The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.
Episodes
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for (DAY DD Month YYYY), a few years ago, author Lee Child walked away from his Jack Reacher series but this week he hints a return might be on the Reacher might be on the cards.
Kiwi indie rock band The Beths are having a great run at the moment, lead singer Liz Stokes and guitarist Jonathan Pearce chat about their new album and the bands growing success.
There's been a...
Since the late 90s Lee Child’s name has been synonymous with Jack Reacher.
The books selling over 100 million copies worldwide and Reacher becoming one of the most loved and enduring fictional characters.
Lee has now handed over the Reacher series to his ...
The women’s Rugby World Cup has entered round two in England.
The Black Ferns face Jap...
NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor joins Francesca Rudkin to review this weeks' top local politics stories.
Is it normal for the taxpayers to pay for the legal advice the government received during COVID?
Will New Zealand follow suit with Australia and remove the Iranian ambassador following recent anti-semitic attacks?
And what does the Government's new Business Investor Visa do for foreign investors?
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Donald Trump’s vowing to fight the ruling that many of his imposed trade tariffs are illegal.
The US Court of Appeals has ruled Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to impose the sweeping import tariffs.
The tariffs remain in place until mid-October to allow a Supreme Court appeal.
Waikato University international law expert Al Gillespie says it's a 50-50 chance whether or not Trump's appeal wi...
Almost three New Zealanders die from preventable drug overdoses every week.
That is twice the number of people that die from drowning.
New Zealand Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm said that the number of overdoses highlights New Zealand's shortcomings on tackling substance abuse.
'We're losing so many New Zealanders to preventable overdose, and we have very little little in place to prevent overdoses'
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Richard Burton was a global icon best remembered for his memorable film roles and his passionate - and drama-filled - romance with Elizabeth Taylor, but a new release reveals where it all began.
The new biopic Mr Burton will be out in theatres next week and it tells the story of Richard Burton's tumultuous early life - and the school teacher who helped propel him to global stardom.
Kate Burton, daughter of Richard Burton and ...
Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week.
Freak Out City is a follow-up to his 2022 solo project Songs Without Jokes.
The lead off single is All I Need, and Bret McKenzie says it's inspired by his long-term relationship with his wife, Hannah.
"It's funny, when you've been in a relationship that long, there are some days whe...
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah: Kristin Hannah is the author of several extremely popular books, including The Nightingale and The Women. They’re historical fiction, but this one is contemporary - about a broken mother and daughter relationship. Nora Bridge is a nationally syndicated talk show host who dispenses moral and spiritual advice to her legion of listeners, and whose daughter Ruby is a wannabe stand up comedienne, using h...
Japan is making significant changes to its tourism landscape, with new measures taking effect by late 2026.
Japan will end tax-free shopping benefits for foreign visitors, estabish dual pricing and establish visitor caps at popular tourist spots.
BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton explains further - and reveals whether these will make a dent in Japan's tourism figures.
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This week on the Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and director at Capital NZ, Ben Thomas, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of...
Consuming more fibre can be good for your health, but is TikTok's new FibreMaxxing trend the safest way to go about it?
FibreMaxxing encourages people to load their diets up with extra fibre, but experts have voiced concerns that consuming too much could lead to harmful effects.
Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further.
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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10th August 2025, Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie speaks ahead of the release of his new solo album Freak Out City. He talks about writing for movies and inheriting 50 race horses.
Actress Kate Burton is the daughter of global screen star Richard Burton, she tells Francesca why the latest biopic of her father is the first she's endorsed.
Labou...
Pea and ham soup with cheesy toast
Cook time: 60 minutes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6
1 smoked pork hock
1 carrot, peeled and quartered
1 onion, peeled and quartered
2 bay leaves
1 ltr chicken stock
1 ltr water
2 cup green lentils
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp white pepper
Gruyere toast
8 slices ciabatta
4 tbsp Dijon mustard
10...
Did you know that the humble potato owes its very existence, and its global success as a food staple to an ancient genetic mash-up?
A recent study in the journal Cell of over 100 wild and cultivated potato genomes has revealed a fascinating secret about the potato family tree.
The beloved spud and its 107 wild relatives all belong to a plant group called Petota. What sets Petota apart is its ability to grow undergr...
2025 is a big year for Jane Austen fans, as it marks 250 years since the English novelist's birth.
A line up of events have been taking place throughout the year - but also coinciding with the anniversary is a French Austen-esque rom com.
The film is called Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and it tells the story of struggling writer Agathe, played by Camille Rutherford.
"She doesn't care and I like that about her. She's also...
The new 2025 mystery horror film Weapons is out in theatres, meaning film fans will finally get a chance to unravel what was happening in the trailers.
The film's premise involves seventeen children from the same classroom mysteriously running away on the same night.
Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains further - without getting into the film's biggest spoilers.
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The SPCA is riding the tail of a global cat film sensation.
CatVideoFest is a 75-minute compilation of small felines doing silly things.
It's reached our cinemas and a portion of money from screenings goes to the SPCA.
It was founded in the US and has benefited charities in North America and Europe - before making its way to Australia and New Zealand.
Director Will Braden says there's something special about the product.
"The chari...
The Greens claim they're leading the opposition, while they push a radical tax shakeup.
The Party's AGM continues in the capital today, which kicked off with a rally from co-leader Marama Davidson yesterday.
NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor explained that Chlöe Swarbrick was due to speak today.
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Israeli protestors have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv angry over the Israeli Government's plan to occupy Gaza City.
Latest opinion polls show around 70 percent of people in Israel oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for military control in Gaza City.
World leaders have condemned Israel's take-over plan and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is due to be held in New York tomorrow.
Israeli journalist Gideo...
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