HeyJaredJames and Ashley Stay at Home
Through discussions and interviews with writers, artists and health professionals, author friends James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt explore the big questions: how do books get written? How do people navigate life with chronic illness? And just what ARE you reading?
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 4
- Latest publication
- Sep 22, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 28, 2026
Latest episodes
135 | From beloved bookseller to debut author with Josh Hortinela, author of Hate You to Love You (opens the original)
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Episode 135 features debut sensation Joshua Hortinela, a beloved fixture of the Australian book scene, discussing his first novel, Hate You to Love You . A joyful celebration of rom-coms on page and screen, with a soft spot for 90s classics, the story cleverly subverts the genre's familiar tropes and doubles as a love letter to Sydney's bookshops. As his character Carlos reflects, 'If my younger self had been able to find books that represented me … maybe I wouldn't have been so scared of love.'
134 | 'How did you see into my brain?' with author, publisher and podcaster Dani Vee (opens the original)
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Episode 134 features powerhouse author, publisher and podcaster Dani Vee discussing her latest picture book, My Spinning, Anxious Brain. For neurodivergent kids, this story draws on her own lived experience and mental health advocacy. Dani says, 'I wanted a book about ADHD that didn't ignore the bad stuff and the hard stuff, but also celebrated this really unique brain.' She shares her emotions when she learned her ADHD diagnosed as an adult, how her advocacy around anxiety and mental health sta
133 | Bonus ep! Have a listen to ... The Word Count podcast (opens the original)
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In ep 133, James and Ashley share an episode one of their favourite Australian writing podcasts – The Word Count with Jo Dixon, Fiona Taylor and Jacq Ellem. If you've not heard The Word Count before, this bonus episode will give you a taste of what it's all about. If you have, then you already know you're in for a treat. We'll be back in a fortnight with another author interview! The Word Count episode 59: It's the news we've been bursting to share for months … Jo spills all the behind-the-scene
132 | Being resilient when the feedback is tough with author Susannah Glenn and creativity coach Ginger Moran (opens the original)
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In episode 132, author Susannah Glenn joins us to discuss the creative process behind her second novel, Without a Trace, alongside her creativity coach and writing mentor, Ginger Moran. Ginger and Susannah discuss what goes into a relationship centred on both support and skill development, and the tough love and resilience required to make a story the best it can be. Susannah shares what initially led her to approach Susannah, when she transitioned to full-time writing while working on her first
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