Better off Read

• Ep 153: Erik Kennedy and Pip chat about a pair of slippers

  On July 10 2025, Erik launched his new collection of poetry Sick Power Trip at Scorpio Books in Ōtautahi. It was so great to speak with Erik Kennedy to celebrate the launch of his new poetry collection Sick Power Trip (Te Herenga Waka University Press) I really enjoyed speaking with Erik about poetry in general and his work in particular. I love Erik's work so much and this new collection is incredible. Can not recommend it enough. Action: Climate Liberation Aotearoa I asked Erik who he'd like to highlight in this section and he suggested Climate Liberation Aotearoa Climate Liberation Aotearoa write: Our plan is to transform society by building people power. To do this, we demonstrate the effectiveness of working alongside each other in a systematic, well organised way that achieves results. It’s up to every one of us to decide. We can liberate ourselves and each other. Or we can live in distraction and powerlessness. This year Climate Liberation Aotearoa are focusing on transport emissions and pollution. About this they say: Our first win will be to move the dial on cruise ships – a type of luxury emission worse than flying which we can all do without. Join us to find out more about how we plan to win. In action there is friendship, hope, and love. The first step is to show up. Action Extra: Fundraising for Queer and trans art classes The amazing Sian Quennell Torrington runs a beautiful group of projects to build art communities. Sian says: I am fundraising for Queer and trans art class, and club, and to be able to keep doing these projects…. funding has gotten real hard, so I've set up a Patreon where people can support from $5 a month. I always have free places, and I see how these spaces help our LGBTTQI+ communities so much. All ages, all together, all making things feel a bit easier through creative community. You can support this work at the Queer and Trans art projects Patreon You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

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• Ep 152: poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی and Pip chat

  On June 10, my book Audition came out in the United States with Coffee House Press and Canada with Strange Light To celebrate this, and with massive support from Laura Graveline at Coffee House Press, I've recorded three special episodes of Better off Read which feature three of my favourite writers published by Coffee House Press. In this last special episode I get to talk to poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی. poupeh's book Sound Museum blew my mind. It is one of the best books I've ever read. It is an incredibly space-making book. What I've loved about all three of the writers I've talked to is they way they expand the form they are working in. It seems really fitting that we are finishing this mini-series with poupeh's work. poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی is a writer, translator, and editor. Her debut book trans(re)lating house one was published in 2020, and her second book, Sound Museum, is forthcoming in 2024 (both from Coffee House Press). Her most recent translation In the Streets of Tehran, a book of witness narrative about the current Woman Life Freedom uprising in Iran, was published by Bonnier Books, UK, in October 2023. She also has another novel in translation, Boys of Love, forthcoming in 2024. An assistant professor of literary arts and studies at the University of Denver and a faculty mentor at Pacific Northwest College of Art MFA, she is currently based in Denver, Colorado. You can read more about poupeh at her website I also probably need to let you know that poupeh and I recorded this episode on June 5 2025, so although we touch on some of the violence facing the world this was recorded before the Israeli and US strikes on Iran. Thanks heaps for everyone who has listened to these podcasts. I'll be back with another podcast in early June. Action: Peace Action Wellington I wanted to thank a very local group. Peace Action Wellington is a grassroots activist group based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington in Aotearoa/New Zealand that works for peace and justice throughout the world, with a special focus on the New Zealand government’s involvement in international affairs. They stand for peace with justice and self-determination. I'm incredibly grateful to the digest of political action Peace Action Wellington send out every week. There is a lot happening and this is the way I stay in touch with action in my area. One of the best ways to stay in touch with Peace Action Wellington is to follow them on Facebook and sign up to their weekly newsletter. Peace Action Wellington on Facebook Action Extra: Fundraising for Queer and trans art classes The amazing Sian Quennell Torrington runs a beautiful group of projects to build art communities. Sian says: I am fundraising for Queer and trans art class, and club, and to be able to keep doing these projects…. funding has gotten real hard, so I've set up a Patreon where people can support from $5 a month. I always have free places, and I see how these spaces help our LGBTTQI+ communities so much. All ages, all together, all making things feel a bit easier through creative community. You can support this work at the Queer and Trans art projects Patreon You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

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• Ep 151: Zeke Caligiuri and Pip chat about a section from The Hours by Michael Cunningham

  On June 10, my book Audition came out in the United States with Coffee House Press and Canada with Strange Light To celebrate this, and with massive support from Laura Graveline at Coffee House Press, I've recorded three special episodes of Better off Read which feature three of my favourite writers published by Coffee House Press. In this first special episode I get to talk to Zeke Caligiuri. Zeke is a writer and activist from South Minneapolis. He is the author of This is Where I Am, published by University of Minnesota Press, a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. Caligiuri has won multiple awards through the PEN Prison Writing Contest and is the cofounder of the Stillwater Writers Collective, the first all-prisoner created and facilitated collective in the country. I was really excited to talk with Zeke. The book Zeke co-edited American Precariat: Parables of Exclusion is one of my favourite books of the year. It's an incredible selection of writing about the precariat classes. I'd recommend it to everyone. Zeke offered as a beginning point for our conversation an amazing passage from The Hours by Michael Cunningham. One of the best ways to keep up with Zeke's events and writing is by following them on Instagram The next podcast will be out this time next week. Action: People Against Prisons Aotearoa People Against Prisons Aotearoa (PAPA) believes that everyone has the ability to change. No one is born a criminal. When someone has hurt others, that does not mean they are destined to keep hurting others for the rest of their lives. If people are treated with dignity and respect, and given the resources they need to survive and thrive, we can live in a less violent and more peaceful society. If issues of justice and incarceration interest you PAPA are organising all sorts of activism and education at the moment and one of the best places to stay in touch and get involved is by following PAPA on there social media channels: PAPA on Facebook PAPA on Instagram   You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

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• Ep 150: Danielle Dutton and Pip chat about Marine Object by Eileen Agar

  On June 10, my book Audition comes out in the United States with Coffee House Press and Canada with Strange Light To celebrate this, and with massive support from Laura Graveline at Coffee House Press, I've recorded three special episodes of Better off Read which feature three of my favourite writers published by Coffee House Press. In this first special episode I get to talk to Danielle Dutton whose astounding Praire, Dresses, Art Other was published by Coffee House Press in 2024. I love Danielle's work so much. There is this astounding hum to it that chimes with all the things I love - formal experimentation, language made new, visceral and emotive rendering of land and art. Danielle is always doing something interesting and she is one of my favourite people in the world to talk to. I was really grateful to get to talk to her here. Danielle brought an amazing sculptural work by Eileen Agar as a starting point for this discussion about Danielle's work and writing in general. The work is Marine Object by Eileen Agar and you can see it by clicking this link to the Tate website The next podcast will be out this time next week. Action: KILL THE BILL! The closing date for submissions on Regulatory Standards Bill is 1.00pm, Monday, 23 June 2025 The point of the RSB is to try to make all future governments follow a rigid set of ideological “principles” handpicked by David Seymour when they are making laws. These principles would: Exclude Te Tiriti o Waitangi entirely. Require the government to pay corporations if new rules impact their property, even if those rules are to stop pollution, protect nature, or prevent harm to people and communities. Prioritise private property and “individual freedom” over environmental protection, public safety, and indigenous rights. You can make a submission here You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

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• Ep 149: Saraid de Silva and Pip chat live at Featherston Booktown

  This recording was made live at Featherston Booktown on 10 May 2025. It was a really sunny day and Saraid and I sat in the Featherston Library with the sun streaming in the windows with a really great group of people. Saraid is an amazing writing. Saraid's novel Amma is a really great work of fiction and I recommend to anyone who hasn't read it yet. At the moment I'm asking guests to offer and object for discussion. Saraid brought along a suite of articles about money and housing and how these impact writing and writers. Here are links to the three articles: "‘Secure, affordable homes are the stuff of fiction’: how young writers are responding to the UK housing crisis" by Keiran Goddard published in The Guardian on 3 Feb 2024 "‘Our rental system is rigged’: young novelists on their generation’s housing crisis" by Daisy Lafarge, Okechukwu Nzelu, Amber Medland and Michael Magee published in The Guardian on 23 April 2023. 'Don’t give up your day job: how Australia’s favourite authors are making ends meet' by Rafqa Touma published in The Guardian on 16 December 2022 Thanks to amazing writer and snap-shot getter G. B. Ralph for the photos. G. B. Ralph is a Kiwi author of cosy mysteries and romantic comedies. His writing features chaotic yet lovable characters getting into trouble, an astonishing amount of crime, and handsome men falling for each other. You can find out more about G.B. Ralph's books at his website here June on Better off Read My book Audition is being released in the United States (Coffee House Press) and Canada (Strange Light) on 10 June. To celebrate this, and with amazing support from Laura Gaveline at Coffee House Press, I'll be podcasting three special episodes of the podcast with Coffee House Press writers. I'm really grateful to the writers concerned for their time and their work. These special episodes will come out over June. Action: Gaza Funds صندوق مالي لغزة Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza. Each time the page is reloaded, a different campaign appears. While the rotation is randomized, campaigns for the sick/injured and campaigns close to meeting their goals are prioritized. We never want any of these campaigns to go stagnant, so we make sure to also prioritize fundraisers that haven't had a donation in a while. As existing fundraisers meet their goals, they will be replaced with other fundraisers that need your help. Here's a link to Gaza Funds You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee

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