Afternoons for Tuesday 12 December 2017

1:10 First song

1:15 Huntington's disease breakthrough

It's been called a massive breakthrough in the battle against the progressive brain disease Huntington's.

A research team from University College London has found a drug which corrects the mutation and hope to begin clinical trials next year.

This comes as a team of Auckland researchers believe they have found one of the  changes in the brain that results in Huntington's Disease, which usually starts in people aged in their 30s and 40s.

Wellington film editor Bridget Lyon was just 21 when she found out her mother had the gene for Huntington's Disease and that it had been passed down to her and her siblings.

She gives Jesse her reaction to the news of the recent breakthroughs.

In 2013 Bridget Lyon made the documentary The Inheritance about the toll this disease has had on three generations of her family. Watch the trailer below:

1:25 Bob Burnett: what makes a sustainable home

One of the big winners at the recent Sustainable Business Network Awards was Christchurch architect Bob Burnett, who is a leader in designing sustainable and energy efficient homes.

He was named the Sustainability Superstar at the recent awards ceremony, and joins us to talk about the Superhome scheme he founded.

1:35 Fleurs Place, a Moeraki institution

Chef, Fleur Sullivan spent 20 years running the award winning Central Otago restaurant and lodge, Olivers in Clyde. Then she got cancer and had to endure the gruelling treatment regime, so decided to retire and move to Moeraki to live a more peaceful seaside life. What she discovered though, was an area rich in wild food and she couldn't resist getting back in to the restaurant industry. She opened a food caravan, Fleurs place, which has since become an award winning seaside restaurant.

Her story features in a new book, Kai and Culture, Food stories from Aotearoa and speaks with us from Moeraki on the Otago Coast.

1:40 Peppa Pig misleading audiences about the family doctor

The kids' TV show Peppa Pig has come into disrepute over its portrayal of the family doctor.

New research just out of the British Medical Journal says the character known as Dr Brown Bear has been making unnecessary home visits and is giving out pink medicine willy-nilly.

The author behind the report is Dr Catherine Bell, who's a GP based in Sheffield, England.

1:40 Great album: Wammo by Bailter Space

2:10 1984: the theatrical adaptation

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."

You might recognise that opening line from the George Orwell classic, 1984. It's been read by millions and in recent years transformed into theatre. The play has had great success in Broadway and the West End and it will be shown in New Zealand next year.

Associate director Corey McMahon is in Auckland for auditions and talks to Jesse about the show that has caused some viewers to vomit and even faint.

2:20 Chris Brady: "Beatles freak forever".

"Ageing Beatles freak forever." That's how recently retired Taumarunui history teacher Chris Brady describes himself.

Can't think why. Maybe it's the Sgt Pepper uniform. Maybe it's the sign-written car.

Anyway, Chris shares his love of the Beatles and Paul McCartney ahead of Macca's concert this Saturday.

3:10 Alan Jacobs: We aren't doing enough critical thinking.

It's getting more and more difficult for people who disagree with each other to hold civilized conversations with each other. 

This is a trend cultural critic and writer Alan Jacobs  says he's been observing for some time.  He says at the heart of the problem is critical thinking.  We just aren't doing enough of it and the implications are enormous.  We consume only the news  we already agree with. 

Jacobs shares his thoughts in his new book, How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds.

3:30 Science and environment stories

Stories from Our Changing World.

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Catherine Robertson and Finlay MacDonald