Ask Penguin

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by medical doctor, academic and science populariser and presenter, Chris van Tulleken.Chris joins us to discuss his latest book, Ultra Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food… and Why Can't We Stop?This thoughtful conversation also includes insightful details about the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods, the human desire to consume what we know is bad for us, what the food companies are really up to, and why we believe exercise helps burn extra calories.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by the second winner of Stormzy's Merky Books Prize, and she was also one of the Observer's best new novelists, it's Jyoti Patel.Jyoti joins us to discuss her debut novel, The Things That We Lost, a story of family, loss and how far we go to protect those we love.Also discussed on the podcast is the experience of mixing British and Gujarati cultures, the privilege of studying the arts, the importance of being your authentic self, the idea of the perfect sentence, and where it is that Jyoti feels the writer's life most intensely. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by professor and writer, Jonathan Kennedy. Jonathan joins us to discuss his debut work of non-fiction, Pathogenesis, a look at the latest science of infectious diseases and bacteria, and how it has shaped human evolution. Isy and Jonathan also discuss the Stone Henge, his love for cycling scenery, how some bacteria have given us abilities we wouldn't otherwise have, and the importance of South Africa and Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by award-winning author, Diana EvansDiana joins us to discuss her latest novel, A House for Alice, the follow-up to the best-selling and critically acclaimed, Ordinary People. Isy and Diana also discuss home and belonging, the idea of letting go, taking risks in writing and reading, and the importance of music and a treasured guitar. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie is joined by award-winning author and professor, Sarah Bakewell.Sarah joins us to discuss her latest work of nonfiction, Humanly Possible: seven hundred years of humanist freethinking, inquiry, and hope Isy and Sarah also discuss Humanism and religion, finding beauty in the complexity of the world, a brief history of human dissection, and the writing of Michel de Montaigne.Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal is joined by writer, science populariser and theoretical, Carlo Rovelli. He joins us to talk about the new English translation of his first book, Anaximander.They all also discuss the singular genius of the philosophers of the past, the importance of questioning our reality, the significance of a typewriter in his writing career, and his admiration for the theoretical physicist John Wheeler. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julian Barnes, the celebrated English novelist and Booker Prize winner, discusses his latest work, Elizabeth Finch. He shares insights into the lessons of history that shaped him, emphasizing the need for Britain to confront its imperial past. The conversation veers into his ‘controlled’ friendship with Anita Brookner and how it influenced his writing. Barnes also reflects on how his French perspective informs his views on nationalism and patriotism, while recounting heartfelt moments that unexpectedly move him, like watching Olympic rowers.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Paul Harding.Paul joins us to discuss his brand new novel, This Other Eden.We also hear how the pressure of winning a prize affects the writing process, why Paul prefers to keep his personal politics side-lined in his fiction, what success means to him, and why he sometimes sits to read the Oxford English DictionaryDon't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Penguin Podcast, Isy Suttie talks to author, TV presenter, Sunday Times bestseller and beloved chef, Nadiya Hussian. They discuss her new cookbook, Nadiya's Everyday Baking. They also delve into the effectiveness of cooking to deal with grief, how food connects us with our memories, how Nadiya picked up her cooking skills, and the relevance of a set of false teeth in her family. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! Our first episode of the year features best-selling author, Jane Fallon, talking to Nihal Arthanayake about her brand-new novel, Just Got Real.Two also discuss the joys of editing a first draft, the pressure of achieving a best seller, Jane's fascination with the theme of revenge, and the importance of 'believability' in her novels. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and please do leave us a review – it really does help us. And finally, to find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.