Rephonic
Artwork for Ask Penguin

Ask Penguin

Penguin Books UK
Penguin Books
Book Publishing
Technofeudalism
Capitalism
Editing
Authors
Historical Fiction
By Any Other Name
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Collective Action
Cloud Capital
Black History Month
Modern Classics
Classic Literature
Books To Screen Adaptations
Amelia Bassano
Women Writers
Theater
Emotional Wellbeing

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 monthlyEpisodes251Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ask Penguin

Latest Episodes

I'm looking for a novel that reads like poetry - where should I start? Can you recommend a queer love story with a happy conclusion? What are the best books that explore small-town life? We put your book dilemmas to bestselling author Ocean Vuong and... more

Outrageous, iconic and unforgettable - these are some of the books Penguin have been publishing over its 90-year history. As part of a special content series called 'The books that shaped us' on Penguin.co.uk, we invited readers from the world of pub... more

Recorded live at Latitude Festival, Irvine Welsh sits down with host Rhianna Dhillon to delve into his new novel Men in Love, the eagerly awaited sequel to Trainspotting, which explores the vibrant landscape of youth culture through the decades and t... more

From the paperback revolution to the obscenity trial that made Lady Chatterley’s Lover famous, we explore how Penguin turned the UK into a nation of readers as we celebrate our 90th birthday. Host Rhianna Dhillon speaks to Kate Mosse, international b... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Bookclub
BookclubBBC Radio 4
World Book Club
World Book ClubBBC World Service
Backlisted
BacklistedBacklisted
Take Four Books
Take Four BooksBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Ocean Vuong
Award-winning poet, essayist, and novelist
Episode: Why do we still laugh when times are hard? With Ocean Vuong
Sarah Howe
Poet and Poetry Editor at Chatto & Windus, with notable works exploring identity and belonging
Penguin Books
Episode: Why do we still laugh when times are hard? With Ocean Vuong
Jack Edwards
Cultural catalyst and internet influencer, creator-in-residence for Hay Festival
Episode: Which Penguin books shocked society and became cultural icons? With Jack Edwards and Penguin Editor, Simon Prosser
Irvine Welsh
Author of Trainspotting and Men in Love
Author
Episode: Youth culture, love and music with Irvine Welsh and Derek Owusu
Kate Mosse
International bestselling author, founder director of The Women's Prize
Penguin Books
Episode: How Penguin Books turned the UK into a nation of readers
Zainab Juma
Head of brand at Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Episode: How Penguin Books turned the UK into a nation of readers
Anthony Horowitz
Author, journalist, and screenwriter.
Penguin Books
Episode: S2 E6: Summer Reads with Anthony Horowitz
Charlie Porter
Writer, critic, and curator
Author of Nova Scotia House
Episode: S2 E5: Queer Literature with Charlie Porter
Ruby Fatimilihan
Editorial team member at Hamish Hamilton, specializing in literary fiction and non-fiction
Hamish Hamilton
Episode: S2 E5: Queer Literature with Charlie Porter

Host

Rhianna Dillon
Rhianna Dillon is a host known for her engaging and insightful discussions with authors and literary figures, drawing out personal stories and professional insights that resonate with listeners passionate about literature.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 942 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom2 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 States2 months ago
  • Eh

    Kinda boring but it was okay🙃

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Abby@234
    United States3 months 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Heart warming

    Love the way Nihal interviews authors in a relaxed manner. A natural conversation forms and he gives the time to his interviewee to form and express their thoghts calmly. Their talks are very comforting and pleasant. I enjoy the other interviewer talks as well except that she keeps trying to find ecos with her own writing, which I find a bit annoying beause it is not about her I want to learn but about the author she is interviewing, and every chance she has she makes a silly connection to the s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JuliaMNZ
    New Zealanda year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many enjoy the engaging content that brings the literature community closer to discussions about the writing process and reading culture, noting a blend of humor and depth in conversations.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its insightful discussions and warm interview style, highlighting the strong connection between the host and guests.
Some feedback mentions audio quality inconsistencies, which can be a point of frustration for a few but does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the podcast.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#70
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#131
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#29
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#58
Italy/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Which Penguin books shocked society and became cultural icons? With Jack Edwards and Penguin Editor, Simon Prosser
Q: What do you think has changed in terms of what shocks readers today compared to the past?
Simon suggested there are two kinds of shock; societal mores changing over time and the shock of realization when confronting unsettling truths about human nature and history.
Which Penguin books shocked society and became cultural icons? With Jack Edwards and Penguin Editor, Simon Prosser
Q: What was the impact on readers of 'Hiroshima' at the time it was published?
Hiroshima was a sensation, revealing the human impact of the atomic bomb and published as a full issue of The New Yorker; it shocked readers and significantly increased awareness of the event.
S2 E5: Queer Literature with Charlie Porter
Q: How did you approach writing a fiction and how did that process differ from your non-fiction work?
Charlie explains that while his fiction and non-fiction share core elements, fiction allows for a more organic exploration of thoughts and emotions, which can evolve freely without the constraints of factual sources.
A day in the life of a Books Editor with Simon Prosser
Q: How do you find time to read being so busy?
You have to carve out specific days to read and I often read in the evenings and on weekends.
A day in the life of a Books Editor with Simon Prosser
Q: What does an average day look like for you as an editor?
There probably is no average day, but it usually includes manuscript submissions, competing in auctions, negotiating contracts, and reviewing drafts.

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?

The content covers a broad spectrum of literary discussions, engaging listeners through interviews with a wide range of authors, editors, and publishing industry professionals. It frequently explores topics such as literature's societal impact, the evolution of reading culture, and the significance of various genres, including children's literature, romance, and queer narratives. Listeners can expect a blend of personal storytelling and professional insights that emphasize the transformative power of books and the connections between authors, their works, and the reading community. The podcast stands out for its intimate conversational style and the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes workings of the publishing world, making it... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Ask Penguin, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Ask Penguin?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Ask Penguin, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Bookclub
3. World Book Club
4. Backlisted
5. Take Four Books

How many episodes of Ask Penguin are there?

Ask Penguin launched 20 years ago and published 251 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ask Penguin from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Ask Penguin?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Ask Penguin. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Ask Penguin?

Recent guests on Ask Penguin include:

1. Ocean Vuong
2. Sarah Howe
3. Jack Edwards
4. Irvine Welsh
5. Kate Mosse
6. Zainab Juma
7. Anthony Horowitz
8. Charlie Porter

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days