Afternoons

Righto, it's time to chat about the issues that might not make the news bulletins but could be filling up your social media feeds .. we call it group chat .. and joining Emile in the Auckland studio are Kate Rodger, Culture 101's Perlina Lau and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson

Time for NZ Sport History - our chance to look back at the people and the moments that have changed the game. Today we're joined by former All Black lock - the legendary Ian Jones. Ian played 105 games for the All Blacks including 79 tests and three Rugby World Cups. He's also still involved with the team's legacy, now running the official All Blacks experience in Auckland

Here on Afternoons we like to celebrate New Zealanders doing great things - and our next guest very much fits that bill. Aaron Henare - better known in the ring as Henare - is a Kiwi who's been lighting up New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning an impressive two world titles in the last there months. He's back in New Zealand for the upcoming Matariki Rumble this weekend in Pakuranga - where he'll challenge for the Aotearoa New Zealand Heavyweight Championship. Henare - welcome to the show!

Tell you something else that can help keep your brain sharp ... learning a language. What better time to try and get to grips with Chinese than during New Zealand Chinese Language Week for 2026? Held each year since 2014 - the week is a celebration of Chinese language, culture, and getting kiwis to give the language a try. Alongside events and ambassadors - the week also has seven language superstars who are sharing their personal learning journeys. Joining Emile now is one of these superstars, Kien Ngo

The benefits of eating a healthy diet are well known to us all ... but new research reveals that it's not just physical health that responds to a good diet .. it's also your mental health. A study that followed nearly 1,900 Swedes aged over 60 for more than eight years. has found eating an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce the risk of developing dementia - even in people with early biological signs of Alzheimer's disease. To tell us more about it, registered dietitian and co-founder of The Food Tree Rachael Wilson chats to Emile.

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have become some of the most talked-about medicines in the world. They were originally developed to help people with type 2 diabetes, before becoming widely known for their effect on appetite and weight loss. But researchers are now asking whether they could also help with something else, addiction. Dr Robert Munn is a neuroscientist at the University of Otago, and he's written about how these drugs may affect the brain's reward system.

Wallace Chapman and Perlina Lau 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.

The idea that women should be homemakers and men should be providers is resurfacing in parts of the American right, where it is moving from online spaces into real political influence. In a cover story for The Atlantic magazine, writer Helen Lewis explores this strain of thinking sometimes labelled "masculinism" as part of a broader backlash against feminism. Some voices within the movement argue society has become biased toward women's interests, with the most extreme even suggesting women shouldn't even have the right to vote. Lewis also looks at the ties between champions of masculinism and senior MAGA officials in the Trump administration. The story is titled The Men Who Want Women to Be Quiet, subtitled A Virulent Form of Misogyny Has Become the Single Most Important Force Holding Together the American Right.

Kelly Gibney is with Perlina in the Auckland studio because it's time to talk Easy Eats, a recipe that's light on time but heavy on flavour.

Time for Heading Off, our chance to take you on an adventure without you having to leave the comfort of your home. It can be as simple as your favourite day hike or as adventurous as motorbiking around the world. If you've got a travel adjacent story to tell we'd love to hear from you. [email protected] or 2101 on the text. Today we're joined by Doug Hanna. Doug's organised over 50 road trips all over the country. Today he's taking us to Northland.