Best Rare Book Chat Podcasts (2025)

1
A Prank Inscription, Bloody Relics, and Harry Potter Unbound 30:09

13d ago30:09

30:09

All about a book that was not inscribed by Calvin Coolidge to Ernest Hemingway, the gloves Lincoln wore the fateful night of the assassination, and a marvelous Harry Potter curiosity... Enjoy!By Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

1
The week that was 11:45

1h ago11:45

11:45

Our comedians Pinky Agnew and Elisabeth Easther look back on some of the funnier stories of the week just gone, including the Cannes Film Festival saying it will no longer tolerate nudity on the red carpet.

1
Sports commentator Sam Ackerman 13:35

1h ago13:35

13:35

Golfing majors, A-League playoffs, big decisions - it's another busy time for New Zealand's sporting codes.

1
Around the motu: Jonathan Leask in Ashburton 10:48

1h ago10:48

10:48

Jonathan Leask is a Local Democracy Reporter in Mid Canterbury from the Ashburton Guardian.

1
Book review: Universality by Natasha Brown 5:34

1h ago5:34

5:34

Jack McConnell from Unity Books Auckland reviews Universality by Natasha Brown published by Faber

1
How new weight loss drugs work - and their downsides 26:10

2h ago26:10

26:10

Dr. David A. Kessler has written extensively on the food industry's role in engineering addictive foods, which contributes to the obesity epidemic globally.

1
Asia correspondent Ed White 8:38

1h ago8:38

8:38

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times based in Shanghai

1
GIVE WAY! The musical about road rules 7:02

1h ago7:02

7:02

In 2012, a change to New Zealand's road rules caused a frenzy among some drivers who worried our roads would turn to chaos.

1
Andrew Little's return to the political fray 17:45

1h ago17:45

17:45

The race for the Wellington mayoralty took a turn last month, when Andrew Little came out of political retirement and threw his hat in the ring.

1
Big changes foreshadowed for social service funding 17:25

1h ago17:25

17:25

The head of the Social Investment Agency - on the big changes ahead for funding of social services provided by NGOs for some of the most vulnerable.

1
Screentime: La Cocina, The Four Seasons, Choir Games 11:19

1h ago11:19

11:19

Tamar Munch reviews La Cocina (cinemas) ; The Four Seasons (Netflix) and local series Choir Games (Sky Open/Neon)

1
The challenges and triumphs of solo motherhood 15:26

1d ago15:26

15:26

There are a lot of books on parenting, but very few about what happens when you suddenly find yourself doing it on your own. This was the experience of Australian author and podcaster Rachel Maksimovic. She became a solo mum when she was just 20 weeks' pregnant - and among the financial and career challenges it brought - there were a host of other,…

1
New technology: Tony Grasso 15:08

1h ago15:08

15:08

Tony discusses a recent randsomware attack on an Australian construction firm where 17 GB of corporate data was allegedly taken; the US Justice Department has unsealed indictments against 12 individuals, so called "hackers for hire; and New Zealand has seen a dramatic 68% increase in sextortion cases in the first three months of the year, according…

1
Government announces $190 million social investment fund 6:20

2h ago6:20

6:20

Government announces $190 million social investment fund

1
Around the motu: Libby Kirkby McLeod in Hamilton 13:29

1h ago13:29

13:29

Kakapo have been heard booming in the North Island for the first time in over a century, plus more with RNZ Waikato Reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod.

1
Book review: Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben 4:30

1h ago4:30

4:30

Ralph McAllister reviews Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben published by Century

1
Plans for biggest inland port in Milburn 8:54

1h ago8:54

8:54

Construction company Calder Stewart has announced plans to build the country's biggest inland port in the small Otago town of Milburn.

1
Erna Walraven : one of the first female zookeepers in Australia 23:19

2h ago23:19

23:19

Erna Walraven became one of Australia's first female zookeepers in the early 1980s.

1
UK correspondent Matt Dathan 8:35

1h ago8:35

8:35

UK correspondent Matt Dathan looks at a speech given by Prime Minister Keir Starmer which has drawn comparisons with Enoch Powell's infamous anti-immigration "rivers of blood" speech.

1
The UK company that wants to recycle all of Britain's EV batteries 14:29

1h ago14:29

14:29

Batteries for electric vehicles are notoriously difficult to recycle, but growing demand for the rare metals they contain is leading to greater interest in retrieving their contents.

1
Are the rules for online alcohol deliveries too loose? 11:36

2h ago11:36

11:36

The ease which alcohol can be ordered online without ID checks and delivered within minutes is causing concern for most New Zealanders.

1
BNZ says $2.2 billion coming into mortgage holders pockets 13:09

1h ago13:09

13:09

Falling interest rates will deliver $2.2 billion into the pockets of mortgage holders in the next six months to a year, according to the BNZ's Chief Economist.

1
Slovak 25th Anniversary Edition: The Best Slovak Yet??? 1:16:49

2h ago1:16:49

1:16:49

Thanks for listening to Season 5, Episode 15 of Dialogue Alley! In this episode, Carly, Erik, Peter, and Melanie talk about: News: MinaLima events at Chicago and New York Harry Potter Stores. Main Segment: We discuss the new improved 25th Anniversary Slovak Edition of Philosopher's Stone. Translation of the Show: 25th Anniversary Slovak Edition of …

1
Personal finance: do you have savings for a rainy day ? 11:38

23h ago11:38

11:38

The Retirement Commission's Money Month theme this year is the importance of Emergency Savings - the idea of having a bit aside for the unexpected.

1
From fast-fashion to self-made advocate: designer Tara Viggo 15:43

23h ago15:43

15:43

Kiwi fashion designer Tara Viggo has returned home to Dunedin from a high-flying overseas career to champion slow fashion.

1
Around the motu: Logan Savory in Southland 10:21

1h ago10:21

10:21

Invercargill Council has settled on a 7.11% rate increase and has also halted plans for a $5m spend on urban play in the city.

1
Book review: 1985: A Novel by Dominic Hoey 4:05

1h ago4:05

4:05

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews 1985: A Novel by Dominic Hoey published by Penguin Random House NZ

1
Rare endemic New Zealand snail been filmed laying an egg 10:11

1h ago10:11

10:11

The snails are hermaphrodites with genital pores on their necks - which means the snail only needs to peek out of its shell slightly to "do the business".

1
Bestselling author on his international mission 24:02

1h ago24:02

24:02

Neal Shusterman is in New Zealand for Verb and the Auckland Writers Festival, with talks specifically for teenagers squeezed into his schedule.

1
Australia correspondent Bernard Keane 9:18

2h ago9:18

9:18

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane joins Kathryn to discuss the makeup of Anthony Albanese's new cabinet and more.

1
AI, drones and helicopters being used to manage power lines 9:43

2h ago9:43

9:43

Artificial Intelligence is being trained to assess all the power poles and wires in Auckland to better help lines company Vector with its maintenance.

1
MFAT updates US travel advice for New Zealanders 12:21

1d ago12:21

12:21

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has updated its travel advice for New Zealanders travelling to the USA for the first time since Donald Trump became president.

1
Are competition laws working when it comes to the electricity 18:51

2h ago18:51

18:51

In the last week, two small players have been swallowed up by big generator/retailers.

1
Sports chat with Sam Ackerman 14:33

15h ago14:33

14:33

In sport, Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has won for the first time on the PGA Tour, claiming the Myrtle Beach Classic title in a play-off.

1
Dame Valerie Adams on her advocacy for tamariki 16:56

16h ago16:56

16:56

Dame Valerie Adams is on a mission to help thousands of tamariki in South Auckland as winter bites.

1
Business commentator Victoria Young 16:44

16h ago16:44

16:44

Kiwi companies Sanford, Xero, and Manawa Energy have results coming this week.

1
Around the motu: Peter de Graaf in Northland 10:15

16h ago10:15

10:15

Right off the back of a drought, Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Whangarei all had their wettest April in recorded history.

1
Book review: The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey 5:51

17h ago5:51

5:51

Kiran Dass reviews The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

1
Kiwisaver figures show more withdrawals for hardship than homes 7:05

17h ago7:05

7:05

The number of financial hardship Kiwisaver withdrawals is now surpassing the number for withdrawals for first-home deposits for the first time.

1
Jack Hobbs: "Plants are good for us!" 26:07

17h ago26:07

26:07

Nearly 50 years ago, Jack Hobbs began working on transforming some farmland in Manurewa into what is now Auckland Botanic Gardens.

1
USA correspondent Ron Elving 10:15

3d ago10:15

10:15

In the USA, markets are taking the pause in tariffs with China as an indication of a lasting peace agreement.

1
Unlocking the secrets of the "superagers" 11:04

18h ago11:04

11:04

Why do some octogenarians have exceptional memories? Emily Rogalski explains.

1
Restoring the fortunes of our struggling wool industry 11:42

18h ago11:42

11:42

An Avondale-based manufacturer has developed a sustainable wool product it hopes could restore the fortunes of the struggling industry.

1
Work wanted: the thousands who can't get enough hours 16:53

18h ago16:53

16:53

Hundreds of thousands of people don't have as much paid work as they need - with labour market data showing fewer hours are being worked.

1
Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne 12:33

1d ago12:33

12:33

Kennedy joins from Adelaide, but keeps the story-telling local. He discusses the recent supposed sightings of moose in Fiordland: two in the space of two months, in approx the same location. Kennedy tells the story of how moose came to NZ, and thoughts on whether these recent sightings could actually be the elusive ungulate.…

1
Award winning cheeses out of Hōhepa Hawke's Bay 12:13

1d ago12:13

12:13

In Hawkes Bay, Hōhepa is an organisation which offers supported housing, education and employment to people with intellectual disabilities.

1
Political commentators Peter Dunne and Sue Moroney 25:14

1d ago25:14

25:14

Commentators Peter Dunne and Sue Moroney discuss the government's urgent move to reform pay equity legislation and the implications for women voters, the passing of the Regulatory Standards Bill, and the sudden elevation of the recently announced Bill to ban social media for under 16s.

1
Around the motu: Amy Williams in Auckland 14:03

1d ago14:03

14:03

Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's controversial plans for a helipad go before a council panel this week as the council tries to tighten rules for helipads on Waiheke and Great Barrier islands.