Afternoons

4.1 (132)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED DAILY

Jesse Mulligan presents an upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling, ranging from the stories of the day to the great questions of our time.

19/12/2025

Critter of the Week: Red Mistletoe (Peraxilla tetrapetala)

Did you know we have nine mistletoes native to New Zealand? Meet Peraxilla tetrapetala, the endemic red mistletoe! They are especially slow growing and rely on birds such as tui and bellbirds for pollination and seed dispersal. The flowers have an explosive bud opening mechanism triggered by birds when they try to get to the nectar inside. Unlike its overseas cousins, this mistletoe is endangered due to possum browsing, habitat decline and low bird numbers and should not be collected!

17 min
19/12/2025

Weekend Stuff: Lynda Hallinan shares gardening tips

Weekend stuff with Lynda Hallinan

7 min
19/12/2025

Food: Connie Clarkson's Coconut Chili BBQ Salmon Show

Manager of Auckland Council's Kitchen Project Connie Clarkson joins me now with a divine sounding dish. The recipe is here

8 min
19/12/2025

Film Review with Dom Corry

Our critic Dom Corry shares his picks from the latest crop of new releases. Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in theaters this week. The Housemaid, which is in theaters Christmas Day.

10 min
19/12/2025

A local take on UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena)

On Monday we spoke with the director of 'The Age Of Disclosure' about his new documentary on UFO's .. which are now officially known as UAP's or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Loads of you got in touch with your own theories, and stories. Including Peter Hassall, he's the author of 'The NZ Files' - a history of UFO sightings in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

8 min
19/12/2025

Chris Parkers' Christmas Survival Guide

The irony of course is that despite it being the season when people come together to break bread and party, it's also an increasingly stressful time for many. And what do you do when you're stressed? You call Chris Parker. Chris is withe Jesse to share his Christmas survival guide.

8 min
19/12/2025

Could tears be the key to diagnosing Parkinson's disease

Could human tears be the key to diagnosing Parkinson's disease? Well, that's what some New Zealander researchers are trying to find out. Parkinson's disease affects more than 12,000 New Zealanders and is the fastest-growing chronic neurological disorder in the world. New Zealander researchers are leading a world-first study looking at tears and the role they might play in early diagnosis of Parkinson's. Dr Victor Dieriks Senior Research Fellow at University of Auckland and the lead researcher for this study.

13 min
19/12/2025

Time out: The sport CEOs throwing in the towel

It's been a huge week in New Zealand sport - but not so much for action on the field. This morning news broke of the resignation of New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenick, which comes less than 24 hours after Netball New Zealand announced CEO Jennie Wyllie has quit. RNZ sports reporter Dana Johannsen has been across it all and joins Jesse in the studio to discuss.

6 min

See All (189)

4.1

out of 5

132 Ratings

Simon O’Neill

13/06/2023

ripped off 53

Unfortunately I didn’t hear all of Jessie’s interview with Simon O’Neill. Any chance it could be repeated or made into a podcast?? I hope so!! Thanks
Fantastic

12/04/2021

Malco99

What a great host Jesse is. I really appreciate his sense of humour and friendliness towards the guests. His questioning is great and I’ve switched from nine to noon to afternoons as a result.
Love it

05/05/2019

Lydiacw

I can put this podcast on and enjoy every episode, love the music, the experts and Jesse. It’s always a discovery
Failed comedian

06/05/2020

ScrapMusic101

Apparently a tendency towards inane giggling at inappropriate moments must have been the entry qualification on the day some other idiot hired him. Another road mark on Radio NZ National deciding that their target demographic should be the brain dead.