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 laugh.
One of the things I’m really interested in is what we can learn from talking to each other about our own practice and the things we make. Read more about me at my website (https://www.pipadam.com/)
Ep 166: Jon Toogood and pip adam talk about Home Again
On the 5th of September this year, i was lucky enough to be in an event at Word Festival called I Wish I Wrote That with an incredibly talented line-up of writers including Jon Toogood. Jon had an event before ours and i watched him perform 'Home Again' on acoustic guitar from the Green Room. Even backstage and through a screen i found myself moved to tears - it's an incredible piece of songwriting that just seems to hit me more and more profoundly. About five minutes into Jon's book signing i needed to go to the foyer and it was wild. One thing became really clear - people love Jon and Jon's book and Shihad. During our event, Jon read a really beautiful piece about Aldous Harding's song 'Treasure'. One of the really great things about Jon's memoir Home Again is the way he writes about music, not just the music he makes but the music he loves.
Home Again My life and times in a band called Shihad by Job Toogood is out now with Hachette. i wanted to say a big thanks to Tania Mackenzie-Cooke from Hachette for all the fun and cool chats we've had at festivals and for her help with this podcast. Home Again is a very good book. i loved it. The audio book is also great. When i was young i never fully 'got' Shihad until i saw them at Mt Smart Stadium on the Big Day Out. i remember my friends and i (sort of more used to bands like Bailter Space) turning to each other and saying, 'Oh, you have to listen to them really loud. They're a stadium band.' From then on i was hooked.
The Adults Haja, 2014–2018
In 2014 Toogood married Dana Salih in Khartoum, the capital of her home country, Sudan. The traditional three-day ceremony included a dance performed by the bride on the final day. Other than the groom, only women are involved as spectators, drummers (the only instruments played) and singers. Women also write all the music and lyrics. The style is called Aghani al-banat, 'girl's music', and is usually only performed live.
Haja combined iPhone recordings made in Sudan in 2015 (the more formal recording sessions didn't yield anything usable) with basslines played by Toogood and vocal contributions from New Zealand hip hop artists including Chelsea Jade, Raiza Biza and Aaradhna. In keeping with the spirit of Aghani al-banat, Toogood invited mostly female collaborators. He originally didn't plan to sing any vocals of his own, but negotiations with Warner Music led to him being heard on two songs.
You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee
Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.
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9 Oct 2026
Ep 165: Helen Lehndorf and pip adam talk about The Bruise Palette
Helen and i have been friends for a long time. Over the years her work has been incredibly inspiring to me. When i say 'Helen's work' i mean her writing, her activism, her visual art, her journaling, her essays, her thinking, her teaching, her friendship, her family-ship, her gardening and all the other amazing things she does. i also admire the way it is quite hard to separate these 'works' out from each other. If there is such a thing as an artist's life i think Helen is a really great example of that. When we met a few weeks ago, Helen brought along her journal as the object to act as a starting place for this conversation.
In May, Helen published The Bruise Palette with Firestarter Press an amazing publisher who recently also produced a stunning group of books called The Pocketbook Series. The Bruise Palette is an incredible collection of poetry. Helen's poems in The Bruise Palette are visceral and weighty and at the same time limber and fleet. This is an amazing book.
This podcast was recorded at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui
The Pakawhakaritorito Trust
Helen says:
A cause I would love to signal boost is The Pakawhakaritorito Trust who do incredible work 'to elevate Indigenous seed, soil and food sovereignty through education, research and practices which decolonise our current food system.'
The Pakawhakaritorito Trust website: https://www.papawhakaritorito.com
Dr Jessica Hutchings (who leads the trust) was also a key part of co-designing the Hua Parakore Māori Organics framework so that Māori growers can certify their organics under a framework which is informed by te ao Māori.
What is Hua Parakore? https://www.tewakakaiora.co.nz/whatishuaparakore
I have huge admiration for their work. Last year, the farm the trust is based at suffered a large fire and they lost their home, workspaces and indigenous seed library so donations at this time will help them recover.
You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee
Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.
12 Sept 2026
Ep 164: Terri Te Tau and pip adam talk about The Valley of Unlikely Acquaintances
September is such an exciting month because it sees the launch of The Valley of Unlikely Acquaintances an amazing novel written by Terri Te Tau and published by Spoor Books
The Valley of Unlikely Acquaintances is a wildly good book. It's a stunning work of science fiction that speaks really clearly to our current moment. Spoor Books describe it as, 'A remarkable debut that follows one close-knit Māori community and the Wairarapa forest they are fighting to restore.' i found it so compelling and beautiful. My copy arrived in the post a couple of days ago and as well as this being an amazing work of fiction it is also a really beautiful object - like all the other Spoor Books i have. i can't recommend this book highly enough!
This podcast was recorded at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is a not-for-profit charity managing an unfenced breeding sanctuary for native wildlife.
'Our 942-hectare forest is home to wild birds. Inside our aviaries we hatch kiwi, kākā and kākāriki for release across Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are located on the border of the beautiful Tararua and Wairarapa regions, on the north island of Aotearoa New Zealand.'
You can support Pūkaha by becoming a member, donating or volunteering. For more information visit the Pūkaha website
You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee
Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.
Better off Read website it here: https://better-read.com/
Who has been a guest on Better off Read
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی
Zeke Caligiuri
Danielle Dutton
Saraid de Silva
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
48
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
81
Contact Better off Read
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Better off Read
Who hosts Better off Read?
Pip host the show. Published by Pip Adam.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Better off Read take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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