Hungry Dogs with James Patterson

James Patterson sits down with the author Elin Hilderbrand to discuss why there is no such thing as a "guilty pleasure." Elin also shares behind-the-scenes details about the Netflix adaptation of her book, THE PERFECT COUPLE, and what kind of discipline it takes to not only write a book, but most importantly, to finish it. ▶️ Watch more Hungry Dogs episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVNQ...

James Patterson talks with retired four-star Navy SEAL, Admiral William McRaven about leadership in the armed forces and beyond. McRaven discusses his early days in Navy SEAL training camp all the way up to overseeing the bin Laden raid. McRaven shares how his journey from a college journalism major to a university chancellor shaped his view on communication, resilience, and dealing with failure....

James Patterson talks with legendary journalist Bob Woodward about his history making career, and how he gets his interviewees to open up. Woodward reflects his career-defining coverage of the Watergate scandal, and his extensive interviews with figures like Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. The two authors also delve into philosophies on family, the importance of humility, and their experience with...

James Patterson talks with former President Bill Clinton about life after the White House and how the two of them came to collaborate on bestselling novels like The President Is Missing, The President’s Daughter, and The First Gentleman. President Clinton also reflects on the lasting impact of the Clinton Foundation, the importance of finding common ground with political rivals, and the lessons th...

Bestselling author Nicholas Sparks joins James Patterson to talk about love, grief, storytelling, and the creative process . Sparks reflects on the enduring impact of books like The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and Dear John, discussing how personal loss shaped his writing and why great love stories often contain tragedy. They discuss Nicholas’ collaboration with M. Night Shyamalan on the book an...

James Patterson and legendary guitarist, songwriter, producer, and actor Stevie Van Zandt discuss the explosive cultural impact of the 1960s, the rise of rock and roll on the Jersey Shore, songwriting, politics, creativity, and his unforgettable role as Silvio Dante on The Sopranos. Van Zandt reflects on being inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, working alongside Bruce Springsteen, and...

James Patterson sits down with Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser to discuss his incredible Hollywood journey from Encino Man toThe Whale. Fraser shares behind-the-scenes insights into his latest historical drama film, Pressure, where he takes on the challenging role of General Dwight D. Eisenhower during the high-stakes lead-up to D-Day. He reflects on the power of leadership, the importance of e...

Bestselling romance author Lucy Score joins James Patterson for a candid conversation about writing, fame, creativity, and building one of the most loyal fanbases in publishing. Lucy opens up about using a pen name, growing up in a book-obsessed family, balancing privacy with success, and how her upbringing shaped her emotionally rich, funny, and addictive novels. James and Lucy also discuss story...

In this episode, James Patterson and Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana discuss the Senator’s new book, How to Test Negative for Stupid. Senator Kennedy shares stories from his upbringing in Zachary, Louisiana, his time at Vanderbilt and Oxford, and his experiences as a substitute teacher. They delve into the critical importance of literacy and education reform, as well as the absurdity of federal...

We're doing something special on this episode of Hungry Dogs in honor of Mother's Day: James Patterson and his wife, Sue Patterson, share the story of their 40-year journey from their first meeting at an ad agency to becoming bestselling co-authors. They dive into the creative process behind their best-selling collaborations, Big Words for Little Geniuses, Things I Wish I Told My Mother, and The M...

James Patterson interviews Fox News anchor Dana Perino about her transition from White House Press Secretary to fiction writer. They discuss her new political rom-com, Purple State, and explore whether personal chemistry can bridge deep ideological and political divides. Perino shares expert communication strategies, including her "read it twice" rule for dealing with criticism, and the vital impo...

Freida McFadden joins James Patterson for a conversation about twist endings, suspense, and what makes a thriller impossible to put down. The bestselling author of The Housemaid talks about the “cringe factor” she loves in fiction, how she thinks about reader expectations, and why the best twists only work when they feel surprising and inevitable at the same time. They also discuss McFadden’s path...

Patrick Radden Keefe joins James Patterson for a conversation about storytelling, journalism, and how nonfiction can carry the suspense of a thriller. Keefe, the acclaimed author of Say Nothing, Empire of Pain, and London Falling, talks about finding stories in unexpected places, building narrative from real events, and why facts alone are not enough to hold a reader. They discuss Keefe’s path fro...

Maury Povich joins James Patterson for a wide-ranging conversation about his unexpected path from serious journalist to one of the most recognizable figures in television history. Before becoming a cultural icon, Maury was covering some of the biggest moments in American history, including the Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, and Watergate. He reflects on those early years in jour...

James Patterson sits down with Dr. Patrick Leddin to talk about disruption and why it has become a constant part of modern life. From rapid changes in technology to shifting expectations at work and at home, they explore why so many people feel like they are simply trying to keep up. Drawing from their book Disrupt Everything and Win, they explain why disruption itself is not the problem, but how...

Viola Davis and James Patterson join The New York Times' Sarah Lyall for a conversation about their new novel Judge Stone and the collaboration behind it. They discuss how the project began, what it takes to build a story together, and how their different backgrounds shaped the book. For Viola, it was a return to collaboration after years of working independently in film, while for James it was ab...

Lee Child and Andrew Child join James Patterson for a conversation about the creation of Jack Reacher, their unconventional writing process, and how one of the most iconic characters in modern fiction continues to evolve. Lee shares the story of getting fired at nearly 40 and how that moment pushed him to write his first novel, a turning point that ultimately led to the global success of the Reach...

On this episode of Hungry Dogs, James Patterson sits down with Erik Larson, the bestselling author behind Devil in the White City, The Splendid and the Vile, and Thunderstruck. Larson reveals how he stumbled onto the Devil in the White City story through an encyclopedia of murder and a PhD dissertation with incredible footnotes, and why he was convinced the book would end his career the night befo...

Charles Duhigg joins James Patterson for a conversation about habits, behavior change, communication, and why “life hacks” rarely lead to lasting transformation. Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Super Communicators, explains the science behind the cue–routine–reward loop and why nearly half of what we do each day isn...

Vicky Ward joins James Patterson for a revealing conversation about Jeffrey Epstein, power, and the systems that allowed him to operate for decades. Ward, one of the first journalists to profile Epstein in 2003, reflects on the intimidation tactics she experienced firsthand and why Epstein’s influence extended far beyond what most people understood at the time. They explore the psychology of Epste...

Brad Meltzer joins James Patterson for a wide ranging conversation about rejection, resilience, and the unpredictable path to success. Meltzer reflects on receiving 24 rejection letters before publishing his first novel and why those early setbacks shaped his career far more than any instant success story. They discuss how comic books helped turn them both into lifelong readers, the hidden lessons...

James Patterson sits down with Aldis Hodge and Ben Watkins, the star and showrunner of Amazon’s Cross, to talk about bringing Alex Cross from the page to the screen. They discuss what it means to reinterpret one of fiction’s most iconic detectives, why the series focuses on new stories rather than direct adaptations, and how Cross is written as a father, partner, and human being first. Catch the p...

James Patterson sits down with author and Harvard professor Dr. Arthur Brooks for a conversation about happiness, suffering, and what actually makes life meaningful. Brooks explains why true happiness requires pain, why eliminating struggle leads to dissatisfaction, and how learning from failure is essential to growth. They discuss the science behind happiness, the difference between success and m...

James Patterson speaks with acclaimed novelist Daniel Kehlmann about literature, history, and the quiet decisions that shape moral responsibility. Kehlmann discusses growing up between Germany and the United States, differences in reading culture and education, and why habits of reading matter more than ever. They explore Kehlmann’s novel The Director, which examines how ordinary people become com...

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 discus...