Share

cover art for Emma Watkins with Dali & Rupi the dogs

Who's a Good Dog

Emma Watkins with Dali & Rupi the dogs

Season 1, Ep. 4

Kate is the envy of kids everywhere for getting to speak to children’s entertainer Emma Watkins. Emma is the first female member of Australian kids band The Wiggles - who have had two billion views on YouTube, sold more than seven million CDs and 23 million DVDs, and perform live to an average of one million people a year. Emma is a trained dancer who’s famous for wearing a yellow skivvy, leading kids in easy-to-do dance routines and showing little girls they can aspire to be children’s entertainers too. She spent some time inside the costumes of Wiggles characters Wags the Dog and Dorothy the Dinosaur prior to joining the main lineup in 2013. She is extremely popular with Kate’s darling niece, Poppy, who will not be disturbed when she is watching The Wiggles on telly in Sydney. Emma has two flawless poodles called Dali and Rupi, who sat on her lap throughout the recording. Emma tells Kate all about the group dynamics of her many different animals, why her dogs are more often recognised at the park than she is, and how their household is actually run by a cat who behaves like Mariah Carey. 


For the kids on your life, but also if you just like dance and joy and the colour yellow, follow Emma on Instagram, as well as on the main Wiggles account. Check out Emma, the rest of the Wiggles and four new supporting members in their new YouTube series Fruit Salad TV


You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK


Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 3. Brooke Boney & Jimmy the dog

    35:17
    Kate’s joined by the wonderful Brooke Boney, entertainment reporter for the TODAY show in Australia. Brooke is a Gamilaroi woman, a proud auntie, and a devoted pug fan. She began her career as a political journalist and now she gets up so early in the morning to be on breakfast telly. She had two perfect pugs, called Reuben and Jimmy. May they both be eating as much cheese as they like, forevermore. They recorded this episode on Gadigal land in 2022; specifically from Kate’s niece’s nursery. Since this episode, Brooke has interviewed Vin Diesel in Rome, swapped fitness tips with Michael B Jordan and met a few Backstreet Boys at a Harry Styles concert. You can find Brooke on Instagram and on Channel 9 every weekday morning. You can find Kate on kateleaver.com. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 4. Kristen Arnett & Lola the dog

    33:34
    Kate is joined by hilarious American author, Florida resident and legendary lesbian Kristen Arnett. Kristen’s debut novel, Mostly Dead Things, was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel, With Teeth, came out right about when we recorded this episode. She is an essayist, a lifelong patron of 7-Eleven, and a former librarian. She’s been published widely and celebrated for her wit, her baseball caps, and her enormous likeability online. In this episode we hear about her fantastic dog, Lola. You can find Kristen on Instagram, kristinarnettwriter.com, and through her publishers. You can find Kate on kateleaver.com. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 2. Amrou Al-Kadhi & Phaedra the dog

    35:25
    Kate talks to gorgeous writer, filmmaker and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi. Amrou is a drag sensation as Glamrou - urgently keep an eye out for tickets to their acclaimed show From Quran to Queen. And! Their first feature film, LAYLA, which is coming soon. When they’re not on stage or behind the camera, Amrou writes for television, including the show Little America and the adaptation of their memoir, Life As A Unicorn. In this episode, we hear about their greatest cutest cuddliest love, Phaedra the dog. You can find Amrou on Instagram, through their agents at United, and on amroualkadhi.com.  You can find Kate on kateleaver.com. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 1. Anna Codrea-Rado with Dolly & Jack the dogs

    36:43
    Kate talks to brilliant journalist Anna Codrea-Rado. Anna is a true legend of freelance journalism: she runs an essential newsletter called A-Mail on Substack, wrote a terrific book called You’re The Business, and hosts a podcast called Is This Working? with her best mate Tiffany Philipou. She writes with wisdom and authority on modern work, productivity, tech, and culture. In this episode, we hear about Anna’s beloved darling first dog Dolly, and how she accidentally adopted a Labrador during lockdown. Little Dolly is no longer with us, and she was so, so lucky to spend her days with Anna. We dedicate this episode to her and we send Anna so, so much love. You can find Anna on Instagram or Substack. You can buy her book, please do, in bookstores. You can find Kate on kateleaver.com. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 10. Stu Oakley with Annie & Millie the dogs

    29:12
    Kate is delighted to talk to podcaster Stu Oakley. He is a film and entertainment publicist who worked on little known indie films Harry Potter, Star Wars and Jurassic World. He hosts the award winning podcast about LGBTQ+ families called Some Families with Lotte Jeffs. He says he thought he knew what it was like to work with divas until he started looking after toddlers. He has two gorgeous rescue labradors called Annie and Millie, who are 15 and 13 years old and perfect in every way. Stu tells Kate how Annie and Millie helped when he and his partner were adopting their kids, how they like to spend their retirement years, and what their friendship is like. Listen to Stu’s podcast Some Families on your favourite podcast app. Follow him on Twitter and publicise your next big budget film through his publicity agency website. You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 9. Juno Dawson & Prince the dog

    33:48
    Kate is extremely happy to talk to author/podcaster/soap opera sensation Juno Dawson. Juno has written many successful books, including non-fiction hits This Book is Gay, The Gender Games and What’s The T? as well as bestselling novels Meat Market, Clean and Margo & Me. In July 2022, she’ll release the first book in a trilogy about a government agency for witches called HMRC (Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) and her Christmas romcom Stay Another Day is on sale from the 14th October, 2021. She has also appeared on Holby City and I May Destroy You. She’s an ambassador for Stonewall and once interviewed Atomic Kitten (!!). She also has a teeny tiny chihuahua called Prince, who sits in the front row when Juno speaks at literary festivals and only approves of five human beings in the world (is one of Prince’s approved people Juno’s husband? Find out). Stay up to date with all of Juno’s projects on her website, follow her on Instagram and Twitter and buy all of her books, please. You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 8. Marlee Silva with Ziggy & Piper the dogs

    36:26
    When Kate asked author Marlee Silva to come on this episode, she said it was “the best idea for a podcast” she’d ever heard. Marlee is a Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman who launched a social media initiative called Tiddas 4 Tiddas to celebrate Indigenous Australian women and girls. She hosts a podcast about First Nations role models called Always Our Stories and one about sport called Chicks and Balls. She has more podcasts still to be revealed! Her first and bestselling book, My Tidda, My Sister was published by Hardie Grant. She also, importantly, lives with two magnificent dogs called Piper and Ziggy. She tells Kate the hilarious story of how her sister brought their second dog into the family home, what mental health support they provide, and the most embarrassing thing they’ve ever done. You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 7. Jon Ronson with Josie & Floppy the dogs

    34:36
    Kate is joined by her favourite male author, Jon Ronson. Jon is a Welsh-born journalist living outside New York, and he’s written several highly acclaimed global bestsellers including The Psychopath Test, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed and The Men Who Stare at Goats. He hosted podcasts The Butterfly Effect and The Last Days of August. He also, importantly, presented a documentary about the time pop star Robbie Williams became obsessed with UFOs. His first book, Them: Adventures With Extremists, is (sadly) more relevant than ever. Jon has two wonderful dogs, called Josie and Floppy, one of whom once saved the other’s life. Jon tells Kate why Josie reminds him of Anthony Hopkins, how they both respond to a crisis, and the elaborate skits Jon does on behalf of the dogs.If you need more Jon in your life (we all do), check out his website, follow his escapades on Twitter, and search for pictures of his dogs in snow boots on his Instagram. You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington. 
  • 6. Peter Mutabazi with Simba & Rafiki the dogs

    36:28
    Kate is genuinely honoured to speak to foster father Peter Mutabazi for this episode. Peter has an astonishing story: he ran away from his abusive father in Uganda when he was just 10 years old and decided to repay the kindness once shown to him by getting into the foster care system. He now lives in South Carolina, where he shares his experience being a single dad with more than 120,000 followers on Instagram and YouTube. He’s given a safe, loving home to 16 foster kids over the years but currently lives with his adopted son Anthony, three other children and two dogs. He tells Kate about how two enormous puppies called Simba and Rafiki have changed their lives, his wish to give every kid living with trauma a dog, and who exactly does all the dog-related chores in the household. Please! Follow Peter on Instagram and watch his lovely videos on YouTube. You can buy a plushie dog for someone, too, and another will be given to a child who needs one. And you can sign up for updates on Peter’s work here. You can find Kate on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Her book, Good Dog, is published by Harper Collins in Australia, the US and the UK. Who’s A Good Dog? is a Stripped Media podcast, produced by Arlie Adlington.