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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 monthlyEpisodes263Founded21 years ago
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Society & CultureArtsBooks

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Latest Episodes

What are the best books get you out of a reading slump? How did Snakes on a Plane inspire a literary sensation? What did James Joyce and Pakistani rap teach one of our debut novelists? And does a writer need to be completely delusional to finish writ... more

How does artist Kae Tempest inspire Dawn French? Do editors always know best? What is the impact of grief on those we love most? And what really happened when Dawn French came face to face with a hippo while filming Harry Potter?

In this episode of ... more

What’s the difference between flash fiction and the short story? Why are we drawn to literature’s most flawed characters? And what would be the ideal fictional world for adulterers?   

Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, on this episode of Ask Penguin, we’re... more

How did Marian Keyes inspire Bryony Gordon’s writing? How do you write about family without falling into stereotypes? Which books capture the messy reality of life? And what is your favourite habit to fit reading into your life?  

The Ask Penguin te... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dawn French
Author of Enough; comedian and actor
Author
Episode: Which books emotionally wrecked you? With Dawn French
Jill Taylor
Penguin editor colleagues introduced as guests in a panel
Penguin Random House
Episode: Which books emotionally wrecked you? With Dawn French
Liz Smith
Penguin editor colleagues introduced as guests in a panel
Penguin Random House
Episode: Which books emotionally wrecked you? With Dawn French
Zaynab Juma
Penguin colleague
Penguin Random House
Episode: What are the best novels about infidelity? With Sophie Mackintosh
Bryony Gordon
Author and journalist, mental health campaigner
Penguin (publisher)
Episode: What is a must-read book to make me laugh? With Bryony Gordon
Emerald Fennell
Oscar-winning director, known for her works like Promising Young Woman and Saltburn
Episode: Why I wanted to adapt Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell
Harriet Evans
Award-winning author of multiple best-selling novels
Episode: Why I wanted to adapt Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell
Henry Eliott
Author of five books, including The Penguin Classics Book.
Substack
Episode: Why I wanted to adapt Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell
Paula Hawkins
Global number one bestselling author
Author of The Girl on the Train and The Blue Hour
Episode: What makes a setting feel so vivid it becomes a character? With Paula Hawkins

Host

Rhianna Dhillon
Host of Ask Penguin

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 957 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom10 months 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 States10 months ago
  • Eh

    Kinda boring but it was okay🙃

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Abby@234
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great pod!

    Thoroughly insightful and enjoyable podcast, I’ve learnt a lot from listening and it’s helped reignite my curiosity about books!

    However audio is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes the audio is too quiet or too loud, especially on eps with guests who speak at dif volumes, so I have to keep adjusting the volume on my device.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Cameren B-G
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience notes some volume inconsistencies but still highly recommends for book lovers.
Guests and hosts are described as knowledgeable and engaging, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners praise the show for its thoughtful, well-researched conversations and warm interview style.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#213
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#55
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#170
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#21
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Which books emotionally wrecked you? With Dawn French
Q: Has a book emotionally wrecked you in the best way?
Dawn and guests name titles like A Prayer for Owen Meany and Month in the Country, describing experiences of tears and emotional transformation that linger long after reading, often tied to character empathy and life-altering realizations.
What is a must-read book to make me laugh? With Bryony Gordon
Q: What would you recommend reading that revolves around the world of journalism, preferably a mystery?
Bryony and the panel suggested a mix of journalism-themed fiction and non-fiction crime titles, including Murder Must Advertise for a journalism-adjacent mystery setting, and Consider Yourself Kissed and True Story for nuanced journalistic perspectives; broader recommendations included The House of Grief for investigative non-fiction and journalistic ethics.
Why I wanted to adapt Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell
Q: How did the adaption process differ for you compared to the original text?
Fennell emphasized that adapting the work for film allowed her to explore elements not explicitly stated in the book, like more direct expressions of sexuality.
Why I wanted to adapt Wuthering Heights with Emerald Fennell
Q: What was your first memory of discovering Wuthering Heights?
Emerald Fennell shared how she first encountered the book as part of the curriculum and found it initially challenging.
What is the best translated fiction to read? With Karl Ove Knausgaard
Q: What is your favorite Norwegian book that's been translated to English?
'The Birds' by Taija Vesas is my recommendation, it's absolutely fantastic.

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 discussion show that leans into deep dives with notable authors, editors, and publishers. Episodes mix novel analysis, author storytelling, and industry context, often featuring Penguin colleagues or prominent writers to explore themes, craft, and adaptation in contemporary literature. The vibe is warm, insightful, and conversation-driven, with a strong emphasis on reading culture, translation, and the publishing world, making it appealing to avid readers, aspiring authors, and industry professionals alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ask Penguin?

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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. The Waterstones Podcast
2. Take Four Books
3. Bookclub
4. World Book Club
5. The TLS Podcast

How many episodes of Ask Penguin are there?

Ask Penguin launched 21 years ago and published 263 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. Dawn French
2. Jill Taylor
3. Liz Smith
4. Zaynab Juma
5. Bryony Gordon
6. Emerald Fennell
7. Harriet Evans
8. Henry Eliott

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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