Features

Faced with a flood of information about what to eat, a time-honoured cliche may be our best guide, says journalist Nicole Schmidt. Audio

A new study from a Danish university has found the best song to listen to at any time of the day - and how the hour dictates our musical preferences. Audio

Channing Tatum shows he's got directing as well as acting chops in his debut feature Dog. Video, Audio

A 6.5-foot polar bear, a blue fox and a honey badger are all up for auction in Dunedin this weekend. Audio, Gallery

Highly-regarded New Zealand composer Lyell Cresswell died this week. Here you can listen to a collection of his music which combines intellect and emotion with magnificent skill, as recorded by RNZ Concert over many years.

Troy Kingi has won the top song writing trophy for 'All Your Ships Have Sailed', with Maisey Rika and Seth Haapu's waiata and a composition from music collective Plan 9 also recognised in the awards. Video

How did Wellington Water fail to fluoridate much of its water supply for months on end - and why didn't it tell anyone? The Detail takes a closer look. Audio

When New York Times opinion writer Frank Bruni woke up with blurred vision one morning several years ago, he had no idea how temporarily losing his sight would turn into unexpected insights into aging, resilience, and human potential. Audio

Artist Stephanie Lepp meets people who've undergone profound personal change on the podcast Reckonings. She tells Jesse Mulligan what she's learnt about the process. Video, Audio

Explainer - There's a new Covid-19 variant making headlines around the world - Deltacron. Whatever you may think about that name, it's exactly what it sounds like - a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants.

International analyst Geoffrey Miller examines New Zealand's new military assistance for Ukraine and asks whether more humanitarian aid could also be provided.

Our Changing World - Alison Ballance meets some engineers from Victoria University of Wellington who are coming up with smart ways to keep the lights on, using renewable electricity produced locally. Audio

The team reflect on the legacy of Sir Wira Gardiner, the Hui Horizon Research poll of Māori voters, Tau and Shane debate the Māori Party’s call to remove GST on kai, the Tauranga by-election and the new history curriculum. Video, Audio

The Duke directed by the late Roger Michell and starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren harks back to a genre Britain once made its own – Ealing comedies like The Lavender Hill Mob and The Ladykillers.  Video, Audio

There's much pressure in modern life to keep our minds focused, but this can be to the detriment of creative thinking, says neuroscientist Moshe Bar. Audio

What really drives people towards cults is language, says linguist Amanda Montell. Her new book Cultish: the Language of Fanaticism explores the linguistic patterns that cults and cult-like brands use. Audio

The natural antibacterial qualities of insect wings has inspired scientists in the lab to come up with new technology to package food. Audio

Nigerian-born Aucklander Esther Olatunbosun has taken her sweet tooth to the Dubai World Expo. One of just three young chefs chosen to represent New Zealand, she has big dreams and one heck of a pav. Audio

Analysis - There is a growing consensus that Russian forces have, or are on the cusp of, 'culminating' in Ukraine. Mick Ryan explains what that could mean.

Dr Ramani Durvasula, has built a career out of demystifying and dismantling the toxic influence of narcissism, she discusses this malignant personality trait with Jesse Mulligan. Audio

Gabriel Gatehouse's BBC podcast series The Coming Storm, not only delves into QAnon's origins but how it remains a major force within the Republican party, democracy itself is threatened by the spread of such conspiracies, he says. Audio

Analysis - That creaking sound you may have noticed at the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry was indeed the familiar sound of a rather old pendulum swinging, David Cohen writes.

Hair and Loathing - In episode four Charlotte Cook looks at the cultural and religious aspects of body hair. Audio

Mediawatch - Today FM is set to take on Newstalk ZB in a battle for talk radio supremacy. But in contrast to its controversy-courting crosstown rival, its website is demonstrating a surprisingly tranquil approach. Audio