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Books Connect Us

Penguin Random House

We’re staying connected with each other and the stories and authors who inspire us. BOOKS CONNECT US brings you brand new conversations with some of your favorite authors.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 37 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #166
    September 7 · 46 min

    The Magical True Story Behind RAISING HARE with Chloe Dalton

    Chloe Dalton discusses her memoir RAISING HARE, sharing the magical experience of raising a wild animal and how it inspired her New York Times bestseller. She is joined by Bianca Ducasse, her book marketer from Penguin Random House.

  • #165
    August 31 · 45 min

    Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood in conversation | THESE SUMMER STORMS

    Join bestselling authors Sarah MacLean and Ali Hazelwood as they discuss Sarah's new novel THESE SUMMER STORMS. Learn about the inspiration behind this family saga, the challenges of writing contemporary romance, and the process of crafting a compelling "hot fixer" hero.

  • #164
    August 24 · 25 min

    TJ Alexander on Queering the Historical Romance Genre | A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS

    TJ Alexander dives into A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS, their queer Regency romance with a genderfluid lead, discussing how they joyfully upend genre conventions and embrace expansive representation in a Bridgerton-obsessed world, and write with a specific queer audience in mind while welcoming a broader readership. They chat Lord Byron cameos, the flexible role of historical accuracy, and close things out with a playful round of “Gothic/Regency Heroine or ’90s Pop Song.”

  • #163
    August 17 · 44 min

    Molly Crabapple and Morgan Bassichis on the Jewish Labor Bund | HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY

    Molly Crabapple sits down with Morgan Bassichis to talk about her new book HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY, a lively and deeply researched history of the Jewish Labor Bund. They explore how this secular socialist movement fought for dignity and equality in Eastern Europe, the central roles women played in the movement, and the importance of solidarity in the global fight against fascism.

  • #162
    August 10 · 1 hr

    Ibram X. Kendi and Heather McGhee on the world’s most dangerous conspiracy theory | CHAIN OF IDEAS

    Authors Ibram X. Kendi (HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST) and Heather McGhee (THE SUM OF US) discuss Dr. Kendi’s new book CHAIN OF IDEAS: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. They break down the Great Replacement Theory, which Kendi calls the most dominant and dangerous political idea of our time; explain how authoritarians around the world are leveraging it to gain power and dismantle democracy; and offer a rubric for recognizing and fighting back against these forces.

  • #161
    August 3 · 17 min

    Terry Brooks & Delilah S. Dawson in Conversation on The Future of SHANNARA

    Authors Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson sit down to discuss the future of the SHANNARA series, as Brooks passes the torch to Dawson to continue his beloved world. The two longtime friends share how their collaboration works, what fans can expect, and why Dawson is the perfect person to carry on one of fantasy's most iconic legacies.

  • #160
    July 27 · 47 min

    Eddie Huang on romcoms, fame, and his new book COME UNDONE | In conversation w/ Chris Jackson

    Eddie Huang is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Fresh Off the Boat. His subversively funny first novel COME UNDONE delivers a portrait of a haunted manchild and his messy search for love. Eddie sits down with his editor and publisher Chris Jackson for a frank conversation about love, relationships, growing up, the writing process, and whether romantic comedies are used to manage society.

  • #158
    July 20 · 25 min

    Andy Weir on the PROJECT HAIL MARY movie adaptation

    Bestselling author Andy Weir—and his longtime book editor Julian Pavia—break down Andy's role in the Project Hail Mary movie adaptation. They discuss the most critical things to get right, the parts Andy was nervous about, and the challenges with bringing Rocky to life.

  • #157
    Jun 12, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min

    Emily Henry, romcom Queen and author of the #1 NYT Bestseller, HAPPY PLACE

    On today’s season finale we welcome the delightful Emily Henry, author of bestsellers Beach Read, Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation and, most recently the #1 NYT Bestselling Happy Place. Alyssa and Emily vibe out talking about romcom inspiration, fancasting, the ways art informs life (and vice versa), writing complex, imperfect love interests, and how underrated the state of Michigan is. Emily’s new book, Happy Place (available now) and is your perfect summer reading companion.

  • #156
    Jun 5, 2023 · 33 min

    Haley Jakobson, author of the astute and funny OLD ENOUGH

    Happy Pride from Books Connect Us! In honor of Pride, today’s guest is Haley Jakobson, author of the astute and funny bisexual debut Old Enough, on sale June 20. Carolina chats with Haley about all things identity: finding ourselves while we’re still “hurtling towards the person we’re becoming,” utilizing language and harnessing stories to explore our many-faceted, intersectional selves, writing and using art and words to explore the stickier parts of reality.

  • #155
    May 30, 2023 · 30 min

    SUMMER READING SPECIAL! (with Carolina + Alyssa)

    Join us for a super-fun, laugh-out-loud Summer Reading Picks episode! Carolina and Alyssa talk: books they love, books they can’t wait to read, horror movies, celebs they went to high school with, tips for writing, finding inspiration and reading al fresco.

  • #154
    May 22, 2023 · 40 min

    ROMANCE ROUNDTABLE! (Featuring Amanda Elliot and Kosoko Jackson)

    On a very exciting episode of BOOKS CONNECT US, Carolina and Alyssa host their first Roundtable. Joined by Amanda Elliot (author of Sadie on a Plate and Best Served Hot) and Kosoko Jackson (author of I’m So Not Over You and Dash of Salt and Pepper), this roundtable’s theme is romance! We discuss: what it takes to craft romance -- from chemistry to characters, how the industry has grown to be more inclusive, and how author identity often plays out on the page. Stay tuned for the recap after!

  • #153
    May 15, 2023 · 40 min

    Chrissy King, author of THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT

    Today on the podcast, Carolina and Alyssa interview Chrissy King, author of THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT, about the way our intersecting identities impact our body image, how and why body and beauty standards are rooted in racism and how we can overcome it all to liberate ourselves and bodies. Chrissy also tells us how she landed a book deal and how she cultivates her brand and platform.

  • #152
    May 8, 2023 · 27 min

    Szilvia Molnar, author of THE NURSERY

    Today on BOOKS CONNECT US, Lisa Lucas, SVP and Publisher of Pantheon talks about motherhood and mental health with Szilvia Molnar, author of The Nursery. The two share a thought-provoking conversation about the rawness and realness of becoming a mother, and ask the question — does the world make space for new moms? Be sure to stick around for Carolina and Alyssa’s recap at the end.

  • #151
    May 1, 2023 · 35 min

    Sarah Thankam Mathews, author of All This Could Be Different

    On today’s episode, we talk to National Book Award finalist Sarah Thankam Mathews about her debut novel, ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT, a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America. Carolina talks to Sarah about the political engine that drives the book, the shared nuances of the brown queer experience, and the craft elements that bring multi-dimensional stories to life.

  • #150
    Apr 24, 2023 · 44 min

    Dani Shapiro, author of SIGNAL FIRES and INHERITANCE

    This week on BOOKS CONNECT US, we welcome Dani Shapiro, author of eleven books , most recently Signal Fires, which won the National Jewish Books Award and Inheritance, which was a New York Times Bestseller. Alyssa and Dani go deep, discussing the intersection of memory and imagination while writing, the importance of self-identity and ancestry in storytelling and the ways in which family — both biological and found — can inform our writing styles and choices.

  • #149
    Apr 17, 2023 · 37 min

    Lakiesha Carr, author of the intimate AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SKIN

    This episode, we welcome Lakiesha Carr and her Knopf editor, Maria Goldverg. Lakeisha is the author of AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SKIN, a profound and tender look at Black womanhood. Maria and Lakiesha discuss the intimacy required to write fiction, the importance of intergenerational connections, and the ways in which we insert ourselves into our art.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes