Afternoons for Wednesday 24 August 2022

1.10 First song: Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams has a new album coming out. His third solo album, My Boy will be released on September 5. He stops by the Auckland studio to talk about his latest work and play a track, live, for us.

1:15 Six months to the day since the war in Ukraine began

A bit of a sad milestone today - it's been six months to the day exactly since the war in Ukraine started.

Phil Johnstone's been in Ukraine for the past month, doing volunteer work with World Vision, helping people affected by the war.

He talks to Jesse about his experience in the war torn nation and how the people there are coping.

1:25 Raptor experience to open up in Timaru, showcasing local wildlife

Timaru is about to get a new tourist attraction, which will help educate people about the local wildlife.

The New Zealand Raptor Trust takes in sick and injured birds, to rehabilitate and introduce back into the wild- with a focus on hawks, falcons and owls.

One of the trust's founding members Ron Lindsay talks to Jesse about the new raptor experience they're opening up to the public.

1:35 Peace train back on track to be running this spring

Christchurch's peace train is on track to make its spring debut, thanks to dozens of residents answering a call by the City Council for volunteers.

Yusuf Islam previously known as Cat Stevens gifted a miniature train to Christchurch after the mosque attacks in 2019 on the condition it will be free for the city's residents.

Volunteer and chief train driver, Andrew Wilson talks to Jesse.

1:45 Listener's animal tracks competition!

Last week we spoke to musician Steph Animal about a game she's developed for children called Animal Tracks.

The idea is that they mix a track using sounds from animals native to Aotearoa - it's great fun.

So much so in fact, we asked our listeners to head to the site HEIHEI, which is funded by NZ on Air, and mix their own tracks.

Steph's back to judge three finalists and choose a winner.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Jemima Huston

Today RNZ's Morning Report Producer Jemima Huston talks to Jesse about two podcasts she's been listening to.

She gives her take on The Sunshine Place about an American social experiment turned cult. Jemima's also reviewing I'm Not A Monster, a BBC award winning podcast about an American family at the heart of an ISIS caliphate.

2:25 Bookmarks with Erik Zydervelt

Today's bookmarks guest is Erik Zydervelt. He's the founding director and CEO of Mevo, a New Zealand car sharing company aiming to solve the problem of too many cars on New Zealand's roads.

He joins Jesse to share what he likes reading, watching and listening to in his down time.

3:10 Changing your life, two pages at a time

Sometimes all it takes to change your life is two pages from a good book. Michael Bungay Stanier is in the business of helping people  make changes in their lives  not with advice, which he says is overrated, but with inspiration and curiosity.  He's the best selling author of several books about coaching as well as a podcast called 2 Pages, where celebrities, entrepreneurs and activists share two pages from books that have inspired them. Michael Bungay Stanier shares the insights and ideas that others his guests have shared with him 2 Pages at a time.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

On Our Changing World this week Claire Concannon catches up with Dr. Taniela Lolohea of Auckland University of Technology.

Taniela is researching in the relatively new field of low temperature plasma surface coatings, and explains how it can be used to create customised surfaces for many different purposes.

3:45 The Panel with Ruwani Perera and Pattrick Smellie