Sunday Morning for Sunday 28 January 2024

8:10 Andrew Read: How worrying is the JN1 Variant?

New Zealander Dr Andrew Read is the director of its Institutes of Life Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. He works at the forefront of international research on Covid and specialises in the ways infectious diseases work, 

He joins us to explore the emergence of the JN1 variant, its worrying ability to target lung cells and what this means in a world of semi-immune populations.  

"The concern with any of these new variants that are rising in frequency is that they do something better than their predecessors." 

8:20 Jack Waley-Cohen: The Sunday Quiz 

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen was such a hit over the summer that we’ve invited him back as a regular Sunday Morning guest. 

Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC's infamous quiz show 'Only Connect', known for being both really hard - and at the same time totally obvious. 

Wake up your brain and have a go! 

8:35 Jasmin Fox-Skelly: Balancing your oral microbiome 

For many of us oral health is a matter of shiny teeth and a nice smile, but science journalist, Jasmin Fox-Skelly has been drilling into the topic and it turns out there’s vast array of viruses, fungi and bacteria living in our mouths – which, if kept in balance can prevent conditions from Alzheimer's disease to cancer. 

9:10 Mediawatch 

This week Mediawatch looks back at what hit the headlines during the usual summer silly season - including the sudden downfall of MP Golriz Gharahaman, the state of the state highways and worries about water running out. 

9:35 Calling Home: Jaime Kruijer in Revelstoke, British Columbia 

Calling Home this Sunday is Queenstown native Jaime Kruijer from the Winter sports destination of Revelstoke in British Columbia. 

10:00 Crystal Hefner: Behind closed doors at the Playboy mansion 

Crystal Hefner, widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner opens up about life with the late tycoon in her new memoir, "Only Say Good Things: Surviving 'Playboy' and Finding Myself." 

The sex, the drugs, the misogyny, Crystal offers a vulnerable and clear-eyed look at her experience with arguably, one of the most influential men of the 20th century. 

10:30 Ali Hill:The Nutrition Edition 

Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition joins us once again. In her first chat of 2024, Ali looks at different cooking oils, their benefits and how to make the most of them. 

11:10 Brian Merchant: Did the luddites have a point? 

Technology journalist for the LA Time, Brian Merchant joins us to talk about his book Blood in the Machine and his thinking around how we respond to the current moment of AI job automation. 

11:50 Jamie Tahana: UK Correspondent in London 

Former RNZ Māori news editor Jamie Tahana joins us with the latest headlines from London.