{
  "id": 8077282,
  "title": "Obama Welcomes Tom Hanks Among First Guests on New Podcast ‘A Great Book’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/obama-welcomes-tom-hanks-among-first-guests-on-new-podcast-a-great",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T17:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/culture/barack-obama-podcast-a-great-book-guests-tom-hanks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Barack Obama has announced a new six-episode Audible podcast series titled \"A Great Book with Barack Obama.\" The podcast series will premiere on September 24th and feature conversations with six prominent figures in literature and culture, including Tom Hanks, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jill Lepore, Ben Rhodes, Percival Everett, and Lauren Groff.\n\nThe debut episode of the podcast will explore the influence of literature on Obama's life and worldview, as he delves into the books that have shaped his perspectives on identity, power, memory, and culture. The discussions will touch on works such as \"The Fire Next Time\" by James Baldwin, \"Song of Solomon\" by Toni Morrison, \"All the Pretty Horses\" by Cormac McCarthy, \"Gilead\" by Marilynne Robinson, \"All the King's Men\" by Robert Penn Warren, and \"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy\" by John le Carré.\n\nThis collaboration between Audible and Higher Ground marks the sixth production under their 2022 first-look deal, following successful series such as \"Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast,\" \"Your Mama’s Kitchen: Conversations from the Heart of the Home,\" \"The Wonder of Stevie,\" \"Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,\" and \"Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise.\" The podcast will be available on Audible, YouTube, and other podcasting platforms following its Sept. 24 debut.",
  "summary": "Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jill Lepore, Ben Rhodes, Percival Everett and Lauren Groff will also stop by the Audible and Higher Ground project, premiering next week The post Obama Welcomes Tom Hanks Among First Guests on New Podcast ‘A Great Book’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Tom Hanks, Ta-Nehisi Coates and More Join Barack Obama’s ‘A Great Book’ Podcast at Audible",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/tom-hanks-ta-nehisi-coates-and-more-join-barack-obamas-a-great-book",
        "published": "2026-09-17T18:19:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}