Reserved Recommendations

In the absence of a new mainline episode, I decided to do a parallel upload of this special I recorded for Waitangi Day this week.

Waitangi Day and the Treaty of Waitangi occupy a complicated place in New Zealand's public consciousness, especially in light of the current debate around David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill. In this special longform interview for Waitangi Day 2025, Hugh talks to Dr Peter Cleave about this complex and difficult history. Dr Peter Cleave has been involved with retention and development of Te Reo Māori since the 1970s, holding numerous teaching roles at all levels. He has been both an academic and a broadcaster in Te Reo Māori, and was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025 for services to Māori language education.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.

"Hair metal" is, right off the bat, a disputed term. It began as a way of disparaging the pop glam metal of the 80s in comparison with the more "authentic" grunge movement that was becoming more fashionable in the early 90s, but was embraced by some fans of the genre as a catch-all term for groups who wouldn't necessarily have considered themselves part of the same scene at the time. However you slice it, hair metal was much MUCH bigger than you remember it, and its demise was far less total. Elana Levin (Graphic Policy Radio, Deep Space Dive) and returning champion John Cecil join the show to school me on an era and genre I know shamefully little about.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.

I'm back! I decided I'd like to get to ep 100 before I wrap this thing up, so that's nice. In this episode I have a bunch of thoughts prompted by the passing of David Lynch, and witnessing other people's takes on his life and work. I also get a bit into That Vulture Article re: the evolving Gaiman situation but I don't say anything very graphic or descriptive.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.

On the last episode of the year (possibly the last ever?) I return to the solo minisode format to talk about the plague of "common sense" which I think is seriously damaging our current political climate.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.

I've recently started messing around with VCV Rack (www.vcvrackcom) a virtual modular synth environment, so the time seemed right to have a chat to James Lissette. James has had a long history in Palmerston North music, and a lifelong fascination with modular synths. We chat about the history and principles of modular, all while listening to a generative patch on James's hardware modular setup.

NB: this episode is (unusually) in stereo - so may reward listening on nicer headphones than usual!

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of NZ On Air.

The thing about doing a show about problematic faves is that sometimes your own faves become problematic. Neil Gaiman is an author whose work has meant a lot to me at various times, and who now has (at time of writing) 5 credible accusations of historic sexual assault, detailed in the podcast "Master" (https://www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/master-the-allegations-against-neil-gaiman). On my first solo episode, I talk through my feelings about Gaiman, the similar case of Warren Ellis (https://www.somanyofus.com), how these issues arise, and what we do next.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of NZ On Air.

Due to a confluence of factors, the early 00's saw a massive explosion of creativity in online comics. I talk to Karella, author of Midnight Pals (www.midnightpals.com) host of A Special Presentation, or Alf Will Not Be Seen Tonight (https://apple.co/3zACns8), and Person Cursed To Know About Sinfest, about all of this. We cover the general landscape and taxonomy of 00's online comics, the factors that led to their proliferation, and where they ended up going.

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.

In the wake of JK Rowling's general personal awfulness, it's become fashionable to say that no part of the Harry Potter franchise ecosystem was ever good. But does any piece of genuinely unmitigated garbage get as big as Harry Potter did, and stay that big for as long? I read the books as they came out, and my assessment at the time was that the worst of them was "fine". This episode I talk to Catherine McNamara, a much deeper Potterhead than I ever was, to talk about the books, the fandom, the movies, and the challenges of reckoning with art made by a person who just keeps on getting worse and worse in real time.

In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war....

This episode I talk to Mira (@anarchoshanties.bsky.social) about the deep and convoluted lore and enduring appeal of the massive and endlessly complicated Warhammer 40,000. We talk chaos gods, a potted history of the Empire of Humanity, and how to deal with a hobby that attracts a disproportionate number of actual unironic Nazis.

Find Mira's games at: https://omnicide101.itch.io/

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of NZ On Air.

John Cecil (Zombie Beach) joins the show to discuss The Misfits, a band who answer the question "what if the Ramones were fronted by Elvis and sang almost exclusively about pulp horror?" We dig into the band's music and career, the creative and personal tensions at their core, and the continuing artistic career of their frontman Glen Danzig.

Find out more about Zombie Beach here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Zombie-Beach-100066448457570/?paipv=0&eav=AfbTkUYHWIuHwfmrGAI2WLVwOL7qiuBCv_gDA-MYiORbfqcW89xI55MQtJ_PEoVNV68&_rdr

Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of NZ On Air.