Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

The Novel is Kiwi band PARK RD’s debut novel, a punchy thirteen track work from a group of highschool friends from Tāmaki Makaurau. In the bands own words “It feels like its own little world. The main theme of the album is definitely love." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love. In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than answers. In immersive, moving prose, Rachel Khong weaves a profound tale of class and striving, race and visibility, and family and inheritance—a story of trust, forgiveness, and finally coming home. Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome? Think Twice by Harlan Coben Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on – until now, when twofederal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is. According to the agents, Greg is still alive—and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked, Myron needs answers. Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes. Secrets, lies, and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past churn at the heart of Harlan Coben's blistering new novel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overconsumption is trendy, with the evolution of technology and online shopping making it easier and easier to buy things you don’t need. Kate “Ethically Kate” Hall joined Jack Tame to discuss our relationship with stuff and dig into clever consumption and strategic decluttering. She has a few recommendations for things people can try to avoid simply buying more things. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shardlake During the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor era, Matthew Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the death of a commissioner in a remote town of Scarnsea (Disney+). Trying All Nikki and Jason want is a baby -- the one thing they can't have -- so they decide to adopt; with their dysfunctional friends, screwball families and chaotic lives, the adoption panel may not agree they're ready to be parents (Apple TV+). The Blue Angels This documentary follows the newest class of the US Navy and Marine Corps fight squadron as they go through their intense training and into a season of heart-stopping aerial artistry (Prime Video). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"One of the greatest ways to sample the heart and soul of a powerhouse city like Rome is to join a food tour with an in-the-know local." "I plumped for the Roman Food Tour which is a 3-4 hour walking tour in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Prati, where grand villas rub shoulders with the walls of the Vatican. Previously the area was open countryside and growing fields, but nowadays it’s one of Rome’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, home to hordes of Italian celebrities and glitterati. Needless to say, discerning tastes and culinary authenticity rules supreme in these parts, far away from the bog-standard tourist restaurants, ever-present in Rome." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re on the cusp of the flu season. One of my concerns is that I often hear from patients phrases like ‘it’s just the flu!’. It’s almost viewed as something we don’t need to be concerned about; it’s just like a cold. However, it’s much more than that. It’s estimated it can be responsible for up to 500 deaths a year in New Zealand, based on University of Otago research. It’s more than just a cold! What is influenza? -It infects our nose, throat, and lungs. -It occurs more in winter, brought in by infected people on planes from the Northern Hemisphere! -Tends to spread with close contact indoors: coughing, sneezing, and talking to each other, or the virus lands on surfaces and we pick it up on our hands. -Can kill up to 500 people a year. -Especially at risk are the elderly, pregnant women, those with other illnesses like diabetes, lung and heart conditions, cancer, those under 5, and Māori and Pacific people over the age 55. How does it differ from a cold? -It is much more severe. It can make us very unwell and miserable, lasting up to 7 to 14 days. -Coughs, sore throats, and sneezing can occur in both colds and flus, however a few things distinguish the flu from colds: -The flu is often very rapid onset; colds tend to be gradual. -In particular, unlike the common cold, the flu can cause very severe muscle aches, headaches, ‘chills’ (feeling hot and cold), and fever. -Chest discomfort and coughs can also be very severe with the flu. -Occasionally causes diarrheal and vomiting. Can you treat it? -Straight answer is no. Antibiotics don’t work. You're stuck with it, and we treat the symptoms. -Using paracetamol and brufen for temperatures and muscle aches. Keeping fluids up. -However, once you have it you have it! How do we prevent it? -Number one: if you have the flu don’t go to work, don’t spread it! -Wash hands regularly, don’t share drinks, cover mouth and nose if coughing or sneezing. -The most important single thing is to get vaccinated. It will prevent you catching the flu. Because the virus changes every year, you’ll need a fluvax once a year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google's big US launch adding AI to their search queries, isn't going so well. Perhaps they pushed this a little too fast? Someone asked, "how many rocks should I eat a day?" and Google told them that UC Berkerley geologists suggested you eat a small rock a day as they contain minerals and vitamins important for digestive health but did also recognize that eating pebbles regularly may mean they get stuck in your intestines. Why does it suggest this? Because the website ‘The Onion’ had an article about it. Only problem is that The Onion is a satirical newspaper. Yes, these responses are labelled as experimental, but maybe it's still too experimental? Another post suggested adding some non-toxic glue to a pizza recipe so the cheese doesn't fall off, and suggested Barack Obama was the first Muslim US president. Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice? She certainly thinks so. Johansson was the voice actor for the virtual assistant in the movie Her, where a man falls in love with her as if she was a real person. Friends and family heard the new Open AI voice assistant named "Sky" and thought it was her. It didn't help that Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, tweeted with a link to the product with the caption "Her". Johansson says Altman contacted her back in September to ask if she'd be open to her voice being used. She said no. She says two days before the launch, her agent was contacted again asking her to license her voice. Altman says they cast the actors for their new voices before reaching out to Johansson but have removed the voice for now. One lawyer cited a case where singer Bette Midler won against Ford, when they used an impersonator in their ad after Midler declined to be involved. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 25 May 2024, Boh Runga talks about taking part in a world-first Pride event combining dance and pop with the Auckland Philharmonia. Jack's faith in the Crusaders remains strong despite a tough season and a rough week of headlines regarding coach Rob Penney's hot mic moment during a team press conference. Francesca reviewed the delightful French remake of The Three Musketeers as part of the French Film Festival, and Ruud joined Jack in studio to offer compassion over last week's tree pruning disaster. Plus, Jack got a mouthful of butterscotch pie from chef Nici Wickes. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never expected that my degree in Forestry from Wageningen University would come in handy at this late stage of my life. Thank you, Jack! Pruning plants in the garden is something that most gardeners can learn reasonably quickly. Yes, there will be some mistakes along the way, but hey! That’s how you gain experience. Hedges are the next stage up in competence – they are often large plants (or really small trees). The key to pruning hedges is to do it relatively frequently – say 3 times per year or even more. Every time to take a bit off the hedge, you cut the terminal buds off (the buds at the end of a twig or branch). This in itself causes the lateral buds, a little bit lower down, to grow out and take over from the terminal buds. In the case of hedge plants, this will make them a lot more dense, especially if a few lateral buds will grow out at different levels, taking over from that one terminal bud you just removed. Pruning trees is based on similar botanical systems, but tackling that big stuff requires a course or three in arboriculture, safety and balance. Some trees are pretty easy to tackle: your plane tree is a great example. Go and visit Franklin Road in Auckland and you’ll see how you can pollard those monsters every few years by cutting them back to the required height, and keep them there for decades to come; the same with the willows in the Netherlands. Pohutukawa are different again; they can be trimmed in a few ways. I saw an elaborate pruning gig going on at Ngapipi Road (off Tamaki drive), whereby a substantial pohutukawa was pruned like a hedge (no doubt complaints about interrupted views from the locals on the opposite side of the road). That might do the trick, but a pohutukawa is not naturally a dense hedge. Usually, it looks like a rather open tree with lots of space for birds to fly through. This is the way you maintain that open tree configuration: cut a few branches out of the middle and pick them at various heights so it doesn’t look too bland and butchered. Remember, every tree has its own “natural” look. It pays to trim it in such a way that it will maintain that look. Here is a schematic picture of how I would suggest pruning such trees and keep them looking good. 1) It's always best to start pruning a tree early; the smaller the wound, the faster it heals, and there is less reactive growth. 2) When you want to reduce a tree, it's best to start when it's approx 1-2 meters taller than you want it. 3) If trees are important in your garden and in your life, sniff out an experienced arborist who loves the trees just as much as you do. Look for arborists that are members of the NZArb association - It's probably best to avoid having work done by someone who comes door-knocking. 4) Spend some time running through the way the job will be executed; you can make it “arty”. 5) Have a chat to the neighbours about what the plans are and why (privacy, biodiversity, bird food). 6) Take the day of the “operation” off work and be part of the team as much as possible. Honestly: it’s the way to achieve the best possible outcome for your garden, the trees, the planet! “Thinning” Photo / ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boh Runga burst onto the scene in 1999, the frontwoman of award-winning pop-rock Kiwi band Stellar. She’s gone on to become something of a multi-hyphenate, with fingers in various pies. The singer, songwriter, and musician has become a household name, expanding her enterprises to include designing, jewellery making, and even writing a book. Runga is taking part in the world-first Pride Synthony event, where popular music genres and hits are married together with classical orchestral music. The pride event is the first of its kind, and set to be an incredibly inclusive event not just for those in the queer community. “It’s featuring a lot of artists over different genres of music coming together to celebrate the music that I guess Pride, if you can say, is famous for,” Runga told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. “Like disco, and like, great gay icons, I guess.” “I’m chuffed to be a part of it.” She told Tame that when the email came, she replied straight away, which she reveals is unusual for her. “This was such a special one. I’m so pleased to be a part of it.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home. The Three Musketeers: D'Artagann Young D'Artagnan arrives in Paris, trying to find the attackers who left him for dead. He instead finds a real war brewing and joins the king's three musketeers - Athos, Porthos and Aramis - as they work to ensure the future of France. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French Post Office La Poste has released a brand new type of stamp. Their scratch and sniff baguette stamp celebrates the baking of six billion baguettes a year in France. Kevin Milne saw this and wondered if the New Zealand Post Office could do such a thing, and if so, what scent? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$2.60. Oof. I’m gonna’ hazard a guess that as a Crusaders fan, we haven’t faced such long odds against the Blues anytime this century. But honestly, given the Super Rugby season we’ve had so far, I felt a strange sense of surprise in checking the TAB website, when the number for tonight’s clash didn’t start with a four or a five. Momentum is one of those funny things in sport. When everything’s going swell, you don’t think about Lady Luck, so much. When everything’s not, well, one thing leads to another and another, and your problems have a curious habit of snowballing out of control. Crusaders Coach Rob Penney learnt that lesson the hard way this week. Of all the things he’s had to deal with this season that are out of his control, an exodus of experience and injuries up the wazoo, being caught on mic calling a reporter the C-word was definitely a fiasco of his own making. Although I’m a ride-or-die Crusaders fan, I’m 100% on the reporter’s side on this one. I’ll always back someone asking hard questions. Professional sport is a high-pressure, results-driven business. You cannot have the adoration and the glory, the merchandise sales and the TV viewers, without expecting scrutiny in return. And in this case, the questions asked weren’t personal or out of scope. They were entirely fair and reasonable. In the 90s, we had these bumper stickers in Christchurch. I don’t know why I’ve remembered them. They said ‘Of course we CANterbury.” The Can was written in red and the ‘terbury” was written in black. I wondered if an entrepreneurial soul watching Rob Penney’s press conference might reel off a few new products this week with a slight twist on the old classic. Of course, the irony is that if Rob Penney was trying to dispel questions about the pressure he faces or trying to cast off speculation about his future, his reaction has had the exact opposite effect. That one sentence and that one word told media and fans everywhere more than any of his answers to the actual questions possibly could have. That being said… I’d like to think we’re not so precious we’re going to hold a bad word against a man forever. If anything, Rob Penney has taken the heat off his players for a few days. The Crusaders have apologised. We can move on. And you know what, it occurs to me that nothing would help that team move on more… nothing would help Rob Penny pull a metaphorical Andrew Mehrtens-at-Loftus-Versfeld middle finger to the World, nothing would be quite so satisfying as a triumph against the old foe tonight. $2.60? By the Crusaders’ standards those are awfully long odds. But never discount a wounded underdog with its back against the wall. We might have the equal-fewest wins of this year’s Super Rugby tournament. We might be facing off with the top-of-the-table team. Our coach might be slagging off my colleagues. But I for one, still believe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is never a time when a slice of butterscotch pie is not a good idea. This is simple and divine, and you will not regret making your own pastry for this pie – it’s super easy and failsafe. Serves 4-6 Ingredients CRUST 100g (about 1/2 cup) plain flour 1 tsp sugar Pinch salt 75g cold butter, cut into chunks 40mls very cold water FILLING 75g cold unsalted butter 225g brown sugar (about one cup loosely packed + 1 tablespoon) ¼ tsp flaky sea salt, plus more to taste 100mls cream 1 large tablespoon crème fraiche 2 tsps. vanilla extract 3 large eggs 1 tbsp plain flour Whipped cream to serve Method Grease a shallow, 18cm pie dish. To make the pastry, blitz all the ingredients except the cold water in a food processor until it looks like breadcrumbs. Drizzle in enough of the cold water to form a damp crumb that, when pinched, clumps together. Turn out onto a floured bench and bring it together with a quick, light knead. Roll out and press pastry into the greased tin. Freeze for 15 minutes. Prick frozen pastry all over with a fork. Press a lightly oiled piece of foil into the dish and up the sides, covering the pastry – this saves blind baking with weights. Press tightly to enclose the pastry. Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove foil. While pastry is par-baking, make the filling. In a saucepan melt the butter over a medium heat. Add sugar and salt and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring. Remove from heat and whisk in cream, crème fraiche and vanilla. Careful as it will bubble up. Cool for 15 minutes. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then the flour, until smooth. Once crust is parbaked, pour in the filling. Bake for 10 minutes at 200 C and then reduce heat to 160 C and bake for a further 25-30 minutes. It is cooked when there’s a slight jiggle in the centre when moved. Let cool completely and serve with softly whipped cream. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billie Eilish has released her third album. ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ is an album intended to do as the title states, hitting listeners hard and soft both lyrically and sonically, Eilish states on her website. You never quite know what the next track is going to be, Estelle Clifford told Jack Tame. It’s an album you can’t listen to all at once, but there’s also not really any skip tracks, she said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time. She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machine,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But he adjusts quickly; he is, after all, an explorer by trade. Soon, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a seriously uncomfortable housemate dynamic, evolves into something much more. Over the course of an unprecedented year, Gore and the bridge fall haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences they never could have imagined. Supported by a chaotic and charming cast of characters—including a 17th-century cinephile who can’t get enough of Tinder, a painfully shy World War I captain, and a former spy with an ever-changing series of cosmetic surgery alterations and a belligerent attitude to HR—the bridge will be forced to confront the past that shaped her choices, and the choices that will shape the future. The Coast Road by Alan Murrin Set in 1994, The Coast Road tells the story of two women—Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children. The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbour Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. The friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beautifully historic city of Thessaloniki sits on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. It's a port city, and the transport hub of Greece. Mike Yardley visited Greece's second city, joining Jack Tame to run him through the beauty and the historic landmarks all around. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridgerton A new season of the popular Shonda Rhimes costume drama set during the Regency era in England and following eight siblings of the rich and powerful Bridgerton family as they try to find love (Netflix). Big Mood Best friends Maggie and Eddie have lived in each other's pockets for 10 years, through thick, thin; but with the rest of their lives looming, and Maggie's bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return, Maggie and Eddie's relationship faces the future (ThreeNow). Deadwood All three seasons of the brilliant and award-winning Western show Deadwood have dropped on TVNZ+. Set in the late 1800s in Deadwood, the series follows the lives of those who must survive in the Wild West town full of corruption and crime (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arthur the King Desperate for one last chance to win, Michael Light convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team gets pushed to the outer limits of endurance, a dog named Arthur comes along for the ride, redefining what victory, loyalty and friendship truly means. Dream Scenario A family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. However, when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, he's forced to navigate the consequences of his newfound stardom. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 18 May 2024, award-winning Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson has crossed the ditch to bring their charm and wittiness to the NZ International Comedy Festival. This week, Jack experienced tragedy with a shocking tree pruning. Tara Ward spills on Bridgerton's latest serving of high society seduction and scandal in Screentime, while clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland dissects a brand-new report estimating that bullying in the workplace costs New Zealand employers around $1.5 billion a year. Plus, Jack and Sav try to keep up with how many sportsmen have been arrested in the past 48 hours. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.