Squeegeeing the shower – The world’s best food writing – Bubbah's drunk haircut
...and other recs this week!
Kia ora, welcome to this week’s newsletter.
What were you doing this time last year? We were launching Youth Wings, a video series about some of the young leaders in New Zealand’s main political parties. You didn’t read about it in this newsletter, because this newsletter hadn’t started yet. Which I guess means there’s a chance you may have missed it.
If that is the case, I recommend watching it this week because it’s still really good and funny one year on. Nobody from the series has become a member of parliament yet, but I honestly reckon it’s only a matter of time.
–Cal
(Note: this week’s recs were all written pre-lockdown, in case you were wondering why none of them start with “Now that we’re all back in level four…”)
This week’s new podcasts
On When the Facts Change [Apple | Spotify], Bernard Hickey asked why the types of urgent changes we saw in response to the pandemic last year aren’t being made in response to the climate crisis right now.
On Business is Boring [Apple | Spotify], Simon Pound spoke to Samantha Gadd, founder of Humankind, about why businesses are waking up to the importance of employee experience.
The Real Pod [Apple | Spotify] uncovered an F-bomb scandal on Breakfast and watched another week of The Block NZ.
Remember When… [Apple | Spotify] remembered the extremely bright, extremely loud fast fashion giant Supré and the thrill of staying up watching the Telethon.
And Gone By Lunchtime [Apple | Spotify] was meant to have an episode out today but… well... ya know. Stay tuned for a good old fashioned hectic Zoom pod soon probably.
FIRST
You may have noticed Bubbah is wearing a hat on this week’s episode of FIRST. While not unprecedented, it does raise some questions, which the actor and comedian answered the moment she sat down. “I’m hiding a drunk haircut. Sorry.” Have a watch to hear the SIS star tells us about her first time doing stand-up, crushing on Woody from Toy Story, why she should have a Vailima sponsorship and more.
Extremely Online – WTF is cryptocurrency?
Seems like everybody's talking about cryptocurrency these days. Confused as to how it all actually works? Let this week’s episode of Extremely Online, from the team at Shit You Should Care About, explain it in a way we can all understand. (If you already understand, please feel free to reply to this email with any tips on which coins I should get.)
Vittles
Alice says: “I recommend the newsletterVittles, which showcases excellent food writing from contributors around the world. Launched by British food writer Jonathan Dunn last year as he was furloughed (put on lockdown leave) from his job at a tea company, Vittles brings a new essay to my inbox every Monday night. Recent topics have included “what even is a kebab?“; the food of football stadiums; and how TikTok is shaping Chinatown. It’s basically a more global version of The Spinoff food section of my dreams.”
Dear Me
I listened to all three episodes of Dear Me back-to-back at the weekend then felt really disappointed in myself that I didn’t ration them out and savour them more. Each episode hosts Katy Wix and Adam Drake are taken on a tour of the guest’s hometown, visiting three places from their childhood and chatting about what it was like growing up there. It’s like Desert Island Discs but more funny and unpredictable and vibrant – recording a podcast “in the field” really adds something you don’t get in the studio. They had to stop making it for a while because of the UK being Covid Central, but fingers crossed there’ll be more one day soon.
The White Lotus origin story
Sam says: “If you’re a fan of The White Lotus (which wrapped up on Neon this week) I recommend watching this clip showing what could be pretty much the exact moment series creator Mike White, a former Survivor contestant, came up with the whole concept. Like the White Lotus, it’s deeply, excruciatingly funny.”
Squeegeeing the shower
Alex says: “I would like to strongly recommend squeegeeing the shower every morning. Inspired by my Real Pod co-host Jane Yee’s #girlboss mantra “be your own Shower Witch”, I have embraced the $3 squeegee with soggy, open arms and found the process no less than life-changing. In the same way that a fabric shaver is a form self care, the shower squeegee has become a daily meditative ritual of mine. To squeegee is to take control of one’s life, to laugh in the face of water stains, and banish future soap scum with a mere flick of the wrist. Step into your squeegee potency. Be your own shower witch.
Pokémon Unite
Te Aihe says: “Recently released on Nintendo Switch (with an upcoming release on mobile next month), Pokémon Unite is a fast-paced MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) that’s super easy to pick up and so much fun to play. If you’ve ever been curious about League of Legends or DOTA but don’t want to deal with those infamously toxic player communities, this is a great alternative. I flew around the map as Charizard and Fire Blasted my opponent’s Pikachu to a crisp, which is everything I want in a video game.”
Queen Shirl’e – Vacay
Justin says: “Māngere-based rapper Queen Shirl'e has just released a great new single summing up how we're all feeling right now, given it’s the middle of winter and the holidays feel a long way off. It’s a perfect track to get you dreaming about your summer 'vacay', or maybe just the next school holidays, and the video also features some super stylish comic illustrations by Māngere visual artist Ali Cowley.”
That’s all for this week! Please reply to get in touch and share with anyone else who might like to subscribe too. See you next Wednesday 👋
