The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

The man who stood at the helm of Newstalk ZB for 17 years has weighed in on its 100-year anniversary. 

Today marks a century since the radio station's first broadcast. 

Bill Francis joined ZB in the early 80's and became station manager in 1993. 

He says it was a tough start, with the station dropping from number one in the market to number six - forcing it to change its format.

"Once it got back in front, you know it's just never really stopped, it continues to be Auckland's radio station - a first choice. Which is wonderful. So yeah, I'm delighted that ZB rolls on."

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Today marks 100 years of ZB. There have been numerous different versions of the station over that time, different station names, frequencies, and formats. There have been many memorable hosts, a change in accents from British to casual modern Kiwi and, of course, an almost incomprehensible amount of coverage of all the major - and minor - domestic and global events of the last 100 years.  

Given the media has always been a challenging, competitive and changeable industry, that ZB is still here, healthier and stronger than ever, 100 years after its first broadcast, tells us that the community, comfort, entertainment, discussion and analysis it works hard to provide means something to our listeners.  

And the listeners are the point of it all. We’re only here because of our wonderfully diverse, interested and curious listeners from all around the country who text and call to agree or disagree agreeably with us, our interviewees, or each other.  

You will all have your own memories or moments of ZB - and I would love to hear them throughout the show today. You can text on 9292.  

I started listening to Newstalk ZB properly when I had my two children. I was working part time - mostly nights and weekends, and was fortunate enough to spend my days with the kids. As amazing as it was being in a bubble with my baby and a toddler, by 4pm I was pretty desperate for some adult company, so I’d listen to Larry Williams’ drive show.  

Unknown to Larry, I chatted to him, nodded furiously in agreement, and probably blew raspberries when I begged to differ. He made me feel connected to the world and reminded me there were more things to think about than toilet training, mushed up food and the chaotic state of my house. Larry helped get me through those pre-school years, and I will always be grateful.

And that’s where I think, in my humble opinion, Newstalk ZB really gets it right.  

For thousands of New Zealanders, the voice coming through the speakers isn't just information. It's company on a sleepless night, a familiar voice during the morning commute, or someone to share a joke or raspberry with while making dinner.  

In a world increasingly shaped by personalised algorithms and endless scrolling tailored just for us, radio brings people together. It lets us share our stories with each other, learn more by debating issues together, and connects us with others who feel the same way.  

Coming from a television background, I was a bit snobby about radio -TV people tend to believe television is the superior format. But all it took was one show back in 2018 and I was hooked on the immediacy of radio. What I’ve learnt over the last 9 years is that while radio might be one of the oldest forms of media it is still one of the most human.

Here’s to another hundy! However that looks.  

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Last year, social media personality Louis Davis was named New Zealand TikTok Creator of the Year - off the back of his family life as a stay at home dad to three girls.

He has a global following of over 3 million, and last year alone his content racked up 3 billion views.

He says his goal is to tell stories while avoiding stereotypes about his background. 

"If this is all you're going to see about Māori men and you live on the other side of the world, in the UK or you live in Africa or you live in the Bahamas and this is the only thing you see about my people, you're going to know that we're a people of goodness." 

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Dying Days by Anthony Byrt. Set in May, 1945, near the end of the Second World War, Tito’s Yugoslav army and the Allies are in a tense standoff in the city of Trieste. When a group of Kiwi soldiers go missing, tensions escalate and the unlikely pairing of a British MI6 officer and a New Zealand intelligence officer is flung together to locate them.

The Queen and Her Presidents by Susan Page. During Queen Elizabeth the Second’s time on the throne, 13 US Presidents came and went, from Harry S. Truman to Donald Trump. This is a fascinating and charming account of those relationships, full of anecdotes and history and reinforcing her reputation as a masterful diplomat and a woman of enormous influence. 

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New York is an infamously expensive city, especially when it comes to accommodation, but there are many things you can see and do if you're on a budget.

Despite the city being 'frightfully' expensive - Megan Singleton has outlined her affordable hotspots, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island Ferry, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum - and of course, the pizza slices! 

For more of Megan's travel tips and advice, check here.

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This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast Day host Lorna Riley and Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

A new MSD report has confirmed that child poverty has gotten worse over the last few years. How can we fix these alarming statistics? What can we do? 

Winston Peters has prompted backlash over his controversial comments targeting a Green MP. Does there need to be more accountability? Particularly given Winston is Foreign Minister and this made global headlines?

Phone etiquette - do we need a warning every time someone tries to call us?  

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Millions turn to social media every day for entertainment, advice and information - including health advice from artificially generated sources.

Some of the videos appearing online were not created by real health experts, with plenty of content designed more around selling products over helping people answer their health questions.

Misleading AI-generated health influencers are fake online personalities and computer-generated medical videos using deepfakes, fabricated doctor personas, and false product endorsements to sell unproven supplements.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained further.

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 2 August, Richard E Grant has been on the acting scene for almost 40 years but his latest role but be his maddest yet.  He tells Francesca what drew him to the raucous period drama Savage House and the unusual wrap present co-star Claire Foy bought him.

NZ TikTok Creator of the Year Louis Davis is an internet sensation with over 3 million followers globally. His wholesome content centres around family life as a stay at home dad, he joins Francesca to share how that has inspired his new book.

Dr Claire Achmad ended her tenure as Children's Commissioner on Friday, she shares what still needs to be addressed when it comes to the wellbeing of children in New Zealand.

And New York can be an expensive place to visit but our travel contributor Megan Singleton has all the tips for free and cheap things to do in the big apple.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Richard E Grant's been taking on unusual roles in his acting career, and his latest project, Savage House, is no exception.

Over the last few decades, he's made a name for himself with roles like Dracula, The Age of Innocence, Star Wars and Can You Ever Forgive Me.

He's playing Sir Chauncey in the new raucous period drama, and it promises to give audiences a memorable experience.

"In this case, I wanted to know what happened to this character, from the beginning, middle, all the way to the end."

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Cook time: 25 minutes 

Prep time: 25 minutes 

Serves: 6

300gm beef mince  

3 tbsp sunflower oil  

1 onion, peeled & diced  

4 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed  

1 can whole-peeled tomatoes  

2 tbsp Mike's house rub  

1/2 pumpkin, peeled & diced  

3 carrots, peeled & diced  

1 can black beans, drained  

3 cups cooked rice  

1 cup grated tasty cheese  

salt and pepper  

6 flour wraps

Pre-heat your oven to 180*c. Toss the pumpkin and carrots in oil and season. Spread out onto a tray and bake for 25 minutes, remove and cool.  

Heat a medium sized pan and add in the onions and garlic.  

Sauté for few minutes before adding the beef mince and house rub. Continue to sauté before adding in the whole-peeled tomatoes. Cook for a further 10 minutes before turning off, allowing to cool.  

To make up the burritos, carefully combine the mince, pumpkin, carrot, beans, rice and seasoning. Place 4-5 tbsp of beef onto each wrap and top with cheese. Wrap up tight and then wrap in tin-foil.  

Place into the oven for 25 minutes before serving.

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