Episode 005 - The Books That Kept Me Steady
Offbeat Journeys Podcast cover art
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
In this episode of Offbeat Journeys, I discuss the books that taught me about resilience.
I talk about how these books helped me define personal responsibility, patience and meaning. In this episode I discuss:
· The book that reminded me about personal accountability
· The one that taught me about patience and taking the long view
· And how one who endured the most horrific conditions still found a way to make meaning.
I talk about how, no matter the scale of the difficulty, some books remind us that it is all about stepping back, re-evaluating, and going again.
If you’ve ever felt understood by a book… if you love stories that linger… or if you’re curious about how writers are shaped by the books they read — you’re in the right place.
Subscribe, settle in, and join the journey.
📚 Books Mentioned
(Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, it supports the show at no extra cost to you.)
· Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
· Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
· Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
. Unkindness by James Molloy (Upcoming, 2026)
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → Offbeat Journeys by James
My Books → Wednesday’s Child
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/molloywrites
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay
Episode 004 - The Books That Changed How I See People
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
In this episode of Offbeat Journeys, I discuss the books that changed how I see people.
I talk about how these books helped me reframe resilience, bravery, self-respect and empathy. In this episode I discuss:
· The book that made re-evaluate quiet strength
· The one that made me see how different the system can be for different people
· And how judging people based on external first impressions might be a mistake
I talk about how books can make us take a moment to re-evaluate judgements we felt sure about and help us to see people and the systems we all must live inside, in an entirely new perspective.
If you’ve ever felt understood by a book… if you love stories that linger… or if you’re curious about how writers are shaped by the books they read — you’re in the right place.
Subscribe, settle in, and join the journey.
📚 Books Mentioned
(Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, it supports the show at no extra cost to you.)
· Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
· Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
· Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → Offbeat Journeys by James
My Books → Wednesday’s Child
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/molloywrites
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay
Episode 003 - The Stories I Still Carry
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
In this second episode of Offbeat Journeys, I discuss the books and stories that stay. The ones that nestle in behind the ribs and never leave. In this episode I talk about:
The book that still haunts me
The 'other' one that flipped everything I knew
And the book that made me feel seen
I talk about how books often find us when we need them most and the best ones never leave us. They find a way to stay — whether we ask them to or not.
If you’ve ever felt understood by a book… if you love stories that linger… or if you’re curious about how writers are shaped by the books they read — you’re in the right place.
Subscribe, settle in, and join the journey.
📚 Books Mentioned
(Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, it supports the show at no extra cost to you.)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Unkindness by James Molloy (Upcoming, 2026)
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → Offbeat Journeys
My Books → Wednesday’s Child
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/molloywrites
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay
Episode 002 - The Books That Built Me
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
In this first full episode of Offbeat Journeys, I answer the same three questions I’ll soon be asking independent authors on the show:
The book that sparked my love of writing
The one that broke me open
And the one that flipped everything I thought I knew
I also introduce my upcoming novel Unkindness, share why I chose the independent publishing route, and talk about what this podcast hopes to become — a space for thoughtful readers, quiet rebels, and anyone who believes stories can reveal who we really are.
If you’ve ever felt understood by a book… if you love stories that linger… or if you’re curious about how writers are shaped by the books they read — you’re in the right place.
Subscribe, settle in, and join the journey.
📚 Books Mentioned
(Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, it supports the show at no extra cost to you.)
Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer
Wednesday’s Child by James Molloy
Unkindness by James Molloy (Upcoming, 2026)
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → jamesmolloyauthor.substack.com/
My Books → Wednesday’s Child
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/molloywrites
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay
Episode 001 - Welcome to Offbeat Journeys
Podcast cover art for "Offbeat Journeys." Title is "OFFBEAT JOURNEYS," with the subtitle "Books, Stories & Self-Publishing." The design features an old map style with illustrations of an open book, a closed book, a quill pen in an inkwell, and two compass roses connected by a dotted path.
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
In this short trailer, I share what Offbeat Journeys is all about. It's a podcast where we explore the books that shape us, the stories behind the stories, and what it really means to live a creative life.
Each week, I’ll sit down with independent authors to talk about the books that changed their perspective, the words that stuck with them, and the moments that made them want to write. Sometimes, it’ll just be me sharing my own offbeat path as a writer.
If you love books, if you’ve ever felt like an outsider, or if you’re just curious about how writers think, subscribe now and join the journey.
📚 Books Mentioned
(No books mentioned in this trailer — first titles coming soon!)
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → Offbeat Journeys
My Books → Wednesday's Child
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay