November 11, 2025 • 8 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
My Heart podcasts, hear more kiss podcasts, playlists and listen
live on the Free I heard a.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Luke Bateman used to play football for the Canberra Raiders,
retired and recently got a two book deal with Atrio Books,
the same publishers as Colin Hoover and Taylor Jenkins read
doing fantasy football fantasy author he joins us right now
the TikTok star on Will and Woody.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Mate. Welcome, Hey, thanks boys, So can you.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Run us through?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Look? Mate, how you go from NRL player to getting
outrageously popular on TikTok effectively reviewing fantasy romance Books've actually
got a little bit of audio here of your one
of your first tiktoks where you were talking about it's just.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Been introduced to the book top community love of all
things fantasy. There's a lot of females here and you
all love smart as spice. Oh look, I think I
might have to have a little to delve into it
myself and see what all.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
That?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
How did you get there, Luke.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Mate, I've always been a reader my entire life.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
As for the the smart of the romance, that's that's
been within the past twelve months and then and I
TikTok has or book talker has really allowed me.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
What is BookTok, Luke? I'm fresh to that. What is that?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Book talk is just a like a subsection of TikTok.
If you get your if you get your algorithm to
work right, you'll end.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Up on book talk and it's just for everybody talking
about books related.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
One of the books that's absolutely popping off on book
talk right now is Fourth Wing.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Have you have you done any Fourth Wing? Luke?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I haven't.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
I haven't got into the Fourth Wing series, which is there.
I'm pretty sure it's the Emperium series. I haven't read
any of the Imperiance series yet, but everyone keeps telling
me that it's unreal, so I think it'll have.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
To be next year.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
What's been your favorite like romance fantasy novel to this point.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Oh, tough one.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Probably A read one recently for a book club called
the Bronze Booksman for Pauline Assignments, and it's it's romance
is just sensational.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
It's funny.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
What you were asking before, how he's got to this?
A lot of people can't see, Luke. You might be
able to go on some of our socials. But you
take one look at Luke and you hear the voice,
and then you hear what he does, and one plus
one equals too pretty quick. The guys, I mean, we're
talking about it before the guy's jaw like you can't
even see that the seat rest in the car because
(02:47):
his jaw is so solid.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
He's got these he's got these eyes.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Air Bags wouldn't work on that jaw, just like puncture
a hole in the air bag straight away.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're a gorgeous looking man, Luke, you really I think
you give me too much credit. Boys as well, My god, yeah,
someone put him out?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Are you single, Luke? While you're reading these romance novels?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
I am single, guys, but I live. I live in
the remote western Queensland, our back, so there's not I
wouldn't say even if someone was interested in me, they'd
probably struggle.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Wow, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You're almost like you're like a princess in a far
away tower. People are going to go on a quest
to get to.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
That's actually, that's that's good inspiration for my book actually
put in there.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Hey, I really want to talk to you about this
this image, because look, I I It took me a
long time to sort of admit to probably my mates
that I'm I'm a bit of a nerd. I love books, particularly,
I love fantasy. I love Harry Potter, I heard it before.
You like Brandon Sanderson, I love Robert Jordan. They're all
that Wheel of Wheel of Time. Wheel of Time is
probably my favorite, probably my favorite fantasy series ever.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, I really did. Yeah, but let's not go into
this because people are going to cracky out. Ye can
get right into it. But I'm interested to know.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I was reading before that when you were on football
trips with Rugby League, that you would hide in the
toilet to read your book. And then I was also
reading that only twelve percent of gen z men actually
read books.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
So can you talk to me about like.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
What degree of say bravery it took you to sort
of stick your hand up and say, hello, I am
who I am, I look how I look?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And I love fantasy books.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
And also how rewarding maybe that's been as a guy
to admit that this is a nice thing to do.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Mate, I'll be one of the hardest things of that
in my life, to be honest. You know, when you're
surrounded by blokes in that elk of you know, of
I suppose all that cultural sort of stigma. It was
really hard and I actually copped a lot of flak
from like my mates when I first come out and
started talking about it as a favorite of flack around it.
(04:55):
I just got to the point of life where I
just really wanted to be myself. And when you're very
I suppose, when you know, very grounded in who you
are and in your own truth, a lot of that
outside noise is easy to overcome, which I and I
wasn't for a very long time. The outside noise really
did affect me for a very long time.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, so would you did you put the books away
during your NRL career?
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Then the books are the books are hidden in the
bottom of me bag, like when if we travel, in
the bottom of my bag, and then I would go
and lock myself in the toilet, and you know, I'd
be in there farf now And I remember, like for me, roommates,
roommates were like, what are you doing in there? But
I'm like, I just you know, I've got a website
up or something, you know, Wheel of time. I mean,
(05:44):
they're reading about I'm there reading about and It's funny
because I was almost more comfortable than reading a fancy book. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Literally just had that thought to think that it's so
accepted among it's more acceptable your sexual dudes, that you'd
be in another room in some far flung, perverted corner
of the internet as opposed to just reading a book.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Mate, And it's crazy, and it's really great.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Have you had a lot of blogs reaching out to you, Luke,
thanking you for being open about loving books, mate.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
I actually have, and it's been really like that's the
most rewarding part for me. I always say that I
make my content for a twelve year old Luke Babman
who never got to see someone like him who loved
the same things that he did. And I think I
get a lot of blokes for you and now just
hand like thank you, you know, for giving their permission
to love books and love reading.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And that always means like the most to me. And
I've got a really.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Beautiful message the other day from a man who had
a young son and he actually was just like, mate,
thank you so much, Like I want to instill this
love in my son. And it's so good to see
people like you talking about it openly.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
It really does mean a lot to me when when
men reach out.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Oh that's awesome, are actually part of a book club
which is just thirty five year olds, which is really like,
it's amazing. It's actually so good for the guys listening
out there. How much more fulfilling it is to catch
up with other guys and talk about, like I actually
had something to talk about, like and love, you're not
doing at gambling?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Not just talking Yeah, not just talking.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
About like gambling and who won the footy last night,
like an actual conversation.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
That's the other thing I've had a lot of.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I actually have a lot of the people to reach
out because obviously speak very openly about my gamming diction
and my rehab and struggles with that, and I have
a lot of men also reach out in that regard
and say, hey, man, I'm also struggling with the same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So yeah, it's abous, very prevalent.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
And I just said, you know, me talking about it
gives others the ability to shed shed some of the
shame that that it's surrounded him.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Wow, Jesus, been enlightening talking to you, Luke. Thanks so
much for coming.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
On the show.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Thanks boys, I really appreciate it when you're When your
book comes at Loki, let us know because we'll check
it into rotation at the book clubs.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Yeah, it has to be one of the monthly books
and book club books. Yeah, it'll be. I wrote the
book hopefully like a lot of you know, I want
everyone to love it, but especially man and boys.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh cool, alright mate, Well look we'll get you to
come down to the book club. It'll have to be
a ticketed event though. My god, the women that'll be
loving out them see you.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
But in security, the wives usually don't want to come
to book club and all of a boatman's coming.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I'm coming to book club. Hey, love you to talk
to you, Luke.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Good chat boys are you very much?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Congratulations with all your success. You want to vote for
Luke at the TikTok Awards. It closes sixteenth Novembers, and
make sure you get involved. Love it to have you
on the show.
My Heart podcasts, hear more kiss podcasts, playlists and listen
live on the Free I heard a.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Luke Bateman used to play football for the Canberra Raiders,
retired and recently got a two book deal with Atrio Books,
the same publishers as Colin Hoover and Taylor Jenkins read
doing fantasy football fantasy author he joins us right now
the TikTok star on Will and Woody.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Mate. Welcome, Hey, thanks boys, So can you.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Run us through?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Look? Mate, how you go from NRL player to getting
outrageously popular on TikTok effectively reviewing fantasy romance Books've actually
got a little bit of audio here of your one
of your first tiktoks where you were talking about it's just.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Been introduced to the book top community love of all
things fantasy. There's a lot of females here and you
all love smart as spice. Oh look, I think I
might have to have a little to delve into it
myself and see what all.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
That?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
How did you get there, Luke.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Mate, I've always been a reader my entire life.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
As for the the smart of the romance, that's that's
been within the past twelve months and then and I
TikTok has or book talker has really allowed me.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
What is BookTok, Luke? I'm fresh to that. What is that?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Book talk is just a like a subsection of TikTok.
If you get your if you get your algorithm to
work right, you'll end.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Up on book talk and it's just for everybody talking
about books related.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
One of the books that's absolutely popping off on book
talk right now is Fourth Wing.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Have you have you done any Fourth Wing? Luke?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I haven't.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
I haven't got into the Fourth Wing series, which is there.
I'm pretty sure it's the Emperium series. I haven't read
any of the Imperiance series yet, but everyone keeps telling
me that it's unreal, so I think it'll have.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
To be next year.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
What's been your favorite like romance fantasy novel to this point.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Oh, tough one.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Probably A read one recently for a book club called
the Bronze Booksman for Pauline Assignments, and it's it's romance
is just sensational.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
It's funny.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
What you were asking before, how he's got to this?
A lot of people can't see, Luke. You might be
able to go on some of our socials. But you
take one look at Luke and you hear the voice,
and then you hear what he does, and one plus
one equals too pretty quick. The guys, I mean, we're
talking about it before the guy's jaw like you can't
even see that the seat rest in the car because
(02:47):
his jaw is so solid.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
He's got these he's got these eyes.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Air Bags wouldn't work on that jaw, just like puncture
a hole in the air bag straight away.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're a gorgeous looking man, Luke, you really I think
you give me too much credit. Boys as well, My god, yeah,
someone put him out?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Are you single, Luke? While you're reading these romance novels?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
I am single, guys, but I live. I live in
the remote western Queensland, our back, so there's not I
wouldn't say even if someone was interested in me, they'd
probably struggle.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Wow, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You're almost like you're like a princess in a far
away tower. People are going to go on a quest
to get to.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
That's actually, that's that's good inspiration for my book actually
put in there.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Hey, I really want to talk to you about this
this image, because look, I I It took me a
long time to sort of admit to probably my mates
that I'm I'm a bit of a nerd. I love books, particularly,
I love fantasy. I love Harry Potter, I heard it before.
You like Brandon Sanderson, I love Robert Jordan. They're all
that Wheel of Wheel of Time. Wheel of Time is
probably my favorite, probably my favorite fantasy series ever.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, I really did. Yeah, but let's not go into
this because people are going to cracky out. Ye can
get right into it. But I'm interested to know.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I was reading before that when you were on football
trips with Rugby League, that you would hide in the
toilet to read your book. And then I was also
reading that only twelve percent of gen z men actually
read books.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
So can you talk to me about like.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
What degree of say bravery it took you to sort
of stick your hand up and say, hello, I am
who I am, I look how I look?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And I love fantasy books.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
And also how rewarding maybe that's been as a guy
to admit that this is a nice thing to do.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Mate, I'll be one of the hardest things of that
in my life, to be honest. You know, when you're
surrounded by blokes in that elk of you know, of
I suppose all that cultural sort of stigma. It was
really hard and I actually copped a lot of flak
from like my mates when I first come out and
started talking about it as a favorite of flack around it.
(04:55):
I just got to the point of life where I
just really wanted to be myself. And when you're very
I suppose, when you know, very grounded in who you
are and in your own truth, a lot of that
outside noise is easy to overcome, which I and I
wasn't for a very long time. The outside noise really
did affect me for a very long time.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, so would you did you put the books away
during your NRL career?
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Then the books are the books are hidden in the
bottom of me bag, like when if we travel, in
the bottom of my bag, and then I would go
and lock myself in the toilet, and you know, I'd
be in there farf now And I remember, like for me, roommates,
roommates were like, what are you doing in there? But
I'm like, I just you know, I've got a website
up or something, you know, Wheel of time. I mean,
(05:44):
they're reading about I'm there reading about and It's funny
because I was almost more comfortable than reading a fancy book. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Literally just had that thought to think that it's so
accepted among it's more acceptable your sexual dudes, that you'd
be in another room in some far flung, perverted corner
of the internet as opposed to just reading a book.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Mate, And it's crazy, and it's really great.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Have you had a lot of blogs reaching out to you, Luke,
thanking you for being open about loving books, mate.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
I actually have, and it's been really like that's the
most rewarding part for me. I always say that I
make my content for a twelve year old Luke Babman
who never got to see someone like him who loved
the same things that he did. And I think I
get a lot of blokes for you and now just
hand like thank you, you know, for giving their permission
to love books and love reading.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And that always means like the most to me. And
I've got a really.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Beautiful message the other day from a man who had
a young son and he actually was just like, mate,
thank you so much, Like I want to instill this
love in my son. And it's so good to see
people like you talking about it openly.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
It really does mean a lot to me when when
men reach out.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Oh that's awesome, are actually part of a book club
which is just thirty five year olds, which is really like,
it's amazing. It's actually so good for the guys listening
out there. How much more fulfilling it is to catch
up with other guys and talk about, like I actually
had something to talk about, like and love, you're not
doing at gambling?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Not just talking Yeah, not just talking.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
About like gambling and who won the footy last night,
like an actual conversation.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
That's the other thing I've had a lot of.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I actually have a lot of the people to reach
out because obviously speak very openly about my gamming diction
and my rehab and struggles with that, and I have
a lot of men also reach out in that regard
and say, hey, man, I'm also struggling with the same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So yeah, it's abous, very prevalent.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
And I just said, you know, me talking about it
gives others the ability to shed shed some of the
shame that that it's surrounded him.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Wow, Jesus, been enlightening talking to you, Luke. Thanks so
much for coming.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
On the show.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Thanks boys, I really appreciate it when you're When your
book comes at Loki, let us know because we'll check
it into rotation at the book clubs.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Yeah, it has to be one of the monthly books
and book club books. Yeah, it'll be. I wrote the
book hopefully like a lot of you know, I want
everyone to love it, but especially man and boys.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh cool, alright mate, Well look we'll get you to
come down to the book club. It'll have to be
a ticketed event though. My god, the women that'll be
loving out them see you.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
But in security, the wives usually don't want to come
to book club and all of a boatman's coming.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I'm coming to book club. Hey, love you to talk
to you, Luke.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Good chat boys are you very much?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Congratulations with all your success. You want to vote for
Luke at the TikTok Awards. It closes sixteenth Novembers, and
make sure you get involved. Love it to have you
on the show.
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