On June 10, my book Audition came out in the United States with Coffee House Press and Canada with Strange Light

To celebrate this, and with massive support from Laura Graveline at Coffee House Press, I've recorded three special episodes of Better off Read which feature three of my favourite writers published by Coffee House Press.

In this last special episode I get to talk to poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی.

poupeh's book Sound Museum blew my mind. It is one of the best books I've ever read. It is an incredibly space-making book. What I've loved about all three of the writers I've talked to is they way they expand the form they are working in. It seems really fitting that we are finishing this mini-series with poupeh's work.

poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی is a writer, translator, and editor. Her debut book trans(re)lating house one was published in 2020, and her second book, Sound Museum, is forthcoming in 2024 (both from Coffee House Press).

Her most recent translation In the Streets of Tehran, a book of witness narrative about the current Woman Life Freedom uprising in Iran, was published by Bonnier Books, UK, in October 2023. She also has another novel in translation, Boys of Love, forthcoming in 2024.

An assistant professor of literary arts and studies at the University of Denver and a faculty mentor at Pacific Northwest College of Art MFA, she is currently based in Denver, Colorado.

You can read more about poupeh at her website

I also probably need to let you know that poupeh and I recorded this episode on June 5 2025, so although we touch on some of the violence facing the world this was recorded before the Israeli and US strikes on Iran.

Thanks heaps for everyone who has listened to these podcasts. I'll be back with another podcast in early June.

Action: Peace Action Wellington

I wanted to thank a very local group.

Peace Action Wellington is a grassroots activist group based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington in Aotearoa/New Zealand that works for peace and justice throughout the world, with a special focus on the New Zealand government’s involvement in international affairs.

They stand for peace with justice and self-determination.

I'm incredibly grateful to the digest of political action Peace Action Wellington send out every week. There is a lot happening and this is the way I stay in touch with action in my area.

One of the best ways to stay in touch with Peace Action Wellington is to follow them on Facebook and sign up to their weekly newsletter.

Peace Action Wellington on Facebook

Action Extra: Fundraising for Queer and trans art classes

The amazing Sian Quennell Torrington runs a beautiful group of projects to build art communities.

Sian says:

I am fundraising for Queer and trans art class, and club, and to be able to keep doing these projects…. funding has gotten real hard, so I've set up a Patreon where people can support from $5 a month. I always have free places, and I see how these spaces help our LGBTTQI+ communities so much. All ages, all together, all making things feel a bit easier through creative community.

You can support this work at the Queer and Trans art projects Patreon

You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee

Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

Ep 152: poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی and Pip chat

Better off Read

Ep 152: poupeh missaghi پوپه میثاقی and Pip chat