Afternoons

Today we continue our way through the A-Z of Aotearoa. We pick something quintessentially Kiwi for each letter and dive into it's history. You can find all of these segments at rnz.co.nz/afternoons - we've had P for Pies, S for Silver Fern, K for Kauri. Today it's V for Vogel's. Vogel's, one of those iconically New Zealand brands that's graced all of our pantries. However, it's a New Zealand story that begins with a Swiss recipe, a German-Jewish refugee, a Dutch apprentice, and a small Ponsonby bakery. To tie it all together and share with us the fascinating history of Vogel's bread Emile is joined by Helen Klisser During, daughter of Vogel's founder Johan Klisser.

Okay it's time to talk relationships, Emile is joined by Professor Kirsty Ross from Massey University's School of Psychology If there's any topics you'd like Kirsty and me to cover do email us at afternoons@rnz.co.nz

A new study from the University of Otago has shed fresh light on how the brain learns what's important The research puts a modern twist on the famous Pavlov's dog experiments, revealing how something as simple as a flash of light can become meaningful to the brain and help drive learning The findings could also have important implications for conditions like Parkinson's disease Lead author Professor John Reynolds from the Department of Anatomy is with Emile.

Play isn't just the opposite of work. It's not something frivolous we grow out of when our school days are over. Some of our best ideas, strongest connections and most memorable lessons happen when we're playing. That's a lesson Max Pearce has lived. He's an artist, activist and a member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He's spent years entertaining audiences around the world with basketball tricks, comedy and showmanship. But behind the laughter and impossible shots is a deeper belief that creativity, curiosity and play are powerful tools for innovation and human connection. The Globetrotters will be touring New Zealand in July.

Time for our weekly travel segment Heading Off. Your chance to experience some amazing adventures without leaving the comfort of your home. We'd love to hear from you if you have a tale to tell .. doesn't need to be exotic .. just memorable. Text us on 2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today we're heading off to the Galapagos Islands in South America, with journalist and travel writer Mike Yardley.

Love it or hate it, when people are looking for answers, they are more often than not asking some form of Artificial Intelligence, or AI for help. Research released by Sharsies, shows that includes financial advice, with one in three of you turning to AI to help with money matters. So, asking AI for investment tips - is it wise or totally misguided? To find out, Emile is joined by Simply Privacy partner Frith Tweedie.

There are media reports out of Spain that Liam Lawson could lose his seat at Racing Bulls next season. 'SoyMotor' has reported that Nikola Tsolov has been guaranteed a seat at junior side Racing Bulls for next season ... which could push the Kiwi driver out. RNZ senior sports journalist Barry Guy joins Emile to discuss whether there's any truth to the rumours.

Most libraries lend out books. The Human Library lends out people. Founded in Denmark, the global initiative gives people the chance to sit down with a "human book" and have a candid conversation that challenges assumptions and stereotypes through lived experience. One of those human books is Sean Kemball from Whangarei. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, he spent years wondering why he experienced the world differently from those around him. Receiving a diagnosis helped him make sense of challenges that had followed him since childhood and gave him a new understanding of himself. Through conversations in the Human Library, he shares what it's like to live with ADHD and what changed once he finally had answers.

Our Kiwi Cover Song Contest is back for 2026! Yes, we want the best versions of a Kiwi song. So tell all your musician and singer friends. The winner the band or person who records the best cover song gets to perform it on Afternoons and you will also get to release the mastered version of it on whatever platform you like. This competition is open to anyone - professional or amateur. All the details are on our website rnz.co.nz/afternoons or text COVER to 2101 and you'll get the link. You have until the 2nd of August to get the song to us. The competition is now open and we will be playing you the entries as they come in. Here is Lorde's Green Light performed by Fiona McMartin from Fiona & the Glow.

Space it seems, is no longer the final frontier, in fact it's rapidly becoming an adventure holiday option for billionaires. As we saw with Space X's IPO launch, people are very interested in the idea of setting up a base on Mars and even what asteroid mining could look like. But how does that actually all work? In a place where the laws here on earth don't apply - is space just finders' keepers, first to plant the flag gets the land? To help answer those questions and more. Aotearoa's premier space law expert Anna Marie Brennan chats to Emile.