Afternoons

Humour isn't just for fun it's fundamental says Chris Duffy. Paying attention to the absurd, the awkward, and the quietly funny moments of everyday life doesn't just make us laugh; it makes us more present, more generous, and more connected. Duffy is a stand-up comedian and the host of TED's podcast How to Be a Better Human. There was a time in his life when he turned away from seeing the funny side of life while teaching in a tough Boston school. Finding his way back to laughter changed how he showed up for his students and for himself. His new book is an invitation to do the same. It's called Humor Me: How Laughing Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy.

Our weekly segment where we ask the audience to help with irks or pickles that listeners have sent in. Today it's a conundrum between siblings. One sister is accusing the other of using an ADHD self-diagnosis for poor behaviour.

Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss Moltbook, a new social network for artificial intelligence agents or bots.

Bill Hastings joins Jesse to review the following books: Margaret Atwood, Book of Lives, A Memoir of Sorts (Chatto & Windus, 2025) Nigel Latta, Lessons on Living (Harper Collins, 2025) Erik Kennedy, Sick Power Trip (VUW Press, 2025)

Mayoral minutes is our new segment 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 the Selwyn District and Mayor Lydia Gliddon.

A few weeks ago, some locals in Waiatai Valley near Wairoa were devastated to find hundreds of dead eels in the Waiatai stream. Some of the eels, or tuna in te reo Maori, were thought to be 40 to 50 years old. A team from Hawkes Bay Regional Council has been investigating what happened. Council chair Sophie Siers joins Jesse with an update.

It's about a missing dog - Doug the Pug is his name and he has been missing since the middle of January. Now, Doug is no ordinary dog, he is a therapy animal, used at The Northern Health School with kids who are too unwell to attend regular schooling. Monique Burke is a Northern Health School teacher and Doug's owner.

The 'Buller Bluewater Classic' is a new month-long big game fishing competition out of the Port of Westport. It seems warmer water temperatures has resulted in a flurry of marlin along with mahi mahi and giant tuna, and that's got game fishers excited. One of the fishermen leading the charge is Jason Anderson from the 'Reel Adventures with Jase' YouTube channel.

How much AI do you think is used by New Zealand media? All the big newsrooms here have guidelines around the use of AI but as readers, watchers and listeners do you know what they are? After interviewing journalists and news editors, researchers at the Auckland University of Technology, has found the use of AI tools is widespread. So should you be worried? Author of the study, Dr Merja Myllylahti chats to Jesse.

News from the Ministry of Primary Industries reveals that it has found 3 secondary yellow legged hornet nests and successfully treated and removed them. Using tracking, trapping and ground surveillance, along with public notifications, the team has now located and destroyed 49 queens, 51 nests and hundreds of workers to date. Lloyd 'The Waspman' Carpenter discusses the update with Jesse.