Barack Obama Launched New Audible Podcast

The former president debuted his first solo podcast series, A Great Book with Barack Obama, alongside guest Tom Hanks.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Remote Work

Graphic editorial illustration of a microphone and an open book in navy and ochre, representing a literary podcast. — Former President Barack Obama has debuted his new Audible original podcast, 'A Great Book with Barack Obama,' featuring a deep-dive discussion on literature. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Former President Barack Obama has launched his own podcast titled A Great Book with Barack Obama. The first episode, released as an Audible original, features a conversation with actor Tom Hanks about the 2004 novel Gilead.

Why it matters

The podcast offers a platform for the former president to explore personal reflections on literature and family dynamics. This series expands his engagement with digital media following his previous appearance on Michelle Obama’s podcast.

The inaugural episode focuses on the 2004 novel Gilead, a work by Marilynne Robinson. At 65 years old, Barack Obama leads the discussion, which draws on his own experiences with family.

The players

Barack Obama

He is the 44th president of the United States who served from 2009 to 2017 and is now an author and podcaster.

Tom Hanks

He is an Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker who served as the first guest on the new podcast.

Marilynne Robinson

She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and author of the 2004 book Gilead.

Michelle Obama

She is the former first lady of the United States and host of her own podcast.

The details

The debut episode features a deep dive into a passage from Gilead that examines the complexities of father-son relationships. Barack Obama and Tom Hanks shared personal insights about fatherhood and family history during the discussion.

September 24, 2026: The first podcast episode was released.
July 16, 2025: Obama appeared on Michelle Obama’s podcast.
2009-2017: Barack Obama served as president.

Market Landscape

This venture follows the precedent set by Michelle Obama's podcast and marks a shift toward exclusive literary-focused audio content. It positions the former president as a significant content creator within the Audible digital platform ecosystem.

Audible subscribers can access the new content immediately as part of the existing platform library. Listeners interested in literary analysis and celebrity interviews can tune in via the Audible app.

The takeaway

The series highlights how public figures are using long-form audio to facilitate intimate discussions about literature and personal history. Fans can revisit the novel Gilead to follow along with the themes explored by Obama and his guests.