Former President Barack Obama is stepping behind the microphone for a new podcast series centered around some of the books that have had a lasting impact on his life and worldview.
The six-episode Audible Original, titled “A Great Book with Barack Obama,” will feature Obama in conversations with writers, artists and other notable guests as they explore influential works of literature and the ideas behind them. The series is being produced through Audible and Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Each episode will focus on a different book, with selections including James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses, Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men and John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Through the conversations, Obama plans to examine themes including identity, culture, power and memory while discussing why certain stories continue to influence how people understand themselves and the world around them.
The project marks Obama’s first podcast as the primary host and continues Higher Ground’s growing presence in audio programming. The company has previously collaborated with Audible on projects including Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast and Your Mama’s Kitchen.
“A Great Book with Barack Obama” is scheduled to premiere exclusively on Audible on September 24, 2026. The guests joining Obama throughout the six-episode series will be announced at a later date.
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