Afternoons

General advice is to never judge a book by its cover, but our next guests' job is literally to do that. Chloe Blades is one of the judges for the 2025 PANZ Book Design Awards, she tells Jesse what makes a cover stand out from the rest.

Paul Martin, from the alternative metal band Devilskin, joins Jesse to talk about Ozzy Osbourne's influence and what the Black Sabbath rocker was like when he met him.

Ellen Jovin, a passionate grammarian and author of Rebel with a Clause, shares her unique journey of setting up a grammar table outside a New York subway. Alongside her husband Brandt Johnson, they traveled across America, answering grammar questions and fostering joyful conversations. From humorous anecdotes about grammar mishaps to discussions on uniting people through language, they explored how informal grammar chats can connect us despite societal divides. Their creative process for the accompanying documentary unveiled the emotional challenges faced during production.

A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Human Resources Institute says that people over 50 are considered as "older" and that many employers are reluctant to hire workers under the age of 24 or over 50.

Book reviewer Anna Rankin talks to Jesse about her recommendations, Some Helpful Models of Grief, from Compound Press, by Aotearoa writer and artist Hana Pera Aoake and Notes to John by Joan Didion.

Tim Batt joins Jesse to discuss the security breach affecting Microsoft's SharePoint, and also the company's plan to offset carbon emissions with a new deal with Vaulted Deep (via Tom's Hardware). It's a dual waste management solution designed to help remove carbon from the atmosphere in a bid to protect nearby towns from contamination, by burying a lot of waste deep underground.

Twice a week for the past seven years, pupils from Sydney's Glenwood Public School go to visit Whiddon Easton Park Nursing Home. The results, are delightful. Jesse speaks to Glenwood Public School Principal Jay McInney.

What is juvenile arthritis and what is being done to help those kids who are affected by it? Jesse talks to 12 year Andi and her mum Nicki about the illness.

We've all experienced that moment when someone glances at their phone mid-conversation and you suddenly feel invisible. Kiwis check our devices around 50 times an hour, and it's costing us more than we think. Psychiatrist and writer Dr. Samaiya Mushtaq says attention is a form of care, and when we lose it, we lose empathy too. She writes for Modern Love in the New York Times and on her Substack, The Middle Path. In a new essay she explores how distraction lets us dodge discomfort and why real connection starts with giving people your full attention. The title of the essay is How Much Control Do We Have Over What We Pay Attention To? Dr Mushtaq spoke to Jesse.

If you've ever cooked alongside an Italian, you'll know that cooking pasta properly is a very big deal. With around 350 different types of pasta, we are looking at which sauces pair best with which shapes and how to avoid some common mistakes along the way. Emilie Pullar from 'Burnt Butter Table' is here to help. Emilie runs the popular Instagram page and website of the same name, where she shares delicious recipes and tutorials.