Better off Read
Books & Literature
About
My name is pip adam and in this podcast I speak with writers, musicians and artists about an ‘object’ as a way into talking about their work – what it is, how it works and what inspires it. Each year I choose a topic for our series. In 2021 it was elements of literary craft, in 2020 it was music, in our 2022 series Beyond a Joke the object I ask guests to offer is something that has made them laugh. One of the things I’m really interested in is what we can learn from talking to each other about our own practice and the things we make. Read more about me at my website
Episodes
- Ep 159: Shana Chandra and pip adam talk about Banjara at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Pip Adam speaks with Shana Chandra about her novel Banjara, a compelling story offering insights into lesser-known events with evocative prose. The discussion also highlights the work of Al-Rifaq, a group supporting Palestinian liberation.
- Ep 158: Eva Wyles and pip adam talk about Deliverywoman at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Eva Wyles discusses her short story collection Deliverywoman, published by Influx Press, with Pip Adam. The conversation took place at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara and included an introduction and reading by Tamara Tulitua. The episode…
- Ep 157: Jordy Rosenberg and pip adam talk about Night Night Fawn at The Open Book
Pip Adam interviews Jordy Rosenberg about his novel Night Night Fawn, exploring its dynamic style and its contribution to queer and trans literature. The conversation took place at The Open Book in Tāmaki Makaurau.
- Ep 156: Ray Shipley and pip adam talk about a tarot deck and 'My Body is a Horror Film'
Ray Shipley discusses his book "My Body is a Horror Film," which is part of the ngā pukapuka pekapeka series two. The episode also mentions the Ōtautahi 4 Palestine art auction and fundraiser.
- Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Jo Randerson and Sarah Maxey discuss Randerson's book, "Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change." The book outlines six ways artistic thinking can enhance personal resilience, drive innovation, and help navigate…
- Ep 154: liz breslin and Pip chat about a pair of scissors
Liz Breslin discusses her new poetry collection "you're working out", her national tour, and highlights the work of Rozana4Palestine, an organization supporting Palestinian families. The episode also touches on the Faber Writing Academy an…
- Ep 153: Erik Kennedy and Pip chat about a pair of slippers
Better off Read features a conversation with poet Erik Kennedy about his new collection, Sick Power Trip. The episode also highlights the work of Climate Liberation Aotearoa, focusing on transport emissions and cruise ships, and discusses…
- Ep 152: poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی and Pip chat
Pip chats with writer, translator, and editor Poupeh Missaghi about her books, including Sound Museum and trans(re)lating house one.
- Ep 151: Zeke Caligiuri and Pip chat about a section from The Hours by Michael Cunningham
This episode of Better off Read features writer and activist Zeke Caligiuri discussing a passage from Michael Cunningham's novel, The Hours. Caligiuri, author of "This is Where I Am," shares his thoughts on the book and his experiences as…
- Ep 150: Danielle Dutton and Pip chat about Marine Object by Eileen Agar
In this episode of Better off Read, Danielle Dutton talks with the host about her book Audition, her writing style, and Eileen Agar's artwork "Marine Object." The discussion touches on formal experimentation, language, and visceral renderi…
- Ep 149: Saraid de Silva and Pip chat live at Featherston Booktown
The podcast features a live discussion with author Saraid de Silva at Featherston Booktown, covering her novel "Amma" and articles about housing issues affecting writers in the UK and Australia.
- Ep 148: Erin Harrington and Pip chat
Pip interviews Senior Lecturer Erin Harrington about Charlotte Wood's 2020 Guardian article "As we shovel in distractions, the inner life grows dim," which discusses creativity, resilience, and the inner life.
- Ep 147: Isabelle McNeur and Pip chat
Isabelle McNeur talks about her work writing Young Adult LGBT Romance, Paranormal, and Horror books. The conversation also addresses the New Zealand Ministry of Health's release of an evidence brief and position statement on puberty blocke…
- Ep 146: Olive Nuttall and Pip chat at Verb 2024 LitCrawl
In this live recording from Verb 2024 LitCrawl, host Pip talks with author Olive Nuttall about her book 'kitten', published by Te Herenga Waka University Press. The discussion also touches on an evidence brief by the New Zealand Ministry o…
- Ep 145: Una Cruickshank and Pip chat
Una Cruickshank discusses her newly released book, The Chthonic Cycle, and the Hikoi mō Te Tiriti, a movement advocating for Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Ep 144: Claudia Jardine and Pip chat
Pip discusses Claudia Jardine's poetry collection Biter, her other works including music and her band Goodbye Starlet, and the Ōtautahi Christchurch Lit Scene Zine.
- Ep 144: I'm Working on a Building by Pip Adam
Pip Adam reads from her novel I'm Working on a Building, which is being reissued in a new edition by Te Herenga Waka University Press. The episode includes a reading from the first chapter and reflects on the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes in N…
- Ep 143: Kerry Donovan Brown and Pip chat
In this episode of Better off Read, the host chats with Kerry Donovan Brown about the craft of writing and other endeavors. The conversation also touches on resources for disabled individuals and their families, including Awhi Ngā Mātua an…
- Ep 142: Shilo Kino and Pip chat
This episode features a discussion with author Shilo Kino about her novel All that We Own Know. The conversation touches on her writing, the communities she writes within, and the politics of those spaces. The host expresses admiration for…
- Ep 141: Rose Lu chats with Pip
In episode 141 of Better off Read, Rose Lu speaks with Pip about her writing practice, using Miranda July's novel All Fours as a discussion point. The conversation touches on writing, the novel, and how day jobs can inform creative work.
- Ep 140: Budget Day Back from the Read Encore: Ep 126: Beyond a Joke 14: James Nokise talks with Pip Adam about Verb After Hours
This episode of Better off Read replays a discussion on Budget Day in Aotearoa, featuring James Nokise. Nokise shares insights on getting paid for art, imperialism, and his performance at the Verb After-Hours event.
- Ep 139: romesh dissanayake chats with Pip
In episode 139 of Better off Read, host [host name] talks with author Romesh Dissanayake about his novel "When I Open the Shop." Dissanayake brought Clarice Lispector's "Água Viva" to discuss.
- Ep 138: Sylvan Spring chats with Pip
Pip discusses Sylvan Spring's book Killer Rack, censorship at the State Library Victoria, and protests by Vera Ellen and Georgia Gets By against SXSW partnerships.
- Ep 137: Rachel O'Neill chats with Pip
In episode 137, host Pip talks with Rachel O'Neill about her creative projects. The discussion took place at Randall Cottage during O'Neill's residency there.
- Ep 136: Whiti Hereaka chats with Pip
In episode 136 of Better off Read, Pip interviews author Whiti Hereaka. They discuss books such as 'You Should Have Left', movies like 'Godzilla Minus One' and 'The Boy and the Heron', and TV shows including 'After the Party' and 'Deadloch…
- Ep 135: Kerry Donovan Brown chats with Pip
Pip hosts Kerry Donovan Brown on Better off Read to discuss Kerry's year, including activities, enjoyable moments, and outlook for 2024. Kerry shares two song recommendations.
- Ep 134: Aaron Lister and Joan Fleming read response to Angela Lane's Phosphene
Joan Fleming and Aaron Lister read their responses to Angela Lane's Phosphene exhibition. Fleming
- Ep 133: Jared Davidson: Blood & Dirt at Verb Festival 2023
Jared Davidson discusses his book "Blood & Dirt: Prison Labour & the Making of New Zealand" at the Verb Festival 2023. The episode features a conversation with Davidson about his work, with audience questions recorded and summarized.
- Ep 132: Whiti Hereaka talks to Pip Adam about imagined (at the moment) art work in the project she is working on.
In episode 132 of Better off Read, Pip Adam speaks with Whiti Hereaka about the latter's current project, particularly the imagined artworks that are central to her novel. They discuss the creative process and objects that are useful durin…
- New series announcement
Better off Read is launching a new, fluid series where the host interviews writers and artists about their projects and creative processes. Guests are asked to bring an object representing their current phase of work. The series begins nex…
- Ep 131: Zero Hours - A short story by Pip Adam
Pip Adam discusses her 2015 short story "Zero Hours," noting a shift in her writing from ambiguity to more overtly political and didactic themes. The story, written during a period of personal and political anger, reflects on societal issu…
- Ep 130: Annaleese Jochems and Pip Adam talk about Audition at Book Hound
Episode 130 of Better off Read is a recording from a rainy afternoon at Book Hound book shop, featuring Annaleese Jochems. The discussion touches on Pip Adam's novel Audition, speculative fiction, and events including People Against Prison…
- Ep 129: Beyond a Joke 16 - Murdoch Stephens talks with Pip Adam about a photo of a Kastrati oil sign.
Murdoch Stephens speaks with Pip Adam about his novel Rat King Land Lord, its Renters United edition, and Renters United's advocacy. They also discuss Stephens' support for doubling the refugee quota and a petition for a sub-category for L…
- Ep 128: Beyond a Joke 15 - Joy Holley talks with Pip Adam about Bodies Bodies Bodies
In this episode of Better off Read, Joy Holley discusses her short fiction collection 'Dream Girl' and the 2022 film 'Bodies Bodies Bodies'. The conversation explores themes of joy, pleasure, laughter in comedy, and elements of horror and…
- Ep 127: Sasha and Achille from 5ever talks with Pip Adam
Sasha and Achille from 5ever, an underground publishing house in Wellington, discuss their interdisciplinary work and post-capitalist vision aligned with Te Tiriti O Waitangi. The episode features an edited conversation from Wellington Acc…
- Ep 126: Beyond a Joke 14 - James Nokise talks with Pip Adam about Verb After-Hours
In this episode of Better off Read, James Nokise speaks with Pip Adam about his performance at Verb After Hours, the impact of imperialism, and the topic of paying artists.
- Ep 125: Beyond a Joke 13 - Eamonn Marra talk with Pip Adam about Verb After-Hours
Pip Adam interviews writer Eamonn Marra about his performance at the Verb After Hours event. They discuss living in an algorithmic world, the value of slowness, and Marra's project writing about every record he owns, referencing articles a…
- Ep 124: Beyond a Joke 12 - Gabby Anderson talk with Pip Adam about Verb After-Hours
In this episode, Pip Adam discusses Gabby Anderson's performance at Verb After-Hours. The conversation references Gabby's other appearances, comedian Janeane Garofalo, and Kate Berlant, exploring themes of artistic integrity and the concep…
- Ep 123: A Talk about Janet Frame by Pip Adam
Pip Adam shares her 2022 Brisbane Writers Festival talk on Janet Frame. Recorded as presented, the episode includes time- and sight-specific references, with an invitation for feedback and corrections.
- Ep 122: Appetites Talk about Reality TV by Pip Adam
Pip Adam discusses her love for reality TV in a short talk recorded in November for a Brooklyn School fundraiser. The event was called Appetites.
- Ep 121: Please Unlock to Ride by Pip Adam
Pip Adam shares her short story "Please Unlock to Ride," which explores themes of e-scooters, the housing crisis, and the gig economy. The story was written for the journal HEAT and draws from personal experiences and societal issues. Adam…
- Ep 120: Beyond a Joke 11 - Anna Pendergrast & Kelly Pendergrast talk with Pip Adam about The Laughter Lift from Kermode & Mayo’s Take
Anna and Kelly Pendergrast join the podcast to discuss their edited book, More Zeros and Ones, which explores environmental science, law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and technology. They also delve into the nature of humor and laughter, inspired…
- Ep 119: Beyond a Joke 10 - Marolyn Krasner talks with Pip Adam about Hudson Valley Ballers: Lovers
Marolyn Krasner joins Better off Read to discuss the web-series Hudson Valley Ballers: Lovers, noting its humor and availability on YouTube. The conversation also touches on Krasner's previous work and her current podcast, cyanutopia, whic…
- Ep 118: Beyond a Joke 9 - Rijula Das, author of Small Deaths, talks to Pip Adam about a New Yorker cartoon
In this episode of Better off Read, Rijula Das discusses her novel Small Deaths, which centers on the murder of a sex worker. She talks with Pip Adam about challenging dominant cultural narratives surrounding sex work, using a New Yorker c…
- Ep 117: Beyond a Joke 8 - Dominic Hoey tells Pip Adam a funny story and they talk about Poor People With Money
In this episode, Dominic Hoey shares a funny story, prompting a discussion with Pip Adam about story structure, self-deprecating humor, and the relationship between money and art in fiction writing. They specifically talk about Hoey's new…
- Ep 116: Beyond a Joke 7 - Sarah Jane Barnett talks with Pip Adam about Michael Schur’s The Good Place
In this episode of Better off Read, Sarah Jane Barnett speaks with Pip Adam about the television series The Good Place, created by Michael Schur. They explore how the show relates to Barnett's book "Note on Womanhood" and discuss the role…
- Ep 115: Beyond a Joke 6 - Brannavan Gnanalingam talks with Pip Adam about Kira Muratova’s film The Asthenic Syndrome
Pip Adam and Brannavan Gnanalingam discuss Kira Muratova’s film The Asthenic Syndrome, exploring its tonal shifts, humor, and uncomfortable themes. They also touch on Gnanalingam’s novel Slow Down, You’re Here, comparing its tone and tensi…
- Ep 114: Beyond a Joke 5 - Rachel O’Neill talks with Pip Adam about Pockets and Everything Everywhere All At Once by the Daniels
Pip Adam and Rachel O’Neill discuss the films Pockets and Everything Everywhere All At Once. The conversation explores the creative process, the concept of ‘faith’ in art-making, and the relationship between happiness, healing, and product…
- Ep 113: Beyond a Joke 4 - Anthony Lapwood talks to Pip Adam about ’Goethe in the Roman Campagna’ by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein
Anthony Lapwood joins Pip Adam to discuss Goethe in the Roman Campagna by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, using a painting that made him laugh as a starting point for their conversation about his work. Lapwood is a fiction writer whose…
- Ep 112: Beyond a Joke 3 - Jordan Hamel talks to Pip Adam about his poem ’Death Coach’
Pip Adam interviews poet Jordan Hamel about his poem 'Death Coach' and discusses poetry and humour. Hamel's book, 'Everyone is Everyone Except You,' was published in May 2022.