Best James McKenzie Watson Podcasts (2025)

1
116 | Bonus ep! 'Cold Truth' Live with Ashley & James 1:00:52

3d ago1:00:52

1:00:52

If you missed hearing Ashley and James live in conversation at the launch of Cold Truth, we've got the full event recording for you here, complete with fake nazi invasions, terrifying cybercrime stats, and the satisfying crunch of James being forced to try genuine Manitoban dill pickle chips. Thanks to local bookseller Roaring Stories for hosting t…

1
115 | Where's my 'Menopause: What's Happening to Me?' book with Jay Martin, author of 'Boom Town Snap' 47:13

17d ago47:13

47:13

How did Jay Martin go from an award-winning memoir to a fiction manuscript she ultimately abandoned? And what did she learn that helped her craft her debut novel, Boom Town Snap? Jay talks with Ashley and James about what toxic workplaces have in common with abusive relationships, and how we get trapped in toxic relationships at the community level…

1
114 | Bonus ep! Winter Writing Retreat with Lynne Ainsworth 24:46

1M ago24:46

24:46

Lynne Ainsworth is the founder of Writers at the Woolshed, an emerging writer, and a person who 'loves hanging out with people who read and write'. She loves it so much, she not only created a pop-up festival to connect authors with regional readers and writers, she's now hosting the first Winter Writing Retreat, featuring masterclasses with Eleano…

1
113 | Rewriting your stalker with Pip Drysdale, author of 'The Close-Up' 37:42

2M ago37:42

37:42

How does having a stalker change your life? We talk with bestselling novelist Pip Drysdale about her latest novel 'The Close-Up,' its real-life inspirations, and how surviving a stalker shifted her worldview. We also discuss how to navigate public image and the role anxiety has to play in creative pursuits. Plus, this ep's What Are You Reading? ins…

1
112 | Choosing to have children as a creative with Dinuka McKenzie and Lee Kofman 52:18

3M ago52:18

52:18

What considerations come into choosing to have a baby for creatives? And once baby enters the picture, how do you balance parenting with your creative practice? We ask Dinuka McKenzie and Lee Kofman, two beloved past guests who happen to be both authors and parents, about their decision to have children and how they manage their writing lives as pa…

1
111 | Surviving second book syndrome - James and Ashley talk 'Cold Truth' 38:45

4M ago38:45

38:45

Cold Truth, Ashley's new thriller, is out now. James and Ashley discuss just how difficult writing this book was, plus why she chose to set in a city that makes headlines for being colder than the surface of Mars. They also chat about real-life research, including the time Ashley learned how to pick a lock with a credit card. Plus, James horrifies …

1
110 | Back to the 90s with Michelle See-Tho, author of 'Jade and Emerald' 41:11

5M ago41:11

41:11

'I always knew I wanted to write a novel, but I didn’t have any ideas that I thought could extend to a novel-length work.' In episode 110, Michelle See-Tho shares her journey from aspiring writer to winner of the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize for her debut novel, Jade and Emerald. Though she started out writing short stories and video game reviews, s…

1
109 | What have we read? Every book recommendation from 2024 1:40:34

5M ago1:40:34

1:40:34

Here it is - the annual end-of-year book recommendation extravaganza! This bumper episode contains every single edition of 'What are you reading?' from 2024, in which James, Ashley and guests discuss the books on their shelves, and why you should read them too (or not). Use it as a last-minute Christmas shopping guide or a wishlist for your own per…

1
108 | Compelling, subversive, beautiful: the books we loved most in 2024 40:19

6M ago40:19

40:19

It's that time of year again - the annual Bed on a Plinth Awards, in which James and Ashley discuss the best books they've read in the last twelve months! Use this particularly eclectic list to gather Christmas gift ideas, or simply top up your own 'to be read' pile. Books & authors discussed in this episode (spoilers below!): Red River Road by Ann…

1
107 | Living with dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder with Maggie Walters, author of 'Split' 36:49

6M ago36:49

36:49

'It's not a mental illness. It's actually a creative coping mechanism.' What's it like to discover other people living in your own head? In Maggie Walters' debut memoir, she describes her life with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder (which remains Maggie's preferred term). After surviving years of abuse …

1
106 | The worst decision ever with Richell-Prize-winner Simone Amelia Jordan 35:08

6M ago35:08

35:08

'That was the most naive, worst decision I've ever made in my life, because the disease came back with a vengeance.' In episode 106, Ashley speaks to award-winning memoirist Simone Amelia Jordan about the career that took her from Australia to New York City, and the health crisis that changed everything. We also speak about family heritage and fami…

1
105 | Finding community with author and artist Arna Radovich 44:37

7M ago44:37

44:37

In ep 105, James and Ashley interview Arna Radovich, the author of Limits of Forgetting, a collection of stories interwoven with themes of memory, grief and reflection. Arna shares insights into how her own experiences provide the background for her fiction, and how she found the resolve to release her collection after the loss of her husband. We a…

1
104 | Staying afloat with Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim 49:00

8M ago49:00

49:00

'For me, the only decision was to put myself out there and become more of service to others.' Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim speaks with James about his diagnosis and life with CIDP, the same autoimmune condition James lives with. Michael discusses his childhood and Olympic career, how his worsening health affected his mental health, and how h…

1
103 | When reviews get personal with Robyn Harding, author of 'The Haters' 53:37

9M ago53:37

53:37

What's it like putting your creative work out in the world and discovering that some people hate it? In episode 103 of James and Ashley Stay at Home, international bestselling author Robyn Harding joins James and Ashley to explore her extensive career in writing. She shares her experience of releasing her first book in 2004, and how her journey has…

1
102 | 'You had me at bog people' with Zahid Gamieldien, author of 'All the Missing Children' 32:46

9M ago32:46

32:46

'I wasn't even sure I was going to write a novel.' Author Zahid Gamieldien joins us to discuss his debut novel, All the Missing Children. Zahid speaks about his start writing short stories, his decision to transition to novel writing based on the advice of a publisher, and how he sees the differences between prose and screenwriting. He also speaks …

1
101 | Surviving betrayal (and so much more) with Khin Myint, author of 'Fragile Creatures' 42:23

10M ago42:23

42:23

'I didn't believe that I'd stalked my partner.' In episode 101, we speak with debut author Khin Myint about the multiple strands of biography he explores in his memoir Fragile Creatures. One of these is the sudden and extreme betrayal he faced from his ex-partner, who accused him of stalking her. We also discuss the ambiguous illness his sister The…

1
100 | Where snark meets explosive laughter – a podcast retrospective 1:07:58

11M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

We made it to 100 episodes! In this celebration of books, reading and creative community, James and Ashley reflect on how the podcast came about, their favourite books and moments from the podcast, and how their lives, health and writing have changed over the four years since episode 1. You'll also hear from a variety of past guests and listeners, …

1
99 | Sianging at Home with Siang Lu, author of 'Ghost Cities' 40:48

11M ago40:48

40:48

'There are so many books in bookstores, how could it possibly be that, by complete randomness, someone would pick yours up?' Author Siang Lu joins us to discuss his second novel, Ghost Cities, and the multilayered inspirations behind his multilayered fiction, including Catch-22 and Paradise Lost. We also discuss talent stacking, the challenge of bu…

1
98 | Come for the misophonia with Imbi Neeme, author of 'Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not' 45:13

12M ago45:13

45:13

We've made it to episode 98! Author Imbi Neeme joins James and Ashley to discuss life with misophonia, a hypersensitivity to sounds that she describes as 'like a cheese grater against the brain'. Imbi speaks both about how she discovered that her personal experiences are shared by others, and how she's explored the condition in her latest novel, 'K…

1
97 | Needing to know – Ashley discusses narrative drive 29:12

1y ago29:12

29:12

Throughout their careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. Now, they’re each sharing a few of their most effective writing techniques (starting with episode 94 - James’ shortcut to compelling characters). In this episode, Ashley gives a mini-masterclass on narrative drive and sha…

1
96 | Living to tell the tale with Tracy Sorensen, author of 'The Vitals' 41:24

1y ago41:24

41:24

'The doctors were telling me, "We’re going to take your greater omentum out" … I had no idea what these terms meant.' In episode 96, author Tracy Sorensen joins us to discuss her remarkable novel/cancer memoir, The Vitals, narrated by her internal organs. After her original cancer diagnosis, a desire to better understand her body led Tracy to croch…

1
95 | 'I'm Tom Cruise in Bulgaria' with Liz Nugent, author of 'Strange Sally Diamond' 43:37

1y ago43:37

43:37

‘I had thought I was going to be like Harper Lee. I was going to write one book, it was going to be a massive global success, and then I would go into hiding.’ Hear from award-winning Irish author Liz Nugent, whose novel Strange Sally Diamond may have turned Ashley into a total fangirl. Liz discusses her journey from a childhood accident leading to…

1
94 | Cloning, shame and principles – James shares tips on writing character 31:55

1y ago31:55

31:55

Throughout their writing careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. In the coming months, they’ll each share a few of their most effective writing techniques, starting with James’ shortcut to compelling characters. British science-fiction author Karen Traviss writes remarkably nua…

1
93 | Tricking yourself into writing with Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling' 37:02

1+ y ago37:02

37:02

’I kept this condition very, very secret from everybody.’ Adele Dumont's remarkable new memoir, The Pulling, details her life with trichotillomania — a mental health condition that, at times, has consumed her life. In this episode, she discusses the unique writing process that enabled her to put long-held secrets first on the page and then into the…

1
92 | How to save a life with Kylie Ladd, author of 'I'll Leave You With This' 38:43

1+ y ago38:43

38:43

'The whole concept of transplantation still blows me away. There is something a bit magical about it. But as with most things people do, it can also find ways to blow up in people’s faces.' Author and neuropsychologist Kylie Ladd joins us to speak about her latest book, 'I'll Leave You with This.' She shares her research into the incredible science…

1
91 | Bonus ep! Learn how to run a writers group with Ashley Kalagian Blunt 5:03

1+ y ago5:03

5:03

If you listen to James and Ashley Stay at Home, you know that both Ashley and James credit much of their skill development to their writers group. And they're not the only ones! You can hear rom com author Jonathon Shannon talk about what he learned from the group, as well as literary fiction author Amy Lovat. Like Ashley and James, they joined as …

1
90 | 'I was going to ask this privately, but...' - James and Ashley at the Boorowa Literary Festival 35:44

1+ y ago35:44

35:44

The tables are turned! Recorded live at the Inaugural Boorowa Literary Festival, festival director, book lover, and all-round excellent human Jeremy Clarke interviews James and Ashley. Learn more about the Absolutely Superb Bibliothèque and Occasional Wine Bar and its upcoming literary events here! Hear the James and Ashley Stay at Home origin stor…

1
89 | The Bed on a Plinth Awards: The best books we read in 2023 22:26

1+ y ago22:26

22:26

It's books wrap-up season! James and Ashley are getting on the bandwagon and discussing their favourite reads from 2023 in the first annual 'Bed on a Plinth Awards.' Books and authors discussed in this episode (warning: spoilers!): Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt Crushing by Genevieve Novak The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane Desire by Jessie …

1
88 | Books galore: the best book recommendations of 2023 1:22:19

1+ y ago1:22:19

1:22:19

Our most popular episode of the year is back! James has gathered the best 'What Are You Reading?' segments from 2023 into a comprehensive summary of book recommendations from our guests. We discuss a huge variety of books, including thriller, mystery, memoir, rom com, literature, essays, poetry, nonfiction, plays and audiobooks. We also delve into …

1
87 | How to climb a ladder covered in butter with Laurie Steed, author of 'Love, Dad' 40:43

1+ y ago40:43

40:43

‘I wanted to find compassion for me and for any writer out there who’s doing the best they can but it’s not working out the way they planned.’ Author Laurie Steed shares how crippling anxiety affected both his literary career and his experience of fatherhood. Before he could address the anxiety, he first had to unlearn the lessons around masculinit…

1
86 | Starting late with Penguin Literary Prize winner Annette Higgs 35:49

1+ y ago35:49

35:49

‘When I was a lawyer, I knew what was good enough, because if you did the job properly, you were paid, and if you didn’t do the job properly, you were sued. It was very clear-cut. With writing, you never know. There’s a lot of subjectivity.’ James speaks with Penguin Literary Prize winning author Annette Higgs about her debut novel, On a Bright Hil…

1
85 | 'These men do exist:' the Dark Mode spoilers episode 1:00:47

1+ y ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Ashley reveals the inspiration behind the twists and turns in her bestselling psychological thriller, Dark Mode. Together with return guest Jacinta Dietrich and self-described enthusiastic reader Ali Thomas, Ashley and James delve into every scintillating Dark Mode detail they normally can’t discuss, including the novel's real-life inspirations. Ja…

1
84 | How hard can a book be? with Jonathon Shannon, author of 'Bound to Happen' 47:13

1+ y ago47:13

47:13

'I was still in that really optimistic, sort of naive, wonderful space as an early writer, where you think everything you write is just publishable.' Debut author Jonathon Shannon shares his journey from aspiring writer to published author – including the decision to join James and Ashley's writers' group. We discuss how he took his debut romcom fr…

1
83 | How to stop pushing yourself with Amy Lovat, author of 'Mistakes and Other Lovers' 53:39

1+ y ago53:39

53:39

‘I conflate so many experiences throughout my life with the level of pain I was in at the time.’ Amy Lovat, debut author of Mistakes and Other Lovers and founder of Secret Book Stuff, gets real with us about the challenges of maintaining a creative practice with endometriosis. She also discusses writing about the dark side of modern evangelical Chr…

1
82 | Healing from grief and loss through nature with Indira Naidoo, author of 'The Space Between the Stars' 29:25

2y ago29:25

29:25

After Indira Naidoo lost her sister to suicide during the pandemic lockdowns, she unexpectedly found herself turning to nature to help her heal. Speaking with Ashley, Indira shares the journey through grief that led to her memoir 'The Space Between the Stars,' including her relationship with an especially consoling Moreton Bay fig. She describes th…

1
81 | 'A good-hearted kid in a difficult environment,' with Mark Brandi author of 'Southern Aurora' 48:19

2y ago48:19

48:19

Mark Brandi is the author of four novels, including his latest, Southern Aurora. He joins us to discuss how a short story he began in 2015 became his newest novel, his choice to set the story in rural Australia in the 1980s, and how he writes so convincingly from a child's point of view. We also talk about sustaining yourself creatively over multip…

1
80 | Who can I kill? with Julie Janson, author of 'Madukka the River Serpent' 36:06

2y ago36:06

36:06

It wasn’t until a year into working on her novel 'Madukka the River Serpent' that Julie Janson decided to make it a crime novel. At once a story of corporate greed, environmental destruction and government inaction, 'Madukka the River Serpent' also celebrates older women who hold their families together in the face of extreme challenges. In this ep…

1
79 | 'It changed my life' – the Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship 52:39

2y ago52:39

52:39

How can winning an artistic residency impact your creative career? Hear from four Australian authors about their experiences entering and winning the ASA/Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship, and how their careers have developed since. Hannah Bent is the author of When Things Are Alive They Hum. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art a…

1
78 | Surviving brain surgery with Karina May, author of 'Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast' 43:18

2y ago43:18

43:18

The idea for Karina May's novel came to her while she was in the ICU, recovering from brain surgery. In this open-hearted interview, Karina shares the experience of living with a brain tumour for two decades before undergoing multiple surgeries to have it removed, and the resulting anxiety and creative inspiration she experienced. Despite now being…

1
77 | Finding order in chaos with Anna Spargo-Ryan, author of 'A Kind of Magic' 45:59

2y ago45:59

45:59

‘There’s a reason that this has happened. Science could predict this outcome for me, even though I feel like I’m in constant chaos.’ Anna Spargo-Ryan is the author of the memoir A Kind of Magic. In this illuminating interview, she describes the gap between what science understands and what she’s experienced over a lifetime of mental illness. Anna s…

1
76 | Emotional honesty in writing and life with Lee Kofman, author of 'The Writer Laid Bare' 50:06

2y ago50:06

50:06

Author Lee Kofman returns to discuss her hugely popular writing memoir and guide, The Writer Laid Bare – James's favourite book of 2022! Lee dives into the concept of emotional honesty and 'nonesty' in writing and life, and why it's essential to her practice. We also discuss the importance of reading as writers and her recommendation to 'read up'. …

1
75 | How to manage creative anxiety with psychologist Sanchana Venkatesh 40:30

2y ago40:30

40:30

Does anxiety go hand-in-hand with creative ambition Psychologist Sanchana Venkatesh joins Ashley and James to discuss the positives of creativity for mental wellbeing and the common problem of creative anxiety. An emerging writer herself, she's familiar with the types of anxiety common to creatives. She delves into why we often can't just sit down …

1
74 | Launching 'Dark Mode' with author Ashley Kalagian Blunt – mini-ep #4 12:47

2+ y ago12:47

12:47

A garden shop owner goes out for her morning run and discovers the body of a woman who looks just like her. As more murders shake the city, she fears her past is catching up with her. A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel 'Dark Mode' delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay fo…

1
73 | Getting an agent and a publishing deal – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #3 10:40

2+ y ago10:40

10:40

Keen for insights into how to get an agent and a book publisher? This is the ep for you! This is one of four weekly mini-episodes in celebration of the March 1st Australian release day! A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay fo…

1
72 | Insights into the novel writing process – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #2 13:55

2+ y ago13:55

13:55

Ashley wrote 40,000 words into the first draft of Dark Mode before scrapping most of it and restarting. Then she ploughed through to the end of a clunky draft in order to create a scene-by-scene outline of the plot mechanics. The outline became the blueprint for the next major revision – the one that landed her an agent. In this ep, Ashley also tal…

1
71 | Where the ideas came from – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #1 14:06

2+ y ago14:06

14:06

A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time. But it didn't start there! Ashley began the manuscript while recovering from a major rejection, and envisioned it as Black Mirror inspired…

1
70 | The secret of work/life balance with Dr Hilton Koppe, author of 'One Curious Doctor' 44:02

2+ y ago44:02

44:02

What happens when your job results in PTSD, forcing you into unexpected retirement? You write a memoir, of course! At least, that's what Dr Hilton Koppe did when he suddenly had to leave his practice as a rural GP. Hilton speaks to James and Ashley about his PTSD diagnosis, the secret of work/life, how he turned to creative writing as a form of the…

1
69 | All the reading: the best book recommendations of 2022 1:21:16

2+ y ago1:21:16

1:21:16

This special episode gathers the best 'What Are You Reading?' segments from 2022 into a comprehensive summary of book recommendations from Australian and international authors. These well-informed highlights will give you plenty of last-minute gift solutions and ideas for how to spend your Christmas gift cards! Plus, James and Ashley each declare t…

1
68 | Digging into shame with Hayley Scrivenor, author of 'Dirt Town' 59:59

2+ y ago59:59

59:59

'When I sat down to write, it felt like I had killed someone.' Hayley Scrivenor opens up about managing creative anxiety, what it means to write through our feelings, and the experience of having her novel 'Dirt Town' debut as a number one Australian bestseller. Plus James turns the interview into a therapy session. Hayley Scrivenor is the author o…

1
67 | Learning with a beginner's mindset with urban ecologist Darryl 'The Bird Guy' Jones 46:17

2+ y ago46:17

46:17

'I regard my seventh book, Curlews on Vulture Street ... as my first real writing. You know, this is the one I'm most proud of. It was the biggest challenge and the one I enjoyed the most.' Urban ecologist and noted bird guy Darryl Jones joins us to share his transition from popular science to narrative nonfiction writer. Darryl discusses the impor…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

James McKenzie Watson Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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