Summer Weekends

9:08 Cryptic Clues with Wendy Wethey  

To warm up your brain for 2026, cryptic crossword writer Wendy Wethey joins Summer Weekends with a series of clues.  

Tune in after the news at 9am and 10am, be the first to text in the right answer to 2101, and win a copy of Wendy's own New and Infused with Zeal: 52 Cryptic Crosswords. 

9:10 What’s next for Venezuela? 

There’s uncertainty and fear in Venezuela following the capture and removal of its president Nicolás Maduro by the US. Tulia Falleti is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and a specialist in Latin American politics. She joins Emile to discuss developments.  

 

9: 25 Why you should give yourself grace if you 'break’ a resolution 

UK science writer David Robson dials in to share some evidence-backed tips for making and keeping meaningful New Years resolutions amidst a sea of self-improvement marketing. 

 

9:40 The language school with a difference 

Middlebury Language Schools has a reputation for being one of the top institutions to learn a language.  The Vermont school offers total immersion programmes over summer and each year more than 1400 students arrive to learn one of 13 languages. Middlebury’s Associate Dean of Language Schools, Dr. Thor Sawin joins Emile to discuss why language learning there is so successful. 

 

10:08 Cryptic Clues with Wendy Wethey  

To warm up your brain for 2026, cryptic crossword writer Wendy Wethey joins Summer Weekends with a series of clues.  

Tune in after the news at 9am and 10am, be the first to text in the right answer to 2101, and win a copy of Wendy's own New and Infused with Zeal: 52 Cryptic Crosswords. 

 

10:15 Firsts, Favourites and Funerals: Scotty Stevenson 

Scotty ‘Sumo’ Stevenson has been commenting on and writing about major sporting events for the past 20 years. He joins Summer Weekends to talk about the highlights and lowlights, and to play songs that have meant a lot to him over the years.  

 

11:10 The three spices that will elevate your BBQ game 

It’s summer and that means it’s BBQ season. Bonnie’s getting some tips from one of the best in the world; seven–times world BBQ champion Melissa Cookston.

Melissa, who is from Mississippi, is also the only woman to have been inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame. 

 

11:25 Changing spaces 

Last year, AUT senior lecturer in sustainable architecture and urban design, Priscila Besen, experimented with being car-free and that freed up her carport.  With equipment borrowed from her local toy library, she converted it into a play space for her own child and others in the neighbourhood.  She joins Emile to talk about ‘adaptive reuse’ - the reuse of existing buildings and spaces for new purposes. 

 

11:45 Doomsday comedy with Jonas Skogstroll 

Norwegian goat farmer, former Jehovah’s Witness and stand-up comedian Jonas Skogstroll is in Auckland about to kick off his Doomsday Comedy tour with NZ comedians. 

He’s with Summer Weekends to talk about the tour and why he’s taking the opportunity to peacefully protest while he’s here.