The insular Greymouth community of Gloriavale has kept Kiwis enthralled as testimonies keep emerging.

A new TVNZ documentary, Escaping Utopia, promises to unveil the stories of people who've left the community- and the struggles they've endured.

Co-director Justin Pemberton says Gloriavale is going through a transitionary period following the death of their former leader.

"The community is now imploding, it's going through some sort of- either regeneration or collapse, and we don't really know which yet, it's very much a live story. I think that's why we felt so compelled to need to go and visit."

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The insular Greymouth community of Gloriavale has kept Kiwis enthralled as testimonies keep emerging.
A new TVNZ documentary, Escaping Utopia, promises to unveil the stories of people who've left the community- and the struggles they've endured.
Co-director Justin Pemberton says Gloriavale is going through a transitionary period following the death of their former leader.
"The community is now imploding, it's going through some sort of- either regeneration or collapse, and we don't really know which yet, it's very much a live story. I think that's why we felt so compelled to need to go and visit."
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Justin Pemberton: Escaping Utopia director explores the inner workings of Gloriavale through interviews with escapees

Famed Kiwi outdoorsman Sam Gibson's found some more stories in the bush - and he's turned his findings into a new book.

Sam is deeply passionate about hunting, foraging, trapping, fishing and conservation, and even spent some time working for the Department of Conservation. 

A Bushman's Book of Yarns aims to teach readers about New Zealand's unique ecosystems and wildlife. 

"Now that I'm a Gisborne District Councillor, I do speaking gigs around the country, I've got young kids - like, a bit of time in the bush just by myself would be amazing." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Famed Kiwi outdoorsman Sam Gibson's found some more stories in the bush - and he's turned his findings into a new book.
Sam is deeply passionate about hunting, foraging, trapping, fishing and conservation, and even spent some time working for the Department of Conservation.&nbsp;
A Bushman's Book of Yarns aims to teach readers about New Zealand's unique ecosystems and wildlife.&nbsp;
"Now that I'm a Gisborne District Councillor, I do speaking gigs around the country, I've got young kids - like, a bit of time in the bush just by myself would be amazing."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Sam Gibson: hunter, trapper and conservationist talks new book, A Bushman's Book of Yarns

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef74814a-0389-4861-bb17-b4af00191dd7/transcript

This week, Lyttleton singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has landed a big milestone - after seven albums, she’s hit the top spot on the Kiwi charts.

Castle Hill has debuted at number one on not only the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums Chart, but the Top 40 Albums chart.

She says she's happy to see people enjoying it - and her kids appreciate how high it got on the charts. 

"The kids all think that we're rich now, that's their kind of marker. They're like - you're bigger than Olivia Dean! And I'm like - well, this week we are." 

LISTEN ABOVE

This week, Lyttleton singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has landed a big milestone - after seven albums, she’s hit the top spot on the Kiwi charts.
Castle Hill has debuted at number one on not only the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums Chart, but the Top 40 Albums chart.
She says she's happy to see people enjoying it - and her kids appreciate how high it got on the charts.&nbsp;
"The kids all think that we're rich now, that's their kind of marker. They're like - you're bigger than Olivia Dean! And I'm like - well, this week we are."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mel Parsons: Kiwi singer-songwriter on the success of her new album 'Castle Hill'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e08f54cb-d85a-41a0-a1ff-b4af00124add/transcript

The Unselected Journals of Emma M.Lion by Beth Brower. This is a series of journals published by a writer purporting to be a 20 year old woman, in 1883 London, writing about her family, her housing situation and the events of her days. They’re charming and whimsical and become quickly very moreish with two books in the series just published and many more apparently to follow. Emma’s father has left her his London house in his will but her cousin Archibald is entitled to live there until she comes of age and he’s not best pleased at her inheritance. The books have a touch of An Unfortunate Series of Events, along with Anne of Green Gables and the Victorian era of Georgette Heyer. Once you start it’s hard to stop. 

Agrippa by Robert Harris – who is one of the finest contemporary writers, known also for his trilogy of Roman novels about Cicero. This new one is subtitled A Novel of Ancient Rome’s Descent into Dictatorship. Julius Caesar is dead, and the lives of two teenaged boys are about to be changed forever. One is Caesar's 17-year-old nephew, Octavius, whom he has made his heir; the other is Octavius's closest friend, Agrippa. Now aged 50, Agrippa presents this novel as his memoir remembering their eventful lives which were so intertwined, for better or worse, with fascinating history and insight. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Unselected Journals of Emma M.Lion by Beth Brower. This is a series of journals published by a writer purporting to be a 20 year old woman, in 1883 London, writing about her family, her housing situation and the events of her days. They’re charming and whimsical and become quickly very moreish with two books in the series just published and many more apparently to follow. Emma’s father has left her his London house in his will but her cousin Archibald is entitled to live there until she comes of age and he’s not best pleased at her inheritance. The books have a touch of An Unfortunate Series of Events, along with Anne of Green Gables and the Victorian era of Georgette Heyer. Once you start it’s hard to stop.&nbsp;
Agrippa by Robert Harris – who is one of the finest contemporary writers, known also for his trilogy of Roman novels about Cicero. This new one is subtitled A Novel of Ancient Rome’s Descent into Dictatorship. Julius Caesar is dead, and the lives of two teenaged boys are about to be changed forever. One is Caesar's 17-year-old nephew, Octavius, whom he has made his heir; the other is Octavius's closest friend, Agrippa. Now aged 50, Agrippa presents this novel as his memoir remembering their eventful lives which were so intertwined, for better or worse, with fascinating history and insight.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Whitcoulls Recommends: The Unselected Journals of Emma M.Lion and Agrippa

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c364659a-3e3b-4797-9a0d-b4af000c9d4a/transcript

Justin Pemberton: Escaping Utopia director explores the inner workings of Gloriavale through interviews with escapees

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