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David Farrier

Flightless Bird follows journalist David Farrier as he learns about what makes America special from his unique perspective as a Kiwi accidentally marooned in the Land of the Free. Infinitely curious but never judgmental, each week, David (along with cohost and American Rob) seeks to understand what makes America so unique, strange, and wonderful.

Flightless Bird

David and Rob are joined in the studio by Anna Konkle, the co-creator and star of PEN15, one of their favourite shows of all time - looking at the trials and tribulations of being a seventh grader in the United States. Anna has a new book out - The Sane One - looking back at her real life, and real parents, that were part of the inspiration for her show.Feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.comAnna’s book, The Sane One: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sane-one-a-memoir-anna-konkle/b03f30c6d183b728Watch on Spotify. Spotify subscribers get fewer ads on our episode.
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Anna Konkle on Pen15 & the Sane One

In this week’s episode, as part of his “Wisconsin” series, David investigates the world of Supper Clubs in Madison. What the hell is a supper club, and why is this state obsessed with them? What is a Friday Fish Fry, and how creamy is a grasshopper? David attempts to find out.Feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com
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Wisconsin: Supper Clubs

In this month’s Nest Session, David and Rob are joined in the studio by musician Nick Thorburn (Islands, the Unicorns, Mister Heavenly, The Creem) to discuss his love of underground comics and fulfilling his dream of publishing his own comic with legendary publisher Fantagraphics. Nick - originally from Canada - shares his thoughts on the US, and his music with bands like The Unicorns and Islands, before sharing his favourite homemade American snack, and some charming acoustic renditions of his music.

Feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com

The Cream: https://www.instagram.com/thecreeem/

Nick’s comic: https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/pear-shape

Nick's book: https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/nick-thorburn/products/penguins
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Nest Sessions: Nick Thorburn on Underground Comics

In this week’s episode, David and Rob head to the Adelanto ICE Detention Centre in which is imprisoning New Zealand woman Everlee Wihongi, who holds a valid green card. Rob goes inside and spends an hour with Everlee, discussing what conditions are like, and why the New Zealand government refuses to offer any help. Meanwhile, David calls Everlee’s mother Betty at her home in Wisconsin, to talk about what it’s like to have a family member kidnapped by ICE.Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.comEverlee’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-free-and-get-everlee-home 
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ICE Detention Center Visit

In this week’s Flightless Bird we tell the story of Everlee Wihongi, a 36-year-old New Zealander on a green card, snatched by ICE at LAX airport. We talk to her mother Betty, trying to figure out why her daughter got kidnapped, and how to get her out again.

Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmal.com

LINKS:

- GoFundMe for Everlee’s legal fees: https://gofund.me/c9217e4f1

- Original Webworm reporting: http://www.webworm.co/betty
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ICE Kidnaps A Kiwi

In this week’s Flightless Bird, David Farrier travels to Madison, Wisconsin, to investigate the World Championship Cheese Contest. With 3375 entries and 150 classes, we are talking a lot of cheese. Hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the comp has been running since 1957 - and this year was bigger than ever. Why is cheese so big in this part of the US, and what exactly is a cheesehead? All will be revealed in this very cheesy episode.

 

Links:

Join us for bonus Flightless Bird episodes on Patreon: patreon.com/flightlessbird 

Contact us with your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com
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Wisconsin: Cheeseheads

On this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob discover that doing jigsaw puzzles is not just a hobby - it’s a sport! They talk to US speed puzzler Karen Kavett - AKA Karen Puzzles - who’s about to head off to the 2026 USA Jigsaw Nationals. How big is the scene and what does it take to get to the worlds? What is the secret to doing puzzles very, very fast? David also reveals that he’s being sued in America after an article he wrote for Webworm, and Rob and David discuss the recent Flightless Bird tour which featured the one and only Rosabel!

Links: 

Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com 

Karen Puzzles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenpuzzles/ 

Rosabel on tour & our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-rosabel-155107678

Why is David being sued? https://www.webworm.co/wildingpart9/

Vote for us at the Webbys:

Or - https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-indie-podcast 

1. ⁠Go to webbyawards.com 

2. ⁠Click “Go Vote” button

3. ⁠Hit SEARCH

4. ⁠Type in “Flightless Bird” and click on “Flightless Bird” when it turns up

5. ⁠Cast your vote
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Pro Puzzler

In this week’s Flightless Bird, we return to Nick from last year’s Parasocial Listener Episode. Nick had been diagnosed with a rare kind of brain tumor - rare in that you can remove it, but it keeps coming back. In today’s episode, Nick has taken a leap of faith and arrived in New Zealand, to eat meat pies, surf, and visit Hobbiton. We catch up with Nick as he meets some fellow Flightless Bird listeners, goes on some soaring adventures, and has a terrifying encounter in a cave. Links:Nick’s paragliding experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l8QYZW2v_INick’s band Pookie: https://www.instagram.com/pookietheband/ The Friendship Paddle: https://www.friendshippaddle.org/ Vote for our Webby: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-indie-podcastJoin us for bonus Flightless Bird episodes on Patreon: patreon.com/flightlessbird Contact us with your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com
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Parasocial Listener II

In this week’s Nest Session, David and Rob are joined by Genevieve Schatz, frontperson of Chicago indie band Company of Thieves. Schatz has been on quite the journey since fronting that band - which includes delving into a new type of field: being a clairvoyant! What does this mean exactly, and what’s the boundary between woo and reality? Genevieve also performs in the Flightless Bird studio, showcasing her lyricism and vocal prowess in a pretty hypnotic way!Email us your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/flightlessbird You can find Genevieve here: https://www.instagram.com/gemmebean/ 
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Nest Sessions: Genevieve Schatz on being clairvoyant

In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob talk iconic series Goosebumps - discussing their favourite books in the series, the joy of the Scholastic Book Fair, and how Goosebumps have managed to sell over 400 million copies around the world. David then interviews the man himself - R.L. Stine - who has just finished writing his latest book: A book for adults. 

Join us for bonus episodes on Patreon: patreon.com/flightlessbird Contact us with your feedback: flightlessbirdchat@gmail.com
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Nest Sessions: Nick Thorburn on Underground Comics

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