Afternoons for Wednesday 6 November 2024

1:15 The power of the sun in your pocket

Imagine being able to carry your own solar panel around with you, rolled up in your pocket. 

That could soon be a reality, thanks to Australia's national science agency, CSIRO.

It's just opened a $6.8 million facility in Clayton, Victoria, dedicated to taking its printed flexible solar technology out of the lab and into the real world.

Dr Anthony Chesman is Leader of CSIRO's Renewable Energy Systems Group.

1:25 Making water cool again

It's National Oral Health Day, and the New Zealand Dental Association is seizing the opportunity to launch a new health campaign targeting sugary drinks. 

Their 'Switch to Water' campaign specifically focusses on the 15 to 25 age group, who consume the most sugary drinks and are the targets of most advertisers. 

It includes a social media challenge with the banner 'All Rizz, No Fizz'. 

Jesse is joined by New Zealand Dental Association president Amanda Johnston. 

1:35 Shortland St music writer wins national choral music songwriting competition 

Wellington-based composer and multi-instrumentalist William Philipson has just won the open category prize in our national choral music songwriting competition - Compose Aotearoa. 

William is a busy man, for his day job he writes the music for Shortland Street.

So far, he has scored over three hundred episodes, all from his home studio in Lyall Bay.

1:45 Heading Off: Michael Szabo's Wild Wellington 

Today for Heading Off, we're not travelling too far.

Long-time Wellington resident Michael Szabo is editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, and he has written for New Scientist, New Zealand Geographic and the Sunday Star-Times.

Michael has a book out tomorrow - Wild Wellington Ngā Taonga Taiao - published by Te Papa press. 

The illustrated guide highlights the best wild and urban places to seek out in Wellington - from the South Coast to Kāpiti - and includes an abundance of wildlife and ecosystems even locals might not be aware of. 

2.12 Music Critic: Christoph El' Truento and Flying Lotus

Sarah Thomson plays and discusses two new tracks; Performer Dub by Christoph El' Truento and Let Me Cook feat. Dawn Richard by Flying Lotus.

2:20 Easy Eats with Kelly Gibney: Late spring vegetable and white bean soup

A simple weeknight soup with the most gorgeous flavour. The herbs and lemon zest lift the simple ingredients to become something very delicious. Leeks and beans are meltingly tender in the broth while the aspragus and courgettes are added right at the end to retain their bright colour and fresh flavour. It's a lovely marriage of flavours and textures that is perfect for the season. Get the recipe here.

2:30 Bookmarks with Te Kahu Rolleston

Te Kahu Rolleston is an award winning spoken word poet. He first gained prominence winning the 2013 National Slam Poetry Competition

Of Nagāi te Rangi decent, he's known for incorporating Māori identity, mythology and social justice into his work

He's also a member of the Read NZ Te Pou Muramura "Writers in Schools" programme. 

That sees him travel the motu using poetry to teach creativity and engage rangatahi in learning.

Last night he gave the organisations 2024 Pānui lecture.

3:10 Feature interview: behind the Manson murders

For 20 years, journalist Tom O'Neill immersed himself in an investigation of one of the most bizarre and gruesome   crimes in America, the Manson Murders.  Seven people, including director Roman Polanski's pregnant wife, were stabbed to death by followers of Charles Manson in California in 1969. O'Neill started looking into the murders on assignment for a magazine. He ended up spending two decades asking the question that's never been answered to anyone's satisfaction; why.  He explains why he thinks much of what we accept as fact is fiction in his book, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Our changing world spoke to Mātai Medical Research Institute chief executive Dr Samantha Holdsworth in December last year. She talked about the different MRI advances that have been coming out of the Gisborne-based institute.  

Now on Our Changing World, Claire Concannon catches up with Samantha in their new building, which opened in April of this year.

Samantha herself is an MRI researcher, she spent 11 years at Stanford University before bringing her expertise back to New Zealand.  

She tells Claire about the current work happening at Mātai, as well as their big plans for the future.   

3:45 The US Presidential Election - scenes from the Embassy

Chris Allison is Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington. He talks to Jesse about the 200 invite strong party they are holding.