Should I learn a trade? – The first great TV show of 2022 – NZ’s best 0% beer
...and other recs this week
Kia ora, welcome to this week’s newsletter.
When was the last time you had a full-on “what am I doing with my life” crisis and thought about learning a trade? It’s fine, probably happens to everyone. If you want some further inspo, have a listen to the first episode of On Site, a new podcast made in partnership with Trade Jobs NZ, and hear Brooke Thompson (aka @sparkygirlnz) tell co-host Jay Reeve how she decided to become an electrician.
Over the coming weeks the pair will be talking to everyone from apprentices to industry leaders about life in the trades and how they'd like to see the sector evolve in the future. If that sounds like something you or someone you know might be interested in, give it a follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any of the other usual places.
–Cal
🎧 New this week on The Spinoff Podcast Network
Takeout Kids director Julie Zhu joined Duncan Greive on The Fold [Apple | Spotify] this week to talk about making the series and the importance of telling different types of immigrant stories.
The Gone By Lunchtime [Apple | Spotify] team met last week to discuss the occupation of parliament’s front lawn and surrounding streets, and speculate as to what model iPod Trevor Mallard has.
On When the Facts Change [Apple | Spotify], Bernard Hickey looked at how the price of aluminium has upended our climate plans.
And The Real Pod [Apple | Spotify] recaps another week of experimental marriages on MAFS AU.
📺 Takeout Kids – John
This week’s featured episode of Takeout Kids takes us to Westminster Takeaways to meet John, one of the most relatable teenagers ever captured on film. Outside of school he enjoys playing League of Legends and going to the gym, but he also spends a lot of time working behind the counter at his parents’ fish and chip shop. John is cool and his episode is really lovely – some have even said it’s their favourite!
🎧 Obsession
Shanti says: “I'm obsessed. Specifically, I'm obsessed with Obsession, a Quartz podcast and email newsletter diving into something new each week. I loved the episode on Afrobeats particularly – the use of music in the podcast is excellent – but the real appeal of the podcast is its length. Each episode is a snappy 20-25 minutes, and still manages to get deep into the weeds of egg freezing or Google Docs without losing a warm human tone. If you're the kind of person who loves fun facts, it's a perfect series to dive into.”
📺 Severance
Chris says: “It's like David Lynch directing The Office. It's like an acid trip in the bathroom of the worst job you ever had. It's like staring at the clock, waiting for it to hit 5pm, then just as it does, being told to start your next day. Welcome to Severance, Ben Stiller's new workplace thriller series on Apple TV+. Adam Scott stars as an office worker who’s undergone a surgical brain implant to separate his work life from his home life, but things don't go to plan: his best work friend gets fired, then shows up in his real life with some truths to tell. Severance is the first great television show of 2022 – and it's got THE BEST opening credit sequence too.”
💻 Rave New World
Duncan says: “Rave New World accurately describes itself as “a newsletter on drugs and nightlife, by gonzo reporter / stoner raver Michelle Lhooq”. It’s the best, most focused and authentic new journalistic product I’ve encountered in ages, taking a global lifestyle often stigmatised or ignored and documenting it with a sense of humour (sample headline: Suck dick, carry Narcan”) but also a foundational belief in the transcendence found late at night when you’re feeling real different. The gonzo part is that she really lives it, travelling around the world and experiencing the culture up close. Right now she’s in Singapore, hanging with people trying to party in a state which has literally made it illegal, traversing that reality in a way which is funny, poignant and political.”
📖 Several People Are Typing
Sam says: “Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke is a novel told entirely through the medium of Slack messages. When one employee accidentally gets uploaded to his company’s channel, he has to figure out how to get back to the real world, all while his co-workers think it’s one elaborate gag. It’s a funny, smart, pointed jab at modern workplace culture, and a great one to breeze through in an afternoon.”
🎧 Surviving Sister Wives
Jane says: “I'm speaking to exactly three people here, but if you're a fan of TLC reality series Sister Wives then you need to listen to the Surviving Sister Wives podcast. The series is hosted by a couple who love nothing more than to have a few drinks and yarn about the Browns, a polygamist family who are the subject of what could objectively be described as the most uneventful reality show ever made. If you're not on the Sister Wives train, this recap podcast makes it worth diving into old episodes (there are 16 seasons worth), and even though I've done a terrible job of selling the show itself, you might find yourself surprised at how intriguing it is to watch a family navigate life with one husband, four wives and several van loads of children.”
🍹 Sodastreaming
Bel says: “When I’m not using my Sodastream, I wish I was. The humble backbone of my summer, the spritz in my white wine, the 3pm addiction with an overpriced syrup I never knew I needed. I hate buying “stuff”. I hate turning up to Noel Leeming with a wishlist. I hate having contraptions. But I cannot recommend my Sodastream enough.” [Bonus syrup tip from Ben: “Monin watermelon syrup is delicious, and you can also go light on the syrup to achieve more of a seltzer vibe.”]
🍺 Tiny
I can never say no to a blind taste test, unqualified as my opinion on the thing being tasted may be. The other week it was non-alcoholic beer, and (spoiler alert) the panel’s decision was unanimous: Garage Project’s Tiny is by far the best one. Many of New Zealand’s rapidly growing number of non-alc beer-drinkers already seem to know this because it’s sold out everywhere, but store this knowledge away in your brain for future reference.
OK, that’s all we’ve got time for this week. Please hit reply to get in touch, and of course feel free to share with anyone else who might like to subscribe too. See you next Wednesday 👋
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