Saturday Morning for Saturday 24 February 2024

8:10 Oleksandra Matviichuk: Fighting for peace in Ukraine

This weekend marks two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, a war that has killed tens of thousands of people since.

The grim milestone comes amid waning international support for Ukraine. It's also a week since the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and only weeks out from the Russian presidential election.

Oleksandra Matviichuck is a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, head of the Center for Civil Liberties, and was the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient. 

8:45 Tuning out tinnitus with Dr Fabrice Bardy

Over 200,000 New Zealanders are affected by tinnitus, a condition experienced as ringing in the ears. The effects can range from annoying to disabling.

It has long been thought that there's nothing you can do about tinnitus, but live with it.

However, a new app MindEar, developed by an Auckland University led research team has been shown to reduce the impact of tinnitus in two thirds of users in a matter of weeks. The team believe the brain can be trained to ignore the ringing in your ears.

One of the app's developers is Dr Fabrice Bardy, an audiologist and neuroscientist based at the University of Auckland.

9:05 Emily Nagoski: The science and art of maintaining intimacy

Leading sexuality educator and New York Times bestselling author Dr Emily Nagoski's latest book Come Together tackles the tricky topic of maintaining sexual connection and intimacy in long term relationships. 

It's a topic that is close to home -  she found herself dealing with intimacy issues in her own life despite all her knowledge and training. 

Nagoski's other books include Come As You Are: the surprising new science that will transform your sex life and Burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle. 

9:45 Documentary filmmaker Benoit Lalande: surfing in Africa

When you think of surfing, Africa might not be the first place that springs to mind. Documentary filmmaker Benoit Lalande makes short films about that very thing. His latest 'Obibini' is about women surfers in Ghana.

For most of their history, Ghanaian beaches were reserved solely for working men due to a prevailing fear of drowning in the village. This restriction barred women from enjoying the ocean, confining them to household chores.

In 2017, a man named Justice Kwofie spearheaded a transformative movement with the establishment of the Obibini Surf Club, an initiative that empowered women, and inspired young girls to embrace surfing as a new passion.

Benoit Lalande speaks with Susie Ferguson about documenting the surf club's movement. 

10:05 The benefits of intergenerational care

Sue Egersdorff is the co-founder of the charity Ready Generations. They've teamed up with the Belong Care Village in Chester, to set up a fully integrated on-site nursery, the non-profit’s first intergenerational site.

They believe that intergenerational relationships not only connect and unite families, making them stronger and more resilient, but are also an effective tool for improving learning, health, happiness and productivity.

10:40 Alexander James Holloway: Making fake fighting look real

The biggest BBQ festival in Australasia, Meatstock, is back at Mystery Creek, Kirikiriroa Hamilton, this weekend after a three year hiatus. There will of course be food, music and... a Medieval Combat Village. It's the work of professional fight choreographer and stunt fighter, Alexander James Holloway who runs The New Zealand Stage and Screen Combat School.

11:05 Death by talons - did an owl frame a husband for murder?

The story of North Carolinian husband and wife, Kathleen and Michael Peterson, took the world by storm after Kathleen's mysterious death in 2001. Her body was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs in their mansion, leaving the question - did she trip and fall or did her husband push her?

Michael was found guilty and served almost eight years in prison, only for his life sentence to be overturned. But, there was a competing third theory... that an owl did it. 

It was an idea first put forward by Larry Pollard, a lawyer and neighbour of the Petersons, and in recent years has gained traction, even making its way into the TV miniseries on the subject 'The Staircase', starring Toni Collette and Colin Firth.

University of Indonesia philosophy professor - Dunedin-born Dr Tiddy Smith - recently published a book, Death By Talons, arguing for the theory's credibility.

11:40 Kate De Goldi: Reading for pleasure

Kate De Goldi is one of New Zealand's most celebrated authors, an Arts Foundation Laureate, and a voracious reader. She joins Susie to share three books she's loved; Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, Service by Sarah Gilmartin, and The Stranger Artist: life at the edge of Kimberley painting by Quentin Sprague.

 

Books featured on the show:

Come Together - The Science (and Art) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections
By Emily Nagoski
Published by Vermilion
ISBN: 9781785045004

Death By Talons - Did An Owl 'Murder' Kathleen Peterson?
By Tiddy Smith
ISBN: 1957288639
Published by Wildblue Press

Cuddy 
By Benjamin Myers 
Published by Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781526631497

Service 
By Sarah Gilmartin 
Published by Pushkin Press
ISBN: 9781911590804

The Stranger Artist: Life at the edge of Kimberley painting 
By Quentin Sprague 
Published by Hardie Grant
ISBN: 9781743795989

 

 

Music played in this show

Track: Come Together 
Artist: WITCH
Time played: 9:40am

Track: Come Together 
Artist: Primal Scream 
Time played: 9:55am

Track: Don't Forget Me 
Artist: Maggie Rogers
Time played: 10:05am

Track: The Answer 
Artist: The Black Seeds
Time played: 10:35am

Track: Devil in a Dress
Artist: Tami Neilson
Time played: 10:55am