Nights for Thursday 12 June 2025
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Australian comedian turns scamming experience into cabaret
9:25 PM.When Australian comedian Michelle Brasier was scammed by a stranger, she didn't report it. Instead, she extended her hand in friendship and turned the experience - into a cabaret. Read more Audio
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New literary voices honoured
8:50 PM.Books from ten emerging New Zealand writers will be celebrated and amplified in a new initiative from The Coalition for Books. Read more Audio
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What looking at art does to your brain
8:30 PM.When looking at a great work of art, does your heart race? A new neuroaesthetics study looks at how art and beauty can affect us physically and mentally. Read more Audio
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New Zealand's Filipino community celebrate Independence Day from afar
8:20 PM.It's Independence Day in the Philippines and Becky Buada, from Banyuhay Aotearoa, explains how Filipino migrants celebrate it in New Zealand. Read more Audio
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Can California become independent from the United States?
8:10 PM.As downtown Los Angeles sleeps for a second night under curfew, Professor Robert Patman explains the likelihood of California seceding and the mood of a nation on edge. Read more Audio
8:10 Can California become independent from the United States?
As downtown Los Angeles sleeps for a second night under curfew, protests over President Trump's deportation crackdown have flared up in other parts of the U.S.
America has increasingly been a country divided but the stand off between the President and California Governor, Gavin Newsom has fueled talk of secession - the idea that the heavily blue state, the world's fifth largest economy, could leave the union and become an independent country in its own right.
An expert in foreign affairs, Professor Robert Patman from Otago University talks to Emile Donovan about the likelihood of such a move and the mood of a nation on edge.
A protestor makes a rude gesture towards LAPD officers as she has to clear the area as curfew is in effect after days of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles. Photo: AFP / ROBYN BECK
8:20 New Zealand's Filipino community celebrate Independence Day from afar
June 12 marks 127 years since the Philippines declared themselves independent from Spain.
Becky Buada, secretary of Filipino migrant support group Banyuhay Aotearoa, joins Emile to discuss the migrant experience in New Zealand.
Photo: Banyuhay Aotearoa
8:40 What looking at art does to your brain
When seeing a great work of art, does your heart race? Do the hairs on your arms stand on end? Maybe you don't feel anything at all.
Tamar Torrance is a PhD student at the University of Auckland. Photo: Supplied
Tamar Torrance is a PhD researcher at the University of Auckland.
Working in the relatively new field of neuroaesthetics, Tamar is conducting research into what goes on in our brains and bodies when viewing art online, in person, and through VR.
She joins Emile to discuss how art and beauty can affect us physically and mentally.
Photo: Henry Fuseli / Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Sir George Grey, 1887
Study for the three witches in Macbeth Photo: Henry Fuseli / Public domain
8:50 New literary voices honoured
Books from ten emerging New Zealand writers will be celebrated and amplified in a new initiative from The Coalition for Books.
The New Voices of Aotearoa List was released today after a competitive judging process, with winners consisting of Wellington essayist Una Cruickshank; Raglan journalist, videographer and nature writer Kate Evans; Gisborne trapper, environmentalist and author Sam Gibson; Auckland actor, producer, radio host and author Matt Heath; Christchurch editor and writer of techno-thrillers, science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction Judy Mohr; Wellington novelist Olive Nuttall; Wellington taangata turi-raised anthologist and novelist Michelle Rahurahu (Ngāti Rahurahu, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa); Auckland novelist and reviewer Josie Shapiro; Auckland novelist and podcaster Saraid de Silva; and Auckland television screen writer and producer and author Gavin Strawhan.
Author Lee Murray ONZM was one of the judges for the inaugural list and joins Emile Donovan.
Photo: The Coalition for Books
9:05 Nights Quiz
Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Emile Donovan as he dons his quizmaster hat.
If you get an answer right, you move on to the next question. If you get it wrong, your time in the chair is up, and the next caller will be put through. The person with the most correct answers at the end of the run goes in the draw for a weekly prize.
9:25 Australian comedian turns scamming experience into cabaret
When Australian actress, writer and comedian Michelle Brasier was scammed by a stranger on Facebook Marketplace, she didn't report it. She didn't call the police. She didn't even try to get even.
Instead, she wondered why he did it, extended her hand in friendship, and eventually became her scammer's emergency contact.
It's the subject of her new cabaret show, Reform, playing this week at the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival.
She joins Emile Donovan.
Photo: Auckland Live Cabaret Festival
9:45 Pacific Waves
A daily current affairs programme that delves deeper into the major stories of the week, through a Pacific lens, and shines a light on issues affecting Pacific people wherever they are in the world. Hosted by Susana Suisuiki.
10:17 The Detail: New Zealand's predator-free future in peril
Predator Free 2050 was hit by a budget blow, and now the 'moonshot' goal is under threat. Amanda Gillies reports.
10:45 The Reading
Now we join Glenn Colquhoun reflecting on his time in a small community in the Bay of Islands at the end of the 20th century.
Today in part five of his essay 'Jumping Ship', Glen recalls the broken hip that had a profound influence on his relationship with 'Aunty Rongo'.
11:07 The Mixtape
Based in Wellington, DJ Cory Champion is the producer of neo-jazz fusion project Clear Path Ensemble, nominated for the Best Jazz Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 2024. He also releases music under his own imprint BCS. / Champion has made a name in the Wellington underground dance scene as a DJ, and has toured Aotearoa with artists such as Fat Freddy's Drop, Nathan Haines and Avantdale Bowling Club.
