Afternoons for Thursday 26 June 2025

1:10 Delayed, detained and deported - the Australian writer denied entry to the USA.

Alistair Kitchen has a warning for those planning travel to the United States.

During a stopover in Los Angeles the Australian writer was pulled from the customs line, detained for 12 hours and questioned about his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

He tells Jesse about the experience, and what happened next. 

1:25 Fans react to Lorde's new album

Tomorrow is a highly anticipated day in pop music - it's release day for Lorde's fourth album 'Virgin'. 

The promotion around the record has been huge. Events have been popping up all around the world, in London, New York, Sydney and here in Aotearoa. 

Last night, Flying Nun record stores around the motu held early listening events to give fans a sneak peek, Jesse finds out how the album was received.  

1:30 The NZ scientists hoping to crack the issue of our produce going to landfill. 

New Zealand scientists say they have developed 'world first' technology which has the potential to solve a huge problem in our horticulture industry

Sustainability venture 'Powered by plants' has produced a system which converts surplus produce into dried ingredients, bio energy and organic fertiliser

Currently 20% of the 6.2 million tonnes of produce grown in NZ is sent to landfill or used for feed, while NZ manufacturers import thousands of tonnes of dried food ingredients and extracts into the country.

The lead scientist on the project, Dr Andrew Prest, talks to Jesse. 

1:40 She Is Not Your Rehab - Children's Edition

 Following the success of their number one bestselling book She Is Not Your Rehab; founders of the global anti-domestic violence movement Matt and Sarah Brown are now turning their focus to the next generation.

They've written a children's book, This Is Not Yours to Carry, they told Jesse this book offers kids a tool to understand and release their pain before it becomes lifelong baggage.

1:45 Great album - Ringlets 'The Lord is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies)'

The post punk quartet Ringlets has carved out a unique space in New Zealand's music scene with their punchy and boisterous sound. 

Guitarist László Reynolds describes the band's signature as aggressive guitar riffing and driving rhythms.

Ringlets album The Lord is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is out on June 27th. 

2:10 Podcast Critic - Conspiracyland and Rabbit Hole

This week our podcast critic Tessa Guest and Jesse discuss Conspiracyland 2 and The Rabbit Hole.

Conspiracyland 2 is where the BBC's Disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring investigates the rise in conspiracy movements. 

The Rabbit Hole is a podcast from the New York Times, presented by Kevin Roose, it's a series about how the internet is changing, and how it's changing us. 

2:30 NZ Sporting History - Steve Williams, NZ's most famous golf caddy

Steve Williams is widely regarded as one of the most successful caddies in golf history.

He caddied for Tiger Woods for 12 years, winning 13 majors together. 

The pair parted ways in 2011. Now Steve has written a book "Together we Roared" about his time caddying for Tiger. 

3:15 Solving the World's Problems - Reaching the limit of speed limit chat.

Simon Wilson and Jesse discuss how can we have a better, more productive debate about road safety.

Why does our starting point always seem to be getting everyone to drive faster?

3:20 History with Dr Grant Morris - NZ, Iran and the meat trade boom.

Historian Dr Grant Morris looks at New Zealand's relationship with Iran and the difficult balance between economics and politics.

3:35 Spoken Feature BBC Witness: The Czech Freedom Train

On 11 September 1951, the 9.55am train from Prague to Aš, in Communist Czechoslovakia was hijacked and driven to freedom in West Germany.

One hundred and eleven people were on board and 34 of them never returned, starting new lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

The remaining 77 returned to Czechoslovakia to face state security, the Státní bezpečnost, and many were jailed.

Rachel Naylor uses an archive interview with Karel Ruml, one of the hijackers, who went on to move to the United States.

3:45 The pre-Panel 

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.