Advertise on podcast: The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Kiwi comedian, actress and director Alice Snedden has relocated to the UK, and she's got a new project for fans to stream on Neon. Snedden's best known for the BBC show Starstruck, as well as the likes of Funny Girls, Jono and Ben, Educators and Taskmaster NZ. She says she always goes back to creating things she's going to have good time on, and her new show, Break Clause, has a relatable premise. "If you're a young couple - even living just the two of them together is pretty aspirational, the idea that they could sustain a place on their own or anything like that is absurd."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist John Aiken is best known for matchmaking and advising the contestants on Married at First Sight - but he's got a new project lined up.  Lessons on Living is a three-part series inspired by the late Nigel Latta, with the original book being released last year on the day he died.   John Aiken explained that he's carrying on the conversation Nigel started, and it's very different to what he's used to.  "It was a chance to really deep dive on some of the key elements to building resilience, and doing it by interviewing really powerful Kiwis, and also doing experiments and also getting to know Nigel's nearest and dearest."   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's all sorts of new and exciting ideas happening in the world of travel - and even New Zealand-made developments are getting credit. BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explored the benefits and opportunities that come with bigger projects like Etihad Rail and Viking's new hybrid hydrogen powered cruise ship. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee. She wrote the wonderful book Pachinko some years ago and this is another masterpiece. John Koh is a South Korean businessman who’s badly betrayed by his boss and struggles to find another job, in the midst of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. He’s most concerned about the future of his kids, and the family move from Seoul to Sydney and then to Los Angeles looking for the good opportunities which never come. The next generation get involved in a hagwon, which is essentially a cramming school for students – but unlike the typical hagwon which is entirely driven by the desperate need for academic success, they’re more interested in developing well rounded and less stressed students. Partita by Barbara Kingsolver. Author of the equally brilliant The Poisonwood Bible and Demon Copperhead amongst others. Lydia Bohusz is a young, naïve, supremely gifted pianist who leaves Appalachia for college where her prodigious musicality promises a brilliant future - until an affair and its subsequent aftermath dramatically changes the course of her life. This is Barbara Kingsolver writing at her most sublime.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, journalist Simon Wilson and host of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New data shows over a third of young Kiwis are not enrolled to vote - two weeks ahead of enrolment closing. Are we doing enough to engage young people? How important is it that we get young people enrolled and voting? Do we think the law change to stop election day enrolments will have an impact on this election?    National has recently announced they'll be campaigning on students being required to stay at school until they complete year 11, rather than being able to leave when they turn 16. It also wants more uniform school start and finish dates. Do we think this is a good idea? Do we see this working for voters?  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 11 October, MAFS relationship expert John Aiken has taken on a new challenge.  He joins Francesca to talk about bringing the last work of Nigel Latta to life in new tv show 'Lessons on Living'. Kiwi director, comedian and writer Alice Snedden is back with a new show 'Break Clause'.  Alice joins Francesca to share what it's like trying to make a name for yourself in the UK tv industry. Francesca questions US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to livestream an execution. With two weeks until enrolments close, more than a third of young people are still no enrolled. On a Roll is a youth led campaign to get young people enrolled, volunteer Adriana Bird lets us know why that demographic is slow to enrol and what could be done to get them more engaged in politics. And Michelle Dickinson shares why joint exercise might just be the key to a happier marriage. 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.

Frozen vegetable yellow curry with crispy pork  Cook time: 60 minutes  Prep time: 20 minutes  Serves: 6 400gm Brined pork belly   2 tbsp sunflower oil   2 cups frozen mixed vegetable   2 cups fresh spinach leaves   1 cup of curry paste   2 can coconut cream   1 cup vegetable stock   2 tbsp brown sugar   3 tbsp thai fish sauce   Juice of 2 lemons   1 cup mint leaves   1 cup coriander leaves   Curry paste   1 onion, peeled & diced   6 garlic cloves, peeled   2 stalks of lemongrass   1 knob ginger   2 tbsp curry powder   2 chilli, you choose!   1 cup of coriander stems, left over from the leaves   1/4 cup sunflower oil   1 tsp salt   6 makrut (kaffir) lime leaves (optional) Pre-heat a oven to 170*c   Place the brined and dried pork onto a oven tray and place in the oven for 1 hour. To finish, turn the oven to grill to crisp up the skin.   To make the curry paste, bend all the ingredients together until smooth.   Heat a cast iron fry-pan. Add in the yellow curry paste and fry over a medium heat until the paste become fragrant.   Add the coconut cream along with vegetable stock. Season with a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil and then add in the frozen vegetables. Simmer for a further 10 minutes.   Finish by adding the sugar, Thai fish sauce, lemon juice and finally the mint, coriander leaves and spinach leaves.   Chop up the crispy pork and place into the curry just before you serve.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state of the health system is a big talking point in this year's election, but there's debate to be had about preventative steps as well. Despite the well-documented benefits of preventive measures, many people fail to engage in proactive preventive health behaviours - and there's also societal factors that add to declining health, like housing, income, and food systems.   Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara unpacked the debate further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if one of the simplest ways to improve your marriage wasn't couples counselling, a romantic holiday or an expensive date night, but something as ordinary as going for a walk together? New research published in the journal Family Relations suggests that couples who exercise together may communicate better, resolve disagreements more peacefully and experience less conflict in their marriages. The study looked at nearly 1,700 married couples that were part of a larger research project called the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study, which investigates relationships during the early years of marriage. They examined two different types of physical activity: exercise that husbands and wives did individually, and exercise they participated in together. They then compared those exercise habits against three measures of relationship health: Communication: How well couples talked, listened and understood one another. - Conflict resolution: How effectively couples worked through disagreements. - Marital conflict: The level of disagreement and tension reported in the relationship. The researchers collected information from both husbands and wives rather than relying on just one person's perspective, they then used a statistical technique called dyadic regression, which allows researchers to analyse information from two people in the same relationship while accounting for the fact that their experiences are connected.  They also compared individual and shared exercise within their statistical models to see which had the stronger association with relationship outcomes. The results showed that 60 percent of husbands and wives reported exercising, but only about one-third exercised together. When the researchers compared the responses, they found that people who exercised generally reported healthier relationships than those who didn't. Shared exercise was associated with better communication, more constructive conflict resolution and lower levels of marital conflict. This is particularly interesting because the most commonly reported shared exercise wasn't an intensive gym workout, running or cycling, it was walking. The researchers suggest that walking together may offer something that exercising alone doesn't - uninterrupted opportunities to talk, listen and connect without the distractions of everyday life. Couples who exercised together also reported feeling more heard and supported by their partners. There may also be other factors at play. Couples who have more free time, fewer financial pressures or similar interests might find it easier to exercise together and also experience less relationship stress. However, when you're walking side by side, there are fewer distractions competing for your attention and you're not necessarily looking at a television, checking emails or rushing through household chores. Instead, you have time to talk about your day, discuss problems or simply enjoy each other's company. The study concluded that exercise may also improve mood and help regulate stress, potentially making difficult conversations easier and is a simple and free way to help improve your physical and marital health.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Celebrity Traitors UK is back for another season - where UK stars need to guess each other's motives for a cash prize for the charity of their choosing. The first season was well-received, but what can this new season offer viewers. Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further - and whether this show could be a good distraction during a busy election season. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mental Health Awareness Week is set to get underway for another year, with this year's theme being 'Belonging Matters.'  More Kiwis are reporting feeling lonelier than ever, according to new data - and schools, workplaces and other communities are being encouraged to give people opportunities to connect.  Mental Health Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson says economic troubles, global tension and lack of trust are pushing us all away from each other. "That has created a climate of blame, and finger-pointing - we know that there are worsening levels of trust around the world and that is also affecting New Zealand. All of that tends to push people away from one another." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The election season is well and truly under way, with the first debates of the campaign taking place last week. The cost of living, the health system and education were among some of the major issues discussed on the campaign trail. Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says the first leaders' debate fell 'flat' and it's still a very close race for both major parties. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have ensured the Bledisloe Cup's air miles are limited for another year. The 50-19 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park has extended the run to at least 25 years between series wins for the Australians, who last defended the Cup in 2002. Former All Black and Sky Sport commentator Jeff Wilson says the Kiwi side will have learned some lessons following their string of losses to the Springboks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The election is a month away and enrolment is due to close in two weeks - but new data shows a significant number of eligible young Kiwis aren't enrolled.  Recent data from the Electoral Commission shows only 63.4 percent of people aged between 18 and 24 are enrolled to vote, and questions have been raised.    On a Roll campaign volunteer Adriana Bird says this age demographic is more mobile, meaning updating their enrolment details can fall by the wayside. "This age bracket is very mobile when it comes to updating details as well, you often have young people that are moving flats, moving accommodation, moving in and out of halls that struggle with kind of knowing how to navigate the system in that way."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some crimes so horrendous that finding the right words to describe them is almost impossible. The 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas, in which Nidal Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 others, is one of them.  Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death. Now, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says his execution by firing squad, scheduled for December 3, will be livestreamed so the public can watch. The reasoning, apparently, is that people need to understand there are serious consequences for crimes like this.  Really? I think we already understand.  There can be no argument about the enormity of what Hasan did, or the devastation inflicted on the victims, their families and colleagues.  The justice system has imposed its ultimate penalty.   But why do we need to watch?  What does livestreaming an execution actually achieve? Is it about transparency? Or has the business of justice, or vengeance, become a performance, with the execution the grand finale, the final episode?  I have never watched a beheading. I have never watched footage of the Christchurch mosque massacre. I have never deliberately sought out videos of people being killed. Not because I don't want to understand the horror of these events, but because I don't believe watching somebody die helps me understand it any better. It also feels disrespectful to the victims. Their horror turned into a curiosity.     We’re already surrounded by images of violence. The internet has made it possible to witness the very worst of humanity, often within seconds of it happening. But just because something can be broadcast doesn't mean it should be, and we could be subjected to it even if we choose not to watch.   There is a reason public executions have largely disappeared from modern society. It’s believed this would be the first public execution in the US in almost a century. Legally there may be issues as to whether it can be broadcast. But there’s no doubt that reducing someone's death to a spectacle risks reducing a serious judicial act to entertainment, outrage or political messaging.   And it raises an uncomfortable question: what separates this from the public executions associated with countries such as Iran, or the Taliban in Afghanistan? This places the United States in dubious company.   Will watching an execution deter crime? People continue to commit crimes knowing they could be put to death for them. Does it help victims' families? I can’t say. But this feels less about deterrence, and more about asserting control, projecting power and scoring political points.  We can understand the severity of a crime without watching someone die. We can support justice without turning death into a show. A healthy society is measured not by what it is able to broadcast, but by what it chooses to leave unwatched.   JD Vance has said that if the livestream of the execution goes ahead, he won’t be watching it. For once, there’s something we agree on.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.