Sunday Morning for Sunday 25 February 2024

8:10 Russia’s war in Ukraine – Two years on: The military response  

Dr Jack Watling is senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute   

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Jack has shared with us his expert analysis of the conflict both from an academic perspective and as someone who has also been to the frontline.    

He looks back at two years of brutal warfare and considers what any future opportunities for peace might look like.  

8:40 Calling Home: Frank Cawkwell on the Caribbean Island of Grenada  

This week’s Calling Home guest is Frank Cawkwell who has swapped the Far North town of Maungaturoto for the tropical island of Grenada in the Caribbean.  

Frank has lived and worked all over the world, including work for the United Nations. He is currently CEO of Green Feeds in Grenada where he brings his expertise in sustainable food security to the table. 

Frank calls home from the Caribbean.  

 

9:06 Mediawatch 

This week Mediawatch looks at Government plans to confront welfare dependency and record immigration. Also - another way to get the big tech outfits to pay for journalism - and anger about Taylor Swift skipping New Zealand on her world tour.  

9:40 What would you buy if money was no object?   

In a recent article for The Times, science editor Tom Whipple pondered what he’d spend his money on if he became infinitely wealthy – from submarines to a floating island and jetpacks.  

He joins Jim to ponder how he’d splash his imaginary cash.   

10:06 Jack Whaley-Cohen: The Sunday Quiz    

Quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen joins us once again as our Sunday Morning question master.      

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!   

10.15 Dancing is the best exercise for mental health   

New research has found that structured dance is equal or more beneficial than other types of physical exercise for improving a range of psychological and cognitive outcomes.   

Dr Alycia Fong Yang is an exercise and sport science lecturer at The University of Sydney.   

She joins Jim on Sunday Morning to explain why we should be hitting the dancefloor over the gym.    

10:30 Music and my cochlear implants 

February 25 is International Cochlear Implant Day and Wellington’s Dr Amanda Kvalsvig joins us for a very special edition of "What I’m Listening To”. 

Amanda had always been musical – singing, playing the piano and violin, and playing in orchestras, but at the age of 19 she first noticed she was losing her hearing. 

In 2007 she received her first cochlear implant in Christchurch. At the time she had a toddler and a nine-month-old child. 

Hearing music again was a transformative difference. She joins us to pick a track and explains why it’s special to her. 

11:05 “Streets of London” singer, Ralph McTell returns to New Zealand 

Influential British singer-songwriter Ralph McTell is returning to New Zealand this year to play two shows. 

He joins Jim on Sunday Morning to talk about his six-decade-long career. Including his knack for song writing, life on the road, and rubbing shoulders with Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone and Tom Waits.  

Catch Ralph McTell at Spark Arena in Auckland and The Piano in Christchurch this March. 

11:40 Russia’s war in Ukraine – Two years on: The humanitarian response  

In the two years since Russia launched its full-scale Ukrainian invasion thousands of armed forces and civilians have lost their lives.    

Mike Seawright founded the international humanitarian organisation ReliefAid which provides aid to war-torn nations.  

Its humanitarian action in Ukraine includes dispersing medical supplies and food and providing shelter materials to over 8 million displaced people.   

Aside from Ukraine, ReliefAid’s work also continues in Gaza, Syria, and Afghanistan. Each day its Gazan team distributes two large tankers of drinking water to thousands in displacement camps.