Best Samantha Mandell Podcasts (2024)

1
Evie Wyld's writing tip: put a shark in it 54:06

1h ago54:06

54:06

Award-winning author Evie Wyld on her new book The Echoes, and why there are so many sharks in her fiction. Plus, Catherine McKinnon's epic war novel To Sing of War and Jordan Prosser's band road trip novel, Big Time. Evie Wyld is one of the few Australian writers to win both the Miles Franklin and the Stella Prizes (the Miles for All the Birds, Si…

1
Chigozie Obioma on kindness, big families and the Biafran War 54:05

3d ago54:05

54:05

Booker Prize shortlisted Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma joined Claire Nichols at Byron Writers Festival to discuss his latest novel The Road to the Country about civil war in Nigeria. Now based in the US, Chigozie Obioma's first two novels The Fishermen (2015) and An Orchestra of Minorities (2019) were shortlisted for The Booker Prize. His third n…

1
Looking to the stars with Ceridwen Dovey, Emily St John Mandel and more 54:06

12d ago54:06

54:06

For Science Week, The Book Show goes intergalactic in a star themed episode. Ceridwen Dovey, Alicia Sometimes, Nardi Simpson, Max Barry and Emily St John Mandel explore how celestial tales reveal deep truths about our lives on earth. From the fabulously weird stories about space junk in Only the Astronauts (Ceridwen Dovey) to the star dust fuelled …

1
Keanu Reeves and China Miéville write a book together 54:08

9d ago54:08

54:08

Hollywood star Keanu Reeves and British science fiction author China Miéville reveal how they collaborated to to write the novel The Book of Elsewhere. Plus, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, author of Fleishman Is In Trouble and Indigenous Australian author, Anita Heiss. The Book of Elsehwere (Del Rey) is based on a comic book series that Keanu Reeves develo…

1
Pod extra: Alexis Wright makes literary history 22:58

25d ago22:58

22:58

Alexis Wright is the 2024 winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Praiseworthy. She makes history as the only writer to have won both the Stella and Miles Franklin awards twice each. Alexis first won the Miles Franklin in 2007 for her epic novel Carpentaria. Like that novel, Praiseworthy (Giramondo) - which also won the 2024 Stell…

1
Meet Samantha Shannon's biggest critic: herself 54:13

16d ago54:13

54:13

Samantha Shannon has such power as a bestselling writer that she's reissued her fantasy Bone Season series with new edits. In a revealing conversation she tells Claire Nichols what it takes to reach such heights. Samantha Shannon was just 20 when she won a six-figure publishing deal for this series. She also has another series on the go called Root…

1
Season One Finale: Kids Say The Darndest Things 46:36

1M ago46:36

46:36

In this episode, hosts Samantha and Melissa engage in lively banter and reflections as they reach the season finale of their podcast "Skirts Up." The episode opens with a recap of the season's highlights and favorite moments shared by both hosts. They reminisce about past episodes, including "Making Friends in Your 30s," The conversation shifts tow…

1
Meet the authors on the 2024 Miles Franklin shortlist 54:04

23d ago54:04

54:04

'Flabbergasted' and 'surprised' — ahead of the winner announcement, the Miles Franklin shortlisted writers tell you about their books and what it means to be on the shortlist. The Miles Franklin is the most prestigious writing prize in Australia and is awarded to a novel of "the highest literary merit that presents Australian life in any of its pha…

1
R.O. Kwon's ambitions and desires 54:06

30d ago54:06

54:06

American author R.O. Kwon's novel, Exhibit, explores the taboo topic of female desire; Jenny Ackland exacts feminist revenge in Hurdy Gurdy and Jessie Tu's Honeyeater is a story of translation and miscommunication. Korean-born, American author R.O. Kwon is not afraid of topic topics. She's behind the bestselling 2018 novel The Incendiaries and is c…

1
Unlocking the Mysteries of Lucid Dreaming 1:08:36

2M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Join Samantha and Melissa in this episode of Skirts Up as they dive into the fascinating world of lucid dreaming. With their special guest, Amina, a lucid dreaming coach and host of The Dream World Podcast, they explore the mysteries of dreaming, techniques to achieve lucidity, and how to use dreams for personal growth and healing. From dream analy…

1
Writer to writer with Claire G Coleman and Dylan Coleman 54:06

1M ago54:06

54:06

For NAIDOC week, Indigenous speculative fiction author Claire G Coleman chats to Dylan Coleman about her novel Mazin Grace republished as a UQP First Nations Classic. Also, Ali Cobby Eckermann and Graham Akhurst speak about their latest books. Ali Cobby Eckermann is a Yankunytjatjara woman, a member of the stolen generations, and one of Australia's…

1
Bri Lee and Liam Pieper take down celebrity art 54:06

1M ago54:06

54:06

Australian writers Bri Lee and Liam Pieper's latest novels expose the unholy connection between money, art and power. Bri Lee is the author of the bestselling 2018 memoir Eggshell Skull and she's the author of two other works of non-fiction, Who Gets to Be Smart and Beauty. Her debut novel The Work is about two characters who represent old and new …

1
Modern Dating: Wild Stories, Kink Insights, and Organic Connections 1:11:05

2M ago1:11:05

1:11:05

Happy Pride Month!! Listen till the end to hear Yellows vulnerable experience with coming out as Bi to her family and friends. In this episode of 'Skirts Up,' hosts Samantha and Melissa explore the vibrant and unpredictable world of modern dating in Atlanta. From awkward encounters and wild date stories to the pros and cons of dating apps versus or…

1
Kevin Kwan wrote a book about weddings, just don't invite him to one 54:06

2M ago54:06

54:06

Weddings of the ultra-rich get the Kevin Kwan treatment in his novel Lies and Weddings, Siang Lu's ambitious and complicated novel Ghost Cities and West Australian author Annie de Monchaux's surprising link to Hollywood. Kevin Kwan is the author behind the juggernaut trilogy that began with Crazy Rich Asians which explored the lives of the ultra-ul…

1
On The Porch: Life With a Bestie 8:47

2M ago8:47

8:47

Sam's sister, Hannah, join Sam and Mel on the porch to share a little sneak peak of what their next episode will be about. The ladies also discuss how proud they are of their previous episode, "Maturing Though Life With A Bestie." If you missed that one, It's Hilarious. Highly encourage you to check it out!…

1
Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch and his fear of mediocrity 54:06

2M ago54:06

54:06

Two authors at the top of their game: Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch reveals how his award winning novel Prophet Song came into being and Booker longlisted author Karen Jennings' complicated love letter to South Africa. The Irish writer Paul Lynch is the reigning Booker winner and won the prize for his beautiful, brutal fifth novel Prophet Song. It…

1
Maturing Through Life With A Bestie 1:06:42

3M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Hear the life lessons and hilarious misadventures of two besties that grew through their teens, twenties, and into their thirties together. Samantha's long time best friend, Courtney, joins us for a good laugh and dives into how to advocate for your child with special needs. Join Our Show at www.theskirtupshow.com Follow us on FB : Insta : YouTube …

1
Jeanette Winterson and Kate Grenville on the gift of writing 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

Jeanette Winterson asks how AI will give new meaning to ghost stories and Kate Grenville reflects on a lifetime of writing and how accepting failure has been key to her success. Jeanette Winterson is best known for her novels Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, The Stone Gods and Frankissstein. Her long fascination with mortality, religion and technolo…

1
On The Porch: Healing Trauma recap 17:21

3M ago17:21

17:21

Welcome back to " On The Porch With Sam and Mel" where they discuss their lasting thoughts or updates from the previous episode.By Samantha Mandell and Melissa Matthews

1
Celeste Ng — "Every one of my books starts with a question" 54:23

2M ago54:23

54:23

American author Celeste Ng shares how her latest novel Our Missing Hearts explores one of her deepest fears. Celeste Ng is known for her dark realist novels, Everything I Never Told You, and Little Fires Everywhere (which was adapted to the screen in 2020). Our Missing Hearts is set in a dystopian, near future America, where anti-Asian sentiment ha…

1
BONUS: What is Skirts Up? 17:11

3M ago17:11

17:11

Samantha and Mel sit on their porch and share the process of how "Skirts Up!" was born. Find out what challenges they faced and what they are currently working towards.By Samantha Mandell and Melissa Matthews

1
Pt.2 Healing Trauma With Melissa Walker, LMFT 48:34

3M ago48:34

48:34

* Listeners discretion is advised* ( Part 2 of 2) Dive into a powerful discussion with Samantha, Melissa and therapist Melissa Walker, LMFT. Uncover transformative insights on overcoming trauma, the impact it has on mental health, and the journey to personal growth. Discover personal stories of resilience, the transformative power of therapy, and p…

1
Pt.1 Healing Trauma With Melissa Walker, LMFT 44:57

3M ago44:57

44:57

* Listeners discretion is advised* Dive into a powerful discussion with Samantha, Melissa and therapist Melissa Walker, LMFT. Uncover transformative insights on overcoming trauma, the impact it has on mental health, and the journey to personal growth. Discover personal stories of resilience, the transformative power of therapy, and practical tips f…

1
Shankari Chandran, Stuart Turton and Julie Janson on refuge, failure and outlaws 54:06

3M ago54:06

54:06

Shankari Chandran's follow up to her Miles Franklin award winning book, British author Stuart Turton's complicated murder mystery and Julie Janson's ironically named novel Compassion. Shankari Chandran won the 2023 Miles Franklin for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. Her new novel Safe Haven asks readers to confront the reality of Australia'…

1
On The Porch- Secrets Revealed 14:46

3M ago14:46

14:46

*This episode has video! Watch it on YouTube* Join Samantha and Melissa on "On the Porch with Sam and Mel" as they delve into a captivating discussion about their previous episode. Melissa and her sisters reflect on their shared experiences and candidly share their thoughts and emotions of having their story finally told. Listen in to see what Meli…

1
Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn sequel 37:10

3M ago37:10

37:10

One of Colm Toibin's most beloved books is Brooklyn and now he's written a sequel, Long Island. Brooklyn was first published in 2009 and it's about Eilis, a young woman who leaves Ireland for America in the 1950s. It was longlisted for the Booker Prize, won the Costa Novel Award and was adapted to the screen in 2015. Now there's a sequel, called Lo…

1
Banned Books 05: Censorship in Iran 19:55

3M ago19:55

19:55

Iran's Kafka like book censorship is causing authors to flee, including writer Shokoofeh Azar who now lives in Australia. Banned Books is a new series that looks at what's driving book bans worldwide. In this last episode, writer Shokoofeh Azar who now lives in Australia and is the author of The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree which is banned i…

1
Secrets Revealed: 23andMe and Ancestry.com 49:04

4M ago49:04

49:04

Hosts Samantha and Melissa, play two recordings from callers, Kristi and Jen, who share their astonishing discoveries and emotional journeys through Ancestry and 23andMe. From uncovering surprising family connections to exploring personal histories, their revelation is unreal! Find out how their story intertwines with one of our hosts.…

1
Percival Everett reimagines Huckleberry Finn 28:29

3M ago28:29

28:29

Percival Everett, a prolific author known for his versatility across various genres and styles, reinterprets an American classic novel. Percival Everett, a prolific author known for his versatility across various genres and styles, reinterprets the American classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, James, (Pan Macmillan) shifts the focus to Huck's en…

1
Banned Books 04: USA's most banned book in Australia 26:49

3M ago26:49

26:49

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is the most banned book in the USA and now it's being challenged in the courts in Australia. Banned Books is a new series that looks at what's driving book bans worldwide. This episode explores Gender Queer, an illustrated memoir which details Maia Kobabe's experience of coming out as non-binary and asexual. The book has…

1
Val McDermid and Jonathan Seidler on ancient queens and modern love 41:46

4M ago41:46

41:46

Crime writer Val McDermid investigates Scotland's most famous female character to reveal a very different Lady Macbeth. And Sydney writer Jonathon Seidler delves into the story beyond the happy ending and how breakups can define a relationship. Crime writer Val McDermid investigates Scotland’s most famous female character to reveal a very different…

1
Banned Books 03: Homoerotic fiction in China 18:24

4M ago18:24

18:24

Webfiction is a gargantuan platform for writers in China but authors of male to male fiction - known as the danmei or boyslove genre - are experiencing a censorship crackdown and some writers have been imprisoned for their writing. This episode is about Occupied by Tianyi – a boyslove/danmei novel whose author was sentenced to 10 years jail in Chin…

1
Pod extra — Alexis Wright wins a second Stella Prize 19:49

4M ago19:49

19:49

Alexis Wright has won the 2024 Stella Prize, for her novel, Praiseworthy. The novel is an Aboriginal fable, about a fictional town, a haze cloud, a haze cloud, land rights, global warming, and donkeys. Judges described Praiseworthy as 'genre-bending' and 'canon-breaking'. Alexis Wright previously won the Stella in 2018 for her non-fiction collectiv…

1
When God's A Knocking 1:04:02

4M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Megan joins the show today to share her experience with God telling her to begin on an entrepreneurial journey aimed to support her community. Discussions get personal when Sam starts asking questions on what it means to "be a Christian" and what really makes or breaks ones destiny for Heaven. Melissa explains the similarities and differences from …

1
Téa Obreht and Emily O'Grady on Balkan fairytales, nepo babies and wild creatures 44:09

4M ago44:09

44:09

Author of The Tiger's Wife Téa Obreht reterns with Morningside, a dystopian fairy tale, and Stella Prize-shortlisted author Emily O'Grady on the rotten characters in her novel Feast. Téa Obreht won The Women's Prize for Fiction — then called the Orange Prize — for her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife and at the time she was the youngest ever winner of…

1
Banned Books 02: The Satanic Verses and the fatwa 24:02

4M ago24:02

24:02

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie inspired riots in England and book burnings in India; death threats, murders and a fatwa; and ultimately, a devastating physical attack on Salman Rushdie in 2022. Banned Books is a new series that looks at what's driving book bans worldwide. This episode revisits how one book inspired so much hatred and violence…

1
Andrew O'Hagan's biggest novel yet 33:08

4M ago33:08

33:08

Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan explains why finishing his latest novel Caledonian Road was like "landing 65 planes on the tarmac"; plus a teaser for the first in our Banned Books series, starting in America. Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan's (Faber and Faber) latest book Caledonian Road is a big one in length and Dickensian scope. It's an exploratio…

1
Banned Books 01: Race and racism in the USA 24:16

4M ago24:16

24:16

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was inspired by the black lives matter movement and explores police brutality — so why is it being taken off library shelves in the US? Banned Books is a new series that looks at what's driving book bans worldwide. The series begins in America where books about race and racism have become a lightning rod for censorsh…

1
Getting Froggy With Intuition 55:43

4M ago55:43

55:43

In this special two-part episode combined into one, Melissa gives Samantha a personalized tarot card reading, diving deep into her current challenges and guides her to where her focus should lie. Samantha shares her experience with an intuitive reader and how these two readings align. Take a listen to discover what emotions and meanings were discov…

1
Sunjeev Sahota, Vanessa Chan and Winnie Dunn bring us stories from home 54:04

4M ago54:04

54:04

Booker-shortlisted author Sunjeev Sahota argues that class is more important than identity, Vanessa Chan draws on her grandmother's stories of Japanese occupied Malaya and Winnie Dunn channels her own experience of growing up Tongan in Western Sydney.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
André Aciman and Anjali Joseph on the joy of doing nothing 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

Known for his sumptuous novel Call Me By My Name, André Aciman's latest book also explores love and beauty in Italy. Plus, Indian author Anjali Joseph on the allure of Assam, India, which is known for its unique cultural heritage.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Epi. 4- Evolving Curiosity 50:12

5M ago50:12

50:12

Join Melissa and Samantha as they embark on a rollercoaster of experiences, from Melissa's exhilarating expo quilting success to Samantha's battle with technical difficulties. In this episode, they delve into a captivating discussion on their spiritual curiosity, exploring the five defining characteristics of spirituality. Through quizzes designed …

1
Melissa Lucashenko on writing through flood, fire and pestilence 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

At Adelaide Writers' Week, Melissa Lucashenko explains how understanding that "all history is fiction" allowed her to write her historic novel Edenglassie.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Jane Smiley and Louise Milligan on stories they couldn't let go 54:07

5M ago54:07

54:07

Award winning Australian journalist Louise Milligan on her debut crime novel inspired by police and PTSD and Pulitzer Prize winning Jane Smiley on why she wants her books to be banned and her latest novel A Dangerous Business.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Jonathan Lethem returns to Brooklyn 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

Bestselling American author Jonathan Lethem explains why he returned to Brooklyn in his fiction after 20 years.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
This Is Us! 58:26

6M ago58:26

58:26

This episode is all real talk and unfiltered stories! Melissa tells us how she ended her with relationship with her Mormon faith and embraced her new-found love of quilting. Samantha shares her journey of navigating motherhood in high school. Expect a candid conversation, shared fails, and some good ol' banter as Samantha and Melissa dive into life…

1
Adulting and Friendship in Our Thirties 56:06

6M ago56:06

56:06

Life is a rollercoaster…from Samantha's late-night car escapade to Melissa's adventures in friendship-making as a grown-up. They'll dig into the ups and downs of making friends, overcoming trust issues, and the magic of building a rock-solid community. It's a wild ride of laughter and heart-to-heart chats that you won't want to miss. So join us and…

1
Our Top 6 Favorite TV Recommendations 55:00

6M ago55:00

55:00

Who doesn’t love a well-done TV show?! Our latest episode of Skirts Up dives deep into our top 6 favorite TV shows, from the comforting humor of 'The Office' to the emotional drama of 'Grey's Anatomy.' We discuss the evolving perspectives on beloved series, the power of representation in 'Jane the Virgin,' and the comfort found in re-watching famil…

1
Anne Enright on motherhood, Irish poets and famous parents 54:03

6M ago54:03

54:03

At Adelaide Writers' Week, Booker-winner Anne Enright speaks about the contradictions at the heart of families.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
RF Kuang and Nam Le on Yellowface, mums and minorities 54:05

6M ago54:05

54:05

RF Kuang speaks about her bestseller Yellowface and Nam Le, Australian author of The Boat, explains why his latest is a book of poetry.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Samantha Mandell Podcasts

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