B-side Stories

Joris De Bres from Project Crimson joined us in the studio to talk about Trees That Count - an initiative to plant one native tree for every New Zealander this year! Key to the project is that new trees get counted. Go to https://www.treesthatcount.co.nz/ to count the trees you plant, or pledge for a tree to be planted on your behalf.

Catherine Robertson from the New Zealand Society Of Authors joined Ben and Laurie in the Wellington Access Radio Studio. Both writers and readers will be interested to learn about authors, genres, and publishing in NZ.

Boomerang Bags Wellington is a plastic pollution solution for our plastic bag epidemic. And the mayor wants to get these in circulation to reduce the 9000 tonnes of plastic that is being dumped in the city's landfills every year. Moore Wilsons are also coming on board with rumours that they have ordered 3000 of them to have in circulation for their store. Find out more as in this interview Pip and Sarah of the Boomerang Bags.

Project Rameka Part 1 by B-Side Stories

Project Rameka Part 2 by B-Side Stories

Hannah Blumhardt and Liam Prince return to B-Side Stories to tell us about their upcoming Rubbish Trip, living zero waste and connecting with people who also want to minimise their waste. They also perform a fantastic Neapolitan song!

Sarah Meads tells us about a great community environmental initiative happening in Kelburn and Highbury ... GoEco!

The amazing Laura O'Connell Rapira does many many things but in this interview we talk about co-founding RockEnrol - a group that aims to get young people engaged and voting in New Zealand. Laura told us about their crazy idea to lower the voting age. It's so crazy, it might just work!

Jordan Anderson is the a co-author of a report from JustSpeak called, "Bailing out the Justice System". We talked about why there are more people in prison instead of less, and how we could be spending public money on #abillionbetterthings

We talk to Annabel Wilson of Ravel Productions about their show 'No Science to Goodbye'

Laura went to Race Relations Day in Wellington to speak to organisers and supporters about what they day is about. You'll hear from Tayo Agunlejika and Pancha Narayanan from Upper Hutt, and you'll hear the Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

Wellington Zoo recently celebrated it's 110th year by throwing the Wild Ideas Conservation Symposium, which was about sharing conservation learnings from the world's leading global conservation organisations. B-Side Stories were able to talk to Esther Conway of 21st Century Tiger and Ang Sherpa from the Red Panda Network about the challenges these animals face, how their organisations support them and some tips for us as consumers.

The The Dowse Art Museum has a new exhibition called This Time of Useful Consciousness, featuring New Zealand artists who are chiming into the conversation of the urgency to address global environmental issues. Curator for the Dowse, Melanie Oliver talks to B-Side Stories about the reasons why the artists wanted to be part of the exhibition.

Henry and Laura talk the easiest way to listen to B-Side Stories: subscribe in your favourite podcast app! Choose a free one. Laura recommends 'podcast addict' for android users.

James Smith from BaseJump Improv tells Henry and Laura about Chicago-style improvisation, and the Foundation course available in May 2017. http://www.basejumpimprov.co.nz/

Stephanie Hill along with her husband Ravi Dass, started their business Mr. Foureyes and a family at roughly the same time. And the business isn't ordinary; it aims to give as much as it gets by helping a child with their eyesight every time YOU buy a pair of glasses. Stephanie talks to B-side Stories about her "normal", as a mum, a business woman and a person engaged with helping her community.

Ahead of WRC's annual fundraising appeal, Kyla and Hannah sat down to talk about the services that WRC offer, and how to prevent sexual violence in New Zealand. You'll hear the events on from 30 March-2 April 2017 where you can donate to WRC. If you have an experience of sexual abuse or rape, or want to reach out to Wellington Rape Crisis, they are online at http://www.wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz, or call 04 801 8973. All interactions are confidential. It is always OK to ask for help.

David Klein is a local cycling and science enthusiast! His show, Tour de Science, is a science storytelling presentation that took him around Aotearoa this summer - performing 58 times and covering over 5000km on a cargo bike. We also hear about the New Zealand Bicycle Film Festival 2017, starting Tuesday at Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Also joining us this week was Keighty Morton with their band April Fish who are performing at this years Cuba Dupa festival. Keighty has written an 8 track performance for a 10 person choir to be accompanied by themself on piano and a stand up bass. Keighty gave us a sneak peek of the choir performing "Capture Me"

Joining hosts Martin & Laura on B-Side Stories this week was Johnny Gbenda Charles, restaurateur, boutique sports manager, volunteer, ex professional footballer, amazing racer and now Wellington's latest coffee brewer. Johnny chatted about growing up in Sierra Leone his move to Wellington as a 9 yr old and why people over profit is such an important business & personal consideration for him.