The Good Word - Series Three

Episode One
Emily Perkins kicks off The Good Word's third season with a lively book club. The panel — comedian Te Radar, journalist Miriama Kamo and actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand — review Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Chef Peta Mathias then joins Perkins in the studio to talk about her favourite book The Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery. The show visits novelist Shonagh Koea in her writing space. Then, in the weekly 'Under the Covers' segment, Finlay Macdonald interviews Paul Holmes about his autobiography Holmes. 

Episode Two
This week Emily Perkins' book club consists of broadcasters Miriama Kamo and Gordon McLauchlan, and ex censor Bill Hastings. They review As The Earth Turns by Alison Wong. Perkins then hosts another guest, journalism icon John Campbell, who raves about the Frank Bascombe trilogy, by writer Richard Ford. Humour columnist Joe Bennett reveals his writing space, and Finlay Macdonald presents a segment on the controversial publication Wash Day At The Pa.

Episode Three
The show begins with ex censor Bill Hastings, actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand and writer Steve Braunias trying to find something good to say about Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis. Bass player Sophia Burn then tells Perkins about her favourite book Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Leaving the studio, poet and musician Hinemoana Baker discusses her creative process, and Finlay Macdonald hosts Under the Covers; this time exploring the life of environmentalist author Herbert Guthrie-Smith.

Episode Four
Miriama Kamo, Steve Braunias and Jennifer Ward-Lealand return to join Emily Perkins in reviewing Their Faces Were Shining by Tim Wilson. Perkins then hears from scriptwriter James Griffin, who discusses his favourite book, David Nichols' romance One Day. Heading out into the field, The Good Word then visits crime writer Neil Cross and where he writes, before Finlay Macdonald interviews Betty Gilderdale about her classic children's book The Little Yellow Digger.

Episode Five
Gordon McLauchlan, Steve Braunias and Miriama Kamo join Emily Perkins for this week's book club. This time they review Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. Perkins then interviews high profile blogger Cameron Slater about his favourite book series The Conqueror by Conn Iggulden. Political commentator Jane Clifton introduces her writing space. Finlay Macdonald goes out into the field for 'Under the Covers', this time exploring Jenny Pattrick bestseller The Denniston Rose.

Episode Six
Emily Perkins hosts series regulars Gordon McLauchlan, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Bill Hastings in the studio; the subject of this week's book club is biography Storyteller, The Life Of Roald Dahl by Donald Sturrock. Ballet dancer Lucy Green then tells Perkins about her favourite book Dancer by Colum McCann, before The Good Word visits writer John Pule in his very personal studio. Finlay Macdonald then presents a segment on smash hit graphic novel Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks, interviewing both Horrocks and fellow comic artist Tim Bollinger.

Episode Seven
Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Carol Hirschfeld and Bill Hastings review Robert Oliver's Pasifika cookbook Me'A Kai with Emily Perkins — and Hastings brings some cooking to the studio. Labour MP Jacinda Ardern (before becoming Prime Minister), drops by the studio to discuss her favourite book, Alfred Lansing's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage. Novelist Tessa Duder shows off her writing studio, then Finlay Macdonald deep dives on classic New Zealand adventure novel South Sea Vagabonds by John Wray. He interviews writer Bruce Ansley and the new owner of Wray's famous boat. 

Episode Eight
Emily Perkins' book club of Steve Braunias, Gordon McLauchlan and Jennifer Ward-Lealand review novel Hand Me Down World by Lloyd Jones. Oscar Kightley then drops by the studio to rave about Keith Richards autobiography Life. Out in the field, design writer Douglas Lloyd Jenkins reveals his writing space and process, before Finlay Macdonald hosts his 'Under the Covers' segment. He takes a look at iconic nature book The Native Trees Of New Zealand by JT Salmon, interviewing JT's son Guy Salmon and broadcaster Graeme Hill.  

Episode Nine
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson is the subject of this week's book club, with Perkins hosting panelists Carol Hirschfeld, Steve Braunias and Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Trans-Tasman rower Shaun Quincey then tells Perkins about his favourite book, survival tale Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Novelist Carl Nixon is the next writer to share their writing space with the show; then Finlay Macdonald explores two biographies of rugby legend Colin Meads, and interviews their authors: Joseph Romanos and Brian Turner.

Episode Ten
Steve Braunias, Te Radar and Bill Hastings are back, this time to review Huts, Untold Stories From Back-Country New Zealand by Mark Pickering. Te Papa's Michael Houlihan discusses Wild Boy by Jill Dawson, and short story writer Pip Adam discusses her writing space at Victoria University. Then field reporter Finlay Macdonald interviews Bill Manhire and Nigel Beckford, about the work of poet Ronald Allison Kells (RAK) Mason. 

Episode Eleven
Emily Perkins reviews Just Kids, musician Patti Smith's memoir of Robert Mapplethorpe. She is joined by Bill Hastings, Te Radar and Carol Hirschfeld. The multi-talented Coco Solid talks about her favourite book, Charles Burns' graphic novel Black Hole. Literary biographer Paul Millar talks about how he writes, and 'Under the Covers' enjoys a shake-up; Finlay Macdonald interviews designer Keely O'Shannessy, author Alison Wong and and rare book expert Francis McWhannel on the "peculiar art" of book cover design. 

Eleven Twelve
Emily Perkins hosts Gordon McLauchlan, Carol Hirschfeld and Te Radar to review The Hut Builder by Laurence Fearnley. Ex politician Sue Bradford talks about her favourite book, Kathryn Stockett's bestseller The Help, and writer Julia Gatley reveals her work space at the National Archives. Finlay Macdonald's 'Under the Covers' deep dives on a famous photography book, Moments of Intimacy, Love and Kinship (MILK). He interviews New Zealand publisher Geoff Blackwell and photographer Nigel Yates about the much-celebrated work. 

Eleven Thirteen
Show regulars Gordon McLauchlan, Te Radar and Steve Braunias are back. This time they review A Visit From The Goon Squad by American Jennifer Egan, before chef Ray McVinnie tells Emily Perkins about his favourite book: Any Human Heart by William Boyd. Writer Albert Wendt shows off his writing space, and Finlay Macdonald learns all about the Yates Garden Guide for 'Under the Covers'. He interviews social historian Bee Dawson, and Yates Historian Judy Horton for the segment.   

Episode Fourteen
Emily Perkins hosts Bill Hastings, Carol Hirschfeld and Jennifer Ward-Lealand for a chat about Djibouti by legendary crime novelist  Elmore Leonard. TV presenter turned Dunedin mayor Dave Cull talks about his favourite book, Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Then writer Pat White lets the Good Word crew into his writing space. The beloved School Journal is the subject of 'Under the Covers'. Finlay Macdonald interviews the journal's former editor, Jack Lasenby and writer Greg O'Brien. 

Episode Fifteen
For the final show of the season, Steve Braunias, Carol Hirschfeld and Jennifer Ward-Lealand join Emily Perkins in reviewing A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor. National Radio host Kathryn Ryan then joins Perkins in the studio to discuss her favourite piece of literature: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Outside of the studio, short story writer Craig Cliff reveals his writing space and process, and Finlay Macdonald takes a look at the Holloway Press, interviewing publisher Peter Simpson and typographer Tara McLeod.