Sunday Morning

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master.

California-based Barbara Rae-Vener is a pioneer in the field of genetic genealogy and her work played a crucial role in identifying Joseph James DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer.

For over thirty years Rangahau Aotearoa Research New Zealand has helped dozens of government and not-for-profit organisations understand what Aotearoans are thinking across a range of social issues. In the lead up to Waitangi Day they conducted a nationally representative survey to uncover people's key issues of concern. Research NZ managing partner Emanuel Kalafatelis joins Jim to discuss the surprising results.

An estimated 30-40% of the global population suffer from allergies, be they hay, peanut, lactose or something less common. That's billions of people, and the number just keeps rising. According to Medical anthropologist and Associate Professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology Theresa MacPhail " Our very old immune systems can't keep up with modern lifestyles and diets. In her book Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World Theresa examines the mostly unwanted phenomenon that has us sneezing, coughing, and carrying around epi-pens. She joins Jim Mora to discuss: What are allergies? Why do we have them? And is there anything we can do about it?

The orthodoxy of exercise science is being challenged, in a study out of Finland. The claim is that vigorous exercise does not necessarily help you live longer, and too much - as well as too little - may even accelerate the ageing process. 

The study examined the lives of 11,000 pairs of same-sex twins over a 45-year period. Comparing the different exercise levels of twins showed that whilst exercise can help prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes there was no convincing evidence it lengthened lifespans. In fact, the most active had a biological age1.8 years older than those who were only moderately active.  

The studies' author, Dr Laura Joenssu of the University of Jyväskylä joins Jim to explain more.

In 2010 Chris Bruerton left a teaching job he loved at Burnside High School in Christchurch, to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer in the UK.

Force Of Nature: The Dry 2 is in cinemas now. The follow up to the hugely successful The Dry sees five women taking part in a corporate hiking retreat with only four coming out the other side. Australian actor Eric Bana stars as detective Aaron Falk who heads off into the Victorian mountain ranges to get to investigate the disappearance. Filmed on location Eric described filming as "pretty brutal" & "a real physical challenge to cast and crew", but ultimately worthwhile. "We really loved being where we were, once you took the leeches out." He joins Jim Mora to discuss his formidable career, acting techniques and his latest role.

Waitangi tensions test politicians - and the media; Why is Sky screening more top-dollar sport for free?

Dr Zazie Todd, Sunday Morning's go-to expert on both cats and dogs joins us once again with more scientific, pragmatic and joyful ways to lead happy lives with our pets. She's the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She's the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and she's currently putting the finishing touches to a book on fear and anxiety in dogs, due out this year.

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master. Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC quiz show Only Connect which is known for being both difficult to crack and totally obvious. It's Sunday morning, so wake up your brain and have a go!