I’ve been a little quiet lately.

The truth is, it began when the New Zealand government quickly and decisively moved to pass the Pay Equity Amendment Bill under urgency with little warning and no consultation.

It shook me to my core. Not because this government did something I didn’t like—they’ve done a lot of things I don’t like. But because they could just rip away pay equity for thousands of women in under a day. Even though they previously supported it, even though dozens of claims were in progress, and it wasn’t something anyone campaigned on.

It didn’t suit their current agenda, and so it was gone.

The absolute lack of regard for democratic processes was astounding. Demoralising. There was nothing any of us could do to stop it or even have our say on it. It was just… gone. Years of work undone in a day. Most of those claims need to start again. A great many of them no longer qualify.

It’s unfair, undemocratic. It feels so wrong. I was never involved with a claim, but it still left me feeling pretty damn worthless as a woman.

So I retreated. I took time off work and spent time with people I love. I visited the Redwoods in Rotorua (where the header image comes from). I’ve been reading books instead of writing. Mostly because I didn’t honestly know what to say.

And the truth is, I still don’t. But I can’t let my mid-Winter hiatus go on for the entire year, so I have to say something.

If you, like me, maybe need some things to disappear into—a good book, an engaging TV show, or a great podcast—here’s a list of the art and creations that have kept me going recently.

Books

I’ve read 38 books so far this year—easily more than I’ve read in a single year since I was a child. Discovering Libby has been revolutionary and the library has become so much more accessible. I’ve been using books as a way to ease myself off the firehose of bad news that is social media, and it’s been working. Here are a few of the books I couldn’t put down.

Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan — I grew up thinking JFK was a great man, a martyr. His widow and his son were splashed all over the women’s mags that were in abundance at my grandparent’s house in the 1990’s. But this book tells the tale behind the headlines, and the stories it contains should be witnessed.

Careless People: A story of where I used to work by Sarah Wynn-Williams — this is the Facebook book, and it lives up to the hype. The ignorance and utter disregard for… well, the entire world, is shocking. If you’re wondering how the world went so wrong, this is a good start at explaining some of it. My jaw was on the floor. A must-read for everyone still using Meta platforms.

Charlie Tangaroa series by T.K. Roxborough — two absolutely rollicking reads that incorporate Te Ao Māori to create Aotearoa’s own version of that magical kid’s series I’m not going to name. I’m going to buy multiple copies of both as the children in my life get to the right age, and I cannot wait to introduce them to Charlie and his brother Robbie.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher — this book is not serious, and sometimes you just need a not-serious book. A pet sourdough starter and a magician whose special talent is making gingerbread men dance becomes the only hope of saving her city. A reminder we all have something to fight with.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama — honestly a little book of hope and goodness. If you’re feeling worn out by this world, then what you are looking for is this book.

Podcasts

When I am gardening, I listen to podcasts. There’s something about the repetitive work like weeding, planting, and harvesting that really ‘clicks’ when I combine it with a good yarn.

Gastropod, the bananas episodes — Gastropod is the podcast that looks at food through a scientific and historical lens, and lately they’ve released two episodes on bananas. Bananas are such a perfect encapsulation of capitalism. They might be a fruit so ubiquitous that we use them to measure things, but behind that lies all kinds of corruption, war, environmental vandalism, and creativity.

Normal Gossip — some podcasts go straight to the top of the playlist when they drop, and Normal Gossip is one of my absolute favourites. All the joy of listening to a story full of gossip, with none of the karma. There are 80 episodes to work through if you haven’t discovered it yet.

Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt — this story is still being dropped, but four episodes in, and I am completely hooked. The story of Kelly Tarlton, his aquarium, and his treasure hunts.

Home Cooking with Samin Nosrat and Hrishiskesh Hirway — started in 2020 as a 5-part podcast for people learning to cook at home with what they have, they never totally stopped. And Home Cooking is coming back for a proper season in 2025. Full of great tips for eating your harvests and more than a few inside jokes, it’s just an absolute joy of a cooking podcast.

TV shows

Sometimes I just need to ‘blob out’, and these shows have been distracting and comforting my brain from the world around me.

North of North (Netflix) — I dare you not to binge the entire season in one sitting. A quietly revolutionary show full of poignant moments that sit with you for months. Funny, hopeful and heartfelt. The best thing I’ve seen in ages.

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10 (WOW Presents Plus) — I almost-never wear makeup and spend most of my time in gumboots but I cannot resist a show where men (and trans women) cover themselves in glitter and prance in heels to compete for a place in the All Stars Hall of Fame. This series brings a new format, and I am living for it.

Pokerface (TVNZ) — I’ve probably had a crush on Natasha Lyonne for more than half my life. In essence, a procedural where Natasha’s character’s ‘super-power’ is being able to call bullshit when she hears it. Full of A-list guest stars and very bingable.

Ted Lasso (Apple TV) — It’s older, I know, but I’d put off an Apple TV subscription for years waiting for the right moment to subscribe. I found Ted Lasso to be laugh-out-loud funny, hopeful, empathetic, and a great palate-cleanse when the world got a bit much for me. An excellent comfort-watch.

What’s yours?

Now you’ve got a feel for the things I’m into, I’d love to hear what you love. Drop some recommendations in the comments!

Know a good podcast about food or the lighter side of life? I’d love to hear it. Know a good book I should read? I’m keen to see how many I can get through this year and I seem to always be searching for more. Seen a show that made you laugh out loud? I want to laugh and enjoy it too.

I’m not much of a fan of thrillers and horrors, I generally prefer things without a lot of gore and death. The moment we live in now contains more than a few horrors so I like to keep things light and hopeful. But I’m also more than a little into a good memoir or true story. So hit me with them in the comments.

Thanks for sticking around!