Nine To Noon

Stephanie Burgess, a Glendowie homeowner and former planning consultant now in real estate, disputes a flood-prone shading on council maps. Nick Vigar, Head of Network/Planning at Auckland Council, explains LIDAR-based hazard overlays and how mapping informs LIMs and development. They discuss mapping accuracy, site-specific assessments, and how map designations affect property perceptions.

Tom Augustine, a Tamaki-based filmmaker and critic for Rialto Channel and Metro, chats about recent films. He breaks down Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Bride and Jessie Buckley’s performance. He covers Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him and Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary, including its oddball alien buddy. He also discusses Louis Theroux’s dive into the Manosphere and its documentary approach.

Christian Wright, a speech and language therapist and parenting commentator, explains why broad questions like "What did you do at school?" often get "nothing." He highlights back-and-forth conversation, modeling your own stories, asking specific narrow questions, timing chats around hunger and tiredness, and gentle tactics for teens like connecting first and talking side-by-side.

Alex Sims, commercial law professor and tech commentator, explains cookies and tracking pixels and how they differ. He outlines what pixels can collect and why platforms like TikTok and organisations use them. He also covers legal, ethical and transparency concerns, who in New Zealand uses pixels, and practical steps people can take to reduce tracking.

Ché Baker, editor of the Southland Times, offers local reporting and analysis on Southland issues. He discusses the risk of a Bluff Oyster Festival without oysters, a proposed $4 billion DataGrid AI campus and its power and jobs implications, a controversial $71k invoice for an OIA, and a local trainer chasing a Southern 3YO Guineas Triple Crown.

Lynn Freeman, an experienced broadcaster and book reviewer, offers a lively review of Ann Beaglehole's memoir. She highlights the family's flight from Hungary, perilous refugee journeys, and cultural clashes in Wellington. She also touches on Beaglehole's work with refugees and sharp observations on New Zealand society.

Ellen Snelling, a surf coach who runs Learn 2 Surf at Waipu Cove after 20+ years coaching, shares her move from Western Australia and life by the ocean. She talks rehab swimming leading to open-water passion. She explains teaching methods for adult women, a knee-under pop-up technique, how quickly learners stand, and the camaraderie of women-only surf retreats.

Ben Rein, US neuroscientist and author of Why Brains Need Friends, studies how social connection shapes brain health. He talks about why humans crave connection, differences between introverts and extroverts, the biology of loneliness, and how everyday interactions and digital contact affect wellbeing. Discussions include spotting reliable science communication and the importance of social habits for aging.

Dan Bloom, Politico UK political editor who covers UK politics and geopolitics. He unpacks attacks on Gulf energy sites and Strait of Hormuz tensions. He explains Britain’s gas reliance and the inflation hit. He outlines requests to escort ships and the UK’s reluctance to be drawn into conflict. He also touches on a student meningitis outbreak and looming Bank of England timing.

Chris Blackmore, Head of transport modelling and economics at Abley, explains how crash costs are often vastly underestimated. He walks through how social costs are calculated and what current methods miss. He shows how richer traffic data reveals network-wide ripple effects, rerouting and extra travel that push real costs much higher.