B-side Stories

Today’s story involves a birthday and a matchmaking service with a difference. Five years ago Gail Marshall and Sue McCabe created Community Comms Collective. Hear how communications practitioners give back to the community using their professional skills to empower community organisations.

K Too by B-Side Stories

Sapeer and Perrine chat about what's next for Sapeer (hint: it's a Pacific Island!)

Our world is this close to having more plastic in it than animals! How can you reduce the amount of plastic in your life? Plastic-Free July is an excellent opportunity to learn more and experiment with methods that work for you. Here to take us through it is Sarah from a new social enterprise, Waste-ed, who are getting behind plastic free initiatives across Wellington to make sustainable living easy and accessible. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/waste.edNZ/, www.waste-ed.com

Addressing the widespread issue of sexual violence across Aoteaora takes time, money and serious energy. Luckily for Wellington, HELP exists to do just that. Their Annual Appeal is coming up this weekend (22 and 23 June) and they need funds to keep their doors open, so we spoke to chief executive Conor Twyford about what they do and why. In this episode we refer to sexual violence such as rape. If you need support, you can call the HELP 24/7 crisis line on 04 801 6655 & push '0' at the menu, or visit www.wellingtonhelp.org.nz.

Susannah Aitken talks ZIP: Zero Invasive Predators by B-Side Stories

Matariki is the name of the constellation which appears in the sky in mid-winter, telling us a new cycle of the stars is beginning. In Maori tradition, this is also a time for remembering and celebrating loved ones who have passed in the past year, and for feeding the stars by holding great feasts and enjoying them with friends and whanau. Attempting to make this a real celebration in everyday New Zealand life is Charles Royal from Te Papa. Listen to learn more!

This week on B-Side's Jazz Festival special we spoke with Eilish Wilson, a baritone saxophone player and a graduate of the New Zealand school of music. Hear what she has to say on jazz music, culture and studies, as well as the complex field of gender in the jazz world!

Listen to jazz drummer and local hero Myele Manzanza wax lyrical about composition, the physicality of drumming, and finding a unique sound. Laura and Sapeer were in the studio for a Wellington Jazz Festival special episode!

Ever wondered why there isn't a separate jobs board to help you with your career in social good? Well guess what - there is one, and it's called Do Good Jobs. Julia Capon is the founder and CEO of New Zealand's only site exclusively for job listings and organisations trying to make the world a better place.

Arohata Prison Book Club Part 2 by B-Side Stories

Arohata Prison Book Club Part 1 by B-Side Stories

Wellycon has grown over 11 years from a group of 20 boardgame fans to an event involving over 400 people, ranging from the curious to the hardcore all-night gamers. Organisers Ceedee Doyle and Nigel McNaughton talk to one of B-Side Stories hosts, Sadie Coe, about this year's event, coming up at Queen's birthday, and about the resurgence of table top games across the world.

Laura found Mike Riversdale and Raj Khushal in a pub, and brought them into the studio to chat about their podcast Access Granted. The team from Access Granted host awesome interviews with amazing people from the world of technology. They're also running Techweek TV 2018, streaming live interviews from Techweek events around New Zealand. Visit www.accessgranted.co.nz for more.

In this special episode for chronic fatigue awareness day, Laura talked to Ali about his experience overcoming chronic fatigue. He talks about the importance of keeping hope and having perspective on the slow road to recovery.

Documentary filmmakers Simin Littschwager and Antony Kitchener talk about their film Rock-Paper-Scissors, which will premiere on May 20 at the DocEdge festival. Initially they had planned a short bio of Stavros Kyriakides, who creates sculptures from natural materials along Wellington's South Coast, but while filming they soon discovered a story of the conflict around Stavros' works.

Artist Steven Saunders knew from the age of 6 that he wanted to make movies and toys. He has continued on this path ever since and has created models ranging from dinosaur museum exhibits to Hobbit figurines to award winning sets for Blade Runner 2049. He talks to us about the joy of creating worlds both fantastical and fact-based.

We spoke to Cam from Zero Waste at Newtown Festival as he emerged from the impressive piles of diverted waste - phew!

We talk to the wonderful Shannon Friday from the Wellington Timebank and hear about things are changing up at your favourite local alternative economy!

The amazing Dayna Berghan-Whyman competes in the medieval battle sport of 'buhurt'. She's going to Europe in May 2018 to fight in two World Championship Medieval Combat competitions. She talks about discovering the sport, representing New Zealand, and remembering to pee before you put on armour. Find Dayna's website here: http://handypaladin.co.nz/ Photo: CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF [https://bit.ly/2Jh7vxz]