B-Side Stories

On Sunday March 3, 2024, B-Side Stories hung out at the amazing Newtown Festival with the Access Radio crew and 80,000 happy revellers. Lots of cool people stopped by to talk to us. Here are some of those chats, recorded live on the day.

Ngā mihi to the friendly folk who chatted with us: Heather, Jacob, Mikaela (hopefully we spelled that correctly!), Nick, Prue, Thomas, Xavier and Lucas, and Phil from Phil and the Gaps.

Made with the support of Wellington Access Radio and NZ on Air

Nautilus Creative Space is an independently run art collective that recently moved to Newtown after 15 years in Ōwhiro Bay. In this very fun episode of B-Side Stories, Sadie talks to artists Jordan, Sean, Holly, and James about the transformative nature of working in a collective. We hear about their many creative pursuits from music and songwriting to videography, intuitive guidance readings, painting, jewellery, photography, writing...and much more! We also hear music from Sean's band Spiral, and James performs live in the studio.

Email [email protected] for more info.

B-Side Stories is made with the support of Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and NZ On Air.

Mike Riversdale AKA Miramar Mike talks to Sadie and Trish about what inspired him to create Aroha Wellington, a night of music, comedy, and connections where punters buy two tickets, and give one away to someone who could do with a fun night out, spreading wellbeing and positivity. https://aroha.miramarmike.co.nz/

Mike tells us about all the amazing people who have come together to make this event happen, about his day job in IT, and about the journey his gift of the gab has taken him on.

This podcast was made with the support of Wellington Access Radio and NZ on Air.

Ever since she was a child and made dresses from her grandmother's old saris, Sneha Pulapaka has been fascinated by textiles and upcycling old fabric. She talks to Sadie on B-Side Stories about juggling her passion for textile art and sustainability with the love of photography she inherited from her grandfather, and her role as a parent. Her social enterprise, The Native Loom, works with artisans in Southern India to create beautiful and functional upcycled products, and also runs workshops here in Wellington to teach people the joy of printing on fabric.

This podcast is created with the support of Wellington Access Radio www.accessradio.org.nz and NZ on Air.

"No-one gets into the waste industry for the money. Everyone gets into it because they want to make a change".

When Shelali Shetty moved to Wellington from Southern India she came looking for adventure but she wasn't expecting that her first recruitment interview would be conducted partly underneath a desk while an earthquake rolled through. Undetered, she's gone on to work at the Sustainability Trust, to be a Trustee of the Wellington Timebank, and to manage Wellington City Council’s Resource Recovery Centre. She tells us about the ins-and-outs of waste management in Wellington and her love for bringing people together.

Find out how tradescantia is bringing people together- this week Mel talks with Nigel Charman and Jane Martin about the communities regenerating ecosystems in backyards and parks in the city!

See more about Jane's work and examples of backyard regeneration at www.aroha.eco

and join Nigel in restoring Tanera Gully at https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/projects/tanera-gully-restoration-project-wellington or taking on Old Man's Beard at https://www.ombfree.nz/

Mel chats to Greg Campbell and Jazzy Jo Higgins from the Aro Valley Jazz Jam about life in the "New Orleans of the South Pacific", the Welly Jazz Festival and top picks for local music! 🎷🎹

Listen from 5-6pm every Tuesday on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM or stream at www.accessradio.org.nz for stories of all the cool stuff your Welly neighbours are up to, and catch up on any past episodes wherever you get your podcasts 😎

Kate Walmsley and Liam Prince chat to Mel about their work as compost managers at Welly urban farm Kaicycle, working toward resilient & regenerative food systems!

This week on B Side Stories we talk to local designer Larissa Banks about her life becoming a professional crafter, and her recent graduation from Wellington's Comedy School!

This week, Casey Tearle talks to Mel about her career as a dancer that took her around the world, the dance / circus scene here in Welly, and her transition to working in Tiriti law.