It started as just this side of a joke, in a caravan, calling what was one of the worst ever Black Caps sides. Just eight years later the Black Caps are world test champions and the Alternative Commentary Collective has become one of the most interesting and powerful innovations in New Zealand’s media. Co-founder Mike Lane explains how it happened, and what’s next.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>A research fellow with Te Pūnaha Matatini, Sanjana Hattotuwa has been studying information disorder for two decades. He’s spent the last month watching the occupation at parliament spread and outrate the mainstream media in venues like Facebook Live and Telegram, and explains why Aotearoa has to view this as a sign of things to come.</p><br><p><br></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>One year on from taking on a Substack Pro deal, Emily Writes finds herself able to live as a full-time writer for the first time. She joins Duncan Greive to explain how it happened, what it’s done for her life and why writers need to get more comfortable straight up asking for money.</p><p>Subscribe to Emily's newsletter at <a href="https://emilywrites.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">emilywrites.substack.com</a></p><p><br></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

New observational documentary series <a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/videos/takeout-kids" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Takeout Kids</a> (watch now on The Spinoff) follows the day-to-day lives of four young people growing up in takeaway shops and family-run restaurants. Director Julie Zhu joins The Fold to talk about making the series, how representation alone is not enough and the need to break away from the “exceptional immigrant” narrative.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

In a few short years Joe Daymond went from sleeping on a mate’s couch to selling out Sky City Theatre with his stand-up show, all driven by a very smart and analytical use of social media. But the plan was always to build a TV empire – and with production company West Park, he’s already well on his way.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

After abruptly leaving Magic Talk last year, veteran broadcaster Sean Plunket did something unusual: he started his own radio station. The Platform will be all digital, and has recruited some high profile stars, including Michael Laws and Martin Devlin. What unifies them is a sense that they all feel like the debate in New Zealand has grown too narrow for their taste – and a belief that there is an audience for views which have become far less visible on our major media platforms.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

As the director of news and talk at MediaWorks, Dallas Gurney is responsible for overseeing the launch of Today FM, the company’s new talk radio brand set to replace Magic Talk and, they hope, offer a viable alternative to talk radio giant Newstalk ZB. He joins Duncan Greive to talk about why MediaWorks decided to scrap Magic Talk, the long-term vision behind Today FM and the contentious ERA decision keeping Tova O’Brien off the air until mid-March.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>