Afternoons

1:15 Find out how we can protect our smallest insects

The big question when it comes to protecting our native insects is how to track them? 

Many of them are barely big enough to spot let alone carry a tracking device, but research from the University of Canterbury might have found the answer in harmonic radar. 

The project is led by Associate Professor Steve Pawson, he joined Jesse to explain how it could work. 

1:25 Ice Ice Baby! How one man built an ice rink from scratch.

What good is a Winter Festival without an ice rink? 

That's what engineer Neil Wilson of Hanmer Springs thought, so, he set about building one himself.

He had mere weeks to complete the rink, and if that wasn't hard enough, an expert told him it was impossible. 

But to quote Neil, "I look after 1.8 million litres of water that we keep hot. I figured freezing 15,000 litres shouldn't be that hard". 

Neil talks to Jesse about how he created the ice rink. 

1:35 A tribute to Don McGlashan - one of NZ's most loved songwriters

Prolific documentary-maker Shirley Horrocks talks to Jesse about her latest work, a documentary on Don McGlashan.

Anchor Me - The Don McGlashan Story is the first feature length documentary made about him.

1:45 Great album - Durand Jones & The Indications

Durand Jones & The Indications new album Flowers is a sublime listen.

Full of thoughtful melodies and stunning lyrics, it has a sultry feel, perfect for a wintery day. 

2:10 Podcast Critic - Conspirituality and City Arts & Lectures

Elliot Child joins Jesse to talk about his podcast picks.

City Arts & Lectures is a series of conversations in front of an audience which is then broadcast on radio and podcast by KQED in San Francisco.

Conspirituality is about dismantling New Age cults, wellness grifters and exposing the overlap between right wing conspiracies and the wellness industry.

2:30 A-Z of Aotearoa: C is for Charles Upham

This is our sometimes-regular segment The A-Z of Aotearoa. So far we've covered Aviation & Billy T, so we're up to the letter C.

Today we're looking at Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham, the Canterbury man who is New Zealand's most decorated soldier.

For his efforts in WW2 he was awarded not one, but two Victoria Crosses, also known as the "VC" and "Bar".

He was one of only three people world-wide to achieve the honour, and the only combat soldier.

3:15 Your Money with Mary Holm - Helping or Hindering Kiwisaver

Today Mary is talking about Kiwisaver and how the Government can either hinder or help the scheme. 

3:35 Spoken Feature BBC Witness: Italian Happiness Trains

Between 1945 and 1952, 'happiness trains' transported 70,000 children from southern to northern Italy to live with wealthier families.

It was a scheme organised by the Union of Italian Women and the Italian Communist Party in an attempt to make the lives of southern Italian children better.

Ten-year-old Bianca D'Aniello was one of the passengers to travel from Salerno in the south to Mestre in the north where she was looked after by a family with more resources.

3:45 The pre-Panel 

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.