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Afternoons

Jesse Mulligan presents an upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time.
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Episodes

Expert Feature: Algorithms - what are they

Time for our expert feature, the moment in the show where we put your questions to our expert. Specifically - what are they? how do they work? And are there any ways to manipulate them into giving us better deals, or less addictive content? Emile is joined by Automated Programming PhD and Comedian Henry Hickman.

Aug 04, 202524 min

Cold Call: Kauri Museum in Matakohe

Matakohe is a village in the Kaipara district, about 45 kilometres south of Dargaville. It's famous for the Kauri Museum so we decided to give the museum a cold call to find out what visitors can expect to find.

Aug 04, 202513 min

What's on the box? The Survivors and Andor

The Survivors is a six-part adaptation of Jane Harper's bestselling Australian crime novel of the same name. The drama stars our very own Robyn Malcolm. Our TV critic Caitlin Cherry reviews The Survivors (Netflix) and finds out what all the fuss is about with Andor (Disney Plus), the show that is part of the Star Wars franchise.

Aug 04, 20259 min

How do you make sure you give your child the best start

This week is World Breastfeeding Week - the goal is to the highlight the importance of breastfeeding and to encourage families, health professionals and communities to all work together to promote it Plunket's Chief Nurse Zoe Tipa & Plunket line's Clinical Lead and lactation consultant Hannah Cook spoke to Emile.

Aug 04, 20258 min

Find out what's behind our obsession with black clothing

Last Friday on the show, Jesse was discussing New Zealand fashion trends with Fashion Quarterly's Editor in Chief and unsurprisingly our national love affair with the colour black came up. One of our listeners got in touch, Doris de Pont curated the 'Black in Fashion' exhibition at the New Zealand Fashion Museum back in 2011 The exhibition explored why we loved this dark and colourless hue ... and more than a decade later...it seems not much has changed Doris De Pont joins Emile.

Aug 04, 202512 min

NCEA Changes: A student's perspective

This morning the Government proposed big changes to secondary school qualifications, namely, scrapping NCEA. They said the new system would still retain standards-based assessments and be underpinned by a new national curriculum. We wanted to ask a student how they're feeling about this, Kapiti College Head of Kura, Aroa Al Masri spoke to Emile.

Aug 04, 202513 min

Critter of the Week: Mokopiriakau granulatus - the forest gecko

This week's critter of the week is the moko piriakau, also known as the forest gecko. They are renowned for their ability to easily camouflage to their surroundings and their incredible climbing skills. Nicola Toki joins Jesse to rate this endangered critter.

Aug 01, 202518 min

Food: Sticky Date Cake with Coffee Buttercream

How good would a slice of sticky date cake with coffee buttercream be right now? Well, it can be yours, all you have to do is make it! Gretchen Lowe shares the recipe with Jesse. It's from her new book My Weekend Table.

Aug 01, 20257 min

Film Review: Blue Moon, The Life of Chuck & more

The New Zealand International Film Festival opened in Auckland last night, and that means busy days and nights for film fans and film critics. Like Kate Rodger! She joins Jesse to talk about her top picks this week; Blue Moon, It Was Just an Accident and The Life of Chuck.

Aug 01, 202511 min

Freaky Friday

This time each week we turn to Freaky Friday, the space for all your weird, spooky, and strange experiences. If you have one you'd like to share please reach out via text - 2101 - or you can email us, afternoons@rnz.co.nz. This week, Jesse is joined by Pleasance from Riverton at the bottom of the South Island.

Aug 01, 20257 min

Highlighting one of Aotearoa's most significant heritage sites

Hidden among the bustle of modern day of Tauranga lies one of Aotearoa's most significant heritage sites, The Elms Te Papa Tauranga The site has borne witness to more than 600 years of our often-turbulent history. A new book 'The Spirit of a Place' traces this legacy starting with the arrival of the first Polynesian voyaging canoes, the arrival of Pakeha, to the complex interactions that followed. Author Sarah Ell joins Jesse in studio.

Aug 01, 202514 min

Packing a punch: 'Kaikohe Blood and Fire'

Director Simon Ogston joins Jesse to talk about his film 'Kaikohe Blood & Fire'. On the surface it looks like a film about fighting and mixed martial arts but look a little deeper and it's actually about characters, community and personal growth.

Aug 01, 202511 min

Best in show: Your front row seat to the FQ Fashion Awards

The best of New Zealand fashion was celebrated last night at a glamorous black-tie affair, as the FQ Fashion Awards returned following a successful debut in 2024 Claudia Li was named Designer of the Year, while Kate Sylvester was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Sarah Murray, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of FQ joins Jesse in the Auckland studio.

Aug 01, 20259 min

The Lowdown

Today on The Lowdown, Perlina Lau and Afternoon's Senior Producer Olivia Wilson discuss the content that is filling up your group chats.

Jul 31, 202516 min

Meet the South Auckland students refurbishing empty homes

Ara Education Trust is based in the Auckland suburb of Mangere. Its mission is to help give students on the tools experience and provide a pathway to successful careers. Ara Education Trust Head Tutor William Malakai spoke to Jesse.

Jul 31, 202513 min

The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Jul 30, 20258 min

Clash of titans - US President Trump vs media mogul Murdoch

The battle between US President Donald Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch is getting personal. NPR's media correspondent David Folkenflik has reported on Trump and Murdoch and how they've shaped the media landscape for a very long time. Folkenflik is also the author of a book called Murdoch's World: The Last of the Old Media Empires. He discussed this clash of the titans with Jesse.

Jul 30, 202524 min

Bookmarks with the International Film Festival's Paolo Bertolin

Time for Bookmarks, when we sit down with a notable Kiwi and learn about their life and some of their favourite things. Paolo Bertolin is a writer, producer, film critic and programmer, who since last year has served as artistic director for the Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival. The festival officially opens in Auckland tomorrow.

Jul 30, 202528 min

Easy Eats: Mushroom and Cashew Curry

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse to share her mushroom and cashew curry recipe. She says mushrooms are a nutrition powerhouse and super versatile in the kitchen They take on flavour brilliantly and cook fast. For an extra protein boost, you could add some sliced tofu, along with the mushrooms in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Serve with a dollop of plain yoghurt, steamed rice and warmed flatbreads.

Jul 30, 20255 min

Heading Off: Kayaking down the Yukon

We love it when you get in touch with us with your stories and today's guest Kevin Searle did just that. He sent through an abridged story of his Kayak trip down the Yukon, and we needed to know more!

Jul 30, 202511 min

Making meals matter

Everybody Eats is a social restaurant concept. It's three course meals are open to all: Lawyers, students, hospitality staff, the homeless, whomever. And all on a "pay what you can" basis. Since starting in 2017 it's grown from a pop up to three restaurants, serving hundreds of people five nights a week. Amidst declining revenues, they've launched a new project to help pay the bills - Meals That Matter.

Jul 30, 20259 min

Doing it right: Regenerative tourism success story

The Okarito plant project, a business -led initiative in South Westland is becoming a national example of regenerative tourism in action. Tourism operators, visitors, landowners, and volunteers are working together to restore native ecosystems by supplying plants native species for local landowners at no cost. Chair of the project Aaron Smith spoke to Jesse.

Jul 30, 20257 min

Creating safe bars and nightlife venues

How can we make sure our bars and nightclubs are safe for us all? What measures are in place so that patrons can feel comfortable and looked after? Jesse talks to the Chief Executive Anita Lowry of ResectED Aotearoa.

Jul 30, 20259 min

The New Zealander redefining what luxury means

Every day, millions experience a bit of Kiwi creativity thanks to Christopher Yu. He left New Zealand for London 25 years ago as a tax attorney, but after being made redundant, he followed his nose to a new role, leading companies that transform perfume and candles into experiences of storytelling and design. Now, after decades at the center of Europe's luxury fragrance world, and with some encouragement from his mum in Lower Hutt, Christopher Yu is coming home to help redefine Kiwi luxury.

Jul 29, 202526 min

Music feature: Sir Van Morrison's Astral Weeks

Time for our Tuesday music feature and today we'll be diving deep into one of the most acclaimed records in rock music, Sir Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks'. This was Morrison's seconds studio album, and althought he'd had a huge hit on his debut with 'Brown Eyed Girl', he couldn't have strayed further from his pop roots. To contextualise 'Astral Weeks' and play some of his favourites from the record, it's my pleasure to welcome Samuel Flynn Scott, founding member of the Phoenix Foundation.

Jul 29, 202525 min
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