Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

Haydn Jones is a little late to the trend, but this week he started baking sourdough.  Falling in between the craft beer and veggie garden stages, nothing says you’ve hit middle-aged quite like a sourdough starter.  This was exemplified for Haydn by the visit he and his friend made to Briscoes on their hunt for a good baking dish.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 23rd  August 2025, music legend Don McGlashan joins Jack to discuss his first ever solo live album, ‘Take It To The Bridge’, recorded during his very special 2023 NZ tour.  Jack reflects on the official confirmation of famine in Gaza. Good things come in twos and Francesca Rudkin contrasts two brand new comedy films – NZ film Workmates and the Liam Neeson action flick The Naked Gun.  Plus, Nici Wickes shares two soup recipes to keep you warm from the inside out.  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.

Before we lose our Winter Scenes, it might be an idea to get up at sunset and look around your garden (or a nearby forest, if you like). Spiders are in many places, despite the cold, icy conditions. The best time to see their “websites” is on dew-laden mornings – the owners are nearby and await the rising of that wintry sun.  Spider silk glands have liquid proteins called spidroins. They're actually kind of gooey and are pressed out gently to form silk. It’s strong, yet light and flexible – a fabulous building material that serves many purposes. Those webs have sticky and non-sticky strands of silk, so the spider can walk on them without getting stuck themselves.  Websites can be incredibly fascinating in the way the spider builds them – this sheetweb is extremely strong and contains silken supports above and below the sheetweb’s “trampoline”. If a moth or beetle flies over the web and accidentally hits the guy-ropes, the poor insect loses its balance and ends up on the silken trampoline.   In

Seifried Zweigelt 2024, Nelson. RRP $20.00   A distinctive, ripe, and exuberant red berry fruit bouquet with suggestions of plums, then violets, blackberry, and boysenberry followed by lees and a delicate positive reduction. A nicely dry wine on the palate with flavours of boysenberry and tart plums, violet and spice. Taut and still developing with best drinking from 2026 through 2030+.    The Food:   Zweigelt is a cross from St. Laurent & Blaufränkisch developed in 1923 by Dr Friedrich "Fritz" Zweigelt. It has the softness and elegance from the St Laurant and robustness and backbone of acidity and tannins from the Blaufrankish. This means the wine will work rather well with foods that a little vigour, but not too much.   My suggestion is therefore a venison sausage with an onion jam and side of lyonnaise potatoes. Higher quality venison sausage has both and earthy quality and meaty quality without being gamy, there’s always a little fat layer in the sausage as well. So the Zweige

Google's big product announcement was... unique?   It was more like a talk show crossed with the shopping channel. US Late Night host Jimmy Fallon hosted it, and it had celebrity cameos from athletes like Stephen Curry, podcaster Alex Cooper, and the Jonas Brothers even made an appearance. Reddit users dubbed it as “unwatchable". They launched new phones, enhanced their folding phones, but of course AI was everywhere:   Gemini Live will gain a new audio model that will detect your tone — like whether you’re excited or concerned   The Pixel phone camera will have a photo coach built in to help with composition.  They're trying to make these AI suggestions more contextual and push relevant things to you rather than you needing to seek them out, e.g. you're at the airport, here's your boarding pass. Or you're in a car, here's the directions to your next appointment, etc.    A software developer has been sent to prison sabotaging his former employer   This wasn't a hack of sys

Alien: Earth    When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, Wendy and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat (Disney+).    Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser   Former contestants and producers reveal the intense, damaging reality behind the success of ‘The Biggest Loser’ (Netflix).    Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time   Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented tragedy that demonstrated America's lack of concern for Black people. Through images, witness accounts, and interviews, hear the real story (Disney +).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Naked Gun   Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr becomes a police officer like his legendary father and must save the police department from shutting down by solving a case.     Workmates  An accident threatens to shut down the small, underfunded theatre that Lucy and Tom have built together. Lucy realises she'd do anything to save the theatre and keep her friend, who she might be in love with.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I like to try and kick things off on Saturday mornings with a bit of cheer, but I tell you what, it’s hard to look beyond yet another bleak milestone in the appalling war in Gaza. Overnight, the UN-backed food security body has confirmed famine in Gaza City. It has officially reached that threshold, the first time famine has ever been declared in the Middle East.  As the UN Secretary General declared, this is a man-made catastrophe. There are many, many third party countries that want to get more aid into Gaza. A shortage of food is not a problem, access is.  Two years ago, immediately after the October 7th attacks, I said a few things on this show. I want to share with you again a few words from that day.  “Israel has the right to exist in peace. Palestine should have the freedom of statehood. Both of those things can be true. The deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians is an appalling, utterly inexcusable act of violence. The systematic flattening of Gaza, no water, no power, no food, is an

In an unprecedented move we're going to zip through not one, but two soup recipes this week! In a world where everything is shrinking, we're giving more, 2 for 1, etc.     Turmeric and Ginger Chicken Broth     I swear this is a steaming pot of goodness, capable of chasing away any winter ails.    Serves 2-4      Ingredients  1 chicken frame, either from your butcher or supermarket, or left over from a roast chicken dinner    1 large onion, diced    ½ leek, white and green bits chopped   2 carrots, diced      Thumb-sized piece of ginger, plus extra strips to garnish    40g fresh turmeric, grated (can use 1 heaped tablespoon dried turmeric or 50mls turmeric juice)    1-2 teaspoons sea salt    ½-1 teaspoon black pepper   Finely diced chives or spring onions to garnish        Method  In a large pot, cover the chicken frame with water and bring to a rapi

Pixies changed the alternative rock game forever.  The legendary band out of Boston, Massachusetts has been credited by the likes of Kurt Cobain for their off the wall, guitar shredding influence.  And they’re making their way back to our shores soon with a very special set of shows.   Pixies are playing two nights each in Auckland and Wellington – one night showcasing the entirety of Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, and the other a collection of their greatest hits.  The reason behind the two shows, guitarist Joey Santiago explained to Jack Tame, is twofold.  “First of all, selfishly for me, we get to stay in the same city twice,” he said.  “And I get to look around and relax, you know, so that’s good for us.”  The other reason caters to the fans, who Santiago says will be able to experience two different shows if they choose to go to both.   It’s been over 30 years since the release of both Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, but in Santiago’s opinion, they got them right th

Volunteer numbers at grassroots and community sport clubs around the country are dwindling rapidly, with clubs having fewer than half the volunteers they had five years ago.  It comes as the levels of referee abuse and disorderly behaviour on the sidelines rises, with volunteers facing abuse and vitriol from the public.  However, there are still positives to getting involved – volunteer coach Haydn Jones joining Jack Tame for a chat about the pros of giving your time to a local team.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One half of the iconic Kiwi musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie is back with another solo album.  ‘Freak Out City’ is a collection of songs he developed while performing live across NZ and the US with his eight-piece band The State Highway Wonders.   The album is eclectic, filled with comedic and theatrical elements, and Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Beyond the seductive necklace of balmy beaches studding the Sunshine Coast, elevate your playground to the host of treats and treasures tucked away in the hinterland." "My hinterland base was the leafy township of Yandina, staying at the namesake hotel which has been serving up yarns and coldies since 1889. Built by Australian pioneers as a staging depot on the route between Brisbane and the Gympie goldfields, this venerable wooden pile, with wrapround balcony, is one of the Sunshine Coast's oldest watering holes." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Inside Job by Daniel Silva   Gabriel Allon has been awarded a commission to restore one of the most important paintings in Venice. But when he discovers the body of a mysterious woman floating in the waters of the Venetian Lagoon, he finds himself in a desperate race to recover a lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.  The painting, a portrait of a beautiful young girl, has been gathering dust in a storeroom at the Vatican Museums for more than a century, misattributed and hidden beneath a worthless picture by an unknown artist. Because no one knows that the Leonardo is there, no one notices when it disappears one night during a suspicious power outage. No one but the ruthless mobsters and moneymen behind the theft—and the mysterious woman whom Gabriel found in a watery grave in Venice. A woman without a name. A woman without a face.     What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci   ‘Sharing food is one of the purest human acts'  Food has always been an integral part of Stanl

When it comes to managing stress, we often think about the big things —job loss, death of a loved one— but what about the everyday stressors?  Things like buying a house, getting married, and speaking in public occur much more regularly, and can potentially have a bigger cumulative effect over time.  Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss the long-term impact of everyday stressors and what can be done to mitigate potential harm.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a tennis player have to do with investing?  Roger Federer was a Swiss tennis player, ranked world No. 1 in men’s singles for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks.   He won 80% of his matches, but only 54% of points, and Ed McKnight thinks there’s something here that can be applied to investing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 16 August 2025, legendary guitar shredder Joey Santiago of Pixies joins Jack to discuss the unique format of the band's current tour, which is heading to New Zealand soon.  Jack considers the levels of fairness and transparency in the latest Covid Inquiry.  Haydn Jones joins Jack from the pitch to discuss the pros of volunteering for your local sporting clubs.  Nici Wickes shares a delightful recipe for orange-caramel custard filled crepes.  And Ed McKnight's finances have been inspired by a tennis great.  Plus, Jack shares the breaking updates of Putin and Trump's press conference in Alaska, as it happens.  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.

When rain and cold weather stops for a day, I go out into the garden.  Just looking – Julie often has new inhabitants in the garden and some of those are surprising.   Grevillia is a species that hails from Australia. Some older TV Gardening Show watchers may remember Don Burk doing his hour-long shows every week – he loved Grevillia and so do I. In mid-winter, birds and pollinating winter insects will look for these flowers, filled with nectar.  White Magnolia are coming out right now. No pollinating going on, just plenty of off-white colours that lighten up your boring garden background.   Miscanthus chinensis, still waving in the wind. A froglet sitting quietly.  Gaura Butterfly Rose with an emerging kiwi.   “Just a Daffodil”, according to Julie – bright colours in winter.  These are Hamamelis (also known as Witch Hazels). Many of these wonderful plants have an excellent smell – our yellow variety (H x Arnold Promis) is probably the exception, not much smell at all,

Reunion   Deaf man Daniel Brennan is leaving prison after ten isolating years inside and is now a man on a mission for revenge. Shunned by his parents and community, Brennan has nothing left to lose, until he is reunited with his estranged daughter, Carly (TVNZ+).    The Family Next Door   A stranger arrives in a Victorian coastal town, searching for answers. Her quest to solve a mystery raises suspicions among four neighbouring families (ThreeNow).    George Clarke’s Homes in the Wild  George Clarke travels across the wild coastlines and islands of New Zealand and Australia to explore extraordinary homes hidden in nature. Each episode highlights inventive designs that combine wilderness settings with sustainable, off-grid living (Sky Open).     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Sports giant ESPN is signalling its TV days are numbered   The media company has announced it's going direct to fans with exactly the same thing you can get through a Pay TV provider. In the USA, the leagues make deals with networks, who then make deals with Pay TV operators, who sell bundles of networks to consumers. ESPN has just announced it’s cutting out its old friend the Pay TV operator – ouch. Why? About 35 million households have stopped paying for the sports cable channel ESPN over the past 15 years, and they think they can win them back if they don't need to buy all the other cable stuff just to get the thing they want.   In NZ terms —not that this deal is international yet— it would mean instead of only being able to get ESPN through Sky, you would be able to get exactly the same channels directly from ESPN.   A digital environment means that you're not constrained by the number of channels – you could have 50 events taking place at the same time, instead of being forced to make d