Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

Territory  When the world's largest livestock farm is left without a successor, the most powerful factions in the Australian outback: miners, landowners, cowboys and gangsters, start preparing their weapons (Netflix).      Simone Biles Rising: Part 2  The redemption arc for Simone Biles is complete, with the final instalment of this documentary series that follows the American gymnast as she competes in the Paris Olympics (Netflix).        Line of Duty  It’s an oldie, but a goodie. All six seasons of the brilliant British police drama about investigating corrupt officers has just dropped on Netflix.  As a result of refusing to participate in a cover-up, DS Steve Arnott joins a special and controversial unit dedicated to rooting out corruption within the police.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lee   The story of photographer Elizabeth `Lee' Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.   Venom: The Last Dance   Eddie Brock and Venom must make a devastating decision as they're pursued by a mysterious military man.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a good idea with a long weekend to make a big batch of some staples that can be eaten for lunch or dinner, dressed up of down. This rice salad is the perfect example; serve it with smoked salmon or a steak or teriyaki chicken or just on its own.    Makes about 6 cups       Ingredients  4 cups cooked brown rice or sushi rice    1 cup shelled edamame beans (avail in frozen section of supermarket)    ½-1 telegraph cucumber, sliced thinly    3-4 radish, sliced thinly    1 cup pickled mushrooms – see below    Options to add – tuna, hot smoked salmon, shredded carrot    ¼ cup store-bought roasted sesame dressing    Squeeze of lemon juice    Black sesame seeds to serve      Method  Toss all of the ingredients together (hold some radish and the sesame seeds back, to garnish), tumble onto a serving plate and drizzle over sesame dressing, some of the mushroom pickling juices and th

I’m writing this in Central Park. I’m right up in the North East corner, sitting on a bench by the Harlem Meer, 100m or so from the apartment where I lived for the second half of my twenties. It’s so familiar. The warm evening air, people laid out with picnic mats, a guy with a big plastic bin of churros. Kids chasing each other, squealing, skylarking, the sound of traffic crawling down Fifth Avenue. Across the road, staring down the length of Central Park is my favourite obscure building in all of Manhattan. The views from this thing would cost enough to make an Oligarch’s gulp. But it took until a couple of years ago for the city to finally convert it from its previous use: a low-security prison. I haven’t been in New York for two years. When I was last here, post-Covid, it felt a bit dark. Back in the day, I used to be so blasé about safety – I felt more threatened in central Christchurch late at night than I did in East Harlem. But Covid changed that. You could sense people were fearful and untrusting. It

Michael Morpurgo is a literary treasure.  The author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, he’s written around 150 books, loved particularly among children and young people.  He’s returned with yet another novel, Cobweb following a little dog heading to London in the aftermath of Britain’s triumph at Waterloo.  Morpurgo told Jack Tame that much like many of his stories, Cobweb was inspired by a friend of his who walked 250 miles from the West Coast of Wales to London on a drovers’ road.   Drovers’ roads are the paths farmers would use to bring their livestock from their farms to the market, as back before vehicles and public transport became common, walking was the only way to reach the big cities.   While researching drovers’ roads, Morpurgo realised that their stories, and the stories of drovers’ dogs in particular, aren’t well known.  “And I thought, that's a story that mostly no one knows, so why don't you tell it? Tell that tale? So that's what I did.”  LISTEN ABOVE S

A painful form of arthritis, gout is the second most common form affecting New Zealanders.   A major international study involving around 2.6 million people, has revealed that genetics are a major cause, not lifestyle choices.   Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to run through the study, what gout looks like, and how it impacts people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi musical icon Kimbra is back with another album.   Idols & Vices (Vol. 1) is a collaborative album, featuring the likes of BANKS, Dawn Richard, DRAM, Skrillex, and Sahtyre, and while Kimbra doesn’t stray too far from her experimental pop sound, there is more R&B and hiphop influences in this work.  Music Reviewer Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  “It grows on me day by day, this album.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell   When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing – and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes – on both sides of the Atlantic – remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.  At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnel

"Savouring Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands is an adventure to relish. Swathed in lush jungle greens, pepper-potted with shapely hills and anchored by a gloriously soothing lake at its heart, the seduction is fast and sweet in the gateway city of Kandy. The very name Kandy conjures visions of splendour and mystique. It’s a city that proudly keeps its legends, traditions and folklore alive." "Another huge highlight was visiting the storied Geragama Tea Factory. Located close to Kandy, this is one of your classic old-school tea factories, specialising in long leaf tea for over 120 years. They do a great job in chronicling the rise of Ceylon Tea and how the nation remains one of the world’s top five tea producers." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been so anxious that your stomach started hurting? In addition to its well-known impacts on mental health, stress can also make people feel physically ill—and a new study could help explain why.   Although it’s fairly common knowledge that the gut “talks” to the brain by releasing hormones into the bloodstream, this recent study showed the relationship going back the other way: from the brain to the gut to the immune system.   Researchers have found that removing key glands (called Brunner’s glands) in mice, which line the walls of the small intestine, triggered inflammation and increase the chance of infection. Similar thing happens in humans who’ve had tumours removed in their gut.   It seems that removal of these glands leads to a reduction in gut bacteria which triggers inflammation and subsequent pain.   When the researchers took a closer look at these glands, they discovered a connection to the vagus nerve that goes from the base of the brain to the internal organs, inf

Passionvine Hoppers came up in conversation a week or so ago: a nuisance for gardeners, especially in the warmer north (but more and more a pain-in-the-South as well!).  I also remember that Aucklanders often called them lacy-winged moths. Shows you that entomological knowledge has always been slow to sink in up there in the North Island.   They are certainly not moths, these critters belong to a totally different insect order: the Homoptera, or sap-sucking bugs. Yes, these are some of the insects you can legitimately call “bugs” in entomological parlance.   LIFE CYCLE:   Eggs hatch in October – the timing relates to warmth in spring.   The tiny fluffy bums (“nymphs”) suck sap from a wide variety of host plants and slowly grow bigger and bigger. They also become nimbler and can hop greater distances as they grow larger in spring.   Late in spring (December onwards) the Fluffy Bums will moult their last moult and turn into a winged adult Passionvine Hopper.    One nymph

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 19 October 2024, uniquely talented author Michael Morpurgo joins Jack to discuss his love for fact within fiction, a memorable discussion with Roald Dahl, and the intriguing inspiration behind his new children's novel Cobweb.  Jack discusses team loyalty and his pride in wearing blue to Auckland FC's first match.  Chef Nici Wickes shares a quirky tip to ensure the icing of your Hummingbird cake stays light and fluffy.  And, in her new album, Kiwi musician Kimbra is circling back to her collaborative ways. Music reviewer Estelle Clifford delivers her verdict on the resulting sound.  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.

Amazon is joining other top tech firms with a foray into nuclear power   This deal is to explore the development of small modular nuclear reactors. AI needs massive amounts of computing power, and that requires electricity. Virginia's power demand is already growing 5% YOY and is expected to be double 2024’s level in 15 years.   In addition to that, Amazon is part of a $500 million financing round in a private company opening four small nuclear plants in the West.   The WSJ called it a "renaissance" of nuclear power. The approach seems to be a little different this time though - with smaller plants rather than large sites. The larger sites run billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. These companies want to make sure they have the power when they need it.     And, Amazon will now also be delivering election night news   Their Amazon Prime Video Service will host a live broadcast of the results hosted by former NBC broadcaster Brian Williams. It's the first

Rivals  David Tennant and Aidan Turner star in the small-screen version of Jilly Cooper’s novel set in 1980's England about a rivalry between two powerful men that takes over their lives (Disney+).   The Diplomat   British consul Laura Simmonds and her Barcelona colleague Alba Ortiz fight to protect British nationals in trouble in the Catalan city. Their diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit by the cases that walk through the Consul's doors (Neon). The Office Australia   Hannah Howard is the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them (Prime Video).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li

The Return   After 20 years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope, is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family.      Merchant Ivory   Archival footage and interviews provide insight into the partnership, both professional and personal, between director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I make a few versions of the mighty hummingbird cake but this is an easy, light, manageable version. I like to describe this cake as a banana cake that goes on a Jamaican holiday.   Serves 8-10      Ingredients    1 ½ cups plain flour   ¾ cups brown sugar    ½ cup desiccated coconut    1 heaped tsp cinnamon   ½ tsp each baking powder and baking soda   2 medium eggs   ¾ cups oil – I used grapeseed oil    2 ripe bananas, mashed – about 2 bananas   1 cup crushed pineapple + ¼ cup juice      Brown butter cream cheese icing    100g butter   250g full fat cream cheese   1 – 1 ½ cup icing sugar     Method  Heat oven 180 C. Grease and line a 23cm cake tin.    Take two bowls. In one put all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, coconut, spices and raising agents. Whisk together.    In the second bowl, beat together eggs, oil and bananas. Pour this mixture into th

A rare celestial object has made an appearance in the skies over New Zealand.  Comet C/2023 A3 hasn’t been seen in our skies in for 80,000 years, and with the length of its orbital period, it’s not going to be seen again by anyone alive today.  Kevin Milne caught sight of A3 passing by on Wednesday, and it got him thinking about the last time it passed by, and the next time it’ll show up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never thought I would support Auckland in anything.    I mean —duh— I’m from Christchurch. When I was a kid, it was a given that Aucklanders were nothing more than latte-swilling, overpriced-haircut-donning, ostentatious-sports-car-driving primadonnas.   My parochialism isn’t the only force working against Auckland City FC. When the brand-new club kicks off in its very first A-League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge that comes from trying to launch a new team and a new club in a competition which is already well-established.     Think about it. Most of the teams we support in sporting competitions have either been around since the competition’s inception or have built up a fan base over many decades.   I support the Crusaders because I was born and raised in Christchurch and when Super Rugby was established, they were everyone-in-my-life’s team.   I support Liverpool because when I was 6 or 7 and watched football highlights on the news, I asked Dad what En

One of the most famous foodies in the Southern Hemisphere, Donna Hay is one of the Queens of Cooking.   She’s known for her minimalistic approach to food styling, fresh and vibrant ingredient choices, and grounded recipes for busy people still interested in eating well.  Her latest book ‘Too Easy’ offers an array of delicious dishes like one-pan undone lasagna, crunchy chipotle chicken traybake, and sticky pork belly that won’t leave you slaving away over a stove for hours.  When it comes to her recipes, Hay seeks a quicker path from A to B.  “The one-pan undone lasanga, I realised I hadn’t cooked my children lasagna in a very, very long time, because even on the weekend, Jack, I’m not coming home and layering up all of that deliciousness and taking two hours out of my life for it to be consumed by two very hungry boys in a matter of minutes.”  “I guess it's just life that kind of dictates what, what I'm gonna try and twist and turn into a great recipe.”  LISTEN ABOVE  &nbs

Dubbed the “most ‘Coldplay’ Coldplay album,” Moon Music is the band’s 10th album, and potentially one of their final ones. Chris Martin has confirmed that there’s a concrete plan for two more albums after this, before the band shuts up shop.  Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the band’s latest release.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.