Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

"Everything I hoped for and more."
That's how Jack Tame feels after meeting his nephew, Ren, for the first time.
Last week, Jack spoke about his excitement ahead of the meeting, and flew down as soon as the show had finished.
This week, he gave his listeners all the details about that first visit.
"I walked in the front door, sat down on the couch, my sister brought Ren over, and I just sat there for hours. It's like you get mesmerised." 
LISTEN TO JACK'S EXPERIENCE ABOVE

In the mind of Kevin Milne, there's one thing that you have to do if you want to call yourself a real Kiwi bloke. 
And it's something that he is incapable of doing. 
And what that might be, you ask?
It turns out Kevin can't open a beer bottle with another beer bottle.
He told Jack Tame why that's a true sign of a Kiwi bloke, and how he's found a solution to his problem.

I remember the kids who smoked pot in high school and it certainly didn’t do them much good. It was the normal story, I suppose. Repeated in every high school. Some of them seemed to get slower, seemed to be less motivated. They drifted away. We drifted apart. Some of the stoners went on to have problems with depression. None of the kids who smoked a lot of pot at school went on to win the Nobel Prize in physics.
If you missed it, on Thursday researchers from Oxford and McGill Universities published a meta-analysis of cannabis use in young people. Basically they found that if young people use cannabis regularly, they’re more likely to be at risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies as adults. There’s no question: cannabis is bad for developing brains.
Now this wasn’t news to me. I’ve had a keen interest in drug reform in the past few years, and I reckon this should be the number one concern for New Zealand as we consider decriminalising cannabis, or indeed legalising a regulated market where people can go and buy cannabis products at the local shops. I want to make access for young people harder.
I agree, it goes against natural instincts. But the best way to make access harder, to stop kids from using cannabis when their brains are still developing, is to legalise it.
Imagine you’re 15 years old again. Imagine you and your mates want to get some pot, and you’ve heard through some other kids at school who best to go to, or who to ask. A drug dealer is NOT going to be asking anyone for ID. Keep in mind, as it is, we have one of the highest cannabis usage rates in the World. Cannabis is illegal but young people face very few barriers in accessing the drug.
Compare that with cigarettes. If kids today want to get smokes, they have to save up for about a year to afford a packet. And whether they’re buying from the local dairy, or a supermarket, they have to show ID. We combine that with a massive advertising campaign. And what’s the net result? Smoking rates in young people have steadily fallen in the last few years in New Zealand – and even if they want to smoke, it’s really hard for kids to get their hands on cigarettes.
I’m not saying there won’t be exceptions. I’m not saying there won’t be some irresponsible adults who give their kids cannabis products, that people won’t steal cannabis products, that the black market will be absolutely 100 percent destroyed. I’m not saying this is a perfect fix. 
But I think we’re sophisticated enough to consider the nuance of this issue. Since the government announced the cannabis referendum, I’ve been a little disheartened by some of the commentary on both sides of the argument. The anti-cannabis lobby have been scare-mongering. The National Party has been fishing for criticisms and in my eyes hasn’t really landed on a cohesive argument against reform. But I think the pro-cannabis lobby sometimes paints the drug as being almost harmless. And it really isn’t. 
If I think back to the school, and the best way to stop the stoner kids from damaging their brains, it isn’t to increase penalties or punish them for being found with a joint.  The best way to protect our kids is to legalise it.

Eco-man Malcolm Rands joined Jack Tame to discuss what to do with your food scraps. 
He told Jack that he was disgusted when he saw friends throwing their food scraps into their rubbish bins alongside everyone else. 
He says that New Zealand is getting of 340 tonnes of food a day that is going to the dump. 
Rands shared his tips on what to do with your food, including buying less.

"His name is Ren. He is six pounds twelve. Born three weeks ago tomorrow, a little earlier than anyone was expecting.
I'm really luck that my family is very close. We all keep in regular contact. Dad sends us photos of Golden Bay, Mum sends photos of strawberries in the garden and my brother sends photos of himself!
I felt something that weekend when Georgia and Dion told us the news. I felt something different. I would become an uncle, and something in me stirred a little bit. Suddenly, distance seemed greater.
When Georgia told me the news, I felt like no matter what, I want to be there and watch this kid grow up.
LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO ABOVE

Can't decide what TV shows you should be watching? TV critic Tara Ward joins Jack Tame to gives us her top picks for your viewing pleasure!
A Very English Scandal: Hugh Grant and Ben Whisaw star in this Golden Globe award winning drama about the true story of British MP Jeremy Thorpe, who was the first MP to stand trial for conspiracy to murder (SoHo1, Wednesday)
Black Earth Rising: a political thriller about a Rwandan-born British lawyer who is pulled into a prosecution involving international war criminals, and is forced to confront her past (Netflix)
Heartbreak Island: Heartbreak Island is back and better than ever with 12 babes and bods heading to the sandy shores of Fiji (TVNZOnDemand & TVNZ2, from Tuesday 19th Feb)
LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO ABOVE

Kiwi Phil Keoghan has just scored a TV show that sounds more or less like the dream job.
He is the new host of the National Geographic’s show 'Explorer', which is back after a few years’ hiatus.
The show is a documentary series with segments shot all over the world, with a variety of hosts brought together by Keoghan.
He joined Jack Tame to discuss his career and landing the exciting new gig, and explained what his inspiration is behind travelling the world and filming exotic and breathtaking locations.
LOWDOWNWho: Phil KeoghanWhat: The rebooted ExplorerWhen: Monday 9.30pm on the National Geographic Channel
LISTEN ABOVE AS PHIL KEOGHAN SPEAKS TO JACK TAME

"I cannot believe that in 2019, there can be two sides to the debate that we teach young New Zealanders about their past.
As New Zealanders in a multi racial society, we need to be aware of our history, so we understand how we got to where we are now.
Its more important we learn about our own history, instead of other countries around the world. 
The history of this country is so damn interesting! Its exciting and relevant. From the early land wars to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, it all needs to be taught"
LISTEN TO KEVIN MILNE'S FULL EDITORIAL ABOVE

Every Saturday morning, movie critic Francesca Rudkin joins Jack Tame to take a look at what is playing at the movies this weekend
Cold Pursuit
Cold Pursuit is an upcoming American action film directed by Hans Petter Moland from a screenplay by Frank Baldwin. It stars Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum, William Forsythe, and Tom Bateman. It is a remake of the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance, also directed by Moland. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 8, 2019, by Summit Entertainment. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, as well as the film's dark humor, and noted it to be as good as or better than the original film.[2]
On the Basis of Sex
On the Basis of Sex is a 2018 American biographical legal drama film based on the life and early cases of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Directed by Mimi Leder and written by Daniel Stiepleman, it stars Felicity Jones as Ginsburg, with Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Jack Reynor, Cailee Spaeny, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates in supporting roles. The film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 8, 2018, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 25, 2018, by Focus Features. The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, who acknowledged it as "well-intentioned but flawed," and praised Jones' performance.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE

I love a fritter and these ‘hushpuppies’ are an American-style fritter which are crispy and doughy and utterly delicious. Typically they contain cornmeal but here I’ve stretched the definition to use fresh corn instead as this way they absorb less oil in cooking. I’ve loaded them with tasty cumin seeds, tomatoes and fresh coriander to bring some Mexican flavour into the mix. Enjoy!
Makes about 8-10
1 egg
3 heaped tbsps plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt and pinch pepper
1 cup corn kernels
100g cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
1 tsp cumin seeds
Small handful fresh coriander, chopped
Splash of iced water as needed
Cooking oil for shallow frying
3 tbsps sour cream to serve
Pinch chilli powder to serve
Lime wedges to serve
1. In a bowl whisk together the egg, flour, baking powder and salt and pepper. Stir in the corn, tomatoes, cumin and coriander until combined to a thick, chunky batter. Add a little iced water if it seems too stiff.
2. Heat enough oil in a small pan or saucepan to be able to shallow fry tablespoonfuls of the batter until golden brown. Cook in batches.
3. Serve warm alongside sour cream and salsa (see below).
Tomato salsa
½ cup fresh chopped tomatoes
1 clove garlic, crushed
¼ red onion, finely diced
½ red chilli, de-seeded and chopped fine
A large handful of coriander, finely chopped
Juice from one lime or ½ lemon
¼ tsp sea salt
Combine all ingredients and leave for 15 minutes for the flavours to develop. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or lime juice if it needs more oomph and more chilli if you fancy more spice.