Jenna Todd reviews Cousins by Aurora Venturini published by Faber and Faber

The 19th International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists is underway in Auckland with a particular focus on how the STEM sector can become truly diverse and inclusive. Keynote speaker Dr Kristin Alford is presenting on the topic of common cognitive traps constraining the future of STEM. She is a futurist, engineer, President of the Australia Science and Technology Engagement Network, and the Director of MOD, Museum of Discovery, at the University of South Australia - among many other things. She spoke with Kathryn about how we deal with huge issues confronting the world from the speed of machine learning to climate change and more

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to talk about the Rugby World Cup fever hitting the continent a week out from the opening match between France and New Zealand. Meanwhile investigations continue into Spain's football federation president Luis Rubiales over his kiss of player Jenni Hermoso just after the team won the Women's Football World Cup. Russian drones have hit infrastructure at Ukraine's Danube River port, which is essential for global grain exports, just a day before Russia-Turkey talks on the grain issue.

A local queen of hip-hop, soul and R&B, Ladi6 (MNZM) has released several critically acclaimed albums spanning multiple genres. Now she has received this year's Arts Foundation Laureates 'Theresa Gattung Female Arts Practitioners Award'.

A Christchurch-based group is poising itself to bring a new, sustainable method of cremations to New Zealand. Alkaline Hydrolysis - or 'water cremation' - is where a body is put into a tube containing 95 percent water and five percent alkaline and heated up and pressurised for three to four hours. The remains are then given back to the relatives - similar to a cremation by fire - while the water is treated and put back into the water cycle. It's touted as an environmentally friendly option to cremation by fire, which as well as releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, can stink out nearby neighbourhoods. Alkaline Hydrolysis is not currently legal in New Zealand; however, Water Cremation Aotearoa is working with the Ministry of Health to overhaul the Burial and Cremation Act of 1964. Water Cremation Aotearoa Founder Deborah Richards speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

The Electricity Authority says power retailers are not properly applying voluntary guidelines to improve protections for consumers, and it wants to make some of the rules mandatory. In particular, it says medically dependent consumers, those in financial difficulty and those facing disconnection need better protection. The Authority has just begun public consultation on its Consumer Care Guidelines which were introduced in 2021, but left to the power sector to follow voluntarily. Kathryn speaks with Electricity Authority Chief Executive, Sarah Gillies.

Dr Maria Pozza is exploring a frontier of outer space that not many have ventured into before. She is the country's only specialised space lawyer - dealing with the contractual obligations of those leaving earth for both commercial of military intelligence purposes. There's no shortage of work these days but international law in this realm is still not clear. Dr Pozza, the director of Gravity Lawyers, is often fielding calls from international space agencies and legislative development committees. She'll be speaking at this year's International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists, to be held in Auckland next month.

Comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court with a few laughs.

NZ Rugby is facing a new storm 10 days out from the Rugby World Cup with the release of a long-awaited governance review, Dana takes over the key findings. Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport.

Yadana is along with the sounds of Brooklyn NYC discodelic darlings Say She She, Wellington's Grayson Gilmour and a 2021 reissue of an Afro-Caribbean reggae disco rarity - Love and Understanding by Muchos Plus.