Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

We've got a new segment called 'You're the Judge' where we present an issue that's been sent in by one of our listeners, and you, our audience, decide what the right course of action is. So far you have made judgements on if it's okay to kiss your pets then your partner, a family fall out after a funeral, whether a bride and groom can dictate what people wear to their nuptials, and today we're turning our attention to travel - specifically if one person can accept a seat upgrade when travelling with their partner. If you've got a pickle you need some help with - email us! jesse@afternoons.co.nz

Christianity is the load bearing wall that holds up democracy, and it is crumbling says author, journalist, and senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, Jonathan Rauch. A committed atheist, Rauch says citizens need to take a page from the Christian bible and offer compassion to others, forgive and share power otherwise democracy will not survive. He warns that fear and grievance have replaced biblical values and both religion and society are suffering because of it. Rauch writes about returning faith to focusing on healing instead of dividing in his book, Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy.

Time to talk all things Australia now and our man across the Tasman Brad Foster joins Jesse with the latest from there, starting with an incident in Melbourne yesterday, another triple zero emergency problem, but also touching on that rugby game.

Ali Smith is a Scottish author, playwright, academic and journalist. She's a pretty prolific writer, over the last ten years writing 14 novels, 5 short story collections and 8 plays. Book critic Pip Adams shares why she's a fan, reviewing the latest offerings but also the classics. Gliff (Penguin, November 2024) Glyph (Penguin, 17 February 2026) Seasonal Quartet by Ali Smith: Autumn (2016), Winter (2017), Spring (2019), Summer (2020)

Tim joins Jesse to talk about the struggles in the IT sector and tips on what to do if your electronics get wet (hint: it' isn't rice)

A new concept called the "Enhanced Games" appears to be sending the traditional sports world into a frenzy. The Enhanced Games are the invention of Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, who says the games will "embrace scientific advancements to push the boundaries of human performance". A particularly controversial aspect of the event is that athletes will be allowed to compete without being subjected to drug tests. The event will take place next May in Las Vegas. Creator Aron D'Souza chats to Jesse.

Get used to seeing Airana Ngarewa's face, he's got a new novel out and over the next few weeks he'll be up and down the country appearing at book shops and writers' festivals. The book is 'The Last Living Cannibal', and it's Airana's third book about the Taranaki region. The others covered contemporary life, but this one looks back and reimagines life in Taranaki in the 1940s. Airana Ngarewa is with Jesse.

Two weeks ago Matt Jeffery's dog - Sadie - went missing. Since then, Matt and his family - who moved here from South Africa for a better, safer life - have been devastated Not only dealing with the distress of losing your pet, but also the side effects of plastering your phone number of public posters. Jesse talks to Matt.

As home-based early childcare picks up in popularity, Barnados-employed mother and daughter duo Iman and Hanin Taqieh speak about how it helped change their lives as new mums. Making shifts in their careers to become homebased educators was a decision that gave them flexibility and purpose after their family moved here from Jordan. Hanin Taquieh is community coordinator with Barnados where she leads the home-based portfolio supporting over 40 home-based educators in Auckland - including her own mum Iman, who's herself, been with Barnados for twenty years as an educator. In this episode - what's the incentive, both for parents and educators?

Artificial intelligence is giving Daniel Barcay a sense of DeJa'Vu. He's the executive director of the Center for Humane Technology, and co-host of the podcast Your Undivided Attention. When social media first hit the internet so many people talked about it revolutionizing how we connect. What could possibly go wrong? Social media produced the most anxious and depressed generation we've ever seen. Barcay says we have to do better with AI and now is the moment as design choices being made today will shape AI for generations to come. He says AI is our chance to step back and prove we can use technology with wisdom.

It's time for our expert feature and today we're looking at ways to make your home more energy efficient. Eion Scott is the Senior Manager Residential at New Zealand Green Building Council, he's with me for the next 30 minutes to share his tips on how to save money on your power bill

The Ryder Cup has just finished and in spectacular form Europe has kept the US at bay, managing to retain the Cup. For those of you not familiar with the Ryder Cup, every two years, 24 of the best golf players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. The Ryder Cup website promises "drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship" and this year it delivered in spades, with the action off the course almost as gripping as what was happening on it. Here to discuss it is Mike Lane from The Alternative Commentary Collective.

Claire Chitham joins Jesse with her latest recommendations: Black Rabbit - Netflix The Girlfriend - Prime

Alex Gilbert was adopted by a New Zealand couple in 1994 from the Arkhangelsk orphanage in Russia. In 2013 he travelled to Russia to meet his birth parents for the first time, after using social media to find his mother. His journey was captured in a TV documentary. Now a new documentary follows his quest to find another family member - his grandmother. Alex speaks to Jesse.

Author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson has a new book to share. Giselle's first book 'The Observologist' has been a huge international success, translated into 10 languages and the recipient of awards and nominations from all over the world. You might also know her as the artist behind our Critter Of The Week T-Shirts as well. Giselle's new book is called 'Omnibird, An Avian Investigators Handbook' which focuses on how extraordinary birds actually are.

Four Kiwi social media influencers have been slapped with big fines by the Government gambling regulator. The fines are for breaching our rules; it's illegal for overseas gambling sites to advertise in New Zealand, including on social media. Millie Elder-Holmes, Calen Morris, Billy Whaanga and Tuhira Wana have each received multiple $5000 fines, with eight more content creators under investigation. Which got us thinking about gambling and how on earth you can control what happens online. Vicki Scott is Internal Affairs Director of Gambling. she spoke to Jesse.

Jesse spoke to Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki about it.

Angela Clifford has a new book out called 'The Food Farm' where she discusses the joys of growing your own food.

Head chef and founder of Le Ciel Bakery Shuchi Bhardwaj shared her recipe for mandazi African doughnuts.    

Film reviewer Sam Hollis joined Jesse to review Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another.