James and Ashley Stay at Home

About James 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? Hosted by James McKenzie Watson, winner of the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize, and Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'Dark Mode.'

Publisher

James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Category

arts · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Jun 2020

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

137 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   136 | Bonus ep! Raising reading rates, one book at a time

   While reading rates are falling in Australia and around the world, the good news is there are lots of great ways to make more time for the books in your life, encourage others to return to reading, and soak up all the great health benefits it gives you. In this bonus ep, James and Ashley discuss their love of reading and the upcoming second installment of Randwick's Reading Takeover. (Come along, it's free!) Check out Ruby's (aka Literary Luddite) recommendations for making time for reading and connecting with fellow readers. Join us for a live recording of James and Ashley Stay at Home as part of Randwick's Reading Takeover: Celebration of Reading Author Panel on Saturday 28 November, 10am-12pm at Randwick Town Hall. Hear some of Sydney's favourite authors from across genres celebrate their favourite books. They'll share what inspires them, what keeps them reading late into the night, and what they secretly wish they'd written. Our November panel features the legendary Kate Forsyth, debut sensation Josh Hortinela and Penguin Literary Prize winner Mary Colussi, co-hosted by Ashley Kalagian Blunt and James McKenzie Watson of James and Ashley Stay at Home. The author talk kicks off our final Reading Takeover weekend. Stay for books signings, dedicated reading time, and snacks. Town Hall is open until 4pm for reading and writing Saturday and Sunday! Plus, The Rose Read Bookshop will be onsite throughout the weekend, sharing some of their favourite titles as well. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Suzanne Leal Dinuka McKenzie 'A Philosopher's One-Word Theory to Explain Why the World Feels So Weird' (aka The Unicontext) by Derek Thompson Stephen King Kate Forsyth Josh Hortinela (from ep 135) Mary Colussi (from ep 131) Other upcoming events: Launceston – find Ashley at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival on Saturday 17 October as part of the Killer Appetites: Crime and Thriller panel Sydney – James is in conversation with Chris Hammer for his latest novel, Full Circle, Manly Library, Thursday 29 Oct, 6:30pm Katoomba – Ashley is part of the Blue Mountains Writers Festival, taking place in Katoomba from 30 October to 1 November Penrith – Ashley is teaching Writing Crime as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 2-4pm Penrith – Ashley is speaking on the Crime Stories panel as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 6.30pm (https://www.thejoan.com.au/whats-on/crime-stories/) Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover author panel with Kate Forsyth, Josh Hortinela and Mary Colussi, hosted by James and Ashley, Saturday 28 November, 10am-12pm, free Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover workshop: Balancing Plot & Theme with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Sunday 29 November, 10am-12pm, $15 Randwick's Reading Takeover – Randwick Town Hall is open (and full of snacks!) for drop-in reading and writing, Saturday and Sunday 28-29 November, 12-4pm 2027 Winter Writing Retreat – both Ashley and James will be teaching for the Writers at the Woolshed winter retreat, running 6-11 June 2027. Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from Booktopia, your local bookshop or your local library. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from Booktopia, your local bookshop or your local library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com (http://www.ashleykalagianblunt.com/) jamesmckenziewatson.com (http://www.jamesmckenziewatson.com/) Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

2. 

   22 Sept 2026

   135 | From beloved bookseller to debut author with Josh Hortinela, author of Hate You to Love You

   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.' Josh shares whether writing came before or after bookselling, why honest queer representation matters, and what his own path to publication was like after guiding so many other authors along theirs. He also reveals how he got his publishing deal, and his top rom-com picks for readers new to the genre. Joshua Hortinela is a writer and bookseller who also works in social media marketing. A passionate reader, he has worked in the book industry for nearly ten years. He also works as a freelance writer, photographer and moderator for events. He lives in Sydney and can tell you where to find the best coffee or cocktail in town. Hate You to Love You is his first novel. Find Hate You to Love You through Booktopia or from your local bookshop (https://yourbookstore.io/p/hate-you-to-love-you) or library. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Emily Henry The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver The Sense of an Ending by Julia Barnes I Want You to Be Happy by Gem Calder Sally Rooney The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser Hayley Scrivenor (from ep 68) The Graduate by Rebecca Lim Zeynab Gamieldien Zahid Gamieldien (from ep 102) Josh's Rom Com Film Starter Pack: The Three Greats* You've Got Mail When Harry Met Sally Sleepless in Seattle *Bonus entry: Notting Hill **We're recording a live episode of James and Ashley Stay at Home! Join us for Randwick's Reading Takeover author panel with Kate Forsyth, Josh Hortinela and Mary Colussi, hosted by James and Ashley, Saturday 28 November, 10am-12pm – free, book here** Upcoming events Sydney – Ashley is in conversation with Dinuka McKenzie about Like, Follow, Die at Kirrawee Library, Tuesday 29 September, 6.30pm Launceston – find Ashley at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival on Saturday 17 October as part of the Killer Appetites: Crime and Thriller panel Sydney – James is in conversation with Chris Hammer for his latest novel, Full Circle, Manly Library, Thursday 29 Oct, 6:30pm Katoomba – Ashley is part of the Blue Mountains Writers Festival, taking place in Katoomba from 30 October to 1 November Penrith – Ashley is teaching Writing Crime as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 2-4pm Penrith – Ashley is speaking on the Crime Stories panel as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 6.30pm (https://www.thejoan.com.au/whats-on/crime-stories/) Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover author panel with Kate Forsyth, Josh Hortinela and Mary Colussi, hosted by James and Ashley, Saturday 28 November, 10am-12pm, free Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover workshop: Balancing Plot & Theme with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Sunday 29 November, 10am-12pm, $15 Randwick's Reading Takeover – Randwick Town Hall is open (and full of snacks!) for drop-in reading and writing, Saturday and Sunday 28-29 November, 12-4pm 2027 Winter Writing Retreat – both Ashley and James will be teaching for the Writers at the Woolshed winter retreat, running 6-11 June 2027. Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com (http://www.ashleykalagianblunt.com/) jamesmckenziewatson.com (http://www.jamesmckenziewatson.com/) Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson (https://www.instagram.com/jamesmcwatson/?hl=en)

3. 

   25 Aug 2026

   134 | 'How did you see into my brain?' with author, publisher and podcaster Dani Vee

   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 started by accident, and her advice as both an author and a publisher. This includes her number one key tip for writers looking to pitch their work to agents, publishers and booksellers alike. Find My Spinning, Anxious Brain through Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library. Books & authors discussed in this episode: My Supercharged ADHD Brain by Dani Vee and James Layton, illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith Choppy Waters by Jack Heath Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette Counterfeit by Kristin Chen Jay Martin (from ep 115) The Lineup by Nicholas Timms Hayley Scrivenor The Graduate by Rebecca Lim Upcoming events: Nowra – Ashley is in conversation at Nowra Library, Wednesday 2 September, 5.30pm Canberra – Ashley returns to Ginsights on Thursday 3 September, 6pm Kiama – join Ashley for an in-conversation at Kiama Library on Tuesday 8 September, 5.30pm (https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1614771) Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover is a celebration of books happening over two weekends, 12-13 September and 28-29 November, and features author panels with James and Ashley, plus $15 workshops with Kavita Bedford and Ashley Launceston – find Ashley at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival on Saturday 17 October as part of the Killer Appetites: Crime and Thriller panel Katoomba – Ashley is part of the Blue Mountains Writers Festival, taking place in Katoomba from 30 October to 1 November Penrith – Ashley is teaching Writing Crime as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 2-4pm Penrith – Ashley is speaking on the Crime Stories panel as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 6.30pm (https://www.thejoan.com.au/whats-on/crime-stories/) Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com (http://www.ashleykalagianblunt.com/) jamesmckenziewatson.com (http://www.jamesmckenziewatson.com/) Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson (https://www.instagram.com/jamesmcwatson/?hl=en)

Who has been a guest on James and Ashley Stay at Home

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Nathan Dunne
• Melanie Cheng
• Michelle See-Tho

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

Contact James and Ashley Stay at Home

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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