Saturday Morning for Saturday 17 February 2024

8:10 Paris Marx: tech won't save us

Silicon Valley has long promoted a vision of a future tech utopia - be that on earth, or elsewhere. 

But faced with a global climate crisis, is tech the answer? - and can it really save us from ourselves? 

Canadian tech critic Paris Marx, host of the award-winning podcast Tech Won't Save Us thinks not.

They're in New Zealand giving a talk in Auckland on Sunday.

8:40 Iceland volcano - research: magma's mammoth flow before eruptions

In November 2023, a magma dike began to rapidly build below the Sundhnúkur crater chain in southwest Iceland.

It caused widespread damage and evacuated the local population of Grindavík. Since then, the volcanic chain has erupted three times, most recently on February 8, sending lava spilling across the Reykjanes Peninsula. 

New research has revealed Grindavík's 15 kilometre-long magma dike formed in record time, peaking at an unprecedented flow rate of 7400 cubic meters per second.

The authors of the study say it demonstrates serious potential for further volcanic eruptions. 

Dr Gregory De Pascale is an Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Iceland. He spoke to Kim Hill in November, and joins again on Saturday Morning to discuss the latest research. 

9:05 Europe correspondent Thomas Sparrow on reports of Russian dissident's death

Russia's most significant opposition leader, and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin - Alexei Navalny - is reported to have died in an Arctic Circle jail, aged 47.

His wife Yulia Navalnaya addressed the news of his death at the Munich Security Conference.

Europe correspondent Thomas Sparrow speaks to Susie. 

9:10 Michaeleen Doucleff: why kids need less 'parenting' 

NPR science correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff thinks the key to happy kids and happy parents is doing less.

Less entertaining, less praise, and less surveillance.

Finding herself frustrated by the ineffectiveness of modern parenting advice to prevent daily battles with her toddler she began researching alternatives to modern western parenting methods.

She set off, toddler in tow, to live amongst three ancient cultures to experience their parenting first hand. 

Her book Hunt, Gather, Parent, explains what these ancient cultures can teach us about helping kids thrive by being more hands-off. 

9:40 Danyl McLauchlan explores Judith Butler's philosophy on gender

Writer Danyl McLauchlan joins Susie to tackle life's big questions, ideas, and thinkers.

Today he's looking at influential gender philosopher Judith Butler whose ideas have triggered strong reactions across the political spectrum.

Butler proposes that gender is not biological, but "performative". Kim Hill spoke with them in 2020. 

10:05 Gary J. Bass: Japan's WW2 crimes on trial

Gary J. Bass has spent the past decade researching and writing his latest book, Judgement at Tokyo, about Japan's war criminal trials in the wake of WWII.

The epic story of wartime action and courtroom drama also explores the formative years of the postwar era in the Asia-Pacific.

Bass is a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, former reporter for The Economist and The New Yorker, and a Pulitzer prize finalist.

10:35 Finding the funny side of cancer: Emma Lange

Comedian's comedian Emma Lange is bringing a show to the fringe festival, based on her experience of a malignant, incurable brain tumor.  

'An Almighty Yes' is a solo show combining absurdist comedy with honest testimony from a performer returning to the bright lights for the first time in years.

Emma's stand-up routines were a fixture of the 1990s classic comedy scene, often appearing alongside the Topp Twins.  A Mainlander, you might also have found Emma in the bush, hunting and guiding.

'An Almighty Yes' is playing at the NZ Fringe Festival in Wellington and in Dunedin.

11:05 Putting insomnia to bed: Dr Alexander Sweetman 

Sleep is fundamental to our survival, hence why we dedicate a third of our lives to it.

Except, that is, for the 30-40% of the population who suffer from insomnia. 

There are numerous theories to help those dealing with chronic insomnia. The Sleepy Girl Mocktail - a concoction of tart cherries and magnesium - is currently one such method enjoying the social media spotlight.   

Dr Alexander Sweetman is a Research Fellow at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Flinders University.

He's a leading figure in the field of treating people for insomnia and sleep apnea without using drugs.

11:35 Not pie in the sky: Tānemahuta Gray

The epic Te Arawa legend of Hatupatu and the bird woman Kurungaituku is centre stage at the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts.

The gravity-defying feast for the eyes brings aerial choreography, kapa haka and dance to this tale of forbidden love.

'Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: A forbidden love' opens on February 20 at the Tawhiti Warehouse in Wellington.

The show is the work of award-winning artistic director and aerialist Tānemahuta Gray.

Books featured on the show:

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Teach Us about the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful, Little Humans
by Michaeleen Doucleff 
Published by HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780008406912

Judgement at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia
by Gary J. Bass
Published by MacMillan Publishers
ISBN: 9781509812745

Music played in this show

Track: Autobahn
Artist: Kraftwerk
Time played: 8:35am 

Track: My Exploding Head 
Artist: SJD 
Time played: 10:40am

Track: I Think I'm Falling in Love
Artist: Pony Baby
Time played: 11:35am