Best Ashley Kalagian Blunt Podcasts (2024)

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100 | Where snark meets explosive laughter – a podcast retrospective 1:07:58

6d ago1:07:58

1:07:58

We made it to 100 episodes! In this celebration of books, reading and creative community, James and Ashley reflect on how the podcast came about, their favourite books and moments from the podcast, and how their lives, health and writing have changed over the four years since episode 1. You'll also hear from a variety of past guests and listeners, …

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99 | Sianging at Home with Siang Lu, author of 'Ghost Cities' 40:48

18d ago40:48

40:48

'There are so many books in bookstores, how could it possibly be that, by complete randomness, someone would pick yours up?' Author Siang Lu joins us to discuss his second novel, Ghost Cities, and the multilayered inspirations behind his multilayered fiction, including Catch-22 and Paradise Lost. We also discuss talent stacking, the challenge of bu…

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98 | Come for the misophonia with Imbi Neeme, author of 'Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not' 45:13

1M ago45:13

45:13

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, 'K…

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97 | Needing to know – Ashley discusses narrative drive 29:12

2M ago29:12

29:12

Throughout their careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. Now, they’re each sharing a few of their most effective writing techniques (starting with episode 94 - James’ shortcut to compelling characters). In this episode, Ashley gives a mini-masterclass on narrative drive and sha…

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96 | Living to tell the tale with Tracy Sorensen, author of 'The Vitals' 41:24

3M ago41:24

41:24

'The doctors were telling me, "We’re going to take your greater omentum out" … I had no idea what these terms meant.' In episode 96, author Tracy Sorensen joins us to discuss her remarkable novel/cancer memoir, The Vitals, narrated by her internal organs. After her original cancer diagnosis, a desire to better understand her body led Tracy to croch…

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95 | 'I'm Tom Cruise in Bulgaria' with Liz Nugent, author of 'Strange Sally Diamond' 43:37

4M ago43:37

43:37

‘I had thought I was going to be like Harper Lee. I was going to write one book, it was going to be a massive global success, and then I would go into hiding.’ Hear from award-winning Irish author Liz Nugent, whose novel Strange Sally Diamond may have turned Ashley into a total fangirl. Liz discusses her journey from a childhood accident leading to…

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94 | Cloning, shame and principles – James shares tips on writing character 31:55

4M ago31:55

31:55

Throughout their writing careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. In the coming months, they’ll each share a few of their most effective writing techniques, starting with James’ shortcut to compelling characters. British science-fiction author Karen Traviss writes remarkably nua…

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93 | Tricking yourself into writing with Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling' 37:02

5M ago37:02

37:02

’I kept this condition very, very secret from everybody.’ Adele Dumont's remarkable new memoir, The Pulling, details her life with trichotillomania — a mental health condition that, at times, has consumed her life. In this episode, she discusses the unique writing process that enabled her to put long-held secrets first on the page and then into the…

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92 | How to save a life with Kylie Ladd, author of 'I'll Leave You With This' 38:43

6M ago38:43

38:43

'The whole concept of transplantation still blows me away. There is something a bit magical about it. But as with most things people do, it can also find ways to blow up in people’s faces.' Author and neuropsychologist Kylie Ladd joins us to speak about her latest book, 'I'll Leave You with This.' She shares her research into the incredible science…

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91 | Bonus ep! Learn how to run a writers group with Ashley Kalagian Blunt 5:03

6M ago5:03

5:03

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 …

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90 | 'I was going to ask this privately, but...' - James and Ashley at the Boorowa Literary Festival 35:44

7M ago35:44

35:44

The tables are turned! Recorded live at the Inaugural Boorowa Literary Festival, festival director, book lover, and all-round excellent human Jeremy Clarke interviews James and Ashley. Learn more about the Absolutely Superb Bibliothèque and Occasional Wine Bar and its upcoming literary events here! Hear the James and Ashley Stay at Home origin stor…

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89 | The Bed on a Plinth Awards: The best books we read in 2023 22:26

7M ago22:26

22:26

It's books wrap-up season! James and Ashley are getting on the bandwagon and discussing their favourite reads from 2023 in the first annual 'Bed on a Plinth Awards.' Books and authors discussed in this episode (warning: spoilers!): Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt Crushing by Genevieve Novak The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane Desire by Jessie …

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88 | Books galore: the best book recommendations of 2023 1:22:19

8M ago1:22:19

1:22:19

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 …

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87 | How to climb a ladder covered in butter with Laurie Steed, author of 'Love, Dad' 40:43

8M ago40:43

40:43

‘I wanted to find compassion for me and for any writer out there who’s doing the best they can but it’s not working out the way they planned.’ Author Laurie Steed shares how crippling anxiety affected both his literary career and his experience of fatherhood. Before he could address the anxiety, he first had to unlearn the lessons around masculinit…

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86 | Starting late with Penguin Literary Prize winner Annette Higgs 35:49

9M ago35:49

35:49

‘When I was a lawyer, I knew what was good enough, because if you did the job properly, you were paid, and if you didn’t do the job properly, you were sued. It was very clear-cut. With writing, you never know. There’s a lot of subjectivity.’ James speaks with Penguin Literary Prize winning author Annette Higgs about her debut novel, On a Bright Hil…

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85 | 'These men do exist:' the Dark Mode spoilers episode 1:00:47

9M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

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. Ja…

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84 | How hard can a book be? with Jonathon Shannon, author of 'Bound to Happen' 47:13

10M ago47:13

47:13

'I was still in that really optimistic, sort of naive, wonderful space as an early writer, where you think everything you write is just publishable.' Debut author Jonathon Shannon shares his journey from aspiring writer to published author – including the decision to join James and Ashley's writers' group. We discuss how he took his debut romcom fr…

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83 | How to stop pushing yourself with Amy Lovat, author of 'Mistakes and Other Lovers' 53:39

11M ago53:39

53:39

‘I conflate so many experiences throughout my life with the level of pain I was in at the time.’ Amy Lovat, debut author of Mistakes and Other Lovers and founder of Secret Book Stuff, gets real with us about the challenges of maintaining a creative practice with endometriosis. She also discusses writing about the dark side of modern evangelical Chr…

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82 | Healing from grief and loss through nature with Indira Naidoo, author of 'The Space Between the Stars' 29:25

12M ago29:25

29:25

After Indira Naidoo lost her sister to suicide during the pandemic lockdowns, she unexpectedly found herself turning to nature to help her heal. Speaking with Ashley, Indira shares the journey through grief that led to her memoir 'The Space Between the Stars,' including her relationship with an especially consoling Moreton Bay fig. She describes th…

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81 | 'A good-hearted kid in a difficult environment,' with Mark Brandi author of 'Southern Aurora' 48:19

1y ago48:19

48:19

Mark Brandi is the author of four novels, including his latest, Southern Aurora. He joins us to discuss how a short story he began in 2015 became his newest novel, his choice to set the story in rural Australia in the 1980s, and how he writes so convincingly from a child's point of view. We also talk about sustaining yourself creatively over multip…

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80 | Who can I kill? with Julie Janson, author of 'Madukka the River Serpent' 36:06

1y ago36:06

36:06

It wasn’t until a year into working on her novel 'Madukka the River Serpent' that Julie Janson decided to make it a crime novel. At once a story of corporate greed, environmental destruction and government inaction, 'Madukka the River Serpent' also celebrates older women who hold their families together in the face of extreme challenges. In this ep…

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79 | 'It changed my life' – the Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship 52:39

1y ago52:39

52:39

How can winning an artistic residency impact your creative career? Hear from four Australian authors about their experiences entering and winning the ASA/Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship, and how their careers have developed since. Hannah Bent is the author of When Things Are Alive They Hum. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art a…

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78 | Surviving brain surgery with Karina May, author of 'Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast' 43:18

1y ago43:18

43:18

The idea for Karina May's novel came to her while she was in the ICU, recovering from brain surgery. In this open-hearted interview, Karina shares the experience of living with a brain tumour for two decades before undergoing multiple surgeries to have it removed, and the resulting anxiety and creative inspiration she experienced. Despite now being…

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77 | Finding order in chaos with Anna Spargo-Ryan, author of 'A Kind of Magic' 45:59

1y ago45:59

45:59

‘There’s a reason that this has happened. Science could predict this outcome for me, even though I feel like I’m in constant chaos.’ Anna Spargo-Ryan is the author of the memoir A Kind of Magic. In this illuminating interview, she describes the gap between what science understands and what she’s experienced over a lifetime of mental illness. Anna s…

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76 | Emotional honesty in writing and life with Lee Kofman, author of 'The Writer Laid Bare' 50:06

1+ y ago50:06

50:06

Author Lee Kofman returns to discuss her hugely popular writing memoir and guide, The Writer Laid Bare – James's favourite book of 2022! Lee dives into the concept of emotional honesty and 'nonesty' in writing and life, and why it's essential to her practice. We also discuss the importance of reading as writers and her recommendation to 'read up'. …

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75 | How to manage creative anxiety with psychologist Sanchana Venkatesh 40:30

1+ y ago40:30

40:30

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 …

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74 | Launching 'Dark Mode' with author Ashley Kalagian Blunt – mini-ep #4 12:47

1+ y ago12:47

12:47

A garden shop owner goes out for her morning run and discovers the body of a woman who looks just like her. As more murders shake the city, she fears her past is catching up with her. A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel 'Dark Mode' delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay fo…

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73 | Getting an agent and a publishing deal – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #3 10:40

1+ y ago10:40

10:40

Keen for insights into how to get an agent and a book publisher? This is the ep for you! This is one of four weekly mini-episodes in celebration of the March 1st Australian release day! A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay fo…

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72 | Insights into the novel writing process – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #2 13:55

1+ y ago13:55

13:55

Ashley wrote 40,000 words into the first draft of Dark Mode before scrapping most of it and restarting. Then she ploughed through to the end of a clunky draft in order to create a scene-by-scene outline of the plot mechanics. The outline became the blueprint for the next major revision – the one that landed her an agent. In this ep, Ashley also tal…

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71 | Where the ideas came from – 'Dark Mode' mini-ep #1 14:06

1+ y ago14:06

14:06

A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Ashley's debut novel Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time. But it didn't start there! Ashley began the manuscript while recovering from a major rejection, and envisioned it as Black Mirror inspired…

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70 | The secret of work/life balance with Dr Hilton Koppe, author of 'One Curious Doctor' 44:02

1+ y ago44:02

44:02

What happens when your job results in PTSD, forcing you into unexpected retirement? You write a memoir, of course! At least, that's what Dr Hilton Koppe did when he suddenly had to leave his practice as a rural GP. Hilton speaks to James and Ashley about his PTSD diagnosis, the secret of work/life, how he turned to creative writing as a form of the…

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69 | All the reading: the best book recommendations of 2022 1:21:16

1+ y ago1:21:16

1:21:16

This special episode gathers the best 'What Are You Reading?' segments from 2022 into a comprehensive summary of book recommendations from Australian and international authors. These well-informed highlights will give you plenty of last-minute gift solutions and ideas for how to spend your Christmas gift cards! Plus, James and Ashley each declare t…

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68 | Digging into shame with Hayley Scrivenor, author of 'Dirt Town' 59:59

1+ y ago59:59

59:59

'When I sat down to write, it felt like I had killed someone.' Hayley Scrivenor opens up about managing creative anxiety, what it means to write through our feelings, and the experience of having her novel 'Dirt Town' debut as a number one Australian bestseller. Plus James turns the interview into a therapy session. Hayley Scrivenor is the author o…

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67 | Learning with a beginner's mindset with urban ecologist Darryl 'The Bird Guy' Jones 46:17

1+ y ago46:17

46:17

'I regard my seventh book, Curlews on Vulture Street ... as my first real writing. You know, this is the one I'm most proud of. It was the biggest challenge and the one I enjoyed the most.' Urban ecologist and noted bird guy Darryl Jones joins us to share his transition from popular science to narrative nonfiction writer. Darryl discusses the impor…

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The Universal Language of Music with Asher Laub 47:09

1+ y ago47:09

47:09

The Universal Language of Music with Asher Laub Join Asher and me in a delightful conversation about his journey as a professional violinist who breaks with traditional boundaries and forges new paths. Asher shares about his creative process, the power of improvisation, and his vision about music as a common language that can bridge differences and…

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You Never Know What You Might Learn with Nancy Napier 41:21

1+ y ago41:21

41:21

You Never Know What You Might Learn with Nancy Napier Today we welcome Nancy Napier for a creative conversation about her love of learning and her work as an academic entrepreneur. Nancy particularly enjoys doing the early research into new fields of study, and we discuss how she sees connections and blends knowledge across disciplines. She also sh…

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66 | How to say goodbye with Jackie Bailey, author of 'The Eulogy' 43:50

2y ago43:50

43:50

How do you work through a major edit on your book when you have a traumatic brain injury? And how do you write about the death of a loved one while you're grieving? Jackie Bailey, author of debut novel 'The Eulogy' and professional deathwalker, joins us to discuss her experience with both. Jackie Bailey is a professional writer and researcher and a…

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Inventing Games with Kevin Carroll 42:41

2y ago42:41

42:41

Inventing Games with Kevin Carrol Pickles, penguins and dice! Join me and Kevin Carrol, tabletop game inventor, professional speaker and facilitator, for a lively conversation about the power of creative game play. Kevin shares his personal journey into the world of game invention, gives tips for getting started if you have an idea for a tabletop g…

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The DNA of Story with DP Knudten 42:03

2y ago42:03

42:03

The DNA of Story with DP Knudten How do you discover, craft and communicate the "completely true / completely you" brand you already are? Join DP and me to learn about using the "key three" to unlock your personal brand,. We explore insights from his books Nonfiction Brand and ROTOMA - the ROI of Social Media "Top of Mind," and DP shares about own …

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The Impulse to Write with Ashley Kalagian Blunt 49:01

2y ago49:01

49:01

The Impulse to Write with Ashley Kalagian Blunt Ashley joins us from Sydney, Australia to talk about writing, identity and travel. We explore her personal story of moving from Canada, being an outsider in a new culture and her family's Armenian history, which was the inspiration for her first book, My Name is Revenge: A novella and collected essays…

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65 | The writer and the advocate with Al Campbell, author of 'The Keepers' 56:46

2y ago56:46

56:46

Author Al Campbell joins us to discuss her debut book 'The Keepers,' a fictionalised account of her own life both as the mother of two autistic boys and the survivor of an abusive parent. Al shares the reasons behind her choice to write fiction instead of memoir, what people don't realise about the life of a full-time carer, and the struggle for di…

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Fire and Clay with Alan Potter 36:44

2y ago36:44

36:44

Fire and Clay with Alan Potter Join Alan and me as we discuss his amazing animal sculptures that are created using RAKU, an ancient Japanese ceramic firing technique. We talk about his technique, a special teacher, and how pressure helps him get into the creative flow. He shares what to do when a sculpture doesn't work out as planned, and what his …

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Create a Way with Wendy Fedan 50:25

2y ago50:25

50:25

Create a Way with Wendy Fedan Today we are joined by full-time freelance illustrator/designer Wendy Fedan. Wendy shares about her creative process, how she got started drawing, and about her publishing business Create-a-Way Design & Publishing. If you could use some inspiration to get your book self-published, Wendy can help guide and support you t…

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No Limits with Sherry Eichberger 35:43

2y ago35:43

35:43

No Limits with Sherry Eichberger Sherry joins us for an inspirational conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship and her creative business consultant work supporting business owners. She shares her own journey in starting original businesses, and offers ideas about how to be open to what comes your way - yes and! If you could use some inspirat…

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64 | The most successful episode ever: a conversation about 'Denizen' 1:04:28

2y ago1:04:28

1:04:28

***Warning! Spoilers for Denizen by James McKenzie Watson in this episode*** Heads up, this episode of James and Ashley Stay at Their Respective Homes in Separate Cities is full of spoilers for Denizen. If you haven't read Denizen yet, you can still enjoy reading about our special double-guest episode, and then get even more excited to go and read …

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The Power of Play with Mike Montague 40:53

2y ago40:53

40:53

The Power of Play with Mike Montague Join Mike and I as we talk about the importance of playfulness, his podcast Playful Humans, and ways to keep the creative spirit of play alive in everyday life. Mike is a Game Show Host, Public Speaker, as well as a Podcaster, and has been a radio DJ, web designer, and karaoke host. In addition to the Playful Hu…

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You Can Be Anything with Reyshan Parker 33:41

2y ago33:41

33:41

You Can Be Anything with Reyshan Parker Meet Reyshan Parker, the Executive Producer and Host of the Food & Travel Docu-Series “Beyond the Check." We talk about the show, his adorable dogs Sugar and Bones, and Reyshan's creative process. Then we are joined by several puppets, including the cat Snips, as we learn inside information about a new projec…

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The Rhythm of Creativity with Fiona Valentine 39:25

2y ago39:25

39:25

The Rhythm of Creativity with Fiona Valentine What is the most distinctive trait of highly creative people? What's a fugitive color? Join Business coach and Australian artist Fiona Valentine as we talk about painting and creativity. Fiona shares ideas about nurturing and capturing inspiration, and ways to get into that relaxed state which is conduc…

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63 | Rest, recovery and writing with Bronwyn Birdsall, author of 'Time and Tide in Sarajevo' 49:13

2y ago49:13

49:13

Author Bronwyn Birdsall joins us to discuss the writing of her first novel, 'Time and Tide in Sarajevo,' and her life after chronic fatigue syndrome. We discuss living with a mindset of rest and recovery, moving overseas and reinventing yourself, and the question at the heart of the book – how do we find hope in a world that feels beyond repair? As…

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A Universe of Your Own with Teen Author Sarah Humpherys 32:11

2y ago32:11

32:11

A Universe of Your Own with Teen Author Sarah Humpherys We talk about dragons! Join us for a fun and inspirational conversation with teen author Sarah Humpherys. Sarah is a fantasy nerd and magic enthusiast. At the age of 15, she was invited to be a part of a writing program led by New York Times bestselling author Angie Fenimore. During that 6 mon…

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Ashley Kalagian Blunt Podcasts

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