Sunday Morning for Sunday 6 September 2020

7:10 Covid-19: vaccine might need to be re-administered yearly 

Gary McLean is an international authority on coronaviruses and has been a regular presence on Sunday Morning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The professor in molecular immunology at London Metropolitan University remains confident there will be a universal vaccine for Covid-19 before long, though he warns it may need to be re-administered yearly. 

7.32 The House

On the final day of the current Parliament MPs had two things to do - Question Time and a General Debate. And like any sports team in a final they weren't going to leave to leave anything out on the park. And seem as were talking finals - the Clerk of the House explains the meaning, and the point, of dissolving a Parliament. 

7:45 The global pandemic is depleting your 'surge capacity'

Humans can draw on their 'surge capacity' for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as natural disasters. But when the disaster stretches out indefinitely - like the Covid-19 pandemic - your surge capacity can get depleted, leaving you feeling exhausted, anxious and depressed. Professor Ann Masten from the University of Minnesota explains how we can counteract this depletion and build resilience.

8:10 Breastfeeding hormone makes new fathers better dads

A major new study out of the University of Otago shows that fathers of newborn babies can be forgiven for feeling a little hormonal. It turns out that they are being flooded by the same chemical as a breastfeeding mother. Dr. Kristina Smiley, from the Department of Anatomy Centre for Neuroendocrinology, joins the show to discuss the two-year research, which has been published in the leading journal,

8:20 Why working from home is disrupting your sleep patterns 

When studies were conducted before Covid-19 on how well people slept when they worked from home, participants said they liked working at home because they got more sleep. But that is not always true. In fact, there are downsides to working from home, with less clear boundaries between work time and personal time affecting our sleep patterns. Dr. Jennifer Martin is a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a board member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

8:39 The Weekend Panel with Jane Clifton & Richard Harman 

Our weekend panellists Jane Clifton and Richard Harman offer their thoughts on the past week's news from Aotearoa and abroad. Among the topics today, they'll discuss Father's Day, the wearing of masks, proposed trans-Tasman flights, James Shaw and the controversial Green School, and Retail NZ's warning that 10,000 businesses are at risk of failing in the next 12 months.

9:06 Mediawatch

This week Mediawatch looks at good news and bad news about new treatments for COVID-19 - and asks what surveys of public opinion on lockdowns really tell us. 

9:45 The septuagenarian women who love to pump iron 

Australian strength training guru Dean Mawby set out to create a power-lifting club for young people of all descriptions, but instead he got a flurry of older people - particularly women - coming through the doors of his Castlemaine facility. As he says, things just snowballed from there. Dean and 75-year-old class member Kaye Payne join the show to discuss the power-lifting craze that is revolutionising the district's older generation. 

10:04 Niki Caro: Female-driven Mulan an industry game-changer 

The most anticipated movie of 2020, Mulan was shot on location in New Zealand, with a cast that included 17 Kiwis and a crew that was 90% local. But it will perhaps be best remembered for the fact that the director, acclaimed Kiwi filmmaker Niki Caro, helmed a production team that also included a producer, first assistant director and director of photography who are also women. Caro joins the show to discuss the filming of Mulan and what it means for the film industry, both in New Zealand and abroad.  

10:25 Jenene Crossan: Six months of life with Covid-19 

New Zealand entrepreneur Jenene Crossan became number 37 on the list of confirmed coronavirus cases in this country back in March, but is still suffering from associated health issues - not to mention dealing with 'hard-out internet trolls' - six months down the track. She joins the show off the back of a week that she admits has nearly broken her. 

10:40 My Current Song: Reiki Ruawai - 'Miller'

Raglan-based musician Reiki Ruawai has been playing alongside father Brian in the iconic roots-reggae band Cornerstone Roots for many years, but his new single 'Miller' marks his solo debut. Capturing the essence of his hometown, the track is a summery surf anthem ready to usher in the warm weather.

10:50 Is there any science behind the Sirtfood Diet fad?

Following recent photos of the dramatic weight-loss transformation by British pop star Adele the Sirtfood Diet has become a hot topic. The diet is based on eating foods that are high in sirtuin proteins which are said to 'activate' the body's skinny genes and boost weight loss, foods such as strawberries, kale, onions and even red wine. But what's the catch? Sarah Hanrahan from the NZ Nutrition Foundation discusses the diet's pros and cons.

11:05 The Vikings' hostile world view explained 

Professor Neil Price's comprehensive new history of the Vikings, The Children of Ash and Elm takes readers deep into the lives - and deaths - of the Vikings. Along with outlining why the Vikings were so successful in battle, this modern and academic perspective on the long-dead race helps readers understand why the Vikings had such a hostile world view. Price, who is one of the world's foremost experts on the Vikings, joins the show from his base in Sweden.  

11:40 Savage: new film depicts brutality of New Zealand gang life

New local film Savage follows Danny (Jake Ryan) across three decades of his life, trying to understand the boy who eventually becomes the brutal enforcer of a gang. Porirua-raised writer and director Sam Kelly undertook a huge task of casting 'real people' from around the country for the film, seeking authentic characters who could fit into the gang world he had created.