The Penguin Podcast

Author of the hugely successful Inspector Rebus novels, Ian Rankin, joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his short story made for radio, The Deathwatch Journal. Ian is regarded at one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years, has won four Crime Writer’s Association Dagger Awards and has received an OBE for services to literature. A map of Edinburgh, Hawkwind single and Captain Scarlet toy car are among the objects Ian brings to the studio. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author of 'Love, Nina’ (adapted for TV starring Helena Bonham Carter) and the critically acclaimed novels, 'Man at the Helm' and 'Paradise Lodge', Nina Stibbe joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio. Nina talks about her new book 'An Almost Perfect Christmas' and kicks off the festive season by bringing in objects including an unusual Christmas tree, a turkey on the loo and her mum. #PenguinPodcast   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fact researchers, presenters of the hugely successful No Such Thing as a Fish podcast, TV show hosts and authors the QI Elves join Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about The Book of the Year. Dan Schreiber, Anna Ptaszynski, Andrew Hunter Murray and James Harkin bring in an object each which has inspired their book on the fascinating and funny facts of the year including an Oscar statuette, The Loch Ness Monster's dandruff and a pint of champagne. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian, actor, broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his new book Mythos, which retells the Greek Myths. Stephen brings in words (instead of objects) that have inspired him and he and David discuss typewriters, AI teachers and of course the Greek gods. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The author of five New York Times bestsellers and one of the world's most successful non-fiction writers, Malcolm Gladwell speaks to Paul Smith down the line from LA. Malcolm talks about the themes behind Blink, Outliers, David & Goliath and on writing his new book. Plus he selects five objects that have inspired his chart-topping podcast Revisionist History. #PenguinPodcast (Photo: Bill Wadman)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Award winning author Rachel Botsman is a world-renowned trust expert and her Ted Talks views are in the millions. She joins Konnie Huq in the studio to reveal how we are on the cusp of one of the biggest social transformations in human history. Rachel has brought with her some objects that have inspired her latest book Who Can You Trust, including her engagement ring and an Alexa bot. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author Harlan Coben has over 70 million books in print across the world and his last 10 novels all debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his latest book Don't Let Go and he's brought in some objects that have inspired him as a writer, including a basketball and a signed script from the TV series Modern Family. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bestselling author of the Alex Rider teen series Anthony Horowitz, joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his latest book. The Word is Murder is the first in his new series of crime novels. Anthony brings some objects that inspire his writing, including a human skull and a fountain pen with a real diamond in the lid. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author and motivational speaker Simon SInek joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his book Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't. Simon brings some objects that have inspired him, including a rare military coin and a photo of Victoria and Dennis Hopper. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bestselling author Tim Weaver joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about the latest instalment in his David Raker series, I Am Missing. Tim bring along objects including a missing persons poster, his favourite Batman comic and a picture of Hallsands in Devon as he talks about why he wanted to do something different with this novel, and how he first fell in love with writing when his parents bought him a typewriter. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Award-winning journalist and author Naomi Klein joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about her new book No Is Not Enough. Naomi brings along objects including a stitch unpicker and a model of a woman blowing a shell as she talks about sounding the alarm on climate change, trashing the Trump megabrand and how to win the world we need. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Historian and novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about the final instalment in his Moscow trilogy, Red Sky At Noon. He chooses objects including a machete and a Russian doll as he talks about researching the role of the Russian cavalry in the Second World War, reveals why he loves writing about love, and explains why Donald Trump has a schoolboy crush on Vladimir Putin. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Helen Fielding joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about her latest book Bridget Jones’s Baby. Helen chooses objects including her own diary and her favourite writing chair as she talks about how she first dreamt up the character of Bridget Jones, and why Bridget’s struggles as a thirty-something ‘singleton’ are even more relevant today. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Physicist and bestselling author Carlo Rovelli joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his book Reality Is Not What It Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity. Carlo brings along objects including a photograph of himself as a student with his pet goat, and his trusty notebook as he talks about first falling in love with physics, and explains why all scientists are rebels. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bestselling author Jane Corry joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about her new thriller, Blood Sisters. Jane brings along objects including a photograph of her grandmother and her wedding ring as she explains how teaching creative writing in prisons helped to inspire her books, and why she loves living, and writing, by the sea. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thriller writer Jo Nesbo joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his new novel The Thirst, the latest instalment in his bestselling Harry Hole series. Jo brings along objects including a photograph of his favourite coffee shop and rock climbing ropes as he tells Konnie about bringing Harry Hole out of retirement to track down a vampirist, and explains how he combines his writing career with singing in a chart-topping band. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian and audiobook narrator Jon Culshaw joins Meera Syal in the Penguin studio in a special Doctor Who edition of the podcast. Jon brings along objects including his junior telescope and a cassette recorder as he talks about his lifelong love of astronomy, and about bringing the Doctor Who stories to life in audiobooks. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Journalist and bestselling author Brad Stone joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his new book, The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley are Changing the World. Brad brings along objects including a copy of Hokusai’s The Great Wave and a photograph of Airbnb founder Brian Chesky in a bodybuilding competition as he explains how companies like Uber and Airbnb have rewritten the traditional rules of business, and changed the way we live our lives. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Screenwriter Elan Mastai joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his debut novel All Our Wrong Todays. Elan brings along objects including a bad avocado and his grandfather’s copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle as he talks about his lifelong love of science fiction, and explains why his dog is his writing assistant. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Hepworth joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about his latest book 1971: Never A Dull Moment. David brings along objects including his copy of David Bowie’s Hunky Dory and a picture of himself aged twenty-one as he explains why 1971 was the golden year for rock music, and reminisces about collecting Ringo Starr’s bins. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.