The Sunday Session with Andrew Dickens

A youth advocate says Oranga Tamariki's evaluation of the boot camp pilot tells us nothing we didn't know.  It's revealed six of the nine youth participants re-offended after being released - but less seriously than a cohort not included.  Kickback co-founder Aaron Hendry says these young people have experienced significant harm, including neglect, poverty and homelessness.  "It's about addressing the housing insecurity, it's about addressing the poverty, it's about actually supporting whanau as a community, to heal - and about support ensuring they have the right support and care around them to be safe." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasury is nudging the Government to sell state assets that are underperforming or are no longer fit for purpose. It is continuing to sound alarm bells over the Crown’s finances being on an 'unsustainable' path forward. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new treatment is on the way for Kiwis impacted by OCD. Charity Open Closed Doors is bringing The Bergen Four Day OCD programme to our shores - the treatment is internationally recognised and has a near 70 percent success rate.  Clinical psychologist Dr Ben Sedley travelled to Singapore to learn about the programme first-hand, and he was impressed by the results. "Once you learn how to recognise all the compulsions and stop them and you've got a one-on-one clinician with you side by side for two days of doing the exposure response prevention, plus some psychoeducation - when you have all these thing together, you really have the chance to just get the momentum." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was really good on Friday to see the Government respond to the film industry’s call for help to remain globally competitive.   We’re a country full of talented, skilled, creative, innovative, hard-working people, who have created a vibrant and reputable screen industry. It’s a well-established sector which provides professional services from pre-production and shooting through to post-production. It employs 24,000 people, and contributes $3.5 billion to the economy each year.   Regardless of whether you love movies and TV shows, or care where they’re made, we should all be proud of this export industry, what it has produced, and how well it is regarded on the world stage.   It would be crazy not to protect and grow it.   The reality for the screen industry is that the work can fluctuate - being overrun with productions for a few years, then have a year when very little happens. So whatever we can do to make New Zealand a consistently attractive destination is vital.   The Government’s changes to the Screen Rebate Scheme kick off from 1 January, and are a good start to keeping us in the game.   The plan is to lower the minimum qualifying spend to access the rebate for feature films from $15 million to $4 million and to reduce the threshold for the ‘5 percent uplift’ from $30 million to $20 million, allowing more mid-budget productions to qualify for the additional incentive which takes the rebate to 25 percent. It will also expand the eligibility for the 5 percent uplift to include post-production, digital and visual effects only projects - this makes a lot of sense, we are world renowned in this field. And finally, to remove the cap on above-the-line costs such as director, producer, principal cast, and screenwriter fees, aligning with international practice. It's all possibly a bit late - we still lag the rest of the world who are also actively trying to remain competitive - Australia has increased their rebate to 40 percent, Ireland is at 32 percent, the UK 29 percent, and Canada is up to 29 percent. But it is a pragmatic step in the right direction, and it’s good to see the Government taking action to create a more competitive and sustainable industry which employs Kiwis, generates business and adds to economic growth.   Every dollar invested through the rebate delivers around $2.40 in return to the wider economy - through wages, services and international exposure. International productions also employ the majority of screen workers in New Zealand.   It’s been a tough year for many in who work in the screen industry. For the world’s big players who are looking to potentially bring projects to New Zealand, this is hopefully the nudge they need to commit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US country singer Jelly Roll says it broke his heart to have to cancel his Auckland show last night due to illness. Some concert-goers - who had travelled from all over New Zealand - were already lining up at Western Springs when the news broke, just hours before it was set to start. Jelly Roll said he's probably missed three shows in the last decade and prides himself on showing up, but he just couldn't do it this time. Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall recommended some alternatives for out-of-towners looking for entertainment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever tried to cook pasta at home, you’ll know the struggle - one minute it’s undercooked and chewy, the next minute it has disintegrated into a sticky mush. If you’ve ever attempted to cook gluten-free pasta, your experience has probably been even worse. So is there an idea way to cook pasta and does gluten-free pasta need different treatment?  New research published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids used some of the most advanced research tools on the planet to look deep inside pasta as it cooks to find out.  Using powerful beams of X-rays and neutrons from particle accelerator facilities usually reserved for studying materials, medicines and magnetic particle, they were able to figure out how to make better spaghetti.  The researchers took regular and gluten-free pasta and used X-rays and neutrons to see how the pasta’s internal structure changed during cooking, specifically the behaviour of gluten and starch.  They even used heavy water (which contains a different form of hydrogen) to make one ingredient invisible at a time. This way, they could isolate and study gluten and starch separately.  In regular pasta, gluten forms a strong internal framework which holds everything in place even when the pasta is boiling and swelling.  This is why:  Regular spaghetti stays firm. It doesn’t fall apart easily. It digests more slowly (lower glycaemic index). In gluten-free pasta, there is no gluten scaffold. That means:  The starch granules swell and collapse more easily. The pasta can turn mushy faster. It breaks down more quickly in digestion. Manufacturers try to replace gluten with processed starches, but the study showed these substitutes are much less stable, especially when overcooked.  Most of us add salt to pasta water because it tastes better, but the research found it also strengthens pasta’s internal structure.  The perfect amount of salt was found to be 7 grams (1.5 teaspoons) of salt per litre of water.  Salt helps gluten hold its shape and protects the starch granules so the pasta stays firm.  More salt is not better When the researchers doubled the amount of salt, the pasta broke down faster.  What did the scientists determine as the ideal cooking method for pasta?  For regular pasta:  Add 7 g of salt per litre of water and boil for 10 minutes  For gluten-free pasta:  Add 7 g of salt per litre and boil for 11 minutes  Gluten-free pasta is simply less forgiving and even two extra minutes or too much salt can turn it into mush.  This research isn’t just about perfecting dinner. Understanding how pasta breaks down at the microscopic level can help food scientists design better gluten-free pasta that:  Holds its shape better. Feels more like wheat pasta. Doesn’t spike blood sugar as quickly. And more broadly, the study shows how cutting-edge scientific tools, normally used to study batteries, magnets and biological molecules are now being used to understand everyday foods.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cured and roasted salmon pate  Cook time: 10 minutes  Prep time: 20 minutes  Serves: 6-8 1/4 side of salmon; de-boned with the skin on   Salmon salt   100gm flaky seasalt   2 tbsp brown sugar   Pate   200gm cream cheese   1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard   1 lemon   1 tbsp chopped fennel or dill   1 small red chili   3 tbsp sunflower oil   Salt   Serve with Lebanese flat breads   Pickled cucumbers Start the night before by curing the side of salmon.   Lay the salmon skin side down onto a rack and then place the rack into a tray to catch all the juices. Combine the salt and brown sugar and spread over the top of the salmon. It should be a nice thick layer. Cover with cling film and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, wash off any salt and pat dry.   If you have a cold smoker, smoked for 4 hours at this point.   Preheat your oven to 220*c. Lay the salmon skin side down onto a roasting tray and brush the top of the salmon with oil.   Cook for 10 minutes, before checking. The salmon should be cooked just under. Remove from the grill and leave to rest.   For the salmon pate Take the cooked salmon and put into a food processor with the cream cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chili, fennel and remaining oil. Blitz until smooth. Check seasoning.   Serve with the flatbreads and pickled cucumbers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being healthy didn't used to appear to be so complicated, but there's growing concerns about new changes. Constant new trends and studies sometimes contradict previous advice and make it hard to discern reliable information - causing people to question their diets and exercise habits. Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, and journalist, TV producer and commentator, Irene Gardiner, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Treasury is calling for the Government to make some asset sales to bring down debts. Is this a viable way out? Where could we start in offloading assets?  The Government has given New Zealand's movie production sector an extra financial boost - do we think this is the right move? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Singleton's travelling through the US, and she spent some time in Boston before heading to New York. She started off in the historic Beacon Hill neighbourhood before moving down to the up and coming Seaport District, and she shared her highlights from both areas. Read more about Megan's experience here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold millions of copies since its initial publication in 2003, but a lot has changed since then. Bryson had initially retired, but he's since revised his best known work with updated information - and he's set to do a speaking tour, with Auckland and Wellington events to take place in February. He says a massive amount has changed in the 22 years since writing the book and updating it was a bigger project than expected. "It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot - I've been kind of retired for a few years and this is why I came out of retirement, to do this. And I really had a good time doing it, it made me remember the joys of actually working." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9 November 2025, Bill Bryson's book 'The Short History of Nearly Everything, is the best selling science book of the 21st century.  This week he tells Francesca why he came out of retirement to rewrite it after 23 years. Neil Ieremia is credited with changing dance in New Zealand. This year his company, Black Grace turns 30 and he joins Francesca to talk about celebrating the milestone. ZB commentator Elliott Smith on a tight win for the All Blacks this morning at Murrayfield, Francesca applauds the Government's film rebates as a step in the right direction. And off the back  of the announcement that Michelin reviewers are going to rate New Zealand restaurants for the first time, resident chef Mike Van de Elzen shares why chasing a star was never important to him. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 marks 30 years since Kiwi dance company Black Grace was formed, and this anniversary will be marked with some new performances. Later this month, the company will stage Paul Taylor's Esplanade, in a double bill with If Ever There Was A Time - an original work by founder Neil Ieremia. Ieremia says when he first started out, there weren't a lot of dance opportunities for Māori men, and he aimed to change that. "I remember when we put on our first show and it actually sold out - it was at the Kenneth Maidment Theatre at the university there. We put on our first show and it sold out before we actually opened, which was quite incredible." The Black Grace double bill tour starts in Auckland on November 21 and continues in Christchurch on November 25 and 26, with tickets available here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Satisfaction for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson in how they wrestled momentum back to clinch a 25-17 win over Scotland in Edinburgh. A late Damian McKenzie try and penalty secured victory after the home side came from 17-nil down to level the scores going into the final quarter. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says it was a tight game, with Scotland nearly managing to get ahead LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 2 November. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Henry's been a regular presence on New Zealand screens and he's come out of retirement to take on his most anticipated hosting job yet. He is set to host New Zealand's own version of The Chase - the long-running UK-based game show that Kiwis tune into every week. Ahead of this version dropping to TVNZ next month, Henry says it's 'daunting' taking on a project like this. "The show is already so popular in New Zealand, but what's really popular is the British Chase. And we're not doing the British Chase, we're doing the New Zealand Chase." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK comedian and actor Bill Bailey is set to start his next tour of New Zealand in the coming days, and he's spoken of his love for the nation.  His brand-new show Vaudevillian kicks off in Queenstown and he's revealed how excited he is to tour the 'beautiful country. "There's a lot about it that I love...the sort of things New Zealand offers are the sorts of things I would seek out in any country that I have a bit of spare time in." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A refreshed sense of direction for the Silver Ferns amid Dame Noeline Taurua's return as head coach. Netball New Zealand's announced Taurua will resume her duties after the team's northern tour, with some revised operations. The sport's national body say they've agreed to changes that support wellbeing and performance, including strengthening the player voice. NZ Herald sports reporter Nathan Limm has labelled this situation a 'mess' - and wondered what took Netball NZ so long. "They had to bow to public pressure...it's been six weeks since she was stood down, 10 days out from the Taini Jamison series. I felt like it got to the point where if they wanted her back, she'd be back." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Military tensions are escalating in the Caribbean Sea, as the US deploys the world's largest warship to counter drug-traffickers. The US says it has killed dozens of people in strikes on small vessels from Venezuela which it alleges carry 'narcotics' and 'narco-terrorists.' But US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Venezuela's fighting back. "The President of Venezuela, who's accusing the US of 'fabricating' this new war - but yet, we see the drug trail kind of leads back there as well." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.