News brief
Barack Obama launches six-part book podcast 'A Great Book'
Former President Barack Obama premiered 'A Great Book With Barack Obama' on September 24, a six-part podcast exploring books that shaped his worldview — closing with a conversation with novelist Lauren Groff on Cormac McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses.'
By USA Today · Published · Announcement date
Former President Barack Obama premiered "A Great Book With Barack Obama," a six-part podcast series, on September 24, 2026. The series explores books that have profoundly shaped his worldview and society, with the final installment featuring Obama in conversation with novelist Lauren Groff about Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" — including reflections on masculinity and how society cultivates character in boys and men. USA Today shared an exclusive clip from the Groff episode.
Obama announced the podcast days after releasing his annual summer reading list, a franchise that reliably drives book sales and cultural conversation each year. The move continues a pattern of high-profile political and cultural figures using limited-run podcast series to reach audiences on their own terms rather than through traditional media tours.
For the industry, the launch is another signal that prestige limited series remain a durable format: a defined arc, a famous host, and a clear subject travel well across platforms and press coverage alike.
Announcement date: September 24, 2026
Sources
Report a correction · Have podcast news? Submit it free for review