Afternoons

Humans have periods of great success followed by decline and eventual collapse. It's what we do. Golden Ages lose their shine. We are living in the greatest Golden Age of all time and what happens next for us isn't fate, it's a choice says Swedish historian, lecturer and commentator Johan Norberg. He mines lessons from golden ages of the past to help keep our present one going longer in his new book, Peak Human, What We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages.

Milly Mitchell-Anyon is a rising voice in Aotearoa's arts scene - she's held exhibitions at Sarjeant Gallery, Puke Ariki, and Dunedin Public Art Gallery. She's just launched 'Flaming Star' a genre-bending show which reimagines the Wild West through queer and Indigenous lenses. She shares her book, music, film and podcast picks with Jesse.

Kelly Gibney talks through her divine sounding meatball recipe. She says the meatballs stay incredibly moist and tender with the addition of grated carrot. Chickpeas are an economical addition to the smoky tomato sauce, that brings texture and added nutrition. Traditionally this dish might be served with crusty bread, roast potatoes or a green salad but rice also works really well.

Critic Matthew Crawley shares his top tunes, Waste Away by Void Waves and For Each Familiar Scene by Damien Jurado.

Meredith Quick has been on an 'Uncharted Expedition' that took her from Kazakhstan to Mongolia, and today she tells Jesse all about the mysterious excursion.

The ferry SS Toroa turns 100 this year and passionate volunteers are asking for help to get her restoration complete, and see the steam boat back on the Waitemata.

Rakiura / Stuart Island is home to 105 Pukunui. It's the only place in the world they can be found Doc class them as 'Threatened - Nationally Critical'. Just one step away from extinction.

Researchers from the University of Canterbury have successfully developed chainsaw drones with the goal of improving worker safety.

Sir Peter Jackson got everyone talking with his plans to bring back the moa (in in partnership with the Ngai Tahu Research Centre at Canterbury University and Canterbury Museum). But he's not the first to want to resurrect the past, earlier this year Texas company Colossal Biosciences announced it had successfully brought back 3 dire wolf cubs after 10 thousand years of extinction. Jesse talks to a member of the Colossal team, Dr Andrew Pask.

It's the kind of story you can imagine becoming a Hollywood feature film, a German backpacker found alive and well after two weeks lost in the Western Australian outback. Brad Foster shares the latest on the story with Jesse.