Afternoons for Wednesday 7 June 2023

 

1:15 What do fans think of AI and holograph avatars (abbatars) in concert?

Seeing a music legend perform in their prime is an amazing experience so it's no wonder there have been recent advances in holographic concerts.

The concerts can resurrect singers from the dead, reignite nostalgia of our youth, or even fulfill a lifelong dream to see an artist who has long since retired.

The most well-known of these concerts was the virtual reunion tour of still-living Swedish pop sensation ABBA, who used digital versions of their younger selves- known as 'ABBAtars'

A recent study of the "tour" found a mixture reactions among fans. Associate professor at Auckland University of Technology Angelique Nairn is one of the study's authors. She speaks to Charlotte.

1:25 Does Kūmara hold the key to getting babies to sleep?

We already know it's delicious, but Kūmara might also help babies sleep more soundly, which is great news for sleep deprived parents!

A trail run by the University of Auckland is exploring if kūmara acts as a pre-biotic, fostering healthy bacteria in a baby's microbiome, and supporting immune development and sleep.

Principal Investigator and Professor and Head of the Department of Nutrition at the University of Auckland, Clare Wall talks to Charlotte.

1:35 Christchurch model yacht club going strong after 125 years

If you wander down to Christchurch's Hagley park on a Wednesday, chances are you'll see dozens of white sails at lake Victoria.

Christchurch's model yacht club is about to celebrate 125 years by holding holding a regatta next week.

Established in 1898, it's New Zealand's oldest Model Yacht club, and the second oldest in the world!

Club member Bruce Edgar is down at Hagley Park. He speaks to Charlotte from there.

1:45 Papanui bush restoration project to commemorate King Charles coronation

A community project in Christchurch to restore Papanui's bush is holding a special event to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III.

Since 2017, the Papanui Rotary with support of the City Council has been planting thousands of native trees and shrubs at Bridgestone Reserve.

On Saturday, the Christchurch Mayor, Phil Mauger will plant a rimu at the entrance of the reserve, which will be followed by a community day of action.

Project lead, Denis McMurtie talks to Charlotte.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Alex Barnes

Today Alex talks to Charlotte about podcasts Ko Papa, Ko Rangi: Up or Down?, Mai i Kurawaka and California Institute of Integral Studies podcast series.

2:25 Bookmarks with Donna Brookbanks

For Bookmarks today we have comedian, actor and writer Donna Brookbanks.

Donna Brookbanks is one of the founding member of the hugely succesful improve and comedy show, Snort at Auckland Basement Theatre.

She's also a two time nominee for the Billy T award and has appeared on THREE's 7 Days,  Funny Girls and The Breaker Upperers. You also may have heard her on Nine to Noon!

3:10 Raising boys to also like themselves

Girls are told they can do anything. But too often boys get the message there is still only one 'right' way to be a man.  
Husband and wife research and writing team Kasey Edwards and Christopher Scanlon wrote a book two years ago about raising confident, resilient girls who can withstand social pressures. Teach them to like themselves they said, and the rest will follow.  And then parents starting asking, what about the boys ? So they looked at the research and found that many of the same strategies they offered for girls can help boys reach their full potential too.  Their new book is called Bringing Up Boys Who Like Themselves.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World – Claire Concannon heads to the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to speak to a researcher investigating how the heart works.

3:45 The Panel with Heather Roy and Guy Williams