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12 hours ago
12 hours ago
Join host David Watson for a candid and wide-ranging conversation with his returning guest, author Martin R. Nelson.
In this episode, they tackle everything from the universal comfort of cookies and milkshakes to the heavy burdens of self-doubt and financial struggle.
Martin opens up about his hectic life juggling a full-time teaching job, a move, and a second child on the way, all while promoting his latest high-fantasy novel, The Culling of Souls, the sequel to Children of the Dying Hearth.
He shares the profound themes of his Annals of Tessian series, exploring how characters must leave their comfort zones and "cull their souls" to grow.
The discussion then pivots to the harsh realities of the creative world. Martin and David have a raw and honest talk about the challenges of indie publishing, the feeling of creating for an empty stadium, and the constant battle with the question: "What will people think?"
They also dive into broader societal issues, touching on the housing market, the paradox of tolerance, and the state of free speech and politics in the UK and beyond.
This is a must-watch for aspiring authors, fantasy fans, and anyone who has ever questioned their own worth or path in life.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & Martin's Busy Life
1:45 - The Power of Cookies & Milkshakes
7:00 - The Gift That Gets You Out of Trouble
10:16 - The Male Struggle with Self-Worth & Spending
12:36 - David's Story: Bankruptcy and Homelessness
17:08 - Then vs. Now: The Housing Market Crisis
19:00 - The Frugal Path to Home Ownership
24:04 - The Man Who Chose Status Over Freedom
29:58 - The Problem with Class and Status Systems
34:02 - The Japanese Mindset of Service
45:00 - Airport Horror Stories
51:19 - Focusing on the Books!
52:10 - Introducing the Annals of Tessian Series
58:45 - The Theme of Children of the Dying Hearth
1:00:12 - The Theme of The Culling of Souls
1:03:00 - Trauma, Growth, and Using Emotions as a Window
1:09:15 - The Creator's Dilemma: Self-Doubt & The Empty Stadium
1:18:03 - The Gatekeepers of Publishing & The Noise of Indie Authorship
1:25:15 - The Power of a "Body of Work"
1:31:00 - The Humanizing Power of a Conversation
1:49:00 - Tolkien, Politics, and the Real-World Scouring of the Shire
1:55:00 - The State of Free Speech in the UK
2:06:00 - The Epstein Files, Legal Realities, and Systemic Corruption
2:19:50 - A Ruler's True Role: To Serve
2:22:59 - Outro
Find Martin's Books: https://martinraynelson.com/
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
Fantasy author Martin R. Nelson joins David Watson for a candid conversation about the brutal reality of the creative life, the deep themes in his high fantasy series "The Annals of Tessian," and the relentless struggle to get noticed in a saturated world.
We dive into his new book, "The Culling of Souls," and its predecessor, "Children of the Dying Hearth," exploring the powerful ideas that fuel them.
Martin breaks down how the first book is about the courage to leave your comfort zone—a theme embodied by a teenage boy who might be the heir to a lost empire, a 600-year-old elf who’s still just a kid, and a noble ruler forced to get his hands dirty.
The sequel, "The Culling of Souls," tackles a more internal battle: the painful but necessary act of cutting away the parts of yourself that hold you back, like a traumatic memory that no longer has to define your tomorrow.
This isn't just a book talk; it's a raw look into the heart of an indie author.
Martin opens up about the crushing self-doubt that comes with asking people to buy your work, the frustration of hitting a wall with gatekeepers and expensive (and sometimes useless) editorial reviews, and the overwhelming noise of 4,000+ books published every single day.
He shares the "empty stadium" feeling of creating incredible work with no crowd watching, and the crucial difference between an athlete's measurable "personal best" and a creator's invisible race.
But the conversation is also filled with hope and hard-won wisdom.
They discuss the power of building a "body of work" and waiting for that one brick to be knocked out of the wall, as described by podcaster Dan Carlin, so the people on the other side can finally see you.
Martin shares stories from the band Stereophonics about how their biggest hit was a song they almost threw away, proving that sometimes you just have to keep showing up.
They also touch on the practical side of book promotion, debating the merits of targeted Amazon ads versus scattergun PR and the hilarious potential (and pitfalls) of using AI to create promotional videos.
If you're a writer, artist, or anyone trying to create something meaningful, this episode is a must-watch.
It's a testament to the idea that even if the stadium is empty, you have to lace up your boots and run the race anyway—because the only thing you can control is showing up for tomorrow.
Timestamps:
0:00 - The Indie Author's Dilemma
1:09 - Introducing Martin R. Nelson & "The Annals of Tessian"
2:18 - The Theme of "Children of the Dying Hearth": Leaving Your Comfort Zone
4:45 - The 600-Year-Old Elf: A Fun Fantasy Trope
6:00 - The Honorable Ruler Who Needs to Get His Hands Dirty
8:14 - The Bilbo Baggins Principle: No Hero's Journey from an Armchair
9:07 - "The Culling of Souls": Cutting Away What Holds You Back
11:13 - The Trauma That Defines You vs. The Trauma You Learn From
14:34 - Emotions Are a Window to the Soul
16:11 - The Truman Show: How Trauma Traps You
17:02 - The Universal Struggle: Jesus, Buddha, and Marcus Aurelius
18:36 - The Crushing Self-Doubt of Selling Your Own Work
20:11 - The Joe Rogan Comparison & The Empty Stadium
22:50 - The Athlete's "Personal Best" vs. The Creator's Invisible Race
24:02 - Van Gogh, Bob Ross & Finding Success After You're Gone
26:25 - The Power of a Good Conversation (and Respecting Boundaries)
29:01 - The Stereophonics Story: "Just Some Shit" Becomes a Hit
32:13 - Dan Carlin's "Wall" Theory & the Body of Work
34:39 - The Gatekeepers: Agents, Publishers, and 4,000 Daily Books
38:10 - The $700 Kirkus Review That Was Total Garbage
40:06 - AI Video Promotion: Hilarious Failures & Huge Potential
43:56 - Amazon Ads: Targeting the Right Niche
45:05 - The Power of the "Everyman" Podcast
48:06 - Turning Up the Volume for the RIGHT People
51:00 - The Fascination with the "Everyman" in History
52:28 - How You Can Support Indie Authors
Martin https://martinraynelson.com/
15 hours ago
15 hours ago
In this profound episode of the David Watson Podcast, I sit down with Peter, author of the debut literary fiction novel Passages: The Voids from War to Peace.
Our conversation spans from the majestic coastlines and whale migrations to the deep, often painful corridors of the human mind.
We begin by discussing the simple, awe-inspiring power of nature—watching grey whales migrate off the coast and the profound connection to the wild.
This leads us into a much deeper exploration of trauma, healing, and the moral injury that shapes lives.
Peter, drawing on his extensive career in medicine and military service during the Vietnam era, shares the inspiration behind his novel.
We tackle the complex legacy of the Vietnam War, contrasting its cultural portrayal with the grim reality of combat and the unique challenges veterans faced upon returning home.
The discussion expands to a critical look at modern society, technology, and generational divides.
We explore how the rise of smartphones has stripped away the boredom that fuels curiosity, the dehumanizing effects of constant connectivity, and the challenge of finding hope in a world saturated with negativity.
This is a conversation about resilience, courage, and the quiet acts of kindness that provide a lifeline to those at their lowest point.
We discuss the importance of human connection, the foundations of Western democracy, and the hope that is essential for us to achieve amazing things.
In this episode, we explore: The inspiration and themes behind Peter's novel, Passages: The Voids from War to Peace.
The cultural and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on a generation.
How technology has changed our capacity for boredom, curiosity, and deep thought. The generational shifts in perspective on patriotism, society, and trauma.
The profound power of human connection and hope in the face of adversity.
The courage and resilience found in everyday people confronting extraordinary challenges.
Peter https://www.pkedgewater.com/
You can find Peter's book, Passages: The Voids from War to Peace, on Amazon and through Ingram Spark. David Watson Podcast
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Are you struggling to finish your book? Does "writer's block" feel like an unbeatable wall?
In this revealing conversation, author and writing coach April Dávila sits down with David Watson to share the transformative practice that helped her go from struggling writer to published author.
April discovered that the key wasn't more discipline, but mindfulness.
By training her brain to focus, silence the inner critic, and treat writing with the respect it deserves, she unlocked a new level of productivity and joy in her craft.
This isn't about writing more; it's about suffering less while you do it. In this episode, we dive deep into:
The #1 Myth of Writer's Block: What's really stopping you from putting words on the page (and it's not a lack of ideas).
The Power of a Scheduled Appointment: Why treating your writing time like a non-negotiable meeting is the ultimate productivity hack.
How to Silence Your Inner Critic: A simple mindfulness technique to recognize that critical voice as just another thought and keep writing anyway.
The Surprising Role of Meditation: How a short pre-writing ritual can get you into a deep flow state faster and more consistently.
Why "Bad" First Drafts are Essential: The truth about rewriting and why you must embrace imperfection to create something great.
Building Unbreakable Writing Habits: How to stop practicing the art of procrastination and start practicing the art of showing up.
Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting to think about writing a book, this interview is packed with actionable advice that will change the way you approach your work.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction & April's Family History in California
(09:31) - The Real Reason We Write: April's Writing Manifesto
(14:18) - Why Writing to "Teach a Lesson" Fails
(16:06) - David's Personal Story: Writing from the Heart
(18:57) - Overcoming "Writer's Block": It's Not What You Think
(23:28) - April's Journey: From Science to Writing
(24:35) - The Mindfulness Breakthrough That Changed Everything
(29:26) - The Ritual: How to Get Your Brain Ready to Write
(31:49) - The Science of Setting an Intention
(33:17) - Your Habits are a Restaurant: Are You Ordering the Right Thing?
(35:21) - April's Upcoming Book: "sit. right. here."
(36:23) - Dealing with Imposter Syndrome (Even for Bestselling Authors)
(39:25) - Turning Family History into Compelling Fiction
(41:11) - The Art of the Romance Story
(44:42) - Why Not Everyone Will Love Your Book (And That's OK)
(45:43) - The Surprising Dark Side of Roald Dahl
(48:01) - The Lost Art of Making a Living from Short Stories
(51:39) - Where to Find April Dávila
(51:51) - The Time Machine Question
Guest: April Davila Book and resources: SitRightHere.com April online: Aprila.com and @AprilDavila
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
When her daughter was diagnosed with autism, a Yale PhD with a background in medical strategy was told by specialists, "There's not really much you can do.
Things usually get worse." She refused to accept that. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Theresa Lions shares her journey from the pharmaceutical industry to becoming a leading autism advocate.
We dive deep into the science that mainstream doctors often miss, including the shocking data that a percentage of children actually lose their diagnosis, and the concrete steps parents can take to find answers.
This isn't about a "cure." It's about understanding the root causes, from gut health and vitamin deficiencies to the complex biochemistry of the brain.
If you or someone you know is affected by autism, this episode is a must-watch for hope, clarity, and a new path forward.
TIMESTAMPS / KEY CHAPTERS:
0:00 - The Biggest Misconception About Autism
3:55 - Why I Struggle to Communicate With My Autistic Nephew
5:05 - The Real Reason for "Yes/No" Answers (It's Not What You Think)
7:23 - The Secret Jokes of Non-Speaking Autistic Kids
10:42 - "Things Get Worse, Not Better": The Devastating Diagnosis
12:55 - The 10% Statistic That Changed Everything
16:07 - From Yale Scientist to Autism Advocate: The Turning Point
18:34 - Why Big Pharma Isn't Solving Autism
20:49 - The "Dharma" That Forced Her Onto YouTube
25:46 - The First Step for Any Overwhelmed Parent
29:12 - The Simple Blood Test That Can Dramatically Improve Mood & Sleep
31:06 - The #1 Diet Change That Helps Most Kids with Autism
35:31 - What Actually Causes Autism? The Answer Will Surprise You
38:07 - The Brain Folate Deficiency Affecting 70% of Kids
40:26 - Is Autism an Identity or a Diagnosis?
42:08 - The Trauma of Watching a Child Harm Themselves
44:33 - A New Way to Communicate with Non-Speaking Individuals
45:54 - Find Dr. Theresa Lions' Resources
Connect with Dr. Theresa Lions: https://awetism.net/
YouTube 
/ @navigatingawetism
Website & Platform: https://navigatingautism.com (spelled A-U-T-I-S-M)
YouTube: Search "Teresa Lions" for over a decade of science-backed autism videos. Follow the David Watson Podcast for more deep conversations that challenge the status quo.
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, I’m joined by Shannon Evans, creator of Tom Bigby Tales, a history podcast and YouTube channel exploring the people, places, cemeteries, and forgotten stories of Columbus, Mississippi and the surrounding area.
We start with the Tom Bigby River, a Choctaw-named river with an unexpected meaning, and quickly move into the deeper theme of the conversation: how much extraordinary history sits right on your doorstep, hidden in plain sight, until someone starts digging.
Shannon explains how Tom Bigby Tales began as a response to local frustration, public money, and accountability, and how that investigative work eventually evolved into history storytelling through cemetery walks, public records, archives, and local research.
The result is a growing collection of stories about inventors, war heroes, designers, community figures, and local legends that often turn out to be more complicated (or more surprising) than the versions people repeat.
We also talk about Mississippi’s “tangible history” and how personal memory connects to major historical eras, including Prohibition, Civil War aftermath, local myths around stately homes, the Dixie Mafia, bootlegging networks, and the way communities create stories that sound great but don’t always stand up to evidence.
Along the way, Shannon shares examples of remarkable people connected to her hometown, including:
• local links to the Dixie Mafia and the bootlegging era
• aviation stories and military history, including Tuskegee Airmen
• women connected to major inventions and public health advances
• the hidden social history inside stately homes and preserved architecture
• why cemeteries can be one of the most honest records of a community
If you enjoy history, local mysteries, and real stories backed by research, you’ll enjoy this episode.
Find Shannon / Tom Bigby Tales
YouTube: Tomigby Tales
Website: tomigbytales.com
Podcast: available on major podcast platforms
Substack: Shannon Evans (local governance, grift, and graft)
Chapters / timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:30 Tom Bigby River and the Choctaw meaning
2:29 Why Tom Bigby Tales started (public records, local frustration)
5:13 Cemetery walks, one-minute videos, and going viral
7:18 Incredible local lives hiding in plain sight
9:27 Stately homes, local myths, and what research really shows
19:15 The Dixie Mafia, bootlegging, and how it really worked
23:33 Tangible history in America vs ancient history in the UK
26:43 How the YouTube channel began and evolved
29:53 Unexpected and tragic stories from the cemetery archives
37:01 Family history, treaties, and Mississippi settlement
41:30 Post-Civil War changes, rebuilding, and new communities
43:19 Where to find Shannon
44:06 Time machine question
45:01 What to visit in Columbus, Mississippi
45:46 Closing
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, I’m joined by Barbara Muhika, a former professor and novelist, for a deep conversation about the life, image, and legacy of Mexican film icon Dolores del Río (often called “Lola”).
Barbara explains how she first became fascinated with Lola through her research while writing a novel about Frida Kahlo, and why del Río stood out as a striking contrast to Kahlo’s bold, shocking public persona.
We explore Lola’s elegance, discipline, resilience, and the obstacles she faced moving between Mexico and Hollywood during a period shaped by silent films, the arrival of “talkies,” studio marketing, and changing political attitudes in America.
We also discuss how Hollywood attempted to “rebrand” del Río for US audiences, the realities of the era’s anti-miscegenation attitudes on screen, and how del Río navigated identity, roles, and opportunity as the industry changed.
Barbara shares how del Río’s career evolved as audiences became more xenophobic in the lead-up to war, and why returning to Mexico ultimately opened a new chapter during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, including work connected to films that helped put Mexican cinema on the international map.
One of the most powerful parts of this episode is a lesser-known side of del Río: her philanthropic work to improve childcare for working women in Mexico’s theatre and film communities, and how that effort helped create a real system of early-years care rather than simple “holding centres.”
We also talk about Barbara’s wider writing life, from academia and teaching Spanish theatre to her work supporting US student veterans, and how themes of war, loss, and the unseen “carnage at home” shape her books.
Guest: Barbara Muhika
Website: barbaramujica.com
Books mentioned include: Miss Del Rio, Freda, Sister Teresa, I Am Venus, and more (available on Amazon).
Chapters / timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:46 Why Barbara can talk for hours about Dolores del Río
1:32 Del Río vs Frida Kahlo: two very different public personas
4:06 Early marriage, loss, and resilience
6:40 The move to Hollywood and early stardom
8:01 The “Latin lover” era and Hollywood image-making
10:19 Race, studios, and how del Río was marketed
13:49 Talkies and why del Río survived the transition
15:46 Xenophobia, war years, and career decline
19:11 Return to Mexico and the Golden Age of Mexican cinema
23:06 Del Río’s childcare legacy and philanthropy
27:10 Writing the novel: why Barbara invented a narrator
36:04 Barbara’s writing background and academic career
41:03 Veterans work, women in war, and the stories not shown on film
46:39 Where to find Barbara’s books and website
48:07 The time machine question (India, Istanbul, Iraq, and audiobooks)
50:57 Closing thoughts
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
What happens when politics stops being debate and starts behaving like a religion?
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I speak with author Steven Ford about his novels No Free Speech for Hate and Destiny of a Free Spirit two books that explore political polarisation, identity ideology, free speech, and the future of human control.
Steven’s work isn’t about taking sides.
It’s about asking uncomfortable questions: why modern societies are fragmenting into echo chambers, why disagreement is increasingly treated as moral failure, and what happens when institutions stop tolerating dissent.
We also explore artificial intelligence, post-war global governance, and whether humanity is drifting toward a world that prioritises control and efficiency over freedom and human instinct.
This is a calm, thoughtful conversation about human nature, history repeating itself, and the risks of pushing any belief system too far whether political, technological, or ideological.
In this conversation:
• Why political polarisation keeps accelerating
• How ideology begins to resemble religion
• Free speech, hate speech, and who defines the line
• Why echo chambers destroy dialogue
• The danger of cancelling dissent
• The pendulum effect in politics and history
• Artificial intelligence as a future governing force
• Control versus freedom in human societies
• What history teaches us about power and belief
Steven Ford online:
Website: stevenford.co.uk Books available via major online retailers
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I’m joined by Danielle Frank, author of The Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting, a satirical, illustrated book that uses wine terminology to talk about how kids grow, learn, fail, and eventually stand on their own.
Danielle works in the wine and spirits industry, travels extensively, and brings a refreshing outsider’s perspective to parenting not as a parent, but as a highly observant aunt who understands human behaviour, boundaries, and why over-controlling rarely works.
We talk about why kids need space to breathe, how parenting parallels wine making more than people realise, and why humour may be the most underused parenting tool of all.
Along the way, the conversation moves through wine culture, travel, creativity, dating, modern social habits, and how life looked very different before phones ran everything.
This is a light, thoughtful, and genuinely funny conversation that doesn’t pretend parenting is perfect or that adults have it all figured out either.
In this conversation:
• Why parenting advice doesn’t need to be heavy to be useful
• How wine terminology maps surprisingly well onto child development
• Why kids need space, mistakes, and independence
• Being an aunt (or uncle) and seeing behaviour more clearly
• Working in wine and spirits for a global luxury brand
• Travel, storytelling, and why place matters
• Dating, phones, and what social skills we’ve lost
• Why humour helps people hear difficult truths
Danielle online: Book: The Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting Available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble Website: daniellefrankauthor.com
Instagram: @createagreatstory
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
I didn’t know this history of Canada at all and at points in this conversation I’m genuinely speechless.
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I’m joined by Angie Elita Newell, an Indigenous historian and author, to talk about the part of Canadian history many people outside Canada (and even inside Canada) were never properly taught: residential schools, forced assimilation policies, and why these stories aren’t just “the past” for Indigenous communities.
Angie shares her own family experience, explains how government policies evolved over time, and why it matters to talk about history in a way that’s honest, nuanced, and human.
We also explore what gets simplified in mainstream history, how stereotypes form, and how we move forward without erasing what happened.
This is a conversation about Canada, Indigenous history, and the reality that modern history can still be living history. In this conversation:
• What residential schools were, and why they lasted so long
• The shift from removing children to placing them in non-Indigenous homes (Sixties Scoop)
• Why Indigenous history in North America is complex, not black and white
• The long shadow of colonial policy in modern life
• How to talk about history without becoming trapped in bitterness
• Why learning the truth changes how you see the present Angie online:
Website: www.angieelitanewell.com/all-i-see-is-violence Chapters:
00:00 Intro: “I didn’t know this history”
01:31 Angie’s background and becoming a historian
02:43 Residential schools explained
03:58 Family impact and child removal policies
06:19 “This is recent” (70s, 80s, 90s)
09:21 Why Indigenous history is “Swiss cheese” and deeply nuanced
10:40 Making history accessible, not just academic
14:31 Why these policies still matter today
15:41 Acknowledging history instead of “separating” it
17:01 Stereotypes vs reality of Indigenous civilizations
18:12 “Most people in the UK don’t know this exists”
21:53 Museums, archaeology, and what gets taken
22:45 Stonehenge, Avebury, and layered history
24:35 The colonial blueprint isn’t new
26:04 The “apocalypse” framing and what gets lost
30:19 Death before dishonour and last stands
32:50 Female warriors written out of history
35:18 “This is still in the 21st century”
36:23 Modern harms and why it hits like a punch
39:51 Governments, hypocrisy, and denial
41:58 Arrests for resisting school removal
43:01 Reservations, rations, dependency, and urban relocation
45:09 American Indian Movement and Wounded Knee
46:14 How England changed Angie’s opportunities
48:26 Middle ground vs extremes
50:10 “There isn’t a right answer, only what we do next”
51:23 Letting history inform tomorrow, not poison it
52:12 Tangible history and living memory
55:24 Custer, contradiction, and the tragedy of Little Bighorn
57:08 Oral history, archives, and building the novel
59:05 The Guernsey/Jersey film example and complexity
1:02:07 Where to find Angie and the book
1:03:10 Time machine question: DeLorean, Chichester, Led Zeppelin
1:04:25 Closing reflections