Afternoons

We love it when you get in touch with us with your stories and today's guest Kevin Searle did just that. He sent through an abridged story of his Kayak trip down the Yukon, and we needed to know more!

Everybody Eats is a social restaurant concept. It's three course meals are open to all: Lawyers, students, hospitality staff, the homeless, whomever. And all on a "pay what you can" basis. Since starting in 2017 it's grown from a pop up to three restaurants, serving hundreds of people five nights a week. Amidst declining revenues, they've launched a new project to help pay the bills - Meals That Matter.

The Okarito plant project, a business -led initiative in South Westland is becoming a national example of regenerative tourism in action. Tourism operators, visitors, landowners, and volunteers are working together to restore native ecosystems by supplying plants native species for local landowners at no cost. Chair of the project Aaron Smith spoke to Jesse.

How can we make sure our bars and nightclubs are safe for us all? What measures are in place so that patrons can feel comfortable and looked after? Jesse talks to the Chief Executive Anita Lowry of ResectED Aotearoa.

Every day, millions experience a bit of Kiwi creativity thanks to Christopher Yu. He left New Zealand for London 25 years ago as a tax attorney, but after being made redundant, he followed his nose to a new role, leading companies that transform perfume and candles into experiences of storytelling and design. Now, after decades at the center of Europe's luxury fragrance world, and with some encouragement from his mum in Lower Hutt, Christopher Yu is coming home to help redefine Kiwi luxury.

Time for our Tuesday music feature and today we'll be diving deep into one of the most acclaimed records in rock music, Sir Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks'. This was Morrison's seconds studio album, and althought he'd had a huge hit on his debut with 'Brown Eyed Girl', he couldn't have strayed further from his pop roots. To contextualise 'Astral Weeks' and play some of his favourites from the record, it's my pleasure to welcome Samuel Flynn Scott, founding member of the Phoenix Foundation.

Australian radio station Triple J has compiled a list of 100 Hottest Aussie Songs as voted by the public. Crowded House's 'Don't Dream It's Over' came in at number 5. When will Australians understand Crowded House is a New Zealand band?

We're going to talk about books, specifically what our critic Catherine Robertson calls her "to be read pile of shame" books, also known as those books you've bought and haven't yet got around to reading. Catherine reviews: The Royal Free by Carl Shuker (Te Herenga Waka University Press) The Mess of Our Lives by Mary-anne Scott (One Tree House) Three Wee Bookshops at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw (Allen and Unwin)

In 2022, while making repairs to a undersea pipe off the coast of Trinidad, four professional divers got sucked hundreds of metres into a 76cm- wide pipe full of oil. The story of what happened next has been made into a podcast called Pipeline: Left to Die (Daily Mail) Ximena Smith reviews this and The Retrievals Season Two (NY Times and Serial Podcast)

Animal behaviour experts have been sounding the alarm in recent months over the sharp rise in dog attacks and aggressive behaviour Selina McIntyre, a dog behaviourist with over two decades of experience, has observed a troubling increase in aggression among the dogs she works with behaviours that are now becoming the leading reason dogs are surrendered to shelters. But there is hope. With the right understanding and early intervention, many of these behaviours can be prevented or turned around.