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Russell Brown
Columnist & features writer

Russell Brown is a freelance journalist based in Auckland

The listener.co.nz is the website of the award-winning New Zealand Listener, which has been covering the political, cultural and literary life of Aotearoa New Zealand for 80 years with features on current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, food, culture and entertainment.

Check out Russell’s latest content
LISTENER
Russell Brown: Marlon Williams’ music and doco provide comfort in a time of grief
New Zealand

Russell Brown: Marlon Williams’ music and doco provide comfort in a time of grief

09 May 06:00 PM
LISTENER
NZ Music Month: Why these are the country’s best songs
New Zealand

NZ Music Month: Why these are the country’s best songs

04 May 06:00 PM

From Now Is The Hour to What Was That, the songs that speak to our national identity.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: The flaws in Auckland’s weather warnings
Opinion

Russell Brown: The flaws in Auckland’s weather warnings

30 Apr 06:00 PM

Official agencies still haven’t worked out how to tell us important things urgently.

LISTENER
Grand Designs NZ’s Tom Webster: Can you build a dream home without drama?
Entertainment

Grand Designs NZ’s Tom Webster: Can you build a dream home without drama?

19 Apr 06:00 PM

Grand Designs NZ tests if money can replace sweat equity.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Treasures shared
Life

Russell Brown: Treasures shared

12 Apr 05:58 PM

The nuggets of New Zealand history online are often the work of dedicated volunteers.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Elon Musk’s path to gamer exile
Opinion

Russell Brown: Elon Musk’s path to gamer exile

30 Mar 04:00 PM

The strange story of Elon Musk and Path of Exile 2 says much about where the world is now.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Northland green fairy arrest exposes a flawed system
Opinion

Russell Brown: Northland green fairy arrest exposes a flawed system

17 Mar 04:00 PM

The arrest of a Northland ‘green fairy’ highlights NZ's onerous medical cannabis rules.

LISTENER
Mythic adventure awaits: Secrets at Red Rocks could be NZ’s next kidult sensation
Entertainment

Mythic adventure awaits: Secrets at Red Rocks could be NZ’s next kidult sensation

05 Mar 03:58 PM

Māori myths and magic unfold in Racheal King's Secrets at Red Rock.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Brian Tamaki’s date with Destiny
Opinion

Russell Brown: Brian Tamaki’s date with Destiny

02 Mar 04:00 PM

Brian Tamaki has never reflected on the consequences of his words or actions.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Enshittification - the reason why online services turn to crap
Opinion

Russell Brown: Enshittification - the reason why online services turn to crap

15 Feb 05:00 PM

Your ‘news’ feed these days is there to suit Facebook’s owner, Meta, not you.

LISTENER
Colin Firth tackles Lockerbie’s dark secrets in new TV drama
Entertainment

Colin Firth tackles Lockerbie’s dark secrets in new TV drama

13 Feb 04:00 PM

A new series about Lockerbie bombing follows grieving father's long fight for truth.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Why a CD player could be the next best thing for your hi-fi setup
Life

Russell Brown: Why a CD player could be the next best thing for your hi-fi setup

04 Feb 04:00 PM

Going offline to rediscover musical gems of the past.

LISTENER
New Jonah Lomu documentary reveals little but reminds us of what made him special
New Zealand

New Jonah Lomu documentary reveals little but reminds us of what made him special

30 Jan 04:00 PM

Evidence of the giant’s gentleness is reason enough itself for the film to exist.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Our neighbourhood is now an exemplar of urban design philosophy all but outlawed
Opinion

Russell Brown: Our neighbourhood is now an exemplar of urban design philosophy all but outlawed

08 Jan 04:00 PM

Against all odds, the road cones have disappeared from a key road in Auckland’s Pt Chev.

LISTENER
Kiwi-made series takes beloved Badjelly the Witch to the world
Entertainment

Kiwi-made series takes beloved Badjelly the Witch to the world

29 Dec 04:00 PM

British comedian Miriam Margolyes plays Badjelly in Spike Milligan masterpiece.

LISTENER
Why life is about to get easier for New Zealanders with ADHD
Health

Why life is about to get easier for New Zealanders with ADHD

15 Dec 04:00 PM

Change in ADHD meds rule marks milestone in NZ healthcare.

LISTENER
ADHD and me: Guy Williams opens up in new neurodiversity doco
Health

ADHD and me: Guy Williams opens up in new neurodiversity doco

04 Dec 04:00 PM

How comedian Guy Williams responded when his sister Maria listed his ADHD traits.

LISTENER
Little-known Agatha Christie murder mystery gets a revamp
Entertainment

Little-known Agatha Christie murder mystery gets a revamp

02 Dec 04:00 PM

How well the production as a whole works has been a matter of debate.

LISTENER
Russell Brown on Leonard Cohen's prophetic words & seeing the future through the crack
Opinion

Russell Brown on Leonard Cohen's prophetic words & seeing the future through the crack

21 Nov 04:00 PM

Leonard Cohen, prophets, Donald Trump and the politics of darkness.

LISTENER
Ian Rankin’s Rebus gets a screen reinvention
Entertainment

Ian Rankin’s Rebus gets a screen reinvention

18 Nov 04:00 PM

Much-loved Scottish cop Rebus is back like viewers have never seen him before.

LISTENER
Stellar fella: Brian Cox dives deeper into our solar system’s mysteries
Entertainment

Stellar fella: Brian Cox dives deeper into our solar system’s mysteries

12 Nov 06:00 AM

New technology takes physicist Brian Cox on a new space journey.

LISTENER
Trans and pregnant: A journey of love and parenthood in Wellington
Entertainment

Trans and pregnant: A journey of love and parenthood in Wellington

03 Nov 04:00 PM

Documentary focuses on love and family in a trans journey.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: The two tiers of cannabis use
Opinion

Russell Brown: The two tiers of cannabis use

03 Nov 04:00 PM

One group has safe, legal access to cannabis and everyone else is a criminal.

LISTENER
Move over Brokenwood, there’s a new murder mystery show in town
Entertainment

Move over Brokenwood, there’s a new murder mystery show in town

29 Oct 04:00 PM

The creator of Queenstown-set A Remarkable Place to Die hopes it has a sense of fun.

LISTENER
The right to WFH is now a culture war issue
Opinion

The right to WFH is now a culture war issue

07 Oct 11:00 PM

Productivity matters, but there are better ways to measure it than a roll call.

LISTENER
Live and Let Die: A revealing series about Dai Henwood’s life with cancer
Entertainment

Live and Let Die: A revealing series about Dai Henwood’s life with cancer

26 Sep 06:30 AM

Dai Henwood’s TV show takes an unconventional and considered approach.

LISTENER
A eulogy for Doug Hood, the kind of individual all cultures need
Opinion

A eulogy for Doug Hood, the kind of individual all cultures need

24 Sep 04:30 AM

Doug laboured so others could shine, saw what needed doing and worked out how to do it.

LISTENER
The man who rewired Kiwi rock
Entertainment

The man who rewired Kiwi rock

10 Sep 03:30 AM

Doug Hood wired together much of the country’s left-field bands and music business.

LISTENER
PM’s speech to the local government: Mana-diminishing or what ratepayers wanted to hear?
Opinion

PM’s speech to the local government: Mana-diminishing or what ratepayers wanted to hear?

08 Sep 05:00 PM

Response to PM's speech to local councils depends on where you stand.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Lost on the roads of progress - a family farewell
New Zealand

Russell Brown: Lost on the roads of progress - a family farewell

06 May 04:00 AM

A last journey involves memories, highways and byways.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Apart from Luxon’s arrival and the traffic, Big Gay Out was a relaxed occasion
Opinion

Russell Brown: Apart from Luxon’s arrival and the traffic, Big Gay Out was a relaxed occasion

26 Feb 04:30 PM

The PM's quick retreat meant he heard the protesters, but no one got to hear from him.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: The 15-minute city has been taken from concept to conspiracy theory
Opinion

Russell Brown: The 15-minute city has been taken from concept to conspiracy theory

02 Nov 04:00 PM

Cars represent freedom, even if that means the freedom to be stuck in traffic.

LISTENER
Spin doctors: Why Kiwis are joining the vinyl revival
Culture

Spin doctors: Why Kiwis are joining the vinyl revival

01 Nov 04:00 PM

Music is available at the touch of a button, but records are still on the rise.

LISTENER
TV preview: Is this the new Country Calendar?
Entertainment

TV preview: Is this the new Country Calendar?

18 Oct 11:00 PM

New series Shepherdess puts focus on rural women.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Climate change denial is coping with the unthinkable
Opinion

Russell Brown: Climate change denial is coping with the unthinkable

18 Oct 05:00 PM

It's hard to grasp: Earth’s hottest September on record and dolphins dying en masse.

LISTENER
How broadcasters will be tackling election night and who’s on their guest lists
Politics

How broadcasters will be tackling election night and who’s on their guest lists

12 Oct 03:00 AM

Your television and radio guide for election night.

LISTENER
TV preview: Jay Blades - Learning to Read at 51
Entertainment

TV preview: Jay Blades - Learning to Read at 51

05 Oct 03:00 AM

Repair Shop host opens up on learning disability.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: The social media platform that looks a lot like Twitter, but isn’t
Opinion

Russell Brown: The social media platform that looks a lot like Twitter, but isn’t

03 Oct 05:30 PM

Bluesky escapees found a place to chat without an incontinent troll marching in.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Holding on for an update to the IRD’s music playlist
Opinion

Russell Brown: Holding on for an update to the IRD’s music playlist

19 Sep 04:00 AM

It's hard to imagine being on hold and not hearing Poi E, Sierra Leone and Welcome Home.

LISTENER
Succession star shines in true scandal TV drama where man fakes his own death
Entertainment

Succession star shines in true scandal TV drama where man fakes his own death

14 Sep 12:00 AM

Writer has shaped the true story into a beguiling and entertaining TV yarn.

LISTENER
Russell Brown: Fringe beliefs always find a home in politics
Opinion

Russell Brown: Fringe beliefs always find a home in politics

05 Sep 04:00 AM

Trevor Loudon isn’t the only ZAP student to find a home with Act.

LISTENER
Doco shines light on profound impact Dr Ranginui Walker had on NZ
New Zealand

Doco shines light on profound impact Dr Ranginui Walker had on NZ

05 Sep 12:00 AM

Interviews with his children and grandchildren provide insight into family expectations.

LISTENER
Former ABs to open up on their decision to leave the team in upcoming doco
Entertainment

Former ABs to open up on their decision to leave the team in upcoming doco

29 Aug 12:00 AM

New doco is quite a lot more than a World Cup primer or a player confessional.

LISTENER
Why are there two shows where ex-All Blacks explain France to us?
Entertainment

Why are there two shows where ex-All Blacks explain France to us?

22 Aug 12:00 AM

To find an ex-All Black these days, all you need do is reach for the remote.

LISTENER
What TVNZ+’s move into sport means for fans on the couch
Entertainment

What TVNZ+’s move into sport means for fans on the couch

30 Jun 05:00 PM

Spoiler: It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more sport available on your television.

LISTENER
Why comedian has joined Forest & Bird boss in new endangered species TV series
Entertainment

Why comedian has joined Forest & Bird boss in new endangered species TV series

30 Jun 05:00 PM

An upbeat programme about the gloomy subject of species loss, will it work?

LISTENER
New history streaming platform has facts at your fingertips
Entertainment

New history streaming platform has facts at your fingertips

02 Jun 05:00 PM

Well-told tales of bygone eras are back in vogue on platforms such as History Hit.

LISTENER
BBC series follows post-war UK migrants down under
Entertainment

BBC series follows post-war UK migrants down under

02 Jun 05:00 PM

Subplots turn what could have been a generational sweep into a family drama with frills.

LISTENER
Couples Therapy NZ: Why Amanda Cox counsels couples on TV
Entertainment

Couples Therapy NZ: Why Amanda Cox counsels couples on TV

12 May 05:00 PM

The Auckland psychotherapist explains why she agreed to be on the reality show.

LISTENER
Shortland Street’s newbies unmasked
Entertainment

Shortland Street’s newbies unmasked

28 Apr 05:00 PM

Who’s the new surgical team scrubbing in on the clinical soap?

LISTENER
Match Fit: League Legends: TV series shows refreshing look at rugby league
Entertainment

Match Fit: League Legends: TV series shows refreshing look at rugby league

07 Apr 05:00 PM

Those wondering what the next season could bring - it turns out it’s gone to a new level.

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