Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

The moment the syllables spilled from my mouth, I knew I’d screwed up.     “And a repeat offender...” I said.  “Verse a detective dog.”    Verse.    It was the opening few stanzas of last night’s news, the part of the show where we tease a few of the evening’s top stories. And as the opening credits played, with my microphone fader pulled down, I called out to my producer in frustration with myself.     “Versus!” I said. “VERSUS.”  The emails flooded in. I knew they’d be waiting for me. Polite but gently critical messages, kindly informing me that due to myriad inadequacies in the New Zealand education system, I’d used a term more appropriately associated with Shakespeare or Keats than that of the cunning pest control dog starring in the evening bulletin.  But hey. Did you notice there how I used myriad? I don’t know about you, but it drives me crazy when I hear people talk about a myriad OF something. It shouldn’t because apparently a myriad ‘of’ is perf

Eighty years ago, the Nazi high command was put on trial in Nuremberg.  A brand new film, named for the trials, follows a lesser-known story, that of a US Army psychiatrist tasked with determining whether the detained officials were fit to stand trial.  It features Kiwi actor Russell Crowe as the charismatic Hermann Göring, Hitler’s longtime second in command, and Rami Malek as psychiatrist Douglas Kelly.   The film was written and directed by James Vanderbilt, best known for his work on The Amazing Spiderman and Zodiac.  As much as the film is about the atrocities committed by the Nazis, it's also very much about the dynamic between Göring and Kelly.  Vanderbilt told Jack Tame that one of their early inspirations was ‘Silence of the Lambs’, with a person going into a cell and sitting with a prisoner.   “In our film they’re both trying to get over on each other a little bit, they’re both trying to get something out of each other.”  “I sort of loved the idea of these two men,

This week Kevin Milne wants to give a boutique business their flowers.  All Better is a toy repair business run by Janice in Te Awamutu. She specialises in fixing wooden puzzles for kids – a service Kevin was in dire need of after their dog caused a bit of damage to their vintage family puzzle.  If you’re in need of her services, you can contact her via email: jgdownhome@yahoo.co.nz  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The days are getting longer and warmer and the festival season is set to begin.  Although a couple of major festivals have been cancelled, there’s still plenty of events to sink your teeth into this summer.  Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame for a chat about how the festival landscape is shaping up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The great New Zealand summer calendar is generously sprinkled with some sure-fire seasonal hits to add a bucketload of fun to your family holiday. I’ve rounded up a selection of signature events and exhibitions, strung across the nation, that you may well want to thread into your domestic summer holiday plans." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driven by Susie Wolff   Life in the fast lane, with a perspective like no other: Formula One superstar Susie Wolff lifts the bonnet on her incredible journey to the top of motorsport, and her ambitions for what comes next.     Unlucky for Some by Tom Wood   In his latest gripping adventure, the world’s deadliest assassin is all out of luck.  Malmo, Sweden. What should have been a simple job - to kill the heir of an organised crime family - spirals out of control when assassin-for-hire Victor is shot and wounded.  Forced to hide out in a hostile city while he recuperates, he doesn’t realise that multiple enemies are circling to take advantage of his circumstances.  Faced with a vengeful criminal organisation, corrupt officials, ruthless bounty hunters, elite mercenaries, and the most dangerous assassin he’s ever faced, Victor’s luck has finally run out.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hottest season is nearly upon us, with Summer kicking off very soon. And with the heat on the way, it’s likely water restrictions are on the way as well. So how can you save some water this summer? Kate Hall has a few tips:  Reuse greywater wisely. e.g. Collect shower warm-up water in a bucket and use it in the garden. Place a bowl in the sink when rinsing fruit/veggies (use this water for watering plants).  Water plants early or late (watering in the cool hours (morning or evening) stops evaporation). Focus on roots, not leaves; plants absorb moisture where it matters.   Shorten your showers. Aim for a 4-minute shower; try playing one short song as your timer. A water-efficient showerhead can cut usage by up to 50%.   Capture and reuse (keep a bucket near the washing machine or outside to catch rinse water).  Wait for full loads: Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full. One less cycle can save 50–100 litres a week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 29 November 2025, 80 years on from the Nuremberg trials, writer and director James Vanderbilt joins Jack to discuss a brand-new film that tells a lesser-known side of the story.  Jack draws attention to an issue affecting tens of thousands of Kiwis and considers who should be responsible for the fallout.  Margo Flanagan does her best to convince Jack avocados have a place in desserts.  Mike Yardley lists the best NZ holiday hits for the summer.  And Kevin Milne highlights a local Kiwi business doing good things.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most gardeners are aware that certain plants appear to be great for pollinators. Pollination is important for the reproduction of plants, and it comes in many different ways. We often just sit and watch the spectacle unfold as we have a cup of tea in front of our shed.  Pollination is done through ABIOTIC ways: (wind movements) or through BIOTIC techniques (Mostly insects: bees, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles and birds). It makes sense that early flowering plants rely on early pollinating insects. Dandelions are a good example; they often use small native bees to do the job.    By the way, about one-third of New Zealand’s plants are wind-pollinated (think grasses and the various plants that cause hayfever).  Here’s a line-up of all sorts of pollinators in the group of insects. For the flowers pollinated by insects, especially bees, it’s interesting to note that they have different colour vision to humans. Blue, green, violet and ultra-violet are the key colours.     The blue

Managing finances doesn’t come easily to everyone, and for some, it simply takes more time and energy than they have. So if you’re in the market for a financial adviser, how should you go about picking one? Ed McKnight has a few tips.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Much has been happening in the tech world as of late, and Gorilla Technology’s Paul Spain joined Jack Tame to delve into some of it.  Two major New Zealand banks are now forcing behavioural and device tracking with no opting out – is this truly about fraud?  Warner’s new deal with Suno lets artists like Ed Sheeran opt in for AI versions of their voice – will this create real new income for musicians or just flood the charts with AI tracks?   And over 1,000 Amazon staff say the company’s AI sprint is causing mass layoffs and huge environmental damage – is the human cost of “warp speed” AI finally becoming clear?   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stranger Things    The final season. In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries (Netflix).      The Beatles Anthology  The Beatles’ landmark “Anthology” documentary series has been restored and remastered.  The series’ original eight episodes trace the legendary journey that began in Liverpool and Hamburg and soon captivated the world. They bring to life the timeless stories — of Beatlemania, the band’s groundbreaking arrival in the USA, their role at the forefront of the 1960s counterculture, their spiritual exploration in India, and their eventual breakup. And through it all, the constant thread: the music, always the music.  There is now a completely new Episode Nine, including unseen behind-the-scenes footage of Paul, George and Ringo coming together between 1994 and 1995 to work on “The Anthology” and reflecting on their s

Train Dreams  A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.     Christmas Karma  A hard-nosed businessman, Mr. Sood, is forced to confront his past, present, and future over one fateful Christmas Eve —guided by three unforgettable spirits— on a journey toward compassion and redemption.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are looking for a sweet treat that's super easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and is completely moreish – these avocado chocolate truffles are the perfect option. They will satisfy your sweet cravings while also making you feel great!    Makes: 8  Time: 15 minutes      Ingredients  2 avocados   150g dark chocolate, melted   2 tbsp coconut oil, melted   2 tbsp maple syrup   1 tsp sea salt       Method  Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.    Spoon the truffle mixture into a bowl and place in the freezer to set for 2-3 hours.   Once set, roll the mixture into balls and coat in cacao nibs or cacao powder.   Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an issue burning away at the moment, affecting thousands or tens of thousands of us that I don’t think is getting anything like the attention it deserves.  Three additional coloured sand products tested positive for asbestos contamination this week. Two on Monday, another on Thursday. Additional brands sold at discount shops around the country to add to the products already announced in the recall earlier this month.  I’ll put my cards on the table: our 8-year-old is at a school that has been affected by the recall. They tested and found traces of asbestos and a number of classrooms have been affected.  Even though the testing found no traces of asbestos in the air, for at least the remainder of the year, the school has been thrown into a situation where they’re trying to teach the same number of kids in far fewer classrooms. It means ad-hoc, cramped learning spaces. In two classrooms they’re going to have to remove all the carpet, wall coverings, and soft furnishings. Other classrooms

Sir Tony Robinson is one of the world’s most recognisable history presenters.  After four career-defining series of British sitcom ‘Blackadder’, he fronted 20 seasons of the archaeological dig show ‘Time Team’.   His humorous hooks and accessible presentation has helped to demystify history and inspire passion in a whole new generation.   Robinson has written over 30 children’s books, ‘Maid Marian and Her Merry Men’, ‘The Worst Jobs in History’, and ‘Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders!’ just a few of the titles.   His latest work, ‘The House of Wolf’, is his first foray into fiction directed at an older audience, covering the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, and the making of England in the 9th century.  Writing for adults is quite different to writing for children, and Robinson said it scared him “rigid” when he first started.  “I had massive imposter syndrome”, he told Jack Tame.  “It's ridiculous, isn't it, like I've been on the stage for 60 odd years, and yet when it

The old seems to be the newest trend.  While people are always interested in the newest thing, nostalgia is flooding the musical scene right now – Metallica, Oasis, Tool, AC/DC, and the Pixies are just a few of the acts selling out stadiums and venues at the moment.  But what’s behind the boom in nostalgia acts? How much longer can it last?   Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame to discuss the trend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nash Falls by David Baldacci   Walter Nash is a sensitive, intelligent and kindhearted man. He has a wife and a daughter and a very high-level position at Sybaritic Investments, where his innate skills and dogged tenacity have carried him to the top of the pyramid in his business career. Despite never going on grand adventures, and always working too many hours, he has a happy and upscale life with his family.  However, following his estranged Vietnam-veteran father’s funeral, Nash is unexpectedly approached by the FBI in the middle of the night. They have an important request: become their inside man to expose an enterprise that is laundering large sums of money through Sybaritic. At the top of this illegal operation is Victoria Steers, an international criminal mastermind that the FBI has been trying to bring down for years.  Nash has little choice but to accept the FBI’s demands and try to bring Steers and her partners to justice. But when Steers discovers that Nash is working with

"Beckoning as a homeland to incredible food, world-class wine, iconic cultural landmarks, and infused with a bohemian spirit, Paris is the epitome of a tourist mecca. Home to over 140 museums and 30,000 bakeries, you’ve got so many alluring visitor experiences to weigh up than you can poke a baguette at." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re constantly looking for ways to spot early signs of problems such as depression or bipolar disorder, based on the idea that the earlier we can spot signs the earlier we can intervene.   Traditionally in psychology this has relied on asking people to monitor themselves and report back. Lots of problems inherent in this e.g., lack of motivation, lack of awareness, not knowing what to look for, self-fulfilling prophecies, etc. Psychology research is often hampered by lack of more objective ways of collecting information that don’t rely so much on self-report of individuals.   New methods are emerging which look at how someone’s pattern of typing on a smartphone keyboard might predict early onset of depression.   Firstly – rest assured this isn’t some new and frightening emergence of big-brother watching your keystrokes! For this research people had to download a specific keyboard to use with their phone that feeds back results to researchers about their typing patterns, it didn’t capture the