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Wednesday 21 May 2025

 

1:15 Come Together: Live Rust Tour

The Come Together: Live Rust tour kicks off next month, bringing together the raw energy of Neil Young's iconic Live Rust album. 

Jon Toogood and Dianne Swann are joining a group of New Zealand's finest artists for the tour that will recreate one of the biggest selling albums ever.

Jon and Dianne spoke to Jesse ahead of the tour that will visit Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Image of Come Together Live Rust Tour poster

Photo: Reb Fountain

1:25 Future of gaming in New Zealand

This week is TechWeek, which is Aotearoa's biggest celebration of technology and innovation.

Events are being held across the country to explore the rapidly changing tech sector, 

Mario Wynands started PikPok in a flat in Lower Hutt nearly 30 years ago and now it's New Zealand's biggest game development and publishing studio.

So how much has the gaming industry changed over the years, how valuable is it as an export earner. and is it a smart career for your kids to get into?

PikPok CEO Mario Wynands spoke to Jesse.

Mario Wynands

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

1:35 Northland SPCA pleads for help with dumped puppies

A Northland SPCA shelter is crying out for help, as it struggles to take care of an influx of dumped and abandoned puppies.

Jo Harbison is an animal attendant at the Kerikeri shelter and told Jesse it's the worst she's seen it.

A warning that some content in this interview may include details of what state these puppies are in.

Picture of 11 puppies dumped at Kerikeri SPCA

Photo: SPCA Far North

1:45 Heading Off: Noosa

It's time to head off, in our weekly travel segment . This week we're not roving too far - we're off to Noosa on Queenland's Sunshine Coast.

Gwen McClure, from RNZ's The Detail, has recently returned from a week's holiday there, with her family and tells Jesse all about it.

Toddler and kangaroo

Photo: Gwen McClure

2:12 Music Critic:

RNZ's music critic extraordinaire, Tony Stamp, plays Trouble by Voom and Baptised at the Desktop Computer by Greta O'Leary. 

The four members of Voom with their respective instruments against a teal and white sound-paneled wall. They are lit with a purple light from behind them.

Photo: Music 101

2:20 Easy Eats: Satay chicken burger with quick pickled red onions

Foodie Kelly Gibney talks to Jesse about how to make the perfect burger that's easy and delicious.

Chicken Satay Burger

Photo: Kelly Gibney

2:30 Bookmarks with Damien Wilkins

Time for Bookmarks now and Jesse's guest today is author Damien Wilkins, who is this year's winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at this year's Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Damien won it for his novel "Delirious". It's a full circle moment for Damien whose debut novel won the same award in 1994.

Wellington professor and author Damien Wilkins sitting in a chair in a courtyard.

Wellington professor and author Damien Wilkins. Photo: Supplied / Ebony Lamb Photography

3:10 Feature interview: Rethinking medications

Breakthrough drugs are changing medicine, offering new hope in pill form. But the system meant to protect patients is under strain. The U.S. develops over 40% of new medications, and the FDA plays a central role in ensuring their safety. Harvard pharmacology professor Dr. Jerry Avorn says industry pressure has quietly weakened FDA standards, allowing risky or barely effective drugs to slip through. In his new book he reveals how this happened and shares practical advice for patients trying to make decisions about what we are willing to swallow. The book is called Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take.

Picture of cover of the book Rethinking Medications

Photo: Dr Jerry Avorn

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

It's only the seventh time a spade-toothed whale has been documented worldwide, and the first time a complete specimen has been recovered in good condition for examination.

It's only the seventh time a spade-toothed whale has been documented worldwide, and the first time a complete specimen has been recovered in good condition for examination. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman and producer Sam Hollis preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

wallace chapman

Photo: wallace chapman