The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

A study published this week in the journal American Psychologist has said that swearing can make you physically stronger.

Participants were required to do a chair push up and those who swore were found to perform better than those who didn't.

Michelle Dickinson and Francesca Rudkin discuss the study and how it might help people push through the Christmas season.

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New Zealand politics has been a whirlwind this year with RBNZ drama, Te Pati Māori's meltdown, the Treaty principles bill, and local body elections.

2026 will be another big year in New Zealand politics as parties gear up for the general election which will take place sometime in the second half of the year. 

Political correspondent Thomas Coughlan share shares with Francesca Rudkin with predictions of strategies and successes...

At this time of the year it’s nice to reflect on some of the good things that happened throughout the year, and just days ago the nominees for the 63rd Halberg Awards were announced.

There have been some huge moments in sport this year - from world championships to domestic and international recognition, and the annual Halberg Awards nominations provide a snapshot of the breadth of Kiwi achievement.  

What’s really cool to see...

Kiwi actor Julian Dennison's built up an impressive acting resume between Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Deadpool 2, and How to Train Your Dragon, but he's about to make the switch to music next.

Dennison is confirmed to be playing a DJ set at the upcoming Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne at the end of December.

He says he needed another hobby to keep him going between acting gigs, and he felt inspired to explore the world of DJin...

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. This is by the author of the Booker Prize winning The God of Small Things - about her life growing up in India, the forces that shaped her, and particularly her very difficult relationship with her mother, Mary, who is always referred to in the book as Mrs Roy. Mrs Roy was a formidable force of nature and in trying to make sense of the dynamic between them, and to find her own way in the wo...

This week on the Sunday Panel, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and Resident Economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!

We've heard a lot about 'survive til 25' - are we actually feeling more optimistic about the economy as we enter the new year. How bad were things over the last few months, do we think?

What are we feeling ahead of the new year? Do we t...

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 14 December 2025, Kiwi Hollywood actor Julian Dennison is trying out a surprise new career, he talks to Francesca before his first festival Rhythm and Vines.

Dai Henwood has had rollercoaster of a year, he shares his journey, talking about comedy, honours and living with stage 4 cancer.

Reddit is taking on Australia's social media ban for under-16s, constituti...

Comedian Dai Henwood's ticked plenty of boxes over his three decades in the business, but next May, he'll take on a new challenge and host the Best Foods Comedy Gala. 

The event will take place from May 1 to May 2, and it represents a career-first for the Kiwi comedy legend.

Henwood says New Zealand's gone through some significant changes on the world stage, having moved from 'culturally cringe' to something meaningful. 

Cider, star anise and pineapple roasted ham 

Cook time: 60 minutes 

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Serves: 8-10

3kg free range cured and smoked Christmas ham  

2 x 330ml dry cider or apple juice  

6 star anise  

10 cloves  

2 cups fresh pineapple, peeled, sliced and cubed  

2 tbsp Dijion mustard  

300 gm brown sugar

Preheat a oven on fan-bake to160c.  

Slice the skin of the ham and...

I’ve already talked this year about research that shows staring at a seagull will prevent it from stealing your chips, but as beach season starts again - here is another science backed tactic that you can use.

According to new research published in the journal Biology Letters the best defence might be the simplest - just shout at the gull! 

The researchers tested 61 on how they responded to human voices after placing a portion...

James Cameron’s third instalment of the hugely successful Avatar franchise could be his last.

The Hollywood director's latest film - Avatar: Fire and Ash - premiered in Wellington yesterday, and is scheduled to release worldwide next week.

But Cameron says its future remains unclear, with consumer tastes changing, and better rebate schemes for studios overseas.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall reveals what we know so far.

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New Zealander Harry Mellsop has raised US$4.3 million for his start-up, Antioch, which he says brings artificial intelligence into the physical world.

He explained that Antioch’s tech will allow companies to build new or better AI robots by letting them test new features in software simulations.

Mellsop says this technology will help develop the autonomous driving space, drone technology, the manufacturing sector and several other ...

The war of words continues between Finance Minister Nicola Willis and former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson.

Richardson - the chair of the Taxpayers' Union - has been fronting a new campaign against Willis's fiscal decisions.

The pair have agreed to debate each other, but are yet to agree on when or where.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says the pair have expressed interest in having the debate on Newstalk ZB, wit...

New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery.

Kiwibank's latest bi-annual report forecasts a 2.4 percent growth for 2026, with boosted household confidence, an improved property sector, and a stabilising labour market.

The review cites low interest rates as the leading drivers of growth.

Economist Sabrina Delgado says there's a broad base for recovery, which comes as relief ...

Reddit's launched a High Court challenge to Australia's pioneering social media ban for under-16s. 

The country's new law, which sets a mandatory age limit of 16 or older for accounts on certain platforms, including Reddit, took effect on Wednesday. 

Reddit's case argues the policy has serious implications for privacy and political rights.

New South Wales University Law Professor Rosalind Dixon says Reddit isn't a bad pla...