The Guardian Books podcast

Ease into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In this episode, Marina Hyde looks at the new additions to Downing Street (2m00s), Hadley Freeman interviews Hollywood actor Will Arnett (9m56s), Sirin Kale tries her hand at quiz show Mastermind (26m32s), and David Robson examines why we're so stressed about stress (41m08s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Ease into the weekend with our brand new podcast, showcasing some of the best Guardian and Observer writing from the week, read by talented narrators. In our first episode, Marina Hyde reflects on another less than stellar week for Boris Johnson (1m38s), Edward Helmore charts the rise of Joe Rogan (9m46s), Laura Snapes goes deep with singer George Ezra (18m30s), and Alex Moshakis asks, “Are you a jerk at work?” (34m40s). If you like what you hear, subscribe to Weekend on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Have you ever wondered what famous people actually eat? In our new podcast, Guardian restaurant critic Grace Dent does just that, asking well-known guests to lift the lid on the food they turn to when they're at home alone – and what comfort foods have seen them through their lives. In the first episode, screenwriter Russell T Davies tells Grace about his childhood in Swansea, the delights of Woolworth's pork and egg pies, and how his husband's death informed his latest TV series, It's a Sin. Future guests will include Nish Kumar, Rafe Spall and Aisling Bea. Episodes willl be released every Tuesday – search for it wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The Guardian has launched a new series called Reverberate that we think you’ll like. Each week, Chris Michael will explore incredible stories from around the world about when music shook history. In the first episode, we hear from Kashy Keegan, an unknown singer-songwriter in a sleepy English town who became the voice of Hong Kong’s nascent pro-democracy movement. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

We wanted to bring you another episode from our Innermost series. In the last episode of our first season, two callers tell Leah Green how their relationships sent them down unexpected paths, one with criminal consequences Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The Guardian has launched a new series called Innermost that we think you will like. Each week, callers will tell Leah Green what’s going on behind closed doors. In the first episode, we hear how an uncle’s funeral and meals with an emotionally distant brother help James and Jess think about their families in new and unexpected ways. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the rest of the series. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On our final episode, the diplomat who spearheaded the Paris Agreement discusses why we should feel optimisitic about our ability to tackle the climate crisis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

We speak to Horrible Histories consultant and podcaster Greg Jenner about the history of celebrity and share what listeners are reading. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Mathematician Adam Kucharski talks about how the concept of ‘contagion’ is rooted in our social lives and we share your reading tips for lockdown. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show we talk to Toby Ferris about his pursuit of the Dutch master and look at how the literary world is dealing with the pandemic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show we talk to the Northern Irish writer about his new novel and discuss how headlines can impact our appetite for certain books. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s podcast, we talk to Tsiolkas about his novel on the life of St Paul and the historian Holland explains what we know about the man. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the bestselling fantasy author talks about how he came to invent a magical branch of the Met, and we discuss Hilary Mantel’s new novel The Mirror & The Light. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk to graphic novelist Isabel Greenberg about her comic Glass Town and the 2020 longlist for the International Booker prize. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Alexander Boxer talks about his book A Scheme of Heaven and we discuss why Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers tried to remove a juror for her reading history. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The novelist explains how she discovered her family was woven into history, plus the new wave of Ethiopian literature in English. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The crime writer joins us to discuss the mechanics of mystery novels, plus Margaret Atwood at the Hay festival in Cartagena. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The geneticist explains why science offers no support for prejudice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

We welcome not one but two Costa winners, as the victors in the novel and the debut fiction categories join us in the studio. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The novelist explains her sudden decision to write her controversial thriller, and we hail TS Eliot prize winner Roger Robinson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the novelist explains how she came to write about her insomnia and we consider why indie bookshops are booming in the UK and Ireland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

This week, the creator of the biggest child villain in literature talks about comedy writing and seeing his creation adapted by Disney. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Priya Basil talks about the dynamics of the dinner table and her book Be My Guest, and we chat about the best books of the year. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Ben Lerner and Meena Kandasamy talk about drawing on their most embarrassing and vulnerable moments to write fiction. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

A former member recalls growing up in ‘America’s most hated family’ and Claire McGlasson explains why we’re fascinated by cults. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk to Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the two authors who published as James SA Corey and the space opera The Expanse. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the Pulitzer prize winning novelist talks about the return of her wonderfully difficult character in Olive, Again. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Rory MacLean and Luke Harding talk about the challenges of writing about Russia, the subjectivity of experience and getting high on ‘Putin’s Pecker’. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, Jamie talks about her new essay collection Surfacing and we hear a rare recording of the Cider with Rosie author. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the US novelist talks about Donald Trump’s border policy and the personal toll of researching those left behind by the cartels. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk about endangered languages with Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort, Maori poet Vaughan Rapatahana and publisher Clive Boutle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk about books as physical objects and look at the history of Gilgamesh through centuries of translation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

We discuss the shock decision to split the 2019 prize, and look at two books about the UK’s Windrush generation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the British-American author talks about her 1,000-page stream-of-consciousness and we chat about ‘difficult books’. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, the US novelist talks about The Dutch House and we discuss your additions to our top 100 books of the 21st century list. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Journalist Nesrine Malik talks about her book We Need New Stories and we discuss the Guardian’s top 100 books of the 21st century. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we look at the history of political memoirs, and speak to fantasy author Brian Catling and Weil sibling biographer Karen Olsson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk to Laura Cumming and Rhik Samadder about their memoirs, take a look at the Booker shortlist and give a verdict on Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

In this week’s show, Rushdie talks about his Booker-nominated novel and we discuss the best literary road trips. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The Turkish author talks about 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, her new, Booker prize-longlisted novel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Writers including Penelope Lively, Caryl Philips, Howard Jacobson and Yomi Sode explore how this idea has changed over time. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Rachel DeLoache Williams recalls her time with hoaxer Anna Sorokin in My Friend Anna and we rank the best true crime books. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

David Shariatmadari reveals how English is evolving – or in Jacob Rees-Mogg’s case, refusing to – and Cecelia Watson shares her passion for the semicolon. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

This week, Taddeo discusses her bestseller about the intimate lives of women, and we take a look at the 2019 Booker prize longlist. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we speak to the poet about his debut novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and discuss the evolution of the Great American Novel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we talk to Jacobson about his new novel, and discuss the compelling career of Murdoch. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

Johny Pitts and Roger Robinson talk about Windrush, the rise of rightwing populism – and why they both feel still hope. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

The outgoing US poet laureate talks about her career, and we chat about the work of Alice Oswald, the new Oxford professor of poetry. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

This podcast contains descriptions of violence which some may find distressing. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

For Refugee Week, two writers discuss their experiences as asylum seekers and the challenges facing refugees around the world. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod

On this week’s show, we meet the author of An American Marriage fresh from her win, and speak to Newman about her time-travelling novel The Heavens. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/bookspod