularly Rebecca's experience on reality TV, when she appeared on season two of The Bachelor NZ.They also speak about sexism inherent in critiques of entertainment and of Taylor Swift and her new album as well as The Swiftposium 2024 and Oceania’s first ever Taylor Swift summer school programme.They finish with a reality television recommendation.Rebecca is a senior lecturer in the Critical Media Studies Department at AUT. Her research field lies primarily in television, with her PhD thesis conducting case studies into four global entertainment reality television formats.As an academic, fan, and former participant, Rebecca offers a unique viewpoint into the reality television genre. Main Topics and Discussion Rebecca Trelease’s exit from The Bachelor NZ Season 2 - "I was on the show for love. I hope he saw (that)."- Is reality TV harmful?Taylor Swift - The Swiftposium 2024 - Inside Australasia's first university course studying a pop megastar The Humungous Fungus - Malheur National Forest in Oregon is the home the Humungous Fungus, an occurrence of Armillaria ostoyae. It's believed to be the largest single organism on Earth, according to the Oregon Encyclopaedia. Calls to Action 1. Rate and Review on your chosen podcast app 2. Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autuninews/ 3. Tell us what you want to know about next: media@aut.ac.nz Credits Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editors – Velvl-Kai Ryder, Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Igusa Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team