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The more you talk to people the more you realise how much we all have in common.
Episodes
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
They met in a grief support group after losing their husband and wife and neither of them was looking for a new relationship.
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, Bob and Tammy Cranston share a rare and genuinely uplifting story about love after loss: how grief brought them into the same room, how a simple “new normal” list turned into ballroom dancing, and how laughter returned for the first time after death.
Tammy also shares the journey of caring for a spouse with stage four cancer, why she became a hospice bereavement volunteer, and what she learned from listening to people at the end of life.
Bob, a neurologist, speaks openly about losing his wife and what it means to move forward without erasing the love that came before.
This conversation is about grief, faith, starting over, and what it looks like when a new relationship honours the old one instead of competing with it.
In this conversation:
• How they met through a hospice-sponsored grief support group
• The moment laughter returned (and the guilt that followed)
• “You can’t go back, you can’t stay here — you must go forward”
• Why bitterness can destroy you (and how they avoided it)
• The power of a blank journal and living intentionally
• Their tandem bicycle adventures across the USA
• How to love again without forgetting the person you lost Where to find Tammy and their books:
Website: tammycranston.com Books mentioned include: Why Not Me (memoir) and The Blank Journal (plus a children’s series on grief).
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: two losses, one love story
00:39 How they met in grief support
02:00 Tammy’s story: divorce, remarriage, cancer, hospice
03:57 Bob’s story: loss, reading grief books, joining the group
05:09 The “matchmaking” that wasn’t planned
06:36 Creating a new normal: the list that changed everything
07:22 Ballroom dancing begins
09:04 The first laugh after loss (and the guilt)
09:49 “Are we meeting as friends or is this a date?”
11:03 Choosing health: counselling and compatibility results
12:33 Family blessing and a wedding built around dancing
13:32 “Life is for the living”
14:19 The blank journal and building a shared bucket list @
15:36 Tumour news, perspective, and living intentionally
20:17 Adventures after marriage: tandem biking and memory-making
24:02 Turning the journey into a book
26:15 Bear territory, wrong directions, and the shortcut decision
29:49 Avoiding bitterness through faith
31:06 “Why not me?” and finding meaning after loss
34:57 What dying people regret most
37:19 The Blank Journal as a film-worthy story
41:48 Fear of loving and losing again
42:39 Honouring former partners without competition
44:13 The burial plot story: four lives, one shared respect
47:36 Children’s books that help kids understand grief
49:37 Where to find them and their work
50:20 Time machine question
54:10 Closing reflection: take the leap of faith
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
What If Your Worst Memories Never Happened?
What if the most painful memories of your life never actually happened?
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I speak with novelist and former film script supervisor Timothy J. Hunt about one of the most disturbing psychological questions imaginable: if memories can be implanted, altered, or reinforced by authority figures, how do you know your past is real?
Timothy’s latest novel, The Museum of Lies, explores the terror of discovering that a therapist connected to “recovered memory therapy” may have implanted false trauma.
If your identity is built on memory, and memory itself is unreliable, what happens when the foundation starts to collapse?
This conversation begins in the world of film continuity
A job dedicated to preserving the illusion of reality and slowly moves into darker territory: gaslighting, childhood trauma, mental illness, false memories, and the quiet horror of doubting your own mind.
We talk about:
• How recovered memory therapy led to false abuse cases
• Why memory is reconstruction, not playback
• Growing up around mental illness and extreme gaslighting
• What happens to identity when your past can’t be proven
• Why journaling can become a form of psychological self-defence
Despite the subject matter, this is a dark conversation with laughter.
Honest, unsettling, and deeply human.
Chapters
00:01 Introduction: “dark conversation with laughter”
00:56 What a script supervisor actually does (continuity)
04:27 The invisible job: you only notice it when it fails
07:00 “It takes a slightly crazy person” (the personality fit)
08:08 Finding the job at 50 and why it became the perfect role
10:10 Why Timothy stepped away from set life (the reality of 16–18 hour days)
14:46 The Museum of Lies: what the novel is and why it’s different
17:36 The disturbing cover: why the child is dressed as the devil
19:09 Childhood, “normal,” and growing up around mental illness
24:17 Appalachian roots in California and feeling like an outsider
31:34 The core premise: good fortune, terrible life, and doubt
33:27 Recovered memory therapy and the fear of implanted memories
37:36 The psychological horror: “Are my memories even mine?”
39:31 How memory actually works (reconstruction, not playback)
41:25 Gaslighting, shared memories, and journaling as a defence
44:17 Borderline personality disorder and public masks vs private reality
47:31 Forgiveness, empathy, and realising parents were struggling too
49:00 Growing up gay in the 60s and the lack of a frame of reference
53:34 Coming into yourself as AIDS begins
56:30 The stigma in the 90s and “they’ll die” (a real quote from a landlord)
1:01:38 Memory lane, the joke that lands: “Who knows if that was even real?”
1:01:53 Where to find the book and Timothy’s work
1:03:05 The time machine question: the car, the future, and the radio
1:05:05 Closing reflection: if “false memories” are discovered, that’s its own abuse
Guest: Timothy J. Hunt Book: The Museum of Lies (Clink Street Publishing). Where to find Timothy and the book Website: jtimothyhunt.com
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
n this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I’m joined by Monty Schulz, novelist, songwriter, and creative producer, for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, discipline, imagination, and the darker edges of history that fiction can illuminate.
We talk about: how Monty wrote Metropolis after a 16-year pause, then finished hundreds of pages in months why “writer’s block” is often fear, avoidance, or waiting for perfection the one-page rule (and how hunger can be a surprisingly effective motivator) finding your voice as a writer, and why “well-written” isn’t the same as “distinctive” the craft of writing difficult subject matter without losing the human truth why most friends and family don’t read your work (and why that’s normal) music vs novels, and Monty’s process of writing melodies first, then lyrics the idea behind Unders City: an alternate-history society shaped by eugenics, purge, and survival underground
If you write, want to write, or you’re fascinated by how artists build worlds that reflect real human history, this one will stay with you.
Monty’s books and websites: Metropolis: metropolisthebook.com Unders City (release date discussed in the episode): underscitythebook.com
If you found this useful: subscribe for more long-form conversations with writers, creators, and thinkers share this episode with a writer who’s stuck and needs a push to get words on the page comment with the biggest takeaway you’re applying this week
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I sit down with award-winning poet and cultural commentator Lee Woodman for a conversation about how poetry changes the way you see the world.
We explore Lee’s remarkable life story (Paris after WWII, childhood in India, and returning to America in the early 1960s), and how a global upbringing shaped her obsession with language, sound, texture, and colour.
From Van Gogh’s sunflower yellow to the psychology of colour in different cultures, Lee breaks down how she researches, builds, and performs poems, and why poetry is less about “feelings” and more about precision, observation, and lived experience.
Lee also reads from her work, including “Provocative Pink” and a short rhyming piece “Shades of Anger,” and we talk about how colour, culture, and perception can shift what we think we’re seeing.
If you enjoy conversations about creativity, perception, art, writing, and the deeper layers of everyday life, this one is for you.
Find Lee Woodman here: poetleewoodman.com
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
What if joy isn’t a personality trait — but a nervous system skill you can train?
Dr Sherry McAlister explains why touch, sleep, and small daily choices can change how you feel, think, and cope.
In this episode, I speak with Dr Sherry McAlister, a chiropractor and author of Adjusted Reality, about why modern life pulls us away from the basics that keep us well — and why most people outsource their health until something breaks.
We discuss:
Why health isn’t a to-do list, it’s a daily way of being
The overlooked power of touch and human connection
Why your nervous system can’t “close the loop” after ghosting and unresolved stress
How sleep works like a nightly reset and repair process
Why your body adapts like Jenga — until it can’t
The mindset shift from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what’s right that we can build on?”
Later in the conversation, she shares the personal turning point that led her into chiropractic care after a serious car accident — and why she believes small “micro adjustments” can stop bigger breakdowns over time.
Book: Adjusted Reality: Supercharge Your Whole Being for Optimal Living and Longevity Guest: Dr Sherry McAlister Website: https://drsherrymcallister.com/
Foundation page: https://www.f4cp.org/media/
This episode is for education and discussion. It is not medical advice. If you have symptoms or concerns, seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
Thursday Dec 18, 2025
A former Team USA athlete describes dementia-like symptoms in his 30s, years of brain fog, and why doctors missed it.
If you’ve ever had a concussion or unexplained mental changes, this matters.
In this episode, I speak with William Person, a former Team USA bobsled athlete who began experiencing confusion, memory problems, and severe brain fog in his 30s.
For years, medical tests showed “nothing wrong.” Meanwhile, his symptoms worsened, teammates died, and the warning signs were missed — including the long-term effects of repeated head trauma.
William explains:
Why concussion symptoms can appear months or years later How high-impact sports and vibration affect the brain
Why many people don’t realise something is wrong with them The difference between mental health struggles and physical brain injury
What he says helped him regain clarity after years of decline
Why this issue may affect athletes, veterans, and everyday people
This conversation is intense, personal, and uncomfortable at times — but it raises questions many people are afraid to ask.
This episode is not medical advice. It shares personal experience and opinion.
If you have concerns about head injury, concussion, or neurological symptoms, speak with a qualified medical professional.
Guest: William Person Social media: One Man With A Chamber
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Escaping A Cult, Saving His Family, Finding Faith Again – Peter Young | The David Watson Podcast What if you only realised you were in a cult after it had already destroyed your marriage, family life and sense of self?
In this episode I sit down with author and former sports broadcaster Peter Young (authopeteryoung.com) to talk about his 20–year journey in and out of a tiny but devastating religious cult – led by a man his family called “Uncle Robert”.
We talk about how it all began with love, faith and a “harmless” family mentor… and slowly turned into total control, brainwashing and the destruction of Peter’s marriage.
Peter shares how his children were taught he was “the devil”, how isolation and secrecy kept everyone trapped, and the moment a small flicker of doubt finally broke the spell.
Along the way we get into: – How Peter was slowly drawn into his wife’s tiny religious cult – The red flags he missed, and why “it could never happen to me” is so dangerous
The role of isolation, doubt and the “gatekeeper to God” in every cult
How cult leaders twist scripture, truth and genuine problems to sell their own solutions
The impact on his kids and the painful campaign of parental alienation
How his Christian faith survived, and why he believes Jesus pulled him out
My own brush with a meditation group that turned out to be far darker than it first appeared If you’ve ever thought “I’m too smart for a cult” or wondered how ordinary, intelligent people get swept up in these groups, this conversation will challenge you.
Listen in for a raw, honest look at manipulation, control, faith, pain and recovery and what to watch for if you (or someone you love) is getting drawn into something that feels “just a bit off”.
Find Peter Young: Website: https://authorpeteryoung.com
Memoir: “Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger” (cult survival and faith) Fiction series:
“The Blue Team” and “The Wardrobe of the Wolf” (sports as a metaphor for life)
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I sit down with Dr Peter B. Cotton – world-renowned gastroenterologist and creator of the award-winning “Fred the Snake” children’s book series – to talk about life after medicine, story-telling, and why his endoscope turned into a lovable snake called Fred.
Peter has written 10 rhyming picture books for children about Fred the Snake and his friends, including the brand-new “When Fred the Snake and Friends Learn the Chinese Zodiac – and the Great Race”.
We talk about how a career pioneering flexible endoscopy and ERCP became the unexpected inspiration for a gentle snake who teaches road safety, friendship, travel, and courage to kids and grandkids around the world.
In this conversation we cover:
• How a flexible endoscope became “Fred the Snake” and the start of a bedtime story
• Turning that original road-safety rhyme into the first book, “When Fred the Snake Got Squished and Mended”
• Why all the Fred books are written in rhyme and built around simple morals for children
• The new Chinese Zodiac book and the story of the Great Race – explaining years, animals and culture to kids
• Fred going to school, camping, the beach and traveling across the USA (East, Central and West) • The difference between writing scientific papers and imaginative children’s books
• What Peter has learned about confidence, voice and “writing what you’re actually good at”
• Grandparents, puppets and why reading to children still matters in a digital world
• Growing up in Herefordshire, training at Cambridge and in London, and why he moved to the USA
• Life on a small island in South Carolina, golf stories from around the world, and finally “hanging up” the clubs
• Reflections on retirement, legacy, family and finding a second creative career later in life If you’re a parent, grandparent, educator or aspiring children’s author, this episode is full of ideas about how to combine fun, rhyme and gentle life lessons in stories for young readers.
Find Peter Cotton and Fred the Snake:
Website (signed copies, blog and resources):
Fred the Snake books on Amazon (search): “Peter B. Cotton Fred the Snake”
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, I sit down again with children’s author Amy Pollack to talk about her Jelly Bean series – The Adventures of Jelly Bean, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, and The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean – and the very real issues young readers face today.
Amy explains how Jelly Bean’s world tackles topics like poverty, mixed-race identity, bullying at school, and the tensions between caring parents, independent children, and wise grandparents.
We talk about how parental prejudice can show up in subtle ways, how kids learn to think for themselves, and why grandparents often bring a calming, long-view perspective into family life.
Amy also shares powerful stories from her own family history: growing up with parents and grandparents shaped by the Great Depression, what real poverty looked like, and how those experiences inspired the characters and emotional depth in her books.
We explore why writing can be so therapeutic, how authors pour their own doubts and memories into fictional characters, and why Jelly Bean has become a “real role model” for so many young readers.
If you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or simply love children’s books that make kids think, you’ll enjoy this short, thoughtful conversation with Amy about empathy, resilience, and the messy reality of growing up.
In this episode we talk about: The Jelly Bean series and what each book explores Why Amy keeps the titles simple and clear How Jelly Bean deals with friendship, class, and mixed-race identity
Bullying in schools and how Jelly Bean responds in book four Parents’ fears, stereotypes, and trying to “protect” their children
The role of grandparents as listeners, guides and stabilising influences Amy’s own parents and grandparents, poverty in the Depression era, and “Sunday best” shoes
How writing helps us process grief, memory and complicated emotions
Why Jelly Bean ended up being called a real role model
Find Amy Pollack and the Jelly Bean books: Website: https://amypollack.com
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, I sit down with former Reuters journalist and IMF publisher Jeremy Clift, now the author of two thought-provoking sci-fi novels: “Born in Space” and “Space Vault.”
We start with his life as a foreign correspondent in the 70s, 80s and 90s – Paris, Beirut, Egypt, India, China under Deng Xiaoping – what he calls “the front row of history.”
From there we dig into how news used to be gathered, the craft of great writing and editing, and why trust in media has eroded in the 24-hour news and social media age.
Then we move into the future: asteroid mining, the coming space economy, gene editing, AI, robots in every home, universal basic income, and the huge ethical questions around who owns life, data and even our memories.
Jeremy explains how all of this feeds into his sci-fi series and why he thinks the next few decades will be truly transformational for humanity. If you like deep, nostalgic conversations that run from smoky newsrooms and outside toilets in 60s Britain to Neurolink, space vaults and sentient robots, this one’s for you.
What we talk about in this episode: Growing up in post-war Britain and the “you’ve never had it so good” generation Training as a Reuters journalist and reporting from Paris, Beirut, Egypt, India, Indonesia, China and beyond How newsrooms used to work: deadlines, teleprinters, foreign bureaus and serious editors
The rise of 24-hour news and why verification and integrity became harder to protect Fake or distorted reporting, “agenda-driven” editing and why audiences now have to be their own filter
Moving from Reuters to the IMF and learning the craft of book and research publishing Why asteroid mining, the moon and the space economy could upend global wealth and power Seeds, gene editing and “who owns life?” – the core themes of Space Vault AI, robots, Neurolink and grief tech: talking to digital versions of loved ones Universal basic income, surplus labour and the tension between human nature and technological change
Why Jeremy chose sci-fi instead of spy thrillers – and how his reporting past shapes his fiction 0:00 Intro – why I wanted Jeremy on the podcast
0:41 Jeremy joins the show
3:41 Old order vs new order in politics and journalism
10:04 Childhood in post-war Britain and moving around with the Navy
17:06 Learning journalism at Reuters and early foreign postings
24:30 Trust, manipulation and the 24-hour news cycle
32:40 From Reuters to the IMF and into publishing
34:24 Born In Space – space labs, children and identity
39:18 Space Vault, seed banks and “who owns life?”
45:40 AI, robots, grief tech and ethics
52:05 Universal basic income and the future of work
59:44 Where to find Jeremy and his books
1:01:15 Closing thoughts Find Jeremy and his work:
Website: jeremycliftebooks.com
Books: “Born in Space” and “Space Vault” (available on Amazon and wider retailers) Audiobook: Born in Space on Audible, narrated by Gabrielle Gums Gordon