Nine To Noon

Mick Herron, British novelist behind the Slough House Slow Horses series, talks craft and character. He explains how Jackson Lamb arrived by accident and why he writes character-first. He discusses commuting routines, themes of failure and politics, and how contemporary events like Brexit and 7/7 shape his spy stories.

Ed White, Financial Times Asia correspondent based in Shanghai, offers on-the-ground reporting and analysis. He discusses Pakistan's back-channel mediation between the US and Iran. He highlights Asian governments moving into crisis mode and China restricting exports to protect domestic fuel and fertilizer supplies. He covers regional policy responses such as energy emergency measures and demand-reduction steps.

Myrta Heiderike, sister and festival bodypainting pro known for speedy live transformations. Yolanda Bartram, co-founder of BodyFX with 25 years in special effects and film. They chat about live festival makeovers, quick-adapt painting techniques, prosthetics and alien-creature looks. Expect colourful layers, glitter, and the practical challenges of painting on moving, three-dimensional canvases.

Andrew Schelling, a genomics and cancer researcher at the University of Auckland, explains why local genomic testing matters. He outlines how faster local analysis helps diagnosis, precision cancer treatment and prevention. Discussion covers examples of conditions helped, AI in diagnostics, and how insurance rules are causing people to decline testing and delay care.

Kim Baker-Wilson, RNZ reporter on location in Whangamata, gives live updates from flood-affected Coromandel. She describes submerged roads, stranded crews, school closures and visible slip scars. She reports changing radar and renewed rainfall. Listeners hear clear safety advice about avoiding floodwaters and travel as warnings continue across multiple regions.

Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web and advocate for decentralised personal data, reflects on the web's original open vision and how it became optimised for profit. He discusses addictive algorithm design, platform monopolies, SOLID data pods that return control to individuals, and the idea of personal AIs that use only your data.

Tamar Munch, a film and TV reviewer who offers critical context and recommendations, discusses Netflix's Dynasty: The Murdochs, Mr Nobody Against Putin, and The Madison. She highlights Dynasty's archival focus and talking‑head packaging. She outlines a Russian documentary about enforced classroom propaganda and its chilling consequences. She also sketches Sheridan's neo‑Western family drama set in Montana.

Warren Ngan-Woo, Financial Wellbeing programme manager at Westpac who runs money workshops for young people. He talks about making money relatable for teens, renaming 'budget' to goal-based plans, habit-building savings techniques and the power of compound interest. Also covers scam awareness, crypto caution and practical tips like routing pay into savings and checking payslips.

Tony Grasso, CISO at COGENT and former GCHQ/New Zealand intelligence officer, breaks down recent high-profile cyber incidents. He discusses data exfiltration from a finance ministry, ransomware theft of 1.5 TB from a major pharmaceutical, industrial espionage risks to pharma, and attribution of a defense contractor breach to Iranian actors. He also explains account hijacks via social engineering and living-off-the-land attacker tactics.

Ian Allen, Stuff’s Marlborough editor who covers local wine, housing and community life. He discusses dire warnings for wine growers and pressures from rising land valuations. He shares a young buyer’s path out of renting and a dramatic beagle rescue in the bush. He also previews the new Fruit Loop music festival.