Hungry Dogs with James Patterson

James Patterson sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Peggy Noonan for a wide-ranging conversation about history, uncertainty, and writing in divided times. Noonan reflects on her decades-long career at The Wall Street Journal, her years inside the Reagan White House as a speechwriter, and what she learned watching leadership up close during a pivotal moment in American history. They discuss how writers observe power from the outside, what leadership looks like when character is tested, and why moments of absolute certainty are often the most dangerous in public life. Drawing on her time writing for Ronald Reagan and later reflecting on his presidency, Noonan shares lessons about decency, civic life, political courage, and what it means to remain intellectually honest when the country feels unsettled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Patterson talks with Michael J. Fox about optimism, acceptance, and choosing how to move forward in the face of uncertainty. Fox reflects on writing his memoir Future Boy, why acceptance does not mean resignation, and how understanding what is allows you to keep going rather than give up. They discuss living publicly with Parkinson’s, using humor as a survival tool, and why action matters more than false positivity. Fox also shares how the Michael J. Fox Foundation has helped transform Parkinson’s research, why skepticism is healthy but cynicism is corrosive, and how investing in people and science can create real, lasting change. 00:00 Intro 01:11 Acceptance and Resilience 02:12 Michael J. Fox's Writing Journey 07:19 Rock and Roll Fantasies 08:23 Friendship with Muhammad Ali 16:20 Parkinson's and Advocacy 20:12 Family and Personal Reflections 24:22 Living in New York 25:08 Career Reflections 26:17 Writing and Storytelling 28:25 Dealing with Bullies 29:58 Health Challenges and Optimism 34:40 Philanthropy and Research 40:20 Today's Politics 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

James Clear, author and speaker known for Atomic Habits, shares how tiny actions rebuild identity after adversity. He explores motion versus action, the Four Laws of Behavior Change, designing environments for consistency, and using five-minute resets. Short, practical conversations on reading, parenting, job-search routines, and turning small wins into long-term change.

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

Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award–winning actor and author of Greenlights, reflects on revisiting his past to shape the future. He talks about faith, therapy, and the higher-self perspective. College sports, coaching cultures, and philanthropy for HBCUs come up. They also explore ideas for public service, university-community partnerships, and whether he might try fiction.

Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award–winning actor and author of Greenlights, shares why he treats writing like music and how rhythm shapes storytelling. He explores poetry as a practice to preserve belief, resists cynicism while defending trust, and argues for practical, disruptive approaches to education and leadership.

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

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

David Baldacci, best-selling novelist and former lawyer, reflects on growing up in segregated Richmond and how library trips sparked his imagination. He recounts years of rejection before Absolute Power changed everything. He explains how law school shaped his storytelling, the realities of Hollywood, and why writers should enjoy getting paid to invent worlds.

Stacey Abrams, politician, voting-rights advocate, and bestselling author, reflects on growing up first-generation with voting access and how reading shaped her voice. She talks about writing thrillers like Coded Justice, the politics and law behind Avery Keene, and the real-world stakes of AI, veterans' healthcare, and barriers that silence citizens.