Afternoons for Wednesday 11 June 2025

1.15 Sonia Gray on her mind-altering mental health journey 

Actor and broadcaster Sonia Gray has been on a journey to find out if psychedelics could be the answer to New Zealand's ongoing addiction and mental health crisis.

An open book when it comes to her own anxiety struggles, Sonia has explored new and growing frontier of medicine - by micro-dosing LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and ketamine in controlled environments.  

She tells Jesse all about this mind-altering journey which has been captured for two-part documentary Mind Menders.

 

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
• Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz|
• What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7 days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm
• Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
• Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
• Healthline: 0800 611 116
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155\
• OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

 

There are numerous clinical trails taking place in New Zealand: 

• The EMMAC Study
• PAM Trail 
• ANZCTR

 

1:25 The man reimagining teacher training

Last year, Westlake Boys School headmaster David Ferguson left his job of 15 years to address a critical issue - a lack of teachers. 

David is now the first CEO of  The Teachers' Institute. A charitable trust providing an alternative pathway to becoming a qualified teacher.

1:35 Safer dining options needed for our gluten-free community

A call has gone out to restaurants across the motu to buck up their ideas when it comes to their gluten-free dining offerings. More than 100,000 New Zealanders are estimated to be living with coeliac disease, with thousands more likely undiagnosed. 

Now Coeliac New Zealand says people too often are navigating a minefield of hidden ingredients, cross-contamination risks, and the fear of being misunderstood or dismissed for being coeliac. The non-profit says this will both benefit our gluten-free community and could revitalise the struggling hospitality sector.

Wendy Bremner is general manager at Coeliac New Zealand. She joins Jesse. 

1:45 Heading Off: Katie Fitzgerald in South Korea & Japan

Morning Report producer Katie Fitzgerald takes us on an overland adventure through South Korea and on to Japan.

2.12 Music Critic: Rachel Ashby 

Rachel brings along tracks from Geneva AM and Phoebe Rings. 

2:20 Easy Eats with Sam Parrish 

Sam Parrish shares her midweek recipe for Eggy noodles.

2:30 Bookmarks with Peau Halapua

Bookmarks time, where we get to know a Kiwi making waves by asking them about their favourite things.

Today, we're talking to violinist and musical director Peau Halapua who has arranged and performed in acclaimed theatre shows, including 'Émilie' at Auckland's Q Theatre, and performed with the likes of  L.A.B., Tami Neilson, and Sol3Mio. 

Peau is currently working on a new show for tamariki, Taniwha, which is on at the Silo Theatre during the upcoming school holidays. Peau speaks to Jesse. 

Her song choices today include: 
Itzhak Perlman plays Fritz Kreisler: Caprice Viennois opus 2 - Itzhak Perlman
Schubert: Schwanengesang, D. 957, 4. Ständchen In D Minor - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Waves - TEEKS

3:10 James Kimmel Jr. on revenge politics 

Revenge is front and center in American politics as the world witnesses the bitter break up of Elon Musk and US President Trump. Revenge is an addiction says Dr. James Kimmel Jr who knows the impulse to get your own back having spent 20 years in what he calls the business of revenge as a lawyer.  Now as a professor in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, he studies revenge and his new book The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction and How to Overcome It is out now. James Kimmel Jr speaks to Jesse. 

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3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.