Afternoons for Wednesday 14 February 2024

 

1:15 Match making the old fashioned way

Making connections on a romantic level in person has become increasingly harder for older people.

Now a group of well known and connected NZers are looking to take on the challenge of making it easier for ageing romantics to find others without using an app.

We speak to Tiare Tolks who is the co-founder of match making agency Compatico.

1:25 Crouton app to help following online recipes without making a mess

It can feel like there's an app for everything.

But it takes a lot for an app to actually make it into regular use on your phone... and not just sit there on the third home screen collecting dust.

But recipe manager app 'Crouton' is a fave for many; one rave review says: "If I lost my phone, I could find other ways to call or email people, but this app is indispensable! I use this app every single day."

It recently made a Wall Street Journal video, but it might surprise you that the app has very local roots and is just the side-hustle of Devin Davies in Christchurch.

1:35 Hawkes Bay the 'best dinosaur' hunting ground in Aotearoa

Maungataniwha range in northern Hawkes Bay is one of our most significant geological sites.

Until paleontologist Joan Wiffen discovered dinosaur bones there in the 1970s we thought Aotearoa was dino free.

By the early 2020s it was thought all the significant fossils had been uncovered.

Then a year ago today Cyclone Gabrielle hit. The heavy rains reset the landscape, unearthing new treasures.

In breaks from his main job, restoring the native bush Pete Shaw - Manager of the Forest Lifeforce Restoration  has been keeping Joan's legacy alive.

1:45 Heading Off: Travelling without seeing

Twenty two years ago avid traveller Fraser Alexander lost his sight aged just 37.

Until that moment he hadn't realised how much of travel revolved around vision, but he was determined to keep experiencing new places and cultures.

Prior to losing his sight he would just buy a plane ticket and figure everything else out once he arrived at his destination.

Being blind changed all that. Now a trip starts with endless planning and emails about accessibility.

We speak to Fraser.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Evie Ashton

 

2:20 Collectors corner: Ceramic bulldogs

This week on collectors corner we meet Marea Faigan who has a wonderful collection of ceramic bulldogs.

She shares her story and passion for the canine collection with Jesse.

2:30 Bookmarks with Duncan Sarkies

Novelist, playwright, and screenwriter Duncan Sarkies is best known for his wild plot lines, eccentric and somewhat disturbing characters, and macabre sense of humour.

Feature films, Two Little Boys, and the hugely popular Scarfies, are cases in point ... and were co-written with his brother - director Robert Sarkies.

His latest work is a 24-part radio comedy series in the spirit of Monty Python and Blackadder.

Duncan also shares with Jesse what he watches, reads and listens to in his down time.

3:10 Money and relationships

Google is not the best place to seek advice about what to get your partner for Valentine's Day.

The best gifts require a bit of sacrifice of your time and thought not just a lot of money says Dr Scott Rick who studies the emotions behind our financial decisions.

His new book helps us see the invisible forces that shape the way we handle our money  so we can use it to live happier lives. 

It's called Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World, Claire Concannon joins an expedition to the sub-Antarctic islands and learns about the extraordinary variety of wildlife on the main Antipodes island.

3:45 The Panel with Alexia Russell and Andrew Clay