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Ask Penguin

Penguin Books UK
Penguin Books
Jane Austen
Book Publishing
Technofeudalism
Wuthering Heights
Pride and Prejudice
Historical Fiction
Christmas Gifting
Queer Literature
Artificial Intelligence
Authors
Editing
Capitalism
Mental Health
Gender Discrimination
Shakespeare
By Any Other Name
LGBTQ+ Representation
Persuasion
Emily Brontë

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes268Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Ask Penguin

Latest Episodes

What can Little Women teach modern boys about sisterhood? How does food become a language of love and grief? How does writing in a third language shape your creative rhythm? And why can finishing a masterpiece feel like a tragedy?

This week on Ask P... more

How do you begin breaking down a 600-page American epic to bring it to the screen? How did Florence Pugh capture the essence of the central character Cathy? How did John Steinbeck’s secret writing journals help the screenwriters? And what should you ... more

Can you read a cookbook cover-to-cover like a thriller? Does your reading level predict a longer life? Why is a punk chef’s memoir the ultimate weapon for reluctant readers? And how do we inspire children to read if we don’t have the time to read to ... more

Why do baby puffins prefer to be alone? Why don’t Cuckoo birds raise their own children? Has the decline of birds taken away the music of our landscapes? And what is the simplest way back if we feel disconnected from nature?

In this episode of As... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Elif Shafak
Award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller
Episode: Is death metal the secret to writing a bestseller? with Elif Shafak
Jonathan Douglas
Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, National Year of Reading ambassador
National Literacy Trust
Episode: How can I help someone fall in love with reading? with Nadia Shireen and Jonathan Douglas
Nadia Shireen
Illustrator and author of picture books including The Bumble Bear
Author/Illustrator
Episode: How can I help someone fall in love with reading? with Nadia Shireen and Jonathan Douglas
Rob McFarlane
Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author
Author of Is a River Alive, Underland; collaborator on The Book of Birds
Episode: Which books help us reconnect with nature? with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Jackie Morris
Artist and author
Illustrator/author of The Book of Birds and collaborator with Rob McFarlane
Episode: Which books help us reconnect with nature? with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Abir Mukherjee
Bestselling crime and thriller author, known for Wyndham & Banerjee series and The Pinnacle
Self/Author
Episode: What's wrong with reading to look smart? with Abir Mukherjee
Angela Tomaski
Author of The Infamous Gilberts
Penguin/Brand affiliated with debut release
Episode: Which debut novels should you be reading in 2026?
Sufiyaan Salam
Author of Wimmy Road Boyz
Penguin/Brand affiliated with debut release
Episode: Which debut novels should you be reading in 2026?
Madeline Cash
Author of Lost Lambs
Penguin/Brand affiliated with debut release
Episode: Which debut novels should you be reading in 2026?

Host

Rhianna Dhillon
Host of Ask Penguin

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 962 ratings
  • Its ok meh

    It’s ok meh

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    I hate this no non
    Ireland3 months ago
  • Brilliant!

    The episode with Bryony Gordon spoke straight to my soul. Thank you and keep up the amazing work!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MemYesThatsRightMem
    United States6 months ago
  • Love

    Love this show. My only feedback would be to adjust the sound compression. I often turn the volume up to hear the quietest speaker only to be deafened when there is any laughter! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sph2991
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Inconsistent volume

    Great podcast but volume varies in the space of an episode - goes from very loud to hard to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    loujane87
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A gem!

    One of my favorite programs - interesting, well-recorded, and sharply smart without a whiff of pretension. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WaterBearer137
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes sound quality and volume vary across episodes, but content remains highly engaging.
Guests consistently describe the conversations as insightful and well-reported.
Listeners praise the host for warm, relaxed interviewing and thoughtful questions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#75
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#189
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#218
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#232
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#57
Russia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#89
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is death metal the secret to writing a bestseller? with Elif Shafak
Q: Do you think there was an element of Emma Bovary needing to be punished because that was the thinking at the time about women?
Shafak says Emma herself raises the question of whether Flaubert meant to make an example of her. She also points to Flaubert's letters as evidence of his capacity for empathy, while emphasizing that he was flawed and leaving the judgment to readers.
Is death metal the secret to writing a bestseller? with Elif Shafak
Q: What drew you to writing about Gustave Flaubert?
Shafak says global crises made her question the purpose of writing, leading her to seek renewed faith in literature through Flaubert's 19th-century world. She wanted to tell his story through women's voices and explore the experience of being an outsider.
How do you adapt East of Eden for screen?
Q: What do you both love or find fascinating about Cathy?
They discuss Cathy as a complex, human character who catalyzes events and invites viewers to form their own judgments, with the show's narration and performance aiming to maintain that ambiguity and humanity.
What's wrong with reading to look smart? with Abir Mukherjee
Q: What was the biggest challenge writing The Pinnacle's Mumbai setting?
Capturing the social dynamics between the wealthy and their staff, and conveying the authentic atmosphere of Mumbai while balancing satire with serious themes like Me Too and class disparity.
What's wrong with reading to look smart? with Abir Mukherjee
Q: How has technology changed the way you write a murder mystery?
Technology both helps and hinders; it provides new tension but can strip suspense when overused, which makes for careful plotting and pacing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ask Penguin

What is Ask Penguin about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary interview show that explores books, reading culture, and author storytelling through conversations with acclaimed writers, editors, and publishing insiders. Episodes cover a wide range of themes—from nature writing and literary analysis to debut novels, adaptations, and behind-the-scenes publishing insights—often weaving in reader questions and practical takeaways for aspiring writers and book lovers. Noteworthy is the mix of high-profile authors, Penguin colleagues, and cross-genre topics that blend craft, culture, and community engagement. The show is likely to appeal to voracious readers, aspiring writers, and professionals in publishing or media seeking fresh perspectives on contemporary literature and the writing process.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ask Penguin?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ask Penguin. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ask Penguin and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ask Penguin get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ask Penguin?

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How many subscribers and views does Ask Penguin have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ask Penguin has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ask Penguin?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ask Penguin:

1. Take Four Books
2. The Waterstones Podcast
3. A Good Read
4. Bookclub
5. A Good Read

How many episodes of Ask Penguin are there?

Ask Penguin launched 21 years ago and published 268 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ask Penguin?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ask Penguin?

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What guests have appeared on Ask Penguin?

Recent guests on Ask Penguin include:

1. Elif Shafak
2. Jonathan Douglas
3. Nadia Shireen
4. Rob McFarlane
5. Jackie Morris
6. Abir Mukherjee
7. Angela Tomaski
8. Sufiyaan Salam

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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