Director Justin Zoras walked past a bookstore in a small town in Nova Scotia one night, and this experience went on to inspire a documentary.

Elizabeth's Books is run by 83-year-old former seaman Chris Webb and the store only opens at night - sometimes for a few hours or whenever the last customer leaves.

Justin Zoras went on to use the store for The Bookstore That Never Sleeps, which is about to have its world premiere at DocEdge.

"It's one of those things where you immediately see the store, it's open at night, and you immediately want to go - hey, that's quirky or that's odd. Which, frankly, it is. But when you actually talk to people about it and you say - hey, have you seen that bookstore? Have you walked by it, what's the deal there? And a lot of the time, people will go - oh that's just Chris...there's a story."

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Michaela Brake is set to make her grand return to the rugby field later this year, having re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through until 2027.

She's made history in the world of Kiwi Sevens - as a two-time Olympic gold medallist and the all-time leading try scorer in women’s international sevens history.

She's had to step off the field to look after her new baby, Harvey, and she's opened up about the new challenges that come with motherhood.

"I was always going to come back to high performance sport...there was no doubt that once I got home from the hospital that I was going to start getting my recovery on track."

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Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu. This is narrated by Elizabeth Zhang who is a driven,100 percent focused student at Columbia University, desperate to make the right path for herself for which she believes admission into Harvard Law School is a necessity. She’s completely shocked when she doesn’t get in and can’t believe that one of her classmates, Laura Kim, did - and becomes obsessed with Laura, trying to figure out what she has that Elizabeth doesn’t. Anyone who enjoyed Rebecca Kuang’s Yellowface will love this.

A Place to Stand by Clare Ward. Clare is a GP who has spent more than 30 years practising in the Hokianga, in Northland. She’s acutely aware of being Pākehā in a Māori world, having gone there knowing next to nothing about te ao māori and developing a deep respect for the traditions and beliefs which make up that world. This is a real insight into a place and its people from someone who has come to love it there and has a profound appreciation of all that it has taught her. It’s also a really beautiful book - a lovely hardcover with black and white photos throughout.

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New Zealand's first Michelin Guide Restaurant Ceremony is set to take place this week, and there's hope this development could boost tourism.

Food tourism is growing in popularity, with more travellers seeking authentic dining experiences that reflected a destination’s national identity.

BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained further.

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 28 June 2026, Sevens superstar Michaela Brake is preparing to make her comeback after re-signing with NZ Rugby. She joins Francesca for a candid chat about the realities of early motherhood and why she's desperate to get back on the field.

A special bookstore in small town Nova Scotia is the subject of a new film. Director Justin Zoras is in studio to share why he was so captivated by this bookshop that only opens at night.

Former All White player and coach Ricki Herbert gives his thoughts on the All Whites' World Cup campaign.

Francesca questions why the Government won't make a move on big tech.

And New Zealand's first Michelin stars will be awarded on Tuesday, our resident chef Mike Van de Elzen talks the significance of the star system and reveals how a former boss deprived him of his own Michelin recognition.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at Capital Ben Thomas and host of The Front Page podcast Chelsea Daniels joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Stuff's owner raised concerns over what big tech means for the future of our media. Are politicians petty about the media and is that an issue? Do they need to better support the media? Why aren't they making more moves to regulate things?

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Millions of people are turning to conversational AI systems like ChatGPT and Claude to ask questions about symptoms, medications, supplements, nutrition, lab work, and treatment options.

This has raised concerns, as research found that using AI for medical decisions tended to provide inaccurate and inconsistent information.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explained the research further.

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This coming Tuesday marks the beginning of New Zealand's inclusion in the Michelin Guide with the announcements of the stars.

The Michelin star system originated as a marketing ploy by French tire manufacturers André and Édouard Michelin in 1900. To encourage road trips and boost tire sales, they created a free guide for motorists. Today, it is globally recognized as the ultimate benchmark for fine dining.

This entails:

Anonymous inspectors - Michelin inspectors are trained professionals who evaluate restaurants entirely anonymously to ensure they receive no preferential treatment.

Focus on the food - Stars are awarded based strictly on the quality of the ingredients, mastery of flavour, cooking techniques, personality of the chef, and consistency. The restaurant's décor and service style are not factored into the star rating.

Global reach - Today, the guide reviews tens of thousands of establishments across more than 40 territories, making it one of the most powerful influencers in global food and tourism trends.

🌟 One Star: "A very good restaurant in its category."

🌟🌟 Two Stars: "Excellent cooking, worth a detour."

🌟🌟🌟 Three Stars: "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

Mike van de Elzen explained further - and recalled his own experience with the Michelin system.

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