Sunday Morning

8.10 The latest from the US and UK with Rich Preston 

BBC News presenter and foreign affairs reporter Rich Preston joins the show again - from Washington DC - to give us the latest news from across the UK and US.   

Rich anchors the BBC's international and domestic news channel for a global audience, and he's hosted the BBC's coverage of many major events. 

 

8:25 Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen  

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back with his Sunday Morning quiz. 

Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's quiz show Only Connect, known for being both hard — and at the same time totally obvious.     

Wake up your brain and have a go!  

8:40 Is the Internet dying? 

The internet, as we know it, is rapidly changing. So much so there's a concept called the Dead Internet Theory, which claims activity and content is largely being created and automated by AI agents to increase online engagement. 

But Dr Jake Renzella, who is the Director of Computer Science studies at the UNSW, says it could be much more sinister than that. He tells Jim about well-funded, bot-fuelled disinformation that supports autocratic regimes, attacks opponents, and spreads propaganda. 

 

8:40 All Blacks vs Ireland: Update from Chicago's Soldier Field stadium 

RNZ’s Jamie Wall joins Jim from Chicago's Soldier Field stadium just before kick-off in the All Blacks’ clash with Ireland. It’s the first game in the All Blacks Northern Tour against the four home nations. 

 

9:10 Mediawatch 

Mediawatch looks at how the media responded to the sudden announcement of Labour’s much-anticipated tax policy  - and a big rejig of Māori  news and current affairs funding: Also - while New Zealand leaders have been on the world stage this week, we’ve been accused of punching below our weight on global media freedom. 

 

9:40 Frances Cook: How much is too much to spend?  

Financial journalist and creator of the Making Cents podcast, Frances Cook joins Jim to explore the nitty gritty of giving yourself permission to spend. She discusses the 24-hour rule, the cost-per-use rule, and the ‘fun budget’.  

 

10:10 Locked-in but listening: Martin Pistorius’ remarkable return from silence  

When he was 12 years old, Martin Pistorius was stricken by a mysterious neurological illness, known as Locked-in Syndrome. For the next ten years he was unable to move or speak.  

Doctors, family, and carers believed he was unaware, however Martin was entirely cognisant but unable to let people know he could see, hear, and understand everything going on around him.  

His memoir Ghost Boy was published in 2011. Earlier this year Rodney Ascher's documentary, also called Ghost Boy, was released and won the Visions Audience Award at the SXSW Film and Television Festival. 

Martin joins Jim to discuss the documentary and his experience of being 'locked-in'. 

 

10:40 Useful Science with Bonnie Harrison 

Bonnie Harrison is here guiding us through the latest weird and useful headlines from the world of science.  

 

11:10 Dr Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition 

Dr Ali Hill, from Otago University’s Department of Human Nutrition, returns to Sunday Morning to discuss safe protein powder, tinned oysters and supermarket yoghurt. 

 

11:25 Best Song Eva: Kate Bell 

Composer and conductor Kate Bell is the founder of All Together Now, New Zealand's largest choir network. 

Next weekend 180 of its singers will come together to perform at Auckland’s Town Hall for Mixtape for the Mission, to raise money for the Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai. 

Kate’s with Jim to tell him about the joy of singing in a choir, what's in store for the audience next Sunday afternoon and reveals her pick for Best Song Eva. 

 

11:45  What's My Book About: George Lockyer 

Last time George Lockyer joined the show he was discussing his book Kiwis On Harleys. Now, the seasoned storyteller is back with his new offering, Fire Stations of Aotearoa. A retired volunteer firefighter himself, George jumped on his bike to visit 27 fire stations across the country and discovered the history, traditions, and humanity of each brigade.