Better off Read

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A podcast about reading and writing. Pip Adam speaks with writers about a book as a starting point to discussions about the craft of writing and the act of reading and how these two feed each other.

Pip Adam


    • Jan 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 155 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Better off Read

    Ep 136: Whiti Hereaka chats with Pip

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 51:08


    Last Thursday, Whiti Hereaka was kind enough to come into Wellington Access Radio and have a chat with me on the occasion of the end of the year. I love talking to Whiti and I always learn heaps from her. Whiti has amazing recommendations. I thought I'd list them below along with the songs Whiti chose, which I can't play in the podcast for copyright reasons. Whiti has a great Instagram Songs chosen by Whiti: Short and Roung by The Bug Club Passionflower, Paperbacks and Woodlice by The Bug Club Read the Room (feat. Laetitia Sadier) by Pearl & the Oysters Books Whiti talks about: You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann Movies Whiti talks about: Godzilla Minus One (2023) The Boy and the Heron (2023) Saltburn (2023) TV Whiti Talks about: After the Party (2023) Deadloch (2023) Homecoming (2018) Pushing Daisies (2007)  

    Ep 122: Appetites Talk about Reality TV by Pip Adam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 14:28


    Hi All, This episode a short one, because I figure most of you will be well on your way to New Year's plans. I recorded this version of a talk I gave in November for a Brooklyn School fundraiser which is called Appetites.  It was a fun night, Brannavan Gnanalingam, Emmily Writes, Jo Randerson and I shared a lift to the event which was really nice. Brannavan, Emily and Jo's talks were awesome. Brooklyn School is on Te Atiawa, Taranaki Whānui and Ngati Toa Rangatira land. The topic of my talk was how much a love reality TV. Thanks for listening Pip

    tv new year reality tv appetites pip adam brooklyn school
    Ep 121: Please Unlock to Ride by Pip Adam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 24:45


    Hi Everyone, Welcome to this episode of Better off Read. First of all, apologies for no podcasts in November. Things got a bit on top of me and I wasn't able to record an episode. Beyond a Joke will be back in January, with more conversations with people about things that make us laugh. We'll be starting the year talking to some of the amazing people who took part in the Verb After-Hours: Beyond a Joke event which was held in November. In the meantime, over December I'll be sharing a few recordings of work I've written this year. In this episode, it's a short story I wrote for the amazing journal HEAT. The story is called Please Unlock to Drive and I wrote it after I read an article about e-ecooters being dumped Also in the mix of this story was my sadness and anger over the housing market and gig economy. I am often interested in work and it always finds it's way into my work. Slight, life-meets-fiction fact, my father worked as an Uber driver until the pandemic got too much for him. It was so great to work with Alexandra Christie on this story. HEAT is published by Giramondo who published my book Nothing to See. I've just finished working with Nick Tapper from Giramondo on my next novel Audition which comes out with Giramondo next year. I am so grateful to Giramondo. Nothing to See was scuppered, like so many things, by covid and I am so grateful that they are taking another chance on me with this new book. It is a dream to work with Giramondo. Here's a bit about HEAT from their website HEAT is an Australian literary journal renowned for its dedication to literary quality, and its commitment to publishing innovative and imaginative poetry, fiction, essays, criticism and the hybrid forms. The aim of the magazine has always been to publish innovative Australian and international writers of the highest standard. Fifteen issues were published in the first series, from 1996 to 2000, with internal design by Toni-Hope Caten and covers by Harry Williamson. It was followed by the new series of HEAT, designed by Harry Williamson, with twenty-four issues published between 2001 and 2011. The third series of HEAT commenced publishing bimonthly in 2022, in a new design by Jenny Grigg. It is edited by Alexandra Christie, with the support of a distinguished editorial board. There are two really exciting new podcasts that I wanted to say, Yay!! about. Flying Fetu podcast of some of the sessions that took place at their recent talanoa. The best way to get information about this is by following Flying Fetu on Instagram Rats in the Gutter is a new podcast by Sam Te Kani and Johanna Cosgrove. Rats in the Gutter also has an Instagram account you can follow

    Ep 120: Beyond a Joke 11 - Anna Pendergrast & Kelly Pendergrast talk with Pip Adam about The Laughter Lift from Kermode & Mayo's Take

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 60:35


    Subscribe to Better off Read at https://betteroffread.substack.com Anna and Kelly Pendergrast's latest work is More Zeros and Ones a book they edited which is published by BWB. This book brings together essays from incredibly interesting thinkers and doers who write about environmental science, law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recent developments in technology. I just can't recommend this book enough. I love this blurb from BWB: Many of today's digital technologies inadvertently amplify the power structures and prejudices of wider society. By examining the way digital tools and platforms are designed, built, and maintained, this BWB Text aims to identify how we can do better for everyone in Aotearoa. Anna and Kelly are founders of Antistatic a research and communications consultancy like no other I've come across. I got to talk to Anna and Kelly, as Antistatic, last year about their part in the Flat Earthers exhibition/book/event. Still one of the best things I've ever done. I was interested in talking to Anna and Kelly about humour and laughter for several reasons. Anna and Kelly's work is often playful and because of this I think, is able to say some pretty profound things about some of the power structures that sit in technology. Also, Anna and Kelly do a lot of work in communications - taking very complex ideas and structuring them for different purposes. I was interested in how this deep knowledge of communication gives an insight into what makes us laugh. Ann and Kelly brought the perfect ‘thing that made them laugh' for this kind of conversation. The Laughter Lift is a segment on the Kermode & Mayo's Take podcast. I loved the way this opened up a conversation about jokes and the social act of telling jokes. One of the things I loved talking about was that because we often share an idea of the structure of ‘the joke' with the people are telling jokes to, even when the joke goes wrong it is still funny because it becomes a subversion of the form. This gives me immense hope as I am practicing my ‘bit' for the Verb After Hours - Beyond A Joke night Thursday 3 November, 8.30pm at Meow in Wellington. To which there are still tickets available. This is a shameless self-promotion but also, the folk who are appearing in this event are amazing!!  

    Ep 119: Beyond a Joke 10 - Marolyn Krasner talks with Pip Adam about Hudson Valley Ballers: Lovers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 72:41


    Marolyn has been on the podcast once before in an episode we recorded about the show From the 4410 to the 4412 which Marolyn made with Helen Lehndorf and Charlie Pearson last year. In this episode we touch briefly on that show. I loved recording this conversation because it made me think a lot about the joy of process. I also loved the web-series Marolyn brought as a subject for our chat. Hudson Valley Ballers: Lovers is very funny and you can watch the rest of the series on YouTube as well. Marolyn is currently making an incredible podcast called cyanutopia which is a podcast about cyanotype. I am so interested in cyanotype as an form and I think even if you weren't, Marolyn's podcast is such an amazing opportunity to listen to artists talk about their process and work. Subscribe to Better off Read at https://betteroffread.substack.com

    Ep 118: Beyond a Joke 9 - Rijula Das, author of Small Deaths, talks to Pip Adam about a New Yorker cartoon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 78:52


    Rijula Das' award-winning novel Small Deaths is an amazing book. Set in Shonagachhi and orbiting the violent murder of a sex worker it is one of the most compelling and felt reading experiences I have had this year. It is astounding. Read more and subscribe at: https://betteroffread.substack.com/

    Ep 117: Beyond a Joke 8 - Dominic Hoey tells Pip Adam a funny story and they talk about Poor People With Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 65:48


    To read more and subscribe: https://betteroffread.substack.com/p/ep-117-beyond-a-joke-8-dominic-hoey#details

    Ep 116: Beyond a Joke 7 - Sarah Jane Barnett talks with Pip Adam about Michael Schur's The Good Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 50:54


    To read more and subscribe https://betteroffread.substack.com/

    Ep 115: Beyond a Joke 6 - Brannavan Gnanalingam talks with Pip Adam about Kira Muratova's film The Asthenic Syndrome

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2022 61:34


    To listen and learn more subscribe to the Better off Read Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com

    Ep 114: Beyond a Joke 5 - Rachel O'Neill talks with Pip Adam about Pockets and Everything Everywhere All At Once by the Daniels

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2022 62:38


    To listen and read more subscribe to Better off Read's Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com/

    Ep 113: Beyond a Joke 4 - Anthony Lapwood talks to Pip Adam about 'Goethe in the Roman Campagna' by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 56:56


    Anthony is an incredible fiction writer and you can read more about him and his work on his website www.anthonylapwood.wordpress.com For more information about this episode and to subscribe go to https://betteroffread.substack.com  

    Ep 112: Beyond a Joke 3 - Jordan Hamel talks to Pip Adam about his poem 'Death Coach'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 59:51


    Jordan's new book Everyone is Everyone Except You is out in May 2022 with Dead Bird Books. Click here to read more

    Ep 111: Beyond a Joke 2 - Jonny Potts talks to Pip Adam about Nikolai Gogol's story 'The Nose'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 55:36


    Listen to the latest episode and subscribe on Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com

    Ep 110: Beyond a Joke 1 - Anna Jackson talks to Pip Adam about Anna's book 'Actions & Travels: How poetry works'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 48:21


    Subscribe to Better off Read on Substack In this, the first episode in this series I speak with Anna Jackson abouta single cell from a Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is pretending to be a cow. This turns out to be a really great way into talking to Anna about her amazing new book Actions & Travels: How Poetry Works (Auckland University Press)

    Beyond a Joke! Better of Read's New Home at Substack.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 31:07


    In the last couple of weeks I've been recording and editing the first episodes of the new series Beyond a Joke. In this series, I'm asking guests to bring an object that has made them laugh. Using this object we discuss what makes us laugh, what arts practice can learn about the structures of humor and jokes and so far, quite a lot about where the ‘serious' and the ‘ridiculous' overlap and intersect. So far, I've had two amazing conversations with Anna Jackson about Snoopy and Jonny Potts about ‘Нос Nos | The Nose' by Nikolai Gogol. Both of these episodes will be available in the next few weeks. Episodes for this series come out every two weeks. In other news, Better off Read is shifting to a new home at Substack. My main aim in moving to Substack is to build a bit of community around the podcast. You will still be able to listen Better off Read for free but you are also now able to contribute financially if you're able. I would love to make the podcast sustainable financially on an ongoing basis. An important principle of the podcast is that I pay all guests. Your money makes it possible for me to make the podcast for everyone. Subscribe to Better off Read's Substack Thanks as always for listening and I look forward to being in touch.

    Ep 109: Andy Southall : Time, Love, Memory session from Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 30:17


    Due to Covid the session I was chairing with Andy Southall and Bridget van der Zijpp for the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts was cancelled. I'm really grateful that Andy and Bridget agreed to record a session where we talk about their books under the session theme of Time, Love, Memory. Andy Southall speaks about his new novel Both Feet in Paradise (The Cuba Press)

    Ep 108: Bridget van der Zijpp: Time, Love, Memory session from Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 40:41


    Due to Covid the session I was chairing with Andy Southall and Bridget van der Zijpp for the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts was cancelled. I'm really grateful that Andy and Bridget agreed to record a session where we talk about their books under the session theme of Time, Love, Memory. Bridget van der Zijpp speaks about her new novel I Laugh Me Broken (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

    Ep 107: Elements 21 – Character. Tatyana Kulida talks to Pip Adam about Henry Miller's ‘To Paint is to Love Again'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 49:16


    In the third episode in the Character season of Elements, I talk to Tatyana Kulida about character and how it relates to her work. We use Henry Miller's book ‘To Paint is to Love Again' as a starting point for this discussion. Here is a link to Tatyana's website

    Ep 106: Elements 20 - Character. Tara Black talks to Pip Adam about René Magritte‘s ‘The Treachery of Images‘.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 71:03


    In the second episode in the Character season of Elements, I talk to Tara Black about character and how it relates to her work. We use René Magritte's 'The Treachery of Images' as a starting point for this discussion. Some of the things we talk about are: Here is a link to Tara's website We talk about the books of Scott McCloud Understanding Comics, Making Comics, Reinventing Comics. Here is a link to Scott McCloud's website

    Ep 105: Elements 19 - Character. Rachel O‘Neill talks to Pip Adam about Andrea Arnold‘s film Milk.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 65:40


    In the first episode in the Person/Character season of Elements, I talk to Rachel O'Neill about character and how it relates to their writing. We use Andrea Arnold's film Milk as a starting point for this discussion. CW: Please be aware that Milk contains the death of a baby and deals with the grief resulting from this. Here's a link where you can watch Andrea Arnold's film Milk Here's a link to Rachel's blog Here's a link to Rachel's Instagram

    Ep 104: Elements 18 – Point. Kirsten McDougall talks to Pip Adam about first-person perspective.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 54:54


    In the fourth episode in the Point season of Elements, I talk to Kirsten McDougall about point of view and how it relates to her writing. We use as starting point for this discussion first-person perspective. Some of the things we talk about are: Here's a link to Kirsten's new book She's a Killer Here's a link to Maggie Shipstead's book Great Circle Here's a link to Olga Ravn's book The Employees Exercise: Think of three people who you saw yesterday. Now write three first-person perspectives of yesterday. What does each person choose to tell you about their day?

    Ep 103: Elements 17 - Point. Ebony Lamb talks to Pip Adam about a self-portrait photographed by Ebony Lamb.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 62:49


    In the third episode in the Point season of Elements, I talk to Ebony Lamb about point of view and how it relates to her work as a photographer and song-writer. We use as starting point for this discussion Ebony's portrait below. Which you can see here: https://better-read.com/2021/09/08/ep-103-elements-17/  

    Ep 102: Elements 16 - Point. Cassie Hart talks to Pip Adam about Butcherbird by Cassie Hart.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 51:19


    Some of the things we talk about are: Here's a link to Cassie's website which includes information about all of Cassie's work Exercise: Cassie and I talk about using existing structures. Maybe you could think of a 'type' of story - a romance, a whodunit, a first contact novel. Now spend 30 seconds writing everything about that type of story that you know. Now take another type of story and write it in using your list. So, you might end up writing a romance using the rules of a murder mystery, or a first contact novel as a noire detective story. Here's a link to Pip's article 'The story of a take-down'

    Ep 101: Elements 15 - Point. Emma Hislop talks to Pip Adam about Daisy Johnson's short story 'The Hunt'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 65:08


    In the second episode in the Point season of Elements, I talk to Emma Hislop about point of view and what it is to write it. We use as starting point for this discussion Daisy Johnson's short story 'The Hunt' which is part of 'The Scattering: a story in three parts' and is published in Johnson's amazing collection Fen. Here's a link to more information about Fen Some of the things we talk about are: Here's a link to Emma Hislop's short story 'The Game' Here's a link to Sarah Hall's short story 'Mrs Fox' Here's a link to Karen Russel's short story 'Orange World' Here's a link to Emma's Instagram Here's a link to Emma on Twitter Exercise: Emma's story 'The Game' does an amazing job of limiting what the point of view character knows. Think of an object. Name three facts about this object. Now get three people in the room with this object and give each of them one of the facts about the object but not the other two. Each of them wants the object. Now write the dialogue.

    Ep 100: Elements 14 – Point. Cassandra Barnett talks to Pip Adam about a Wooden Croaking Frog Percussion Instrument.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 68:17


    First of all, thank you so much for helping us reach 100 episodes. I am very grateful to everyone who has been on the podcast and everyone who has listened. Thank you. Show notes at: https://better-read.com/2021/07/09/ep-100-elements-14/

    Ep 99: Elements 13 – Plot. Ash Davida Jane talks to Pip Adam about ‘Kiss of the Sun' by Mary Ruefle and ‘pool party' by Ash Davida Jane.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 65:52


    https://better-read.com/2021/06/21/ep-99-ash-davida-jane/ Ash reads both poems at the start of this podcast but you can read ‘Kiss of the Sun' by Mary Ruefle here https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/ruefle/KissoftheSun.html And ‘pool party' is in Ash's collection How to Live with Mammal is published by VUP Some of the things we talk about are: Heather Christle's The Crying Book Intan Paramaditha's choose your own adventure novel The Wandering Vivian Gornick's The Situation and the Story Here is an interview with David Wallace-Wells who wrote The Uninhabitable Earth: A story of the future

    Ep 98: Elements 12 - Place. Richard Larsen talks to Pip Adam about the first Glass Vaults' album 'Glass'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 60:35


    In this bonus 'Place' episode of Elements, I talk to Richard Larsen about the first Glass Vaults album 'Glass' as a way to talk about place and music in place Some of the things we talk about are: We talk a lot about one of Richard's projects Glass Vaults. Glass Vaults are Richard Larsen, Bevan Smith, Rowan Pierce + friends. Bevan makes music as Aspen, Introverted Dancefloor and Signer. Signer has been releasing editions of his Isolated Dreams series of EPs onto Bandcamp at an impressively steady clip, since kicking off the low key project in October 2020. You can listen to Signer's 'Isolated Dreams EP07' here: https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/18545/Listen-To-Signers-Isolated-Dreams-EP07.utr Rowan Pierce is multi award winning artist who produces and exhibits work, collaboratively and individually, across a range of mediums including live performance, music, film and installation. You can see Rowan's work in Te Mauri o Pōhutu a new series of collaborative installation and time-based artworks by Bianca Hyslop, Rowan Pierce and Tūī Matira Ranapiri Ransfield. https://toiponeke.nz/events/2021temauriopohutu Glass Vaults is on Bandcamp and you can listen and buy their music here: https://glassvaults.bandcamp.com/ Richard also makes work as Richard Dada which is also on Bandcamp: https://dadada.bandcamp.com/ Richard mentions David Byrne talking about how architecture helped music evolve. Here is a TED talk David Byrne gave about this topic: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve/transcript Toward the end we talk about the Glass Vaults' song 'Sojourn'. You can watch the video Richard talks about here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4f95qIzBvE You can see Glass Vaults performing live on RNZ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptTEY248pE0

    Ep 97: Elements 11 - Plot. Doug Dillaman talks to Pip Adam about Formula 1: Drive To Survive S3E9

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 79:49


    Formula 1: Drive to Survive is a Netflix Original series which you can read about here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_1:_Drive_to_Survive Doug's film You Could Have Seen The Mona Lisa is showing at the 2021 Doc Edge Festival 4-11 June https://festival.docedge.nz/film/you-could-have-seen-the-mona-lisa/ Doug's podcast which he makes with Steve Skeet and Darren Waugh is Ludicrously Specific https://www.stitcher.com/show/ludicrously-specific Doug's feature is Jake and you can read about it and find out how to see it here: http://www.jakethemovie.com/ Doug is on Twitter https://twitter.com/dillamonster

    Ep 96: Elements 10 - Plot. Laura Vincent talks to Pip Adam about her poems 'ACTIVITIES' and 'Anecdotal happiness'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 60:58


    Laura chose two of her poems to talk about, you can read them here: ACTIVITIES by Laura Vincent, The Friday Poem in The Spinoff https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/12-07-2019/the-friday-poem-activities-by-laura-vincent/ Anecdotal happiness by Laura Vincent, The Friday Poem in The Spinoff https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/10-01-2020/the-friday-poem-anecdotal-happiness-by-laura-vincent/ Some of the things we talk about are: We talk about the work of Billy Wilder in particular his film Ace in the Hole: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043338/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_33 Laura blogs at Hungry and Frozen https://hungryandfrozen.com/ where you can also find Laura's Patreon. Other good places to find Laura are on here Twitter account https://twitter.com/HungryandFrozen, Intragram https://www.instagram.com/hungryandfrozen/ and TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hungryandfrozen

    Ep 95: Elements 9 - Plot M. Darusha Wehm talks to Pip Adam (Special Live-streamed Episode for Wellington Rape Crisis Annual Appeal Week)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 54:28


    To raise awareness, and hopefully some money, for the Wellington Rape Crisis Annual Appeal we live-streamed this episode of Better off Read on Sunday 2 May at 8.00 pm. I talked with M. Darusha Wehm about their work with a special focus on narrative and plot. I'm particularly excited to talk to Darusha about their new work The Qubit Zirconium a riotous science fantasy novel from the smash hit game, KeyForge. We don't talk directly about sexual violence in this live-stream, but I do talk at the start of the episode, in a general way, about the work Wellington Rape Crisis does. You can watch the livestream on PIp's YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yazbjVRKrqE&t=215s You can donate to Wellington Rape Crisis at https://wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz/donate-now/

    Ep 94: Elements 8 - Plot. Dan Kois talks to Pip Adam about a sound mixing board.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 58:45


    In the second episode in the Plot season of Elements, I talk to Dan Kois about plot and narrative and what it is to write it.  Some of the things we talk about are: You can read about Dan's novel Vintage Contemporaries here https://www.dankois.com/vintage-contemporaries We talk about Laurie Colwin's book Happy all the Time https://www.lauriecolwin.com/books Jenny Offill's Department of Speculation https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/14/dept-speculation-review-jenny-offill

    Ep 93: Elements 7 - Plot. Ingrid Horrocks talks to Pip Adam about water and her work Where We Swim.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 57:19


    In the first episode in the Plot season of Elements, I talk to Ingrid Horrocks about plot and narrative and what it is to write it.  Some of the things we talk about are: Ingrid's new book is Where We Swim published by VUP https://vup.victoria.ac.nz/where-we-swim/ Ingrid wrote a great piece for The SpinOff about reading during a pandemic and you can read that here https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/28-03-2021/the-climate-crisis-is-seeping-into-books-and-making-them-really-really-weird/ You can read an excerpt from Where We Swim here https://www.newsroom.co.nz/readingroom/on-the-amazon Toward the end of the conversation we talk about a paper Ingrid and Dr Laura Jean McKay are teaching at Massey called 'Eco-fictions and Non-Fictions'. You can read about that course here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/programme-course/course.cfm?course_code=139309

    Ep 92: Elements 6 – Place. Ann Shelton talks to Pip Adam about her work The Witch, Pennyroyal (Mentha sp.), 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 53:55


    In the sixth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Ann Shelton about place and what it is to write it.  Some of the things we talk about are: You can see and read about Ann’s work at her website https://annshelton.com/ Including ‘The Witch’ https://annshelton.com/works/a-lovers-herbal A Lovers’ Herbal can be viewed on the Denny Dimin Gallery website here  —  https://dennydimingallery.com/news/virtual_exhibition/ann-shelton-2/ One important thing to note, because of the nature of Ann’s work is that the plants discussed in these texts, and their uses, can be dangerous, even lethal. These texts are presented here as background research for a body of artworks and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Do not mess with these plants. Toward the end of the podcast we talk about New York being in lockdown for a year, we just want to acknowledge that New York was in varying degrees of lockdown over this time.   Exercise: Ann talks about starting with a plant and composing around it. I wonder if this could be an interesting way to start a piece of writing. You could find out about the uses of a plant you see every day. Or you could start with a physical condition and find a plant associated with this. Then free write. Thank you Copyright Licensing New Zealand for funding the Elements series.

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    Ep 91: Elements 5 - Place. Kerry Donovan Brown talks to Pip Adam about Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Samuel Whiskers' or 'The Roly-Poly Pudding'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 64:02


    In the fifth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Kerry Donovan Brown about place and what it is to write it.  Kerry's essay 'Queer Debris: A personal essay on queer love and loneliness in response to Sam Duckor-Jones’s People From The Pit Stand Up and Chris Tse’s he’s so MASC.' https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/queer-debris

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    Ep 90: Elements 4 – Place. Charlie Pearson, Helen Lehndorf and Marolyn Krasner talk to Pip Adam about the postcodes 4410 to 4412.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 64:40


    In the forth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Charlie Pearson, Helen Lehndorf and Marolyn Krasner about place and what it is to write it. This episode was recording the morning after there incredible show From the 4410 to the 4412. Snails: Artist run spaces is an amazing place in Palmerston North you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/snailsartistrunspace/ Marolyn has an amazing website where you can find out more about her book The Radicals https://www.marolynkrasner.com/

    Ep 89: Elements 3 – Place. Rose Lu talks to Pip Adam about a cleaver.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 48:21


    In the third episode in the Place season of Elements, Pip Adam talks to Rose Lu about place and what it is to write it.  All Who Live on Islands by Rose Lu which is published by VUP https://vup.victoria.ac.nz/all-who-live-on-islands/ The Radio New Zealand adaptation of Rose's book All Who Live on Islands https://www.rnz.co.nz/collections/readings/all-who-live-on-islands-by-rose-lu The Kāpiti Writers Retreat run by Writers Practice https://writerspractice.nz/ I talk about 'an artist' - that artist is the amazing Julian Oliver. The lecture I am talking about is this one from 2017 "TX/RX: Spectrum and the City" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9UIEnxlw5k&t=429s Exercise: What does it feel like to use an object to write about place. Look around, pick up the first you-sized object you see. Now write about place through this object. Perhaps start with the sentence, 'I am in the [object name]...'. Thank you Copyright Licensing New Zealand for funding the Elements series.  

    elements islands cleaver radio new zealand writers retreat vup pip adam
    Ep 88: Elements 2 – Place. Victor Rodger talks to Pip Adam about Club Paradiso.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 62:25


    Our first season of Elements we talk about Place and what it is to write where. In this episode Pip Adam talks to Victor Rodger about Club Paradiso. https://better-read.com/2021/01/20/ep-88-victor-rodger/

    club elements paradiso pip adam victor rodger
    Ep 87: Elements 1 – Place. Michaela Keeble talks to Pip Adam about a set of juvenile pāua shell from the beach where she lives.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 49:14


    Our first season of Elements we talk about Place and what it is to write where. In this episode Pip Adam talks to Michaela Keeble about a set of juvenile pāua shell from the beach where she lives. https://better-read.com/2021/01/17/ep-87-michaela-keeble/

    Announcing the Elements Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 5:22


    Announcing the Elements series, four seasons throughout the year, each focused on a particular element: Place, Plot, Point and Character.  https://better-read.com/2021/01/03/announcing-the-elements-series/

    character elements plot elements series
    Ep 86: Dan Kois talks to Pip Adam about 'Train Dreams' by Denis Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 55:35


    Pip Adam talks to writer, editor and podcaster Dan Kois about Denis Johnson's 2011 novella Train Dreams   Find out more on our website: https://better-read.com/  

    Ep 85: Caitlin Smith talks to Pip Adam about ‘Shoulder Charge’ by Jesca Hoop and ‘Another Goodbye’ by Caitlin Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 57:50


    Pip Adam talks to Caitlin Smith about her new album You Have Reached Your Destination by Brave Caitlin Smith's Imaginary Band  Caitlin choose two songs - Jesca Hoop's 'Shoulder Charge' and Caitlin's song 'Another Goodbye' You can listen to both songs on the Better off Read website: https://better-read.com/  

    charge shoulder jesca hoop caitlin smith pip adam
    Ep 84: Renter Writes - Eamonn Marra and Murdoch Stephens talk to Dr Elinor Chisholm at Unity Books Wellington

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 45:38


    This is a recording of an event that took place at Unity Books on 14 October 2020. Thanks to Eamonn Marra for the recording.

    wellington writes chisholm renter unity books eamonn marra murdoch stephens
    Ep 83: Brannavan Gnanalingam and Pip Adam talk to Kirsten McDougall at Unity Books Wellington

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 46:37


    This is a recording of a live event held at Unity Books on 23 September 2020. Brannavan Gnanalingam talks about his new novel Sprigs and Pip Adam talks about her new novel Nothing to See. Writer Kirsten McDougall chairs the conversation.

    wellington mcdougall sprigs unity books pip adam
    Ep 82: Sound Series 10 - Showcase with Sudha Rao

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 41:59


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today we showcase the work Sudha Roa created in response to the series. https://better-read.com

    Ep 81: Sound Series 9 - Cassandra Barnett and Luke Buda

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 59:31


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Cassandra Barnett and Luke Buda talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects. To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

    sound barnett luke buda pip adam
    Ep 80: Sound Series 8 - Anna Smaill and David Long

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 58:49


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Anna Smaill and David Long talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects. To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

    sound david long pip adam anna smaill
    Sounds Series - The Exercises

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 6:22


    For the final episode of the Sound Series I'm hoping to put together a showcase of work created in response to the exercises I've been offering throughout the series. I'd love to receive your work by Thursday 24 September You can send your responses to me at: betterreadnz@gmail.com Or if you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me here. If none of the exercises appeal, you could also send a recording of you reading a piece of your own work that you think is interesting in relation to sound. You can read all the exercises at: https://better-read.com/2020/09/13/episode-80/

    Ep 79: Sound Series 7 - Kerry Ann Lee and Jackson Nieuwland

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 67:45


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Kerry Ann Lee and Jackson Nieuwland talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects. To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

    Ep 78: Sound Series 6 - Carl Shuker and Simon Sweetman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 64:41


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Carl Shuker and Simon Sweetman talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects. Carl chose the live version of the song 'Work' by Lou Reed and John Cale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdl5fJ-c_lA And Simon chose the Schnell Fenster song 'Whisper' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2LlG1aIKRA&list=OLAK5uy_nR1bdEDNSnWmCSUeBz5pI76ebWd1Inx_Y To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

    work sound lou reed series 6 pip adam schnell fenster
    Ep 77: Sound Series 5 - Brannavan Gnanalingam and Tokerau Wilson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 74:45


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Brannavan Gnanalingam and Tokerau Wilson talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects. Brannavan chose the sound of rain on a roof and Tokerau chose the sound of paper - with a twist. To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

    sound pip adam
    Ep 76: Sound Series 4 - Sinead Overbye and Charlotte Forrester

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 50:31


    In the Sound Series I’ll be talking to 18 writers, musicians and other artists about how sound features in their work. Today Sinead Overbye and Charlotte Forrester talk to Pip Adam about two sound objects.   Sinead chooses 'Give it To Me' by Motte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJc6FW0PXQM Charlotte chooses 'Seekers Who Are Lovers' by the Cocteau Twins https://open.spotify.com/track/6YEAWiv3msB1SozMFLNbYG?si=A7ZRg6YHTPS47-YPzHIRtg To hear these sounds and for information about how to submit responses to exercises to our Showcase can be found on our website https://better-read.com

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