Quilted Bananas Radio in Wellington

The weekly Quilted Bananas Radio Show is broadcast on Sundays, 10 - 11 am, on Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM. You can also listen to the live broadcast of the programme online on Sunday mornings - go to the Access Radio website to live stream. There are also links to subscribe to podcasts at apple podcasts or Spotify, or download apps for android or iOS.

The Quilted Bananas Radio Programme is supported by the Rule Foundation.

Notices for broadcasting on the programme should be sent to qbananasradio@gmail.com

Check out the Programme's facebook page Quilted Bananas Radio for the latest updates from programme presenters.

The most recent programmes are available on the Quilted Bananas Radio page on the Access Radio website. Each Sunday's programme can generally be downloaded within a day of broadcasting. Here are the latest programmes available - click the link to play:

2025 podcasts

8 June Creek with Fiona: Sweat with Pride with interviews with two participants Jac Lynch and Tash Helasdottir-Cole talking about their fundraising exercises and why Sweat with Pride is important to them, raising funds for the Burnett Foundation, OutLine, Inside Out and Rainbow Youth
1 June the Raw Fish Show: Lani with Kura - current and coming events in Pōneke, music and chat
25 May Sue: with guest Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary of the PSA talking about pay equity and things union
18 May Creek with Siân and Debbie: update on Cahoots workshop fundraising; report on the annual fungal foray
11 May Karen & Adrienne - special takeover by the Pride Untold podcast
4 May the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant - interview with intersex advocate Tu Chapman about the petition against the gender recognition bill; music and chat
27 Apr Sue & Fiona - interview with author Pip Adam including discussing the current political climate in the US incl censorship, libraries and people minding their speech
20 Apr Creek & Debbie - interview with Jade from Cahoots about a new makerspace for women & gender diverse folk
13 Apr the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Ange and Sue - music and chat - hot cross buns, controversial bills coming to [and kicked out of] Parliament
6 Apr Siân - the Femme Rants with a Comedy Fest interview with MOG and Liv, performers in the upcoming Comedy Festival
30 Mar Linda with Sue - interview with drag queen Olivia III about their new book The Cat operator's manual with cat stories and publishing stories
23 Mar Rosie - the Irish geek Lesbian Radio show: online safety and security
16 Mar Rosie - the Irish Lesbian Radio show
9 Mar the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Ange and Kura - Pride Pride Pride, music and chat
2 Mar Linda, Fiona & Sue with Tory Regan from The Cat Carer - pussies of the four-legged variety
23 Feb Sue - interview with Sanjana Hattotuwa [Sri Lankan, and formerly Research Director at the Disinformation Project] on targeted violence, and Tasmin Pritchard on Wellington Pride's approach to Pride events in the current environment
16 Feb Siân - the Femme Rants Show: interview with Ania Upstill from @butchmermaid about their show Antonio in the Fringe festival
9 Feb Fiona & Sue: interview with comedians Liv Wood and Alayne Dick talking about their shows on Fri 14^th - Sun 16^th Feb in the 2025 Fringe Festival
2 Feb the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Ange and Kura - music and chat about exhibitions, food and events about the town
26 Jan Siân with Creek - the Femme Rants Show: arts news, books and reading, notices
19 Jan Creek: replay of interview with MISSROSEVALENTINA introducing her effervescent new album The Fuchsia is Rose
12 Jan Angele flying solo: current political events, poetry, music
5 Jan the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura and guest Angie - music and chat plus the Treaty Principles Bill

2024 podcasts

29 Dec Sue & Fiona: reminiscing about movies, TV and politics in 2024
22 Dec Angele with Debbie: music, Xmas chat
15 Dec Fiona & Sue - interview with Chelsea from Alphabet Book Club and Joe about best LGBTQIA+ books of the year!
8 Dec the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura - music and chat
1 Dec Creek - special episode in which MISSROSEVALENTINA introduces her effervescent new album The Fuchsia is Rose
24 Nov Angele with Debbie: music, news and views, what's on
17 Nov the Polari Show by Latin Cuirs - the state of the world post Trump election esp. w.r.t. American interference in Latin America and the Caribbean, a coming fund-raiser for Latin Cuirs, with Latin music
10 Nov no show
6 Oct Creek - pillow talk with Siân; repairing &running a repair cafè with Bronwyn
27 Oct Fiona with Siân - the Femme Rants Show by phone: talking about her experience in Dunedin working with molten metal in a foundry, and with other artists in Oamaru
20 Oct Angele with Debbie: music, news and views, poetry, what's on
13 Oct the Raw Fish Show: Kura - music and chat and a call from Lani
6 Oct Sue & Fiona - Mastadon and the state of social media
29 Sept Angele with Fiona: angst with the current political and social situation, music and more
22 Sept the Polari Show by Latin Cuirs - Maori Language Week; disability and mobility aids
15 Sept the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura - music and chat
8 Sept the Polari Show by Latin Cuirs - disability, sex and sex work
1 Sept Angele with Debbie - what's on, music, poems and more
25 Aug Kura with Sue - a pre-recorded interview by Siân who has a korero with artist Te Kīra Whakamoe, and a chorus of manu & cat purrers, highlighting her current exhibition "Kawe Mate" at Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings, which was launched on 27 July and goes through til 2 November - but no podcast
18 Aug - technical glitch so no podcast
11 Aug Siân - the femme rants show: internalised homophobia, current and recent creative activities, current TV programme abour Jacobean royals
4 Aug Creek - interview with co-director Greta Casey-Solly and actor Jane Leonard from Lizzie - the musical about Lizzie Borden, opening soon at Circa Theatre - "a suspenseful, queer, and rebellious new musical laced with political depth and a mischievous sense of humour"
28 July Sue & Fiona - political trends and community safety here and abroad, social media faves, the Olympic Games
21 July the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura - music and chat
14 July Siân - the femme rants show: art exhibitions - recent, current and coming, and more
7 July Angele with Debbie - what's on, some good reads for cosy winter nights, recent elections overseas, music, poems and more
30 June the Polari Show by Latin Cuirs - Matariki, news from Latin America
23 June the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura - Matariki background and events around the town, some history, plus music of course
16 June Angele with Debbie - Pride Month celebrations, music, poems and more
9 June Fiona & Sue - interview with Maggie Shippam about being ADHD and her tertiary education journey
2 June Siân - the femme rants show - rebroadcast of 18 Feb show
26 May the Raw Fish Show: Lani the Magnificant with Kura - celebrating Aotearoa Music Month with Special guest artist Raakau will be in the studio having a talanoa with us about his taonga puuoro journey and we will play one of his original tracks
19 May Angele with Debbie - it's a Funday Sunday with poetry, music and positive thinking - politics-free ... it's sometimes too depressing out there
12 May Fiona & Sue - interview with Chelsea from Alphabet Book Club, an online bookstore selling LGBTQIA+ books
5 May Sue - living in "interesting times" - Public Service stress & angst, Robyn Malcolm's TV series on anxiety, destressing with choir and swimming; the Comedy Festival now on, with heaps of shows in the Queer Comedy (LGBTQIA+) category; music and more ...
28 Apr Siân - the femme rants show - interview with Em (aka Willy SmacknTush)and Hannah from @covenevents Coven Events about parties, drag, and living their best creative lives
21 Apr Angele with Debbie - music, poetry, current politics national and local
14 Apr replay of 24 March programme: Rosie - the Irish lesbian programme, with guest Maria Ní Fhlatharta, an Irish LGBT and disability activist talking about campaigning for marriage equality in Ireland
7 Apr Fiona & Sue - interview with lawyer Amanda Hill about her work on people's human rights breaches, the Corrections amendment bill and other changes proposed by the government
31 Mar Lani the Magnificent - the Raw Fish Show with reflections on Pride and lots of music
24 Mar Rosie - the Irish lesbian programme, with guest Maria Ní Fhlatharta, an Irish LGBT and disability activist talking about campaigning for marriage equality in Ireland
17 Mar Angele with Debbie - celebrating women's music in New Zealand from the 1990s, with poetry
10 Mar the Polari show by Latin Cuirs - Lesbian Visibility Day in Argentina; International transfeminist strike in Latin America
3 Mar the Raw Fish Show with Lani & Kura - life and musings through the eyes of a Pacific rainbow elderly native and nonbinary kokonutty in Aotearoa
25 Feb Fiona - interview with Alayne Dick, a local performer and writer about her Fringe shows, cats ...
18 Feb Siân - the femme rants show with interview with Kassie Hartendorp about Te Tiriti activism
11 Feb Siân - the femme rants show with her Fringe Festival recommendations
4 Feb Fiona and Sue - the Tangents Show: interview with Mary Fisher, Para Olympian swimmer about growing up with limited sight, swimming incl. in the ocean, tramping, and singing in choirs with participation by her doggy
28 Jan Fiona - interview with Hadley Wilson about her Fringe Festival show No Hetero, some prerecorded content from Creek, music, notices
21 Jan Angele with Debbie: self-care, staying cool + community notices
14 Jan the Polari show from Latin Cuirs - the Latin Cuirs Festival for Pride: Body Pleasure and Decolonisation
7 Jan oops ... no show

More - 2023

2023 podcasts

31 Dec Angele with Debbie: a look back at the year that was and look forward to 2024, plus notices and music
24 Dec Fiona & Sue: tribute to Renée who described herself as "a lesbian feminist with socialist working-class ideals" and was a pioneer in writing about working-class women, takatāpui and Māori.
Highlights and lowlights from 2023
17 Dec Sue & Fiona: interview with Pip Adams about community radio, community, and her new book Audition
10 Dec the Raw Fish Show with Kura and Lani - movie review, kai moana gathering trip, music
3 Dec the Polari show by Latin Cuirs - queers from Latin America - check their facebook page
26 Nov Sue with Fiona: books books books including the 2023 Polari Prize winner Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield; some disturbing policies of the new government
19 Nov Sue with Fiona: interview with cast from the show Naturally Curious, at BATS until Saturday 25^th
12 Nov the Raw Fish Show with DJ Panda and Kura paying tribute to Octavius Jones
5 Nov Siân - the femme rants show. Interview with Val Smith and Forest Kapo - in Wellington for Performance Art Week Aotearoa
29 Oct Sue & Fiona - talking with Amy about her linguistics research on speech sounds of LGBTQIA women in Wellington, plus the Rainbow Research Network at Vic
22 Oct Creek with talked with Belén from Latin Cuirs, a social group and cinema club for the Latin American Cuir (Queer) community in Wellington; also currrent TV series
15 Oct the Raw Fish Show with DJ Panda and Kura. Lots of music, Paekākāriki Pride Festival, election washup
8 Oct Angele with Debbie: voting and the election, poetry, Untouchable Girls
1 Oct Sue & Fiona - fandoms, what brings them joy, music and more
24 Sept Linda with Sue: politics, the election, ActionStation's Triple The Vote campaign
17 Sept the Raw Fish Show with DJ Panda and Kura. Lots of music plus an interview with Laura about her work in the Maori Land Court
10 Sept Siân - the Femme Rants show: wellness and mental health theme plus music
3 Sept Rosie with Fiona: online safety and all things cyber - if you're not paying for it you are the product - check Rosie's post on facebook for lots of advice and useful links
27 Aug Linda and Sue talk with guest Tiffany about all things Barbie
20 Aug: rebroadcast of 13 August programme
13 Aug Creek: Queer sport rulezzz! - interview with Michelle from the Wellington Racqueteers, and with Sam and Shan from the the Multiball Maidens! [aka pinball]
6 Aug Siân - the Femme Rants show: upcoming events including her queer trans drawing classes; football!! with an interview with queer/nonbinary fans at the stadium; movies of interest in the NZ International Film Festival
30 July Sue with Fiona: soccer!!! FIFA Women's World Cup ... plus a bit of politics, movies etc.
23 July the Raw Fish Show with DJ Panda - FIFA Women's World Cup in town!, Indigenous/Pacific/POC, the Barbie movie
16 July Debbie - the FIFA Wold Cup, poetry from Angele's book Harbour, music, notices
9 July Fiona & Sue - social media alternatives to twitter including the new Threads [which needs an instagram account to log in] and Mastadon
2 July Sue - local and international rainbow news, esp recent US Supreme Court decisions
25 June Siân - inverview with Monique about Te Ngākau Kahukura o Te Awa Kairangi | Rainbow Hutt Valley and their new place Te Whare Kahukura in Epuni
18 June Creek - interview with Natalia Albert (TOP candidate for Wellington Central) talking about her experiences as a Mexican woman and immigrant
11 June Sue & Fiona - interview with author Kim Hunt about her new detective mystery novel The Quarry
4 June Linda & Sue - gardening in winter with Zoe of @theverygreengardener
28 May Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura: what's on about town, music
21 May Karen talking to Nina Hogg and Megan Connolly about their show at the comedy festival, Jez and Jace
14 May: Siân and Creek talking about their art shows and creative practice (originally broadcast 30 Oct 2022)
7 May Fiona and Sue - interview with Alayne Dick about improv group Tiny Dog which is appearing in the Comedy Festival on Friday 12 May
30 Apr the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura: local news and events plus music
23 Apr Angele - Cook Islands law change, Ukrainan refugees; interviews and notices
16 Apr Linda - isolation and loneliness since covid lockdowns, and strategies for dealing with it; plus music and notices
9 Apr Siân - the femme rants show with comments on rest and recovery after covid, reviews of some art shows, music and waiata [rebroadcast of the 10 July 2022 show]
2 Apr Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura and Lani: review of recent festivals including Cuba Dupa and Wellington Pride, plus music
26 Mar Karen - Craig on roller skating; interview with Queer Endurance Defiance about the [cancelled] visit by Posie Parker; chat, notices, music
19 Mar Sue - Pride review; discussion with Kelly about finding a community, her facebook group Rainbow To Do, plus notices and music
12 Mar Rosie - the pre St Patrick's Day Irish lesbian programme
5 Mar Angele with Kura - the Pride website special edition; a history of law changes in New Zealand
26 Feb: Creek - more on the Fringe Festival with interviews
19 Feb Raw Fish show - DJ Panda with Kura - korero for Cyclone Gabrielle, festivals including Pride, Fringe Fest and Newtown, plus music
12 Feb Siân: femme rants - upcoming rainbow/queer shows in the Fringe Festival
5 Feb Fiona & Sue - finding inspiration through singing, gardening, getting out into nature, handcrafting and sustainability
29 Jan Angele with Debbie - planning for retirement and the golden years
22 Jan: ooops ... no show
15 Jan Creek - pole dancing for fun, fitness & entertainment; pillowtalk reviews of queer/feminist tv shows
8 Jan Angele & Debbie - chat about sustainable living, being good neighbours, personal safety and security - plus music
1 Jan Sue - live in the studio!! Well done Sue. A look back at 2022 and forward to 2023; the state of social media, and of women's sport

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History and philosophy

The Quilted Bananas Radio Programme provides lively coverage of news, politics, activities, interviews and music for queer women & non-binary folk. It focuses on Wellington regional activities, but also covers national and international news. As an acronym our name stands for: Queer, Intersectional, Intersex, Lesbian, Takataapui, Trans, Enby, Diverse ... Bisexual, Asexual, and Nanas (because a lot of us also identify as nanas). As a metaphor, Quilted Bananas is about celebrating all the slippery overlaps these communities can have.

Quilted Bananas started life as the Wellington Lesbian Community Radio Programme, airing under that name for more than 35 years until our revamp in 2019.

The programme is run by a collective of presenters and technicians and we always welcome new volunteers – if interested, email our heirloom address: qbananasradio@gmail.com

We value respect and we don’t do gender-policing.

There is an interview with Prue about the programme and its history on PrideNZ.com, and an article by Linda Evans about the history of the programme on nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together.