Kingsize

Boyfriend in a coma I know I know, it's serious. The world rolls on whilst Johnny's stays still. Until one day he awakens... We follow the fallout & the Resrrection in this episode.

We continue our walk through the cracked landscape of The Dead Zone .

We look at the twin evils of Frank Dodd and Greg Stillson.. mediocrity to hell !

Blessings or curses , lightness and dark - hold our hand and let's trip. x

Let your hosts Simon & Matt take you back to the winter wonderlands of The Dead Zone film. King & Cronenberg - a good marriage. Altogether now, " The ice is gonna break " !

We kiss goodbye to 22/11/63 with a look through the lens at the mini series adaptation starring James Franco. We talk credits , poundcake and philosophy. Meet you by the Depository. x

Join Matt and Si as they host a (haunted) house party with the finest Stephen King VIPS to celebrate 11/22/63. We throw back the wines and get stuck into the nibbles with Derry Public Radio, The Constant Reader Podcast, The Year Of Underrated Stephen King, Chat Sematary, Tower Junkies, Dave Musson, Jamie Stewart and Discover Derry Maine. It's a party with a guest list to die for ! Everyone shares their standout moments from the novel, where it ranks for them and what mark it leaves upon them. Deep dives into the heartache and the heart joy of this masterpiece... So put on your dancing shoes and come join us under the lights..

Lee Harvey has the Day That Changed The World in his sights. Jake & Sadie are fighting against the machines with teeth. The world is going to nuclear hell in a handcart . And Si and Matt are discussing the meaning of the word "boffo". Come dance with us.

It's finally here. The book that is a fan favourite & often an introduction to new Constant Readers to our Greatest Living Author. Join Matt and Si as they step back in time for the first 200 pages of the novel . We just look at Pts 1 & 2 in this episode, so it's spoiler free for anyone doing the readalong. We talk root beer, The Past, the power of a good cry.. oh, and a certain Clown makes an appearance yet again.

Join Matt for an in depth interview with the thriller writer Jessica Huntley. Her psychological page turners leave you wanting to read just one more chapter!

We chat about her upcoming thriller "Jinx" , and address what it means to be a writer who explores the darkness. We chat King ( of course ! ) ; mental health, self publishing, recovering from trauma , police procedural, multiple twists ( but no spoilers ) ; the enemies to friends narrative arc and much much more...

This was an absolute joy to record . Join Matt as he casts away the wonderful Alex - independent bookshop owner, and man responsible for shipping all King lovers globally their beloved new Hodder paperbacks. We talk King . Where to stock his books on your shelves. We talk about the whether the book will survive . We talk about censorship and re editing. We talk about what makes a book great , and not so great. We talk AI. If you love portable magic , we have the spells for you right here. A blockbuster bestseller of an episode.

We approach the business end of the decade and there are some absolute belters here . Matt and Jamie get their Zombie On with "Cell", discuss the nature of grief with king's personal fave " Lisey's Story". From one King fave , to the fave of a King, Jamie talks about why "Duma Key" is his standout novel. And via some short stories and discovered Bachman beauties , we end up with Big Ol Jim Rennie in Springfield, sorry, Chester's Mill in "Under The Dome".  The boys argue the case for this decade rivalling the heavy hitters of the 70s. 

Join Matt and Jamie as they walk along the beam of The Tower - Wolves of The Calla, Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower . This episode is full of meaty spoilers , so if you haven't reached the clearing at the end of the path yet then we have another episode released simultaneously with no spoilers at all. This is  a feisty episode that we expect and hope will divide opinion. Also featured are "From A Buick 8" and the physical scars King is weaving into his stories, and the 14 dark tales of "Everything's Eventual" . Walk with us if you dare. x

Join Matt and Jamie as they walk along the beam of The Tower - Wolves of The Calla, Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower . This episode has had all spoilers filetted out so you are safe to listen to if you haven't finished your quest to The Dark Tower. We don't want to spoil anything for you , but this gives you a flavour of this time in King's career.  Also featured are "From A Buick 8" and the physical scars King is weaving into his stories, and the 14 dark tales of "Everything's Eventual" . Walk with us if you dare. x

It's the new millenium . King is still with us , despite staring his own mortality in the face after an accident in 99. But it's a very different author we see at the start of the century , and Dreamcatcher - or Cancer as it was originally called , and Black House are testament to this . And King opens up to the world in  "On Writing".  Join Matt and Jamie as they enter the new dawn of the King. 

Matt and Simon nervously stick their thumbs out on the dark highway and hitch a ride into one of King's classic campfire stories . They discover risk, regret and deals with the devil along the way. They look at what became the world's first mass published e book , and put it in the ring with the "portable magic" of the paperback. Fancy a ride ? 

Ever wondered why Tony Soprano’s therapist stuck with him? Why Fleabag is obsessed with sex or why Walter White is always in his underpants? This week Matt meets psychotherapist Sasha Bates, the co host of new podcast "Shrink The Box', where  fictional characters such as Shiv from Succession, Omar from the Wire and Ross from Friends are put on the couch to analyse why their behaviour causes them so much drama.

We talk therapy, mental health, box sets and much more ! 

"BANG! What’s that? Bang-Bang! Oh, Hark, The guns are shooting in the dark! Little guns and big ones too, Bang-bang-bang! What shall I do?" - Enid Blyton

Come shine bright like a firework with Matt and Si as they ignore advice to keep a safe distance back, but go right into oen of King's classic short stories from " The Bazaar Of Bad Dreams" 

Take the lift up to the "13th" floor and join Matt and Simon as they enter Room 1408 in The Dolphin Hotel. Will you last longer than an hour ? Bloody hope so as the episode is nearly 90 mins ! Let's join hands , take a breath and look at the short story , the film adaptation and the broken heart of both. Warning - HippyDippyShit at one point. 

Simon & Matt shake off the January blues with a full throttle road trip into one of King's short stories from " Everything's Eventual". They also look at the TV adaptation and discuss if objects in the rearview really do appear closer than they are.  watch out for the canine landmines...

For this special  episode to kick start 2023, Simon and Matt are joined by the wonderful Kim C from The Underrated Stephen King podcast. Kim brings class and insight , the boys bring questionable impressions and even a sing along.  The three dissect King's novel , discuss the prose and the relationships , and also become casting directors as they talk Billy adaptations. There's even a Sean Penn in a lift anecdote. Happy New Year x

Join us for a special ep of Survivor Type where the new castaway is none other than Chris Jiggins of "discoverderrymaine". Chris is from Port Hope, Canada and shares some incredible stories about the cast he met when It chapters 1 and 2 were filmed there . Stories may include meetings with a certain  owner of Secondhand Rose ; what is was like to be involved with the filming ; some great stories on the locations ... and of course Chris' choices of King goodies to keep him sane on the sands. 

Join Matt and Jack as they venture into a dark and brooding world of twists and turns where things are rarely as they seem, and terror reigns supreme....

Jack talks us through the tales of psychological horror that make up "Dark Lines" and we also have a world exclusive in a sneak peek and author read of the upcoming "Warning Signs".  Warning :- James Corden Abuse within the episode. 

We round off the 90s with a horror high - from fan favourite Desparation to it's troublesome twin The Regulators;  from the so called Last Castle Rock story "Needful Things" to the study of grief and crisis in the highly personal "Bag Of Bones"... Join us as we complete  this decade and century and head towards an event like no other....

The final chapter in our trip down 80s memory lane sees us shacking up with Annie Wilkes , scratching our beards at the loony tunes of The Tommyknockers and wanting to hug an author when we meet that not very nice guy George Stark. Matt also gets a deep insight into the traditions and approaches of being a writer thanks to co hosting with the acclaimed horror author Jamie Stewart ! And ratings - the boys get ready to go all I'm A Celebrity and hand out the stars to the 80s cast of novels.

So that plan to do the 80s in one episode proved to be as ambitious as trying to remember the cast list of "Under The Dome" without a cheat sheet. Just full of meaty goodness - King is having a wild ride in the 80s and we would love you to join us as we get lost in the blizzards of that decade. We talk Thinner, Talisman, It , Skeleton Crew and The Drawing Of The Three..

We leave the 70s behind for a trip through the trip that is the 80s. Experimental and fearless . Some stimulants may have been involved ( Sai King , not us ) . 

Join Matt and Jamie as they start to excavate the 80s through the lens of Stephen King and his masterpieces . 

This special episode hurls the other half of Kingsize - Matt Robinson - onto the sand as the Survivor Type. Check out his choice of fave King books, album, film , non King book , luxury item and which King tome he throws in the flames. First though, he has to deal with a previous castaway who is claiming squatter's rights. 

Join Matt and special guest host Jamie Stewart as they pull a Jake Epping and time travel back to the 70s. They discuss the decade that bought King to the world with the fiery "Carrie " right though to "The Dead Zone". They look at the themes King weaved into his stories; the books with bite ( "Salem's Lot" please rise up ) to the tricky times of "Rage". Unmissable for any King fan. 

Join us in this electric interview with Steven Weber - the man behind the voice of the audiobook of "IT". Steven takes us deep into Derry as we learn about how he bought Pennywise and The Losers to life in such a memorable way . We talk to the man who played Jack Torrance in "Stephen King's The Shining" about the leap from the page to the screen . And social media , microwaves , politicians and Pot Noodles all take a star turn in The Big Interview. 

The final fling with the silver screen is here . We carry on into the heart of Derry , look at the hits and misses , and get caught up in the Eddies and streams.

Oh yeah , and we announce our Very Special Guest for our IT finale episode ! You will float ....

Matt and Simon lift their eyes from the page and shift it to the screen as we examine the It mini series Pt 1 and Andy Muschietti's "It Chapter One".  Do all things float on the screen on do they sink under the sewers? ....  Oh, and a letter from Stephen King arrives halfway through recording to put the  Thing Of Evil amonst the Pennywise pigeons. 

This special episode catapaults one half of Kingsize - Stephen King legend Simon Balcon - onto the island as the Survivor Type . Check out his cunning choices , his King lifeboats and signal flares , and a deeper dive into the craft of acting and the power of belief. 

Join us as Simon and Matt palaver with the Stephen King expert Vincent Neyt. He's currently writing a PhD on how King wrote "It" from first idea to first edition . His insights are revelatory ; he shares what it was like seeing the early drafts of King's works and of course , what it's like to correspond with Sai King himself ! For any King fan , this is a must listen ! 

This desert island is in for a treat - swimming from the waves are CM and Josh ( with the thoughts of Ben too !) from the Stephen King podcast bookclub Derry Public Radio. This riotous 2 hour bumper episode  - hosted by both Matt & Simon from Kingsize - dives deep & flies high . It's a regular "haunt" of Stephen King podcasters.

From discussing our castaways' fascinating choices , we also palaver about meeting the great man himself ; King's hits & misses with female characters ; the virtues of short stories and doorstoppers ; Stephen King Burlesque ... Oh - and Holly Gibney, shit weasels and magic mushrooms. 

Its a trip. Come bounce with us. 

Join us constant listeners as we finish our epic narrative journey through the clutches of Derry. We talk about what it means to survive ; what it costs to forget and the power of love. It's emosh for sure. 

"Fiction is the truth inside the lie, and the truth of this fiction is simple enough: the magic exists" - SK 

Matt's Survivor Type this episode is the fascinating Constant Reader aka bowie_on_mars. As a clinical psychologist, he has a unique & thought provoking take on Stephen King's work; as a Stephen King collector he has a dedication to the beauty of books; as a guest he's an absolute riot. Articulate, passionate and beautifully irreverant in all the right places - you're not gonna want to miss this one ! 

The boys smell something fishy about King's new writing ; talk about the balance that parents need to strike in their love - the juggle is real ; pull apart what Power means and look at the history of Pennywise. It's getting floaty as we approach the final steps of the journey. 

Matt's Survivor Type this episode is Baltimore Horror Bookstagrammer balt_immortal aka Marshall. It's a soulful deep dive into the books which light up Marshall , and which King novel fuels the flames on the island. It's a love letter to bookstagram , a discussion on addiction & redemption and a celebration of King's darker side. It's unmissable - come join us on the island as night draws in and the lobstrosities start to emerge from the waves. 

Join us as we castaway Kelly onto the island to be this episode's Survivor Type. Kelly is a writer,  in demand beta reader , and co editor with Jamie Stewart of Welcome To The Funhouse. We have a blast chewing over her choices , get nostalgic for the 90s and celebrate the joy of the public library.  And ask - if you could edit Stephen King himself which book and why ? 

So its a cool coincidence that we recorded the episode on Grown Ups on Si's birthday. Or is there no such thing as coincidence ? Come and jump into Pt 3 with us as we grapple with the concept of putting more mileage on the clock, the energy of nostalgia , the roots of friendship & a Killer Clown. 

It's a Stephen King podcast mash up folks ! I had the most soulful chat with the open hearted King aficionado extraordinaire Kim C . Kingsize Podcast met the Year Of The Underrated Stephen King Podcast and the sparks and banter flew . Join us as we discuss Kim C's choices in depth , find out which King novel would fan the flames; and why Neil Gaiman , Tori Amos and Thom Yorke would all be welcome on the desert island. 

"Imagine a universe where Agatha Christie and Stephen King collaborate on a book" ! Join Matt as he spends an hour in deep conversation with the global bestselling author Sarah Pearse. We talk through her smash hit debut novel "The Sanatorium " ( no spoilers - all safe here! ) ; talk about how books truly are a uniquely portable magic ; look at the divisive nature of fictional characters & the relationship between writer and constant reader . And an exclusive look forward at the next novel , "The Retreat". 

Join the two Matts as they chat ! Matt Saunders is the illustrator of the new Stephen King "Thrilling Suspense" Hodder books . We talk about what it's like to get sign off from The Ultimate Storyteller himself ; chat about how Matt got the gig and his creative process in designing these beautiful works of art . Oh, and we try and work out how the hell people can get hold of the elusive "Tom Gordon"!

Join us fellow constants in the Barrens and sewers of Derry , as we float our paper boats in the murky waters of Stephen King's masterpiece .

In this second episode we focus on Part 2 and Interlude 2 . No spoilers . You'll float too . 

Are you brave enough to take the plunge ? The rules of engagement - you are shipwrecked on a desert island . You are a Survivor Type though and have some trusty items to keep insanity and the lobstrosities at bay ! 3 Stephen King novels ; 1 non King novel ; a non King novel ; an album , a film and a luxury item . Oh , and you have permission to throw one Stephen King book onto the campfire as the cold night draws in . Join the awesome Jack Harding , author of " Ripper Country",  " React " and " Driving In The Dark" to name a few  - you won't regret it !

Are you brave enough to take the plunge ? The rules of engagement - you are shipwrecked on a desert island . You are a Survivor Type though and have some trusty items to keep insanity and the lobstrosities at bay ! 3 Stephen King novels ;  1 non King novel ; a non King novel ; an album , a film and a luxury item . Oh , and you have permission to throw one Stephen King book onto the campfire as the cold night draws in . Join our first castaway -Jamie Stewart , author of " I Hear The Clattering Of The Keys" and " Price Manor : The House That Bleeds " - you won't regret it ! 

Join us fellow constants in the Barrens and the sewers of Derry, as we float our paper boats in the murky waters of Stephen King's masterpiece.

In the opening episode we solely focus on Part 1 and Interlude 1 with no spoilers, and some amazing listener emails. You'll float too. 

I was lucky to have over an hour in the wonderful company of Steph McKenna, the editor of The Outsider Zine -  a Stephen King zine project with personal essays, poems & illustrations responding to King by artists of marginalised gender. It's a stunning passion project which breaths fresh insights and reframing of King's astonishing work. Join us on the inside of the Outsider as we chat about Carrie, On Writing , Christine, The Dark Tower, Misery , Cujo , IT and more.

Come and join us steamheads, as we hang out with Azzie The Cat, Doctor Danny Torrance and of course Rose The Hat. We look at the "sequel" to the classic "The Shining"; discuss why this novel is an ode to redemption & also a hidden gem prose wise, and stick two fingers up to the Itty Bitty Shitty Committee that lurks within us all. Happy holidays ! x

Join us for a very special "Insights" episode where Matt spends two hours in the warm & insightful company of horror author Jamie Stewart. We chat about his chronological reads of all Stephen King's work and go deep into all things King ; we discuss Jamie's new collection " I Hear The Clattering Of The Keys" and what inspires him to 'peel back the skin of normality to show that insanity & horror are only a scrap away'. Sit back & enjoy the ride -  I guarantee you will leave armed with a huge Xmas list of new indie horror books to buy ! 

Join us as we check into The Overlook Hotel. Matt has kindly allowed Simon to stay in Room 217 , but there are many other demons lurking in the lengthy corridors . Come with us as we gingerly poke the wasps' nest, go deep into the themes of anger & retribution , and ride our trikes away from the scary monsters, hedgewise & human. 

Join us if you dare for our Halloween Special 1 hour episode. The lunatic has taken over the asylum & the tricks - and a couple of treats - come faster than Michael Myer's blade. Test your mettle in our Mastermind Stephen King Quiz , play "The Door" - will you have the nerves to stay the night in Salem's Lot; The Overlook or cosied up to Pennywise in Derry ? It's the podcast equivalent of Squid Game - put your clown outfit on and let's get dark. x

Let the right ones in and join the boys as they poke inside the sleepy town of Salem's Lot & uncover it's terrible secrets within. We invite you to load up on garlic, put another stake on the barbie and let's go hunting for vampires... and much more. 

To have a celebration of the joy of doing Kingsize & the awesomeness of our listeners , join the boys for a special bonus episode ! We talk about all things King - which heroine and hero would be at your party ? What King adaptation would be playing on the telly ? Which baddie would get barred ? What's your desert island King ? And if you had to chop off a body part what ya going for first ?

Join Matt & Si as they dare to hold their hands close to the flame of this classic novel. It's a 2 hour plus bonanza episode that addresses parenthood, the need for control , the power of the feminine & Martin Sheen's hair. Burn after hearing. 

Join Matt in the first ever "Kingsize Insights" episode as he dives deep with the Mexican American writer Violet Castro. We talk about her work - including her latest masterpiece, "Queen Of The Cicadas". We discuss being a voice for the voiceless, the resilience needed to be a writer & full time parent, the power of eroticism & the dreams that shape us. And shape shifting jaguars. Join us if you dare. 

As the heat rises in the Pinto & Cujo digs his rabid heels in , we chew apart the sticky question - " What would you do ?" . It's one hell of a quandry. Si also shares the latest on his Frank Darabont "project" & we look at whether the film has any bite.

Stephen King wanted this book to feel like " a brick thrown through a window" It certainly has that devastating impact on the boys. In an emotionally charged two parter they explore the themes of addiction , the legacy of neglect , the cost of not following the signs and ask "who excatly is the real villain of this masterpiece" ? 

We move our lens to George A Romero's film adaptation , and dream big with alternative castings. The boys also have an in depth chat re the process of method acting & celebrate pipe smoking female professors.

"Can you outrun your shadow?" The boys ponder this existential question , alongside a progress report on Frank Darabont's re writing of the end of "The Mist" ! Come and spend some time with the delightful George Stark if you dare. The Sparrows are flying.

Welcome to the Emporium Galorium. Enter through it's doors if you dare .... Here we tackle the beast that is The Sun Dog , one of the stories in King's " Four Past Midnight". Shake it , shake it , shake it like a polaroid picture....

Time to bark at the moon as we find ourselves stuck in Tarker's Mill with some rather unsavoury hosts for company ( and we're not talkin' about Matt and Si )  Soundtrack by Stephen King and The Novelettes.  A Silver Bullet in the head as we also look at Dan Attias' film adaptation. 

The boys make the switch from the page to the screen as they go amputated toe to toe with Kathy Bates and discuss Rob Reiner's film.

"I'm your number one fan". Words that strike the fear into the heart of anyone. The boys hole up in the deep snowbound cabin with Paul & Annie and dive into King's seminal work. No pre op shots required thankfully.

For the first episode of Kingsize, the boys come out of the gates strong with an in depth analysis of both the novella and the film adaptation of "The Mist" . No actual Frank Darabonts were harmed in the making of this podcast.