Afternoons for Monday 4 December 2023

 

1:15 Age old puzzle back to baffle a new generation

If you've already mastered the Rubix Cube and you've tried every escape room in town, we may have your next puzzling obsession right here.

'Cain's Jaw Bone' is a complex literary puzzle that was originally published in 1934.

Back then, only two people are known to have successfully solved it, and the solution has never been revealed publicly.

Now UK-based Kiwi publisher John Mitchinson has brought it back, and it's been a surprise hit.

A new edition came out in Australia and New Zealand last month, and Harper Collins is offering a $1200 prize pack to the person who can crack the code.

John, the co-founder of Unbound Publishing speaks to Jesse.

1.35 Rethinking what happens to unwanted textile waste

Textiles are everywhere but it's fair to say most of us probably don't know that much about what goes into making them, or in fact disposing of them.

It's estimated that Aotearoa sends up to 200,000 tons of textile waste to landfill every year.

Local Wellington artist Genevieve Rae is aiming to change how we look at textiles.

Genevieve speaks to Jesse.

1.45 New technology to tackle nitrogen release by cattle

It's a wee issue but with a big environmental impact - nitrogen released in the urine of cattle affects nearby water quality, and leads to emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

Luckily there's a new award-winning technology here, The Cattle Urine Sensor, to tackle the problem.

It's developed by AgResearch, who's team recently won the Science and Technology Award at the 2023 Kudos Awards in Hamilton.

AgResearch senior scientist Brendon Welten speaks to Jesse.

1:55 Monday feature album

2:10 Television Critic: Brooks Alexander

Today Brooks speaks to Jesse about The Bear, The Fall of the House of Usher, For All Mankind and Fargo.

2:20 Made in NZ: Paku, making Māori tool toys for play and education

After noticing that all the toys and tools their kids were using were of European influence, one of our next guests, Dr Johnson Witehira, a Māori Design Specialist, began asking himself why it was, that traditional Maori tools are only seen in museums?

Not satisfied with them being stuck behind glass, Johnson teamed up with one of his long-term buddies, Jamie Prier, one of Aotearoa's leading product design engineers, and together they created their business Paku.

Paku designs culturally inspired stuff for kids, informed by Māori knowledge.

We speak to both Johnson and Jamie for Made in NZ this week.

2.30 Expert Feature: Job Interviews

Thinking about a new job in the New Year?

Our expert this week could be the one to help you stand out above the others if you're heading into an interview hoping to land your dream job.

CEO of Kinetic Recruitment, Kate Ross, is our expert this week, she's got all the tips and tricks to help you through a job interview, including how to calm your nerves!

3:10 Sir John Kirwan's book updated to reflect his ongoing mental health struggles

When rugby legend Sir John Kirwan first released his memoir in 2010 detailing his struggle with mental illness, it was groundbreaking. It gave thousands of Kiwis across the country permission to talk about their own experiences with depression and anxiety. Now 13 years later, he's updated the book with more stories about his personal experience as well as practical advice when you are someone you love is facing down the black dog. It's called All Blacks Don't Cry  A Story of Hope.

3:35 Voices

In this episode of Voices, we're rounding up a couple of December events happening in the theatre and music scene with the South Asian and African diaspora in Auckland.

3:45 The Panel with Sue Kedgley and Stephen Franks