Sunday Morning

8:10 Another chance for Lucy Letby? 

The case of British nurse Lucy Letby, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing seven newborn babies, is being reviewed as medical experts on Tuesday argued there was no evidence to support her conviction for murder. 

London defence lawyer Tim Owen KC co-hosts a legal podcast Double Jeopardy, which examines the case, and he joins us to explain the next legal steps. 

8:30 Marc Wilson: The psychology of Forest Bathing 

Shinrin yoku is the Japanese practice of 'forest bathing', which is growing in popularity here and around the world for its physiological and psychological benefits. 

But what does science say about it?  We’re joined once again by Victoria University Psychology Professor Dr Marc Wilson. 

8:40 Is Toto’s ‘Africa’ really the best song ever? 

With the recent announcement of their upcoming tour, it’s been widely touted that Toto’s 1982 yacht-rock tune ‘Africa’ might be a contender for the Best Song Ever. And whether you love it or loathe it, it’s certainly had cultural staying power over the decades. 

Dr David Poeppel, a professor of Psychology and Neural Science, has spent many years researching language, music and emotion. He’s also a big fan of Toto. 

He joins Jim to discuss why some people love Toto’s ‘Africa’, while others get goose bumps from bagpipes, and some cry to Bach’s cantatas. 

9:10 Mediawatch 

This week Mediawatch looks at a sudden surge of headline-making diplomatic developments for New Zealand - and how media ended up in the middle of them. Also - new news outlets popping up where local papers had closed. 

9:35 Frances Cook: Investing right when money is tight 

With most New Zealand households expecting finances to be tough this year, financial journalist and creator of the Making Cents podcast, Frances Cook is back with some simple ways to manage our money better and make our hard-earned cash go a little further. 

10:10 Colum McCann’s latest thriller,TWIST 

Award-winning Irish writer Colum McCann delves into the murky world of undersea communications cables for his upcoming book, Twist. Billed as a story about connection, disconnection and destruction, the story follows journalist Anthony Fennell who goes on assignment to find out what happens when these cables break. 

McCann is the author of seven novels and the recipient of many international honors. His previous books include Let the Great World Spin, and his first major non-fiction book American Mother was published last year to wide acclaim. 

10:45 The Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen   

Our quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back for another Sunday Morning quiz.   

Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC quiz show ‘Only Connect’ which is known for being both difficult to crack and totally obvious.     

It’s Sunday morning, so wake up your brain and have a go!       

11:10 Astrology’s star is rising with Gen Z 

Whilst technological advancements usually ring a death knell for pseudoscientific beliefs, astrology is having a renaissance through technology and in particular with younger generations. 

To look at what might be driving this, we’re joined by the author of A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for our Destiny in Data Alexander Boxer, a data scientist with a PhD in physics from MIT, a master's degree in the History of Science from Oxford and a bachelor’s in Classical Language from Yale.  

11:30 Jeffrey Halley: How will a trade war affect New Zealand? 

As the Trump administration slaps tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, many commentators are calling it madness while others join Trump in questioning free trade axiom. 

Sunday Morning’s man on the money, economist and analyst Jeffrey Halley gives us his take and ponders the impact on New Zealand.