Features

The lark is a symbol of hope, light, and joy, and of mornings and new beginnings. In this week's show Nick Tipping checks out jazz impressions of the lark, from Johnny Mercer's 'Skylark' to Dave Brubeck's 'Strange Meadow Lark'. Audio

Ian Knight used to farm monarch butterflies for weddings. Now he just enjoys watching them hatch and grow. Audio

New Zealand filmmaker Gaylene Preston talks about her autobiographical memoir Gaylene's Take at the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Audio

Areef Shaik has spent five years designing a sari-inspired lifejacket that can comfortably fit a range of body types. Video, Audio

William Dart listens to the latest release from two New Zealand sisters formerly known as Purple Pilgrims. Audio

The National Party leader joins Charlotte Cook on Grilled.

Learning about the relationship between food and mood has been a very personal journey for nutritionist Claire Turnbull. She explains why sleeping and eating better are the keys to good mental and physical health. Audio

Till tells the true story of the teenager whose brutal murder in 1955 helped galvanise the Civil Rights movement in the Deep South of the USA. It’s on Prime Video, and if you can see it, do see it, writes Simon Morris. Video, Audio

If food is made by people who love you, then it nourishes you. The same can't be said of food made by transnational corporations answerable to hedge funds, says an academic and doctor with an interest in ultra processed food. Audio

WATCH - JJ Smith tells us why his Jack Russells Hazel and Spruce should be permitted on public transport. Video, Audio

ACT leader David Seymour offers up his recipe for Aotearoa with a simple three-step chicken dish - but it might take a little longer to cook up than first thought.

New York-based NZ bassist Hamish Smith has published an e-book for young jazz musicians wanting to go to the States, sharing tips from his own experience. Video, Audio

It has been 50 years since the first commercial wine grapes were planted in Marlborough, when Montana Wines founder Frank Yukich claimed wine from the region would become world famous, writes Samantha Gee.

Sally Ward is an expert home baker and shares her tips for making birthday cakes, with Jesse Mulligan. Audio

Listen to languid, ecstatic music of a hot summer afternoon from Debussy, the world premiere of a piece for APO principal oboe, Bede Hanley, and Prokofiev’s last symphony - direct and tuneful, but with dark undertones.

Sir Kenneth Branagh has trimmed back the 'tache in his latest Poirot outing, however, the flaws present in his previous two adaptations of Agatha's Christie's Belgian sleuth remain, writes Simon Morris. Video, Audio

Our changing World - How does a nice meal of milk chocolate and asparagus sound? Or maybe prawns and vanilla? If scientific theories about the science of food pairing are right, these should be delicious flavour combinations. Audio

Steamed Hams, a new exhibition at the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt, takes its curious name from a 1996 skit in The Simpsons that thousands of home creators have re-dubbed making the scene ever more ridiculous.  Video, Audio

Grilled - In the second episode, the Greens' co-leaders produce a pasta and salad combo, boast about the benefits of Green policy and reveal what really annoys them about each other.

Leading global leaders, entrepreneurs and investors will be offered a special taste of New Zealand during morning tea at the Future Food-Tech Summit in London next week. Audio

Widescreen - Almost a year after launching in Aotearoa, AMC+ may be the best value streaming service you have never heard of, says Dan Slevin. He recommends three shows to get you started.

NZ composer Gemma Peacocke talks with Bryan Crump about recent works, and finding "a way around the squeamishness of being a classical composer who's interested in expressing emotion". Audio

Could the tapping, beating and bashing of drums be your path towards better mental health? Drummer Chris O'Connor talks to Culture 101's Perlina Lau about how drums may just change your life. Audio

Described as the caviar of citrus, finger limes are the hot new ingredient you'll find in high-end restaurants around the world, and Hill Road Orchard in Gisborne is now growing them. Audio