Saturday Morning for Saturday 8 June 2024

8:10 Dennis and Judy Shepard: Harnessing grief to fight gay hate crime

Dennis and Judy Shepard's gay son Matthew Shepard was murdered in October 1998.

The 21-year-old University of Wyoming student's death remains one of America's most high-profile cases of hate crime against an LGBTQI+ person. 

The grieving Shepards created a foundation in his name, and led the fight to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Act, to help the federal government track and prosecute LGBTQI+ hate crimes.  

Dennis and Judy have been visiting New Zealand speaking at a range of events, including with NZ Police, to highlight LGBTQI+ security concerns and share their story.

9:05 Prof Beth Linker: In defence of slouching 

Many of us have been told to "sit up straight and stop slouching" by a parent or teacher, and erect posture is synonymous with physical and mental health.

But where did this idea come from, and is it supported by evidence?

University of Pennsylvania Professor Beth Linker is a physical therapist turned medical historian who has been studying the rise of concern about "correct" posture. Her new book is called, Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America.

9.40 The first 'millennial saint'

A London-born Italian teenager is on course for a sainthood after two miracles attributed to him have been recognised by Pope Francis.

Carlo Acutis was diagnosed with untreatable leukaemia and died aged 15 in 2006. He was eventually buried in Assisi. Acutis could become the Catholic church's first millennial saint.

Susie is joined by  Dr Liam Temple from Durham University's Department of Theology and Religion, to look at how this has come about and what it means for the Catholic church

10:00 Tom Burgis: How the mega-rich warp the truth

Award-winning investigative writer Tom Burgis' new book exposes a world where the rich can buy "truth".

In Cuckooland - Where the Rich Own the Truth Burgis follows a trail from the Kremlin, through Kathmandu to a royal retreat in Scotland. He hunts down oligarchs and traces vast sums of money flowing between multinational corporations, ex-Soviet dictators and the west's ruling elites. He finds a very rich man with the power to impose his reality on the world.

Tom Burgis's writing has appeared in the Telegraph, the Independent, the Observer and the New Statesman. His 2021 best-selling book is Kleptopia - How Dirty Money is Conquering the World.

10:35 Liam Dann: Inflation vs interest rates

When will interest rates go down? What impact will last week's Budget have on inflation? And why are the two connected?

New Zealand Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann joins us to survey the economic horizon and answer your questions.

Dann recently released a best selling book: BBQ Economics: How money works and why it matters.

11:05 Renee Gracie: From Bathurst to OnlyFans and back 

Renee Gracie was just 19 when she began racing V8 Supercars at Australia's legendary Bathurst 1000. 

Despite breaking records on the track, the sexism and sexualisation she faced forced her out of the sport. 

Fighting fire with fire, she set up an OnlyFans account, becoming Australia's biggest earner on the subscription adult content site. She then used the money to set up her own Supercars team. 

Her story is captured in a new documentary: Renee Gracie:Fireproof, screening as part of the DocEdge festival in June and July.

Renee Gracie and the doco's co-director Frances Elliott join Susie.

11:35 World Choir Games bring 11,000 singers to Auckland

Auckland will be in full voice next month as 11,000 singers hit town for The World Choir Games.

250 choirs from more than 30 countries, representing a diverse range of choral music styles will compete across 28 categories.

The philosophy behind the Games is unity in fair competition through song, based on the premise music can act as a bridge between countries and cultures. 

Christine Argyle is Chief Executive of the New Zealand Choral Federation, the host organisation for the Games. 

Books featured on this programme:

Cuckooland - Where the Rich Own the Truth
By Tom Burgis
ISBN: 9780008564759
Published by HarperCollins 

Music played in this show

Artist: Joni Mitchell
Song: Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Time played: 9:40