Ask Penguin

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by Booker shortlisted writer, Brandon Taylor. Brandon joins us to discuss his new novel, The Late Americans.The two also discuss the importance of material signifiers when writing characters, how reading contemporary fiction can influence the writing process, how learning expression through photography helped feed creativity, and what is the value of not writing during the act of writing. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by another of Granta's Best of Young British novelists, award-winning novelist, Isabella Hammad. Isabella Joins us to discuss her new novel, Enter Ghost.Also in the episode the two discuss how observing the real world helps form fictional characters, how stories can evolve and eventually become part of a communal identity, the significance of a roof in Isabella’s childhood and the importance of the sea in her new novel. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal is joined by one of Granta's Best of Young British novelists and recent recipient of the Orwell Prize for political fiction, novelists Tom Crewe.Tom Joins us to discuss his incredible new novel, The New Life.The two also discuss why the novel took over 10 years to write, what Tom admired most about a particular Victorian age, the candour and insights gained from the collected testimonies in the ground-breaking and inspirational book, Sexual Inversion, and also how his novel unconsciously reflects the times he has lived through. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie talks to author and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Maxine Mei-Fung Chung. Maxine joins us to discuss her latest book, What Women Want, an intimate examination of female desire. The two also discuss the importance of making time for yourself, the impulse to keep busy for fear we may break down, why many of our coping mechanisms are developed in childhood, and why eye contact is essential when sharing intimate information.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by Booker and Woman's Prize longlisted author and one of Granta's Best Young British Novelists, Sophie Mackintosh.Sophie joins us to discuss her latest novel, Cursed Bread. Also discussed is how Welsh and its poetry have influenced Sophie's writing, where she found the inspiration for her third novel, the importance of the sea in her life and work, and why she never deletes what she cuts from her works in progress. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by medical doctor, academic and science populariser and presenter, Chris van Tulleken.Chris joins us to discuss his latest book, Ultra Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food… and Why Can't We Stop?This thoughtful conversation also includes insightful details about the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods, the human desire to consume what we know is bad for us, what the food companies are really up to, and why we believe exercise helps burn extra calories.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by the second winner of Stormzy's Merky Books Prize, and she was also one of the Observer's best new novelists, it's Jyoti Patel.Jyoti joins us to discuss her debut novel, The Things That We Lost, a story of family, loss and how far we go to protect those we love.Also discussed on the podcast is the experience of mixing British and Gujarati cultures, the privilege of studying the arts, the importance of being your authentic self, the idea of the perfect sentence, and where it is that Jyoti feels the writer's life most intensely. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by professor and writer, Jonathan Kennedy. Jonathan joins us to discuss his debut work of non-fiction, Pathogenesis, a look at the latest science of infectious diseases and bacteria, and how it has shaped human evolution. Isy and Jonathan also discuss the Stone Henge, his love for cycling scenery, how some bacteria have given us abilities we wouldn't otherwise have, and the importance of South Africa and Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by award-winning author, Diana EvansDiana joins us to discuss her latest novel, A House for Alice, the follow-up to the best-selling and critically acclaimed, Ordinary People. Isy and Diana also discuss home and belonging, the idea of letting go, taking risks in writing and reading, and the importance of music and a treasured guitar. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by award-winning author and professor, Sarah Bakewell.Sarah joins us to discuss her latest work of nonfiction, Humanly Possible: seven hundred years of humanist freethinking, inquiry, and hope Isy and Sarah also discuss Humanism and religion, finding beauty in the complexity of the world, a brief history of human dissection, and the writing of Michel de Montaigne.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal is joined by writer, science populariser and theoretical, Carlo Rovelli. He joins us to talk about the new English translation of his first book, Anaximander.They all also discuss the singular genius of the philosophers of the past, the importance of questioning our reality, the significance of a typewriter in his writing career, and his admiration for the theoretical physicist John Wheeler. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by English writer and national treasure, Julian Barnes.He joins us to discuss the paperback publication of his most recent novel, Elizabeth Finch. Nihal and Julian also discuss his 'controlled' friendship with novelist Anita Brookner, how his worldview has been shaped by his french perspective, why Olympic women rowers move him to tears, and why the British need to honestly address their imperial history. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Paul Harding.Paul joins us to discuss his brand new novel, This Other Eden.We also hear how the pressure of winning a prize affects the writing process, why Paul prefers to keep his personal politics side-lined in his fiction, what success means to him, and why he sometimes sits to read the Oxford English DictionaryDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie talks to author, TV presenter, Sunday Times bestseller and beloved chef, Nadiya Hussian. They discuss her new cookbook, Nadiya's Everyday Baking. They also delve into the effectiveness of cooking to deal with grief, how food connects us with our memories, how Nadiya picked up her cooking skills, and the relevance of a set of false teeth in her family. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! Our first episode of the year features best-selling author, Jane Fallon, talking to Nihal Arthanayake about her brand-new novel, Just Got Real.Two also discuss the joys of editing a first draft, the pressure of achieving a best seller, Jane's fascination with the theme of revenge, and the importance of 'believability' in her novels. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the new year, we're revisiting some of our favourite moments on the Penguin Podcast with part two of our Best of the Penguin Podcast.We're joined by Jarvis Cocker, Asma Khan, Lisa Jewell, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Ian McEwan.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the end of 2022, we're revisiting some of our favourite moments on the Penguin Podcast this year.In part one, we're joined by Alison Hammond, Claire Fuller, Michael Rosen, Sinead Moriarty, and Damon Galgut live from this year's Hay Festival. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal is joined by Malorie Blackman, author of the critically acclaimed and internationally renowned Noughts and Crosses series.She joins us to talk about her new memoir, Just Sayin': My Life In Words.Malorie also discusses her approach to, and the challenges of writing a memoir, having a positive attitude toward failure, how institutional racism affects health care, her experience of being asked for a ticket at her own event, and the importance of writing your truth. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal is joined by author, screenwriter, booker winner and one of Britain's best-loved writers, Ian McEwan.He joins us to talk about his brand new novel, Lessons.Ian also discusses the delight of discovery when writing, the experience of total emersion while creating, the challenge and bliss of writing a long novel like Lessons, why a larval rock is important to him, and the special relevance of a mountain goat. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, from the Southbank Centre we bring you the live launch event of Greta Thunberg's The Climate Book.'The Climate Book brings together an unprecedented collective of over 100 experts, activists and witnesses to tell the biggest story in the world: how and why our planet is changing.'Copyright © Southbank Centre Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, we break down the publishing process.Host Leena Norms is joined by Penguin author, Derek Owusu, his agent Crystal Mahey-Morgan and editor Tom Avery.With Derek's debut novel as the anchor, they break down the process of finding an agent, acquiring a book, editing, and everything in between.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie talks to best-selling author, Salley Vickers. Salley joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Gardener. Isy and Salley also discuss psychoanalysis and its benefits, her affection towards children and their curiosity towards the mysteries of life, the power and different layers of silence, and how gardening during lockdown helped with the writing of her latest book. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This week on the Penguin Podcast, Derek Owusu talks to playwright and poet, Yomi Sode. Yomi joins us to discuss his debut poetry collection, Manorism. Derek and Yomi also discuss the influence of Caravaggio and the double standards of celebrating the art and the artist, the power of stillness to create reflection, how pop culture influences poetry, and cultural appropriation and the ways in which we perpetuate and endorse it.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This week on the Penguin Podcast, our new host Athena Kugblenu talks to bestselling author and screenwriter, Gabrielle Zevin. Gabrielle joins us to discuss her latest novel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. They also discuss literature and gaming, why we need to merge our online selves with our real-life selves, the importance of love in friendships, how our identities shift depending on where we are and who we're talking to, and the importance of failure when it comes to creativity. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake talks to former journalist and best-selling novelist, Robert Harris. Robert joins us to discuss his latest work of epic historical fiction, Act of Oblivion, out now in hardback. He also discusses his observations on the static nature of history and humanity, how journalism informs his ability to write fiction, the potential of a simple idea to inform an entire novel, the irrationality of politics, and the UK’s shifting perspectives on the monarchy.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the penguin podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by bestselling author, Lisa Jewell. Lisa joins the Penguin Podcast to discuss her latest novel, The Family Remains, the long-awaited sequel to her New York Times best-seller, The Family Upstairs. They also discuss Lisa’s development from writing relationship novels to psychological thrillers, why a nameplate from outside her childhood bedroom is so important, her experiences in an abusive relationship, and how liberation helped her decide to be a writer.  Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the penguin podcast, Derek Owusu is joined by Booker and Costa shortlisted novelist, Nadifa Mohamed.  Nadifa joins us to discuss her latest novel, The Fortune Men, a fictional account of the life of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, who was wrongly convicted and executed in 1952.  They also discuss Nadifa's love for travelling, her interest in cars and which model she gifted herself, how fact informs her fiction and the importance of including flaws in characters.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we bring you the live-streamed episode of the Penguin Podcast, featuring Nihal Arthanayake talking to writer, rapper and campaigner, Darren McGarvey about his most recent work, The Socal Distance Between Us.  Clear and insightful, together they discuss the roles of anger and optimism in positive social change, the power of emotional range in persuasiveness, how beneficial real life conversation is for cooperative dialogue, the class and equality issues in the U.K, and the distance that tone and inflections of speech can create. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by author, radio presenter and pop legend, Jarvis Cocker. Jarvis talks to Issy about his first memoir, 'Good Pop, Bad Pop'. He also discusses why outer space and The Beetles were so influential to him, why he thinks everyone is creative, what he needs for his creativity, and what he wanted for Pulp as a revolutionary force. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie joined by Irish book award winner and best-selling author, Sinead Moriarty.Sinead talks to Issy about her latest novel, Your, Mind, Ours, a novel about what it takes to create a 'blended' family.They also discuss why families are the primary focus within her novels, the importance of the first draft, the special note she has pinned above her work desk, and her inability to throw away her fluffy socks. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by Booker Prize-winning novelist and playwright, Damon Galgut.Recording from the legendary literary festival at Hay, Nihal talks to Damon about his latest novel, The Promise, which was awarded the 2021 Booker Prize.As well as the intricacies of his novel, they also discuss how the rhythms of Jazz connect with Damon's internal and writing rhythm, his veneration of Bob Dylan, the legacy of South African apartheid, how a beach in Goa fuels his creativity, and the importance of a parker pen given to him at drama school.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Derek Owusu is joined by presenter, TV personality, actress and children's author, Alison Hammond. Alison speaks to Derek about her brand new children's book, Black in Time: The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today.As well as Black British history, Alison and Derek also discuss Alison's profound love for bandanas, her recreating the atmosphere of Jamaica for wellbeing, the transporting power of Terry's Chocolate Orange, and the importance of inherited style. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, new host Derek Owusu is joined by Poet, activist, musician, actor, presenter and children's author, Benjamin Zephaniah!Benjamin speaks to Derek about his journey into poetry and spoken word, the excitement at receiving a letter from Bob Marley, the life of his mother when she first came to England, existential fear and human mortality, and the importance of meditation and controlled breathing. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by restaurateur and author, Asma Khan.Asma speaks to Isy about her most recent work, her cookbook/memoir, Ammu. They also discuss food and its connection to memory, how revelatory the writing process was for her, how a pair of blue jeans changed her life, and the gentle expressions of love through cooking. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by award-winning writer and poet, Hanif AbdurraqibHanif speaks to Nihal about his most recent work of nonfiction, A little Devil in America, which won the 2021 Gorden Burn Prize. They also discuss how Hanif manages to write 25000 words a month, how important Soul Train was to Black American culture, his reasons for disliking the Academy Award-winning film, Green Book, and also what he feels went wrong with The Chapelle Show.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by debut novelist Bonnie Garmus.She speaks to Isy about her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, and also discusses her reluctance to change any keyboard she's grown used to, often still using it when the key have come loose, her passion for swimming, what she learnt as a copywriter, the usefulness of lies in society, and how she wrote her first short story when she was five years old.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by national treasure, poet and children’s author, Michael Rosen. He speaks to Isy about his experiences before and after contracting Covid, how to create more impactful life writing, what he now knows about death, and his yearning to understand the meanings of naughty words in Yiddish.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the penguin podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by theoretical physicist, futurist, and popularizer of science, Michio Kaku. Together they discuss string theory, the unifying threads of different religious beliefs, human curiosity and the barriers to scientific thinking.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by renowned essayist and novelist, Pankaj Mishra, to discuss his new novel, Run and Hide. Together they discuss the meaning of art and the novel, the Tibetan landscape and the Himalayas, nostalgia, and wood-panelled train compartments. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claire Fuller, who recently won the Costa Novel of the Year for her latest book, Unsettled Ground, joins Nihal Arthanayake on the podcast this week. Together they discuss the importance of music in her creative process, what she doesn't like about being a novelist and how a book by Miranda July might just have kickstarted her writing career.Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time we brought you some of the most exciting debut novelists to look out for in 2022, so this week we're introducing you to some of the best new non-fiction writers to add to your reading list this year. It's a veritable treasure chest of books, from a comic memoir to ornithology, mental health, family and cultural history, and an exploration of how the Earth, as we know it, came to be.In this episode, we hear from: CJ Hauser, author of The Crane Wife, Mya-Rose Craig, author of Birdgirl, Teresa Lim, author of The Interpreter's Daughter, Thomas Halliday, author of OtherlandsDon't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review as it really does help. To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts.html. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 novelists. Speaking to Isy Suttie, they introduce us to themselves and their books, and give us some insight into their inspirations and aspirations. From a darkly comic dystopia to sumptuous historical fiction to a subversive take on modern womanhood and more – there's something for everyone amongst our pick of 2022's must-read debuts.In this episode, we hear from:Jessamine Chan, author of The School for Good Mothers, Nikki May, author of Wahala, Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora, Claire Alexander, author of Meredith, Alone, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, author of When We Were BirdsDon't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review as it really does help. Finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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*) seriously, Emma Dabiri gives us a tour of her bookshelves, Owen Jones tells us exactly which Keir he named his feline friend after, Hafsa Zayyan's shares why her grandfather sends her letters back to her, Gyles Brandreth reveals his enduring fondness for teddy bears and Ali Smith treasures advice from a favourite writer.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 that helps them work, Adam Kay reveals the best way to avoid being distracted by social media while trying to write a book, Ashley Audrain discusses the song that had a huge influence on her debut novel, former director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor shows us what a rhino doesn't actually look like, Shon Faye explains how a shared culture can bring us together, and Barack Obama tells Marcus Rashford about rummaging through a bin for books at a jumble sale.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 a petrified piece of redwood, Powers transport us to his home in the Great Smoky Mountains, musing on the importance of sense as an entranceway to curiosity, writing as a resistance of habituation, and the centrifugal feeling that connects the work of the artist and the scientist; that of bewilderment. ‘Bewilderment’ is available to order on audiobook now: https://apple.co/3cFCDYf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 speaks passionately about food, and shares with Dolly the ways in which it’s been inextricably intertwined with his life. He recalls early memories of TV chefs, tells us some favourite recipes, and explains how surviving throat cancer has renewed his appreciation for the simple joy of taste. #PenguinPodcastThe audiobook version of Taste: My Life through Food is available here: https://apple.co/3oeQfzeThe paperback of Dolly Alderton’s latest novel, Ghosts, is out now: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316664/ghosts/9780241988688.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 postcard of the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald as a starting point, Strout muses on the almost mystical process that allows her to inhabit the characters she creates, her preoccupation with class and the shame that so often sits alongside it, and the epiphany that came to her on the comedy stage. #PenguinPodcast‘Oh, William!’ is available to order on audiobook now: https://apple.co/3EbDgV6 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 two decades, it’s now been formally published for the first time with additional content from the author and essays from esteemed contemporary writers like Candice Carty-Williams and Caleb Femi.Using the notion of Black-British girlhood and an old diary, Jade dissects her own life growing up in a world where material wealth and sex are equated to power. She reflects on the need for a community or tribe, and how a lack of intersectionality too often leaves Black, working class women behind. #PenguinPodcast'Keisha The Sket' is available to pre-order now: https://bit.ly/3v333LU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Wizard of Oz’, starring Judy Garland, alongside Lady Gaga’s ‘Chromatica’ album as a gateway, Shon shares with Nihal the experiences that lead to her writing The Transgender Issue: the internalised homophobia, street harassment, and urgency to set the terms of the conversation around Trans liberation right. #PenguinPodcastThe Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice is available to order on audiobook now: https://apple.co/3F1D6Rq Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 his own childhood has challenged his usual aversion to being introspective, and how breaking the mirror of self-indulgence can truly enrich your life. Using a teddy bear, a green carnation and some words of wisdom from a war commander, he shows us that the sunshine of his childhood still shines bright.The audiobook of Odd Boy Out is available to pre-order now: https://apple.co/3nsz4vb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.