Afternoons

Professor Jesse Bering has spent almost three decades researching the way we think about the afterlife. That research led him to the work of the psychiatrist Dr Ian Stevenson. Dr Stevenson dedicated his career to documenting consciousness after death, travelling the world to investigate cases of reincarnation, apparitions and near-death experiences. Now Professor Bering, who the Director of the Centre for Science Communication at the University of Otago, has released a book about what he found.

New Zealand tech firm Scentian Bio has developed a digital nose that can be used to detect the tiny chemicals associated with everything from fruit ripeness to sickness in human breath. It's based around sensors which use insect smell receptors .. which are thought to be a thousand times more sensitive than a sniffer dog. Here to tell us more about it is Scentian Bio's Chief Executive Jonathan Good.

We're starting today's show talking about sugar, and what we can do to reduce our consumption of it. The issues connected with sugar aren't new news, but in an election year, dentists say now's the time to do something about it. The NZ Dental Association argues that education isn't enough and it's time for stronger policies to be put in place. Hawkes Bay based Dentist & Director of Dental Policy at the NZ Dental Association Dr Robin Whyman joins me now to discuss.

One of Aotearoa's most successful, and most infamous, invasive exports. This week's critter is one you've almost certainly met - even if you didn't know it. It's tiny, it's tough, and it's one of Aotearoa's most successful global export, although not necessarily in a good way. Meet the New Zealand mudsnail. Nicola Toki and Jesse discuss.

We know many of you are doing it tough financially right now - but there are also people who need some help keeping their house as clean as they would like it - which is why The Housekeeper's Rachael Quin is here to help.

Kara Rickard, host of Music 101 here on RNZ each Saturday afternoon from 1pm, talks about what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's coming up on her show tomorrow and because Friday is new music day - she'll pick us a track to play.

Gretchen Lowe joins Jesse with a delicious sounding recipe - perfect for the long weekend.

Click here for the recipe

Dominic Corry is with Jesse to talk films and we're going to start with the one he said is "the worst biopic he has ever had to sit through." Michael (the Michael Jackson biopic) in cinemas this week. Sgt. Haane (the new local doco-drama about a Maori war hero) in cinemas next week. The Italian film festival which begins on Tuesday.

It's that time of the week - time for Freaky Friday! It's the home for all of your terrifying tales, eerie co-incidents and spooky stories. So if you've got a story you'd like to share. Text the details to 2010 or email me at Jesse@ afternoons.co.nz Today we're speaking to Matthew.

On the 10th of November 2024 Hikoi mo te Tiriti set off from Cape Reinga for Parliament. The hikoi was a march against the Treaty Principle Bill. By the time it arrived in Wellington nine days later, it had become one of New Zealand's largest ever protest movements with up to 100 thousand people involved. Among those walking was documentary film-maker Whatanui Flavell His film about the experience "KA ORA TONU - When We Walk" airs on TVNZ this Sunday morning.