Rnz: Afternoons With Jesse Mulligan

The Pre-Panel for October 21, 2025

You see 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. If you've got an irk you'd like resolved, please do email me jesse@afternoons.co.nz Today's problem is one that we think will resonate with many of you - it's about being late, and whether it is okay to be told the wrong time to make sure you are on time!

History shows that civilizations succeed in many different ways, but they tend to fail in strikingly similar ones. Again and again, societies rise, overextend themselves, and ultimately unravel says Dr Luke Kemp. He's a research affiliate at the Center for Study of Existential Risk at Darwin College at the University of Cambridge. He argues that societal collapse has not only defined our past but will shape our future. He lays out the urgent lessons our perilous century must learn before it's too late. It's called Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to wait ten months for an in person bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, but it looks like it was worth the wait. Here to tell us what happened and what the meeting means for Australia is our friend from across the Tasman, TVNZ's 1News Australia Correspondent Jacob Johnson.

Last week we were hit with the news Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger had died aged 90. The eagle eyed amongst you probably noticed that this was accompanied by the New Zealand flag moving to half mast around the country. A fitting tribute, but one that left us with some questions about flags...like who decides when they go half mast? Jesse is joined by Dr Malcolm Mulholland, PhD in 'flags and national identity'

We're talking podcasts now and our regular critic Jemima Huston has picked a couple of really interesting looking ones for us. Who Killed Emma? BBC Scotland Dancing with Shadows Stak.

Remember the good old days when you could pop into your local video store to rent the latest movie on DVD? It's a distant memory for most of us since streaming giants changed the way we watch things. But did we ditch DVDs too quickly? Peter Tonks co-owns Christchurch-based Alice In Videoland, which is a DVD rental store that also has a national mail-out service.

It is often said that there is no better education than travel. Being able to see different places and people is one of the best ways to truly understand other cultures or ways of the world. But travel is expensive - even within our own country. Fortunately, our kids can go on virtual field trips which means they don't have to miss out. LEARNZ Field trip Kaiarahia Andrew Penny joins Jesse to explain how.

As you no doubt have seen in the news, eight priceless Napoleonic jewels were stolen from the Louvre. The burglary is like something out of a movie; the thieves brought their own lift .. rode it up to window .. stole the jewels and escaped .. all in broad daylight. We have been gripped by this story .. because if this can happen at the world's most popular museum .. could it happen here? Jesse talks to investigative crime writer and heist expert Scott Bainbridge.

Sometimes described as hypnotic - haunting, even, the ancient rich and resonant sounds of Indonesian Gamelan celebrates a special anniversary at Canterbury University. Here's Kadambari Raghukumar, with the Here Now podcast.

Headaches. We all get them. Yet despite centuries of study, we still don't really understand their causes and cures. Author and journalist Tom Zeller Jr has spent years trying to understand the kind of epic headaches he gets. He says he goes into the dark valley of head pain on a regular basis. He's on a quest to understand the stubborn pain he and a billion other people endure and why headaches remain such a mystery and what might finally offer hope. His book is called The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction-and a Search for Relief.

So if you've got any burning questions about zoos or zoo animals let us know - text me on 2101. Our expert today spent almost 20 years at the helm of Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo - Karen Fifield MNZM. She joins Jesse.

It's Monday which means we get to learn about new things to watch on the box, our TV critic Caitlin Cherry joins Jesse with her picks: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (Neon) Jane (2017, Disney) Alien Earth (Disney)

Scientists have used tracking devices to enable them to reconstruct the underwater life of the Hector's dolphin. Very little was known of the underwater behaviour of the world's smallest marine dolphin until now. A scientific paper has revealed an array of acrobatics and some incredible underwater sounds. Auckland University Professor Rochelle Constantine was part of the research and chats to Jesse.

James Green from Hidden Honey is driving across the North Island on a mission to raise awareness about pollination. He talks to Jesse.

In the next 25 years the number of people over 65 is set to double. That is quite a shift from our current reality, where fewer than one in five of us are over 65. In 2078, that becomes one in three. So what does that mean? Well, a new report from the Helen Clark Foundation has taken a deep dive into the issues and the opportunities this change creates. Deputy Director Kali Mercier joins Jesse.

Today the focus is on the kauri greenhood orchid.

It's time to talk about the stuff you get up to in your weekends now and today we've got Lynda Hallinan here to chat all things gardening.

Julie Biuso from Shared Kitchen joins us to talk all things pesto.

Film critic Dominic Corry is here with his best picks which are full of thrills, spills and screams, oh and Ethan Hawke.