Simon Sweetman
@simonsweetman.bsky.social
Writer @ simonsweetman.substack.com
MA student. Comms. Freelance sometimes too. Organiser of “Say The Thing” monthly open mic for poets and prose writers at Underworld Tavern. Collector of movie soundtracks, novelisations, lover of made-for-TV movies.
MA student. Comms. Freelance sometimes too. Organiser of “Say The Thing” monthly open mic for poets and prose writers at Underworld Tavern. Collector of movie soundtracks, novelisations, lover of made-for-TV movies.
New poem up on Substack — it’s called Quenched, celebrating 30 years in Wgtn: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-quenc...
Poem: Quenched
A poem about 30 years in Wellington
simonsweetman.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:10 AM
New poem up on Substack — it’s called Quenched, celebrating 30 years in Wgtn: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-quenc...
The Beatles and Bob Dylan are the best and you should like them on some level, sure. But we need to stop going on about it, and stop with the ‘new’ releases of things that were never meant to see light of day. It’s SO boring. And a lot of it is inferior ‘product’.
The Beatles and Bob are The Best but We Must Stop Building New Monuments To Them — It’s Not Helping
Friday is about music. A rant today about the Beatles and Bob Dylan. I love them. But I’m sick of the product arriving as some justification for continued dominance.
simonsweetman.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Beatles and Bob Dylan are the best and you should like them on some level, sure. But we need to stop going on about it, and stop with the ‘new’ releases of things that were never meant to see light of day. It’s SO boring. And a lot of it is inferior ‘product’.
Wrote a new short story called “The Regulatory Standards Bill” - open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Short Story: The Regulatory Standards Bill
A new short story.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Wrote a new short story called “The Regulatory Standards Bill” - open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
This is (a) a clever idea, and (b) quite freaky
"You are logged in as Jeffrey Epstein, [email protected]. These are real emails released by Congress. Explore by name, contribute to the starred list, search..."
jmail.world
jmail.world
Jmail, logged in as [email protected]
You are logged into [email protected], Jeffrey Epstein's email. Sourced from the November 2025 House Oversight Committee data release.
jmail.world
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is (a) a clever idea, and (b) quite freaky
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
Why is the Whitcoulls logo an apostrophe when their name is missing an apostrophe? Is this some kind of sick joke?
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Why is the Whitcoulls logo an apostrophe when their name is missing an apostrophe? Is this some kind of sick joke?
Bjork — an actual genius! — is 60 today. Here’s 60 of her best songs, I reckon. And a bit about how great she is: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/happy-60th...
Happy 60th, Björk Guðmundsdóttir
Friday is about music, so links and playlists galore. Today, a happy birthday to one of the most innovative artists of the last 30+ years. A true genius.
simonsweetman.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Bjork — an actual genius! — is 60 today. Here’s 60 of her best songs, I reckon. And a bit about how great she is: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/happy-60th...
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
Trump pardons allies who boost his crypto coin.
Trump invests in corporations that he's supposed to be regulating.
Trump cuts deals with autocrats to advance his family's real estate business.
The list goes on.
We must not become numb to this blatant corruption.
Trump invests in corporations that he's supposed to be regulating.
Trump cuts deals with autocrats to advance his family's real estate business.
The list goes on.
We must not become numb to this blatant corruption.
November 20, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Trump pardons allies who boost his crypto coin.
Trump invests in corporations that he's supposed to be regulating.
Trump cuts deals with autocrats to advance his family's real estate business.
The list goes on.
We must not become numb to this blatant corruption.
Trump invests in corporations that he's supposed to be regulating.
Trump cuts deals with autocrats to advance his family's real estate business.
The list goes on.
We must not become numb to this blatant corruption.
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
New Zealand nominees are Becky Manawatu, Dominic Hoey and our colleagues Tina Makereti and Damien Wilkins - congrats everyone!
So heartily deserved: @minon.bsky.social one of the OZ nominees for the @dublinlitaward.bsky.social with his debut novel, First Name Second Name! dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/new...
2026 Nominations Revealed - Dublin Literary Award
dublinliteraryaward.ie
November 20, 2025 at 1:09 AM
New Zealand nominees are Becky Manawatu, Dominic Hoey and our colleagues Tina Makereti and Damien Wilkins - congrats everyone!
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
I’ve never liked a National Government or National led Coalition government but I can’t remember a time when they completely disregarded human rights and human decency, thanks to Act & NZ first. Every day a new horror. Every day dragged back decades
November 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I’ve never liked a National Government or National led Coalition government but I can’t remember a time when they completely disregarded human rights and human decency, thanks to Act & NZ first. Every day a new horror. Every day dragged back decades
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
A House panel is holding a hearing on a proposed ban on Congressional stock trading.
This ban is long overdue. Why should members of Congress be able to use privileged information to make money on the stock market, while they’re supposed to be working for you?
This ban is long overdue. Why should members of Congress be able to use privileged information to make money on the stock market, while they’re supposed to be working for you?
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
A House panel is holding a hearing on a proposed ban on Congressional stock trading.
This ban is long overdue. Why should members of Congress be able to use privileged information to make money on the stock market, while they’re supposed to be working for you?
This ban is long overdue. Why should members of Congress be able to use privileged information to make money on the stock market, while they’re supposed to be working for you?
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
Tomorrow at 1230pm, Ingrid Horrocks will appear in conversation about her brilliant new book of stories, All Her Lives - check it out! (Ingrid is also teaching an MA workshop at the IIML next year for which we're still accepting last minute applications...)
www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-eve...
www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-eve...
Both shops hold literary events. We specialise in New Zealand and international literature, poetry, history, and nonfiction as well as stocking the best new releases by award winning authors of both fiction and non-fiction in all genres.
www.unitybooks.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Tomorrow at 1230pm, Ingrid Horrocks will appear in conversation about her brilliant new book of stories, All Her Lives - check it out! (Ingrid is also teaching an MA workshop at the IIML next year for which we're still accepting last minute applications...)
www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-eve...
www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
From Lori Marino, founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project; also of @safinacenter.bsky.social (gift link). www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/1760cd5...
The age of keeping whales and dolphins in captivity must finally come to an end
Research shows it is not possible for captive cetaceans to thrive in concrete pools
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
From Lori Marino, founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project; also of @safinacenter.bsky.social (gift link). www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/1760cd5...
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
The extent of Epstein’s social network knows no bounds, but it certainly knows Donald Trump
November 18, 2025 at 11:04 PM
The extent of Epstein’s social network knows no bounds, but it certainly knows Donald Trump
I wrote about the only real literary scandal going on in NZ right now — publisher commissions AI slop covers with designer, writer says its the words that matter but forgets a book is a product, a package:
open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
We Have Always Judged Books By Their Covers
Wednesday is about books, and writing. Today, I weigh in on the Ockham book cover scandal
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I wrote about the only real literary scandal going on in NZ right now — publisher commissions AI slop covers with designer, writer says its the words that matter but forgets a book is a product, a package:
open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Chapter 86 of “The Autism Diaries?!” — open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
The Autism Diaries?! (Part 86)
A new occasional series here at “Sounds Good”
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Chapter 86 of “The Autism Diaries?!” — open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Goddamn I love the Last Waltz so much — and I’m on holiday: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
The First Thing is The Last Waltz!
Monday is about movies, and sometimes TV. Today, revisiting the greatest concert film of all time.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Goddamn I love the Last Waltz so much — and I’m on holiday: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
And it’s a wrap - that’s the 3-night run at Bats all over. Great nights
November 15, 2025 at 10:28 AM
And it’s a wrap - that’s the 3-night run at Bats all over. Great nights
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
Brian Eno's album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) was released on November 14, 1974
November 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Brian Eno's album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) was released on November 14, 1974
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 14
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 14
The Booker Prize winner and homeopathy take out the top spots....
thespinoff.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 14
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
My Listener column this week is a personal one. Last week marked six months since Fiona died and I continue to be deeply grateful for the advice I got from someone who knew: that "there are good days and bad days". It's what I would say to anyone else. www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener...
Missing you: Russell Brown on life after loss
It’s six months since Fiona died and the time is a blur, as if it happened to someone else
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
My Listener column this week is a personal one. Last week marked six months since Fiona died and I continue to be deeply grateful for the advice I got from someone who knew: that "there are good days and bad days". It's what I would say to anyone else. www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener...
Reposted by Simon Sweetman
Embarrassing is putting it nicely www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
'Embarrassing’: International climate expert at COP30 scorns NZ’s methane target
A veteran climate scientist says it's "unbelievable" that New Zealand has gone to the annual climate summit with a weaker target as global temperatures continue to rise.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Embarrassing is putting it nicely www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Night 2 of DiCK: Reading Richard is about to get underway
November 14, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Night 2 of DiCK: Reading Richard is about to get underway
New poem about a song, and a specifically performance of it, and my reaction (every time): open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Poem: How Blue I Can Get!
A poem about a song, and specifically a performance, and all that it conjures for me.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:09 PM
New poem about a song, and a specifically performance of it, and my reaction (every time): open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
Happy 80th Neil Young — here’s 80 of my favourite Neil Young songs (playlist) and other clips and memories and old reviews: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/happy-80th...
Happy 80th Neil Young
Friday is fun because it’s about music so links and playlists. Today, it’s a Happy 80th to one of my all-time favourite musicians.
simonsweetman.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Happy 80th Neil Young — here’s 80 of my favourite Neil Young songs (playlist) and other clips and memories and old reviews: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/happy-80th...
It’s (nearly) showtime!
November 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
It’s (nearly) showtime!