1:12 First Song: She Said by Harper Finn

Harper Finn talks to Jesse today about his latest single he's just released, She Said.

He also details where people can see him in his upcoming tour which kicks off on Thursday in Christchurch and finishes up in Auckland on May 15.

Harper Finn

Harper Finn Photo: supplied

1:17 Pre-budget political lingo 

It's starting to feel like budget season. While this year's budget announcements will be a bit different, a lot seems to have stayed the same. Including pre-budget speeches! 

There was quite a lot of hubub following Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson's pre budget announcement this morning, so to sperate the signal from the noise Jesse is joined by political commentator Ben Thomas. Ben used to work as press secretary for the National Government and is currently works as a freelance PR consultant. 

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Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

1:27 Soft plastic recycling advice 

Yesterday we spoke to Gina Dempster from Wastebusters about contaminated household recycling and we learnt a lot about the do's and dont's for hard plastics and glass. But what do we do about our soft plastics? What even is a soft plastic? Lyn Mayes is the Manager of the Packaging Forum's Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme and she joins Jesse to explain. 

The soft plastic recycling scheme, run by the Packaging Forum, has been operating since 2015 and now covers about 70 percent of the country.

The soft plastic recycling scheme, run by the Packaging Forum, has been operating since 2015 and now covers about 70 percent of the country. Photo: Facebook / Love NZ Soft Plastics Recycling

1:35 Clyde: small town done good 

It's been a pretty scary year and a bit for towns dependent on tourism. But it's not all doom and gloom and some small towns are experiencing a tourism boom. Freelance journalist George Driver has written about his home town of Clyde for The Spinoff and joins me now to discuss a small town doing big things. 

St Dunstan's Church, Clyde

St Dunstan's Church, Clyde Photo: Benchill, Wikimedia Commons

1:50 How to Write a Wikipedia entry

Mike Dickison was New Zealand's first Wikipedian at Large from 2018 to 2019. He's also a Wikipedia editor, as well as a museum curator and zoologist. Today's he talks to Jesse about how to write an entry in Wikipedia! 

Mike Dickison

Mike Dickison Photo: By Lanipai - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62132150

2:10 Book Critic: Catherine Roberston

Today Catherine Robertson introduces the Rivers of London series.

2:20 New Sir Dave Dobbyn collection 

Well, he's been around since the 70's as Dave. But it's now Sir Dave to you. 

Dave Dobbyn was recently knighted and to celebrate the occasion NZ on Screen has created an online library of his working life. Gabe McDonnell is a playwright, actor, TV and fiction writer and many other things. She writes for NZ on Screen and Audioculture and has had Dave Dobbyn on her mind for some years now. She joins Jesse to look back across 40 years of 'The Dob"! 

Check out Gabe's piece charting Dave Dobbyn's journey from shy rocker to knighthood here

Reopening of Redcliffs School in Christchurch, Dave Dobbyn visit and Prime Minister attended.

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

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Photo: supplied

3:10 Paul Greenberg on ways to make carbon footprints smaller

Climate change isn't up for debate anymore, but what to do about it is.  Science writer Paul Greenberg wants to get people off the sidelines to become game changers on this issue.  He has a tonne of ideas that  involve taking small steps to shrink our big carbon footprints. His new book is called: The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint.

You can read more about his European staycation in the US here and if you want to know more, you can find out about more about cull cows here.

3:30 Spoken Feature: BBC Witness History

How Amsterdam became the home of cannabis coffee shops .The Mellow Yellow Café set a pattern in 1973 of attracting customers, which hundreds of others would follow. Although selling and smoking the drug was illegal, possession of small quantities of cannabis was tolerated by the Dutch police. Bob Howard talks to the café's owner, Werner Bruining.

The window of a coffee shop selling recreational drugs in Amsterdam.

The window of a coffee shop selling recreational drugs in Amsterdam. Photo: AFP

3:45 The Panel with Ruth Money and Shane Te Pou