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Artwork for Better off Read

Better off Read

Pip Adam
The Valley, Crime and Punishment In a New Zealand City
Show You're Working Out
Secret Art Powers
Night Night Fawn
Political Fiction
Lucky Creatures
Journalism
New Zealand Criminal Justice System
Jo Randerson
Sarah Maxey
Satire
Language
Zionism
Deliverywoman
Wolf Hall
Long-Form Journalism
Poetry
Phd
Drawing Sessions
Book Design

My name is pip adam and in this podcast I speak with writers, musicians and artists about an ‘object’ as a way into talking about their work – what it is, how it works and what inspires it. Each year I choose a topic for our series. In 2021 it was elements of literary craft, in 2020 it was music, in our 2022 series Beyond a Joke the object I ask guests to offer is something that has made them laug... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Artwork for Better off Read

Latest Episodes

i'm really grateful to Asher for taking the time out of a really busy month to chat with me about writing The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City published by Bridget Williams Books (BWB)

There are quite a few places to see Asher talk... more

It was so great to catch up and chat with Joseph Trinidad about his new book Lucky Creatures (Te Herenga Waka University Press, 2026)

Reading Joseph's work makes me so excited about reading and speaking with Joe about his practice has made me excite... more

On 22 April, at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara i spoke with Shana Chandra about her accomplished and beautiful novel Banjara (Moa Press | Hachette, 2026)

i'm so grateful to Unity Books for hosting these lunchtime author talks. This event took place... more

On 10 February this year at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara i talked with Eva Wyles about her stunning collection of short stories Deliverywoman (Influx Press, 2025)

The event opened with a reading and introduction to Eva's work by another amazing w... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Asher Emanuel
Writer and lawyer, Wellington
The Valley, Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City (Book)
Episode: Ep 161: Asher Emanuel and pip adam talk about The Valley
Joseph Trinidad
Author of Lucky Creatures, Essays
Te Herenga Waka University Press
Episode: Ep 160: Joseph Trinidad and pip adam talk about Lucky Creatures
Shana Chandra
Author of Banjara
Hachette/Moa Press
Episode: Ep 159: Shana Chandra and pip adam talk about Banjara at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Eva Wyles
Author of Deliverywoman
Deliverywoman (Unity Books event, Influx Press)
Episode: Ep 158: Eva Wyles and pip adam talk about Deliverywoman at Unity Books Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Jordy Rosenberg
Author of Night Night Fawn, reader and discussant of political fiction
Night Night Fawn (author)
Episode: Ep 157: Jordy Rosenberg and pip adam talk about Night Night Fawn at The Open Book
Ray Shipley
Stand-up comic, slam poet, bookseller, librarian; author of My Body is a Horror Film
Nga Puka Puka Peka Peka series
Episode: Ep 156: Ray Shipley and pip adam talk about a tarot deck and 'My Body is a Horror Film'
Jo Randerson
Author and theatre maker
Author of Secret Art Powers
Episode: Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Sarah Maxey
Graphic designer and book designer
Designer of Secret Art Powers
Episode: Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Liz Breslin
Poet, writer, and editor discussed as the guest of the episode
Episode: Ep 154: liz breslin and Pip chat about a pair of scissors

Host

Pip Adam
Host of the show and interviewer guiding conversations with writers, musicians, and artists.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Pip is a celebrated writer and the subjects covered are interesting, but I'm appalled by the litter of 'ums' she allows. I counted 9 in the first minute of the latest episode. That's an 'um' every 6.6 seconds. And the first 20 seconds was intro music. Pip, this habit makes it hard to listen.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Bruce K Garney
    5 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    A great podcast for those interested in literature and writing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SJBnewzealand
    New Zealand11 years ago
  • Meandering

    This show could be much better with tighter editing. For the meantime, I regret the wasted bandwidth spent on downloading an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nynaevealmeera
    Philippines11 years ago
  • Great interviews

    Really interesting range of books and people. Awesome to hear a literate NZ voice in podcasting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Librerian
    New Zealand11 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Meandering editing critique may reflect production style but episodes offer strong interviews.
Insightful, range of books and people; a literate NZ voice in podcasting.
Great podcast for literature and writing interest; deep conversations with thoughtful guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#192
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 156: Ray Shipley and pip adam talk about a tarot deck and 'My Body is a Horror Film'
Q: What's the difference between performing and reading on the page for you?
The page can carry a different energy because it's opened to individual pacing and interpretation, while performance is a shared energy in a room; together they inform each other and keep the work alive.
Ep 156: Ray Shipley and pip adam talk about a tarot deck and 'My Body is a Horror Film'
Q: How do you define performance in relation to writing for the page?
Performance is a shaping force for writing for me; it acts as a live workshop that informs how I structure, pace, and punctuate poems, and it also teaches me how readers might experience the text once it's published.
Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Q: Why self-publish, and how has that affected the book's originality?
Self-publishing allowed the authors to preserve originality and retain control over form and content, helping them avoid being shoehorned into conventional publishing models and maintain the book's authentic voice.
Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Q: What surprised you about writing this book?
The biggest surprise was realizing that artists found the powers useful and that the process could validate and empower readers beyond just artists; it also surprised the authors how much they themselves benefited from the framework.
Ep 155: Jo Randerson, Sarah Maxey and pip adam talk about Secret Art Powers: How Creative Thinking Can Achieve Radical Change
Q: How do the live lectures feed into the book, and are they separate works or connected?
The lectures function as a testing ground for ideas, helping to distill and test concepts before integrating them into the book, while remaining connected as a multi-media exploration of the same themes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Better off Read

What is Better off Read about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on in-depth conversations with writers, artists, and literary thinkers, using an object as a gateway to explore craft, process, and the lived realities behind creative work. Episodes often blend memoir, journalism, and literary criticism, with guests ranging from novelists and poets to editors and designers. Expect thoughtful discussions on writing discipline, research methods, language, and how personal history, diaspora, or place informs art. A notable strength is the hands-on approach to craft, including practical insights into structure, revision, and collaboration, often anchored by intimate anecdotes and live event experiences. The format tends to attract a literate, culture-minded audience seeking reflective, craft-f... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Better off Read?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Better off Read:

1. Public Interest
2. Gone By Lunchtime
3. Curious Readers
4. The Detail
5. Mediawatch

How many episodes of Better off Read are there?

Better off Read launched 12 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Better off Read?

Recent guests on Better off Read include:

1. Asher Emanuel
2. Joseph Trinidad
3. Shana Chandra
4. Eva Wyles
5. Jordy Rosenberg
6. Ray Shipley
7. Jo Randerson
8. Sarah Maxey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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