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  • James Clear on Atomic Habits, Identity, and Becoming the Person You Want to Be

    James Clear on Atomic Habits, Identity, and Becoming the Person You Want to Be
    Jan 7 2026
    James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, joins James Patterson on today's episode of Hungry Dogs to talk about why habits matter more than motivation and how small actions shape who we become. Clear reflects on recovering from a life-changing injury, learning to value small wins, and why every habit is a vote for the type of person you want to be. They discuss identity-based habits, the difference between motion and action, optimism versus cynicism, and how reading, environment, and consistency influence long-term success. Clear also shares practical insights on building better systems, parenting, education, and why five good minutes can be enough to reset a day. 00:00 Intro 00:59 The Atomic Habits Workbook 02:30 James Clear's Personal Journey 04:06 The Importance of Small Wins 06:21 The Deeper Reason Habits Matter 12:41 Disrupting the Norm: Positive Changes 15:16 The Four Laws of Behavior Change 17:54 Navigating the Job Market with Atomic Habits 19:42 Identity Change Through Small Actions 23:06 The Importance of Quality Content 25:54 Applying Atomic Habits in Family Life 32:35 The Value of Five Good Minutes 33:10 Thinking Long Term, Acting Short Term Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 Min.
  • Tara Westover on Educated and the Challenge of Telling the Truth

    Tara Westover on Educated and the Challenge of Telling the Truth
    Dec 31 2025
    James Patterson talks with author Tara Westover, known for her bestselling memoir Educated, about memory, self-education, and learning how to write truthfully about your own life. Westover reflects on growing up in a radical, isolated household in rural Idaho and how education became both her escape and her reckoning. They discuss the challenge of writing about family when memories conflict, how she moved from academic writing to storytelling, and why short stories helped her find her voice. She also shares how her understanding of learning has changed over time and offers a glimpse into what she is exploring in her next book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 Min.
  • Matthew McConaughey on Looking Back to See the Future (Part Two)

    Matthew McConaughey on Looking Back to See the Future (Part Two)
    Dec 24 2025
    Matthew McConaughey returns for Part Two of his conversation with James Patterson on Hungry Dogs. He reflects on how looking back while writing Greenlights helped him better envision the future he wanted. They also discuss the beauty of college sports, possible paths forward for higher education, and why investing in people and communities matters far beyond immediate results. 00:00 Intro 02:49 Exploring Poetry and Literature 08:29 What Does Faith Mean to You? 10:47 The Beauty of College Sports 14:59 The Importance of Public Service 22:28 Would Matthew McConaughey Ever Write a Novel? Try Novelium today and get your first month free at https://novelium.so/ with code PATTERSON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 Min.
  • Matthew McConaughey on Writing, Belief, and Finding the Right Rhythm (Part One)

    Matthew McConaughey on Writing, Belief, and Finding the Right Rhythm (Part One)
    Dec 17 2025
    Matthew McConaughey joins James Patterson for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, belief, and living with intention. McConaughey discusses his books Greenlights and Poems and Prayers, why he thinks of writing as music, and how finding the right rhythm can unlock both storytelling and life. They talk about skepticism versus cynicism, faith and responsibility, and why belief is different from hope. McConaughey reflects on resisting labels like the “rom-com guy,” choosing disruption with values, and why education, reading, and practical experience matter more than rigid systems. They also touch on college sports, leadership, and what it means to stand for something without preaching. Try Novelium today and get your first month free at https://novelium.so/ with code PATTERSON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 Min.
  • Josh Gad on Olaf, Robin Williams, and Learning to Live with Anxiety

    Josh Gad on Olaf, Robin Williams, and Learning to Live with Anxiety
    Dec 10 2025
    James Patterson talks with actor and comedian Josh Gad about comedy, anxiety, and finding warmth in the cold. Best known as the voice of Olaf in Disney’s Frozen, Gad opens up about living with anxiety, using humor to cope, and how performing helped him support his family and himself through hard times. He reflects on his friendship with Robin Williams, what he learned from working with legends like Mel Brooks, and the deeply personal stories in his new memoir In Gad We Trust. Gad shares how writing the book helped him rethink fear, grief, and identity, and why vulnerability has become his greatest strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 Min.
  • Patricia Cornwell on the Upcoming Kay Scarpetta TV Series, Grief, and the Truth in Fairytales

    Patricia Cornwell on the Upcoming Kay Scarpetta TV Series, Grief, and the Truth in Fairytales
    Dec 3 2025
    James Patterson talks with bestselling author Patricia Cornwell about grief, storytelling, and the upcoming Kay Scarpetta TV series inspired by her groundbreaking forensic novels. Cornwell reflects on how loss, solitude, and faith have shaped her writing, and why she believes every mystery is really a fairytale in disguise. They discuss her new book Sharp Force, the decades-long evolution of Scarpetta, and how real science, compassion, and curiosity keep her searching for truth on and beyond the page. The Scarpetta universe will soon come to life as an Amazon Original Series starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, but Cornwell’s focus remains on the stories that connect us through loss, resilience, and imagination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 Min.
  • David Baldacci on “Absolute Power” and Making Things Up for a Living

    David Baldacci on “Absolute Power” and Making Things Up for a Living
    Nov 26 2025
    David Baldacci joins James Patterson on the latest episode of Hungry Dogs for a conversation about writing, failure, and the long road to success. David opens up about growing up in Richmond, Virginia during segregation and how weekly library trips changed his life. He also recalls the years of rejection before his breakout novel Absolute Power and the moment everything shifted overnight David also shares how law school taught him to think like a storyteller, how he still approaches his craft with gratitude, and why he tells writers to “remember you get paid to make things up.” 00:00 Intro 01:56 David Baldacci's Upbringing and Early Influences 02:57 The Journey to Becoming a Writer 06:11 The Impact of 'Absolute Power' 08:27 The Business of Writing 12:09 Calamity Souls and Other Works 14:04 Competitiveness and Haters 15:10 The Art of Outlining vs. Writing in the Trenches 16:52 Who's David Ford? 19:24 Family and Fame: Balancing Act 22:46 Hollywood Adventures and Misadventures 25:59 The AI Dilemma and Future of Creativity 27:54 Positive Thinking and Life Lessons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 Min.
  • Stacey Abrams on Democracy, Writing “Coded Justice,” and How Reading Shaped Her Life

    Stacey Abrams on Democracy, Writing “Coded Justice,” and How Reading Shaped Her Life
    Nov 19 2025
    Stacey Abrams joins James Patterson for a conversation about writing, identity, and finding her voice. She talks about growing up as the first generation in her family born with voting rights, how that shaped her sense of agency, and why a democracy only works when people can truly be heard. Stacey also dives into her work as an author, from her early novels to her latest thriller, Coded Justice, featuring Avery Keene. She and James discuss ambition, storytelling, reading, and how real systems and community experiences influence her fiction. Follow James Patterson: https://.jamespatterson.com/ https://jamespatterson.substack.com/ https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/james-patterson/ https://www.instagram.com/realjamespatterson/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 Min.