B-side Stories

Tam talks to Laura in the studio about the Covid-19 response in Wellington, fixing the city's pipes and water systems, and about some of her recent media appearances including about 'private council briefings'. She gives a good insight into how she's finding being a City Councillor, and talks about her efforts to get more community connection and engagement in political issues. Tam is encouraging those interested in helping with the Covid-19 response to support isolated people to reach out to the Wellington Student Volunteer Army, or the VUWSA on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/WellySVA/

Writer and performer Freya Daly Sadgrove spoke with David about her new book 'Head Girl', line breaks and making live poetry performances events to remember.

Perrine headed along to Wellington Curtain Bank's 10th birthday party to hear about the difference that upcycled curtains are making to people and the environment in Wellington.

Tyler Dunkel tells B Sides about the Wellington Pride Festival - what makes our festival so special and how this great rainbow of events all fit in together!

Tim McDougall tells Perrine and Laura about raising hell and raising funds for the Owen Street skatespot. With music by Stalker, Ayn Randy,Total Ruin.

Author and performer Eamonn Marra came on to talk to David about his debut book '2000ft Above Worry Level' – available now at your favourite independent book store. Image courtesy Unity Books

Daniela Fuenzalida, one of the Aro Valley community coordinators, talks to Katia about what is coming up in the 2020 Aro Fair and why it is great to volunteer.

Rose Lu joins Laura and Sadie in the studio to chat about her new book of essays: All Who Live on Islands. It's a book about being a Chinese New Zealander, working in tech, family, friends, mental health, sex, travel, food, and much more! Rose will be speaking in the New Zealand Festival of the Arts on 8 March 2020.

Science communicator, scientist, author and campaigner Laurie Winkless spoke with David Klein about her work. You can find Laurie on Twitter – @laurie_winkless

Murdoch talks to Perrine and Laura about life in a local publishing collective - creating their place in the literary scene through biting satire and flirting with all the wrong people.

Gabriella Jimenez Rojas from Women in Urbanism Aotearoa talks to B-Side Stories about this urban design movement, which aims to amplify the voices of women, girls, and non-binary people in order to transform our towns into beautiful, inclusive, and safe environments.

Miriame Barbarich talks to Katia about ĀPŌPŌ, Wellington's first indigenous CreativeTech programme, hub and co-working space.

Seeds to Feeds is a new food festival in Wellington from 16-22 March 2020. It's an amazing initiative to celebrate community gardens, and making healthy, local food together! More than just a meal, growers are encouraged to come together to locally source the ingredients. Elza van Boxel spoke to Laura and Perrine about the importance of local food, for the health of our bodies, minds, and spirits. To find out more, or get involved, find Seeds to Feeds on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedstofeedsnz/

Maia Douglas Baker came into the studio (with her awesome support crew) to tell B Sides some entertaining and devastating stories from our city's past. She also tells us what motivates her and how she connected to Wellington as mana whenua who wasn't born here.

Again Again is a cup lending system operating in Wellington that aims to eliminate single use waste in the caffeine world. David Binstead tells us how the scheme works, why it's good for the planet, and how Again Again are encouraging psychological shifts in coffee drinkers.

"We want to inspire people to grow food, giving them the tools and the experience and the connections". Josie Sligo-Green and Katherine Silvester, from GrowSpace Wellington, talk to Sadie Coe about connecting to nature through growing food, and about their efforts to turn excess areas of land around Wellington into productive gardens.

Back in September, School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand organised their biggest event ever. A general strike across the country, involving everyone, young and old, in the movement for climate justice, and meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 170,000 people took part around Aotearoa. Listen to Laura's conversation with strike organiser Hugo Olsen-Smith about planning the event, why the movement is important to him, and hope for a better future. Sorry for the delay in posting - still an incredibly important conversation!

CEO and co-founder of Sharesies Brooke Roberts came in to talk financial literacy, start up life and pineapples.

Hannah Newport-Watson from The Pantograph Punch came in to talk about the arts and culture website, plus her role as an author and editor

A day in Pōneke some time in the near future: Wellington artist and writer Sarah Laing tells Perrine about her talking mural which is part of the wonderful Verb literary festival, and about making comics in Aotearoa