Hey, Did You Know?

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Hosts Mike Kilpatrick and Susan Strongman talks to researchers and academics at Auckland University of Technology about the work shaping Aotearoa New Zealand - from science, health, sport and technology to business, law and society. Each episode unpacks real research in plain language, plus two rolls of the die of destiny throws in a few unexpected questions. A podcast from AUT, Aotearoa's university of technology.

  1. 4d ago

    Volcanic eruptions, anchors and the ocean floor - Dr Marta Ribó | Ep 18

    Dr Marta Ribó⁠, Senior Lecturer in Marine Geosciences, talks to host ⁠Mike Kilpatrick⁠ about her career mapping the ocean floor across the Mediterranean, Aotearoa New Zealand and Tonga. They talk about how just 30 percent of the sea floor has been mapped, while covering the impact of ship anchors on the seabed, microplastics in Queen Charlotte Sound, and the role of the sea floor on climate change. They also talk about getting sea sick and Marta's front-row seat to the aftermath of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption, including mapping a caldera that collapsed nearly a kilometre deep. USEFUL LINKS ⁠New research finds surprising presence of microplastics⁠⁠Marine geologists investigate connection between Hunga eruption and tsunami waves⁠⁠Seabed mapping reveals ongoing damage caused by anchors⁠COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate and review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Tell us what you want to know about next: ⁠⁠⁠media@aut.ac.nz⁠⁠⁠CREDITS Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editor – Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick   Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins   Music – Clinton Watkins   Design – AUT Brand Team

  2. Aug 11

    Inflammation, immunisation and genetics - Dr Chris Puli'uvea | Ep 17

    Pacific immunologist Dr Chris Puli'uvea talks inflammation, immunity, genetics and He-Man with host Susan Strongman. Chris is a senior lecturer at AUT’s School of Biomedical, Chemical & Food Sciences. His research investigates how unique genetic variants in Māori and Pacific populations can influence immune function, as well as responses to disease and medication. He is also looking at Pacific traditional medicines, and how they may influence immune responses. USEFUL LINKS Research: Join Chris’ study into genetic variants across Māori and Pacific populations, by emailing tewharearaimate@aut.ac.nzResource: Learn more about Dr Chris Puli'uvea’s work at AUTResearch: Pacific-led responses to COVID-19 COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate and review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on ⁠Instagram⁠Tell us what you want to know about next: ⁠media@aut.ac.nz⁠CREDITS Host – Susan Strongman Editor – Susan Strongman Producer – Mike Kilpatrick   Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins   Music – Clinton Watkins   Design – AUT Brand Team

  3. Jul 28

    Mindfulness, consumer behaviour and time perception - Dr Amy Errmann | Ep 16

    Dr Amy Errmann explains how mindfulness and attention shape consumer decisions - from time perception and short meditation to charity appeals and luxury tourism in the Faroe Islands. Amy is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing and International Business at AUT, and her research explores how even brief mindfulness exercises change the way consumers experience time and respond to brand messaging. She and host Mike Kilpatrick also discuss what Aotearoa New Zealand could learn from mindful tourism campaigns overseas. USEFUL LINKS Research: Mindful luxury tourism — a Faroe Islands case studyResearch: How mindfulness changes responses to charity appealsResearch: Effects of mindfulness on consumer behaviourResource: Mindfulness overview — Healthify / Te Puna Waiora COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate and review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on InstagramTell us what you want to know about next: media@aut.ac.nzCREDITS Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editor – Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick   Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins   Music – Clinton Watkins   Design – AUT Brand Team

  4. Jul 14

    Humanitarian Engineering - Episode 15

    With Professor Regan Potangaroa. In this episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, AUT Professor Regan Potangaroa (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) chats to host Susan Strongman about creating a refugee camp from scratch, being taken hostage twice, his new-found love for drone fishing, and more. Professor Potangaroa is a recognised global expert in humanitarian engineering and Māori-centered resilience.USEFUL LINKS Kutupalong refugee camp   Canterbury Earthquakes   2016 Kaikōura earthquake  Professor Regan Potangaroa academic profile COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate & Review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on InstagramTell us what you want to know about next: media@aut.ac.nzCREDITS Host – Susan Strongman   Editor – Susan Strongman   Producer – Mike Kilpatrick   Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins   Music – Clinton Watkins   Design – AUT Brand Team

  5. Jun 9

    FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and sport in Aotearoa - Episode 14

    With Dr Mel Johnston.  In this episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, Dr Mel Johnston, Head of Department, Sports Leadership and Management at AUT, chats to host Mike Kilpatrick about major sporting events, the upcoming FIFA World Cup and the changing role of sport in Aotearoa New Zealand.  They discuss whether the Commonwealth Games are still relevant, why they matter for athlete development, and what a future New Zealand-hosted Games could look like. Mel also talks about the politics and economics of mega-events, including FIFA’s huge revenues, dynamic ticket pricing, sport washing and the growing influence of broadcasting.  The conversation also explores community sport, including rising costs, volunteer shortages, access for children and the need for clubs to adapt to changing expectations. Mel shares insights from the National Sports Club Survey, including concerns about affordability and participation.  They also discuss integrity in sport, gender equality, the growth of women’s sport, and how events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup can create momentum for participation, visibility and investment.  MAIN TOPICS AND DISCUSSION  Sport Leadership and Management at AUT - https://www.aut.ac.nz/study/study-options/sport-and-recreation  National Sports Club Survey - https://sprinz.aut.ac.nz/areas-of-expertise/sport-leadership-and-management/national-sport-club-survey  Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui - https://sportintegrity.nz/  FIFA World Cup 2026 - https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026  Commonwealth Games - https://thecgf.com/  COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate & Review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on InstagramTell us what you want to know about nextCREDITS  Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editors – Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team

  6. May 26

    Episode 13 - Food, nutrition and diets

    With Professor Caryn Zinn. In the thirteenth episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, Professor Caryn Zinn from AUT's School of Sport, Exercise and Health, chats to host Mike Kilpatrick about differing aspects of food and how they relate to health. As well as ultra-processed foods, they talk about the new inverted food pyramid, carbohydrates and the importance of protein - as well as the things that should be in the lunchboxes of school kids. They also discuss insulin resistance, why dietary guidelines designed for healthy populations don't necessarily fit the needs of everyone and introduces a new AUT app. The app - CHIPS - is AI-driven and designed to help people make better food choices. They also touch on diets, including veganism and how to select the right protein powder. Caryn also reveals which actor would play her in a movie of her life! MAIN TOPICS AND DISCUSSION  New dietary guidelines from the US stir the pot - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/586936/new-dietary-guidelines-from-the-us-stir-the-pot Reversing Type 2 diabetes - https://www.aut.ac.nz/news/stories/new-research-on-reversing-type-2-diabetes Ultra-processed foods are taking over our diets - https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/11/19/ultra-processed-foods-are-taking-over-our-diets-expert-reaction/ COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate & Review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/autuninews/⁠Tell us what you want to know about next: ⁠media@aut.ac.nz ⁠ CREDITS  Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editors – Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team

  7. May 12

    Episode 12 - Spiders and other bugs

    Spiders with Dr Leilani Walker.  In the twelfth episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, Dr Leilani Walker chats to host Susan Strongman about why she once had 30 giant-jawed spiders living in her garage, sexual cannibalism in praying mantises, necrophiliac penguins... and why we should care about any of these things. Dr Walker (Te Whakatōhea) is a senior lecturer in environmental science at AUT and curator of entomology at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. As a behavioural ecologist, she uses terrestrial invertebrate models to study sexual selection, intra-specific competition and evolution. Dr Walker’s research interests also encompass entomology and arachnology more generally, as well as equity in higher education and science. MAIN TOPICS AND DISCUSSION  The man who invented day light saving time  Sheetweb spiders   The global spread of (mis)information on spiders  'Sexual depravity' of penguins that Antarctic scientist dared not reveal   COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate & Review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/autuninews/⁠Tell us what you want to know about next: media@aut.ac.nz ⁠ CREDITS  Host – Susan Strongman Editors – Susan Strongman Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team

  8. Apr 28

    Episode 11 - Romantasy

    Romantasy with Dr Yael Cameron.  In the eleventh episode of Hey, Did You Know? An AUT Podcast, Dr Yael Cameron chats to host Mike Kilpatrick about romantasy, the book genre that’s taken the world by storm.  During their chat Yael explains what romantasy is and talks about popular romantasy author Sarah J Maas’s popularity. She also discusses the idea that because romantasy books tend to be queer and women friendly there may be snobbery or misogyny when it comes to talking about the genre.  That doesn’t mean romantasy is perfect, though, and Yael talks about some of the common tropes that are seen in these books as well as great examples of where those tropes are turned on their head.  They also talk about popular Netflix show Heated Rivalry and how important it is for people to see sports people represented as queer and the impact that can have.  That leads to a discussion about the Superbowl half-time show and how powerful Bad Bunny’s performance was for representation – but also why it was a political statement.  Yael finishes talking about poetry and then shares some suggestions for books to read if you’re new to romantasy.  Warning – there may be spoilers for Sarah J Maas books in this podcast.  Yael is a Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education in the Faculty of Culture and Society  Using a queer and feminist lens, Yael’s work traces social, religious and mythological representations in popular culture as a way of understanding the world we live in.    She has written about influential works like Dune, Mad Max, Finnish Noir, and Russian Resistance Poetry and also on legendary figures like Frankenstein, Medusa, and Eve.  MAIN TOPICS AND DISCUSSION  @sarahjmaas - The Instagram page for the author of A Court of Thorns and Roses   Bad Bunny’s Superbowl half-time show -Watch the full show on YouTube  Heated Rivalry - The Wikipedia entry on the wildly popular Canadian TV show  Radiance by Grace Draven- The official website of the author of Yael’s recommended read COMMUNITY CALLS AND ACTION  Rate & Review on your chosen podcast app Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autuninews/Tell us what you want to know about next: media@aut.ac.nz  CREDITS  Host – Mike Kilpatrick Editors – Mike Kilpatrick Producer – Mike Kilpatrick Executive Producer – Nicola Hopkins Music – Clinton Watkins Design – AUT Brand Team

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About

Hosts Mike Kilpatrick and Susan Strongman talks to researchers and academics at Auckland University of Technology about the work shaping Aotearoa New Zealand - from science, health, sport and technology to business, law and society. Each episode unpacks real research in plain language, plus two rolls of the die of destiny throws in a few unexpected questions. A podcast from AUT, Aotearoa's university of technology.

Information

  • Creator
    AUT News
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © AUT News
  • Show Website
    Hey, Did You Know?