Obama and Tom Hanks have an inspirational chat: best podcats of the week

The Guardian UK Monday 28 September 2026, 06:00 UTC By Hannah J Davies, Alexi Duggins and Phil Harrison 1 min read

Key Points

Daring to defy the norms of political lobbying, the ex-US president is becoming a podcast mainstay – and is opening up about the books that inspired him. Plus, is the Richard Gere gerbil rumour true?Barack Obama is now a podcast mainstay (good on him for not just defaulting to questionable lobbying). His latest Audible show – via his and Michelle’s company, Higher Ground – is a six-parter about the books that have inspired him, from James Baldwin to John le Carré.

Barack Obama is now a podcast mainstay (good on him for not just defaulting to questionable lobbying). His latest Audible show – via his and Michelle’s company, Higher Ground – is a six-parter about the books that have inspired him, from James Baldwin to John le Carré. The first guest is Tom Hanks, who joins him for a frank chat on parenting and family, prompted by Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer-winning novel Gilead. Hannah J Davies
Audible, out now

Obama (PERSON) Tom Hanks (PERSON) Daring (ORG) US (LOCATION) Richard Gere (PERSON) Michelle (PERSON) Higher Ground (ORG) James Baldwin (PERSON) John le Carré (PERSON) Marilynne Robinson’s (PERSON) Pulitzer (PERSON) Gilead (ORG) Hannah J DaviesAudible (PERSON)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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Obama and Tom Hanks have an inspirational chat: best podcats of the week

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