We often think of brain development as something that happens in childhood, stabilises in adulthood, and then gradually declines. 

However new research published in the journal Nature Communications suggests our brains actually move through five distinct eras, each with its own strengths, vulnerabilities, and turning points. 

Researchers analysed MRI brain scans from nearly 4,000 people aged between newborn and 90 years old. Their goal was to understand how the brain’s internal wiring, changes over a lifetime. 

Dr. Michelle Dickinson joins Francesca Rudkin to break-down and analyse the study. 

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'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' - the third instalment in the 'Knives Out' series has received a positive review from Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall. 

He told Francesca Rudkin that the film is, 'really humour laced, really strong performances, and the sort of film as well that I think really benefits from not having your phone in your lap.' 

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Kiwi born Hollywood star Russell Crowe has played many intense roles in his career. 

But his latest might be his most intense yet. 

Heading back to world war 2, Russell plays Hitlers right hand man Hermann Goring in ‘Nuremberg’, the film focusing on the duel between psychologist Douglas Kelley and Goring, in the lead up to the post war trial. 

Crowe told Francesca Rudkin that he had to do a lot of background reading before playing the part. 

'So you have to find those moments of what I call quiet contemplation, where you get to really think through and learn about what you're doing.'

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A new era begins for TVNZ’s 6pm bulletin tonight. 

After almost 20 years in the 6pm chair, Simon Dallow read his last bulletin on Friday. His replacement starts tonight, with Melissa Stokes promoted to the 6pm duties. 

Stokes told Francesca Rudkin that she is nervous but prepared for the step up.

'I fill in for Simon when he's been away, so it is the same team that I'm going into, the same desk, the same login, the same password, the same news tonight.'

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Major disruptions yesterday as airlines around the world had to ground their Airbus A320 aircraft. 

Many travellers were left stranded after Airbus ordered immediate software fixes for 6000 of its A320s. 

Aviation Commentator Irene King says that New Zealand is lucky to be a smaller country, as it means the delays won't last as long. 

'The nice thing about being a small country is that we can recover pretty quickly from these sorts of disruptions.'

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Labour has shifted into campaign mode as the party meets for its annual conference in Auckland. 

With less than a year until the next election, Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins opened with an emphatic message “Believe We Can Win”.

Hipkins told Francesca Rudkin that the party has been focusing on what Kiwis didn't like about their last election campaign. 

'We've spent time really focusing on what didn't go well for us and what we need to change.'

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Christchurch based, Scottish born, artist Karra Rhodes is rising fast on the New Zealand music scene and she's got a new project in the works.

Her new album, Hometown Therapy, is also being used to shine a light on domestic violence and highlight her fundraising efforts for the charity Shine. 

"I like to think that I write music that a lot of people maybe feel uncomfortable writing music on."

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Yotam Ottolenghi is one of the biggest names in food around the world, and he's set to bring his insights to our shores next year.

After 11 cookbooks, Ottolenghi's built a name for himself in the world of food, and his distinctive way of cooking has earned him praise and critical acclaim.

He says these tours are often 'hectic' and 'intense' - and it's hard for him to juggle the experience of taking in a city on these schedules.

"I'm quite flexible with the way I eat, so I'm just happy to eat whatever's around...cooking on stage is really just about sharing some basic techniques that I've developed over time." 

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Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Jack Reacher is back - this time in Baltimore, where he inadvertently gets himself caught up in corrupt goings on at the local Port. He walks into a coffee shop, and someone brushes against him - only later does he realise that a note was slipped into his pocket at that moment, from someone asking for help and requesting a late night rendezvous. The note was clearly intended for someone else but Jack heads along to the meeting anyway, just to see what’s going on. This is classic Reacher - he’s about to dispense a lot of vigilante justice and stand up for the good guys, before he gets onto another Greyhound bus and heads off for who knows where.

Good Things Come and Go by Josie Shapiro. Josie is an Auckland writer whose first book I loved - Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts. This is her second, and it’s equally good - about Penny and Riggs living in LA where things have gone terribly wrong for them, and the chance for Penny to come back to Auckland and hold a solo art exhibition is too good to ignore. They head back to Waiheke Island (and into the midst of complicated family dynamics) and reconnect with an old friend who’s down on his luck. The rekindling of that childhood friendship brings serious undercurrents, with long held secrets to be reckoned with. Josie is a terrific writer and I hope will be bringing us books for years to come. 

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 23 November 2025, Yotam Ottolenghi is one of the biggest names in food, but it turns out even he struggles to know what to cook for dinner. This week he tells Francesca the unusual way he decides what to cook.

Karra Rhodes is an up and comer on the New Zealand music scene, she talks to Francesca about why she is donating royalties to charity.

The All Blacks have wrapped up their 2025 season, ZB commentator Elliott Smith with his report card, and Francesca questions the financial viability of university halls of residence for students.

And feeling that end of year fatigue? Erin O'Hara with all the tips for surviving Christmas without burning out.

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

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