What We Talk About

You can learn a lot from Youtube, and Joel Hansby has. Or at least a little bit about a lot of different things. Hear Joel talk about various obsessions and how Youtube has fuelled them all. See Joel perform in Dorkward with Josh Davies at Ivy Bar in Wellington and Q Theatre in Auckland. Tickets from comedyfestival.co.nz

When we approached James about performing at What We Talk About, he had two ideas for obsessions, Pokemon or his porn addiction. While we love Pokemon, we could not help but ask him to talk about his porn addiction. See James Roque in James Roque Wants to Show you Something, at Q Theatre this week, and in Frickin Dangerous Bro's Money in the Bank at Basement Theatre this week and BATS Theatre next week.

Shetland is a tiny set of islands a fourteen hour ferry ride north of Scotland and is Marjolein Robertson's home. She has been in New Zealand touring her show Relations in the Fringe Festivals and we were lucky enough to share a venue with her at Auckland Fringe and have her talking about her obsession with Shetland Folklore on our podcast. You can see Marjolein Robertson on BBC's The Social talking about Shetland Life.

Hamish Parkinson doesn't have any long running obsessions but his short lived obsessions have led him to some odd situations. Hear Hamish talk about running into racists on the beach and his pretty bird collection. See Hamish in Fuq Bois in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Tickets from comedyfestival.co.nz

Most people don’t want to known as having an obsession with celebrities, but Alice Snedden isn't most people. Listen to Alice talk about the lengths she's gone to encounter celebrities and try to understand the level of her obsession.   See Alice in Self Titled in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Tickets from comedyfestival.co.nz

It was incredibly easy to book Chris Parker to speak at What We Talk About because Chris will never turn down an opportunity to be on stage. Why? Because Chris loves attention. He has loved it his entire life, so listen to this episode and help Chris fulfil is ongoing goal of constant attention.  See Chris in D.O.C.ing by Parker and Sainsbury in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival at Basement Bar in Auckland. Tickets from comedyfestival.co.nz

It is not am exaggeration to say philosophy has changed Ray O'Leary's life. Ever since he was a teenager it has interested him, and he followed that interest through to studying it at university, despite his parents disapproval. Hear how philosophy hooked Ray, and how he has applied it to his life to make him who he is today. See Ray's Billy T Award Nominated Show 'A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism' in the upcoming New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Tickets from comedyfestival.co.nz

If someone explains to you the plot of Doctor Who, you might not think it seems that interesting, but it's huge cult following will tell you otherwise. Hear Josh talk about what makes Doctor Who so amazing, and why it has stuck with him as his favourite TV show for so long. See Josh Davies perform in the NZ International Comedy Festival in Dorkward with Joel Hansby. Tickets available at comedyfestival.co.nz

We all have a special place in our heart for the television we grew up watching, but it usually doesn't quite go as far as Paul's obsession. Hear him talk about his favourite weird families from 1980s sitcoms and sing the theme songs from memory. See Paul in Talk Show and Tell an alternative comedy showcase the first Thursday of every month at Golden Dawn in Auckland. 

At the same time most children were fascinated by cartoons, Baz Macdonald was fostering his obsession with Jeff Wayne's disco funk masterpiece musical version of War of the Worlds. This opened up a whole world of weirdness that has seen Baz through to adulthood. Recorded at a fundraiser for Youthline and the NZ Mental Health Foundation. If you enjoyed this episode please consider donating. We had technical difficulties on the night so please excuse the audio quality.  

Sometimes you need something to remind you about how terrible people are. Lucky for Aaron Pyke we have the stuff.co.nz comments section. Hear Aaron talk about the origin of this obsession and his favourite types of comments now.  Recorded at a fundraiser for Youthline and the NZ Mental Health Foundation. If you enjoyed this episode please consider donating. We had technical difficulties on the night so please excuse the audio quality.

There isn't much that Jess Brien loves more than Home and Away. It's made her friends, dominated her social media and taken up a lot of her life. She has learnt to embrace her obsession and has come out to her friends and family as a Home and Away lover. Hear the extents of Jess' obsession and what it is about it that draws her in.  We had technical dificulties on the night so please excuse the audio quality. 

Pip has been told throughout her life she needs to cheer up. She's spent years researching happiness and what it can do for you and how to attain it, and she has finally found the answer.   Pip Adam is the author of the short story collection Everything We Hoped For, which won the NZ Post best first book award in 2011, and the novel I'm Working on a Building, and is the host of Better Off Read, a podcast about reading and writing in New Zealand. You can get her books from Victoria University Press, and you can listen to her podcast at betterreadnz.wordpress.com

John Summers' money obsession isn't with saving money, or making money, he doesn't have much interest in those things, it's with not spending money. Hear John talk about where this obsession came from, and how it impacts his life today.  John Summers is the author of the excellent book of personal essays, 'The Mermaid Boy', published by Hue & Cry Press in 2015. He won the non fiction award in the 2016 Sunday Star Times short story competition for his essay 'Missing' and was one of the recipients of the 2017 D'Arcy Writers Grants. 

Dame Donnatella Holmes, one of NZ's top actors and television hosts is often forgotten. But Laura Robinson hasn't forgotten about her. Hear Laura talk through Donnatella Holmes' career and learn about this unforgettable NZ Celebrity. Laura Robinson is the head writer and creator of the suburban wellington web series BURBS. You can watch the first season of BURBS at www.burbs.tv and you can support their second season by contrubuting to their pledgeme campaign

German is not often appreciated as a language, it's been described as ugly be many famous writers, and the country has a history that is not often romanticised. Despite this Henrietta Bollinger has grown an obsession with German and Germany. Hear her talk about what it is that obsessed her, and why it's important to love learning foreign languages.  Henrietta Bollinger is a playwright , a poet and an accidental sociologist. Her plays have been staged in New Zealand, Australia and England.  Her most recent writing has been for Salient, discussing current disability issues in the column Token Cripple.

There's nothing better than a true underdog story, and that's why Joseph Moore loves the Wellington Phoenix. The ups and downs of the Wellington Phoenix have mirrored the ups and downs of Joseph's own life, and he'll go to the ends of the earth to support him.  This is the final episode of season 3 of What We Talk About, recorded live at Montecristo during the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in Auckland. We'll be back with more new episodes before the end of the year. 

There's nothing Brynley won't do to get free stuff, even if it makes no sense. She takes full advantage of free samples, entering every competition available and the even occasional theft. Hear Brynley describe her obsession for free stuff, how it's affected her life and some of her best hauls.

The words 'renaissance man' is used to describe a person who's expertise span several fields, and gets thrown around a lot undeservedly. When Jonny Potts calls Cliff Twemlo a renaissance man, he's absolutely correct. Cliff was a nightclub bouncer, film maker, library music composer, extra, body builder and novelist, and renaissance man is perhaps the only way you can possibly describe him. Hear Jonny describe Cliff's history and what it is about Cliff Twemlo that obsesses him.  Jonny is our second return speaker in What We Talk About, listen to his first episode featuring his obsession with Whanganui in episode 11. 

Melanie Bracewell has been playing Neopets for most of her life. Hear her talk about stories from her Neopets past, Falling out with Neopets friends and how to come up with the perfect Neopets username. 

It took a while for Guy Williams to work out what he would talk about for What We Talk About. After tossing up a range of subjects including Sneakers, Basketball Podcasts and Going on the Computer, Guy decided on Musicals. Listen in to hear Guy talk about his favourite musicals and what it is about them that appeals to him. This is the first repeated obsession for What We Talk About, it was first covered by Abby Howells way back in Episode 7. Guy's sister Maria also covered her love for musical theatre in her episode on Lin-Manuel Miranda (Episode 34). 

Cricket is a divisive subject, some people think it's incredibly boring, and some people think it is the best and most enjoyable sport. Louise is firmly in group number 2. Louise's interest in cricket has been with her since her childhood when her Dad would take her cricket games. Hear Louise talk about her obsession with cricket and some of her favourite cricket related memories. 

When we asked Sam Smith to speak at What We Talk About we assumed he would talk about his obsession with ska band Reel Big Fish, considering his relentless #BringRBFtoNZ campaign. But Sam being an obsessive personality has more than one obsession, and after hearing him talk about Disneyland you will understand why he chose to talk about Disneyland. 

Jamaine Ross is a self confessed Pro Wrestling nerd. As a kid, inspired by The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jamaine and his friends started a back yard wrestling federation. And lately Jamaine and some friends through comedy have started a Wrestling Podcast 'Two and a Half Count', this podcast led him to becoming part of the Auckland Pro Wrestling community. Hear Jamaine talk about the ins and outs of Professional Wrestling in New Zealand and how his obsession has developed over the years. 

Do you remember at high school when there was that one person who fascinated you for no reason. You may not have been friends, you may have never even talked but something about them drew you in. For Guy Montgomery, that was Warren, hear him talk about his obsession with Warren in one of the weirdest episodes of What We Talk About yet. 

Lots of people are obsessed with food. Not many people are obsessed with food the same way Rose Matafeo is obsessed with food. Once you've heard Rose talk about her favourite toys from her childhood, recipes, her food fantasies and her favourite youtube videos you might understand how deep this obsession goes. 

Have you ever taken an online quiz, then taken it again straight away after because you didn't like the result? Natasha Hoyland has. She has done so many quizzes so many times that it has become an obsession. Hear Natasha talk about her obsession with quizzes here.

Nic Sampson has been in enough Bad Shakespeare performances in his life that it must be an obsession. Since high school, Nic's obsession has been fueled by terrible sets, bad acting and mimed trotting. Hear Nic tell you about some of his favourite bad Shakespeare experiences and about what makes bad Shakespeare so entertaining. 

Brannavan Gnanalingam has always been interested in New Zealand's Sporting Performance in the Summer Olympics. His own sporting performance has never got him there himself, so he has had to make up for it with dedication to watching the Olympics. Hear Brannavan talk about what it is about the Olympics which draws him in and some of his personal Olympic highlights.  Brannavan Ganalingam is the author of four novels. His latest 'A Briefcase, Two Pies and a Penthouse' was recently released though Lawrence and Gibson and is available to purchase at www.lawrenceandgibson.co.nz/

Fiona McNamara has always dreamed of having very long hair. This obsession with having long hair developed into selling her own hair. Now she is obsessed with the online human hair market. Hear Fi talk about the intricacies of online human hair market and the value of her own head. Fiona is a member of Wellington experimental theatre company Binge Culture. Find out more about them at bingeculture.co.nz

In our gut there are millions of bacteria which work together to maintain our health which allows them and us to live. Bacteria essential for humans to survive and we don't talk about them enough. Listen to Ania Upstill talk about Gut Bacteria and gain a new appreciation of everything they do for us. Ania Upstill is the creative director of Shakespearian theatre company The Lord Lackbeards. She has directed, performed and loved Shakespeare for twenty years. 

Sarah Tuck has a dream of moving to Lyall Bay or Miramar so she can sit at home and watch all the airplanes come into the airport. But she know she cannot do this, because then she'll never get any work done. Airplanes distract Sarah too much. Sarah Tuck is a member of the theatre company Pat-A-Cake Productions, and was half of the hit NZ Fringe show 'The Offensive Nipple Show' which will be coming to Melbourne Fringe later this year. She is also a co founder of social enterprise, 'CoLiberate', which is developing. a creative hub to make your mental well-being a daily practise. Find out more at www.coliberate.co.nz

When you're a teenager it's quite normal to get into bad horror films, but then you grow out of them in just a few years. This didn't happen to Hayden Frost, he instead went deeper. Hear Hayden talk about his favourite cult and exploitation films and what it is about them that fascinates him. Hayden Frost co hosts the podcast 'Never Repeats', a film by film journey of New Zealand Cinema. You can listen to it at https://neverrepeats.co.nz/

Minecraft is addictive, that's a well established fact. Minecraft is so addictive that instead of preparing for What We Talk About Harriet Hughes spent her time playing Minecraft. But her passion for Minecraft shone through regardless. Harriet Hughes is a member of Discharge Comedy Troupe. You can see their videos on Youtube by searching for 'Discharge Comedy'.

Ellie Stewart loves Nigella Lawson. Nigella's philosophies on taste, simple cooking and food culture has influenced Ellie's own views on cooking and eating. Let Ellie tell you about what it is about Nigella that is so revolutionary. Ellie Stewart is a member of The Bacchanals and is a founding member of the Wellington Footlights.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has recently blown up with the success of Hamilton, and Maria Williams has been obsessed since the very beginning. Maria has always been interested in musicals, she wrote her first musical during science class at high school set to the music of Destiny Child. When everyone else at Maria's uni hall was listening to T Pain's 'Apple Bottom Jeans', she was listening to musical theatre soundtracks, which is where she was introduced to Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In The Heights', just weeks after it's broadway premiere. 

Robbie Nicol's brand of cartoony anti establishment satire has been making waves in New Zealand with his satirical web series White Man Behind a Desk over the past year, but his interest in anti establishmentarian comedy stretches back much further. Hear Robbie Nicol talk about how and why Animaniacs have influenced and inspired him You can listen to Robbie's own podcast by searching 'How'd It Go' wherever you get your podcasts, see his Brief History of New Zealand Satire documentary at The Pantograph Punch, and become a patron of White Man Behind a Desk at www.patreon.com/whitemanbehindadesk.

Ever since Delia Cormack left food in her locker at high school she has been obsessed with fermenting foods. Hear Delia talk about the wonders of kimchi, how to make sauerkraut and her future plans to make something called nut cheese.

The word quit comes from Middle English and it means ‘to be set free’. Ines Maria Almeida has quit jobs, countries, hobbies and much more. She's good at it. It’s in her blood. It’s an obsession. Hear Ines talk about her history of quitting and what it is about it that obsesses her.  Ines is currently working on a book of essays called ‘Saudade’ an untranslatable Portuguese word that relates to absence and nostalgia, she will be travelling to Lisbon in July to participate in the Disquiet Literary Program.

Most people use their What We Talk About story to talk about something they're interested in or something they like, but with Autism, which Charlotte Simmonds both studies and has, that is not the definition of an obsession, in Autism Literature an obsession is something that causes deep distress. So Charlotte is talking about her obsession with conservation.  You can buy Charlotte's book 'The World's Fastest Flower' from Victoria University Press. 

Most people replace their phones every couple of years, but not David Klein, he's had his phone for five years, it's travelled with him around the world, moved countries and been a huge part of his life. The secret? David has a 'dumb phone'. David Klein is a science storyteller. He won best newcomer in the 2015 New Zealand Fringe Festival for his show 'Towards a Better Understanding of the Universe' and will be touring New Zealand at the end of the year. 

Murdoch Stephens is a writer an activist and is behind the 'Doing Our Bit' campaign to double New Zealand's refugee quota. He claims the only things he loves are the things that make him depressed, but listening to him talk about the Kerala Vadu Mango and Bengali Mixed Veg pickles from Mothers Recipe Brand we know thats not true.

Claire O'Loughlin is a performer and member of Wellington experimental theatre collective Binge Culture, but she did not grow up in Wellington, she grew up on a boat travelling the world. Of all the places she visited the place that lead to obsession was the Chagos Islands. Hear Claire talk about the Chagos Islands and tell us why they left such a lasting impression.

Luke Rowell is best known for his electronic music projects Disasteradio and Eyeliner, but before he was making electronic music of his own he was obsessed with other music made on computers. This lead to a lifetime obsession with computer music, from sample packs from the 80s to synthesisers to vocoders, in this What We Talk About you'll hear about Luke's favourite sounds.

Daniel John Smith plans to live forever, which we are very happy about because he is an incredible comedian and a century's experience will only make him better. He already has won Wellington's best comedian in the 2015 Wellington Comedy Awards, best Newcomer in the 2014 Wellington Comedy Awards and the 2014 Wellington Raw Comedy Competition. He performed on TV3's AotearoHA: Next big Things and will perform at the Opera House as part of First Laughs in the 2016 Comedy Festival. You can see his show Children and Other Mistakes in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival at Cavern Club in Wellington from the 26-30 April and Cellar at Q Theatre from 3-7 May. More information and tickets can be found at comedyfestival.co.nz

Claire Harris is an artist and MFA student. Exploiting her irrepressible fangirl obsessions and the milestone media moments of her memory continues to be central to her artistic practice and lifestyle, which makes her a perfect speaker in What We Talk About. Over the last five years Claire Harris has celebrated Lindsay Lohan's birthday by performing an endurance artwork 'Happy Birthday Lindsay Lohan', watching Lindsay Lohan films chronologically for an hour for every year of Lindsay Lohan's life. So of course, Claire has decided to talk about Lindsay Lohan.

Alice Brine is unable to do anything without an obsessive drive, this has lead her to become one of Wellington's top comedians in just a couple of years, she also produces Lip Sync Battles and The Watercooler and has created the viral 'Big Dog Walk with Lots of Dogs' which will be happening in many centres around the world on April 9th.  You can see Alice in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in BRINESTORM at BATS Theatre in Wellington from 26-30 April and at The Basement Theatre in Auckland from 10-14 May buy tickets and find out more information at comedyfestival.co.nz

Callum Devlin is a good friend of What We Talk About. He made our new logo and our theme music ( which you can buy at https://thegreatdanger.bandcamp.com/album/the-dance-of-not-death) and is a cool, interesting, passionate person. We are really happy to have him as our first guest speaker of Season 2 of What We Talk About, recorded during the 2016 New Zealand Fringe Festival talking about his secret obsession with vlogs.

In February Michael Boyes, one of What We Talk About's guest speakers passed away. It was sudden and hard to comprehend and was a significant loss to the communities he was part of. Michael was an ideal guest speaker for What We Talk About; he had an abundance of passion, enthusiasm, charisma and was incredibly funny, everything we look for in performers. We have left the intro on the night which is how Michael asked to be introduced (apart from the blue suit part, that was us). When we gave the speakers the opportunity to plug something Michael recommended the 1970s television series Upstairs, Downstairs, so you should all go out and watch that. Our hearts go out to Michaels family and friends and we'll always miss him.

When Jean approached us last year to host a fundraiser for her Shakespeare's Globe Scholarship we were excited, her What We Talk About on Fan Fiction was one of our absolute favourites and we were really excited to have her back as our first return guest speaker.  Hear Jean talk about how Nancy Mitford wrote about women's sexual agency and desires years before the sexual revolution of the 1960s. 

The long running Sweet Valley High series ran for twenty years, and features 143 books (not including Sweet Valley Senior Year, Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley University, Sweet Valley Junior High or The Unicorn Club) set in the Junior year of high school. Sasha Tilly lets us into some of the highlights, the scandals, love interests, and deaths in the world of Sweet Valley High.