Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Barack Obama's Book Podcast Brings Six Influential Titles to Audible
Barack Obama has started a new podcast about important books.
The podcast is called A Great Book with Barack Obama.
It has six episodes on Audible.
In each episode, Obama talks with a guest about one book.
The books helped him think about who he is and what kind of world people should build.
Guests include actor Tom Hanks and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.
The first episode discusses Marilynne Robinson's Gilead.
The podcast will later appear on YouTube and other podcast apps.
A Great Book with Barack Obama debuted on Audible on September 24 with six episodes.
Each episode centers on a book that helped shape Obama's thinking and worldview.
Guests include Tom Hanks, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jill Lepore, Ben Rhodes, Percival Everett, and Lauren Groff.
The featured books include works by Marilynne Robinson, James Baldwin, Robert Penn Warren, John le Carré, Toni Morrison, and Cormac McCarthy.
The series will later become available on YouTube and other podcast platforms.
- Who
- Former U.S. President Barack Obama hosts the podcast, with guests including Tom Hanks, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jill Lepore, Ben Rhodes, Percival Everett, and Lauren Groff.
- What
- A Great Book with Barack Obama is a six-episode podcast about books that influenced Obama's thinking.
- When
- The podcast debuted on Audible on September 24; it is expected to reach YouTube and other podcast platforms later this year.
- Where
- It is initially available on Audible.
- Why
- Obama says the books helped him understand who he is and what he believes, while the series explores what stories reveal about society and the world people want to create.
- Podcast title
- A Great Book with Barack Obama
- Episode count
- Six episodes
- Initial platform
- Audible
- Debut date
- September 24
- Production company
- Higher Ground, founded by Barack and Michelle Obama
- First episode
- Tom Hanks discusses Marilynne Robinson's Gilead with Obama
- Later availability
- YouTube and other podcast platforms later this year