Show Notes
WE'RE BACK! In this week's episode, our very own Allie Daisy King sits down with acclaimed (literally) Australian author Madeleine Gray, whose debut novel Green Dot became an instant literary sensation - earning praise from icons ranging from Nigella Lawson to the one-and-only Gillian Anderson. Maddy is back with a much-anticipated second novel, Chosen Family. In this chat, Allie and Maddy unpack the intersection of writing, academia, and creativity - with Maddy reflecting on her process, rituals, and how her academic background shapes her fiction. She also opens up about the whirlwind success of Green Dot, from surreal celebrity dinners to the realities of debuting a breakout hit, and how she navigated the pressure of following it up with her next novel. They also discuss the moments of transition and uncertainty that define modern womanhood, the blurred line between intimacy and toxicity in friendship, and the emotional power of queer storytelling. Maddy shares what inspired Chosen Family, why she wanted to write friendship as a kind of romantic epic, and how she approached spanning 18 years of her characters’ lives with nuance and empathy. It's a bumper chat - so dive in and get a copy of Chosen Family ASAP!
More from Studio Chats
*Content warning: sexual harassment In this very special episode, Sunny Adcock sits down with international Jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater. Dee Dee has been a performing artist for more than 50 years and, during that time, has won a Tony and three Grammys. She is also celebrated for playing Glinda in the original Broadway production of The Wiz and for becoming the first African American woman to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
Laura Pettenuzzo is a disability advocate, writer, and bibliophile who found disability pride later in life through stories reflecting her lived experience. She is also a co-editor and contributor to ‘Crip Stories', an anthology of memoir, essays, and poetry by disabled writers that disrupts the idea of a single “disabled experience”. In this conversation with Missing Perspectives journalist Allie Daisy King, Laura explores the power of reclaiming language and reflects on internalised ableism, authenticity in disability representation, the importance of online community, and her work across advocacy, accessibility and government.
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