The Penguin Podcast

A new year = new books, and there are plenty of brilliant new stories to look out for this year. To get your 2022 reading list started, we've brought together five of this year's most exciting debut …

As we approach the end of 2021, we're revisiting some of the most memorable moments on the Penguin Podcast this year.

Conn Iggulden takes his writing research extremely (and we mean, *extremely*) seri…

As we approach the end of 2021, we're revisiting some of our favourite moments on the Penguin Podcast this year.

Zadie Smith and Nick Laird tell us about the unexpectedly colourful spectrum of noise t…

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers joins Nihal Arthanayake to discuss his thirteenth novel, ‘Bewilderment’.

Using objects like Bach’s Goldberg Variation 18, an unsmoked hickory nut, and …

In this special live recording at The London Palladium, Dolly Alderton speaks to award-winning actor and writer Stanley Tucci to discuss his new food memoir, Taste: My Life Through Food.

Stanley speak…

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout joins Isy Suttie to discuss the third book in her Lucy Barton series, ‘Oh, William!’.

Using objects like a ring gifted to her by a great aunt and a p…

The writer that penned an early-noughties viral phenomenon aged just 13, Jade LB, speaks to Nihal Arthanayake about ‘Keisha The Sket’.  Having lived on the phones and websites of fans for the past tw…

The author, podcaster and stand-up comedian Shon Faye joins Nihal Arthanayake to discuss her first book, The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice.

Using iconic queer artefacts like the film ‘The…

Author, broadcaster, entertainer and former politician Gyles Brandreth talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his upcoming memoir, Odd Boy Out.

In this episode, Gyles Brandreth considers how delving into hi…

“Time is just the medium through which life unfolds.” This week, mentalist, illusionist, painter and author Derren Brown talks to Isy Suttie about his latest book, ‘A Book of Secrets: Finding Solace …

World-renowned author Paula Hawkins talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her latest thriller, A Slow Fire Burning.

In this episode, Paula Hawkins reflects on the disparity between commercial success and h…

Bestselling historical fiction author Conn Iggulden talks to Nihal Arthanayake about Protector, the latest book in his Athenian series.

In this episode, Conn Iggulden recalls the wondrous stories whic…

Prolific author Alexander McCall Smith joins Nihal Arthanayake to share tales from behind his impressive body of work.

In this episode, the ever-curious Alexander McCall Smith tells of his affection …

To celebrate this year’s upcoming Booker Prize nominations, we've delved back into the archives and cherry-picked highlights from eight very special interviews. Hear about the inspirations, frustrati…

“There’s a way in which memory can press up against the present”: this week, American author Avni Doshi talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her wildly successful debut novel, ’Burnt Sugar’, which was sh…

Labour MP, podcast host and now author Ed Miliband talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his debut book, ‘Go Big: How To Fix Our World’. 

Using a scene from ’The West Wing’ and a Robert Kennedy speech as j…

Tune in to an exclusive conversation between President Barack Obama and England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford as they meet for the first time.

In this special bonus episode of the #…

Bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her latest book, ’Malibu Rising’. 

Much of Taylor’s fiction focuses on the world of celebrity and fame - she talks to Nihal abou…

Author, social historian and broadcaster Emma Dabiri talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her latest book, 'What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition’.

Emma picks objects, including a book…

Literary power couple Zadie Smith and Nick Laird chat to Nihal Arthanayake about their collaborative project, ‘Weirdo’, a children’s book about the quiet power of being different, featuring exquisite…