Afternoons for Thursday 19 June 2025
1:15 Auckland researcher produces a low-carbon concrete alternative made of pumice and seashells
There are certain materials we just can't go without, and one of them is concrete.
Unfortunately, the production of cement leaves a large carbon footprint - it's estimated it's responsible for between 5 an 8 percent of global CO2 emissions.
That's why my next guest has spent nearly 7 years trying to develop a sustainable alternative, and to do it, he's combining materials and practices traditional in both Roman and Māori engineering.
Dr Enrique del Rey Castillo is a lecturer at the University of Auckland's faculty of Engineering and Design.
Dr Enrique del Rey Castillo. Photo: William Chea
1:25 Underwater musical experience
If you were at a particular public pool in Melbourne this week you may have seen an unusual sight.
Saturate, is an underwater musical experience staged as part of the city's Rising festival.
It involved around 60 people together in a public pool listening to the music, underwater.
Saturate is the brainchild of sound artist Sara Retallick, who joins Jesse from Melbourne.
Saturate is the work of sound artist Sara Retallick Photo: Damien Laing
2:10 Podcast Critic - Missing in the Amazon & Heavyweight
Ximena Smith joined Jesse to review Missing in the Amazon - a new 6-part investigative series from The Guardian about journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous rights advocate Bruno Pereira who went missing in the Amazon three years ago.
She also reviewed Heavyweight a podcast by Jonathan Goldstein, which returns after being cancelled by Spotify in 2023. The show helps people deal with moments from their past they wish they could change - funny, emotional, and thought-provoking without being naff.
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2:30 A-Z of Aotearoa: Billy T James
In today's installment of A-Z of Aotearoa Ian Mune, Lauren Whitney and Hoani Hotene joined Jesse to remember kiwi icon Billy T James.
Billy T James - Photograph taken by Phil Reid. Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP/1985/3350/26-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22314075 Photo: Phil Reid
3:15 Your Money with Mary Holm
Money Expert Mary Holm joined Jesse to discuss all things debt.
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3:35 Spoken Feature BBC Witness
On 9 January 1992, astronomers Alex Wolszczan and Dale Frail announced they had discovered the first two planets outside our solar system.
Photo: BBC
3:45 The pre-Panel
Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.
Photo: wallace chapman
