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James and Ashley Stay at Home

James and Ashley Stay at Home

James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt

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? Hosted by James McKenzie Watson, winner of the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize, and Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'Dark Mode.'
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Top 10 James and Ashley Stay at Home Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best James and Ashley Stay at Home episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to James and Ashley Stay at Home for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite James and Ashley Stay at Home episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

James and Ashley Stay at Home - 88 | Books galore: the best book recommendations of 2023
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12/12/23 • 82 min

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 reading habits. Do you read several books at a time, or restrict yourself to one? Do you finish most books you pick up, or allow yourself to quit? And so much more.

This episode features Hilton Koppe, Sanchana Venkatesh, Lee Kofman, Anna Spargo-Ryan, Karina May, Hannah Bent, Holden Sheppard, Hayley Scrivenor, Danielle Binks, Julie Janson, Mark Brandi, Indira Naidoo, Amy Lovat, Jonathon Shannon, Ali Thomas, Jacinta Dietrich, and Annette Higgs.

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

  • Dear Memory: Letters on Writing, Silence, and Grief by Victoria Chang;
  • The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill;
  • Lost Connections by Johann Hari;
  • Homesickness by Janine Mikosza;
  • The Fire and the Rose by Robyn Cadwallader;
  • Turning Points in Medieval History by Dorsey Armstrong;
  • Crying in H Mary by Michelle Zauner;
  • Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata;
  • Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason;
  • Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner;
  • Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom;
  • The Wych Elm by Tana French;
  • In the Woods by Tana French;
  • The Others by Mark Brandi;
  • Stolen Focus by Johann Hari;
  • Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka;
  • Crushing by Genevieve Novak;
  • No Hard Feelings by Genevieve Novak;
  • The Shot by Naima Brown;
  • The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka;
  • The Road by Cormac McCarthy;
  • The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy;
  • Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy;
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho;
  • Ghost Music by An Yu;
  • Eta Draconis by Brendan Ritchie;
  • We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson;
  • The Long Knives by Irvine Welsh;
  • We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis;
  • Windhall by Ava Barry;
  • The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane;
  • Limberlost by Robbie Arnott;
  • Benevolence by Julie Janson;
  • Compassion by Julie Janson;
  • Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami;
  • The People of the River by Grace Karskens;
  • Nardi Simpson (from ep 18);
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte;
  • Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky;
  • Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright;
  • The Trial by Franz Kafka;
  • Mistakes and Other Lovers by Amy Lovat;
  • Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier;
  • Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier;
  • A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno;
  • Brilliant Lies by David Williamson;
  • Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller;
  • Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler;
  • A Swim in the Pond in the Road by George Saunders;
  • Lee Kofman (from ep 76);
  • Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13);
  • Sarah Sentilles (from ep 50);
  • From Bhutan to Blacktown by Om Dhungel;
  • Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver;
  • Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Stolen Focus by Johann Hari;
  • Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang;
  • Dress Rehearsals by Madison Godfrey;
  • Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey;
  • Lucy Clarke;
  • Echolalia by Briohny Doyle;
  • Bunny by SE Tolsen;
  • On a Bright Hillside in Paradise by Annette Higgs;
  • When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu;
  • Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld;
  • A Mile Down by David Vann;
  • A Burglar's Guide to the City by Geoff Manaugh;
  • The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger;
  • The Reader by Bernard Schlink;
  • The Tilt by Chris Hammer;
  • The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes;
  • The Joy Thief by Penny Moodie;
  • We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough;
  • Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo;
  • Obsession by Nicole Madigan
Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or
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James and Ashley Stay at Home - 43 | Losing your baby legs: James and Ashley discuss relapse and recovery
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11/09/21 • 33 min

James is back! He and Ashley chat about his recent CIDP relapse and ongoing recovery, and how his perspective on living with chronic illness has shifted. Thankfully, the steroids haven't affected his sense of humour.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this episode is medical advice, and if you're concerned about your own health, you should consult a proper medical professional.

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

  • A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris;
  • The Stand by Stephen King

The Joy of Creative Writing: an online workshop with Ashley

  • Thursday 2 December, 6:15-7:30 pm AEDT
  • Online via Zoom
  • Tix $9-14

Whether you haven’t written creatively since high school or you’re the author of 12 books, this fun class will help you get your creativity flowing. Through a series of short, timed writing exercises, we’ll explore different ways to access the creative recesses of our minds and surprise ourselves! You might be a writer working on a specific project, a poet searching for new ideas, or someone who just wants to give creative writing a try for the first time in years – wherever you’re at, this is the class for you. Get your ticket here.

TAF2021 - CSI: TASMANIA online - November 27 + 28 2021 Tasmania's International Crime and Mystery Literary Festival features more than 35 crime and mystery authors speaking across panels, books clubs and mini-masterclasses.

The line-up includes: David Heska Wanbli Weiden (featured in episode 40), Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid, Liz Nugent, Garry Disher, Naomi Hirahara, Abir Mukherjee, Vanda Symon, JP Pomare, Candice Fox, Anita Heiss, RWR McDonald (featured in episode 32).

Early bird tickets are $90 and are available until Sunday 14 November. For more information on the festival and ticket follow this link.

Get in touch!

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James and Ashley Stay at Home - 104 | Staying afloat with Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim
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10/08/24 • 49 min

'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 he ultimately decided to become vocal about his condition and support others.

Michael Klim is a renowned Australian swimmer. He competed in three Olympic Games and won six medals, including two gold. Since 2020, Michael has lived with a rare autoimmune disorder, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). He has established the Klim Foundation to provide support to sufferers and champion the search for new treatments.

Books & authors discussed in this episode:

  • Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
  • This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl by Paul Brannigan
  • Andrew Johns: The Two of Me by Andrew Johns and Neil Cadigan
  • Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography by Johnathon Thurston
  • Open by Andre Agassi
  • Kelly Slater: For the Love by Kelly Slater

Get your copy of Klim from your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.

Upcoming events:

Learn more about Ashley's bestselling psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.

Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.

Get in touch!

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James and Ashley Stay at Home - 75 | How to manage creative anxiety with psychologist Sanchana Venkatesh
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03/21/23 • 40 min

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 and have fun with our creativity, provides advice on managing our creativity, and offers reading recommendations for further support.

This episode is full of practical tips for managing creative anxiety (and anxiety in general), for creatives of all types, including those writing about or exploring trauma in their work.

Sanchana Venkatesh is a psychologist and writer of short stories and essays. She has been practising as a psychologist in schools, public mental health, and non-profit settings since 2008, and is currently the sole practitioner and founder of flourish inside out psychology services. Her areas of special interest include anxiety, depression, chronic illnesses, life transitions, tics and Tourette’s. Sanchana enjoys working with creatives, single people, gifted individuals, and migrants and people of colour. She was shortlisted for the 2021 Peter Carey Short Story Award, and her writing appears in the 2017 Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology and the 2020 Better Read than Dead Writing Anthology.

You can find Sanchana's services at Flourish Inside Out, and find the dropping anchor exercise here.

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

  • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Mastering Creative Anxiety by Eric Maisel
  • Happy Never After by Jill Stark
  • A Kind of Magic by Anna Spargo-Ryan
  • The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
  • Emotional Agility by Susan Davis
  • Lost Connections by Johann Hari
  • Homesickness by Janine Mikosza
  • The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

**Nothing in this podcast is intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about your mental health, speak to your GP.**

Ashley's events:

James' events:

  • Newcastle Writers Festival – I'd Like You to Meet: Lee Kofman chats to James McKenzie Watson, Saturday 1 April, 2-3pm (free!)
  • New Blood: Crime Writers to Watch – Sunday 2 April 1:30pm at Newcastle Writers Festival ($20 – book here)
  • Yarrum Storyfest – 1-2 July, Yarrum Regional Theatre, Yarrum, VIC ($25-$40 book here)
  • Sydney Writers Festival presents James McKenzie Watson – Wednesday 24 May, 6.30-7.30 pm, Penrith City Library ($5 – book here)
  • Sydney Writers Festival Life in the Landscape – Thursday 25 May, 11 am to 12 pm, Carriageworks ($15-$25 – book here)

Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy here.

James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy here.

Get in touch!

James and Ashley Stay at Home - Upcoming events! Plus, win a signed copy of Denizen
play

05/10/23 • 6 min

A bonus episode to share some exciting upcoming events. Plus, listen to find out how you can win a signed copy of Denizen!

Upcoming events with Ashley:

Upcoming events with James:

  • Sydney Writers Festival presents James McKenzie Watson, in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt – Wednesday 24 May, 6.30-7.30 pm, Penrith City Library ($5 – book here)
  • Sydney Writers Festival Life in the Landscape – Thursday 25 May, 11 am to 12 pm, Carriageworks ($15-$25 – book here)
  • Yarrum Storyfest – 1-2 July, Yarrum Regional Theatre, Yarrum, VIC ($25-$40 book here)

Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

Get in touch!

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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, 'Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not.' They also discuss the challenge of second books and developing a writing career in an industry obsessed with debuts.

Imbi Neeme won the 2019 Penguin Literary Prize for The Spill, which was published by Penguin Random House in 2020. She blogged for many years at Not Drowning, Mothering, which won the 2010 Bloggies Award for best ANZ Weblog. She lives in Melbourne.

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

  • Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami
  • Ghost Cities by Siang Lu
  • On Our Best Behaviour by Elise Loehnen
  • The Writer's Room by Charlotte Wood
  • Katherine Collette (from ep 55)
  • Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13)

Get your copy of Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not from Booktopia or your local bookshop.

Upcoming events

Learn more about Ashley's bestselling psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.

Get in touch!

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James and Ashley Stay at Home - 85 | 'These men do exist:' the Dark Mode spoilers episode
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10/17/23 • 60 min

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.

Jacinta Dietrich is the author of This Is Us Now, and co-hosts Differently Brained, a podcast focussed on neurodivergent celebration and mental health awareness. Ali Thomas is a former high school English teacher and featured as part of the inaugural Boorowa Literary Festival.

Upcoming events:

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

  • The Reader by Bernard Schlink
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
  • The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
  • Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon
  • Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
  • The Tilt by Chris Hammer
  • A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold
  • Troll Hunting by Ginger Gorman
  • Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates
  • The Guest List by Lucky Foley
  • Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes
  • The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
  • The Joy Thief by Penny Moodie
  • We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough
  • This Is Us Now by Jacinta Dietrich

Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

James' novel Denizen is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

Get in touch

bookmark
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James and Ashley Stay at Home - 46 | What are you reading? The best book recommendations of 2021
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12/07/21 • 65 min

The best (and most!) book recommendations of the year! We share the 'What Are You Reading?' highlights from a wide range of our 2021 guests, including Nardi Simpson, David Vann, Kavita Bedford, Luke Stegemann, Ruhi Lee, Joanna Nell, Fiona Murphy, Heather Taylor Johnson, Jacinta Dietrich and – of course – James and Ashley.

Books discussed in this episode (all 44 of them):

  • Bindi by Kirli Saunders
  • The Road to Woop Woop by Eugen Bacon
  • The End: My Struggle Book 6 by Karl Ove Knausgaard
  • Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
  • Shadow Child by PF Thomése
  • Eight Lives by Susan Hurley
  • The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
  • Disoriental by Négar Djavadi
  • The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen
  • Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
  • Deepfakes by Nina Schick
  • The Possessed by Dostoevsky
  • Thus Bad Begins by Javier Marias
  • A Heart So White by Javier Marias
  • The Stranger and short stories by Albert Camus
  • When We Dead Awaken by James Robins
  • The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
  • Damascus by Christos Tsiolkas
  • We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
  • The Ripping Tree by Nikki Gemmell
  • On Quiet by Nikki Gemmell
  • Beautiful Kate by Newton Thornburg
  • The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
  • The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
  • Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
  • Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
  • The Animals in that Country by Laura Jean McKay
  • Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
  • A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
  • Ghost Species by James Bradley
  • The Past by Tessa Hadley
  • The Iceman by John Sandford
  • Storm Prey by John Sandford
  • Love, Clancy by Richard Glover
  • Flesh Wounds by Richard Glover
  • Prosopagnosia by Sonia Hernandez
  • No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
  • Late Bloomer by Clem Bastow
  • The Rúin by Dervla McTiernan
  • Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
  • Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

What about you – what are you reading? Get in touch and let us know!

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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 aspiring writers, and their manuscripts have gone on to be published. Ashley's such a big fan of writers groups, she's put together a new on-demand workshop on the topic – and this short bonus ep tells you all about it. This one-hour course covers everything from how to find a group near you, or start or your own, how to give and receive feedback, and how to know when your group isn't working and what to do about it. Find Ashley's course, Get the Most from Writing Groups and Get Published at Bold Authors.

Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.

Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.

Upcoming events

Get in touch!

bookmark
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FAQ

How many episodes does James and Ashley Stay at Home have?

James and Ashley Stay at Home currently has 111 episodes available.

What topics does James and Ashley Stay at Home cover?

The podcast is about Covid, Health & Fitness, Literature, Australia, Creativity, Community, Reading, Writing, Writers, Podcasts, Books, Australian, Coronavirus, Health, Arts, Authors, Interviews and Pandemic.

What is the most popular episode on James and Ashley Stay at Home?

The episode title '4 | Eating caramel slice with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'How to Be Australian'' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on James and Ashley Stay at Home?

The average episode length on James and Ashley Stay at Home is 40 minutes.

How often are episodes of James and Ashley Stay at Home released?

Episodes of James and Ashley Stay at Home are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of James and Ashley Stay at Home?

The first episode of James and Ashley Stay at Home was released on Jun 1, 2020.

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