Afternoons RNZ Radio

Get ready to dive deep into music history with a special guest on this week's music feature. Revolver, the groundbreaking album released in 1966, marked the inception of The Beatles' psychedelic era. Pioneering techniques like backward sounds, automatic double tracking, and close-miked drums revolutionized the recording industry, setting a new standard. We dissect this iconic album with Mike Chunn CNZM, founding member of Split Enz, CEO of Play It Strange Trust, and a devoted Beatles aficionado!

Brad Foster provides an update on the two Australian brothers and their friend killed while on a surfing trip in Mexico, state and federal government initiatives to fight gender based violence against women, and the 19-year-old who reeled in a $1 million fish in the Northern Territory. He also previews next week's Federal Budget and the current high costs of living.

Today Catherine has the theme for young people books of Verse Novels. For ages 10+ Worse Things by Sally Murphy For ages 11/12+ Alias Ann: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood Starfish by Lisa Fipps The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling For Ages 12+ What About Will by Ellen Hopkins

Ben Reid's a strategic technologist working at the forefront of the rapidly changing tech-scape. He has a weekly newsletter Memia and also has written a book Fast Forward Aotearoa - it's available digitally but will be out as a hard copy later this month. We talk to him about AI and what we need to be aware of in Aoteroa.

Today we hear all about sleep concerts and the art of gong bathing. It's a concert where the performers actually want you to sleep through their performances. We speak to Erika Grant who comes from a classical music background, having played in orchestras before going on to make music for silent films, theatre, and even marching bands. Erika's in our Wellington studio with her gongs to give us a taste of what the concerts are all about.

Kiwi birds have been getting some star treatment of late. Movie star Leonardo diCaprio used his social media platform of 62 million followers - to praise the work of conservationists Capital Kiwi, who have been releasing kiwi into the wilds of Wellington. Earlier this month, a kiwi was caught on cctv in a suburban Wellington backyard, followed by a big kiwi wandering into a sawmill workshop in Whangarei. Michelle Impey is Save the Kiwi chief executive, she's hoping to educate people more about the ever curious birds coming into contact with humans to keep the animals safe.