Afternoons for Tuesday 21 October 2025

 

1:10 Burglary at the Louvre: Could a heist happen here?

As you no doubt have seen in the news, eight priceless Napoleonic jewels were stolen from the Louvre.

The burglary is like something out of a movie; the thieves brought their own lift .. rode it up to window .. stole the jewels and escaped .. all in broad daylight. 

We have been gripped by this story .. because if this can happen at the world's most popular museum .. could it happen here?

Jesse talks to investigative crime writer and heist expert Scott Bainbridge.

Three police officers in front of the Louvre Museum, tasked with monitoring the security perimeter established after the burglary of Napoleon's jewels at the museum, which had to be closed in Paris on October 19, 2025.
Trois policiers devant le Musee du Louvre charges de surveiller le perimetre de securite etabli apres le cambriolage de bijoux de Napoleon survenu au musee qui  du etre ferme a Paris le 19 octobre 2025. (Photo by Quentin de Groeve / Hans Lucas via AFP)

Three police officers in front of the Louvre Museum. Photo: QUENTIN DE GROEVE

1:20 Seeing other places and people without leaving the classroom

A group of small school children with teacher on field trip in nature, learning science.

Photo: 123RF

It is often said that there is no better education than travel.

Being able to see different places and people is one of the best ways to truly understand other cultures or ways of the world.

But travel is expensive - even within our own country.

Fortunately, our kids can go on virtual field trips which means they don't have to miss out. 

LEARNZ Field trip Kaiārahia Andrew Penny joins Jesse to explain how. 

1:35 Did we ditch DVDs too quickly?

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Photo: 123RF

Remember the good old days when you could pop into your local video store to rent the latest movie on DVD?

It's a distant memory for most of us since streaming giants changed the way we watch things.

But did we ditch DVDs too quickly?

Peter Tonks co-owns Christchurch-based Alice In Videoland, which is a DVD rental store that also has a national mail-out service.

1:45 Podcast Critic: Behind the scenes at the New York City Ballet

Dancers of the Aalto Ballett Essen perform "Swan Lakein Seville, on January, 2022. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Photo: AFP

We're talking podcasts now and our regular critic Jemima Huston has picked a couple of really interesting looking ones for us. 

Who Killed Emma? BBC Scotland
Dancing with Shadows Stak.  

2:10 Who decides when flags should fly at half mast?

Flags at half mast in front of Parliament

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Last week we were hit with the news Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger had died aged 90.

The eagle eyed amongst you probably noticed that this was accompanied by the New Zealand flag moving to half mast around the country.

A fitting tribute, but one that left us with some questions about flags...like who decides when they go half mast? Jesse is joined by Dr Malcolm Mulholland, PhD in 'flags and national identity' 

2:20 Update on Oz with Jacob Johnson

US President Donald Trump (R) speaks with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on 20 October, 2025.

US President Donald Trump speaks with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on 20 October, 2025. Photo: AFP / Saul Loeb

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to wait ten months for an in person bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, but it looks like it was worth the wait. 

Here to tell us what happened and what the meeting means for Australia is our friend from across the Tasman, TVNZ's 1News Australia Correspondent Jacob Johnson. 

2:30 Music feature: The one and only Stevie Nicks

'Bella Donna' was Stevie Nicks' debut solo album, released July 27, 1981.

'Bella Donna' was Stevie Nicks' debut solo album, released July 27, 1981. Photo: ATCO

Time for our music feature and today we’re talking Stevie Nicks.  

She breathed new life into Fleetwood Mac when she joined the band along with Lindsay Buckingham in the 1970s.  

Then in the 80s she cemented her place in popular music with a solo career that took her to new heights, starting with her 1981 solo debut ‘Bella Donna’, which is going to be the main focus of our chat today.  

 Vera Ellen chats to Jesse.

3:10 Feature: How society defined our past, and will shape our future

Photo of Dr Luke Kemp

Photo: Dr Luke Kemp

History shows that civilizations succeed in many different ways, but they tend to fail in strikingly similar ones.  Again and again, societies rise, overextend themselves, and ultimately unravel says Dr Luke Kemp. He’s a research affiliate at the Center for Study of Existential Risk at Darwin College at the University of Cambridge. He argues that societal collapse has not only defined our past but will shape our future. He lays out the urgent lessons our perilous century must learn before it’s too late. It’s called Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse. 

3:30 You're the Judge: How late is too late?

A composite illustration of nine different clocks.

Photo: TVNZ

You see we've got a new segment called 'You're the Judge' where we present an issue that's been sent in by one of our listeners, and you, our audience, decide what the right course of action is. 

If you've got an irk you'd like resolved, please do email me jesse@afternoons.co.nz

Today's problem is one that we think will resonate with many of you - it's about being late, and whether it is okay to be told the wrong time to make sure you are on time!

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

wallace chapman

Photo: wallace chapman