Books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time this September.

Bingewatching

What We Do in the Shadows: From the hilarious original film set in Wellington comes this US series, now up to season 5 and still going strong. A look into the nightly lives of four vampires who have lived together on New York’s Staten Island for over a century.

Kin: If you like your series gritty, look out for season 1 of Kin. Charlie Cox leads this Irish gang war drama about a deadly feud between a small Dublin family and an international cartel. Co-stars Clare Dunne, Aidan Gillen and Ciarán Hinds.

The Morning Show: Back for a third season, this behind-the-scenes look at US morning television has many parallels for New Zealand viewers. This season, the future of the network is thrown into question and loyalties are pushed to the brink when a tech titan takes an interest. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

Listening

Royal Blood - Back to the Water Below: Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, the noisiest duo since The White Stripes, return with a fourth studio album. The 10 tracks include May’s single ‘Mountains at Midnight’, which pulls no punches in announcing the band’s back-to-basics return.

Herbs - The Herbs Album Collection: All five albums by legendary Kiwi reggae pioneers Herbs, pressed onto coloured vinyl and packaged in a numbered box set. From their 1981 recording debut depicting the Bastion Point eviction to 1990’s Homegrown, this is the definitive collection of songs from a band that holds a special place in Kiwi hearts.

Róisín Murphy - Hit Parade: The Irish avant-pop favourite returns with more of her signature idiosyncrasy in this collection of songs produced over several years with DJ Koze, he in Hamburg and she in London. The distance has resulted is a more intimate approach to the songs, and music that “explodes with colour”.

Reading

One of Them – Shaneel Lal: This memoir by 2023’s Young New Zealander of the Year, Shaneel Lal, captures the trials and triumphs of growing up transgender. In particular it traces Shaneel’s successful campaign to have conversion therapy banned in New Zealand. Inspirational and affirming.

The Resilience Toolkit – Dr Alia Bojilova: In this practical handbook on building and sustaining your own resilience, peak-performance psychologist Dr Alia Bojilova draws on her work with the SAS, Olympic athletes, contemporary leaders and successful entrepreneurs to help you unlock your potential in everyday life.

Podcasts

Call Her Daddy: Alex Cooper has shrugged off the legal difficulties of a split with podcast co-founder Sofia Franklyn to take Call Her Daddy to a top-5 slot in NZ. Originally focused on relationships and sex, Alex has moved to women's rights, mental health and the importance of therapy.

The Girls Interrupted: Sometimes, girls just wanna have fun, right! Screw the high-brow, let’s chat about everything and nothing. That’s the premise for this laugh-out-loud or share-a-cry New Zealand podcast by Brodie Kane, Caitlin Marett and Gracie Taylor.