A recent report by Age Concern has revealed 59% of people aged 65 or older experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation, of which 30% experienced those feelings often or always. These results indicate what is being called a “loneliness epidemic”.
Producer Athena spoke to Joyce Cook Chair in Aging Well, and Professor at the University of Auckland, Ngaire Kerse, about how the loneliness epidemic among older people arose, the effects of loneliness and isolation, and potential ways to address the issue.
New technologies have always been announced and marketed as ways to advance society and push humanity forward. This past couple of years the hot new technology seems to be generative AI, which from its inception now sees use across almost every sector. From digital marketing to google to facebook, no part of the internet seems exempt from artificial intelligence.
The mass use of artificial intelligence has, however, raised alarm bells for some, who say its use and spread may disproportionately affect some groups of people. Wire host Castor spoke to Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information and Technology in Monash University in Melbourne, Jathan Sadowski, about how new technology, particularly AI, seems to always benefit those on top.
For the last Jazz Show before Christmas, Def Jim's selections include several from albums released in 2023 and 2024 and one brand new release (from Thumbscrew), interspersed with a few choice gems from the 70's and 80's. More new releases will follow in his first Show of 2025. A very Merry Christmas to all.
A study published this week in the European Journal of Public Health has revealed 87% of children in Aotearoa have experienced significant trauma before the age of 8, which is much more than previously thought.
The study observed the effects of 8 kinds of traumatic childhood experiences, and found there can be a link between childhood trauma and obesity. It was also revealed that positive experiences can mitigate the effects of trauma.
Producer Athena spoke to Senior Researcher at City University of London and Honorary Researcher at the University of Auckland, Ladan Hashemi, about the effects of childhood trauma, its links to obesity, and ways to prevent and mitigate its effects.
Following the pandemic, hybrid remote and in office work has become more prevalent. According to data from StatsNZ on the September 2024 quarter, more than 40% of businesses offered a work from home option, while 898,700 people worked from home.
In 2023, 5 academics (and work friends) published a study on the nature of workplace friendships in the absence of physical presence. The study indicated several benefits of having work friends, as well as revealing foundational elements to maintaining these friendships.
Producer Athena spoke to Senior Lecturer Dr Stefan Korber, from the University of Auckland Business School, about the benefits of having work friends, and the ways workplace friendships can flourish.
Recently, across the motu, we have seen a variety of fires, most recently being the fire on Māngere Mountain, which had resulted in smoke warnings for 40 kilometres, reaching all the way to Piha in West Auckland.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the Victoria University of Wellington, and Fire Ecologist, Dr Nicola Day, about our susceptibility to wildfires amidst the climate crisis, and what needs to be done to better prepare for events such as these recent bouts of blazes in the future.
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