1 00:00:10,629 --> 00:00:14,869 Speaker 1: My Heart podcasts, hear more kiss podcasts, playlists and listen 2 00:00:14,909 --> 00:00:16,468 Speaker 1: live on the Free I heard a. 3 00:00:17,669 --> 00:00:21,268 Speaker 2: Luke Bateman used to play football for the Canberra Raiders, 4 00:00:21,628 --> 00:00:26,669 Speaker 2: retired and recently got a two book deal with Atrio Books, 5 00:00:26,669 --> 00:00:29,749 Speaker 2: the same publishers as Colin Hoover and Taylor Jenkins read 6 00:00:30,229 --> 00:00:34,309 Speaker 2: doing fantasy football fantasy author he joins us right now 7 00:00:34,349 --> 00:00:36,668 Speaker 2: the TikTok star on Will and Woody. 8 00:00:37,108 --> 00:00:39,549 Speaker 3: Mate. Welcome, Hey, thanks boys, So can you. 9 00:00:39,589 --> 00:00:40,189 Speaker 4: Run us through? 10 00:00:40,349 --> 00:00:44,949 Speaker 1: Look? Mate, how you go from NRL player to getting 11 00:00:45,229 --> 00:00:51,589 Speaker 1: outrageously popular on TikTok effectively reviewing fantasy romance Books've actually 12 00:00:51,589 --> 00:00:53,588 Speaker 1: got a little bit of audio here of your one 13 00:00:53,629 --> 00:00:56,749 Speaker 1: of your first tiktoks where you were talking about it's just. 14 00:00:56,789 --> 00:01:00,749 Speaker 5: Been introduced to the book top community love of all 15 00:01:00,828 --> 00:01:03,429 Speaker 5: things fantasy. There's a lot of females here and you 16 00:01:03,589 --> 00:01:07,749 Speaker 5: all love smart as spice. Oh look, I think I 17 00:01:07,869 --> 00:01:09,469 Speaker 5: might have to have a little to delve into it 18 00:01:09,469 --> 00:01:10,988 Speaker 5: myself and see what all. 19 00:01:14,989 --> 00:01:15,189 Speaker 2: That? 20 00:01:15,749 --> 00:01:17,029 Speaker 4: How did you get there, Luke. 21 00:01:17,309 --> 00:01:19,989 Speaker 3: Mate, I've always been a reader my entire life. 22 00:01:20,829 --> 00:01:24,149 Speaker 5: As for the the smart of the romance, that's that's 23 00:01:24,189 --> 00:01:26,829 Speaker 5: been within the past twelve months and then and I 24 00:01:27,429 --> 00:01:31,709 Speaker 5: TikTok has or book talker has really allowed me. 25 00:01:32,509 --> 00:01:35,709 Speaker 4: What is BookTok, Luke? I'm fresh to that. What is that? 26 00:01:36,189 --> 00:01:39,629 Speaker 3: Book talk is just a like a subsection of TikTok. 27 00:01:39,749 --> 00:01:41,469 Speaker 3: If you get your if you get your algorithm to 28 00:01:41,549 --> 00:01:42,509 Speaker 3: work right, you'll end. 29 00:01:42,509 --> 00:01:44,749 Speaker 5: Up on book talk and it's just for everybody talking 30 00:01:44,749 --> 00:01:47,309 Speaker 5: about books related. 31 00:01:47,589 --> 00:01:48,429 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's awesome. 32 00:01:48,509 --> 00:01:50,709 Speaker 1: One of the books that's absolutely popping off on book 33 00:01:50,709 --> 00:01:52,029 Speaker 1: talk right now is Fourth Wing. 34 00:01:52,189 --> 00:01:53,949 Speaker 4: Have you have you done any Fourth Wing? Luke? 35 00:01:54,189 --> 00:01:54,669 Speaker 3: I haven't. 36 00:01:54,789 --> 00:01:57,149 Speaker 5: I haven't got into the Fourth Wing series, which is there. 37 00:01:57,149 --> 00:01:59,629 Speaker 5: I'm pretty sure it's the Emperium series. I haven't read 38 00:01:59,629 --> 00:02:02,469 Speaker 5: any of the Imperiance series yet, but everyone keeps telling 39 00:02:02,549 --> 00:02:04,789 Speaker 5: me that it's unreal, so I think it'll have. 40 00:02:04,789 --> 00:02:05,509 Speaker 3: To be next year. 41 00:02:05,709 --> 00:02:09,309 Speaker 1: What's been your favorite like romance fantasy novel to this point. 42 00:02:09,909 --> 00:02:11,909 Speaker 3: Oh, tough one. 43 00:02:13,749 --> 00:02:19,069 Speaker 5: Probably A read one recently for a book club called 44 00:02:19,109 --> 00:02:23,349 Speaker 5: the Bronze Booksman for Pauline Assignments, and it's it's romance 45 00:02:23,509 --> 00:02:25,109 Speaker 5: is just sensational. 46 00:02:25,429 --> 00:02:25,869 Speaker 4: It's funny. 47 00:02:25,869 --> 00:02:28,869 Speaker 2: What you were asking before, how he's got to this? 48 00:02:29,229 --> 00:02:31,029 Speaker 2: A lot of people can't see, Luke. You might be 49 00:02:31,069 --> 00:02:33,909 Speaker 2: able to go on some of our socials. But you 50 00:02:33,989 --> 00:02:36,549 Speaker 2: take one look at Luke and you hear the voice, 51 00:02:36,989 --> 00:02:39,749 Speaker 2: and then you hear what he does, and one plus 52 00:02:39,749 --> 00:02:43,189 Speaker 2: one equals too pretty quick. The guys, I mean, we're 53 00:02:43,189 --> 00:02:45,709 Speaker 2: talking about it before the guy's jaw like you can't 54 00:02:45,709 --> 00:02:47,948 Speaker 2: even see that the seat rest in the car because 55 00:02:47,989 --> 00:02:49,309 Speaker 2: his jaw is so solid. 56 00:02:49,429 --> 00:02:51,269 Speaker 4: He's got these he's got these eyes. 57 00:02:51,589 --> 00:02:54,229 Speaker 1: Air Bags wouldn't work on that jaw, just like puncture 58 00:02:54,229 --> 00:02:55,789 Speaker 1: a hole in the air bag straight away. 59 00:02:55,909 --> 00:02:58,229 Speaker 2: You're a gorgeous looking man, Luke, you really I think 60 00:02:58,269 --> 00:03:01,948 Speaker 2: you give me too much credit. Boys as well, My god, yeah, 61 00:03:02,589 --> 00:03:03,469 Speaker 2: someone put him out? 62 00:03:03,509 --> 00:03:06,589 Speaker 4: Are you single, Luke? While you're reading these romance novels? 63 00:03:06,909 --> 00:03:10,429 Speaker 5: I am single, guys, but I live. I live in 64 00:03:10,429 --> 00:03:15,869 Speaker 5: the remote western Queensland, our back, so there's not I 65 00:03:15,909 --> 00:03:17,909 Speaker 5: wouldn't say even if someone was interested in me, they'd 66 00:03:17,909 --> 00:03:18,508 Speaker 5: probably struggle. 67 00:03:18,749 --> 00:03:19,589 Speaker 4: Wow, that's awesome. 68 00:03:19,669 --> 00:03:21,389 Speaker 2: You're almost like you're like a princess in a far 69 00:03:21,429 --> 00:03:24,469 Speaker 2: away tower. People are going to go on a quest 70 00:03:24,469 --> 00:03:24,909 Speaker 2: to get to. 71 00:03:25,429 --> 00:03:28,549 Speaker 5: That's actually, that's that's good inspiration for my book actually 72 00:03:29,069 --> 00:03:29,749 Speaker 5: put in there. 73 00:03:30,429 --> 00:03:30,989 Speaker 4: I love that. 74 00:03:31,429 --> 00:03:34,189 Speaker 2: Hey, I really want to talk to you about this 75 00:03:34,189 --> 00:03:35,989 Speaker 2: this image, because look, I I It took me a 76 00:03:35,989 --> 00:03:38,789 Speaker 2: long time to sort of admit to probably my mates 77 00:03:38,829 --> 00:03:41,989 Speaker 2: that I'm I'm a bit of a nerd. I love books, particularly, 78 00:03:42,029 --> 00:03:44,309 Speaker 2: I love fantasy. I love Harry Potter, I heard it before. 79 00:03:44,349 --> 00:03:48,429 Speaker 2: You like Brandon Sanderson, I love Robert Jordan. They're all 80 00:03:49,029 --> 00:03:50,829 Speaker 2: that Wheel of Wheel of Time. Wheel of Time is 81 00:03:50,949 --> 00:03:53,589 Speaker 2: probably my favorite, probably my favorite fantasy series ever. 82 00:03:53,749 --> 00:03:55,869 Speaker 4: Yeah, I really did. Yeah, but let's not go into 83 00:03:55,869 --> 00:03:58,749 Speaker 4: this because people are going to cracky out. Ye can 84 00:03:58,829 --> 00:04:01,749 Speaker 4: get right into it. But I'm interested to know. 85 00:04:01,989 --> 00:04:05,069 Speaker 2: I was reading before that when you were on football 86 00:04:05,109 --> 00:04:08,429 Speaker 2: trips with Rugby League, that you would hide in the 87 00:04:08,429 --> 00:04:11,629 Speaker 2: toilet to read your book. And then I was also 88 00:04:11,709 --> 00:04:14,629 Speaker 2: reading that only twelve percent of gen z men actually 89 00:04:14,749 --> 00:04:15,509 Speaker 2: read books. 90 00:04:15,949 --> 00:04:18,709 Speaker 4: So can you talk to me about like. 91 00:04:18,669 --> 00:04:22,789 Speaker 2: What degree of say bravery it took you to sort 92 00:04:22,829 --> 00:04:25,349 Speaker 2: of stick your hand up and say, hello, I am 93 00:04:25,389 --> 00:04:26,509 Speaker 2: who I am, I look how I look? 94 00:04:26,549 --> 00:04:27,709 Speaker 4: And I love fantasy books. 95 00:04:27,749 --> 00:04:30,829 Speaker 2: And also how rewarding maybe that's been as a guy 96 00:04:30,909 --> 00:04:32,748 Speaker 2: to admit that this is a nice thing to do. 97 00:04:33,669 --> 00:04:36,589 Speaker 5: Mate, I'll be one of the hardest things of that 98 00:04:36,669 --> 00:04:38,868 Speaker 5: in my life, to be honest. You know, when you're 99 00:04:39,229 --> 00:04:43,549 Speaker 5: surrounded by blokes in that elk of you know, of 100 00:04:43,709 --> 00:04:48,068 Speaker 5: I suppose all that cultural sort of stigma. It was 101 00:04:48,109 --> 00:04:50,149 Speaker 5: really hard and I actually copped a lot of flak 102 00:04:50,229 --> 00:04:52,509 Speaker 5: from like my mates when I first come out and 103 00:04:52,549 --> 00:04:55,829 Speaker 5: started talking about it as a favorite of flack around it. 104 00:04:55,909 --> 00:04:57,669 Speaker 5: I just got to the point of life where I 105 00:04:57,829 --> 00:05:01,109 Speaker 5: just really wanted to be myself. And when you're very 106 00:05:01,309 --> 00:05:03,669 Speaker 5: I suppose, when you know, very grounded in who you 107 00:05:03,749 --> 00:05:06,109 Speaker 5: are and in your own truth, a lot of that 108 00:05:06,149 --> 00:05:09,389 Speaker 5: outside noise is easy to overcome, which I and I 109 00:05:09,469 --> 00:05:11,868 Speaker 5: wasn't for a very long time. The outside noise really 110 00:05:11,869 --> 00:05:13,429 Speaker 5: did affect me for a very long time. 111 00:05:14,109 --> 00:05:17,549 Speaker 1: Yeah, so would you did you put the books away 112 00:05:17,869 --> 00:05:19,549 Speaker 1: during your NRL career? 113 00:05:19,589 --> 00:05:21,789 Speaker 5: Then the books are the books are hidden in the 114 00:05:21,789 --> 00:05:24,469 Speaker 5: bottom of me bag, like when if we travel, in 115 00:05:24,869 --> 00:05:26,869 Speaker 5: the bottom of my bag, and then I would go 116 00:05:26,949 --> 00:05:29,229 Speaker 5: and lock myself in the toilet, and you know, I'd 117 00:05:29,229 --> 00:05:31,389 Speaker 5: be in there farf now And I remember, like for me, roommates, 118 00:05:32,029 --> 00:05:33,949 Speaker 5: roommates were like, what are you doing in there? But 119 00:05:34,349 --> 00:05:37,669 Speaker 5: I'm like, I just you know, I've got a website 120 00:05:37,749 --> 00:05:44,308 Speaker 5: up or something, you know, Wheel of time. I mean, 121 00:05:44,349 --> 00:05:47,229 Speaker 5: they're reading about I'm there reading about and It's funny 122 00:05:47,269 --> 00:05:51,469 Speaker 5: because I was almost more comfortable than reading a fancy book. Yeah. 123 00:05:51,829 --> 00:05:54,188 Speaker 2: Literally just had that thought to think that it's so 124 00:05:54,389 --> 00:05:57,589 Speaker 2: accepted among it's more acceptable your sexual dudes, that you'd 125 00:05:57,629 --> 00:06:01,749 Speaker 2: be in another room in some far flung, perverted corner 126 00:06:01,749 --> 00:06:05,749 Speaker 2: of the internet as opposed to just reading a book. 127 00:06:05,789 --> 00:06:08,669 Speaker 3: Mate, And it's crazy, and it's really great. 128 00:06:09,909 --> 00:06:12,349 Speaker 1: Have you had a lot of blogs reaching out to you, Luke, 129 00:06:12,549 --> 00:06:16,869 Speaker 1: thanking you for being open about loving books, mate. 130 00:06:16,669 --> 00:06:19,909 Speaker 5: I actually have, and it's been really like that's the 131 00:06:19,949 --> 00:06:22,949 Speaker 5: most rewarding part for me. I always say that I 132 00:06:23,029 --> 00:06:25,589 Speaker 5: make my content for a twelve year old Luke Babman 133 00:06:25,629 --> 00:06:28,269 Speaker 5: who never got to see someone like him who loved 134 00:06:28,269 --> 00:06:31,349 Speaker 5: the same things that he did. And I think I 135 00:06:31,389 --> 00:06:32,589 Speaker 5: get a lot of blokes for you and now just 136 00:06:32,589 --> 00:06:35,509 Speaker 5: hand like thank you, you know, for giving their permission 137 00:06:35,549 --> 00:06:37,749 Speaker 5: to love books and love reading. 138 00:06:38,069 --> 00:06:40,189 Speaker 3: And that always means like the most to me. And 139 00:06:40,229 --> 00:06:40,909 Speaker 3: I've got a really. 140 00:06:40,789 --> 00:06:43,869 Speaker 5: Beautiful message the other day from a man who had 141 00:06:43,909 --> 00:06:45,949 Speaker 5: a young son and he actually was just like, mate, 142 00:06:45,988 --> 00:06:47,829 Speaker 5: thank you so much, Like I want to instill this 143 00:06:47,869 --> 00:06:50,308 Speaker 5: love in my son. And it's so good to see 144 00:06:50,389 --> 00:06:52,229 Speaker 5: people like you talking about it openly. 145 00:06:52,789 --> 00:06:54,748 Speaker 3: It really does mean a lot to me when when 146 00:06:54,829 --> 00:06:55,829 Speaker 3: men reach out. 147 00:06:55,709 --> 00:06:58,508 Speaker 2: Oh that's awesome, are actually part of a book club 148 00:06:58,549 --> 00:07:02,069 Speaker 2: which is just thirty five year olds, which is really like, 149 00:07:02,349 --> 00:07:05,469 Speaker 2: it's amazing. It's actually so good for the guys listening 150 00:07:05,469 --> 00:07:07,428 Speaker 2: out there. How much more fulfilling it is to catch 151 00:07:07,469 --> 00:07:09,388 Speaker 2: up with other guys and talk about, like I actually 152 00:07:09,429 --> 00:07:13,309 Speaker 2: had something to talk about, like and love, you're not 153 00:07:13,389 --> 00:07:14,229 Speaker 2: doing at gambling? 154 00:07:14,509 --> 00:07:16,149 Speaker 3: Not just talking Yeah, not just talking. 155 00:07:15,949 --> 00:07:19,189 Speaker 5: About like gambling and who won the footy last night, 156 00:07:19,389 --> 00:07:20,389 Speaker 5: like an actual conversation. 157 00:07:21,069 --> 00:07:22,229 Speaker 3: That's the other thing I've had a lot of. 158 00:07:22,309 --> 00:07:23,989 Speaker 5: I actually have a lot of the people to reach 159 00:07:24,029 --> 00:07:26,229 Speaker 5: out because obviously speak very openly about my gamming diction 160 00:07:26,349 --> 00:07:29,029 Speaker 5: and my rehab and struggles with that, and I have 161 00:07:29,069 --> 00:07:31,309 Speaker 5: a lot of men also reach out in that regard 162 00:07:31,309 --> 00:07:33,669 Speaker 5: and say, hey, man, I'm also struggling with the same thing. 163 00:07:33,789 --> 00:07:35,549 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's abous, very prevalent. 164 00:07:35,909 --> 00:07:38,509 Speaker 5: And I just said, you know, me talking about it 165 00:07:38,549 --> 00:07:41,989 Speaker 5: gives others the ability to shed shed some of the 166 00:07:42,109 --> 00:07:43,909 Speaker 5: shame that that it's surrounded him. 167 00:07:44,189 --> 00:07:44,469 Speaker 4: Yeah. 168 00:07:44,509 --> 00:07:47,629 Speaker 2: Wow, Jesus, been enlightening talking to you, Luke. Thanks so 169 00:07:47,749 --> 00:07:48,629 Speaker 2: much for coming. 170 00:07:48,389 --> 00:07:48,909 Speaker 4: On the show. 171 00:07:49,589 --> 00:07:51,669 Speaker 1: Thanks boys, I really appreciate it when you're When your 172 00:07:51,669 --> 00:07:54,669 Speaker 1: book comes at Loki, let us know because we'll check 173 00:07:54,709 --> 00:07:57,029 Speaker 1: it into rotation at the book clubs. 174 00:07:57,349 --> 00:07:59,789 Speaker 5: Yeah, it has to be one of the monthly books 175 00:07:59,829 --> 00:08:03,469 Speaker 5: and book club books. Yeah, it'll be. I wrote the 176 00:08:03,469 --> 00:08:05,509 Speaker 5: book hopefully like a lot of you know, I want 177 00:08:05,509 --> 00:08:07,709 Speaker 5: everyone to love it, but especially man and boys. 178 00:08:07,709 --> 00:08:10,829 Speaker 2: Oh cool, alright mate, Well look we'll get you to 179 00:08:10,829 --> 00:08:12,269 Speaker 2: come down to the book club. It'll have to be 180 00:08:12,309 --> 00:08:14,389 Speaker 2: a ticketed event though. My god, the women that'll be 181 00:08:15,589 --> 00:08:17,989 Speaker 2: loving out them see you. 182 00:08:18,029 --> 00:08:20,269 Speaker 1: But in security, the wives usually don't want to come 183 00:08:20,269 --> 00:08:22,589 Speaker 1: to book club and all of a boatman's coming. 184 00:08:22,629 --> 00:08:26,069 Speaker 4: I'm coming to book club. Hey, love you to talk 185 00:08:26,109 --> 00:08:26,509 Speaker 4: to you, Luke. 186 00:08:26,789 --> 00:08:28,069 Speaker 3: Good chat boys are you very much? 187 00:08:28,109 --> 00:08:29,789 Speaker 2: Congratulations with all your success. You want to vote for 188 00:08:29,869 --> 00:08:32,549 Speaker 2: Luke at the TikTok Awards. It closes sixteenth Novembers, and 189 00:08:32,549 --> 00:08:34,269 Speaker 2: make sure you get involved. Love it to have you 190 00:08:34,309 --> 00:08:34,708 Speaker 2: on the show.