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In this series, Beyond a Joke I speak with folk about things that make them laugh as a way into a conversation about writing, humour and art. Click here to subscribe to Better off Read on Substack In this, the first episode in this series I speak with Anna Jackson about a single cell from … Continue reading Ep 110: Beyond a Joke 1 – Anna Jackson talks to Pip Adam about Anna’s book ‘Actions & Travels: How poetry works’.

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 … Continue reading Beyond a Joke! Better of Read’s New Home at Substack.

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 … Continue reading Ep 108 & 109: Bridget van der Zijpp & Andy Southall : Time, Love, Memory session from Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts

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. Tatyana Kulida (Photo credit Flair Studios) Painting by Tatyana Kulida Some of the … Continue reading Ep 107: Elements 21 – Character. Tatyana Kulida talks to Pip Adam about Henry Miller’s ‘To Paint is to Love Again’.

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. Tara Black (Image by Ebony Lamb) René Magritte 'The Treachery of Images' Some of the things … Continue reading Ep 106: Elements 20 – Character. Tara Black talks to Pip Adam about René Magritte’s ‘The Treachery of Images’.

In the first episode in the 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 … Continue reading Ep 105: Elements 19 – Character. Rachel O’Neill talks to Pip Adam about Andrea Arnold’s film Milk.

In the fifth and final 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. Again, I am still working out what I mean by this. I'm interested in the vantage point … Continue reading Ep 104: Elements 18 – Point. Kirsten McDougall talks to Pip Adam about first-person perspective.

In the fourth 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. Again, I am still working out what I mean by this. I'm interested … Continue reading Ep 103: Elements 17 – Point. Ebony Lamb talks to Pip Adam about a self-portrait photographed by Ebony Lamb.

In the third episode in the Point season of Elements, I talk to Cassie Hart about point of view and what it is to write it. We use as starting point for this discussion Cassie's new novel, Butcherbird. Here's a link to more information about Butcherbird Again, I am still working out what I mean … Continue reading Ep 102: Elements 16 – Point. Cassie Hart talks to Pip Adam about Butcherbird by Cassie Hart.