Sunday Morning for Sunday 2 March 2025

8:10 Pope Francis hits bump on road to recovery

It is a difficult time for the world's one-and-a-half billion Roman Catholics. Pope Francis' doctors are assessing whether the Pontiff's sudden worsening of his double pneumonia respiratory condition this weekend will stabilise properly.

Based in Rome, Elise Ann Allen is a senior correspondent for Crux, the American online journal specializing in coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. She joins Jim to discuss the Pope's condition.

8:20 The Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen 

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

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

Wake up your brain and have a go! 

8:25 The queens of 'SIX' slay on stage

Broadway show SIX has been described as ‘a history lesson wrapped in a live concert’. The pop-inspired musical tells the story of the six wives of King Henry VIII who step out of the shadow of their infamous husband and reclaim their own narratives.

SIX is currently playing at Auckland’s Civic Theatre and Jim is joined by Deidre Khoo and Chelsea Dawson to hear about the remarkable women they portray. 

9:10 Mediawatch  

Mediawatch looks at the media reaction to Chinese warships arriving in the Tasman Sea prompting calls to bump up the budget for defence - and how the heated headlines about school lunches were intensified by politics. We also hear from the international outfit that defends public broadcasters from pressure to de-fund them 

9:35 The Japanese phenomenon of disappearing from your life

In Japan, thousands of people disappear every year, unable to face the life they had. It’s so common there are companies that help them vanish. 

Film-maker Andreas Hartmann joins Jim to discuss the cultural phenomenon and the documentary he co-directed Johatsu: Into Thin Air. 

10:10 Best Song Eva: Martin Henderson 

Actor Martin Henderson is in New Zealand filming My Life is Murder.  He chats to Jim about getting out on the water, the recent scam that used his persona, and his pick for Best Song Eva.

10:35 A Week in US Politics 

We cross to the States for the latest US news from political journalist Karen Kasler, the Statehouse Bureau Chief for public radio and television in Ohio. 

11:05 Do Kiwis want a four-year parliamentary term? 

This week the government announced that it will be introducing legislation that would allow the parliamentary term to be extended to four years – subject to referendum.  

Research NZ managing partner Emanuel Kalafatelis has been running surveys to what New Zealanders think of the idea. He joins Jim to discuss. 

11:15 The life and death of Gabby Petito 

When #vanlife influencer Gabby Petito disappeared in 2021, internet sleuths and officials looked to her social media accounts for clues. Her story now features on Netflix documentary American Murder.

Laura Miller is a writer with experience at uncovering the truth behind facades of fantasy. She joins Jim to discuss whether Gabby’s posts revealed her true life or hid it.  

11:40 Cow Communication: more than a moo 

Do cows have a language? Leonie Cornips is a sociolinguist at the Meertens Institute in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and has spent six years immersed in the lives of cows. She tells Jim about their complex method of communication and when it comes to understanding cows, patience is a virtue.