Thoughts & Comments Podcast

Rhema Media
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Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

  1. 4 days ago

    Preventative Medicine, Politics and Big Pharma Debate

    Andrew Urquhart speaks with Professor Grant Schofield, an expert in preventative medicine, about New Zealand First's health policy which draws on work from the Make New Zealand Healthy trust. Schofield explains he was part of a scientific advisory team that offered comprehensive health reform policy to all political parties, focused on shifting spending from treating sickness to preventing disease; and rejects claims of plagiarism since the policy was openly offered and only New Zealand First engaged meaningfully with it.   The discussion covers bodily autonomy and informed consent in medicine, the influence of government dietary guidelines on institutions like hospitals, prisons and schools, and whether taxpayers should subsidise healthy food choices similar to existing subsidies for pharmaceuticals and big food. Schofield also raises concerns about Big Pharma's heavy marketing influence within medicine, particularly around weight-loss drugs, contrasting this with the comparatively weak lobbying power behind whole-food and lifestyle-based approaches to health.   Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 6 days ago

    Rubberstamp Bias: Who Do Public Servants Really Serve?

    TUE 15 SEP ~ Are political bias, bureaucratic stalling and buried incompetencies the hallmark traits of the civil service? Arian Tashakkori from civil liberties group PILLAR joined Andrew Urquhart to discuss recent examples of clashing loyalties and conflicts of interest, including public service unions handing out "change the government" stickers during strikes; and the tension between service continuity versus accountability to elected ministers and the taxpayer. (www.nzpillar.com) Do you think institutional knowledge held by career bureaucrats outweighs the need for integrity and neutrality in serving the government of the day? Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Thoughts & Comments will also be live on Shine TV from Monday 28 September Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 14 Sept

    KiwiSaver Battle Between Labour & National

    Has Kiwisaver become a bit of a political football? Or is it more a tug-of-war? With the original author Labour on one side, and on the other, National's developments for the superannuation scheme, Pillar CEO Nathan Seiuli questions whether Kiwisaver will serve New Zealanders well in retirement. He joined Andrew Urquhart to weigh up the different policy implications for employees and employers, particularly asking if the responsibility to save for retirement is shifting in the right direction. Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 14 Sept

    Winner Winner Cheaper Dinner - Will 'Kiwimart' Whet Voters' Appetite?

    "This is a cost-of-living election," observes a political analyst; and the Green Party may have just found their meal ticket. Dr Bryce Edwards of the Democracy Project unpacks the Greens' proposal that's banking on the people to break New Zealand's supermarket duopoly with a $2.8b publicly-owned chain promising consumer savings. Although the Opposition party hasn't yet calculated the profit and affordability margins, Dr Edwards points out the mere prospect of lower grocery bills will appeal strongly to a population hungry for cheaper food. Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 11 Sept

    Ground Zero Chaplain Remembers 9/11 Twenty-five Years On

    Faith in the midst of horror, quiet heroes... God with skin on.     A Ground Zero chaplain recalls the moments, days and weeks after terror struck the Twin Towers on September-eleven, 2001.     25 years later, Father Emile Frische still feels the weight of the tragedy as he describes the shock and heartbreaking scenes to Diane Campbell. Hear how God sustained him as he ministered to a grieving city and witnessed the wonder of a common humanity in the rubble of disaster.   Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. 11 Sept

    How 9/11 Changed the World

    A tragic, violent and symbolic end to an age of innocence. That's one confronting way to view the September-11 terror attacks on the USA. Brendan Malone reflects on one of the most momentous days in modern world history, when calculated aeroplane hijackings on American soil ushered in a new era of suspicion and division. He recalls the immediate shock, the loss of national innocence, and the lasting fear, uncertainty and mistrust. The media commentator suggests 9/11 in many ways lead to today's political landscape, the rise of meta-narrative conspiracy theories, new atheism, and ongoing instability in the Middle East, to which, he says, the best response is prayerful discernment.   Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.   For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz   Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. 3 Sept

    Election Slogans, Taxation and Wily Civil Servants

    WED 2 SEP - Will bad slogans decide the polls and should Ministry staff change with outgoing governments? Family First's Simon O'Connor brings his political insights to bear as electioneering ramps up. The ex-MP discusses party slogans and the likelihood that tax will dominate debate, alongside co-governance and Te Pāti Māori's proposed 'bottom line' policy of subordinating Parliament's sovereignty to the Treaty of Waitangi. Mr O'Connor also shines a spotlight on the apparent lack of accountability and costly bias within the civil service, recalling his past encounters with Ministry staff, as well as the failure to impose consequences for MBIE Chief Executive Nic Blakely's contempt of Parliament.   Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.   For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.   Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. 2 Sept

    Trial by Social Media: The Lindsay Clancy Tragedy

    TUE 1 SEP - A once-devoted mum succumbs to psychosis and commits an unspeakable crime... or did she.    Despite Lindsay Clancy's insanity plea, internet speculation has proliferated like wildfire as her trial draws to a close. Blame aside, the human loss is all but lost amidst the noise of a worldwide web of conjecture.    Brendan Malone joins Andrew Urquhart to reflect on how a horrific tragedy has become internet fodder for amateur sleuths and online mob trials. From the devolution of true crime documentaries to gendered assumptions in public sympathy, he urges a balanced response that spurns baseless gossip and holds both compassion and accountability. Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts. ~~~~ Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz. Produced using AI tools under human supervision. Support Rhema: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?brand=rhema&utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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About

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

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