Afternoons for Wednesday 17 December 2025

1:15 Obtaining a permit for trapping feral cats might be about to get a whole lot easier.

Currently the Department of Conservation gives out permission after a process that includes filling out paper forms and supplying maps with trapping areas marked. 
In comparison, hunting permits can be obtained by completing an online form on the DoC website, and approval is almost automatic. 
After criticism from hunters, the permits to trap feral cats could be replaced by a similar online system.

Victor Tindale, a hunter trying to tackle feral cats first-hand chats to Jesse.

A link to RNZ journalist Farah Hancock's investigative series Feral is here.

1:15 What you need to know before you go camping this summer

This is the last week of work for many of you, which might mean your attention turns to a summer camping trip.

We are very fortunate to have 325 Department of Conservation campsites around the country and lots of them are about to experience their busy season. 

Manaia Armstrong is a DoC ranger in Mimiwhangata, Northland, part of his job is to look after the Waikahoa Bay Camping site.

He joins Jesse to share tips and tricks to make camping better, and easier, for all. 

1:25 Why 'Backyard Ultra' events are taking off in NZ

The concept of 'Last One Standing' or 'Backyard Ultra' events is simple but some might say, brutal.

Participants run a 6.71km loop once an hour starting on the hour and they must complete the loop within an hour. 

This goes on hour after hour, day after day, until one runner is left standing.

The West Coast is the latest region to host a 'Backyard Ultra' event, organiser Maggi Forsyth joins Jesse.

1:35 Comedy legend Tofiga Fepulea’i on winning the 2025 Topp Prize

Samoan comedy legend Tofiga Fepulea’i has been named the New Zealand Comedy Trust’s prestigious Topp Prize recipient for 2025

Tofiga has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years. He first rose to stardom as one half of The Laughing Samoans before going on to tour solo both here and overseas, delighting audiences with tales from his old-school Samoan upbringing and life as a Pacific Islander in New Zealand.

He joins Jesse. 

1:45 Heading Off to Nashville, USA!

Time for heading off, our weekly travel segment, where you share your adventures and offer any tips or tricks to wannabe travellers.

Today we're off to the home of country music, Nashville, Tennessee with RNZ newsreader and producer Angie Skerett.

2.12 Music Critic: Tony Stamp shares his picks

Music 101 producer Tony Stamp suggests some songs to listen to:

Sharon Jones: How Do You Let a Good Man Down

Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band: Feso Jaiye

2:20 Easy Eats: Mushroom, rosemary and walnut sourdough stuffing

Kelly Gibney joins me to chat all things food and share a recipe.

You can find the recipe here

2:30 Bookmarks with Sophie Gilmour!

It's time for our final bookmarks of the year, this is the segment where interesting people share some of their favourite things to read, listen to or watch. 

Taking us into Christmas is Sophie Gilmour. Sophie is the co-owner of Auckland restaurant 'Fatimas', she also sits on the board of food charities Everybody Eats & Dine Aid and she's also released her first cookbook 'Urban Middle Eastern Flavours"

3:10 Feature: A side of Bear Grylls you've never seen before

Bear Grylls has done some really hard things; fighting off a boa constrictor in a flooded ravine, drinking liquid from elephant dung in the dry Savannah, climbing Mount Everest.  But the world-famous adventurer, survival expert, and former British Special Forces soldier says the hardest thing he’s ever done is writing a book about the life of Jesus. He takes the Bible’s story of Jesus and, without altering the facts, reimagines it as a modern thriller. It’s written in the first person from the perspectives of five people who knew Christ best. The book is called, The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account, Bear Grylls

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Our Changing World's Claire Concannon joins Jesse to share some exciting news about the Kākāpō Files. 

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.