Saturday Morning for Saturday 8 July 2023

8.10 Prof Susan Rossell: Australian psychiatrists can prescribe MDMA and psilocybin

In a world first, authorised Australian psychiatrists can now prescribe MDMA and psilocybin.

As of 1 July, psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms and MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, can be prescribed for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder respectively.

Professor Susan Rossell is a cognitive neuropsychologist at Swinburne University's Centre for Mental Health.

She's working on Australia's only active clinical trial testing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Despite the promise shown by these drugs in clinical trial settings she's concerned the approval process has been rushed and could cause a backlash.

8.30 Bill Bailey on the joys of ambling and rambling

Last year Bill Bailey walked 100 miles in memory of his late friend Sean Lock, inspired by the hikes the two comics used to take together.

Bailey's become evangelical about the benefits of a good walk, as an opportunity for blokes to be a bit more open with each other about difficult subjects.

He's less enthusiastic about Twitter, which, as far as he's concerned, is a "vituperative swamp of unpleasantness".

The comedian, musician and actor best known for his film and television work on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, QI, and the award winning Black Books was also host of the first season of NZ hit comedy panel show Patriot Brains.

He's returning to Aotearoa in November and December for a fourteen date tour of his new show Thoughtifier.

9.05 Lisa Cortés: Little Richard and the queer Black origins of rock'n'roll 

Without Little Richard would Lizzo exist? Lil Nas X? The Rolling Stones? 

Three years after his death, a new documentary directed by Lisa Cortés pays tribute to the pioneer of rock and roll and makes clear his musical DNA is everywhere.

As well as his music Cortés' celebrates his blackness and queerness. Richard shouted his sexuality with songs like 1955's 'Tutti Frutti', all while trying to do right by his religion and stay safe as a Black man in the Jim Crow South.

Cortés' film Little Richard: I Am Everything will screen as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival. 

 

9.35 Andrew Paul Wood: the history of the occult in Aotearoa 

Getting in touch with the other side was surprisingly big business in colonial New Zealand. 

Almost every village hall could expect a visit from a spiritual medium, some of them famous, the likes of Arthur Conan Doyle.

Historian, critic, and culture journalist Andrew Paul Wood delves into the rich history of the occult and the esoteric in Aotearoa in his new book Shadow Worlds.

As well as spiritual mediums he looks at secret societies such as The Golden Dawn, spiritual movements like Rosicrucianism and even witchcraft.

 

 

10.05 Antony Loewenstein: Palestine a testing ground for war tech

Australian-German investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein argues Israel has used occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground to develop weaponry and surveillance technology. 

In his new book The Palestine Laboratory Loewenstein pulls together secret documents, interviews and contemporary reporting to argue Israel exports the resulting technology to other international conflicts.

Antony Loewenstein has written for The Guardian, and The New York Times, His books include Pills, Powder and Smoke, and the best selling Disaster Capitalism.

He's touring New Zealand later this month.

 

 

 

10.40 Organic gardener Kath Irvine: winter gardening wisdom

Nomad gardener and The Edible Backyard author Kath Irvine is back with some winter wisdom including
why knowing where winter sun falls is the secret to year round success, plus how to avoid a soggy garden.

11.05 Playing Favourites with Roseanne Liang 

New Zealand director & screenwriter Roseanne Liang has been going from strength to strength. 

She was recently announced to direct action movie Maude v Maude, starring Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie and is working on Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

She first came to attention for her 2005 autobiographical documentary film Banana in a Nutshell which lead to feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets. 

She's also the co-creator and director of apocalyptic comedy TV series Creamerie which follows three women dairy farmers as they navigate the world after a virus wipes out almost all men. 

The second season is premiering on TVNZ+ from July 14. 

 

Books featured on this show:

Shadow Worlds: a history of the occult and esoteric in New Zealand
by Andrew Paul Wood
published by Massey University Press
ISBN: 9781991016379

The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports The Technology Of Occupation Around The World 
by Antony Loewenstein
Published by Scribe Publications
ISBN: 9781922310408

Music played in this show

Artist: Little Richard
Song: Tutti Frutti
Time played: 9:20

Roseanne Liang, Playing Favourites:

Artist: Bic Runga
Song: Suddenly Strange
Time played: 11:15

Artist: US3
Song: Cantaloop
Time Played: 11:30

Artist: Janelle Monae
Song: Tightrope
Time Played: 11:50