Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.
  • 4.9 (14)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Words and Nerds Podcast is an entertaining and conversational podcast that aims to get inside a writer's mind. We discuss books, the social and political influences of a writer's work and how literature has the power to change the world. The podcast digs deep to bring you an in depth and sometimes humorous analysis of the author's book and its influences. Join us for a new way of looking at literature. Dani Vee your host, English teacher, podcaster, reader, book enthusiast and over-thinker. Dani is joined by various guest co-hosts and has a number of spin off episodes including the Feedback Sessions, Summer Series Takeover, Bite-Size Episodes, livestreams, mash-ups and cross-overs. Subscribe, leave a review and listen now.

  1. 9h ago

    S5 E5 QWS Holden Sheppard and Troy Hunter - YEAH THE BOYS - Adult content

    In QWS S5E5, Troy catches up with his old mate Holden Sheppard. Holden is country boy, a weightlifter and a self-proclaimed "bromosexual", who has found literary acclaim with the raw, blokey honesty of his contemporary gay fiction. Holden's latest adult novel YEAH THE BOYS – a sequel to 2019’s INVISIBLE BOYS – came out earlier this year and has just been optioned for TV! While discussing YEAH THE BOYS, Holden and Troy also yak about masculinity and brotherhood, male only spaces, footy, influencer culture, writing YA vs adult books, as well as what actually happens when a book is optioned for adaptation. Books discussed in this episode: - Holding the Man by Tim Conigrave - Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas - Boy Erased: A Memoir by Garrard Conley - Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin Note, this episode features adult language and themes. You can find Holden on the Gram at @holdensheppard and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HoldenSheppardAuthor/ and at www.holdensheppard.com Hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find on the Gram @troyhunterwriter and at www.troyhuntwriter.com Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones

  2. 1d ago

    821. Dani Vee and Jane R Miles - Stay Buried and why horror is back!

    ⭐️ Episode 821 - Dani Vee and Jane R Miles - Stay Buried, why horror is back ⭐️ Dear thriller and horror lovers, If you love psychological thrillers with a bit of horror (who doesn’t) this episode is for you! We chat about Stay Buried published by Harper Collins. ⭐️ True crime vs fiction ⭐️ Why horror is back and why it resonates with readers ⭐️ Why horror movies make us sleep better ⭐️ Atmospheric settings ⭐️ How a mentorship and pitch led to publication ⭐️ Multiple rewrites to shape a final manuscript Listen now! Dani 💋

  3. Aug 14

    820. Dani Vee and Jess McGeachin - Find Me In the Forest and human made art

    ⭐️ Episode 820 - Dani Vee and Jess McGeachin - Find Me In The Forest and getting into nature ⭐️ Dear nature loving listeners, In this episode I chat to award winning author illustrator Jess McGeachin about his gorgeous new picture book Find Me In The Forest published Hachette. We chat about the illustration process and how important it is to have human made art. We also explore: ⭐️ The importance of nature in a digital world ⭐️ Whether the words or the illustrations come first ⭐️ Extensive research ⭐️ Publishing journey Jess is an author illustrator of the Find Me series that includes Find me in the Forest and Find me on the Coast. Some of his other books include Grow, South with the seabirds, The Space Between, Deep, High and Lost. He s the Winner of the CBCA Eve Powall Award for Deep, winner of the Environment Awards for Children's Literature for The Tree at Number 43, winner of the Environment Awards for Children's Literature for Kind and Awarded an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. In 2025 he was recognised by CBCA Awards for South with the Seabirds (Honour Book), The Space Between (Notable), long-listed for the World Illustration awards for The Space Between, shortlisted for the Panda Book Awards for Kind.

  4. Aug 11

    S4, E10 - Date with a Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Dominique Lee - What's Been Broken Is All the More Sharp

    Date with a Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. In our tenth episode of series four, Nick chats with Dr Dominique Lee, the author of the powerful memoir, What's Been Broken Is All the More Sharp. WARNING: this book and podcast contain in-depth topics of sexual assault, trauma and mental health - listener and reader discretion is highly advised. If this is something that has affected you or someone you know, help is available. FullStop Australia: https://fullstop.org.au/ & 1800 FULL STOP National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline: 1800 497 212 Blue Knot Foundation: 1300 657 380 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Content Warning (28:57 - 36:10): we discuss Dr Dominique Lee’s sexual assault and the impact of that event. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/ Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date with a Debut is featured as part of the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut: What's Been Broken Is All the More Sharp / Dominique (Yoo Young) Lee: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/4aLQDL Additional books mentioned: Marigold Mind Laundry / Jungeun Yun: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yZOd3B Voiceprint / Sally Prosser: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/MKk6xY PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Dominique (Yoo Young) Lee Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 4.10 Episode Number: #68 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Dean Publishing, Emma Pei Yin (yinfluence editorial) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed NEWSLETTER: nickwasiliev.substack.com WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2026 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

  5. Aug 11

    S4, E11 - Date with a Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Lindsay Bartels - Imogen in Waiting

    Date with a Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. In our 11th episode of series four, Nick chats with Lindsay Bartels about her prescient biography, Imogen in Waiting. WARNING: this book and podcast contains in-depth topics around fertility issues. If this is something that has affected you or someone you know, help is available. PANDA: https://www.panda.org.au/ Red Nose Australia: https://rednose.org.au/ The Pink Elephants Support Network: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/ Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter, and get access to exclusive show Second Date: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/ Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date with a Debut is featured as part of the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut: Imogen in Waiting / Lindsay Bartels: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqdP4W Additional books mentioned: LIT / Anna Woods: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0okxL When The Party's Over / Kaitie Hoskins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn When Lemons Give You Life / Anna Johnston: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEedz5 The Wedding People / Alison Espach: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kmJM9 Breath / Carly-Jay Metcalfe: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqdP4W PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Lindsay Bartels Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 4.11 Episode Number: #69 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Third Rail Press, Julia Ferracane (Righteous PR) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed NEWSLETTER: nickwasiliev.substack.com WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2026 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

  6. Aug 7

    819. Dani Vee and Andrew Upton - Krank Fuss, writing weird and moving from writing screenplays to a novel

    ⭐️ Episode #819 - Dani Vee and Andrew Upton - Krank Fuss, writing weird and moving from writing screenplays to a novel. Published by Puncher and Wattman 🎉 Dear theatre loving listeners, In this episode I chat to the incredibly talented Andrew Upton about his wildly unique debut novel Krank Fuss and its important place in politics, fiction and philosophy. Of course, being a Sydneysider and theatre nerd, the Sydney Theatre Company has always been important to me, so I had to ask about how he and Cate Blanchett as Artistic Directors brought sustainability and theatre together. We nerded out about: ⭐️ The comparisons of Krank Fuss to Animal Farm ⭐️ The different process of writing screenplays and novels ⭐️ The inspiration behind the characters and setting ⭐️ Why George Eliot is the greatest writer of our time ⭐️ The collaborative nature of theatre vs the solitude of writing ⭐️ Why early readers of his draft manuscript were so important ⭐️ Why weird ideas can resonate with readers ⭐️ The helplessness of finding yourself in a political world you did not create This was one of the most fascinating chats I’ve had about writing, theatre and the state of the world 🩷 LISTEN NOW 🎤 🎧 Dani 💋

  7. Aug 2

    S4, E9 - Date With A Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Albert Jamae - Shaping Tomorrow's Man

    Date with a Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. In our ninth episode of series four, Nick sits down with Albert Jamae, the author of self-help book Shaping Tomorrow’s Man. WARNING: this book and podcast contains topics of mental health, self harm, domestic violence and fertility issues, listener and reader discretion is strongly advised. If this is something that affects you or your loved ones, help is available. Movember: https://mylifepsychologists.com.au/ MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ LifeLine: 13 11 14 Shaping Tomorrow’s Man Podcast: https://albertjamae.com.au/podcast Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/ Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date with a Debut is featured as part of the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut: Shaping Tomorrow's Man / Albert Jamae: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jR51Mv Additional books mentioned: When Men Cry / Nick Wasiliev: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/1nNdg The Secret of Secrets / Dan Brown: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kqjX9 The Resilience Project / Hugh van Cuylenburg: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/enQROD PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Albert Jamae Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 4.9 Episode Number: #67 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Hawkeye Publishing FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed NEWSLETTER: nickwasiliev.substack.com WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2026 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

  8. Aug 1

    818, Dani Vee and Ashleigh Barton - 89 Questions for After

    Episode 818 - Dani Vee and Ashleigh Barton - 89 Questions for After ⭐️ Dear book lovers, I loved chatting to Ashleigh about this brand new middle grade novel. We delve into the big questions, chat about what we are curious about, the writing process of writing what was a challenging book and how to market children’s books (coming from someone who used to work in book publicity!) We chat about: 💫 How to explore the big questions with young readers 💫 Balancing writing light and dark 💫 Intergenerational relationships 💫 Fascinating research about the circus 💫 AI and misinformation 💫 Why this was a challenging book to write 💫 How to market your book! 💫 Switching between picture books to middle grade Support Aussie authors and engage kids in reading! Listen now! Dani 💋

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About

Words and Nerds Podcast is an entertaining and conversational podcast that aims to get inside a writer's mind. We discuss books, the social and political influences of a writer's work and how literature has the power to change the world. The podcast digs deep to bring you an in depth and sometimes humorous analysis of the author's book and its influences. Join us for a new way of looking at literature. Dani Vee your host, English teacher, podcaster, reader, book enthusiast and over-thinker. Dani is joined by various guest co-hosts and has a number of spin off episodes including the Feedback Sessions, Summer Series Takeover, Bite-Size Episodes, livestreams, mash-ups and cross-overs. Subscribe, leave a review and listen now.

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