Damien is solo in the local loser studio today, recording a round-up/recap of reading in 2025, thanks to voice notes from past guests.

Alongside favourite reads from Nathan Joe, Sherry Zhang, Saraid de Silva, Josiah Morgan, Laura Vincent and Gabi Lardies, Damien adds in a running commentary and some of his own favourites from the year.

local loser will be back in 2026, but for now, some links you may be interested in are: the preorder link for Childish Palate by Shariff Burke, Damien's The Big Idea article, Torrey Peters and Andrea Long Chu in conversation on Stag Dance, and Josiah's review of Brandon Taylor's The Late Americans.

Damien can be found on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

It's a surprise Friday episode from Damien Levi to coincide with the official publication date of Hoods Landing, the debut novel from his guest, Laura Vincent.

There's lots to learn about Hoods Landing, but Laura and Damien also get into what it means to let go of your book, ask why there are so many vape shops, decide they both actually like Auckland and lament bad writing.

Some links you may be interested in from this episode include ⁠a link to purchase Hoods Landing⁠, Laura's food blog hungryandfrozen.com, Jean Teng's Cringe, Emma Gleason's Crust, folu's unsackable and Laura's Instagram.

Damien can be found on ⁠Instagram⁠.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

Damien Levi is on uncle duties this week as he records with writer, editor and publisher Faith Wilson (and her baby boy, Mo.)

While Mo is distracted by peanut butter toast and the flashing lights of the audio software, Damien and Faith chat about grief, motherhood, Twitter cringe, phone games and arts criticism.

Damien forgot to ask Faith what she might want to plug, but you can find Saufo'i Press books on their website, check out the Pohewa Pāhewa: Te Rūma exhibition at Objectspace and get your own copy of The Bomb by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan.

Damien can be found over on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

Damien is back in the local loser seat and is beaming down to Ōtautahi Christchurch to chat online with Josiah Morgan, who was definitely called precocious as a child.

They go 'refined artist vibes' and get into the literary, not limited to Laura Borrowdale's collection Dead Ends from Tender Press, literary (and other pursuits) from power couple Claudia and Nathaniel Herz Jardine, and what it takes to write, rewrite and write back into, again, your own work.

Some links you may be interested in from this episode include Josiah's Instagram, a link to purchase Dead Ends or a link to preorder Ngā Pukapuka Pekapeka's second trio of works.

Damien can be found on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

Damien Levi brings local loser's biggest fan, Saraid de Silva, onto the pod while he's visiting Wellington. Together they get right into it—what's being read, what's being kept for the archive, and what do you learn about yourself when you move to Wellington?

They also touch on trying to shake off the shackles of the digital age, rediscover discovering music and interrogate their feelings on earnestness.

Some links from this pod you may like include T-BOYS 4 PALESTINE, Amma by Saraid de Silva, and lobbying guidelines for the 'Unlawful Occupation of Palestine' Sanctions Bill.

Damien can be found on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

In this EXCLUSIVE interview with recent Aotearoa departee, Nathan Joe, Damien Levi is primed to find out what convinced him to finally 'pull the leaver'.

From Austin, Texas, Nathan speaks to his next adventure as an MFA student, his first impressions of Austin, being a real adult and leaning into being pretentious.

Helpful links from this episode might include Nathan's Instagram, Kieran McLean's Substack⁠, Nathan's interview with Stuff and bad apple.

Damien can also be found on ⁠Instagram⁠.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

Damien gets soon-to-be former NZ Poet Laureate Chris Tse in the hotseat (a Danske Mobler chair in his apartment) to reflect on his three years in the role, the travel, the poems and the experience.

There are also some reflections on diversity and the publishing industry, reckons on why there's a literary gap between NZ and AUS, and two glowing recommendations for Lorde's Virgin.

Helpful links from this episode might include Chris's Instagram, the Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2023 and the event listing for '(Re)generation next: The Poet Laureate steps down'.

Damien can also be found on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

local loser goes online to record an episode with poet, librarian and Āporo Press author of Overseas Experience, Nicola Andrews (Ngāti Paoa, Pākehā).

Thanks to the internet, Damien (in Tāmaki Makaurau) chats to Nicola (in San Francisco) about her new book, being a librarian in the USA and the 'Oasis Summer'.

Links you may wanna check out from this episode include Nicola's Instagram, Unity Books (where you can get a copy of Overseas Experience in NZ or abroad), and more on APALA Literature Awards.

Damien can also be found on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

Reporting live* from Tāmaki Makaurau, Damien chats with Gabi Lardies at her house and together they come up with a really great idea for dead CD stock and discuss book design!

They also touch on the Objectspace Book Fair, why everything in publishing is called the same thing, coptic stitching, and a beautiful ring by Cindy Tan.

Some helpful links you might like after the episode include the online archive of The National Grid, the Dead Bird Books offerings and Cindy Tan's Instagram.

*This episode is not, in fact, live.

Find Damien on Instagram.

The local loser theme song is composed by Karen Hu.

It's a meeting of indie presses! Damien Levi is joined by the Tender Press team, Ash Davida Jane and Stacey Teague while the duo is on a visit to Tāmaki Makaurau.

They really get into the world of independent publishing and chat about upcoming work from both writers.

You can get Stacey's 2024 collection, Plastic, as well as Ash's 2021 collection, How to Live With Mammals, from Te Herenga Waka University Press. Follow Tender Press on ⁠Instagram⁠ for updates and check out their books on the website.

Find Damien on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠.