The Penguin Podcast

The first of two special editions of the Penguin podcast looking at some of the highlights from the past year. Featuring guests including Bill Bryson, Chris Packham and Pat Barker, a really wide array of topics are covered, ranging from libraries all the way to labiaplasty. Various objects that have played in important part in shaping our guests careers will also be discussed, including a cow, a gas mask and a fart in a jar. Yes, really. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about her debut novel, Nina is Not OK. Quite dark and very funny, it focuses on the teenage struggles of Nina, who absolutely does NOT have a drink problem. Shappi brings with her a number of objects that have shaped her career, ranging from Morph to Charlie Chaplin, and tells Richard how the pain of leaving her beloved homeland of Iran still brings her to tears. And Shappi makes it quite clear that she is not Nina - OK! #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer and actress Emma Kennedy joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about her bestselling memoir The Tent, The Bucket and Me, which charts her disastrous family holidays. She brings along a number of objects that inspired her book, including a pink bucket, a Land Rover called Bessie and some questionable seafood. Emma reminisces about many memorable incidents, concluding that camping in the 1970s was essentially National Service for children. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian John Finnemore joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about his award-winning shows Cabin Pressure, Double Acts and John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme. Renowned for his wordplay, John admits that writing doesn’t always come easily and confesses that he has a “heart-breaking” ability to procrastinate (often with tinfoil). John brings along a number of objects that have influenced his career, including his father’s airline hat and his bicycle, and observes how Benedict Cumberbatch single-handedly changed the demographic of Radio 4. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh joins Richard E. Grant down the line from Chicago to talk about bringing back the incendiary Francis Begbie in his latest novel The Blade Artist. Irvine talks about a number of objects that shaped and inspired the novel, including a copy of The Big Issue and a pair of white gym socks. Irvine muses on how art can transform lives, talks about writing ultra-violence and explains the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath (sociopaths go into banking or politics). #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer and wildlife presenter Chris Packham joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about his memoir, Fingers In The Sparkle Jar. Chris brings along a number of objects that shaped his book, including a fox skull, a set of hawk bells and his first Clash ticket stub, as he explains why he has more honest relationships with animals than he does with people. Chris reminisces about badger watching in a pair of bondage trousers, talks about how children don’t explore the outdoors enough, and explains why it’s important to suck up every last drop of life. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer and philosopher Alain de Botton joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about his latest novel, The Course of Love. Alain brings along a number of objects that shaped his book, including his copy of Virginia Woolf’s essay The Docks of London and a recording of Bach’s Mass in B Minor, as he explains why he decided to turn his attention to what happens after happily ever after. Crushes and sulks come under Alain’s philosophical microscope as he explains why love is more dangerous than a nuclear power station and advocates schools for relationships. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Award-winning comedian Francesca Martinez joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about her memoir What the **** is Normal?! Francesca brings along a number of objects that shaped her book, including a photo of her beloved grandparents and a poem to her first boyfriend, as she talks about discarding the label of cerebral palsy. She reveals her careers advisor’s reaction to her acting ambitions, explains why stand-up comedy changed her life and discusses her dreams for a world where people aren’t defined by what they can’t do, but by what they can. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shami Chakrabarti joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about her book On Liberty. Shami brings along a number of objects that shaped the book, including a goldfish bowl and her mother’s pearls, as she tells the story behind her human rights journey. She reveals a dark secret from her childhood, talks about her second day at Liberty, on the 11th September 2001, and explains why our civil liberties matter more than ever. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Colm Tóibín joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about the novel behind the Oscar-nominated film Brooklyn. Colm brings along a number of objects that inspired the novel as he muses on the Irish immigrant experience, homesickness and life in 1950s New York. He reveals that the story of Brooklyn’s Eilis Lacey was inspired by a conversation that he overheard as a child, and explains how crucial it was for him that the big screen adaptation of Brooklyn was filmed in his hometown of Enniscorthy. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Howard Jacobson joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin studio to talk about his new novel Shylock Is My Name, a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A self-proclaimed reverer of Shakespeare, Howard explains how he rose to the challenge of adapting one of the bard’s more controversial plays, and questions how much has really changed for Jews since Shakespeare first created the part of Shylock. Howard’s objects include a table tennis bat and a photograph of his grandmother, and he talks about his inspirational primary school teacher. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin joins Richard E. Grant in the Penguin Studio to talk about his major new novel, The Dust That Falls From Dreams. Louis brings his great grandmother’s diaries and a handmade ‘guitar-lute’ into the Penguin studio and tells Richard how, for him, music wards off insanity. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Phil Redmond, the creator of Brookside, Hollyoaks and Grange Hill, turns his hand from TV scripts to his first novel, Highbridge. Phil brings with him an assortment of objects that inspired the book, including an Army ration pack and a 'pay and throw’ phone and he discusses a variety of topics including how writing a novel differs from script writing, the impact of technology on society and the war on drugs. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael Acton Smith, founder of Mind Candy who created Moshi Monsters demystifies mindfulness and talks to Richard about how it can be used to rewire our brains, change the way we see the world and help us unlock our true potential. Michael reveals what lead him to write ‘Calm’ and how mindfulness changed his life.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neil Gaiman discusses his friendship with the late Terry Pratchett and how they worked together to create Good Omens, a story of the impending apocalypse. Neil reveals how they relied on an answerphone to write the book and how Terry helped him with writers block. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Elvis Costello brings his first guitar, musical mementoes from his Dad and a referee’s whistle to the Penguin Studio as he talks about his memoir ‘Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink’. Some of the topics of conversation include his many and varied musical collaborations; the importance of being able to perform live; the art of the lyricist and how his mother had an argument about a record player with Orson Welles. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bill Bryson discusses The Road to Little Dribbling, his follow up to Notes From A Small Island. To tell the story of his journey Bill brings along his passport, a walking stick, a cow, Stonehenge and an ordnance survey map. Recorded with Richard E. Grant in front of a live audience at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paula Hawkins brings a photo of her father, an Edward Hopper picture and a DVD of Rear Window to the Penguin Studio to talk about her bestselling book 'The Girl On The Train' with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes unreliable narrators, growing up in South Africa and the transition from business journalist to best selling author. Throughout the episode Richard plays excerpts from the audiobook, a multi cast production which is out now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Meera Syal brings her copy of The Handmaid’s Tale, her Mother’s Indian passport and precious gold bangles given to her at her wedding to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ’The House of Hidden Mothers’ with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes surrogacy, India’s fascination with babies and dowry payments as well as playing excerpts from the audiobook which is read by Meera and is available now. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pat Barker brings a child’s gas mask, a jar of water from a wishing well and a notebook to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book Noonday. Host Richard E. Grant and Pat discuss witchcraft, the impact of WW2 as well as her personal journey to becoming an award winning novelist. Noonday is available as an audiobook featuring Juliet Stevenson and Anne Reid, out now on iTunes. #PenguinPodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.