Sunday Morning for Sunday 13 September 2020

7:11 Bill Birtles: 'I'd still love to be in Beijing if I could' 

ABC journalist Bill Birtles was bundled out of China earlier this week after officers from China's Ministry of State Security appeared at his apartment in Beijing, declaring he were banned from leaving the country and demanding he submit to questioning. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs held grave fears for Birtles' safety -- and that of the Australian Financial Review's Mike Smith -- but the pair were eventually able to return to Australia unharmed. Birtles is with us to discuss his hasty exit from the city he called home. 

7:34 Hungry kids at the top of Kiwis' list of concerns, survey shows 

Last week a UNICEF Report was released which showed New Zealand ranked poorly for its performance in terms of children's wellbeing in a number of areas. Research NZ sought to gauge the level of concern the New Zealand public has with some of the key children's wellbeing factors raised by the report, and it was children in homes with not enough food that was easily the most troubling issue for Kiwis. Emanuel Kalafatelis is with us to discuss. 

7:45 Calling Home: Rachel Scott-Leflaive in Beirut, Lebanon

Rachel Scott-Leflaive's permanent home is in the idyllic ski area of Chamonix, France, but following the devastating blast in Beirut last month she has been deployed to Lebanon where she is working for the UN's Crisis Bureau to aid in the port city's recovery. She's Calling Home from the Lebanese capital. 

8:10 The downsides of dating apps 

Kiwis have increasingly been turning to dating apps and websites to find love. But the chances of finding a match online are abysmally low, especially for men, and there are other downsides to dating apps. Dr Gery Karantzas is an associate professor in Social Psychology / Relationship Science at Deakin University and the founder of relationshipscienceonline.com.

8:30 Covid-19: The real reason some men refuse to wear masks

How often throughout the pandemic have you seen a man walking down the street with a surgical masked pulled down so that it hugs his chin? Several surveys have shown that men are less likely to wear a mask to curb Covid-19 transmission. But why is that? Psychology professor James Mahalik from Boston College is part of a team that has researched the topic. 

8:41 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. 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 be discussing the Mount Roskill sub-cluster, Matariki as a possible public holiday, Billy Te Kahika keeping koha under the bed, and the outrage over the Domino's Pizza tip your driver feature.

9:06 Mediawatch

Most major media outlets have survived the Covid crisis so far, but the jobs of many journalists have gone - and the job is getting harder for those who remain. Also: China forces out the Australian media's only remaining reporters - and a survey haling New Zealand as the second-safest place in the world right now made headlines  - but was it really news?

9:37 Mick Fanning: From shark attack victim to shark advocate 

Three-time world surf tour champion Mick Fanning will forever be known as the man who fought off a great white shark while competing on live television in 2015 at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. Almost two years to the day later, he was pulled from the same water while competing after an even bigger shark was sighted. Now, the Australian sporting icon is conquering his fear of sharks in his new National Geographic documentary, Save This Shark! 

10:04 The strange effects the moon could be having on our health  

The idea that the lunar cycle can influence our behaviour and wellbeing dates back thousands of years, but has been largely dismissed by modern medicine. However, new research suggests there may be some truth to these ancient theories. In her new book, The Human Cosmos, science writer Jo Marchant re-examines the effects that the moon may be having on us. 

10:45 Pinocchio: The No 1 hit that was never meant to be 

Country singer Maria Dallas is perhaps best known for 'Tumblin' Down', but it was her track 'Pinocchio' that became a number one hit. The quirky tune spent six weeks at the number one spot on the New Zealand charts despite the fact it was never intended to be released as a single. June Fraser was one of three co-writers for the song, but she never actually met Maria Dallas. She joins the show to reminisce about penning the buoyant tune and her time in New Zealand's first all-girl rock group, The Fair Sect.

11:05 New book examines how childhood shapes later life

In his new book, The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life, University of Otago professor Richie Poulton and his co-authors set out to determine to what extent our origins shape our later lives. Poulton, who is the leader of the internationally recognised Dunedin Study, joins the show to discuss how childhood experiences impact on our lives and how we often retain 'brand loyalty' throughout the years. 

11:40 How forcing a smile can help improve your mood 

Moving your facial muscles in a way that mimics a smile can trick your brain into a more positive state, according to a new study by researchers from the University of South Australia. Lead researcher Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says that even though the smiles are forced, the brain can't tell the difference. He joins the show from Adelaide.