The 2 Best The Penguin Podcast Episodes
1) Caroline Criado Perez with Nihal Arthanayake
Activist and author Caroline Criado Perez joins Nihal to talk about her book ‘Invisible Women’ - which exposes the gender data gap found in society. She chats to Nihal about the probl...Show More
2) Paul McCartney with Nihal Arthanayake
Sir Paul McCartney talks about his new children’s book ‘Hey Grandude’. In a special Christmas edition, the rock superstar tells Nihal about persuading John Lennon to believe in himself, the one famous...Show More
3) What secrets does Jane Austen's house hold?
In this special bonus episode, and to mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we step inside her home in Alton to uncover the life she lived there and the objects she treasured most. From first editions to...Show More
4) What were the best books of 2025?
What were our favourite books of the year and what are we most excited to read in 2026? Join the team behind the Ask Penguin podcast to look back at standout titles, memorable podcast moments, and the...Show More
5) What makes a setting feel so vivid it becomes a character? With Paula Hawkins
Which novels are truly unputdownable and what should you read on a dark winter's night? We’re joined by best-selling author, Paula Hawkins, who discusses art, love and remote islands in her latest thr...Show More
What makes a setting feel so vivid it becomes a character? With Paula Hawkins
50:39 | Dec 4th, 2025
6) What is the best translated fiction to read?
What are the best new books in Korean fiction? How is the process of translating a book into English? And how do you write about a place you have no memory of? This week we sat down with award winning...Show More
7) Why are generations at war with each other? With Zadie Smith
Which multi-generational novels inspired White Teeth? Where does Zadie Smith turn for her next great read? And our Penguin team is back to solve your reading dilemmas - whether you're after fascinatin...Show More
8) Is never growing up the secret to great storytelling? With Philip Pullman
What was the inspiration behind Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights series? How does he want readers to feel on Lyra’s final adventure in The Rose Field? Has his demon changed now that he has got to the ...Show More
9) Is Jane Austen's legacy more than just romantic love?
Why do we still love Jane Austen’s novels 250 years later? What makes her stories continue to inspire readers and creators today? And if Jane were alive now, which book would you recommend she read?&n...Show More
10) Why Do we Still Laugh When Times are Hard? With Ocean Vuong
I'm looking for a novel that reads like poetry - where should I start? Can you recommend a queer love story with a happy conclusion? What are the best books that explore small-town life? We put your b...Show More