History
50 years since Sir John Walker broke the world mile record
It was 50 years ago on Tuesday that Sir John Walker broke the world record for the mile in Sweden, becoming the first person to run under 3 minutes and 50 seconds. Barry Guy reports. Audio
Stolen Lands - a look at New Zealand in the 1800s
The new video series tracking a Highlander's journey to Aotearoa meets Māori resistance, colonial law, and the lasting legacy of land and loss. Director Jake Mokomoko talks to Jesse. Click here for… Audio
The vastly different tale of two Auckland heritage buildings
The discovery of deadly abestos dust at Auckland Museum has thrown its $40 million centenary year plans up in the air.
Sinking millions into Auckland's heritage buildings
Auckland museum's asbestos problem is being described as an octopus with more than eight tentacles - and one that comes with a whopping price tag. Audio
The strange ways people have supposedly died across history
A Greek playwright killed by a tortoise and a Viking raider scratched by a severed head are just some absurd ways people have left the world.
Riley Knight: History's Strangest Deaths
hHost of the Half-Arsed History podcast Riley Knight has just released his highly entertaining debut book History's Strangest Deaths. Audio
Nagasaki mayor warns of nuclear war, 80 years after A-bomb
Thousands have bowed their heads in prayer in Nagasaki to mark the 80th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing, as the mayor warned that current global conflicts could push the world again into…
The man who survived both atomic bombs
There are not many people who have survived a nuclear attack. There is only one person who officially survived two.
Looking back at the wellbeing era
Political scientist Natalia Albert joins Emile Donovan to revisit what New Zealand's 'wellbeing era' of governance got right, and got wrong. Audio
History with Dr Grant Morris: How many lawyers is too many?
New Zealand has one of the highest number of lawyers per capita in the world. But it certainly wasn't always the case. Today our resident professor, Dr Grant Morris explores how and why we have so… Audio
NZ Sporting History: Grant Elliot aka the Hairy Javelin
The enduring image of Grant Elliott hitting a six to send New Zealand into their first ever One Day Cricket World Cup Final in 2015 - brought many New Zealanders to tears. Also making headlines in the… Audio
‘Lost’ Frances Hodgkins painting valued at $112,000
The unsigned artwork was verified during an episode of the BBC television programme Fake or Fortune by our very own Mary Kisler. She joins Emile Donovan Audio
Alan Niven, the NZ born manager of Guns n Roses
Kiwi born Alan Niven helped shape one of the most explosive, chaotic, and mythic rises in rock history as the manager of Guns n Roses from 1986 through 1991. Audio
'Songs from the Shaky Isles: A History of Popular Music in NZ"
Gareth Shute's new book 'Songs from the shaky isles: A short history of popular music in New Zealand' was released yesterday. Audio
Find out what's behind our obsession with black clothing
Last Friday on the show, Jesse was discussing New Zealand fashion trends with Fashion Quarterly's Editor in Chief and unsurprisingly our national love affair with the colour black came up. One of our… Audio
Costa Botes: Remembering Forgotten Silver
Nineties mockmentary Forgotten Silver is having a short run as part of the NZIFF. Audio
'The government tried to get rid of us': How New Zealand nearly lost Māori Wardens
In the 1970s Māori Wardens were described as 'a form of apartheid' and efforts were made to eliminate them for good.
JAWS 50 years on
It was the first ever blockbuster, capturing an entire generation, becoming a cultural phenomenon and turning 50 this year! Audio
Jack Fairweather - The Prosecutor
The Prosecutor is the remarkable true story of Fritz Bauer, a gay German Jew who survived the Nazis and sought to hold his countrymen to account. Audio
Peru gas workers find 1000-year-old mummy
The mummy of a boy aged between 10 and 15 was found 1.2 metres underneath a street north of Lima.
