Afternoons for Monday 29 September 2025

 

1:15 What you need to know about influencers and gambling

Four Kiwi social media influencers have been slapped with big fines by the Government gambling regulator. 

The fines are for breaching our rules; it's illegal for overseas gambling sites to advertise in New Zealand, including on social media.

Millie Elder-Holmes, Calen Morris, Billy Whaanga and Tuhira Wana have each received multiple $5000 fines, with eight more content creators under investigation. 

Which got us thinking about gambling and how on earth you can control what happens online.

Vicki Scott is Internal Affairs Director of Gambling. she spoke to Jesse.

1.25 The book helping our kids see the extraordinary in the ordinary

Author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson has a new book to share.

Giselle's first book 'The Observologist' has been a huge international success, translated into 10 languages and the recipient of awards and nominations from all over the world. 

You might also know her as the artist behind our Critter Of The Week T-Shirts as well. 

Giselle's new book is called 'Omnibird, An Avian Investigators Handbook' which focuses on how extraordinary birds actually are.

1.35 Alex Gilbert's story: On the hunt for his birth family

Alex Gilbert was adopted by a New Zealand couple in 1994 from the Arkhangelsk orphanage in Russia.

In 2013 he travelled to Russia to meet his birth parents for the first time, after using social media to find his mother.

His journey was captured in a TV documentary.

Now a new documentary follows his quest to find another family member - his grandmother. Alex speaks to Jesse.

1:45 One Long Song

Today's long song came out in 1967, though the band had been playing it live for at least a year before that. During those live performances the singer apparently ended up flopping around on the floor.

It's undoubtedly an epic song, with references to everything from the 1965 film Scream of the Butterfly to the three wise men of the Bible, and an overall theme that music is the fire of life. If you've ever heard Herbie Hancock's classic "Watermelon Man", you might be interested to know that it was an influence on the opening organ section of this song.

The Doors with eleven minutes and eight seconds of When the Music's Over.

2:10 What to watch on the small screen

Claire Chitham joins Jesse with her latest recommendations:

Black Rabbit - Netflix

The Girlfriend - Prime

2:20 Ryder Cup Chaos

The Ryder Cup has just finished and in spectacular form Europe has kept the US at bay, managing to retain the Cup. 

For those of you not familiar with the Ryder Cup, every two years, 24 of the best golf players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. 

The Ryder Cup website promises "drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship" and this year it delivered in spades, with the action off the course almost as gripping as what was happening on it. 

Here to discuss it is Mike Lane from The Alternative Commentary Collective. 

2.30 Expert Feature: How can you make your home more sustainable?

It's time for our expert feature and today we're looking at ways to make your home more energy efficient.

Eion Scott is the Senior Manager Residential at New Zealand Green Building Council, he's with me for the next 30 minutes to share his tips on how to save money on your power bill 

You can text me 2101 with your questions or email me at jesse@afternoons.co.nz

3:10 Feature interview: Why now's the time to put up guardrails around AI

Artificial intelligence is giving Daniel Barcay a sense of DeJa'Vu. He's the executive director of the Center for Humane Technology, and co-host of the podcast Your Undivided Attention. When social media first hit the internet so many people talked about it revolutionizing how we connect. What could possibly go wrong? Social media produced the most anxious and depressed generation we've ever seen. Barcay says we have to do better with AI and now is the moment as design choices being made today will shape AI for generations to come. He says AI is our chance to step back and prove we can use technology with wisdom. 

3:35 Here Now: Home based early childhood

As home-based early childcare picks up in popularity, Barnados-employed mother and daughter duo Iman and Hanin Taqieh speak about how it helped change their lives as new mums. Making shifts in their careers to become homebased educators was a decision that gave them flexibility and purpose after their family moved here from Jordan. Hanin Taquieh is community coordinator with Barnados where she leads the home-based portfolio supporting over 40 home-based educators in Auckland - including her own mum Iman, who's herself, been with Barnados for twenty years as an educator. In this episode - what's the incentive, both for parents and educators?

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.