Afternoons for Wednesday 8 October 2025

1:15 Why you should care about today's OCR announcement

The Reserve Bank will announce its Official Cash Rate decision this afternoon. 

While everyone is expecting a cut, economists seem divided on how deep it may fall. 

Here to explain why it matters is Infometrics Chief Executive and Principal Economist Brad Olsen.

1:25 The world's record holding foot archer - yes really.

Shannen Michaela is a Guinness world record holding foot archer yes you heard that right, she can do a handstand and fire a bow with her feet at the same time.

And that's just one of the amazing feats on display when the curtains go up on Cirque Bon Bon this week. 

Shannen joins Jesse.

1:35 Why vinyl records are having a comeback

Vinyl sales are booming. They've more than tripled since 2016, far outselling CDs and other physical media, but of course digital is where most people get their music or indeed podcasts.

In a new podcast for The Spinoff Duncan Greive & former music 101 host Charlotte Ryan explore what is making vinyl hot again. 

Duncan chats to Jesse.

1:45 Heading Off: Yellowstone National Park

Time for our weekly travel segment. Heading Off.

If you have a travel story to share with us, then please get in touch. 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz

Recent examples include listener Kevin who took a kayak trip down the Yukon River or David Lees motorbiking around the world.

We've stopped closer to home too Louisa & Ama's guide to Mangere.

Today we're joined by Australian writer Ash Jurberg, he's taking us to Yellowstone National Park. 

2.12 Music Critic: Herbert & Momoko and Clear Path Ensemble

Music critic Sarah Thomson joins us with some new tunes to share, today there's a little bit of funk with some jazz thrown in. 

 Herbert & Momoko - Babystar [Momoko Gill Remix]
 Clear Path Ensemble - Cascade d'Ars

2:20 Easy Eats: Grain bowls with soy sauce eggs and carrot miso dressing

These soy sauce eggs are a brilliant recipe to have on hand. They are food preppers dream. Once marinated, they and be stored in the fridge for a few days and are perfect for adding to salads and homemade ramen, topping avocado toast and just snacking on as they are!

2:30 Bookmarks with Susette Goldsmith
It's time for Bookmarks, it's a segment where we invite interesting people on Afternoons to chat about their cultural interests. Today we're joined by Susette Goldsmith 

Susette is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies at Victoria University

Her research explores ways of safeguarding our natural heritage and her current focus is on the heritage of our trees.

Her new book 'Capital Trees' traces the living legacies of Wellington's rich tree heritage she looks into arguments around heritage tree listing, the native versus exotics debate, biodiversity and trees as monuments.

3:10 Feature: Celebrating a father's love

Growing up on the autism spectrum, Leland Vittert knew what it meant to be singled out. He was bullied by classmates, written off by teachers, even branded "weird" by a school principal. But his father never let his son be defined by autism and he never gave up on him. His dad understood a hard truth: the world wasn't going to adapt for his son, so his son would have to learn to adapt to the world. And he did. From war zones to the anchor desk, Vittert built a career in journalism that few could have imagined. Leland Vittert's new memoir is a thank you letter to his father and the tough love and unwavering belief that helped transform a boy the world underestimated into a man defined by resilience, gratitude, and purpose. His book is called Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism. 

You can order the book here

3:35 Our Changing World: How researchers are using AI

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.