The Penguin Podcast

‘Gavin and Stacey’ co-creator and actor Ruth Jones chats to Nihal about her second novel ‘Us Three’ - a story about enduring female friendships.  She talks about objects that have inspired her including a pair of pink trainers and Wales (the country). Plus why she never ever wants to return to Glastonbury #PenguinPodcast  ‘Us Three’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3i9x6u9     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anthony Horowitz, author of the bestselling teen Spy series, Alex Rider, talks to Nihal about his creative process, how he’d like to write a Dickens novel and bonds with Nihal over the rapper Dave.Anthony, who has sold well in excess of 20 million books and has written two James Bond and two Sherlock Holmes novels, chats about his latest novel ‘Moonflower Murders’ and chooses objects that inspire his work including magic tricks and an unusual sculpture. #Penguinpodcast'Moonflower Murders' is available to buy as an audiobook now -https://apple.co/3j7zLoj  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ author Kevin Kwan chats to Nihal about his new book ‘Sex and Vanity’ - the story of a young woman who finds herself torn between two men.Kevin discusses some objects which have inspired him and chats to Nihal about why the island of Capri is so important to him, and how he used to make best dressed lists #PenguinPodcast‘Sex and Vanity’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/33UuhbY  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nick Hornby joins Nihal to talk about how he gets inspired, bringing along a collection of objects that help him including a jigsaw puzzle and an LP. The ‘About a Boy’ and ‘High Fidelity’ author chats to Nihal about his new novel ‘Just Like You’, why he is still full of doubt, and how the characters he creates have a personal effect on his life. #PenguinPodcast'Just Like You' is available to buy as an audiobook on 17/09/2020  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lily Cole joins Nihal to talk about her latest book ‘Who Cares Wins’ - where she interviews the likes of Elon Musk, Stella McCartney and the Extinction Rebellion co-founders about issues relating to the climate crisis.Lily, who is an actress, model and businesswoman chose a selection of objects which have inspired her work and why optimism is so important when it comes to activism. #PenguinPodcast‘Who Cares Wins’ is available to buy as an audiobook on 30/07 - https://apple.co/2EqWL2C    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Journalist and podcast host Pandora Sykes chats to Nihal about her debut book ‘How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? - a collection of essays which question the perceived wisdom of modern life.  Pandora chooses objects which inspire her and talks to Nihal about her life-long love of books, why it is so important to shop less and she reads out some of her favourite quotes from when she was a teenager. #PenguinPodcast  ‘How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right?’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2E1LmGg   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Broadcaster and journalist Dame Jenni Murray talks to Nihal about her new book ‘Fat Cow, Fat Chance’ - what it’s like to be labelled fat when society dictates skinny as the norm.  Jenni chooses objects that have inspired her, telling Nihal how liberated she felt by her favourite leather skirt, when she first realised she was a feminist, and why we need to look at the science behind obesity. #PenguinPodcast  ‘Fat Cow, Fat Chance’ is available to buy as an audiobook on 16/07/2020 - https://apple.co/2OnVxH5   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Illustrator and author Jackie Morris, who has collaborated with the likes of Ted Hughes and written over 40 books, talks to Nihal about how she gets creative and the objects that inspire her such as a gold hare with a fascinating backstory. They also chat about her award-winning book 'The Lost Words' (written by Robert Macfarlane), which won The Most Beautiful Book award and in audiobook form has been narrated by Benjamin Zephaniah, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews and Edith Bowman with nature sounds by Chris Watson (who has worked with David Attenborough). 'The Lost Words' audiobook is available to download here: https://apple.co/3gFbnt3 #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special bonus episode of the Penguin Podcast we bring you Penguin Perspectives.Penguin Perspectives is a collection of essays by twenty Penguin authors, written as a direct response to the Covid-19 crisis. These authors have recorded their essays from their homes during lockdown, and these recordings are collected together here. #PenguinPodcast   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 problems with PPE (one size does not fit all), how to deal with trolls, and why women need more pockets. #PenguinPodcast  ‘Invisible Women’ is available to buy as an audiobook now -  https://apple.co/3iinhdI /  https://adbl.co/3f0D66A     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author Amor Towles joins Nihal from Manhattan to discuss his 2016 best-selling book ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ - the story of a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life in a luxury hotel.Amor chats to Nihal about and why he starts everyday with the New York Times crossword puzzle and finishes the day with a cocktail.#Penguinpodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malcolm Gladwell (author of bestsellers such as ‘Blink’ and ‘Outliers’; staff writer for the New Yorker and podcaster) joins Sue Perkins to discuss his latest book ‘Talking to Strangers’ - which is bookended by the story of Sandra Bland, who tragically died in police custody and is one of many names in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Malcolm explains that Sandra’s story is part of wider problem in how we all misjudge the wants and needs of people we don’t know. Malcolm’s inspirational objects include the Janelle Monáe song ‘Hell You Talmbout’ and the ‘Friends’ theme-tune. #PenguinPodcast'Talking to Strangers' is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/3e5iqdC / https://adbl.co/2UkIVUk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stuart Russell - Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley joins Nihal to discuss his latest book ‘Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control.’ They chat about how Hollywood has clouded our perception of AI, why we don’t need robots in human form and how the best jobs in the future will be ones that involve empathy. #Penguinpodcast  ‘Human Compatible’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2UpZPkK / https://adbl.co/2W2muEY   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scottish author John Niven joins Nihal to discuss his latest book ‘The F*ck-it List’ - the story of a man who after receiving a terminal diagnosis compiles a list of the people he wants to kill.John chats to Nihal about why he hates reading his first draft back, how Donald Trump blocked him on twitter and how a motivational quote keeps him going. #PenguinPodcast‘The F*ck-it List’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2yVWUbW / https://adbl.co/2Wns5Vj  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Considered the Founder of Modern Linguistics and voted the World’s Top Public Intellectual, Noam joins Nihal to discuss his prescient 2017 book ‘Optimism Over Despair’, which has just been made into an audiobook. It takes the form of a series of interviews, addressing many issues still relevant today. Noam imparts his wisdom to Nihal (down the line from Arizona) about topics ranging from US politics to the climate crisis and also reveals one of the things he realises that he got wrong in his past #PenguinPodcast   ‘Optimism Over Despair’ is available to buy here - https://apple.co/2zamyKd And will be available as an audiobook from June 4th - https://adbl.co/3fidtyW   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

American author Curtis Sittenfeld joins Nihal to discuss her latest book ‘Rodham’ which explores what would have happened if Hillary hadn’t married Bill Clinton.  Curtis chats to Nihal (down the line from Minnesota) about how she went viral (it involves wearing a wedding dress in lockdown) and objects that inspire her including a special birthday card and a Margaret Atwood wooden badge. #PenguinPodcast  ‘Rodham’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2ZgucgE / https://adbl.co/3c3BLe3   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

World renowned physicist Brian Greene joins Nihal to discuss his latest book ‘Until The End of Time’ – which provides us with a clearer sense of how we came to be, a picture of where we are now, and a firmer understanding of where we are headed. Brian speaks to Nihal from his cabin in the Catskills (upstate New York) on why a piano piece by his father, and a First Edition of the ‘Myth of Sisyphus’ by Albert Camus inspire his work. #Penguin Podcast  ‘Until The End of Time – Mind, Matter and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2WTdL70/ https://adbl.co/2xwhxdV   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor David Harewood joins Nihal to discuss narrating the Penguin classic ‘The War Of The Worlds’ by H.G. Wells.   David has played major roles such as the CIA’s David Estes in Homeland and Captain Poison in Blood Diamond.   David tells Nihal about the challenges (and fun) he had narrating ‘The War Of The Worlds’ and discusses the objects which have inspired his work, including YouTube (for accents) and a ties (for auditions). #Penguin Podcast   ‘The War of the Worlds’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2V7yOSw / https://adbl.co/3deksal    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, comedian, and author Mark Gatiss joins Nihal Arthanayake to discuss narrating the brand new audiobook of Bram Stokers’ ‘Dracula’ and the BBC Radio dramatisation of M.R. James’ ‘Ghost Stories’. Mark has written and acted in the likes of Dr. Who, Sherlock and Dracula and is part of the team who created The League of Gentlemen. His chosen inspirational objects include fossils and an easel #PenguinPodcast‘The M. R. James BBC Radio Collection’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/34hyJ2O  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you missing the outdoors? Rewild your inner life with George Monbiot as he discusses Feral – the now-classic book that launched the rewilding movement. A respected environmental campaigner, investigative journalist and self-confessed professional troublemaker, George has won the UN Global 500 award for outstanding environmental achievement, collaborated with Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg, and been celebrated for his “dazzling command of science and relentless faith in people” (Naomi Klein). He chats to Nihal about why he actually dislikes objects - and how he’s stirred into action by items he finds problematic such as flamethrowers and fences. #PenguinPodcast‘Feral’ is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/2yKKp2B  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.