Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

Five albums in six years. 75 million records sold. Then, just like that, The Police walked away leaving us with songs everyone still knows: "Message in a Bottle," "Don't Stand So Close to Me," "Every Breath You Take." You know there are plenty of stories to tell and drummer and founding member of The Police Stewart Copeland is ready to tell them. Dubbed the "accidental archivist," he spent the years of the rise of The Police jotting down the secrets and surprises of the trio he formed with Sting and Andy Summers. Now, after 18 years away, he's coming back to New Zealand with a spoken world tour called Have I Said Too Much? It's an evening that dives into the wild ride of rock superstardom, the creative sparks and disasters fans never knew about, and the twists that took Copeland from punk-reggae anthems to orchestras and operas. The tour lands here in January. Stewart Copeland spoke to Jesse.

Time to check what's happening in Australia with our correspondent Brad Foster.

Book reviewer Claire Mabey reviews Omnibird by Giselle Clarkson, Secret Art Powers by Jo Randerson, The Last Living Cannibal by Airana Ngawera.

Podcast critic Ximena Smith reviews Noble and Context.

Last week marked the 60th anniversary of the Nga Manu Korero secondary schools' speech competition. It's Aotearoa's most prestigious Maori speech competition designed to celebrate diverse young voices and the enduring power of orators. 14-year-old Pou Ariki Hemara-Daniels was there defending his national title, and once again he won the Sir Turi Carroll junior English category. Pou Ariki spoke to Jesse.

For many of us, watching a movie will usually mean logging on to an on-line platform. However, an initiative in Wairarapa is aiming to rekindle the magic and nostalgia of enjoying classic movies as they were intended, on the big screen. The Wairarapa Cinematheque in Masterton opened its doors this month, screening classic films, Kiwi gems and cult favourites. Jane Ross spoke to Jesse.

In a public announcement this morning, US President Donald Trump claimed there is a link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and increased autism risk. Associate Professor, Dr Scott White, women's health chair for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

More than a quarter of a million people have been displaced from Gaza City in the last month, according to figures from the UN, with tens of thousands more forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in the face of a new Israeli offensive.....meanwhile, NZ lowered it's cap on crude oil from Russia...so this week on the Here Now podcast - Sanctions against Israel or Russia - will they work? What do Nzer's think?

Of the five top finishers, US runner Calvin Smith was the only one who never tested positive for any banned substance. Canadian Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids and was stripped of Gold. American Carl Lewis was elevated to first place and British sprinter Linford Christie got silver despite both testing positive for stimulants. Calvin Smith was then awarded the Bronze. That race became a test of character Calvin Smith has carried throughout his life. The man who should have won gold, reflects on what sport, integrity, and resilience mean in the face of unfairness. Calvin Smith spoke to Jesse.

Every monday we give you the chance to put your questions to an expert in their field. Today we are joined by Jessica Lockhart. Jessica is the Lonely Planet Travel guides Destination Editor for Oceania. That is Australia, NZ, and the Pacific Islands. She's well placed to answer your questions about those destinations, as well as more general travel questions. Be it - how do I book the cheapest flights? Which part of Vanuatu should I stay on? Or what's the best waterfall to visit here in NZ?

Jesse Mulligan calls NZs Medieval Combat Team A.K.A The Steel Blacks.

Our TV critic Dom Corry reviews a brand new spin-off of 'The Office'. 'The Paper' The Paper is an American mockumentary sitcom series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. In Toledo, Ohio, a same documentary crew focuses its efforts on the Toledo Truth Teller, a historic but declining Midwestern newspaper trying to resurrect itself with volunteer reporters. He also breaks down the new series of Apple TVs 'The Morning Show' & 'Platonic'.

A couple of weeks ago Auckland Museum proposed axing 30 jobs, with chief executive David Reeves calling it "regrettably a necessary step towards securing the financial recovery of the museum". It came after a 10 million dollar price tag was put on the cost of removing asbestos dust detected earlier this year. With this in mind Jesse asks a bigger question. What is the role and value of museums in modern society? QWB Lab measures the value of wellbeing that a museum, gallery, heritage site, or Library generates. Co-founder Sabine Doolin joins us.

In 2019 Auckland mother of three Zandalee Matene was facing unemployment. Fast forward six years, and Zandalee has her own business and has just made history by becoming the first first Pacific recipient of a special award in the beauty industry She won the TAIEA award at the recent 2025 NZ Lash Industry Awards, given to an individual who uplifts others and leads with integrity and pride. Zandalee Matene joins Jesse Mulligan

Kiwi driver Liam Lawson secured his biggest win ever over the weekend, coming fifth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It's the best finish for a Kiwi in Formula 1 since Chris Amon also came fifth at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1976. The success comes after a pretty challenging year for Lawson. He signed with Red Bull in January, only to be dropped two months later. So, is this the great redemption story we've been waiting for? Jesse Mulligan talks to Sports Reporter Barry Guy.

This week's critter is the New Zealand Dobsonfly (Archichauliodes diversus). They are the only representing species of this group in New Zealand. These insects are unusual, spending most of their life in their aquatic juvenile form. As adults, they live only for around 6-10 days with the sole purpose of finding a mate and procreating, not even stopping to feed. The larvae are known as toe-biters due to their large, serrated mandibles which they use to catch anything that get close to them! They have tentacle-like appendages on the sides of the body, but these are actually their gills! They are common throughout New Zealand and thrive in stony streams with good water quality. Jesse spoke to Forest and Bird's Chief Executive Nicola Toki.

Builder Sophie Jack joined Jesse to share her tips on how to start a DIY project this weekend.

Julie Biuso from sharedkitchen.co.nz talks Jesse through a delicious recipe you can make this weekend.

Film reviewer Dom Corry joins Jesse to review The Long Walk and Prime Minister.

Jesse spoke to Lorraine Sinclair, a spiritual communicator about her freaky tale.