The Sunday Session
9am-12pm Sun
THE SUNDAY SESSION WITH FRANCESCA RUDKIN
9am-Noon
Sink into your Sunday with the best session around.
This is the show that delivers a little bit of everything.
¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered.
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Francesca Rudkin: I wish Auckland was vibing as much as Christchurch
So, while we were on a break, I went to Christchurch to see my son for his 19th birthday. It was a fleeting visit. I flew down on a Friday and home on Saturday afternoon,...
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Whitcoulls Recommends: The Cut Throat Trial and The Vanishing Place
The Cut Throat Trial by S.J Fleet. I assume that the author’s name is a pseudonym as they’ve published previous books under the moniker of The Secret Barrister –...
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New Orleans: How the city bounced back after Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, and the damage didn't stop there. The levies around the city broke in the days after the Hurricane,...
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The Sunday Panel: Should the taxpayer cover the legal costs of the COVID inquiry?
This week on the Sunday Panel, Coast Day host Lorna Riley and Senior PR Consultant at One Plus One Communications, Damien Venuto, joined in on a discussion about...
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Are Vitamins and Supplements necessary or a waste of money?
Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara covers in detail whether we need supplements and are multivitamins good for you? What are some of the supplements that...
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Kiwi indie rock band 'The Beths' releases 4th studio album
Kiwi indie rock band The Beths have released their 4th studio album titled 'Straight Line Was A Lie.' Lead singer Liz Stokes and guitarist Jonathan Pierce joined...
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Asian Greens: What are they and how do you use them?
Asian greens and Chinese greens are terms used for any number of leafy green vegetables that find their origins in Eastern Asia. These are typically a staple of...
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Dr Michelle Dickinson: How does lightning begin?
Scientists have debated over two main theories of how lightning starts for years. Some say it's due to a build up of static electricity between particles in clouds,...
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'Catch this one in the cinemas': New Shayne Carter doco promises 'beautiful' experience
The new documentary on musician Shayne Carter titled 'Life in one chord' has been described as one to watch in the cinemas by flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall. He...
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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast: 31 August 2025
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for (DAY DD Month YYYY), a few years ago, author Lee Child walked away from his Jack Reacher series...
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Jack Reacher series author releases autobiographical collection
Since the late 90s Lee Child’s name has been synonymous with Jack Reacher. The books selling over 100 million copies worldwide and Reacher becoming one of the most...
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Black Ferns face Japan in round 2 of Women's Rugby World Cup
The women’s Rugby World Cup has entered round two in England. The Black Ferns face Japan in their second cup match tomorrow morning. Former rugby player Alice...
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COVID, Iran and the new Business Visa: A review of this week's local politics
NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor joins Francesca Rudkin to review this weeks' top local politics stories. Is it normal for the taxpayers to pay for the legal...
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International law expert on Trump's illegal tariffs ruling by Court of Appeals
Donald Trump’s vowing to fight the ruling that many of his imposed trade tariffs are illegal. The US Court of Appeals has ruled Trump went too far when he declared...
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'It's a very concerning overall picture' - Drug overdoses on the rise
Almost three New Zealanders die from preventable drug overdoses every week. That is twice the number of people that die from drowning. New Zealand Drug Foundation...
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Mr Burton: New film reveals the origins of iconic actor Richard Burton
Richard Burton was a global icon best remembered for his memorable film roles and his passionate - and drama-filled - romance with Elizabeth Taylor, but a new release...
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Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie unveils new album 'Freak Out City'
Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week. Freak Out City is a...
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Whitcoulls Recommends: Summer Island and The Surrogate Mother
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah: Kristin Hannah is the author of several extremely popular books, including The Nightingale and The Women. They’re historical fiction,...
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Japan's tourism changes: Tax free shopping ends, visitor caps to take effect by 2026
Japan is making significant changes to its tourism landscape, with new measures taking effect by late 2026. Japan will end tax-free shopping benefits for foreign...
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The Sunday Panel: Can Labour turn things around ahead of the election?
This week on the Sunday Panel, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton and director at Capital NZ, Ben Thomas, joined in on a discussion about the following...
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Erin O'Hara: Is the new FibreMaxxing trend safe?
Consuming more fibre can be good for your health, but is TikTok's new FibreMaxxing trend the safest way to go about it? FibreMaxxing encourages people to load their...
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Research reveals how the first potato came to be
Did you know that the humble potato owes its very existence, and its global success as a food staple to an ancient genetic mash-up? A recent study in the journal...
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Mike van de Elzen: Pea and ham soup with cheesy toast
Pea and ham soup with cheesy toast Cook time: 60 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Serves: 6 1 smoked pork hock 1 carrot, peeled and quartered 1 onion, peeled...
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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life: Camille Rutherford talks new role in unconventional rom-com
2025 is a big year for Jane Austen fans, as it marks 250 years since the English novelist's birth. A line up of events have been taking place throughout the year...
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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast: 10 August 2025
On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 10th August 2025, Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie speaks ahead of the release...
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Weapons: New horror release aims to reveal mystery
The new 2025 mystery horror film Weapons is out in theatres, meaning film fans will finally get a chance to unravel what was happening in the trailers. The film's...
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CatVideoFest: How cute animal clips went on to fund a good cause
The SPCA is riding the tail of a global cat film sensation. CatVideoFest is a 75-minute compilation of small felines doing silly things. It's reached our cinemas...
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Jamie Ensor: What can we expect ahead of Chlöe Swarbrick's address?
The Greens claim they're leading the opposition, while they push a radical tax shakeup. The Party's AGM continues in the capital today, which kicked off with a rally...
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Thousands protest in Tel Aviv as Israeli Government looks to expand Gaza war
Israeli protestors have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv angry over the Israeli Government's plan to occupy Gaza City. Latest opinion polls show around 70 percent...
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NCEA changes: Labour’s Chris Hipkins says opposition can learn from communication errors
Labour's leader believes lessons can be learnt from a lack of communication from his party on NCEA changes. Education Minister Erica Stanford reached out to Labour's...
