Author Interview

Serhii Plokhy is a professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard University and a leading authority on the Cold War and nuclear history. He's written a number of books on the subject, including Chernobyl… Audio

When his first novel was rejected by publishers in Australia, Matthew Reilly did the ultimate DIY job - he took out a loan, published it himself and convinced Sydney book stores to stock it. The book… Video, Audio

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Somewhere along the line, the pursuit became the point and happiness got lost say professors Benjamin and Jenna Storey. They see a deep sense of… Audio

Packing up their lives and becoming farmers was meant to be fresh start for New Zealand born writer and producer Nicola Harvey and husband Pat. But their move from young, burnt-out Sydney… Audio

Not much is certain about the life of Charlotte Badger, one of the first Pakeha women to live in New Zealand, but many stories have been woven about her over two centuries. A young Charlotte was… Audio

In November 2019, Zarifa Ghafari became the mayor of Maidan Shahr, the capital city of Wardak Province, Afghanistan. She is one of the only female mayors in Afghan history and the youngest - appointed… Audio

Set in Renaissance Italy, Maggie O'Farrell's ninth novel The Marriage Portrait imagines the lost story of Lucrezia de' Medici, who was betrothed to the Duke of Ferrara at age 13. Audio

Vidyamala Burch is a UK-based New Zealander whose mindfulness programme for chronic pain and other illnesses has just earned her an OBE. Through her own experience of extreme pain which began in her… Audio

Desire : A Reckoning is Jessie Cole's deeply personal second memoir. She examines her own experiences of longing, seeking answers on how and why women desire, and how external forces, and upbringing… Audio

In order for democracy to thrive, it needs one thing that has the potential to destroy it; freedom of expression. And with that freedom comes cancel culture, misinformation and sometimes chaos says… Audio

Former National party minister, Christopher Finlayson, served as one of the most senior members of the last National government, under Prime Minister John Key. He held the portfolios of Attorney… Audio

Author Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed at at a literary event in New York state at the weekend, came to New Zealand about 25 years ago to promote one of his books.

The writer is being treated in a… Audio

He's kept us waiting for 13 years, but Owen Marshall, one of our finest short story writers, has just put out a new collection, Return to Harikoa Bay. The characters in the 33 stories are often… Audio

Dr Matthew O. Jackson is a Professor of Economics at Stanford. Dr Jackson talks to Jim about the research which concluded that having wealthy friends in childhood boosts your income when you grow up.

On paper, Luke Mathers had it all; a director for a major company in Australia and New Zealand, a thriving family, but he just felt flat. He decided to do something about it. He got curious about why… Audio

Tim Saunders writes about his life and work on the land, the lessons handed down from his ancestors and the challenges of present day farming. The family sheep and beef farm at Glen Oroua, near… Audio

Award-winning investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe paints deeply human portraits of victims and vigilantes alike in his latest page-turner, Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels… Audio

Dr Katy Milkman is a pioneering behavioral scientist whose work identifies how to change. She's a best selling author and host of the podcast Choiceology. She shares her science based tips for making… Audio

There was a time when Dr Ruja Ignatova was like a rock star, with fans flocking to Wembley arena to hear her talk about Onecoin, her cryptocurrency she said would kill Bitcoin. Now she's on the FBI's… Audio

Writing a book about your own life is not for the fainthearted, says entrepreneur Kaz Staples. She writes about business-building, cancer and the difficult decision to sell her high-end cereal company… Audio