Afternoons for Wednesday 7 February 2024

 

1:15 Canterbury salsa dancers winning big overseas

Canterbury salsa dancers Natasha Frost and Jorja Dann achieved surprise overseas success at the Summit Championship in Orlando, Florida, last month.

The 19 year olds teamed up four years ago after Natasha's mum introduced the dance to a class at Burnside High School.

Natasha joins Jesse to describe the trip and her dance floor ambitions.

1:25 NZ's very own big foot mystery in the Moehau Ranges

The Moehau Man is also  known as our very own New Zealand 'Bigfoot'.

Hidden in the Coromandel-Moehau ranges, the legend has been pervasive for many decades.

In1970, The Press newspaper tried to end the rumours, claiming the creature was now dead.

But locals and paranormal investigator Marc Coppell have had recent strange encounters.

To discuss this mystery and legend of the Moehau Man, investigative and true crime author Scott Bainbridge talks to Jesse.

1:35 The origins of the Mainfreight trucking words of wisdom on their fleet

Mainfreight trucks - the big blue beasts that wind their way up and down our roads - is the last place many people might think they'll find enlightenment and words of wisdom.  

But they are there, literally stamped on the rear end of the trucks.

"When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence"

"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour"

Constance McDonald wrote a piece for Ensemble Magazine about how it all started, featuring managing director of Mainfreight Don Braid. Don speaks to Jesse. 

1:45 Heading Off: Ōmataroa Eco Tours

This week on heading off we're in the Eastern Bay of Plenty where the brand new Māori owned and operated - Ōmataroa Eco Tours has been named as one of National Geographic's cultural hot spots to visit this year.

The venture only started operating in March last year and takes visitors into the Ōmataroa forest.

Tour manager Jade Elliot speaks to Jesse.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Elliot Childs

Today Elliot talks to Jesse about Paul Giamatti's CHINWAG with Stephen Asma and The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop.

2:20 Oz correspondent Brad Foster

Brad Foster reports on some positive news in Australia on the cost of living challenges at the present time and news about a number of Sydney boys' schools planning to co-ed - and the backlash from some parents and ex-students at one school in particular. He also talks Pink, the Australian Grand Prix, and a new Australian streaming series that is worth watching.

2:30 Bookmarks with Jo Randerson

Jo Randerson is a writer, performer and award-winning theatre director.

She recently won the annual Topp Prize, named after the Topp twins - recognising her wide-ranging career and work championing up and coming performers and artists.

Jo is also one of the people responsible for the 'The Vogelmorn Community Group', re-purposing a former bowling club in Brooklyn, Wellington, into a community hub and creative space for locals.

Jo is currently working on a non-fiction book and getting ready to open a new show 'U R Back' as part of the Wellington Fringe festival.

She's our Bookmarks guest this week.

3:10 Ian Bremmer's top ten list of global threats for 2024

2024 will be the Voldemort of years, the year that must not be named. 

Managing the mischief of a divided America, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as proliferating artificial intelligence is going to be hard going. So says Ian Bremmer, a globally respected political scientist and president of the political risk advisory firm, Eurasia Group.

Every year he releases the top ten global risks the world is facing and this year, he's spoiled for choice. 

He shares the dark list and where he sees sources of light and optimism.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

How fast - and how completely - could Antarctica’s smaller western ice sheet melt in a warming world? An international science team, led by New Zealand, set out to investigate whether two degrees of warming could already be a tipping point for the frozen continent.

3:45 The Panel with Niki Bezzant and Nick Leggett