Hungry Dogs with James Patterson

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 premiere of Season 2 of Cross today on Prime Video!

00:00 Intro

01:09 Discussing Season Two of Cross

02:47 Character Complexity and Realism

05:43 The Evolution of Alex Cross

07:11 Behind the Scenes: Writer's Room Insights

12:33 Comparing TV Shows and Movies

14:03 Creating New Stories Beyond the Books

16:03 Character Development and Flaws

17:07 Acting and Watchmaking

19:51 The Art of Television Writing

22:02 Exciting Twists in Season Two

25:07 Upcoming Projects and Collaborations
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 meaning, the importance of relationships, and how our priorities shift as we age. Drawing from Brooks’ research, teaching, and writing, this episode explores how to build a life rooted in purpose rather than chasing constant pleasure.

00:00 Intro
01:04 The Harvard Happiness Course
02:25 The Science of Happiness
10:12 The Importance of Friendships
15:59 Balancing Work and Family
25:43 Understanding Intelligence Over Time
30:02 Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence
32:06 Disrupt Everything: Embracing Change
36:06 Encouraging Writers to Finish Their Books
42:56 Global Poverty and Economic Freedom
44:52 Loving Your Enemies (Seriously)
50:33 The Power of Storytelling and Memory
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 complicit inside authoritarian systems, and why evil rarely arrives as a single defining moment. The conversation touches on moral judgment, censorship, artistic responsibility, comedy in dark times, and how small, defensible choices can slowly lead societies down dangerous paths.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 discuss how writers observe power from the outside, what leadership looks like when character is tested, and why moments of absolute certainty are often the most dangerous in public life. Drawing on her time writing for Ronald Reagan and later reflecting on his presidency, Noonan shares lessons about decency, civic life, political courage, and what it means to remain intellectually honest when the country feels unsettled.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Patterson talks with Michael J. Fox about optimism, acceptance, and choosing how to move forward in the face of uncertainty. Fox reflects on writing his memoir Future Boy, why acceptance does not mean resignation, and how understanding what is allows you to keep going rather than give up.

They discuss living publicly with Parkinson’s, using humor as a survival tool, and why action matters more than false positivity. Fox also shares how the Michael J. Fox Foundation has helped transform Parkinson’s research, why skepticism is healthy but cynicism is corrosive, and how investing in people and science can create real, lasting change.

00:00 Intro

01:11 Acceptance and Resilience

02:12 Michael J. Fox's Writing Journey

07:19 Rock and Roll Fantasies

08:23 Friendship with Muhammad Ali

16:20 Parkinson's and Advocacy

20:12 Family and Personal Reflections

24:22 Living in New York

25:08 Career Reflections

26:17 Writing and Storytelling

28:25 Dealing with Bullies

29:58 Health Challenges and Optimism

34:40 Philanthropy and Research

40:20 Today's Politics

Try Novelium today and get your first month free at https://novelium.so/ with code PATTERSON
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices