Australian soil scientist Alisa Bryce describes soil as a wonderful mysterious world, an underground jungle, a nexus of a portal between life and death. In her popular science book, Grounded she focuses on how life could not exist without soil and how it informs so much of what we do, so much beyond agriculture.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton looks at the rough couple of weeks for Australian music, with the loss of indigenous folk musician Archie Roche, then The Seekers' Judith Durham and Olivia Newton-John. The Reserve Bank is facing strong criticism that its sharp rate-rising strategy after years of deliberately holding back is going to plunge Australia into recession. Former deputy New South Wales premier John Barilaro is under scrutiny for his new plum gig - a position he created while in office and Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is suspended and fined over a verbal attack on a Penrith player

Highly respected British actor, screenwriter and environmental activist, Dame Emma Thompson, says her latest film challenges the 'cougar' label put on women who're in relationships with younger men. In GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE she plays a widow, Nancy, who hires a younger male sex worker. They come to form a close relationship that's both intimate and emotional. Dame Emma says in life and on screen we're used to seeing older men with younger women, but society still can't cope with the idea of an older woman in a genuine relationship with a young man. Her film credits include The Remains of the Day, Love Actually; Saving Mr. Banks; Much Ado About Nothing; Carrington; and acting and writing both Nanny McPhee movies. She talks with Susie Ferguson.

A new report launched today calls for a radical overhaul of ACC - and a new integrated system to cover all impairments...whether from illness or accident. The ACC scheme was established in 1974 as a no-fault system that covers people who are injured in an accident and cannot work, or need rehabilitation. It does not cover people who are unwell or disabled. Warren Forster is a lawyer and researcher who has been working in the ACC sector for many years. He says the current system is discriminatory, arbitrary and a negative experience for many, and New Zealand could and should have a single system that covers all impairments. The report he's published today, with the support of the Law Foundation, is the culmination of seven years of research - reflecting thousands of cases he's either been involved with or which have been shared with him by claimants.

National MP Sam Uffindell's past is being put under the microscope following allegations made by a former flatmate when he was at Otago University. The woman told RNZ he was an aggressive bully who scared her so badly one night she fled through her bedroom window; in a statement last night Uffindell denied the claims and said there was a falling out between two flatmates. While Uffindell is stood down, an investigation into his past will be conducted by Maria Dew QC. It will include the original allegation - admitted by Uffindell himself - of an attack on a 13-year-old boarder while he was a 16-year-old student at Kings College - actions that resulted in him being made to leave the school. So did National have any other option, but the one it's taken? Susie speaks with political commentator and former National government press secretary, Ben Thomas.

This week is Money Week and Money expert Liz Koh discusses the Retirement Commission's underlying theme of Your Money Mindset. If you want to know why you struggle to get ahead financially even though you have a good income, take a look at your money mindset. Regardless of how much you earn, if you don't have the right money mindset you will struggle to succeed.

Risso's dolphins are extremely rare in New Zealand, yet Pelorus Jack stuck to his routine of greeting ships in the Sound for nearly 25 years.

Rebecca asks whether McDonald's is McDone with Beyond Burger's plant-meat?. She addresses how the fake-meat firm's failed pepperoni plan shows the mountain Beyond Burger has to climb to make its business bigger. Rebecca also talks to Susie about the uber rich and their private jets. Teenage jet tracker Jack Sweeney has filed a public records request with the US government that yielded a form bearing the signature of a particular plane's owner: Tesla boss Elon Musk.

The National party leader Christopher Luxon has just fronted media over the revelations about the Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Sam Uffindell was kicked out of Auckland's King's College when he was 16, for taking part in a violent assault of a 13-year-old. Mr Uffindell told the National Party about the incident before he was selected. But Mr Luxon has told media that as leader, he should have been told about it , and so should voters in the Tauranga by-election. Susie speaks with RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson.

Michelle Rahurahu reviews Kohine by Colleen Maria Lenihan, published by Huia Publishers