Author Interview

In his new book, Liberalism and its Discontents, American Political scientist Francis Fukuyama argues that liberalism is threatened not by a rival ideology, but has been pushed to new extremes by both… Audio

The 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults shortlists are announced today - we talk to finalist and former judge Steph Matuku. Audio

For seven years, from the early days in the Cavern Club, to that last recording session, Mal Evans was the road manager, bodyguard and personal assistant to the Beatles. His story is finally being… Audio

Real pirates don't wear boots or puffy shirts or carry cutlass swords in their mouths. But some kept diaries that describe in detail their adventures. Writer and artist Keith Thomson has turned those… Audio

Tanya Levin was just 14 when her family joined a small Pentecostal church in the suburbs of Sydney, which went on to become the megachurch Hillsong with branches in 30 countries. She talks to Anna… Audio

Miscommunication between couples and families features prominently in the first short story collection by Devonport writer and artist, Vivienne Lingard. Pocket Money & Other Stories is the title of… Audio

In her new science-based book, Influence Is Your Superpower: How to Get What You Want Without Compromising Who You Are, Dr Zoe Chance explains the new rules of persuasion and the science of… Audio

Nancy Armstrong is an award winning executive producer whose husband and three children have ADHD. She wants to change the way we think of it from disorder to secret power. So she made a documentary… Video, Audio

One of Britain's most successful contemporary writers, Anthony Horowitz' work spans books, TV, films, plays and journalism. He's perhaps best known for Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, his Sherlock… Audio

Just as the world is starting to go into the first of many lockdowns, reporter J David McSwane tagged along on a private jet with a businessman on a mission to buy medical face masks for the… Audio

Eight interlinked stories of ordinary people whose lives are touched by the gods make up a new collection by Iranian/American/Kiwi writer Mahyar Amouzegar. The Hubris in an Empty Hand is his fourth… Audio

In Dr Arika Okrent's latest book, Highly Irregular: Why Tough, Through, and Dough Don't Rhyme - and Other Oddities of the English Language, the linguist examines the weirdness of the English language… Audio

Wil Wheaton  is best known for his roles as Gordie Lachance in Stand By Me, Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and a version of himself on The Big Bang Theory. He talks to Jesse about… Audio

When Keri Bloomfield upped sticks and planted herself in Denmark - she found it wasn't all hygge and pastries. She'd flown to the other side of the world to join her partner, with the four-month-old… Audio

Nihilism has existed in one form or another for hundreds of years, and it's back in fashion. Writer Wendy Syfret joins the show to discuss her new book, The Sunny Nihilist: How a meaningless life can… Audio

Novelist and playwright Whiti Hereaka received the top prize at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards this week for her novel Kurangaituku.  Audio

Paul McCartney's younger brother, Mike, has just received a British Empire Medal for his services to the community of the Wirral, the peninsula across the Mersey from Liverpool.  Video, Audio, Gallery

A Wellington novelist and playwright - Whiti Hereaka -  has won Aotearoa's richest writing prize.

The Jann Medlicott Acorn prize, worth 60,000 dollars, was awarded at the Ockham New Zealand Book… Audio