Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

  1. 6d ago

    Catherine Raynes: Hollow Bones and Redwood

    Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult   On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn’t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters.  Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse—a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis—have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew.  Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.     Redwood by Ben Macintyre   The year is 1981. Tehran is in violent turmoil in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. The Soviets are planning to overthrow the Ayatollah’s fledgling Islamist regime. If they do so, one response from America – unknown to the public – would be to use nuclear weapons. This is the story of how at the height of the Cold War, one mysterious double agent, known to MI6 as ‘Redwood’, revealed the Kremlin’s secret plot and prevented Armageddon.  This unsung, hitherto unknown hero of the Cold War, a six-foot-four Russian intelligence officer had a problem, a sexual secret, one that if revealed, would turn his life upside-down. So he reached out to MI6, believing it to have the only solution – in return for the KGB’s secrets. Then, facing exposure, he demanded that the British smuggle him out of Iran in a high-stakes escape plan.  This is the gripping tale of one man’s courage; about friendship, marriage, betrayal and sexual dysfunction; and about how decisions made in secret can have huge, long-term ramifications.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 6d ago

    Dr Dougal Sutherland: The impact of summer heat on mental health

    We’ve been hearing lots about the upcoming El Nino and how this might lead to a hotter summer for us, and how Europe has had massive heatwaves this year. Most of us are aware of the physical dangers of extreme heat, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. However, researchers are now finding that heat can also affect mental health – with even a small increase in temperature associated with increases in mental health-related problems. Specifically, people can experience more:   Irritability   Anxiety   Depression   Sleep problems   Worsening symptoms of existing mental illness   Increased use of mental health services   However, not everyone is affected equally. Those more at risk include:   People with caregiving responsibilities as looking after children, elderly relatives, or someone with health problems can increase emotional strain and reduce the ability to look after one's own needs.   People taking certain medications, particularly those that interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature including antidepressants and some heart medications.   People who have increased heat sensitivity including pregnant mums, women in menopause and perimenopause, and people who are sleep deprived (e.g., new parents!). Also, those people who are more exposed to heat such as people who work outdoors, those with poorly ventilated homes, or who work around machinery.   So what helps protect mental health during heat and what we can do to prepare?   Having strong family and community connections help people cope practically and emotionally. Supportive relationships can provide:   Reminders to stay hydrated   Help accessing cooler places   Emotional reassurance   Monitoring of vulnerable individuals   Access to green and blue spaces (parks, gardens, bodies of water). These environments may provide not only physical cooling benefits but also psychological benefits e.g., increased ability to enjoy being outside, more socialising and receiving support from other people.   Social participation. Activities such as visiting friends, participating in community groups, and maintaining social contact helped protect against depression during heatwaves. Often during extreme heat people become isolated as they stay inside in an effort to remain cool so keeping up social participation can reduce this loneliness and depression.   It's important to start thinking about and preparing for summer heat now, to protect both your physical and mental health. It will benefit you and your family, but also wider society if we can reduce pressure on Emergency Depts and medical services. Start thinking about who in your world might be vulnerable over summer. Make some plans ahead of time about keeping connected – try and include trips to blue and green spaces when you connect. Go and buy some fans now and beat the rush. Don’t wait till the middle of summer when we’re all suffering!    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 6d ago

    Ruud Kleinpaste: The legacy of Sir Peter Blake

    The legacy of Sir Peter Blake is a lot bigger than many people are aware of. We know him from his yachting around the world: America’s Cup, Whitbread, etc, etc. Wonderful stuff!   My first connection with Peter was via his mother Joyce, who rang me on talkback radio (Newstalk ZB of course) to see if I could help Peter and his sailing team with an outbreak of fleas in the guys’ wetsuits.   A boxful of Permethrin was dispatched to a port in South America – that worked!   I kept an eye on Sir Peter’s activities. He became more and more involved with environmental work, not just in New Zealand, but right around the planet. He sailed with a message and spread the importance of environmental Education. “Seamaster” was the home of Blake’s Expedition Journey.   December 6th, 2001, was the tragic end of Sir Peter’s life, but his environmental work never stopped.  The Sir Peter Blake Trust was established, —later becoming Blake— to continue Peter’s mission: environmental awareness, activities, adventures with New Zealanders, especially kids (and teachers!) to instil a deeper sense of Kaitiakitanga within them. A lot of people became involved.  Blake Inspire (for teachers), Blake NZ Virtual reality, Blake Expeditions, Blake Ambassadors, Blake Awards, and Blake Young Leaders Awards. These two weeks we’ll take about 70 teachers to Tawharanui Reserve, and to Goat island if weather is okay, and Campbells Bay to look for Marine life. We'll collect plankton at Murrays Bay, go to Centennial Park to work with freshwater quality, invertebrates and fishes, and visit the Stardome/Planetarium. We'll also go to schools with great environmental work and there are talks and work with artists – all parts of an inspirational number of Curriculum bits.  A group of teachers involved with Blake Inspire.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 6d ago

    Dr Bryan Betty: What is scabies and how common is it?

    What is scabies and how common is it in New Zealand?   They're tiny mites that burrow into the top layer of skin, causing allergic reactions with intense itching and a rash.   It's common in New Zealand, but exact numbers are difficult to know.   It's more common where there is close contact or household crowding, and particularly children and young people.   Anyone can get it – it's not a sign of poor hygiene.     How do you catch it?   Mainly through close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has scabies.   It spreads between household members, family members, and sexual partners.   It can spread through shared bedding, towels, or clothing.   You can spread scabies before realising you have it – symptoms can take weeks to appear.      How do you recognise it?   Classically, it causes very itchy skin, particularly at night.   Small, red bumps, scratch marks, and tiny burrows, often between the fingers, on the wrists, armpits, waist, and groin.   In babies and young children, the face, scalp, palms, and soles of the feet can also be affected.   It can look like eczema or other itchy skin conditions.      How do you treat it?   A prescribed cream applied over the body, left on for about 10–12 hours, then washed off – repeated one week later.   Everyone in the house needs treatment at the same time, even if they have no symptoms.  Wash bedding, clothing, and towels to prevent reinfection.   Tablets called ivermectin can be used if cream doesn't work.  The itching can continue for up to six weeks after successful treatment.   New spots, burrows, or worsening symptoms should be rechecked by your GP or nurse.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

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