
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.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 268 | Founded | 21 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArtsSociety & Culture | |||

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
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It’s ok meh
The episode with Bryony Gordon spoke straight to my soul. Thank you and keep up the amazing work!!
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! :)
Great podcast but volume varies in the space of an episode - goes from very loud to hard to hear.
One of my favorite programs - interesting, well-recorded, and sharply smart without a whiff of pretension. Bravo!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #89 |
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Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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.
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.
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4. Bookclub
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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.
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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
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