Podcast Critic: The Gaza Chef and Song Navigator.

Protecting our kids from technology is a struggle for everyone, including extended members of the British royal family. Sophie Winkleman, known as Lady Frederick Windsor, is an actor whose credits include Peep Show and Two and a Half Men. She's also an education campaigner, warning that a new flank has opened up in the struggle with technology and our kids and it's happening in the classroom. She says evidence is mounting that screens at school can come at the expense of concentration, imagination, reading and human connection. Alongside Hugh Grant, she's a patron of Close Screens, Open Minds Sophie Winkleman, also known as Lady Frederick Windsor, joins me now.

Let's talk books, Claire Mabey, children's writer and books editor for The Spinoff is with Jesse to share what she's been reading: The Beaded Curtain by lloyd Jones Gloria of Greymouth by Sam Duckor Jones The Witches of Winderry Spires by Karen Foxlee

It's time for Mayoral minutes .. where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing ... how they're working to solve them... and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Hauraki District in Waikato ... where you'll find .. Paeroa, Ngatea, Waihi and the Karangahake Gorge. Mayor Toby Adams chats to Jesse.

There's a push to bring debating to more schools across the country... particularly those in lower-decile communities that haven't traditionally had the same access to it. It's widely believed that debating helps young people build confidence in public speaking, develop critical thinking skills and learn to see things from different perspectives. Acting President of the NZ schools Debating Council Peter Lang chats to Jesse.

Nature isn't just something you find in the bush, at the beach or in a wildlife park. It's in our backyards, on our windowsills, and growing in the cracks in the footpath. But often - in our urban bubbles - we don't stop to notice. Rachel Haydon is a scientist, author and current Chief Executive of Orana Wildlife Park. Her latest book - The Urban Activity Book - is about helping kids discover nature in the places most of us live. She joins Jesse to discuss.