Amy & Book Club

Auscast Network
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Amy & Book Club is a bookish podcast with benefits. Amy Matthews is joined by series regulars Justina Ashman, Abby Guy, Millie Heffernan, Payton Hogan and Harry Stewart and by a cast of guesties, both special and specialer. Featuring genre deep dives, author Q&As, and a live book club with a signature cocktail/mocktail, we’re your new favourite interactive book club with an accessibly academic flair. Listen to the pod, embrace the community on socials, and tune in to the livestream for the monthly book club – whether you’re a new book lover or a seasoned bibliophile, we can’t wait to meet you!

  1. 1d ago

    The Gay Audacity of Actively Choosing Hope: Interview with Alison Evans

    This episode Amy, Justina & Abby are joined by Alison Evans, author of our June BOTM Ida, as well as a whole host of other queer YA and middle grade speculative fiction, sci-fi and fantasy. Join us as we discuss all things reading and writing queer spec fic, imagining hopeful futures in YA, zine making for horse girls (gender neutral) – plus some (mostly) spoiler-free Ida chats ahead of next week’s book club. MENTIONS   🌌 Our BOTM is Ida by Alison Evans   📚 BOOKS: Garth Nix; Isobel Carmody; Paul Collins; Michael Pryor; Obernewtyn by Isobel Carmody; The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells; Jorge Luis Borges; Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut; This is How You Lose the Time War by by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone; Highway Bodies by Alison Evans; This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield; Kindred: 12 #LoveOzYA Stories ed. Michael Earp   ✍️ SHORT STORIES: “Tomorrow, Dawn” by Sascha Stronach   📺 TV SHOWS: Star Trek (1966–1969); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)   ✂️ ZINES: Long Trek; Pony with a Secret; 2 Pony 2 Zine; Ponies in Space   LINKS: Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub  Follow the Amy & Podcast on TikTok: @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.

    47 min

  2. Jun 10

    Soul Horny for Queer Sci-Fi: Fanfiction, AI, and Human Creativity

    For the second week of Pride Month we're tackling fanfiction, all the way back to the Kirk/Spock community that started it all. There's something for everyone this episode: the history and fundamentals of fanfic, the community and passion of the craft, the social implactions of ladies reading slash, and even how AI could effect the way we approach fanfic (clue: we don't like it!). Harry tells us about some strange and thought-provoking LOTR fics he's read, Payton gives us a lesson in cognitive poetics, and Millie gets passionate about sapphic media, all while Amy tangents us and keeps us on track in equal measure. This month we're reading Ida by Alison Evans. Grab your copy and read along with us ahead of book club on June 25!   MENTIONS Books Heated Rivalry by Rachel ReidCognitive Poetics by Peter Stockwell Film/TV Star Trek TOS (1966-1969)Star Trek TNG (1987-1994)Star Trek reboot movies (2009, 2013, 2016)Into the Woods (2014)Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979)Buffy (1997-2003)Lord of the Rings franchiseXena (1995-2001)Twilight franchiseHacks (2021-2026) LINKS 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://linktr.ee/masswisteria#465207993 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub YT: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyandBookClub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for listening!💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 8m

  3. Jun 3

    Jurassic Park Dinosaurs Are Gay: Welcome to Queer Sci-Fi

    Hi Gay, Happy Pride Month! Today we're kicking off the month of June with a festive introduction to Queer Sci-Fi. There are some big Sci-Fi heads in Amy &, so get ready for a journey through all of our favourite books, authors, and films in the beloved genre. We consider if and why Sci-Fi is on the rise lately (it's existential doom again, isn't it?) and discuss the inclusion and exclusion of queerness (or sex/sexuality in general) from the genre throughout history. Expect to hear about the women who pioneered Science Fiction, the LGBTQIA+ writers making it even more radical, and why it is time to subvert all the false binaries plaguing the category. Have a listen and please take a shot every time Abby has not engaged with a major film/TV franchise. This month we're reading Ida by Alison Evans. Grab your copy and read along with us ahead of book club on June 25!   MENTIONS Books Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Dune by Frank Herbert Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (as discussed in the ep, Amy & hosts do not condone this author's views or recommend that listeners read his books) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Hail Mary by Andy Weir Hex by Rhiannon Lassiter Highway Bodies by Alison Evans Ida by Alison Evans Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers Neuromancer by William Gibson Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin The Long Way To a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers The Martian by Andy Weir The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells The Reindeer Hunters by Lars Mytting The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells To Be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers   Authors Carl Sagan Isaac Asimov Jules Verne N. K. Jemisin Octavia E. Butler   Film/TV Alien franchise Andromeda Babylon 5 Battlestar Galactica Black Mirror Close Encounters of the Third Kind DC and Marvel superheroes Doctor Who franchise E.T. Lord of the Rings Matrix Signs Star Trek franchise Star Wars franchise   LINKS 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://linktr.ee/masswisteria#465207993 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub YT: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyandBookClub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for listening!💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  4. May 27

    BOOK CLUB: To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

    We’re sad to say goodbye to dragon month, but happy to send it off with a book club chat about Moniquill Blackgoose’s incredible first installment of the Nampeshiweisit series, To Shape a Dragon's Breath. This book follows the journey of Anequs, who bonds with a dragon hatchling and becomes the first Nampeshiweisit of her people in generations. However, the laws of the Anglish colonisers require her to receive formal training in dragon riding, or face the death of her dragon or even herself. Anequs leaves her home to enrol in a dragon academy. However, it’s far from smooth flying and she faces condescension, suspicion, and outright hostility from the Anglish there.   Join us as we chat all about magic dragon schools, the importance of oral storytelling and indigenous knowledges, and the ways that fantasy holds up a mirror to the devastating past and present of living in a settler colony.   Be warned: This is a book club episode, so we will be getting into spoilers! MENTIONS   🐉 Our BOTM is To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose.   📚 BOOKS: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers; To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose; Ida by Alison Evans   🎬 MOVIES: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)   🖼️GALLERY: Flinders University Museum of Art  LINKS: Watch the full episode on YouTube: @AmyAndBookclub Follow the Amy & Podcast on IG: @amyandbookclub  Follow the Amy & Podcast on TikTok: @amyandbookclub Join the Amy & Book Club: 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.

    58 min

  5. May 20

    Cozy Fantasy and Queer Abundance: An Interview with Rebecca Thorne

    Join us for our hilarious interview with USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times bestselling author Rebecca Thorne. Rebecca talks us through her life-long love of dragons, retrospective worldbuilding, the phenomenon of cozy fantasy, and the joy of writing established lesbian couples. We had an absolute blast talking to Rebecca, so we know you'll enjoy this interview: described by participants as "cozy, like the genre". This month we’re reading How to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. Grab your copy and have a read before our bookclub on 21st May! MENTIONS Movies/TVDragonheart (1996)Sleepless in Seattle (1993) BooksThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkeinDragonology by Dugald SteerThe Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. WredeDragon's Bait by Vivian Vande VeldeTomes and Tea series by Rebecca ThorneLegends & Lattes by Travis BaldreeDivergent by Veronica RothThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThe Song of the Lioness series by Tamora PierceProtector of the Small series by Tamora PierceThe McBrides series by Amy BarryMoss'd In Space by Rebecca ThorneProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirThe Murderbot Diaries by Martha WellsThis Gilded Abyss by Rebecca ThorneGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. SchwabSir Callie series by Esme Symes-SmithAnne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery LINKS 🐉 Where to find Rebecca: On IG: @rebeccathornewrites Website: https://rebeccathorne.net/ 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/ TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for listening!💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 2m

  6. May 13

    Does Wingspan Matter? Dragon Mythology Then & Now

    This week, Justina & Payton have diligently done their homework on dragon mythology to share with us the history of dragons across time and culture. This includes their connections to colonialism, Christianity, creation, harvest, life, nature and more . . . and then Amy asks us what we would hoard if we were dragons (no books allowed!), and the conversation hatches into something else entirely (I fear that I cannot list the topics here, you'll simply have to listen). This month we’re reading How to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. Grab your copy and have a read before our book club on 21st May! MENTIONS Books: Beowulf Dragonfruit, Makiia Lucier The Rainbow Serpent, Dick Roughsey Dragonflight, Anne McAffrey Dragons: Mushu, Mulan Puff, Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow & Lenny Lipton Toothless, How to Train Your Dragon Falcore, The Neverending Story Haku, Spirited Away Barney, Barney & Friends Other: A History of Dragons in Western Literature, Yvonne Shiau 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for listening! 💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min

  7. May 6

    How to Horse Your Dragon: Unraveling the complex world of dragon lore

    It's dragon month, which means we're talking fire, scales, and flying. To kick off the month, we dive headfirst into all the dragon lore we know and try to figure out what we consider True Dragon Lore (hint: none, it's all valid). We talk about what we'd like to shoot from our mouths, whether our wings are our arms, and just how small a dragon can get before it's too small. Most importantly, we answer the burning question of whether a dragon is a horse. This month we’re reading How to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. Grab your copy and have a read before our bookclub on 21st May! MENTIONS BooksHow to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill BlackgooseTo Ride a Raising Storm by Moniquill BlackgooseThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkeinA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinTemeraire by Naomi NovikHow to Train Your Dragon by Cressida CowellEragon by Christopher PaoliniWings of Fire by Tui T. SutherlandDragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dugald SteerBringing Up Baby Dragons: A Guide for Beginners by Dugald SteerWorking with Dragons: A Course in Dragonology by Dugald SteerThe Discovery of Dragons by Graeme BaseDragonfruit by Makiia LucierFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosBeowulfMagician by Raymond Feist Films/TVDragonheart (1996)The Neverending Story (1984)How to Train Your Dragon (2010)Reign of Fire (2002)Cars (2006)Monkey Magic (1978-1980)Game of Thrones (2011-2019)House of the Dragon (2022-)Avatar (2009)Shrek (2001)Merlin BBC (2008-2012)Merlin miniseries (1998) LINKS 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/ TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/ Thank you so much for listening!💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min
  8. Dennis Hearts Draco: Dragonheart Revisited

    Apr 29

    Dennis Hearts Draco: Dragonheart Revisited

    It's our first After Dark of the season, and we're revisiting a childhood classic, Dragonheart, as a bridge between April's YA month and our upcoming theme for May: dragons! We reflect on the movie, discuss the lore behind the original script, lament at the lost potential for a romance between Dennis Quaid and Draco, and then deep dive into the fantasy films that we feel nostalgic for (they're just not making them like Ladyhawke anymore . . .) MENTIONS Films/TV: Jurassic Park, 1993 Starship Troopers, 1997 Excalibur, 1981 Robin Hood, 1991 Ladyhawke, 1985 Willow, 1988 Conan the Barbarian, 1982 How to Train Your Dragon, 2010 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 2002 The Matrix, 1999 Akira, 1988 Neon Genesis, 1995 Princess Bride, 1987 The Dark Crystal, 1982 Hook, 1991 Inkheart, 2008 A Knight's Tale, 2001 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, 2003 The Lord of the Rings, 2001 The Mummy, 1999 Night at the Museum, 2006 Scarface, 1983 Lionheart, 1987 Red Sonja, 1985 Flesh and Blood, 1985 Braveheart, 1995 Kingdom of Heaven, 2005 Bridge to Terabithia, 2007 The Chronicles of Narnia, 2005 Reign of Fire, 2002 Beowulf, 2007 Hercule, 2014 Clash of the Titans, 2010 Jason and the Argonauts, 2000 Game of Thrones, 2011 House of the Dragon, 2022 Willow (TV Series), 2022 Dinotopia, 2002 Dragonheart: Vengeance, 2020 Slipper and the Rose, 1976 Authors: Charles Edward Pogue Actors: Dennis Quaid Sean Connery Dina Meyer David Thewlis Liam Neeson Helen Mirren Tim Allen Jackie Chan Tom Hanks Jim Henson Paul Bettany Daniel Craig Rachel Weisz Michelle Pfeiffer Eric Stoltz Jennifer Jason Leigh Christian Bale Dwayne Johnson Other: Rob Cohen, Director & Film Maker LINKS 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW 🌸 Our Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub 💛 Where to find Amy: Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/ Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/   Thank you so much for listening! 💞 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
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About

Amy & Book Club is a bookish podcast with benefits. Amy Matthews is joined by series regulars Justina Ashman, Abby Guy, Millie Heffernan, Payton Hogan and Harry Stewart and by a cast of guesties, both special and specialer. Featuring genre deep dives, author Q&As, and a live book club with a signature cocktail/mocktail, we’re your new favourite interactive book club with an accessibly academic flair. Listen to the pod, embrace the community on socials, and tune in to the livestream for the monthly book club – whether you’re a new book lover or a seasoned bibliophile, we can’t wait to meet you!

Information

  • Creator
    Auscast Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Amy & Book Club