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
Jay Ryan made a name for himself by appearing in New Zealand TV classics like Go Girls and Creamerie,.css-1t8gq41{border:none;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;box-shadow:none;color:#2F3133;cursor:pointer;font-size:inherit;padding:0;-webkit-text-decoration:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;width:-webkit-max-content;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content;}.css-1t8gq41:hover,.css-1t8gq41:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;}
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. An elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie. No one suspects foul play - until they discover that in the 1950's, Elsie’s name was Mabel, and she was the youngest person in Australian history to be convicted of murder – at which point the media circus arrives on her doorstep and the police take an interest, and she decides it might finally be time to tell her story. It’s a charming r...
Megan Singleton's been taking in Rarotonga, and she recently got the chance to try out a unique snorkelling experience.
She got the chance to try out sea scooter snorkelling, and she recapped her 'amazing' experience.
Read more about Megan's Rarotonga experience here.
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This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast day host Lorna Riley and partner at Freebairn and Hehir, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - an...
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 19 October 2025, Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton talks about mining his own life for his books and the risks he's taken just for a story.
Kiwi acting export Jay Ryan on his new show 'The Ridge' and discusses the threat of AI on his industry.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins has fired a shot at unions ahead of this weeks mega strikes. Mini...
Ika Mata
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serves: 12
300gm firm white flesh fish
Juice of 2 limes
Juice of 2 lemons
1 small red onion, diced
1 small cucumber, diced
2 red chilli, deseeded and diced
1 cup spring onion, sliced flaky salt
1 cup coriander, roughly chopped
2 cups coconut cream
Slice the fish into 5mm cubes and place into a non-reactive container. Squeeze ...
Anyone who has ever sliced an onion, knows the eye stinging feeling and watering that comes with it.
A new study from researchers at Cornell University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has uncovered exactly how those eye-stinging onion chemicals blast into the air and revealed a surprisingly simple way to stop them.
Onions have long been known to release an irritant called propanethial ...
Trent Dalton's made a name for himself as one of Australia's biggest authors, and he's back with something that's more personal.
He's best known for his 2018 novel, Boy Swallows Universe, which was adapted into an award-winning Netflix series last year.
His new book, Gravity Let Me Go, promises to be more auto-biographical, as it tells the story of a character in crisis as he works to tell more stories.
"It's so funny that as I'm ...
There's concerns among some that sunscreen poses a risk, and the high-profile product recalls in recent months have prompted discussion.
Some believe sunscreen is toxic or linked to disease and skin cancer - and some believe it's not needed because vitamin D is good for health.
Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara debunked these concerns, and revealed how to choose the right sun-protection products.
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Several Kiwi industry leaders and screen businesses have teamed up to officially launch Screen NZ International, an industry body designed to boost New Zealand's film industry.
The organisation aims to help New Zealand remain a competitive screen destination by building relationships with clients and promoting the country internationally.
Screen NZ International executive chair Mel Turner says the organisation wants to see New Zeal...
The Labour Party is set to unveil their economic policy in the coming days, and speculation's growing.
Reports indicate a new tax plan will soon be announced - but it's likely the upcoming release will cover a wide range of economic topics.
NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse speculates further.
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An estimated 100,000 workers are set to go on strike this coming Thursday, despite warnings from the Public Service Minister.
Judith Collins has penned a letter to New Zealanders claiming the planned industrial action is 'unfair' and 'unwarranted'.
PPTA president Chris Abercrombie has responded to Judith Collins's critique of unions being political by saying - of course they are.
"Well, we're dealing with the Government, so i...
The Public Service Minister has penned an open letter to New Zealanders before a major mega strike this coming week.
An estimated 100,000 workers across the health and education sector plan to walk off the job on Thursday.
Minister Judith Collins says the strikes will impact children and families and believes they appear politically motivated.
She says primary school principals have taken a more commendable approach.&nb...
In August 2022, former Prime Minister Jim Bolger joined Newstalk ZB's Francesca Rudkin on The Sunday Session to launch his new book 'Fridays with Jim'. Listen to the chat above and read more his interview below.
Jim Bolger entered the New Zealand political scene in 1972.
A self-taught son of Irish Immigrants, the King Country farmer lead the National party to victory in 1990 and became the 35th Prime M...
Chef, author and broadcaster Peta Mathias lives a wonderfully full life, full of gastronomic tours of the world's top food destinations.
When she's not leading foodie tours through the likes of Italy, Spain, France, Morocco and India, she's following summer - by teaching cooking classes in the South of France before returning to New Zealand in time for our summer.
She's written about her life as part of her collection of essays bun...
New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast.
A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week.
Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse's fight for justice.
Lynskey says it was important for the men to be remembered ...
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. Sonia and Sunny live, study and work in America, but their families back home in India worry about the loneliness they feel in a strange country and try to bring them together. They do eventually connect, but relationships in their new world are not straightforward and there are a lot of things to navigate including finding the place where they belong - plus class, race, history, an...
Megan Singleton's latest travel adventure has taken her to Rarotonga, and she's noticed more people seem to be flocking to the islands.
Between the variety of accommodation options, the bars and restaurants and wildlife - including crabs, whales, friendly dogs and turtles to snorkel with - there's plenty of options for all prospective travellers.
Megan unveiled her personal highlights - read more about her travel tips here.
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This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at Capital, Ben Thomas, and NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - a...
New research indicates making healthy choices might require more effort than updating your grocery list.
A new study claims women's eating habits are more socially sensitive, and when isolated, they're 85 percent more likely to stop eating vegetables daily and twice as likely to stop eating fruit.
The study also claims Read more
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