Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

The Running Man   In the near future, "The Running Man" is the top-rated show on television, a deadly competition where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Desperate for money to save his sick daughter, Ben Richards is convinced by the show's ruthless producer to enter the game as a last resort. Ratings soon skyrocket as Ben's defiance, instincts and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite, as well as a threat to the entire system.    Keeper   A wife becomes isolated in a secluded cabin and has to fend off an unspeakable evil.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing like a butterflied chicken sizzling on the BBQ – it’s juicy, full of flavour, and cooks evenly every time. Pair it with warm tortilla, fresh salsas, limes, and chilli and you’ve got yourself a fiesta of flavour!    Ingredients 1 free range chicken, butterflied (ask your butcher or do it yourself) & brined (optional, see note)   3 tbsps. olive oil   2 tsp sea salt    3 tbsps. tomato chutney    2 limes – zest and juice of one, the other cut into wedges   3 garlic cloves, crushed   1 tbsp cumin seeds, toasted   1 tsp smoked paprika   ½ tsp chilli flakes    2 tsp sea salt and ½ tsp pepper to season   1-2 tortilla per person   Salsa – see below    Limes, lettuce, guacamole to serve      Mango salsa    1 ripe mango, diced finely    ½ red onion, diced very finely    Small handful of fresh coriander, chopped   1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted   Juice of one

I hate carrying my wallet. Not because I’m a prickle pockets —I swear I’ll always buy my round!— but because at heart, I’m an optimiser. I don’t want something else to remember, a bulge in my back pocket. I want to be able to do everything with the least baggage possible. My wallet has four cards. Just four. Bank card, credit card, driver’s license, and my TVNZ access card. Until two weeks ago, I needed a card to get into the Newstalk ZB offices as well, but not anymore. We’ve moved to a digital swipe system, an app on our phones. Very 2025. I don’t carry cash. My wallet has nowhere to put it. Except for the $2.40 in change in the centre console of the family Corolla, I don’t have any cash whatsoever. I barely use my physical debit and credit cards; I just pay for everything with my phone. For the best price I still need a real card for the bus, although they’ve recently changed the system so that in a pinch I can pay with my phone. My library card is digital. Concert tickets are digital. Auckland FC, Air New

An extremely prolific author, Michael Connelly has published more than 40 books.  He’s created in-depth universes surrounding well-known characters like Mickey Haller in the Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch, who’s appeared in 24 of Connelly’s novels.   His universes continue to grow with a new addition to the Lincoln Lawyer series, ‘The Proving Ground’, which sees Haller team up with a journalist to take on big tech, AI, and uncover a whistleblower in hiding, all with billions on the line.  Connelly professes to be a fan of technological innovation, exploring things like the internet, DNA analytics, and data storage in previous novels.  “AI was kinda like, primed for me.”  “For every great discovery and invention, and move forward with technology, there’s always somebody out there who is looking to turn it against is,” Connelly told Jack Tame.  “And there were a couple of cases that really caught my eye, that made me, you know, say, yeah I know AI is gonna change the world for the

As the weather turns warmer, more of us are taking advantage and hanging our clothes outside in the sun to dry.  Kevin Milne’s not sure if the silly season has just come early, but he’s realised he’s quite the fan of clothes pegs – one kind in particular.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight is the grand finale, Oasis performing the final show of their reunion tour down under in Sydney, Australia.   Every show was sold out, fans ecstatic they’re able to see a band they never thought they would after their break up in 2009.  Chris Schulz joined Jack Tame as the minutes tick down before the concert begins to provide a vibe check.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Singapore never fails to serve up an electrifying experience, constantly refreshing and enhancing its enticements. After paying my respects to Singapore’s beloved water-spout mascot, the Merlion, overlooking Marina Bay, I ventured over to the jaw-dropping botanical blockbuster of Gardens by the Bay, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass. "Take a stroll through Kampong Glam. Once the seat of Singapore’s first sultan, the neighbourhood's colourful shophouses are home to a jumble of cafes and boutiques wedged among decades-old perfumeries and fabric merchants." Read Mike's full article here.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breath of the Gods by Simon Winchester   What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires. Gale force advisories are issued on a regular basis by weather services around the world.  Atmospheric scientists are warning that winds – the force at the centre of all these dangerous natural events – are expected to steadily increase in the years ahead, strengthening in power, speed, and frequency. While this prediction worried the insurance industry, governmental leaders, scientists, and conscientious citizens, one particular segment of society received it with unbridled enthusiasm. To the energy industry, rising wind strength and speeds as an unalloyed boon for humankind – a vital source of clean and ‘safe’ power.  Between these two poles – wind as a malevolent force, and wind as saviour of our planet – lies a world of fascination, history, literature, science, poetry, and engineering which Simon Winches

A couple of months ago we covered Prosopagnosia – the inability to recognise faces. Following on from that, today we’re covering Aphantasia – the inability to see mental images.   Most of the time most of us, if asked to remember something or “picture” something in our minds, we create a mental image of the thing or person.   For example, if asked to remember what you had for breakfast this morning, many of us will mentally see the weetbix and toast – not always in perfect detail, but there will be a picture of the thing.   But for a small number of people, this is just a theoretical idea. They have aphantasia.   Estimated to affect about 1% of people – not a disorder in itself but considered one end of a spectrum related to how well or poorly we can visualise things in our mind.  Some people become aphantasic after a head injury or damage to the brain. Others have never had it and assume that terms like “mental pictures” were just meant to illustrate the idea of thinking about someth

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 8 November 2025, an author who is very familiar with bestseller lists, Michael Connelly joins Jack to discuss being an unofficial voice for Los Angeles, and how the devastating fires changed his perspective on the city and prompted him to start over for his new book ‘The Proving Ground’.  Jack considers what makes a good meal, and how much a Michelin Star means.  Strawberries are here and Nici Wickes shares her favourite way to serve them while the season is still early.  Kevin Milne champions a humble tool: the clothes peg.  Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland delves into a condition in which people are unable to see mental images.  And music correspondent Chris Schulz is vibe checking live from Sydney as Oasis get ready to perform the final gig of their reunion world tour.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LIS

With Christmas on its way, the season of spending is fast approaching.   The allure of credit cards becomes stronger at this time of year as people try to figure out how they can afford everything they need to.   Financial planner Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to give some advice on how best to balance credit cards and build good habits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three reactions to the concept of “feeding your plants”:   Plants feed themselves through Photosynthesis (you don’t need to feed your plants!)   They’ll pick up elements in the soil that they need for growth and development – nobody feeds the plants in a native forest.  What’s scientifically needed for our gardens is a soil test that indicates which chemical elements are lacking in soil.  This is about the Science of Fertilisers.  This is the time of the year when soil temperatures are the best for plant growth. Roots work over time to extract minerals, dissolve them in water, and transport them through the phloem bundles to the leaves of plants, where photosynthesis puts it all together and creates carbohydrates and chemicals that allow cell-elongation (growth).   Plants use three main elements for bulk growth “food”: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (K), which are generally known as NPK (their chemical symbols).   N is used to make green stuff: leaves and Chlorophyll

Australia is going to force the streamers to make Australian content   It'll focus on those with more than 1 million Australian subscribers, which means Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video will all be included.   The law will require them to spend at least 10% of their total Australian expenditure or 7.5% of their Australian revenue on new Australian drama, children's, documentary, arts, and educational programs.   The bill was not introduced earlier as the Aussies first waited out the 2024 US presidential election and later feared that its winner, Donald Trump, could counterattack with tariffs.      Elon Musk's trillion-dollar pay package   Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly approved a pay package that could make CEO Elon Musk, already the world’s richest person, the world’s first trillionaire.   His new deal has some rather lofty targets and if met would give him stock valued at a trillion dollars. These include:   Delivering 20 million Tesla vehicles and on

The Hack  Examining the "News International" phone hacking scandal, through the work of Nick Davies, a journalist who uncovered evidence of phone hacking, as well as the investigation into the murder of Daniel Morgan, a private investigator (TVNZ+, from Sunday).    Death by Lightning  Presenting the story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him (Netflix).    Playing Gracie Darling  When Joni's best friend Gracie vanished at 14 during a séance, it haunted her; 27 years on, a girl vanishes when a group of local kids are playing "Gracie Darling" and Joni must face her fears to uncover the truth (ThreeNow).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bugonia   Two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the CEO of a major company when they become convinced that she's an alien who wants to destroy Earth.    Ballad of a Small Player   When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love strawberries but this early in the season they can lack flavour. My advice is to warm them up! Roast or grill or in a pan with some sugar and lemon juice and you’ll find them a different berry altogether – jammy, sweet, and full of flavour.      Ingredients:  2 cups strawberries, hulled and large ones halved or quartered   1 tablespoon brown or white sugar    Juice from one orange    1 vanilla pod, halved and seeds scraped   Yoghurt or cream to serve   Handful of hazelnuts, toasted and chopped       Method:  Gently heat strawberries in a pan on the stove top or in the oven, with sugar, orange juice, and vanilla until they slump a little.   Serve with yoghurt or cream and sprinkled with hazelnuts.      Serving suggestions:    Spooned over brioche toast or toasted croissant topped with fresh ricotta. In a bowl with quality vanilla ice cream, a lick of balsamic vinegar or grind of black pepper

It arrived in the hands of a waiter, who moved with the lightness and grace of a ballet dancer across the restaurant floor. It had a fleshy colour. A creamy, brown kind of hue.  It was inflated to the size of a balloon, but the shape was slightly less uniform.   “Asparagus,” said the waiter. “Prepared in this pig’s bladder.”   I don’t know how many bladder-based meals you’ve had in your life but that was a first for me. The asparagus, I should say, was absolutely delicious. But not so amazing that I personally felt compelled to give up roasting food in my oven in favour of bladder cooking, from then on.  I was dining at Eleven Madison Park. It’s an extraordinary fine-dining restaurant at the foot of Madison Ave in New York, just across the way from the Flatiron Building. Tom Brady had his penthouse across the road. I once saw Rupert Murdoch walking his dog in the park outside. And the food at ELP is as fancy as the neighbours. As a winner of three Michelin Stars, Eleven Madison Park i

If you’re anything like me, the moment you saw the World’s most famous art gallery had been robbed of the French Crown Jewels... one thing came to mind.   It’s silly really, because at the end of the day it’s a crime. A serious crime. Nevertheless, it’s hard to totally ignore the audacity and romance of it all.   What’s the difference between a robbery and a heist? Whatever it is that distinguishes those words... there is something seductive.    We were told the thieves were organised, efficient, and used specialist equipment. I imagined a Tom Cruise-like figure firing a grappling hook out of a special gun, repelling from the ceiling and acrobatically navigating a room of invisible lasers, any of which if broken, would immediately trigger an alarm and a carbon dioxide pump that would starve the room of oxygen and suffocate the thieves where they stood.  Alas, as more detail has emerged over the last two weeks, it’s become clear the Louvre Heist was less Mission Impossible and more Mis

Listen to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 1 November. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the capital of the world’s largest democracy, Delhi embodies the essence of modern India – a vivid paradox of old and new, rich and poor, foreign and familiar. It’s been fourteen years since my last visit and the economic transformation is ever-present. High rises, swanky malls and residential colonies housing the booming middle-class are mushrooming everywhere. As my engaging Wendy Wu Tours guide Girish remarked, as we were whisked into the city from the airport, “Delhi is more than a mere city, it has morphed into the national capital region.” With the metropolitan population now nudging 30 million, Delhi is a megalopolis and on-track to becoming the world’s most populous city in three years’ time.  Our hotel was in New Delhi, the more modern, planned city within a city, that was built by the British in 1911 and replaced Kolkata as the national capital, twenty years later. In a city notorious for its air pollution, which is supposedly steadily improving, one of the great paradoxes of New Delhi is t