In this episode, meet comedian and content creator Sarah Hartshorne, Slate staff writer and president of AMEJA Aymann Ismail, and writer Tre Johnson. Hear Sarah Hartshorne on being her own dream narrator, Aymann Ismail on the cinematic scene he’s most excited for listeners to hear, and Tre Johnson on the difference between recording an audiobook and reading one’s work in person.

You Wanna Be on Top? by Sarah Hartshorne: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/750064/you-wanna-be-on-top-by-sarah-hartshorne/audio

Becoming Baba by Aymann Ismail: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719995/becoming-baba-by-aymann-ismail/audio

Black Genius by Tre Johnson: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690733/black-genius-by-tre-johnson/audio

S10 E30: Sarah Hartshorne, Aymann Ismail, and Tre Johnson

 In this episode, meet authors Zadie Smith and Nick Laird, Anne Waldman, and Fannie Flagg. Hear Zadie Smith and Nick Laird on writing a book for their children and working together in the studio, discover why poet Anne Waldman describes recording her audiobook as a “sonic investigation,” and learn what Fannie Flagg is most excited for listeners to hear.

In the Wild by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777195/in-the-wild-by-zadie-smith-and-nick-laird-illustrated-by-magenta-fox/audio/

Mesopotopia by Anne Waldman
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690646/mesopotopia-by-anne-waldman/audio/

Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/767921/something-to-look-forward-to-by-fannie-flagg/9798217159581/

S10 E31: Zadie Smith and Nick Laird, Anne Waldman, and Fannie Flagg

In this episode, meet Thomas Chatterton Williams, author of Summer of Our Discontent, Robert B. Reich, author of Coming Up Short, and Kaila Yu, author of Fetishized. Hear Thomas Chatterton Williams on the pivotal and complex meaning of the summer of 2020, Robert Reich on what he would most like listeners to understand, and Kaila Yu both on what inspired her to write her memoir, and how she would describe her recording experience.

Summer of Our Discontent by Thomas Chatterton Williams: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704632/summer-of-our-discontent-by-thomas-chatterton-williams/audio

Coming Up Short by Robert B. Reich: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763803/coming-up-short-by-robert-b-reich/audio

Fetishized by Kaila Yu: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738645/fetishized-by-kaila-yu/audio

S10 E32: Thomas Chatterton Williams, Robert B. Reich, and Kaila Yu

In this episode, meet authors Johnathan Walton, Angus Fletcher, and Dr. Vonda Wright. Discover how Johnathan Walton went from being the victim of a con artist to teaching others how to defend against scammers, hear Angus Fletcher on surprise pronunciation lessons in the studio, and listen to Dr. Vonda Wright on confronting the realities of aging for women, and the audiobook that changed her life.

Anatomy of a Con Artist by Jonathan Walton
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/745592/anatomy-of-a-con-artist-by-johnathan-walton/9798217075898/

Primal Intelligence by Angus Fletcher
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740110/primal-intelligence-by-angus-fletcher/9798217076987/

Unbreakable by Dr. Vonda Wright
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777365/unbreakable-by-vonda-wright-md/9780593736586/

S10 E33: Johnathan Walton, Angus Fletcher, and Dr. Vonda Wright, MD

In this episode, meet author and speaker Austin Channing Brown, author of Full of Myself, and historian James Delbourgo, author of A Noble Madness. Learn what inspired each of these authors to write their books, and what it was like for them to record their audiobooks. 

Full of Myself by Austin Channing Brown
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/742511/full-of-myself-by-austin-channing-brown/audio/

A Noble Madness by James Delbourgo
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798395/a-noble-madness-by-james-delbourgo/

S10 E34: Austin Channing Brown and James Delbourgo

In this episode, meet primatologist Christine Webb, writer and poet Jim Reese, and writer and Emmy-nominated producer, Reza Aslan. Hear Christine Webb on the dangers of human exceptionalism and what we can do about them, Jim Reese on the intensity of the audiobook studio, and Reza Aslan on what he’s most excited for listeners to hear in this 20th anniversary edition of his book.

The Arrogant Ape by Christine Webb: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717436/the-arrogant-ape-by-christine-webb/audio/

Coming to a Neighborhood Near You by Jim Reese: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796877/coming-to-a-neighborhood-near-you-by-jim-reese/audio

No god but God by Reza Aslan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/5837/no-god-but-god-by-reza-aslan/audio/

S10 E35: Christine Webb, Jim Reese, and Reza Aslan

In this episode, meet clinical psychologist Dr. Ingrid Clayton, writer Carla Ciccone, and writer Sam Sussman. Tune in to hear about the personal experiences that inspired each of these authors to write their books, and what it was like to record their audiobooks. Plus, learn how sneakily difficult it is to pronounce the word “onions.”


Fawning by Dr. Ingrid Clayton
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/779579/fawning-by-dr-ingrid-clayton/9798217160617/

Nowhere Girl by Carla Ciccone
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735723/nowhere-girl-by-carla-ciccone/9780593950074/


Boy From the North Country by Sam Sussman
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776752/boy-from-the-north-country-by-sam-sussman/9798217163625/

S10 E36: Dr. Ingrid Clayton, Carla Ciccone, and Sam Sussman

If you find yourself in need of a few moments of beauty, a breeze of empathy, and the warmth of a shared quiet space, this special episode of This Is the Author is for you. We’re celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month (all September long) by hearing from authors on their favorite library memories. Listen to clips from interviews with Naomi Watts, Glory Edim, Griffin Dunne, and so many more of your favorite authors to learn how libraries have impacted their lives and their communities. And don't be shy about letting a happy tear fall; this is truly lovely stuff.

Episode features interview clips from the following authors: 
Naomi Watts, Glory Edim, Daniel Stone, Whitney Hanson, Tao Leigh Goffe, Joy McCullough, Susan Minot, Lydia Yuknavitch, Griffin Dunne, Haley Mlotek, Jefferson Fisher, Mikaela Loach, Antwan Eady, Manny Arango, Tourmaline, Mark Kriegel, Jennifer Pastiloff, David Gate, Jessa Crispin, Kaila Yu, Alishia McCullough, Vaunda Nelson, Suzanne Scanlon, Kevin Barry

S10 E37: Special Edition for Library Card Sign-Up Month

In this episode, meet writer Sasha Bonét, poet Rickey Laurentiis, and chef Samin Nosrat. Learn why recording her audiobook made Sasha Bonét feel like a musician, how the title of Rickey Laurentiis’s poetry collection acted as a premonition, and how Samin Nosrat turned her journey to reconnecting with food and cooking into her new book.

The Waterbearers by Sasha Bonét: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717223/the-waterbearers-by-sasha-bonet/audio

Death of the First Idea by Rickey Laurentiis: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753987/death-of-the-first-idea-by-rickey-laurentiis/audio

Good Things by Samin Nosrat: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622646/good-things-by-samin-nosrat/audio

S10 E38: Sasha Bonét, Rickey Laurentiis, and Samin Nosrat

In this episode, meet co-founder of The Home Edit Clea Shearer, writer Mary Roach, and historian Mark Mazower. Discover what inspired each of these authors to write their books, and find out who they would cast to narrate if they hadn’t read their audiobooks themselves.

Cancer is Complicated by Clea Shearer
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746020/cancer-is-complicated-by-clea-shearer/9798217163946/

Replaceable You by Mary Roach
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807111/replaceable-you-by-mary-roach/9798217281527/

On Antisemitism by Mark Mazower
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768066/on-antisemitism-by-mark-mazower/9798217163618/

S10 E39: Clea Shearer, Mary Roach, and Mark Mazower

A podcast about authors reading their audiobooks from Penguin Random House Audio.

New tracks tagged #Penguin Random House Audio