What should I read next? Ask Penguin is the podcast where your quirkiest, trickiest, and most urgent book questions get answered. Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, we bring bestselling authors and Penguin insiders to explore some of your favourite books and discover new ones that you are yet to read.

Ask Penguin

Learning 19

Kate Atkinson brings an antique silver hare, a Halifax Bomber and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ‘A God In Ruins’ with host Richard E Grant. The topics of conversation include the long-term effects of war on veterans, The Queen, how we age and the power of classical music to evoke an emotional response in us all.  

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The Penguin Podcast: Richard E Grant with Kate Atkinson

Comedian Bridget Christie brings a yoghurt, a ‘votes for women' sash given to her by Emmeline Pankhurst’s great-granddaughter and a piece of gammon to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ‘A Book For Her’. Host Richard E. Grant and Bridget discuss a wide range of topics including FGM, labiaplasty, how a yoghurt advert perpetuates rape myths and how a unsavoury incident in a book shop inspired the book. 
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The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Bridget Christie

In this episode, Onya speaks with Mara Stoll (UCL MSc Prosperity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and theologian Dr. David Dark about how hermeneutics, the art of interpretation, can transform social entrepreneurship. Together, they unpack why understanding our own assumptions and a community’s lived reality is key to avoiding well-intentioned missteps. Discover how applying hermeneutic principles can help founders slow down, listen deeply, and co-create ventures that truly fit the people they are meant to serve.

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-01
Duration: 00:41:27
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Dr Onya Idoko
Guests: Mara Stoll and Dr David Dark
Producer: Manolo Fournier
Podcast owner: Victoria Howard


Slow Down and Listen: Hermeneutics for Social Entrepreneurs

With clear explanations, fun illustrations, and expertly-presented information, Consent (for Kids!) is an empowering introduction to consent, bodily autonomy, and respect for yourself and others.

Consent is like being ruler of your own country…population: YOU.

This is a smart, playful guide to consent and bodily autonomy, packed with bright and energetic illustrations. Readers will learn about boundaries and how to set them; ways to respect themselves and others; what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe; and much more. Along the way, they’ll be encouraged to reflect on (and improve!) their own behavior and to practice consent in their daily lives.

Whether you’re looking for a consent primer to share with a friend or searching for a way to talk to your child about what it means to be in control of their own body and respect others’, look no further! This humorous and insightful book from the co-creator of the viral “Tea Consent” video is the perfect teaching tool, conversation starter, and insightful, empowering resource for educators, kids, and families everywhere. 

Consent (For Kids!) by Rachel Brian read by Rachel Brian

A top expert in personal branding shows introverts how to leverage their unique strengths to get ahead    

To build a career, you need a personal brand to showcase your distinct skills, experience, and expertise. Building that brand can feel daunting—particularly for introverts. Conventional wisdom holds that introverts should fake extroversion in order to succeed, advice that can be terrifying for anyone who finds social interaction exhausting. Personal branding expert and introvert Goldie Chan says it doesn’t have to be this way.   

Chan empowers introverts to create memorable and recognizable personal brands without feeling the pressure to become someone else. With examples from everyday introverts to introvert celebrities like Taylor Swift and LeVar Burton, Chan shows how introversion can be a superpower when building a personal brand. She shares strategies for goal setting, navigating in-person networking events, building online and offline communities, partnering effectively with extroverts, and sustaining energy for the long run.   

This book is essential reading for any introvert looking to level up a career or community without sacrificing authenticity.    

Personal Branding for Introverts by Goldie Chan read by Ferdelle Capistrano

This is the wild story of how Donald Trump capitalized on the Democrats’ growing disconnect with male voters — told through the explosive culture war battles playing out in sports.
 
Democrats don’t have a Trump problem. They have a man problem. And Trump was just the guy to exploit it. Young men see the Democratic Party as anti-men, run by weak, low-testosterone beta males. And here’s the truth: Trump won with balls. And he won’t be the last Republican to do it. The 2024 red tsunami was led by men fed up with woke nonsense. Unless Democrats change fast, it’s only going to get worse for them.

This book breaks down how Trump used sports as his secret weapon to rack up votes. From the Lia Thomas controversy to Bud Light’s downfall, ESPN’s woke meltdown to his own assassination attempt—where he proved once again he’s a fighter—Trump seized these opportunities and played the game like a winner. And America’s men took notice.

Clay Travis doesn’t hold back. As the founder of Outkick, the co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, and one of the most influential voices in sports and conservative media, he’s interviewed Trump more than ten times—including on Air Force One. Now, he’s bringing the unfiltered truth about why men turned on the Democrats—and why they’re never coming back.

Balls by Clay Travis read by Clay Travis

A definitive new history of the world’s most watched sporting event—just in time for the 2026 tournament​

Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession. It is the most watched sporting event on the planet, and 211 teams competed to make it into the 2022 tournament. From its inception, it has also been a vehicle for far more than soccer. A tool for self-mythologizing and influence-peddling, The World Cup has played a crucial role in nation-building, and continues to, as countries negotiate their positions in a globalized world. 
 
The Power and the Glory is a comprehensive history of the matches and goals, the tales of scandal and triumph, the haggling and skulduggery of the bidding process, and the political and cultural tides behind every tournament. Jonathan Wilson details not merely what happened but why, based on fresh interviews and meticulous research. The book is as much about the legends of the sport, from Pelé to Messi, as it is about the nations that made them, from Mussolini’s Italy to partitioned Germany to controversy-ridden Qatar. 
 
Brimming with politics, heart, and drama, on and off the pitch, The Power and the Glory is the definitive story of the greatest cultural event of our time.

The Power and the Glory by Jonathan Wilson read by Paul Thornley

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 book dilemmas to bestselling author Ocean Vuong and Penguin Editor and award-winning poet Sarah Howe.



Joining Rhianna this week is Ocean Vuong, whose latest book The Emperor of Gladness has been dubbed the first 'millennial Great American Novel' – but what does that really mean, and which classic American novels have inspired him? The author and poet also reflects on the themes and inspirations behind the book, from small-town Connecticut to intergenerational friendships. 



Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here

To ask a question and for exclusive content and giveaways join our Broadcast channel on Instagram: @PenguinUKBooks 

 

Ocean Vuong is an award-winning poet, essayist and novelist. He is the winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize for his poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and his debut novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was a literary sensation, going on to sell more than a million copies. Amongst many other accolades, he was a recipient of the MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ in 2019 and The Whiting Award in 2016. 



The Emperor of Gladness, Vuong’s latest novel, explores themes of chosen family and the ways in which our lives can be changed by the most unexpected people. 



Sarah Howe is Poetry Editor for Chatto & Windus an imprint of Penguin as well as an award-winning author. Sarah’s first collection, Loop of Jade won the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2015, and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award the same year. Her follow-up collection, Foretokens, continues to explore ideas and complications of belonging, identity and inheritance.  

Why do we still laugh when times are hard? With Ocean Vuong

Pat Barker brings a child’s gas mask, a jar of water from a wishing well and a notebook to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book Noonday. Host Richard E. Grant and Pat discuss witchcraft, the impact of WW2 as well as her personal journey to becoming an award winning novelist. Noonday is available as an audiobook featuring Juliet Stevenson and Anne Reid out now on iTunes. 

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The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Pat Barker

Meera Syal brings her copy of The Handmaid’s Tale, her Mother’s Indian passport and precious gold bangles given to her at her wedding to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ’The House of Hidden Mothers’ with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes surrogacy, India’s fascination with babies and dowry payments as well as playing excerpts from the audiobook which is read by Meera and is available now.

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The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Meera Syal

Paula Hawkins brings a photo of her father, an Edward Hopper picture and a DVD of Rear Window to the Penguin Studio to talk about her bestselling book 'The Girl On The Train' with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes unreliable narrators, growing up in South Africa and the transition from business journalist to best selling author. Throughout the episode Richard plays excerpts from the audiobook, a multi cast production which is out now. 


The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Paula Hawkins

Penguin Books publishes blockbusting, prize-winning, celebrated, controversial, heart-warming, thought-provoking and inspiring books by a range of authors from Ali Smith to Zadie Smith, Jeremy Clarkson to Jeremy Paxman and Jamie Oliver to Oliver Goldsmith.

Why do we still laugh when times are hard? With Ocean Vuong

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