Sunday Morning for Sunday 7 November 2021

8:11 Long Covid issues continuing to mount 

Just under a year ago, the University of Oxford's Dr Maxime Taquet joined the show to discuss the lingering impact Covid-19 was having, including the fact that one in five survivors went on to be diagnosed with a mental illness within three months of testing positive.
Twelve months later, that number is more like one in three, and the long Covid problem is turning out to be even more serious than first thought. Indeed, a recent study by Dr Tauquet and his UK colleagues found that one in three people infected with coronavirus will now experience at least one symptom of long Covid. 
Dr Taquet is back with us to look at the ever-increasing scale of the long Covid problem. 

8:39 The Weekend Panel with Josie Pagani and Richard Harman

Joining us on the panel this morning are commentators Josie Pagani and Richard Harman. Among other topics, they'll be discussing how we're coping with Covid-19 and whether New Zealand needs a Royal Commission into how we've responded, climate change and COP26, whether the 'Great Resignation' is actually happening, and their thoughts on a bat being named Bird of the Year.

9:06 Mediawatch

The owners of Facebook - now known as 'Meta' - announced a plan to boost news publishers here this week. Mediawatch looks at the media's response to that. 
Also: how media angst about upcoming alert level changes is not levelling off just yet -- and are our media getting it right when reporting on transgender peoples' rights? 

9:38 Calling Home: Mia Ayoub in El Gouna, Egypt 

Former North Shore resident Mia Ayoub spent her formative years in Egypt before moving to New Zealand with her family when she was eight. But she always thought she'd return to the country of her birth one day. 
Having moved back to Egypt nearly a decade ago, Mia now runs a kitesurfing school along with her fellow half Egyptian/half Kiwi sister, Sophie, in the resort town of El Gouna on Egypt's Red Sea Coast. 
The sisters have been running Kite Tribe since 2017, while Mia also oversees an arm of the family business (started by her grandfather in Cairo 50 years ago) in El Gouna, selling ceramics and other handmade products from Egypt and Turkey. She's Calling Home this morning. 

10:04 John Illsley: My Life in Dire Straits 

Dire Straits are one of the biggest bands in rock history, having sold more than 100 million records, won four Grammy Awards, and embarked on some of the biggest tours the industry has ever seen. 
But there hasn't been any literature about the band from any of its members -- until now. 
Bassist and founding member John Illsley - along with guitarist and frontman Mark Knopfler, the band's sole constant member - has just released his memoir, "My Life in Dire Straits," with Knopfler adding the foreword. 
Illsley joins the show to discuss the Dire Straits story and why New Zealand will always hold a special place in his heart. 

10:45  Covid-19 update with Professor Michael Baker 

New Zealand recorded its second Covid-19 death of the current Delta outbreak on Friday when a second man who had been isolating at home in Auckland died.
The total number of cases in the current outbreak has now passed 4000, with triple digit new case number days being a constant theme over the last week, including a new daily record of 163 on the same day as the second death.     
University of Otago epidemiology professor Michael Baker is back to offer his thoughts on our Covid prospects, the gene that puts people more at risk for respiratory complications, vaccines for children, and where are the booster shots?

11:05 Jane and Jimmy Barnes: the couple that cooks together

When Covid struck and put a halt on touring, rockers Jane and Jimmy Barnes (as the Jane Barnes Band) launched a series of online performances, which attracted millions of views from around the world.
Along with plenty of memorable musical performances (and the odd cameo from friends like Neil Finn), the Barnes' offered viewers an insight into their home life and the role food plays in the family dynamic. As with their music, the couple enjoy creating together in the kitchen, and love nothing more than bringing people together with good food. 
Jane and Jimmy have just released their first cookbook together -- Where the River Bends: Recipes and stories from the table of Jane and Jimmy Barnes. They join the show to discuss the new book and what they've learned from being home for the last 18 months. 

11:30 Taking the slow bus to Sleepsville 

Are you one of those people who fall asleep the moment they set foot on public transport? They're special types who are generally admired and derided in equal measures.
In Hong Kong, people are now paying for the chance to fall asleep on public transport. The Sleeping Bus tour is a five-hour, 76km journey to nowhere on a regular double-decker bus, with passengers encouraged to bring their own blankets, pillows and even slippers. 
Kenneth Kong is the marketing and business manager of ulu travel, the organiser of the bus tours. The lightning bolt moment of the Sleeping Bus came to Kong one day when he saw a social media post from a friend saying he was so stressed out by his job, he couldn't sleep at night. But when he got on the bus, he was able to sleep like a baby.  

11:40 From begging in India to Squid Game stardom 

It would be an understatement to say that Bangkok-based Squid Game star Geoffrey Giuliano's life has changed dramatically over the last 18 months. 
The 68-year-old American actor, author, artist and radio personality reached a low ebb during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, when he was stranded in Jaipur (without any money) along with his 12-year-old son after India promptly shut its airports. This forced the self-described "trouble magnet" and his son to beg for accommodation and survive on donated food for six months. 
But then Squid Game came along. 
Giuliano, who admits his role in Squid Game rescued him from "absolute, total obscurity", played VIP #4 on the Netflix hit series - which is set to become the network's most-streamed debut series of all time. And now the whole world seems to know who he is. 
He's also written more books about the Beatles than anyone on this planet.
Giuliano joins the show to discuss the experience of filming the internet's favourite show and what it has done for his previously flagging career.