The Little Things

Jana McPherson is a food blogger and business owner navigating life as a young widow after losing her husband Hamish in 2023.
Joining Francesca and Louise to share her story of love, loss, and resilience, Jana discusses the challenges of widowhood, including financial stress, grief, and the emotional burden of caring for her children.

She also opens up about the importance of self-care, finding support, and learning to move forward.
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The danger of ultra-processed food has been dominating the headlines, but do these foods deserve all the negative press they're getting?
This week Professor Sarah Berry from King’s College London and chief scientist at ZOE helps us cut through the noise as we unpack what “ultra-processed” actually means, why not all processed foods are created equal, and how some foods are designed to override our natural fullness signals.
Sarah explains the science behind hyper palatable foods, eating speed and why texture matters more than you might think. Plus, we tackle the seed oil debate and the truth about emulsifiers and additives.
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In a world where our attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions, how do we regain control of our focus? Professor Gloria Mark from the University of California, has spent her career studying what's happening to our attention spans and she joins Francesca and Louise to share some surprising statistics.
It's a wonder we get anything done at all! But don't panic, Gloria also shares plenty of great advice to help us reclaim our focus.
This is the last episode of The Little Things for 2025. We'll be back next year to dive into more of the little things!
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When our kids worry, we worry. Especially when we don't know what they're worried about! This week, Dr Justin Coulson is back to talk about what really bothers kids and young adults most, and how parents can help. He shares some of his top tips for helping parents support their children through these challenges by fostering connection, understanding perfectionism, and encouraging open conversations about tough topics
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Are you ready to face the AI revolution that's already transforming our daily lives? Join Francesca and Louise as they step into the world of artificial intelligence with nanotechnologist and science communicator Dr Michelle Dickinson.
From the benefits of AI as a productivity tool to the concerning lack of regulation in New Zealand and the ways we might be unwittingly sharing our children’s data to train AI, Dr Dickinson brings clarity to complex concepts while also offering practical advice for navigating this new landscape.
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