Former NZSAS soldier Mark Law became a national hero on December 9 2019, following the Whakaari-White Island eruption.

After learning of the eruption, Mark, alongside his colleagues, flew to the island, comforted the injured and flew 12 stranded survivors home.

Mark's actions ultimately saved lives, and he was New Zealand's second highest bravery honour, the Bravery Star, for his actions - however his company, Kahu NZ, was charged and fined by WorkSafe for past tours on the island.

He wrote about the experience in his new memoir - Lucky You're Tough.

"The rest of the recovery, the rest of the day are pretty clear, so I've been able to recall that easily."

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Knitting is seeing a resurgence, largely thanks to five-time Olympic diver Tom Daley going viral for knitting in the stands between events.

After the Tokyo Olympics wrapped up, Tom now owns a knitting brand and has even been known to knit creations for celebrities - and he's now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter.

He says he taught himself to knit, and it eventually became his 'superpower.'

"It became my mindfulness, it became my mediation, and it became my way of switching off from the world around me, and taught me to slow down and be present, be in the moment."

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The Governor by Lynda la Plante. The creator of the Jane Tennison series of books, Prime Suspect, has another story about a woman working in what was typically a male dominated industry - as governor of an English prison. Helen Hewitt is in her early 30’s and appointed to the top job where she goes up against unruly prisoners, staff who don’t want her in the job, and the politics of the prison service which undermine her from the start. Her time in the job changes her perspective on the role of prisons in society and the best way to manage punishment and rehabilitation. First published in 1995 it was made into a TV series and has recently been reissued by her publisher.

The Four Wives of Windsor by Simon Vigar - a royal watcher and journalist for many years. This is a look at the four women who have had the greatest profile and, to a greater or lesser degree, influence, in the modern UK monarchy. Diana, Camilla, Catherine and Meghan each of whom came from the outside, but ended up performing pivotal roles in the evolution of the House of Windsor. For monarchists, these women are endlessly fascinating.

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There's a new travel trend gaining popularity among older people, and it can be affordable if you do the sums.

People are spending their first years of retirement living on cruise ships before downsizing to retirement villages - or buying a residence on one of the new residential cruise ships.

BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained further.

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 16 August, British Olympian Tom Daley went viral at the Tokyo Olympics as he sat in the stands knitting between events. Now he's somewhat of a celebrity knitter and joins Francesca to talk about his new show Game of Wool and why the show, and knitting, are appealing to younger generations.

The day Whakaari White Island erupted, helicopter pilot Mark Law led an unofficial rescue mission to the island that ultimately saved lives. He shares his story of that day and his life with Francesca.

In recent weeks, big tech companies have reported multiple cases of their AI systems going rogue during routine testing. It raises the question, how much is AI capable? Kiwi scientist Matthew Egbert is involved in international research to answer just that and talks to Francesca about the importance of understanding AI.

And scientists have just taught lettuce to grow it's own meat protein. Dr Michelle Dickinson shares the details.

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, broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina O'Keefe and Resident Economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Luxon managed to survive another leadership challenge last week. But what could this saga mean for the National Party 12 weeks ahead of the election? Will this hurt their chances at getting another term?

The Meta glasses have sparked concerns about the privacy levels we can expect when we're out in public. How do we feel about the potential of these glasses and people unknowingly being recorded? To what extent do we expect your privacy to be protected?

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If you have ever felt constantly 'on edge,' emotionally exhausted or stuck in survival mode, you might be dealing with a dysregulated nervous system.

Extra stresses can dysregulate the nervous system, leading to feeling stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara reveals how to get ahead of it.

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Hot apple cobbler with soft cream

Cook time: 5 minutes

Prep time: 25 minutes

Serves: 6

6 braeburn apples

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp raw sugar

3 tbsp lemon curd (optional)

Cobbler topping

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

250 gm plain flour

1/2 cup raw sugar

120 gm butter, cubed and chilled

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

250 ml cream, whipped to soft peaks

To prepare the cobbler topping, whisk together the milk and egg. Place the flour and sugar in a bowl and add the butter. Rub them between your fingers until the mixture starts to resemble breadcrumbs. Add in the baking powder, vanilla and salt and then slowly stir in the milk mixture until well combined - the mix will be a bit runny.

Pre-heat a oven to 180*c fan-bake.

To make the filling, peel and core the apples. Cut into large wedges and place into a medium pot with the water, honey, vanilla and cinnamon. Cook over a medium heat until all the liquid has evaporated.

To assemble the cobbler, spoon the apple filling into a 22 cm round oven proof dish. Top with lemon curd if using and then the cobbler topping, leaving some gaps for the apple to rise up during the cooking. Sprinkle the extra tablespoon of sugar over the top.

Bake for 40 minutes, then serve hot with soft cream.

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