Episodes

  • What a Sexy Monster: Interview with Mikaela Clements and Onjuli Datta
    Oct 15 2025

    This week, we dive straight into talking about one of our favorite reads this year, and get the chance to interview married couple and our BotM authors, Mikaela Clements and Onjuli Datta. We talk about what it's like to write possession, how horror and romance intertwine, the consumption of the dreaded Pit Monster, and--of course--what's behind Jagvi and Angelina's tender, thorny path towards each other. 🎃

    Our Socials:

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    🦇 Where to find Amy:

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    Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for watching! 👻

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    56 mins
  • You Can Bury Your Gays: Queer Horrormance and the Genre Spectrum
    Oct 8 2025

    Strap in for more horror talk this week because Amy & Harry and Millie are joined by horror connoisseur Riley Jones to talk all things horrormance (horror/romance). Is paranormal fiction just a subgenre of horror? Does horror actually have to be scary? Are you allowed to kill the queer characters in your horrormance? All these questions and more will be answered.

    Our book of the month is Feast While You Can. Read along with us and tune in to our interview with the authors on October 16 followed by the live book club on October 23!

    • Follow Riley on IG: @rileyblufield
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    51 mins
  • A FEAR OF CARPETED STAIRCASES: Liminal Horror, Mad Scientists, and Halloween Faves
    Oct 2 2025

    Amy & Abby are joined by writers and experts Tabby Knight and Oscar Sparkes to kick off our horror-themed October (because what else would we be doing this month?!). What to expect from this spooky episode: defining genres, the origins of liminal horror, mad scientists, fears, and a watch- or read-list the length of a Stephen King novel.

    Our book of the month is Feast While You Can. Read along with us and tune in to our interview of the authors on October 16 followed by the live book club on October 23!

    • Follow Tabby on IG: @tknightacademic
    • Follow Oscar on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/1OC3n
    • Follow Oscar on Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/oscarsparkes
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 mins
  • BOOKCLUB: The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright
    Sep 26 2025

    Hi Booklovers! This week, Amy & the podcast team sit down to chat about Fiona Wright's 'The World Was Whole', a gorgeous essay collection about our bodies, homes and shelter and how we might navigate the world and our place within it. Join us to chat about what home means to us, the comfort of everyday habits, slowing down to appreciate the mundane, why more poets should write prose, and more.

    LINKS

    • Find Fiona Wright here: fionawright.net
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 mins
  • There Are No Girls on the Internet: Digital Life Writing with Dr. Emma Maguire
    Sep 17 2025

    This week we're stepping away from our books and onto the internet (oh no) as Amy, Justina & Abby chat to life writing expert Dr. Emma Maguire about online girlhood cultures and digital life writing. Join us as we discuss self representation online, 'authenticity' on social media, the commodification of the self and 'content' creation, the voices of women in a space labelled for 'girls', and the personal act of creating a zine. And, of course, Amy asks the most pressing question: can self-insert fanfiction be classified as life writing?

    Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

    MENTIONS

    📚 BOOKS: The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt

    ✏️ AUTHORS: Rachel Cusk; Vidgis Hjorth; Deborah Levy; Helen Garner; Roxanne Gay; Bianca Martin

    📺 TV: Too Much (2025—)

    LINKS

    • Follow Emma Maguire on IG: @emmamaguire__
    • Find Emma's Publications here: emmamaguire.com
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Cool Cringe & Smiley Fritz: Interview with Olivia De Zilva
    Sep 11 2025

    This week life writing month takes an experimental turn as Amy, Payton & Justina chat to Olivia De Zilva about her debut genre-defying book Plastic Budgie, out now with Pink Shorts Press. Join us as we dive into the messy intersections of memory, nostalgia, fact and fiction, and we wax poetic about the unapologetically cringey kitsch of Adelaide and our love of novelty processed meats.

    Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

    MENTIONS

    📚 BOOKS: Plastic Budgie by Olivia De Zilva; Theory and Practice by Michelle de Krester; Peripathetic by Cher Tan; Twilight by Stephanie Meyer; Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick; Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta; Girls Out Loud by Jacqueline Wilson; The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson; Eggshell by Olivia De Zilva

    🎬 FILM: Grease (1978); Xanadu (1980); Call Me By Your Name (2017)

    📺 TV: The Simpson (1989–); Kath & Kim (2002–2007); Glee (2009–2015); Stranger Things (2016–)

    LINKS

    • Get Plastic Budgie here and pre-order Eggshell here
    • Follow Olivia De Zilva on IG: @oliviadezilva
    • Follow Opinionated on IG: @opinionatedclub
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 mins
  • Intro to Life Writing: Things Keep Happening
    Sep 3 2025

    This month we're talking about life writing.... including what on earth that means. Amy & series regulars Justina, Payton, and Millie may not be experts, but it turns out they've consumed a lot more of the genre than they thought. Join them as they talk about the myriad types of life writing, how scary it is to write about yourself, and why the patriarchy is at it again.

    Our Book of the Month is The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

    LINKS

    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 mins
  • The Romance of Studying & Why We Drink: Interview with Jodi McAlister
    Aug 20 2025

    This week on Amy & we're thrilled to be interviewing romance author and academic, Jodi McAlister, about her career and latest romance novel, An Academic Affair !! Join us as we ask Jodi all about writing romance fiction as an academic from her latest research on bonkbusters and erotic audio, to creating a believable rivals to lovers plot against the backdrop of a 'brutal neoliberal institution that will never love you back' (not to mention dreaming about the perfect wine pairings).

    Our Book of the Month is An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister! Grab a copy of the book, read along and join us at the end of the month for our live book club!

    LINKS

    • Find the TEXT special issue here: Trope Actually - Popular Romance
    • Find Jodi here: @jodimcalister
    • Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndPodcast
    • Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandpodcast
    • Join the Amy & Bookclub: Amy & Bookclub
    • Follow Amy Matthews on IG: @amymatthewsauthor
    • Follow Amy Barry on IG: @amybarryauthor
    • Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single "Same Old" here.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    48 mins