Afternoons for Tuesday 14 December 2021

1.10 First Song: Soul Sessions Christmas Special with Sara Jane

Renowned Samoan singer Sara-Jane joins Jesse to chat about her upcoming Christmas special and play a recording of Māori/Samoan duo Hope and Eugene, singing the traditional Christmas song of Noel in Māori.

1:20 NCEA level 1 & 2 maths students on the decline

The number of secondary students studying algebra and calculus at NCEA level 1 and 2 is declining.

This is according to new research by a Master of Education student at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.

Sarah Howell is that masters student - and a high school teacher. She talks to Jesse about the problem

1:30 Riding for Disabled Levin puts call out for new home

A Riding for Disabled group in Levin is on the lookout for its forever home. 

The volunteer group has been based at Levin's Speldhurst Country Estate for the past 35 years but now has to move on.

President Stephen Oatley joins Jesse to talk about the service and what kind of land they are looking for.

1:40 New diabetes prevention research advocates a new approach

Otago University diabetes prevention research has found that a new approach might help to reverse the number of people who eventually become diabetic.

Associate Professor Kirsten Coppell talks to Jesse about the fresh approach to diabetes prevention she believes will help.

1:50 Tech Tuesday with Daniel Watson

Owner and managing director of Vertech IT Services, Daniel Watson talks to Jesse about the best tech you can give this Christmas. He also mentions that you need to check availability of stock due to supply chain problems.

2:10 Book Critic: Catherine Robertson

Today Catherine talks about 'ghosts-of-Christmas-past' themed book, The Young Visiters by Daisy Ashford.

2:20 Celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim

Today we're celebrating the music of Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

Sondheim, who has been described as "musical theatre's greatest lyricist", died at the age of 91 last month.

We've invited Auckland University musicologist Gregory Camp to join us to play some of Sondheim's work to give us an overview of his style!

3:10 From Alzheimer's doctor to Alzheimer's patient

Dr Daniel Gibbs has spent his career caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease.  Now he has a front-row seat, after receiving the diagnosis himself. He shares his  experience as both a neurologist and a patient about what helps him cope with symptoms and what gives him hope.

3:30 Spoken Feature:

Sarah Jones is the first person who had undergone a gender change to be ordained in the Church of England. She has been talking to Phil Marzouk (Marzook) about her journey towards the priesthood. She says that in her early life she knew that although she had been born a boy, she wasn’t one. She also knew that she wanted to work in the church. She transitioned as a woman in 1991, and was first ordained as a deacon in the Church of England in 2004.

3:45 The Panel with Alexia Russell and Simon Pound