Webworm with David Farrier

Last week I got to meet Joe Berlinger, a documentary hero of mine. As we chatted, I had a realisation about a failed documentary idea of mine - and in talking to him, I got closure. See you in the comments section: https://www.webworm.co/p/failureandclosure This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit webworm.substack.com/sub...

Getting tear gassed by the National Guard fucking sucks. Everything stings, you can’t breathe, and you can’t see. You can hear just fine — the almost comical pop-pop-pop of more tear gas canisters arcing over the crowd. It strikes you how everyone has their own unique cough; their own way of sounding when they splutter. Like many of you, last night I heard that Donald Trump was allegedly sending 2...

Hi, Tear gas in the air, a lot of coughing. A lot of guns. And anger. But so far, peace. I’ll be going live throughout the day here on Webworm . If you have the app, you’ll automatically see when I go live. UPDATE, 7.45pm PT: For anyone who missed the lives — the quality was pretty patchy, so I have summed up my experiences and interviews (with much better audio) here : David. This is a public epi...

I wanted to share the short audio documentary I created for Flightless Bird about the execution of a quite possibly innocent man, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams. I travelled to Jefferson City, Missouri, as both the victim’s family and the original prosecutor in the case urged lawmakers to halt the execution — saying terrible mistakes had been made in the case. This was all based on the reporting I...

Today’s Webworm story comes in the form of a short podcast episode. It’s the sort of story I tend to be attracted to — a tale that’s weird, dark and strangely redemptive. And true. I came across it while researching a story about US prisoners who volunteer to fight fires. Matt was one of these prisoners — but he also had another story that I wanted to share. Please be aware this episode is for adu...

In this Webworm podcast, a story I've been working on for some time. Just over a year ago — in March of 2024 — I got an email from Jake. He had a story he wanted to tell, and he wanted to find a way to tell it that could help others. A warning, of sorts. And so over the last year, as a court case played out — I’ve been working on this story. It takes place in and around CityLife church in Melbourn...

Something is killing the birds in a sleepy Auckland suburb. The locals are on a witch hunt. Alexandria Edwards was playing Pokemon Go in her car when she saw the sparrows. Dozens of them were strewn in various states of stupor on the grass nearby. Some had passed out. Others were struggling and failing to fly. Magpies were swooping at the ones who couldn’t get away. She got out to shoo the bigger...

Today's guest essay is from Kath: It’s a tough time for librarians at the moment. Here in Aotearoa we’ve just recently seen an Auckland library hosting a science performance (about the weather of all things) by a drag king stormed by black shirted thugs instructed by their leader to “shut it down”. The United States is currently facing the highest rate of attempted book bans it has ever faced, eve...

Joshua Drummond visits one of the last video stores in New Zealand, United Video found in Morrinsville. It's a snapshot into another time, and a part of New Zealand that’s very dear to my heart. And if you’ve ever rented a video or DVD, it might pluck on a few nostalgic heartstrings. See photos at www.webworm.co/p/lastvideoshop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other sub...

Today on Webworm I wanted you to share a conversation between two New Zealanders raised by parents who embraced Focus on the Family. Because Focus on the Family travelled far beyond America. It went global — and during the 80s and 90s in particular, millions of kids were raised in the ways of Dr James Dobson. Michael Frost and Shane Meyer-Holt are my friends, and run a podcast called In The Shift...

An essay from Hayden Donnell arguing that according to the Bible, Donald Trump is definitely the antichrist. Hayden urges us to engage in some heavy duty Hail Marys, because if recent events have taught us anything, it’s that being an irredeemable moron with a repellant personality and the countenance of a salamander wearing human skin is, if anything, an asset when it comes to inflicting misery o...

I was still working for TV3 news and living in New Zealand, but had found myself in LA, working on the final stages of Tickled . I knew Cornell had an upcoming solo show back in New Zealand, so I’d reached out to the music label to see if could get an interview. He said yes. And on a Sunday morning in 2015, on a day off, Chris Cornell drove across town to my hotel and sat down for a 30 minute inte...

Webworm can report that a man has been charged with “sexual assault by compelling sexual touching” and “public nuisance” in Melbourne, Australia. The charges were laid on Monday. Webworm has been in touch with the latest victim, who outlined an M.O. that sounded all too familiar: A man fell down in front of him, appeared to be having spasms, then asked to be sat on and restrained him. The man has...

A short film from documentary maker Giorgio Angelini . It’s about Luigi Mangione — but it’s also, really, about everything in America right now. "I finished making this video essay a couple of days before the fires took over wide swaths of Los Angeles, where I live. And while it might not seem directly connected—the assassination of a healthcare CEO and wildfires ravaging LA — after walking throug...

I thought it was important we all have a place to chat today — a place that’s safe and sane. So — see you in the comments as things unfold. Let’s all be civil and respectful as per usual, even as things will inevitably get quite wild and gross because America . I’ll be headed to Huntington Beach in Orange County tonight — that’s where the Trump supporters and alt-right/nazi types live. I’ll be rec...

My friend loaded about a year’s worth of our text history into Google’s AI ( privacy, what privacy? ) — and instructed the AI to create a podcast about me based on those texts. That’s what today’s podcast is — just a couple of AI people talking to each other about me, based on nothing but a text thread between me and my friend. It’s truly awful and I told Aaron as much. On top of this Joshua Drumm...

A conversation with someone I find endlessly fascinating to talk to — one of my favourite authors, Jason Pargin. He’s perhaps most well known for writing John Dies At The End , or a host of other books that all have amazing titles including This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don’t Touch It, What the Hell Did I Just Read , and If This Book Exists, You’re in the Wrong Universe . His late...

When I was 14 I was obsessed with a band called Creed. I’d come home from school, and the first thing I’d do is go to my room, shut my door, get out my discman, and put on Creed’s 1997 album My Own Prison. Now, 27 years later I attend my first Creed show... where I find a lot of support for Donald Trump. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...

Today’s Webworm is a podcast episode which tells the story of Barry. More specifically, it’s a story about Barry as told by my neighbor and friend Noah. Noah lived with Barry for six years, first as a housemate and then as a friend. This all seems pretty normal, until you realise that Barry was about 50 years older than Noah. I guess you could say it’s more a story of friendship, but one based on...

I’ve been trying to have this conversation for about seven years now, but it was impossible due to ongoing litigation in various United States' courts, including the New York State Supreme Court. David D’Amato (the “big bad” in Tickled ) died from a heart attack back on March 13, 2017 . He left behind a legacy of tickling videos and online harassment, along with a couple of cats and tens of millio...

The audio in today’s newsletter is a conversation I had last year with journalist Elizabeth Williamson, author of an incredibly moving book on Sandy Hook called Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. We talked America, conspiracies, and Alex Jones. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit webworm.substa...

In this edition of Webworm, we look at rage bait and how it's used against us. From making dinner in a toilet bowl to raw chicken - some things are created just so make us mad. For all links and to take part in the discussion please visit the Webworm.co website or the app: https://www.webworm.co/p/totallynormal27 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

I’ve been thinking a lot about Corey Harris, the 44-year old man who went viral after Zooming into his court appearance while driving. The headlines generated were basically all the same: “ Man With Suspended Driver's License Dials Into Court Hearing While Driving”. The video of Corey’s confused expressions went viral on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok — no-one really stopping to think why he looke...

I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing. This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment. Misery loves company, that sort of deal. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit webworm.substack.com/subscribe

Calvin is seven, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird , Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. In today's podcast, Calvin watches and then immediately reviews Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I hope you enjoy it. It’s Calvin, being interviewed by his dad Rob. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit webworm...