Podcasts & Books

Whether you’re a life-long bookworm or you’ve never quite gotten into reading, now is the perfect time to fall in love with books. From crime and romantic drama to historical fiction and everything in between, we’ve found your next favourite read.

Plug in.

Whether you’re a baby feminist or a seasoned equality fighter, this list covers the freshest feminist reads from Australian and international authors alike. From mind-blowing factual works to eye opening fiction and even a few timeless classics, put your reading glasses on and add these prime publications to your to-read list.

Summer and reading go hand in hand.

In a world where there are movie adaptations of just about every book ever written, we’re at risk of forgetting the joy actually reading a book can bring. A fancy front cover, the feel of the paper, that new book (or old book) smell – these are things a film just can’t provide.

Let’s cut to the chase. There’s a big pool of sex podcasts sitting out there (most likely full of lots of banana inflatables) in the world and wading through the underwhelming to get the amazing ones can be kind of, well… hard.

Essential reading.

 Kleenex Ultra Soft at the ready.

Serious page-turners you won’t be able to steer away from.

Reading is a bullet-proof method for accepting stress, learning how to cope with it, and living happily ever after. 

 In case you’ve been out of the podcast loop, wellness is the new true crime.

Autobiographies are a window into the soul and sometimes they are so powerful they can change the reader, so and here are our top picks of the 10 you should read at least once in your life.

There’s no denying it, times are tough and confusing as hell right now. Physical distancing and the general daily news headlines can play havoc on your mental health. And while we’re spending a lot of time at home, it’s important to take time to look after yourself. 

With International Women’s Day before us, what better way to get yourself prepared than listening to some podcasts that are hosted by women, for women. We’ve put together a list of some of the best podcasts right now that cover a wide variety of topics, both thought-provoking and LOL-worthy. These listens are relatable, entertaining, and are bound to leave you feeling empowered and ready to celebrate International Women’s Day.

 Think new talent, new reads and new voices that are well worth your time.

Bless your ears with these incredible LGBTQI+ podcasts that will make you laugh and cry with their raw, honest and hilarious storytelling. From celebrity hosts and guest stars to award-winning journalists and activists, these queers podcasts are seriously binge-worthy.

Bring on the climax.

No matter what kind of reader you are, we’ve got your bookworm needs covered with all of the best LGBTQI+ books, from romantic comedies to confrontingly honest memoirs and powerful classics.

Your write of passage.

In 2020 we consumed a shedload of podcasts, and the one that truly stuck out for us, was The Dropout. Not familiar? The true crime series chronicled the insane life of Elizabeth Holmes, the former billionaire turned fraudster and jail dweller. 

 Enlighten yourself harder than the 1700s.

2020 was the year we needed podcasts more than ever. From giving us the chance to virtually armchair travel around the world, to listening to groundbreaking investigative journalism firsthand—there’s been a shedload of incredible podcasts hitting the airwaves this year. If you’re in need of some solid recommendations for summer, you’re in luck because we’re here to tell you what to plug into as you hide from your extended family this holiday season.

 Escapism at its finest.

Slasher fans—and Aucklanders who’ve exhausted every other streaming platform available—can rejoice in the news that New Zealand now has another content service available called Shudder. It’s a fright-focused affair streaming only horror and the sub-genres that fall under the category.

While Tiger King proved to be the MVP of iso-life viewing, Where The Crawdads Sing absolutely took out the top spot for the book world. And now, fans can rejoice because it’s being adapted for the big screen and we’re pumped!

These days, it’s almost as if every person and their dog has a podcast. If you really wanted, you could piece one together with the voice recorder on your phone and some shoddy, free-to-download software. 

As we start the new year and we’re all trying to suss out what 2021 has in store for us, we’re furiously reading up on our star signs to see how we’ll get that promotion at work, find our soulmate and survive the next retrograde.  To help you become a zodiac master, we’ve rounded up the best astrology books for you to check out. 

We decided to catch up with the guy behind it and chat all things about the making of Search Engine Sex, how sex is represented in today’s pop culture and the weirdest phrase he knows for “wanking”. 

Oh, queen Bey, how we have missed you! In news that the world truly needs right now, Beyoncé has announced she’s finally dropping a new visual album next month. Black Is King will premiere on 31 July on Disney+, right on the heels of the one-year anniversary of The Lion King reboot.

The new true-crime podcast series Chasing Charlie is about as juicy as they come. The seven-part series follows an eight-year chase of New Zealand con artist Paul Bryan Gill, it involves six-figure cash sums, intercontinental escape acts and it’s told by the private investigator who worked the case from day dot, Julia Robson.

Recipes include “Sourd’Ohhhh” and “Pump Her Nickle”.

While we loved binging the craziness that was Netflix’s Tiger King, sometimes we need a hit of wholesomeness, and it doesn’t get much better than having Harry Potter himself serenade us with a reading of the J.K Rowling novel that made him a household name.

From the Australian Outback to huge sand dunes in the heart of the Orkney Islands — travel books will transport you to places all over the world.

Rejoice, the doyen of documentaries, Louis Theroux, is finally set to release a podcast thanks to the good folk at the BBC.

We’ve compiled a list of six books perfect for every type of armchair traveller to enjoy during lockdown, and beyond. All of these books are available to hire from our fabulous libraries via Overdrive (some even as audio books) so you won't even have to order in to enjoy these gems.

We reached out to some of Hamilton's coolest business owners to find out what they've been up to in lockdown.

If you thought Instagram and YouTube was the only vice to satisfy your travel bug, think again.

Found yourself with a little extra time on your hands? Who would have thought? Get comfy, switch on your reading light and unleash your inner bookworm on these eight long reads guaranteed to get you through isolation, however long that may be. 

Every noteworthy podcast trending hard right now.

Plus everything you need to binge this week.

With news dropping this week that The Handmaid’s Tale season four will commence filming this March, our curiosity on the future of Gilead has only increased tenfold. But rather than wait for the new season to drop (no word on the release date as yet) why not go straight to the source? The creator of The Handmaid’s Tale and our newest fave, The Testaments, Margaret Atwood is headed to our shores for a national tour.

Every noteworthy podcast trending hard right now.

The temps have peaked, the days longer and beaches are becoming our second home—which can only mean one thing, summer is well and truly here. While hitting the surf and a round of cricket are fun, if you’re looking for a more chilled out beach sesh, we’ve got you covered with a whole slew of epic new release books for you to dive into.

Let’s cut to the chase. There’s a big pool of sex podcasts sitting out there (most likely full of lots of banana inflatables) in the world and wading through the underwhelming to get the amazing ones can be kind of, well… hard.

​When LA Times reporter Christopher Goffard released a little-known podcast by the name of Dirty John last year, true crime buffs lost their collective minds. The podcast became a smash hit and spawned a Netflix show of the same name, plus a bunch of international speaking events… because who wouldn’t want to hear the dulcet tones of Goffard in person?

The shadowy mouse empire is moving, and it’s coming for your bank account.

Barefoot Investor is great and all but have you read these?

Every noteworthy podcast trending hard right now.

Plus everything you need to binge this week.

Plus everything you need to binge this week.

Finding the right book to suit you can be a big task, so we’ve done the hard yards to bring you a list of some of the best books on mindfulness.

If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of right now, it’s true crime podcasts, so we’re always a little giddy when we uncover one particularly chilling. And it doesn’t get much creepier than having the voice behind one of your favourite cartoons talk you through heinous true crimes in graphic details. 

While we endure the anxious and long wait for season four of The Handmaid’s Tale to hit our screens (and find out if June ever does escape that hell hole), it turns out you can get your Gilead fix sooner than you think.  

It’s pretty well established that Auckland is full of cool, hip and unique things to do. So it’s only fitting that us Aucklanders are kitted out for the occasion, right?

Dubbed as “a paranormal S-Town”.

Every noteworthy podcast trending hard right now.

Mark down June 27 for more witchcraft and wizardry.

Eyes starting to shrivel up? Might be time to ditch the screens and try something a bit more...analogue. We’ve got some crackerjack new release books in November.

The story of infamous backpacker murderer Ivan Milat.

Things are just getting worse in the Republic of Gilead.

Hate deep house music? Maybe you just never listened to it the right way.

If sleeping has become more chore than snore, it’s time you plugged in to switch off; these are the best slow lit podcast to help you hit the hay.

Like with anything entertainment-related, diving into the podcasting universe can take you on an information overload trip if you don't know where to start. Luckily we’re here to tell you what to plug into your ear holes and what to leave out of your binge-listening sessions as you hide from your extended family this holiday season.

It’s true that New Zealand is blessed with multiple outstanding restaurants and cafes it takes an effort to stay home and cook—especially when many of them will deliver right to your door.

We've already popped it on our reading list.

Got an entertainment buff you need to please? From retro arcade games to stylish sound systems, we’ve got something that will have them cancelling all their plans for 2019.

"I've listened to too many podcasts" said no one ever.

All your Sunday inspo wrapped into one handly lil' package.

​We’re kicking off a new Book Club series today, so settle down and get comfy. Maybe pop the kettle on. Every month we’ll be checking out a handful of hyped new releases in the literary world, and September is looking like a bumper month. We’ve got J.K. Rowling’s new thriller, a Homeric saga from Pat Barker, and Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ scathing biography of her late dad, Steve. (You know Steve, right?)

The Harry Potter hype is just about to get stronger as it has just been announced that three new books will be added to the ever-growing brand!

Crazy Rich Asians took the world by storm when it was released in 2013. And, this month the film hit theatres and you’d pretty much have to have been living under a bus not to have noticed the hype.

Forget about tape players and CD’s, today’s music is all about streaming—or is it? There’s one form of music that’s been making it’s way back onto the scene and we love it.

Guys, reading is cool (why do I feel incredibly lame typing that??). It was around way before Netflix (or uh, the internet) was a thing, and we reckon it’s going to stick around for a long time after too. There's a lot of hype around certain books, and you'll definitely get a bit of lit cred if you can quote some of these novels. Do you have to read them? Yes. Will it impress future Tinder dates? Potentially. 

The recent success of shows like Call the Midwife, The Crown and good ol’ Downton Abbey proves that we all love a cheeky bit of historical fiction. Nothing captures the imagination like the secret dramas of the English court or the glitz and the glamour of the 1920’s. While a TV show is all well and good, actually reading a piece of historical fiction just takes things to a whole new level, letting you completely immerse yourself in a whole new world.

It came out two days ago and we’re already hooked.

While there’s no quick fix to turning your life into a Disney movie, there’s something to be said for a good self-help book. Whether you’re struggling with money, motivation, relationships or just keeping your room tidy, here are some of our favourite books to help instantly make your life better: 

Iconic Auckland bookstore, The Hard To Find Bookshop, has moved from their longtime Onehunga spot to a brand new location in Eden Terrace.

Shape, change and challenge your everyday life.

The Auckland Writers Festival is back and better than ever.

If you’re into a boring daily routine of eat, sleep, work, repeat, with no hope of a holiday any time soon, it might be time to change things up a bit! If you’re in need of a mighty pick me up, you’ve clicked onto the right article! Are you ready to have your life changed forever?

Fire up those downloads and let the LOLs run wild with the funniest podcasts out.

Let Snoop Dogg catch you up on all things pop culture.

John Green once wrote great books help you understand and they help you feel understood. Naturally, reading is a subjective process, but whether it’s learning how to live your best life, facing adversity to striving for success, here are ten books that will change the way you think.

You could say soundtracks are the make or break of a film…or maybe we’re just being dramatic…like a good soundtrack would be. Seriously though, think of an iconic movie and right behind your favourite quote, an even more iconic theme is wiggling its way into your brain. 

​All right, you true crime pervs. We’re back for another month of watching shows about real things happening to real people in real time. And there’s plenty on the menu. We’ve got a couple of golden oldies (Man on Wire, Amy) and brand new docos on everything from Nora Ephron to guys collecting coral.

Here’s our round-up of the latest wave of thrillers you won’t be about to put down.

​We’re currently knee deep in awards seasons, but while everyone’s going mental for the latest film to hit the big screen, there’s plenty to watch on the small screen from the comfort of your couch as well. And the best part is, nobody is judging your snack choices at home.

They say truth is stranger than fiction, but those people probably never watched Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. Nonetheless, there are a stack of excellent docos around right now. Maybe it’s the whole true crime trend, or the fact the world is slowly melting, but people seem to care more about real stuff now. That’ probably a good thing.   

Even though us reading enthusiasts will often agree how good the movie was whilst secretly agreeing with ourselves that the book was better, we could not be excited.

Put down that damn Jodi Picoult novel because we’ve dug up the best Aussie true crime books on the market just in time for Christmas, and Jodi’s latest heartbreaking courtroom drama is going to have to wait. Hours of bookshop research have told us that Australia is home to some pretty insane, real-life murder mysteries, and paired with a hot cup of tea and a few choccie bikkies, they make for a delicious night in this festive season.

If you've not yet gotten into podcasts (seriously, what have you been doing?), this holiday season is the perfect opportunity to come over to the enlightened side. Way less effort than reading a book (read: trashy mag) or watching Netflix (because series binging requires a surprising amount of effort), podcasts also have the added benefit of being insanely entertaining and often educational at the same time—so it's wins all round.

The greats of New Zealand—Karen Walker, Hedley Books, The Caker and Storm & India have joined together to recreate the bookstore experience for our holiday season.

With Christmas fast approaching we are even more excited to get on the market buzz. Here are all the markets you need to visit this November.

There’s plenty of things to do in Auckland without the heavy price tag—here are 50 fun, tasty and sometimes free adventures, all for less than that pink note.

Goodbye French teachers everywhere.

Warmer weather and longer days are among us with Spring in full force! And with Christmas creeping closer (12 weeks to go!!), our favourite Auckland markets are finally back after a winter break. Get ready for all the tropical fruit juices, fresh strawberry smoothies, and handpicked flower bouquets coming your way. Break out those sunnies, sandals and summer dresses and make sure you tick off all these markets in October.

We like to think stationery improves efficiency in the workplace, ya know, the whole look good feel good mindset?

Podcasts are like videos, but for people who like to actually get shit done while learning new things or being entertained. 

Just putting it out there—book clubs are officially cool. And no, we don’t mean discussing Wuthering Heights with a group of middle-aged mums over egg sandwiches. You’ll be pleased to know you won’t even have to put on pants or leave the comforting confines of your bed, for these clubs. 

We’re heading into the cooler months, which means only two things: hot milos and frayed paperbacks. And accidentally dropping your housemate’s copy of Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things in the bath. So, to save you all time you could otherwise we spending heaping tablespoons of Milo into your mouth mug, we’ve put together a list of this season’s best page-turners.

Here are 10 awesome books coming to life on the big screen in 2017.

If anything’s going to tear us away from our UberEats addiction, it’s the allure of a well-known face performing behind the pans. We’re suckers for a good celeb cook book—who knew they could cut veggies like us mere mortals?

Here at The Urban List, we love an upbeat playlist to keep us pepped up during a day at the office. Here's a selection of super smooth tunes that won't piss people off. 

Ah summer! You are here and we never, ever, ever want to let you go!

​Summer, the perfect time to head outdoors stay indoors, with remote in hand, keeping cool in the air-conditioning from the comfort of your couch. Amiright?

For stationary geeks like us, shopping for a diary is one of the mightiest of pleasures that comes when the clock strikes the New Year, so we’ve done you a solid and rounded up some of the best out there. Time to show 2018 who’s boss, and organise the hell outta it!

In our A-Z gift guide, you'll find our top picks for Christmas presents this year to go forth and shop!

​We owe a lot to podcasts—they make our morning commute bearable, educate us on how not to be murdered, provide loads of comic relief and generally make us better humans. What on earth did we do without them? Listen to the radio? Thank god those days are over (soz Kyle and Jackie O).

Gone are they days when you could only get a pizza delivered! Delivery packs are alive and kickin’ in Auckland and they’re everything you want and more.

Surely there’s something wrong with your life if tidying up is going to make it better. Tidying is a life necessity, a chore, a grind.

So little time yet so much to do. The good news is, there are plenty of Auckland gems curating a superior cup as part of a wider retail experience. Like a two-in-one shampoo kinda thing, but cool.

A new Harry Potter book is coming!

When your out-of-town mates rock up for a weekend and request to ‘do all the things’, it’s easy to feel the pressure. After all, it’s suddenly your sole responsibility to show them how awesome the City of Sails really is.

‘Tis the season to be jolly…and Santa. Whether it’s at the office, Uni or just a group of friends, chances are that you’ve been hit up to be Secret Santa to at least one person this year. Instead of the usual (boring) box of chocolates, novelty ice cube tray or humourous (less) mug, get creative and choose gifts that people will actually want to receive. 

How to look good naked. Tricky. Unless of course you are a cake in the hands of Brisbane food stylist and entertaining guru, Lyndel Miller; then you are going to look pretty sweet in the buff indeed. We catch up with the baking talent to discuss her new book, Naked Cakes.