Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

I’m still stuck on turkey for Christmas! I never think we’ll include it in the menu but in the end it just screams ‘festive season’, and I can’t resist.      How to keep the darn thing from drying out?   Stuff stuff under the skin of the breast – herb butter, chopped spinach, sausage, bacon.   Consider using a large oven bag to cook it in.   Rest the cooked bird on its breast so that the juices all run into the white meat.   Brining can work too, but who has the time or fridge space to do it!       Stuffing:    Breadcrumbs as a base with herbs, onions etc – make sure you soak the crumbs in milk.    Sausage or ground meat   Rice & mushrooms   Chorizo and corn bread    Consider a punch of sweetness like currants, apples or cranberries.      Gravy:    The roasting dish scrapings are your best friend, so always add in some halved onions and oil at the start of the cooking.   

The obvious question is why?  Why would you do it? Why put yourself through it?    No one was compelling us. No one had a gun to our heads. We weren’t competing for a million dollars on a reality TV show.    So why, two weeks before Christmas, with all of the stress and pressure of the silly season, in the midst of that heavy, humid, tropical Auckland heat, with Mava seven months pregnant, why would we decide that now was the time to put up wall stickers in our baby’s room?   To be accurate, I’m not sure if they were wall stickers or wall decals. I don’t really know the difference. All I know is they were two enormous trees —three metres high— that each came in multiple parts needing to be perfectly stuck to the wall. Different branches and shrubbery had to be placed together perfectly, lest one half of the tree sit lower than the other. One mistake, and your eye gets drawn immediately to the error: a tiny gap of wall in the seam where the pieces should connect, or a lump of bunc

The Black Seeds have been jamming for over a quarter of a century.  They’re famous for their part in shaping the modern Kiwi music scene, and have been blending funk, soul, dub, with South Pacific influences to develop a uniquely Kiwi sound since beginning in 1998.  To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album that gave them their breakthrough, The Black Seeds are doing a special release of ‘On The Sun’.  Singer, percussionist, and founding member Daniel Weetman joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss the anniversary and the band’s extensive history and influence.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many organisations that rely on donations or volunteering from the community in order to achieve their goals – but which one should a person be doing?  Ed McKnight joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about what the best ways to give back are, and how much you should give if you plan on giving financially.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and coming Tāmaki Makaurau band Corrella returns with their new album, Skeletons.  The 11-track collection is filled with soulful roots reggae, with touches of funk, gospel, pop, soul, and even a bit of country. The band rose to prominence in 2023 with their single ‘Blue Eyed Māori’, which holds the record for most weeks ever spent at the top of the NZ Singles Chart.  Estelle Clifford joined Francesca Rudkin to give her thoughts on Skeletons.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To Die For by David Baldacci   Travis Devine has become a pro at adapting to any situation to accomplish the mission set in front of him. Whether it’s a high-powered corporate setting or small-town community, Devine will become the man for the job. His time as an Army Ranger and on the financial battlefields of Wall Street gave him the skills he needed, and he’s put them to good use. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under investigation for RICO charges. Instead, he’s hoping to lie low and keep off the radar of an enemy that he evaded on a train in Switzerland and who has been after him ever since—the girl on the train.  But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Betsy is adamant that they had never used drugs, but the police in the small rural town where they died insist the Odoms died of an overdose. Devine starts digging

"Ōamaru is undeniably one of New Zealand’s greatest towns, with its stately and seductive good looks, stirring local wildlife, astonishing heritage treasures, and alluring artisan verve. And it’s all anchored with a striking sense of community pride and passion. Eye-catching sights and an embracing spirit are what Ōamaru is all about (don’t miss a selfie with the beloved Humpty Dumpty statue in the stupendous public gardens). Whether you’re travelling as a couple, or enjoying a happy family holiday, Ōamaru delivers ins spades with a wealth of enticing experiences." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne recently made an investment into a local art piece – a work called ‘Black Beard’ by Simon Kerr.  The former leader of the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, Kerr has shifted focus from crime to painting.  He also recently saw the huge Banksy exhibition at Wellington’s Tākina exhibition centre, and it got him thinking about the contrast in his and Kerr’s circumstances.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Kate Hall has been participating in a challenge.   At the beginning of the year she set out to only eat food products that were created in New Zealand, and with 2024 coming to a close, she decided to reflect on how it went.   She joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about the wins, surprises, and failures, and has created a blog so those interested in eating local know where to shop.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 7th of December 2024, Francesca Rudkin chats with Dan Weetman of the Black Seeds as the band celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album that helped them break through, ‘On the Sun’.  Francesca questions whether our local airlines are being less reliable or if we are just complaining more.  Hugh Grant is back in a film role completely opposite to how we've seen him before - Chris Schulz balances two very different vibes with his film picks.  And if you could fit summer in a sentence it might sound something like 'mangoes and ice cream'. Chef Nici Wickes drops a delicious recipe for a seasonal treat.  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.

This is the moment when adult Huhu Beetles emerge from their rotting logs. If you are nearby a forest (especially a pine forest) you will be familiar with the sharp collision noises on your kitchen window when preparing dinner. Those huhu beetles fly towards the light and crash audibly.   They’ve spent a few years as huhu grubs in dead wood, where they help with the decomposition – ashes to ashes, dust to dust!   The grubs, of course, are a famous New Zealand delicacy: massive bits of protein can be quickly fried in a pan with a bit of salt and pepper (or even other fancy condiments). Just be prepared to prick a few holes in the body of this massive grub so that you won’t get any exploding internal body segments! Happened to me – just look at my kitchen ceiling!   Some kids would be keen to help you out in the kitchen – it’s practical curricular topic to discuss the necessary search for alternative proteins in our country.   Talking about alternative proteins: Slugs and Snails are a real p

TikTok set to be banned in the US after losing appeal   TikTok may be banned in the United States from early next year. An appeals court has upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok in the country by early next year, or be banned. The company hoped the court would agree with its argument the law was unconstitutional, and impacted the free speech of its 170 million US users. Unfortunately for ByteDance, the court upheld the law, saying it "was the culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by the Congress and by successive presidents".      AI can now accurately predict the weather   DeepMind, a Google company that develops A.I. applications says they've found a way to create reliable 15 day weather forecasts, saying these could be life-saving because they give people more time to prepare for extreme weather. What's more, it can create the 15-day forecast in minutes, compared to hours with a super-computer.  One of the senior researchers at DeepMind says it's like they'v

Black Doves   When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance (Netflix).     Sight Unseen   Homicide detective Tess Avery is forced to quit the job she loves after nearly killing her partner and being diagnosed as clinically blind. Reluctant to accept help, Tess uses an assistance app and connects with Sunny Patel, a professional seeing-eye guide and agoraphobe living 3,000 miles away. Haunted by the unsolved cases she left behind, Tess uses a hidden camera and earpiece, while Sunny remotely steers Tess through life's obstacles —and crimes— as the two challenge preconceptions about ability, trust and where to draw the line (ThreeNow).     Man on the Inside   A retired professor gets a new lease on life when a private investigator hires him to go undercover inside a San Francisco retirement home (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener

Heretic   Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.      Our Little Secret    After discovering their significant others are siblings, two resentful exes must spend Christmas under one roof while hiding their romantic history.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The magic of ice cream in a cone is never lost on me and with this vegan version you can keep everyone happy this summer.    The mangoes are perfect right now – pricewise and ripeness. Get them while you can and make this creamy ‘ice cream’.      Ingredients:  1 cup chopped & frozen mango    1 large banana, chopped and frozen     2 tbsps. coconut cream or milk   Coconut to serve    Passionfruit syrup to serve         Method:  You do need a blender to make this recipe, though a food processor may do the trick too.   Place your ingredients into the blender and pulse until it is smooth and creamy (it’s the banana that gives it this gorgeous texture), then either serve immediately or freeze in containers. It will freeze to quite hard so give it 30 minutes to soften for optimal scooping.     Scoop into cones and garnish with whatever you fancy, but I love the tropical flavours of mango, coconut and passionf

I started counting headlines about Air New Zealand two weeks ago after my flight from Nelson to Auckland was delayed by about an hour.    Then last Saturday my partners flight from Napier to Auckland was delayed after a bird strike. Neither delay was hugely consequential – just a little irritating.     But since then, there have been a number of press articles about issues with planes.    On the 30th of November, an Air NZ plane sat on the tarmac in Hong Kong for hours before being canned after a fuel fault and then crew sickness.    An Air NZ flight from Wellington to Sydney was diverted to Auckland on the 1st of December after engine problems.    And a flight from Gisborne to Auckland on the 2nd of December returned to Gisborne after engine problems. The plane landed safely after shutting down an engine shortly after departure.    Investigations are underway for both engine issues.    Anecdotally you don’t have to search too hard to find

From NZ Music Commission - Award-winning Aotearoa artist AJA has today shared her timeless, unravelling and hypnotic bilingual debut album KĀWAI. 7 years in the making, today’s body of work from this bona fide talent is a truly authentic display of an artist finding her voice and inviting listeners into the inner-workings of her world. Alongside producer Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle, Meeting House Records), and a talented network of band members, collaborators, and features, AJA (Ngāti Raukawa, Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou) effortlessly blends her ethereal melodies and flexes mesmerizing vocal agility with introspective musings on the world around her. “KĀWAI is a reflection of who I am, who I love, what I have respect for and what I value,” says the artist.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cat who Cracked a Cold Case by LT Shearer A crime gone unsolved for five years . . . The life of Lulu Lewis, a retired police detective, took an unforgettable turn when Conrad first introduced himself to her. Unforgettable because:a) Conrad is a special cat.b) Special because he told her so.Yes, that’s right, he can talk. (For obvious reasons, this ability remains a closely guarded secret while they live together on her canal boat, The Lark.) Visiting an old friend in Manchester, the pair stumble across a chilling news report about a trail of bodies found across the city that echo a string of cold case murders from Lulu’s past in London. Joining forces with the local police, the pair must use every ounce of their intuition to find a connection between the seemingly random killings – and track down a ruthless murderer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whooping Cough A national epidemic has just been declared in New Zealand. Reported 260+ cases diagnosed in past four weeks. Whooping cough is potentially a fatal disease especially in younger children and babies less than one year. Three babies died last year in New Zealand from whooping cough when we didn’t have an epidemic! What is whooping cough? Caused by a bacteria called pertussis. Damages lining of throat and lungs causing cough. Cough can go on for weeks or months – called ‘100’ day cough. Very easy to catch – spreads through the air – cough/sneezing - one person can on average spread to 12 others. What are the signs? Depends on age - Younger the child more at risk of becoming very unwell. Starts with runny nose, temp and sneezing 1-2 weeks Cough develops, very irritating, bouts of coughing with gasping for air between coughs, may last minutes and may vomit after cough. Older children typically whoop as they gasp for breath. Younger infants less than 6 months: go blue with cough spasms,

Don’t you love coming across something so unexpected and unusual, on a road-trip? That’s how most visitors feel when they first clap eyes on the bewitching glory and striking landforms of the Paritea Clay Cliffs. It’s one of the most popular geo-sites in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, just minutes from Ōmarama, on Henburn Road. It is absolutely worth the 15 minute diversion off the main road to savour this serrated geological wonder, complete with a slot canyon to shimmy through.  Mike Yardley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.