Afternoons for Monday 9 February 2026

 

1:10 Can you distinguish fake news from real news?

How do you know what you read online is accurate and real? We're asking because an investigation has discovered that fake "New Zealand news" pages are flooding Facebook and they are proving very hard to distinguish from reality. 

RNZ's Digital Explainer Editor Nik Dirga did a deep dive into a page calling itself "NZ News Hub" which lifts legitimate reporting from trusted outlets such as RNZ, Stuff and the New Zealand Herald and pairs it with low-quality AI-generated images or videos.

Nik chats to Jesse. 

1.20 Forget Fantasy football, say hello to Fantasy Herd!

Now, if you're one of the millions of people around the world who participate in a fantasy sport league, we've found your next obsession. 

Meadow Fresh has just launched Fantasy Herd - yes you read that right - a new fantasy-sports style game powered by real cows. 

Instead of athletes, players can select dairy cows from a working farm in North Otago. You can pick a captain, make transfers and watch as your cows earn points - there's $20,000 up for grabs too!  

Tim Richards, the North Otago farmer whose real herd stars in Fantasy Herd, chats to Jesse. 

For more information click here

1.30 Life Lessons: How we can understand and deal with grief

'The Year After Kahlia' is a memoir tracing Kirsten O'Connor's first year of grief after losing her daughter Kahlia to suicide

The book tracks her maps her experiences, what happens in the body when we grieve, and presents a tool kit for survival.

She talks to Jesse. 

If you or anyone you know need help call Lifeline Aotearoa, free call or text 1737, depression helpline, or Youthline

1:45 Here Now with Henrique Morales

From Rio Grande Do Sul in southern Brazil, singer and musician Henrique Morales joins Here Now host Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode of Back to Basics - sounds that he grew up with.

2:10 OZ Update: What's happening in Australia?

 The Israeli President has just arrived in Sydney for an official state visit in the wake of last year's Bondi terror attack. 

Police have been given special powers ahead of the protests against Isaac Herzog's visit.

Brad Foster joins Jesse to discuss this and other notable stories from across the Tasman. 

2:20 Jesse Goes Clubbing

Every Monday Jesse joins the hard core ravers and hits the club.

Last week we heard from Warren about his Ham radio club,  before that we had Anastasia from the Manawatu Cactus and Succulent club.

If you'd like Jesse to come and join your club for a day, text us on 2101 or email us afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Today he's talking to Brendon Covich from the Auckland Bonsai Club.

2.30 Expert Feature: Everything you want to know about ADHD

We thought it would be great to take a deeper dive into ADHD for this week's expert feature. 

Dr Sarah Watson is a senior clinical psychologist and is clinic director at Totally Psyched clinic in Auckland, a private mental health family practice specialising in general mental health and neurodiversity.

She is also Clinical Advisor to ADHD NZ and was Member of the NZ Clinical Principles Framework for ADHD Advisory Group, that saw the development of a clinical framework for ADHD. 

3:10 TV Critic: Heated Rivalry and The New Years

 Ruwani Perera is a reporter for The Hui, she joins Jesse to share some TV shows that seem to have everyone talking. 

The New Years - Prime Video/Mubi

Heated Rivalry - NEON

The Traitors Season 4 (US version) - Three Now

3:25 Roadie Songs

We've got a new segment on Afternoons, it's called Roadie Songs and it's pretty much what it sounds like, we want to know the songs you love to turn up loud and play on a road trip.

Send us your suggestions on 2101 add your phone number and Jesse might just give you a call to find out the story behind your choice.

3:30 Feature: Bet on it! We take a look at the rise of prediction markets

Celebrity weddings, the war in Ukraine, election outcomes; the future is now a marketplace with the rise of prediction apps like Polymarket and Kalshi. Users can put money on trades about what might happen in politics, pop culture and sports. Bobby Allyn is a technology correspondent for National Public Radio who met two traders making $100,000 a month on these sites. Supporters say the wisdom of crowds is more accurate than polls. But there are fears prediction markets are ripe for misinformation and manipulation. Allyn explains how they work, who is making money and what is being done to manage what some see as nothing more than high-tech gambling.

3:50 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's edition of The Panel.