The First Time

It’s a whole new season and a whole new format but the same old hosts.    Kate and Katherine haven’t spoken in oh about forever and there’s a lot to catch up on. Books they’ve been reading!  Things they’ve been listening to!  Other items!    Unfortunately, they get a little ahead of themselves vis a vis TECHNOLOGY, which is a lesson in a) how to use a microphone and b) failure.    Enjoy :)  Check...

And this is IT! Our final episode of Season Three! There are favourites, laughs, wisdom and news from our amazing Agony Aunt, Charlotte Wood, and relief that we now get to look forward to Season 4 in 2021! Our final cracker interview for the season is with writer and all round literary superstar, Maxine Beneba Clarke. We talk being a poet laureate, the different creative processes in writing and i...

We argue about pronunciation, lament a SA lockdown that is already outdated and consider our Writing Year That Was. Then Kate speaks with novelist Karen Wyld about her path to publication, diversity in publishing and her debut novel WHERE THE FRUIT FALLS. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod.   Do...

This episode is a collaboration with Darebin's FUSE festival. Our guest is writer and  author of The Whippet newsletter, McKinley Valentine.  For information on this five-part FUSE series and the FUSE festival check out Darebin FUSE Spring 2020 . Show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod

We are out of lockdown!! (You'll note we recorded this one week before we are now even LESS locked down!) We talk about what we did first, how Katherine is coping with Book Two edits and how Kate blundered through an Instagram takeover. Our Agony Aunt Charlotte Wood responds to a question from a writer who is feeling resentful of other writers getting all the attention. Then Kate speaks with Yuwaa...

This episode is a collaboration with Darebin's FUSE festival. Our guest is author of young adult and children's fiction, Leanne Hall.  For information on this five-part FUSE series and the FUSE festival check out Darebin FUSE Spring 2020 . Show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod

It seems fitting that in this our 100th (!!) episode, we do a deep dive into author and co-host Kate Mildenhall’s second novel #theMotherFault.  A warning: This one's riddles with spoilers so if you haven’t read the book yet, then a) what is wrong with you and b) I hope you don’t mind knowing Nick dies on the last page.  OR DOES HE?  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirs...

This episode is a collaboration with Darebin's FUSE festival. Our guest is feminist writer, broadcaster and public speaker Clementine Ford.  For information on this five-part FUSE series and the FUSE festival check out Darebin FUSE Spring 2020 . Show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod

This episode the hosts do some podcast-related housekeeping (really the only kind they're into), and mark the end of #ConversationsWithFriends with a 'Best of'.  It's like picking between your children!    Our Agony Aunt, Charlotte Wood, answers a question on author head shots and then Kate speaks with award winning, best selling author Trent Dalton about his latest novel All Our Shimmering Skies....

This episode is a collaboration with Darebin's FUSE festival. Our guest is award-winning writer, historian and podcaster Dr Yves Rees.  For information on this five-part FUSE series and the FUSE festival (so much great stuff and it's all online this year!) check out Darebin FUSE Spring 2020 . Show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Inst...

Kate's book has been out for three weeks and Katherine asks how it's going. The answer is, it's a rollercoaster. They also exchange interesting things that have piqued their interest this week. Our Agony Aunt, Charlotte Wood, answers a question on puffing and endorsements and then Kate speaks with debut novelist, Sam Coley about his Richell Prize winning State Highway One . We know you'll understa...

This episode is a collaboration with Darebin's FUSE festival. Our guest is award-winning writer, stand-up comedian and actor Kate McLennan.  Yes, that Kate McLennan!!  Her work includes The Katering Show and Get Krack!n...  For information on this five-part FUSE series and the FUSE festival (so much great stuff and it's all online this year!) check out Darebin FUSE Spring 2020 .  Show notes for th...

This episode marks one week since #TheMotherFault's come into the world.  The hosts discuss what Kate's been doing and re-live the launch, which was moving, entertaining and given we're in lockdown, online! Agony Aunt Charlotte Wood answers a question from 'Dispirited' about the quiet novel...    Then Katherine chats to Brisbane author Laura Elvery about her writing life and her STUNNING short sto...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with agent and author Danielle Binks and author and bookseller Fiona Hardy.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Sheila Ngoc Pham.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

In this episode: - Kate and Katherine discuss the art of the interview - Agony Aunt Charlotte Wood answers a question on self belief - We feature Brisbane author Cass Moriarty  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod.   Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Three via our Patreon pa...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with authors Rachel Mead and Katherine Tamiko Arguile. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with authors Mark Smith and Jock Serong.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This episode Kate and Katherine are feeling slightly more positive about life and lockdown.  Maybe it's because winning author and creative powerhouse Charlotte Wood is their new new agony aunt.  This week's question is from 'Little Fish' and is about what to expect from your agent.   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or In...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with authors Jack Heath and Sam McGregor. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with Justine Sless and Noe Harsel.   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

We indulge ourselves with a whinge about lockdown life in Melbourne, but endeavour to leave you on a high with some excellent news! Then Kate speaks with award winning writer Zana Fraillon in a blissful face to face discussion (for the brief moment that was allowed!). They discuss feeling like you've 'fluked it', writing what burns and the creative process in Zana's backyard studio where she has m...

This episode of Conversations with Friends #16 is with Bronwyn Birdsall and Sheree Strange. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This is a special episode brought to you in collaboration with the Apollo Bay Word Fest for their Warm Winter Words event. This interview with Tony Birch is the first of three linked interviews, followed by conversations with Lucy Treloar and Michael Veitch. In this conversation, Kate and Tony discuss storytelling, the power of place, powerful Aboriginal women and his latest novel The White Girl ....

This is a special episode brought to you in collaboration with the Apollo Bay Word Fest for their Warm Winter Words event. This interview with Lucy Treloar is the second of three linked interviews, the first with Tony Birch and the final with Michael Veitch. In this conversation, Kate and Lucy discuss the inspiration in watery places, writing the past and the future and Lucy's latest novel, Wolfe...