rocks in my pockets – creativity and suicide bereavement – New Zealand artists speak.
Each month, in conversation with a guest artist from New Zealand, we’ll discuss how their art practice was a catalyst for creativity when faced with the intensity of deep grief.
rocks in my pockets is about community and co-creating a space for the unspeakable – suicide bereavement in Aotearoa New Zealand. Like a good old-fashioned radio show, we will explore how creativity can be supportive in the expression of grief.
Music Credit: Dubstepper (previously unreleased) – Reuben Samuel Winter 1994-2020 (Waitaha / Kāi Tahu / Te Aupōuri / Te Rarawa / Ngāti Kurī)
Episode 1: Introduction (14:54) with Iona Winter 20/05/2026
In this introduction, Iona speaks about how rocks in my pockets came into being, and how her creative work changed while navigating suicide bereavement. Iona also shares some of her poetry, in this launch of rocks in my pockets, on what would’ve been Reuben Winter’s 32nd birthday. On offer for the launch is a book deal below.
Book deal for Episode 1 of rocks in my pockets
A Counter of Moons
In the shape of his hand lay a river
$45 (free postage within NZ)
Episode 2: Debby Curreen (36.03) with Iona Winter 20/06/2026
In this episode of rocks in my pockets, Iona speaks with poet Debby Curreen (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kurī), about the death by suicide of her youngest brother Hori and her creative process afterwards. Debby shares poetry from The Long Cold Nights of June, and discusses her new book More Than This, a collection of remembrance writing by the suicide bereaved.
More Than This https://debcurreenauthor.bigcartel.com/product/more-than-this
The Long Cold Nights of June https://debcurreenauthor.bigcartel.com/product/the-long-cold-nights-of-june
Episode 3: Lynda Scott Araya (34.46) with Iona Winter 20/07/2026
In this episode of rocks in my pockets, Iona speaks with creative writer Lynda Scott Araya, about the death by suicide of her eldest child Adam and her creative process afterwards. Lynda shares her poetry and discusses how creative expression is a way to increase societal awareness of the marginalisation the suicide bereaved experience.
Suicide stigma compounds pain, mother says (Otago Daily Times, 2021) https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/suicide-stigma-compounds-pain-mother-says
A Greymouth Dinner Party (Seaside Gothic, 2023) https://seasidegothic.com/poetry/a-greymouth-dinner-party/
Spasghetti (Hawaii Pacific Review, 2023) https://hawaiipacificreview.org/2023/03/20/spasghetti/
Episode 4: Alex Reece Abbott (35.53) with Iona Winter 20/08/2026
In this episode of rocks in my pockets, Iona speaks with writer Alex Reece Abbott, about her experiences of suicide bereavement. Alex shares her creative non-fiction and discusses how we language suicide, the challenges with geographical distance and how her creative practice has found ways to voice this deeply human experience of complex grief.
http://www.alexreeceabbott.info/
Last Summer (Pure Slush Vol.12) https://pureslush.com/store/anthologies-themed/summer-pure-slush-vol-12/
Shut Your Mouth (Te Moana o Reo/Ocean of Languages) https://thecubapress.nz/shop/te-moana-o-reo-ocean-of-languages/