A Mexican American from LA, what defines you, voting, a listener more than a talker, Donald Trump changed Twitter, creative writing at the University of Edinburgh, two weeks of isolation in Rotorua, a senior animator at Weta Digital, The Social Dilemma documentary, Long White vodka, and more. This is my conversation with Ignacio Peña at his house in Brooklyn, Wellington.

Episode 17 of The Butters Podcast is my conversation with Alan Dodd who completed his doctorate on the topic of classic Hollywood stardom in the age of celebrity culture.

This episode is made possible thanks to my patrons. If you too would like to support this podcast, and these conversations, jump onto patreon.com/butters.

Marilyn Monroe, Chanel No 5, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Russell Crowe, Top Gun and Tom Cruise, the erosion of the star system, the three types of power or capital that stars have - tabloid power, actorly power, and Hollywood blockbuster power - the changing role of television with shows like Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker, star construction, a higher calibre of TV with HBO, the rewards of delayed gratification, vinyl, gatekeeping in fandom, and more.

My thanks to Hashigo Zake on Taranki Street for such a cool space to have this conversation.

Sasha opening the Hoi pilates studio and being the new kid on the block, learning to care less about the approval of others or offending people who think differently, life feng shui, “circle back to that”, a lover of movement, keeping the business going during COVID-19 with online classes, experiencing the personal and collective grief with the loss of Malcolm Angell, becoming addicted to the feeling of grief, being open to talk about mental health, a mutant of a year, The Shelter of Each Other, by Dr Mary Pipher, Owen organising the catch up at Garage Project, and more.

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During our conversation I make reference to a book I had read, written by Dr Mary Pipher, a clinical psychologist, and the book is titled The Shelter of Each Other. In it, Mary Pipher says the following: “Years ago a sociologist postulated that there was a critical number of social contacts that a person needed every week to stay sane. He speculated that unless seven familiar people ‘interacted’ with the person, he or she would be at risk of mental illness.”

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Thank you to Choice Bros on Ghuznee Street for the cool garden spot where we could have our conversation.

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This episode is made possible thanks to my patrons. You too can support by jumping onto patreon.com/butters.

Big fluffy coats, the daily uniform, gluten and lactose intolerance, celiac disease, the premise of The Truman Show, “don’t quote me with your microphone”, defriending people on Facebook, Mittens the famous cat, my Chicago Bulls cap, studying psychology on a whim, best-laid plans, having a strong internal sense of purpose and direction, energy as the universal language, the specificity of astrological birth charts, the Saturn return, our first conversation at Pour & Twist, adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms, being divorced, A Little Bit Alexis, Benjamin Forman from Wrestler, Allbirds, a big batch of spag bol, smoking and vaping, dating as a distraction, the Jean-Ralphio of my podcast, and more.

Thanks for pushing play on episode 15 of The Butters Podcast, my conversation with Ollie Wylde. A psychology student, a Gemini, a lover of gluten free bread, and so much more.

Thank you Poquito (Tory St, Wellington) for saving us the sunny table at the front to have our conversation.

And thank you to my patrons for making this episode possible. A special shout out to a few new patrons, Dennis over in the sunny Gold Coast, Australia, and Mike all the way over in London, England. Thank you so much for signing up and for your support.

And if you would like to support these conversations and this podcast, head to Patreon at patreon.com/butters

A nose hair in the butter, Halloumi in Milo, Louise’s kids not liking her Nigella Lawson dinners, broadening the palette, homosexuality and religion, Reggie Yates, the conservative side of London, modernised fairytales where the prince falls in love with the prince, True Crime podcasts, serial killers, nature versus nurture, and more. Thanks for tuning in to episode 14, my conversation with Louise Ardern. My thanks to Daisy’s in Thorndon, Wellington NZ, for such a cool space to have an awesome conversation and a delicious Tamarillo-soaked gin. And my thanks to my amazing patrons who make these conversations possible. If you too would like to support this podcast, DM me for details, email me at [email protected], or head straight to patreon.com/butters.

Spotify playlists and the way we consume music, the re-emergence of episodic shows, Howard Stern, Matahiwi Estate wine, working at Weta Digital, and more. This is my conversation with Keven Norris. At Crumpet, Wellington.

Religion, democracy, reframing and refreshing our ideologies, the isness, the beauty of imperfections, being still, and more. My conversation with teacher and educator, Andrew Savage.

Rothschild, 66° North, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, building relationships, the economy after Covid, Bobby Roaché, and more. My conversation with investment banker, Stephen Kaiser.

A real shortage of sperm, Single Mothers by Choice, Fertility Associates, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), the pervasive norm, and more.

Peeing with the door open, living life one cheap ego boost at a time, Cassels Milk Stout at Hashigo Zake, interesting things happen below street level, less haste more speed, the British drinking culture and stiff upper lip stereotype, New York vs London, Jacinda Ardern vs Boris Johnson, and more.