B-side Stories

Dylan Horrocks and Zach Dodson have created a university programme that their younger selves dreamed about. They are co-founders of The Visual Narrative Lab: a place for visualisers and world-builders of all sorts to explore storytelling across media ranging from comics to creative writing to tabletop roleplaying. Dylan, author of the acclaimed graphic novel Hicksville, and an Aotearoa Arts Laureate, has worked as a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator for over 35 years, and is renowned for his world-building, storytelling, and scholarship. Zach creates interactive narratives across various media, including the "illuminated novel" Bats of the Republic. He is also the founder of a publishing company, Featherproof Books, and a video game studio, Interactive Tragedy LTD. Sadie Coe talks to Dylan and Zach about their work, about play, and about the joys and pains of creativity, and gets jealous of students of the amazing Visual Narrative courses offered at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (https

“Music is the emotional underscore, but it’s not just the music – it’s the dancing, it’s the people, it’s the whakawhanaungatanga”. The Wellington Folk Festival has been held once a year since 1965. Organisers Tony Burt and Mary Livingston play some live music in the studio and talk to B-Sides hosts Sadie Coe and Trish Given about the history of the “splendiferous” festival and the upcoming 60th birthday weekend of music, dance, workshops, and community, to be held over three days at the beautiful Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre in Wainuiomata. See https://wellingtonfolkfestival.org.nz/ for more info. B-Side stories thanks Wellington Access Radio and NZ on Air for their support.

We are joined by Tom Kay, an independent candidate for Greater Wellington's Pōneke/Wellington General area. Tom was born in Hawkes Bay and has worked in Wellington as an environmental advocate, freshwater scientist, and policy adviser. Tom loves Wellington and is passionate about improving train services, caring for our rivers, and preparing for climate change and emergencies. He is standing to bring a youthful voice to the regional council, and look after the environment we all love.

In this episode, we sit down with Trish Given, an independent candidate for Wellington City Council's Motukairangi/Eastern Ward. Born in Ireland and a resident of Wellington for 16 years, Trish has built her life here with her Kiwi husband and their two children. She's deeply rooted in the Eastern suburbs—not just as a resident, but as someone committed to nurturing the future of this vibrant community.