Afternoons

Yesterday on the show we chatted to a Christchurch company doing exciting things in the battery world .. today we're keen to talk about another Christchurch based firm .. this one's developed an AI equipped drone. SPS Automation is behind the BFD 70. BFD stands for "Big Friendly Drone", which makes sense, because it is 4.5 metres long. To find out what its going to be used for Jesse is joined by SPS Automation founder, Scott Spooner.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup kicks off tomorrow evening in Sydney The first match reignites one of sports great rivalries when New Zealand takes on Australia. The Aussies are defending men's and women's champions, having won every tournament since 2008, but the Kiwis and the Kiwi Ferns look strong and there are some good looking challengers from the Pacific nations. With Jesse to explain everything you need to know about the competition is journalist, author & rugby league expert Will Evans.

This morning Earth Sciences New Zealand published the 2026/27 Tropical Cyclone outlook. It predicts that the Southwest Pacific could experience at least four category 3 tropical cyclones this season. That's in addition to a number of smaller storms New Zealand is expected to see the greatest risk in late summer and autumn. To find out what that looks like and why, Earth Sciences NZ's chief Scientist for Weather and Seasonal Forecasting Chris Brandolino is with Jesse.

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

It's going to take a revolution to fix our biggest problems and create a sustainable future. A boring revolution says Indy Johar, an architect, Member of the Order of the British Empire and co-founder of Dark Matter Labs. He says we need to transform the systems we barely notice, but shape almost everything about our lives like bureaucracy, governance and the principles of democracy. Johar believes urgently rethinking the rules governing how we work, how decisions get made and how power is distributed will create a world fit for many generations to come.

Tuesdays are when we play You're the Judge - you send us a dilemma, and we try to help resolve it. We love getting your reckons on what the right, or wrong, course of action is. This week the focus is on whether you should tell a friend their partner is cheating on them. Text 2101 or email [email protected]

Every fortnight we like to chat podcasts with our wonderful reviewers .. and we're thrilled that RNZ's Senior Podcast Producer Justine Murray is joining us to share what she's enjoying. Justine is responsible for some of RNZ's top rating podcasts so knows a good thing when she hears it. This week she's reviewing - Your Mama's Kitchen and The Book Review (by the New York Times)

Let's chat books now .. critic Bill Hastings is with Jesse to discuss what he's been reading .. which includes Dame Silvia Cartwright's memoir. That Woman: A Memoir by Silvia Cartwright (Allen & Unwin, 2026) Nigh Night Fawn by Jordy Rosenberg (Penguin, 2026)

It's time for Mayoral minutes .. where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing ... how they're working to solve them... and what makes their community special Today we're heading to a stunning part of the country, the Mackenzie District, where you'll find Aoraki Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Pukaki and Mayor Scott Aronsen!

One of New Zealand's quirkiest literary awards is back! It's the Surrey Hotel Writers Residency Award - now in its tenth year - but this year it's a little different, writer Steve Braunias is here to explain.