Saturday Morning

8.10 Professor Carl Bergstrom: Living with AI - and its BS

It's hard to argue with the fact that we are living through an age of misinformation and disinformation - fueled by the rise of social media and artificial intelligence.  

Internationally acclaimed scientist Carl Bergstrom is a Professor of Biology at the University of Washington.  

He is also a founder of the university's Center for an Informed Public and is currently in New Zealand for a series of public lectures on the impact of social media and AI.

Professor Bergstrom talks to Mihingarangi about why humans are so psychologically wired for online and whether we are living with "modern-day oracles or bullsh*t machines."  

8.35 Simon Stephens: World's most hopeful playwright

Highly acclaimed British-Irish playwright Simon Stephens is one of the most performed living English language playwrights in the world today. 

Stephen is widely recognized for his adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and he's bound for Auckland next week.  He talks to Susie about the complexities of dramatising human beings.

9.05 Scotty Morrison: Origins and all the things

In the latest series of Origins, Scotty Morrison follows in the footsteps of the first explorers and settlers of Aotearoa. From time at sea on a voyaging waka under traditional navigation techniques to snow-capped peaks, he traces the first landings, accompanying archeologists as they link artifacts to those journeys.

Scotty speaks with Mihingarangi about the process of filming such an epic journey and the responsibility he feels to share it.

9.30 Nicolas Niarchos: Power to the people

Lithium ion batteries power our everyday lives and are at the heart of the green electric revolution.

But there's a very dirty story behind the clean image - the minerals and rare earths that go into making our phone and EV batteries are as geopolitically important as oil once was.  

Journalist Nicolas Niarchos' The Elements of Power starkly outlines the ravaging cost to the people and the environment where they're mined, and the global machinations by superpowers including China and the USA as they vye for world dominance.

Nicolas Niarchos tells Susie extractive capitalism and its supply chain wreaks havoc across the globe, not least on the messy reality of a greener future.

10.05 Richard O'Brien: Hamilton's Riff Raff is back

Known as one of the most outrageous, camp and sexiest shows on a stage or screen, cult classic musical The Rocky Horror Show holds the title of longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world. 

The creator Richard O'Brien was raised in New Zealand after emigrating from England, and later today the statue of him as Riff Raff from Rocky is being re-unveiled in Hamilton, the place where he first had the idea for the musical.  

More than half a century after it was made into a movie, the London production of Rocky Horror is also touring Aotearoa in coming weeks.

10.35 Why flirting is a superpower

Francesca Hogi worked as a corporate lawyer for over a decade, before making a rather drastic career switch - into a love coach. 

Her Ted Talk about unlocking your flirting superpowers has over a million views. 

She's also a best-selling author of How to Find True Love: Unlock Your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships. 

Regardless of whether you're in a relationship or single, connections are the backbone of society and Francesca says 'the blueprint for society's future'.

11.05 27 Club: A celebration of rock and soul genius

The 27 club is not a club you want to be a member of.  

If you are, it means you were exceptionally talented – and died too young. 

The club includes artists like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain - rock and soul legends who all passed away at the age of 27. 

Zac Tyler is the creator and director of 27 Club, a show that celebrates their musical genius and legacy. It will be performed in New Zealand for the first time at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival from 18th - 20th of March.

Zac talks to Mihingarangi about why songs like Piece of My Heart and Smells Like Teen Spirit still resonate with audiences today. 

11.25 Recipes for love with Del Holland

The way to anyone's heart is through their stomach - or so we've been told. 

Here to test that theory is chef Del Holland sharing her love inducing recipes for Chocolate Tahini Cookies and Cheats Portuguese Custard Tarts. 

Del has over 20 years' experience working in world-class kitchens and as a private chef.  

She now resides in beautiful Wanaka, and through her social media channel Dishes with Del, she shares recipes to make during a cost-of-living crisis. 

She speaks with Mihi.

11.45 The Fijiian Flying Circus debuts in NZ

Fiji's only professional circus is set to have its Aotearoa debut in just a few days' time. 

An off shoot of renowned Fiji performance arts company VOU, the Fijian Flying Circus is a world-first fusion of indigenous storytelling and contemporary circus. Featuring aerial acts, acrobatics, dance and drama, it is a celebration of culture.

The group is performing at Hannahs PlayHouse in Wellington from the 17th to the 22nd of February as part of this year's Fringe Festival. They're also headlining the Hamilton Arts Festival on the 27th and 28th of February. 

Susie's joined by Artistic Director Navi Fong and three members of the troupe who'll perform some live music from the show.