Saturday Morning for Saturday 17 August 2024

Colin Peacock is hosting this week's show

8:10 No more needles? How oral insulin could revolutionise diabetes treatment

Approximately 75 million people with diabetes need to inject themselves daily with insulin. The development of a safe and effective oral form of the life saving drug has been a challenge since insulin was discovered over a century ago, but that may be about to change.

Research led by Dr Nick Hunt of the University of Sydney has developed a new type of oral insulin tablet based on nanotechnology. They've completed animal trials and are headed to human clinical trials next year.

The new oral insulin uses a type of nano-scale material that is 1/10,000th the width of a human hair. The material protects it from being destroyed by stomach acid and instead surrounds individual insulin molecules and becomes a 'nano carrier' - acting like a courier to ferry insulin molecules in the body to the places it needs to act.

Dr Hunt shares his research with Colin.

8:35 Anti-methane vaccine could reduce impact of cow burps

The burps and farts of farm cows around the globe are a major contributor to methane pollution, with the average dairy cow producing about 98kg of methane annually. 

For decades, scientists have been working on a methane-reducing vaccine for cows with little success, until now.  A prototype vaccine by US-based start-up Arkeabio is showing promise following a trial with 10 cows that saw emissions drop by nearly 13 percent. It targets the methane-producing bacteria that lives in the bovine digestive system.

Arkeabio founder and CEO Colin South joins the show to discuss the vaccine and how it works.

8:45 Elspeth Sandys: The Body Politic

You won't find any of Elspeth Sandys' neighbours depicted in her play The Body Politic. However belonging to a body corporate inspired her to write it. "It occurred to me a body corporate is like a mini-democracy," she says.

The Body Politic looks at the collapse of democracy through the power struggles and personality clashes that happen in an inner-city Wellington apartment block.

The "witty, wry and compelling" play opens at Wellington's Circa Theatre next week.

9:05 Amy Neff: Writing her success story 

The dream of writers the world over is a debut novel turning into a worldwide publishing sensation - and that's exactly what's happened for Amy Neff, a first-time author from Connecticut.

It may seem like an overnight success but it's taken her more than 10 years to get there. The Days I loved You Most is described as an 'epic love story' and a love letter to the seaside town where Amy and her family have spent summers since the early 1900s.

Colin speaks with Amy about the process of writing and getting published. 

9:30 Veteran darts caller 'The Voice' at NZ Darts Masters

Hamilton is playing host to an outstanding lineup of darts talent this weekend as the NZ Darts Masters takes place at Globox Arena.

Among the international stars are world number one Luke Humphries, Welsh superstar Gerwyn Price, 2023 NZ Darts Masters Champion Rob Cross, crowd favourite Scotsman Peter Wright and teenage global sensation Luke Littler.

Also in attendance is semi-retired darts referee Russ Bray, who is otherwise known as 'The Voice', due to his unique style of calling. Bray, who hails from the UK, will be refereeing the special event. He joins the show to gives us the low-down.

9:45 Kath Irvine: August garden tasks

With Spring on the horizon, there's plenty to be getting on with in the garden. Kath Irvine joins Colin to share her August to-do list.

Kath is the author of The Edible Backyard, a practical guide to growing organic fruit and vegetables all year round.

10:05 Can you eat your way to beauty?

Lonneke Botello Hernandez was crowned Miss New Zealand Queen of the World at 23, before being told she'd have to lose weight if she wanted to compete in more beauty pageants. As a clinical nutritionist, she recognised a lack of understanding of real nutrition and set out to educate others, advising the finalists for Miss Universe New Zealand on healthy eating principles.

Now Lonneke and her husband, a physician specialising in aesthetic medicine, live in Mexico where they run Aslon Antiaging Clinic.

Lonneke's currently touring New Zealand with her book The Food Fountain of Youth, which offers advice about 'nutrients with science-based benefits for anti-aging beauty'.

Lonneke and Colin discuss whether there is such a thing as anti-aging, and if you can really look more beautiful from the inside out.

10:45 Īhaka Martyn: Am I Māori enough? 

When playwright and performer Īhaka Martyn (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa) took an Introduction to Māori Culture course at University he was a pākehā identifying young man named Isaac who was "respectfully learning about the indigenous culture".

Despite some knowledge of his whakapapa he felt "not Maori enough". Since then, it has been a long journey of self-discovery and learning.

His autobiographical one man show He Māori? weaves together stand-up comedy, waiata and theatrical performance to explore the evolution of his identity.

He will be performing He Maori? as part of Christchurch's WORD festival. 

11:05 Playing Favourites with Madeleine Sami

They say if you want something done, ask somebody busy to do it. So, we asked Madeleine Sami to join us for Playing Favourites, right as she was about to fly to Australia where she has been nominated for a Logie award for Best Actress for black comedy crime show Deadloch. Right after that she'll be whipping off to Darwin for four months to film the second season of the show.

Meanwhile on this side of the ditch her homegrown comedy, Double Parked, is launching its second season next week. The series, created by Chris Parker and Alice Snedden, is directed by Madeleine and sees her play one-half of a lesbian couple that finds themselves pregnant at the same time.

Double Parked season two launches on Thursday 22nd August on Three and ThreeNow.

 

Books featured on the show

The Days I Loved You Most  
Amy Neff
ISBN: 9781526673749
Published by Bloomsbury 

The Food Fountain of Youth
Lonneke Botello Hernandez
ISBN: 9781776891115
Published by Bateman

 

Music played in this show

Song: Don’t Dream it’s over
Artist: Stan Walker and the Levites

Time Played: 10:42

 

Madeleine Sami: Playing Favourites

 

Song: Wichita Lineman  
Artist: Glen Campbell 

 

Song: I Have Nothing 
Artist: Whitney Houston  

 

Song: Night shift
Artist: Lucy Dacus

 

Song: Don't break my heart
Artist: UB40  

 

Song: California
Artist: Chappell Roan