Romance author and academic Dr Jodi McAlister shares her insights on her latest release, an Academic Affair. Meet academic rivals Sadie and Jonah; when a position comes up that Sadie and Jonah are both perfect for, their ongoing enmity explodes into a red-hot competition. We dive into the world of early career academia, rivals to lovers, and sibling and family dynamics.

Detailed show notes, and other links: linktree.com/novel_feelings

Content notes for this episode: job loss, academic power structures

Our podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Land, which is home to both of us in Naarm/Melbourne. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

Recording her dialogues with her psychiatrist, and expanding on each session with her own reflective micro-essays, Baek begins to disentangle the feedback loops, knee-jerk reactions, and harmful behaviors that keep her locked in a cycle of self-abuse.

Our July book club discussion is about I Want to Die, But I Want to Eat Ttteokbokki, an intimate therapy memoir by South Korean writer Baek Sehee. We talk about dysthymia, black and white thinking, beauty standards, the stigma of help seeking in East Asian cultures, and a questionable psychiatrist.

• Book club info, detailed show notes, and other links: linktree.com/novel_feelings
• Get a 10% discount through Amplify Bookstore with the code NOVELFEELINGS10: http://amplifybookstore.com/products/novel-feelings-book-club

Additional content notes: Major depression, suicidal ideation, invalidating mental health professionals, psychiatric medications, histrionic personality disorder

Our podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Land, which is home to both of us in Naarm/Melbourne. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

We sit down with Neal Shusterman to discuss his latest Young Adult novel, All Better Now, which speculates on what could happen if there was another pandemic, but this time, of a virus that brings contentment to its recoverees. We have a lot to talk about, including what a happiness virus would really entail, and its impacts on characters with lived experience of mental ill-health - as well as Neal’s writing and character development.

Detailed show notes, and other links: linktree.com/novel_feelings

Content notes for this episode: covid-19 pandemic; depression; suicidal ideation; cult; psychosis.

Our podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Land, which is home to both of us in Naarm/Melbourne. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.