Afternoons for Tuesday 4 March 2025

1:15 Kumo Study: New tool for uni students with ADHD

Up to 85 percent of students with ADHD will drop out or fail a course during their time at university. That's the worrying statistic behind a new online tool which aims to turn things around. Kumo Study has been developed by young kiwi entrepreneur, Alex Kerr, who struggled with own her studies at Victoria University. She speaks to Jesse.

1:25 Arrowtown locals fundraise to repair historic stone wall

A fundraising effort is underway to preserve what is described as a vital piece of Central Otago goldfields history. Butler's Wall in Arrowtown was built in 1886, at the western edge of the town. However is now in urgent need of repair and restoration to preserve it for generations to come. Nick Fifield is a trustee with the Arrowtown Charitable Trust and chairman of the Arrowtown Village Association.

1:35 Could community co-housing be an answer to the housing crisis?

A charitable housing development company in Golden Bay is leading an innovative and growing co-housing community called Tākaka Co-housing. The first of three planned neighbourhoods established by Mohua Ventures is fully occupied, and there are plans for another 18-home neighbourhood to be built next door. At the helm is Simone Woodland, and she speaks to Jesse.

1:45 Tech Tuesday: CHIPS Act cancelled; Taiwan Semiconductor company moves into US

Tim Batt joins Jesse to guide us through the wonders of this gilded age. Today, he discusses the cancellation of the CHIPS and Science Act in the US, a programme for researching and manufacturing semiconductors. Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is making a $100b move into the US.

2:10 Book Critic: Anna Rankin

Today, Anna Rankin reviews Wellington writer Greg Kan's forthcoming poetry collection Clay Eaters.

2:20 Update on Oz with Brad Foster

Brad gives us the latest information on Cyclone Alfred, set to be the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast since the 1970s. Also, a court case in Sydney has begun with former Australian spin bowler Stuart MacGill on trial for his role in allegedly facilitating a large cocaine deal.

2:30 Music feature: David Bowie expert

For our Tuesday music feature we're joined by 1990 Mastermind champion - and former mayor of Whanganui - Hamish McDouall. Hamish's specialist subject on Mastermind was 'The life & works of David Bowie,' and it just so happens this week marks the 50th anniversary of David's 9th studio album, Young Americans. Hamish shares his expertise with Jesse.

3:10 Feature interview: teacher-turned-podcaster on US politics

It's been called the chaos agenda, as US President Donald Trump moves with unprecedent speed to implement his policies that include pardoning January 6th rioters, imposing tariffs on America's neighbors and appointing billionaire Elon Musk to fire thousands of federal workers. The question so many people have is, can he do that? Sharon McMahon is a former high school teacher doing her best not just to explain America, but to make sense of it in a non-partisan way. Her classroom is now the world through her popular podcast Here's Where it Gets Interesting and Substack The Preamble. 

3:30 Spoken Feature: BBC Witness History

In 1951, a group of 22 Inuit children from Greenland were sent to live with foster parents in Denmark. It was part of a social experiment aimed at improving life for Inuit people.

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman and producer Olivia Wilson preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.