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:
2024 podcasts
- 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
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 25th
- 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
2022 podcasts
- 25 Dec D.J. Panda - the Raw Fish Christmas Show - DJ Panda with Kura
- 18 Dec Debbie: reflections on 2022, music, notices
- 11 Dec D.J. Panda - the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura - music, chat and more
- 4 Dec Sue & Fiona - interview with Irish-born meteorologist Lisa Murray, head of Weather Communications at the Metservice and a co-author of the book New Zealand's Wild Weather
- 27 Nov D.J. Panda - the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura - music, chat and more
- 20 Nov Angele & Debbie: music, poetry, mental and emotional self-help, news
- 13 Nov Rosie - the Irish lesbian show with news (women's rugby!!), music and notices. Plus a digital breakup kit ... change your passwords and heaps more!
- 6 Nov Sue & Fiona - interview with Shannon Novak of local Make Visible, a community-led project to grow support for LGBTQI+ communities
- 30 Oct Siân & Creek talking about their upcoming exhibitions - Creek at Thistle Hall 15th-20th November, and Siân in Ōtepote Dunedin
- 23 Oct Karen - retro interview with intersex activist Marni Mitchel
- 16 Oct Fiona & Sue - covid, a glamaphones rehearsal, Miriam Margoyles, the
- 16 Oct Fiona & Sue - covid, a glamaphones rehearsal, Miriam Margoyles, the Elders Survey, Paekakariki Pride, books and more
- 9 Oct Fiona & Sue - interview with lawyer Amanda Hill who talked about the injunction that she and another lawyer had recently sought to stop Arohata prisoners being transferred to other prisons, other work she’s been involved in, and the legal aid system.
- 2 Oct D.J. Panda - the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura - music, chat and more
- 25 Sept Karen - news, music and chat, featuring an interview with
Gareth Watkins and Roger Smith about the Chrissy Witoko and Carmen Rupe memorial
seats which will be unveiled on the 1 October 2022, on the corner of Cuba and Vivian
Streets - the interview is
available on Gareth's pridenz.com website - 18 Sept Siân - the Femme Rants Show. Interview with Laressa Lynch on astrology, star signs, horoscopes etc
- 11 Sept Fiona & Sue: interview with author Sally Morgan
- 4 Sept D.J. Panda - the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura and Octavia - music, Wellington on a Plate, long covid, new shows and more
- 28 Aug Angele with Debbie - current events, poetry, LILAC library, op shopping in Porirua, fathers, more poetry
- 21 Aug Creek - the everyday gay, just discussing the little things of queer life: books, music, fungi, vale Anne Heche
- 14 Aug Siân - the Femme Rants Show. Interview with Sascha Stronach, author of a recent fantasy novel The Dawnhounds
- 7 Aug ... oops - no show
- 31 July Angele with Debbie - news, local government elections; notices, poetry, music
- 24 July Sue & Fiona: news local and from around the world, music, books, TV
- 17 July Fiona: interview with Mari, Sally & Hadley from Stitch and Butch
- 10 July Siân - the Femme Rants Show: a Matariki art exhibition Hā: Rest as Resistance by 12 wāhine Māori artists; an upcoming Glamaphones show; groups and events using the Secret Secret Club; and more
- 3 July Sue: the Secret Secret Club, the Glamaphones choir and their upcoming Matariki preformance, recent US Supreme Court decisions and their implications for us, volunteering with Quilted Bananas radio and more
- 26 June Karen with Fiona: their favourite lesbian comedians - interview with Clarissa Chandrahasen
- 19 June the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura ... music, news and events
- 12 June Sue & Fiona with guest Emer Lyons talking about the new collection of Heather McPherson's poems I do not cede which she has edited, and the Spiral Collectives
- 5 June Angele with Debbie - news, notices, poetry, music
- 29 May Sue: the Wellington Queer Arts Festival queeraf.nz this coming week; some British history - Maggie Thatcher, Section 28 and the rise of the UK Gay Liberation movement; current US political situation; recent political changes for the queer community in NZ ... plus music of course
- 22 May Fiona with guest Alayne Dick of twee-punk band Bored Housewive's Club, upcoming gigs and being involved in improv with Tiny Dog, a Poneke-based group. Also Siân Torrington talking about making art and creative flow, and the exhibitions that have kept her busy this year. Both are appearing in the upcoming Queer Arts Festival. But no podcast ... sad
- 15 May the Raw Fish Show with DJ Panda - music and chat
- 8 May Angele with Debbie - Mothers Day with Helen Reddy's I Am Woman, current affairs, creative events at Fringe Bar, notices, poetry
- 24 Apr Sue & Fiona - books, TV programmes ... sadly no podcast
- 17 Apr Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura ... podcast evaporated
- 10 Apr Raw Fish Show special edition with DJ Panda
- 3 Apr: oopsy ... no show ... studio malfunction
- 27 Mar the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura
- 20 Mar Rosie: the lesbian St Patrick's Day show
- 13 Mar Karen: interviewers with two queer innovators - Scout on setting up a Queer Innovators co-working space Secret Secret Club in Wellington; Sam on transforming an old Greymouth church into community space Gloria ... in PINK
- 6 Mar Angele & Debbie: dedicated to the rainbow community in Ukraine and the threats posed by Russia
- 27 Feb Fiona & Sue with guest Chelsea from AlphabetBookClub talking about banned books
- 21 Feb the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura and Octavius, and an interview with Savieey Ali’iva’a Nua from the Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust of Porirua, a Pasifika and Māori performing arts group supporting youth and children
- 13 Feb Karen: interview with William Duignan of Butch Mermaid about their Fringe Festival musical cabaret Too Much Hair
- 6 Feb Fiona & Sue: interview with Sally Morgan (2022 Portico Prize winner) about the North of England, queerness in the '70s, her characters, and her fabulous book Toto Among The Murderers
- 30 Jan Creek: escapism with queer books and TV in Omicron times!
- 23 Jan the Raw Fish Show - DJ Panda with Kura and friend talk about summer days
- 16 Jan Angele & Debbie - poetry, feminist writers (Wellington Feminist Creative Network), local govt democracy and more
- 9 Jan Karen & Debbie - personal reviews of 2021 - books they have read and more
- 2 Jan Sue & Fiona - interview with Chelsea from the Alphabet Book Club - it's an online digital book store as well as a book club with rainbow books for all ages! ... podcast awol
less ...
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.
