Alex Casey is a pop culture writer and expert and also an incredible investigative journalist. This week she combined the two to investigate why popular global shows in New Zealand are just a little bit shorter than overseas in ‘Mystery of the missing minutes: Why are TV shows shorter in New Zealand?’ And what happens when the answer to a question is a little bit boring but you still want to write about it?
Plus, there’s wild chat about Lorde’s new album teaser and why it suggests her greatest ever work is about to come out.
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19:28
What does broadcast TV in NZ look like now?
As the premier local TV writer at The Spinoff, Tara spends a good chunk of her time thinking about what’s on our screens and why. This year has gotten off to a roaring start, with the big hitters of television returning, like Severance, White Lotus and Handmaid’s Tale, as well as new trendsetters like Adolescence. Tara joins Behind the Story to talk old favourites and the current state of broadcast television in New Zealand.
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16:19
The war on woke continues as people march for gender-affirming care
On Sunday 23rd March, hundreds marched to parliament in support of gender-affirming care for youth. Meanwhile, Winston Peters declared a “war on woke” in his state of the nation address. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith wrapped the two together in a story we published earlier this week, calling the dichotomy “two visions of New Zealand”. She joins Gabi Lardies to talk about all the attention on trans healthcare and the so-called “woke mind virus”.
A vision of two New Zealands: The ‘war on woke’ and a hīkoi for trans healthcare
The Winston Peters glossary
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27:22
The Spinoff Book Club - Live in Wellington!
A five-strong line-up of guests began with avid reader Courtney Johnston who discussed her passion for reading and the books she loves most; writers Carl Shuker and Duncan Sarkies joined to chat about their latest novels and how they came to be; to round off the group Unity Books manager Susanna Andrew and Unity's Aotearoa book buyer Melissa Oliver (Ngāti Porou) joined the stage to give insights on the health of our publishing sector, current trends, and some sparky views on the "Shockams".
Books by the authors in the episode:
Duncan Sarkies' latest novel: Star Gazers
Carl Shuker's latest novel: The Royal Free
Book recommendations from our guests:
Courtney Johnston:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns
Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
Carl Shuker:
Vanishing Point by David Markson
Duncan Sarkies:
Black Cat, White Dog by Kelly Link
The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt
Doppelganger: A trip into the mirror world by Naomi Klein
Susanna Andrew:
Makeshift Seasons by Kate Camp
Melissa Oliver:
This Ragged Grace by Octavia Bright
Ash by Louise Wallace
The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank
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1:21:55
Shanti heads to Christchurch
After three years and eight months writing from the Auckland office, staff writer Shanti Mathias is heading south. In that time, she has eaten locusts, ranked nuts, interviewed someone while cycling, and found herself in sewage pipes. Very intrepid! Shanti joins Gabi Lardies on Behind the Story to look back on four of her most iconic stories, her particular interests in science, conservation, gambling and transport, and to get the scoop on her unfinished business.
Getting rid of predators is one thing. Keeping them gone is another
Rainbow warmth and garish colours: When did stripy polyprop disappear?
Sinking lids and rising profits: The problem with pokies
Inside the exclusive, chaotic, painful NFT party at Auckland’s Longroom
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Join The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman as she sits down with a staff writer or contributor to gain more insight about a big story on The Spinoff from the week.
Alongside getting the inside info, Behind the Story goes beyond the byline – enabling listeners to learn more about the amazing writers that make The Spinoff such a unique and important platform in the digital media landscape.
For The Spinoff editor’s thoughts on the week that was, as well as a handpicked collection of the week’s best reads, subscribe to The Weekend with Madeleine Chapman newsletter at thespinoff.co.nz/newsletters
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