What’s Obama up to now?
Former President Barack Obama is expanding his post-White House media operation with a surprising new project: his own podcast.
Obama announced that he will host A Great Book with Barack Obama, a six-episode series focused on books that have influenced his life, beliefs and view of the world.
The podcast is being produced by Audible and Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Obama Moves Deeper Into Podcasting
The new series gives Obama another platform years after leaving the White House, this time allowing the former president to discuss literature and the ideas that have shaped his thinking.
Obama said he believes books remain important even as Americans face more competition for their attention.
Obama said the project is meant to highlight the lasting value of reading at a time when many people have less opportunity to pick up a book.
He added that some books can have a lasting impact on how readers understand society and the world around them.
The podcast is scheduled to debut exclusively on Audible on September 24.
Obama Reveals Six Books That Influenced Him
Obama has regularly released reading lists and book recommendations over the years, but his new podcast will take that interest considerably further.
Each of the six episodes will center on a different book that Obama says had a meaningful influence on him.
Obama will be joined by a different guest to discuss each selection and examine why the book continues to matter. The identities of those guests have not yet been announced.
Another Obama Media Venture
The podcast represents the latest expansion of the Obamas’ media activities since Barack Obama left the presidency in 2017.
Rather than disappearing from public life, the former president and former first lady have established a sizable presence in books, entertainment, documentaries and audio programming through Higher Ground.
The new podcast puts Obama himself directly into the host’s chair.
It also gives him another way to communicate with an audience without relying on traditional television networks or political media.
That could be particularly significant at a time when podcasts have become an increasingly influential alternative to traditional television, radio and newspapers.
Michelle Obama Is Already in the Podcast Business
Barack Obama is also following his wife into a media format she already knows well.
Former first lady Michelle Obama hosts IMO With Michelle Obama alongside her brother, Craig Robinson. The program features discussions about relationships, family, personal challenges and other aspects of everyday life.
Barack Obama’s program will take a different approach, concentrating specifically on literature and the ideas behind books that have stayed with him throughout his life.
Obama Builds His Post-White House Brand
The announcement demonstrates how the Obama family continues to build a media presence nearly a decade after leaving the White House.
For longtime political observers, the development also shows how dramatically the media landscape has changed.
Former presidents traditionally relied on speeches, books, interviews and public appearances to maintain their influence. Podcasts now provide another avenue for prominent political figures to communicate directly with listeners.
Obama’s name alone is likely to generate attention for the new series, while the book-centered format could introduce a different side of the former Democratic president to listeners who primarily know him through politics.
Whether the program becomes a major podcast success remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: Barack Obama’s career after the presidency continues to expand well beyond conventional politics.
A Great Book with Barack Obama will debut exclusively on Audible on September 24.
