Oprah Winfrey is entering the realm of podcasts with an exciting new series while also selecting her latest book club choice.
On Tuesday, she unveiled “The Oprah Podcast,” a weekly show that will be featured on her YouTube channel. The podcast will include discussions with authors from her book club as well as a diverse lineup of influential figures, including prominent newsmakers and individuals who are driving cultural change. Notable upcoming guests already slated for the podcast include renowned chef and author Ina Garten and Dr. Vivek Murthy, who serves as the U.S. surgeon general.

Starting off the podcast’s debut was a conversation with Irish author Claire Keegan, whose acclaimed historical novel, “Small Things Like These,” has been selected as Winfrey’s newest book club pick. This novel, published in 2021, has made a significant impact, being adapted into a film featuring Cillian Murphy which was released earlier this year.

In an enthusiastic message, Keegan expressed her gratitude, stating, “To know that Oprah Winfrey took pleasure in reading my book is the most exquisite compliment, which will last my lifetime. Being told that she has also recommended it for others to read and has chosen this novel for her book club is a tremendous honor. May her wonderful book club encourage people into reading for years and years to come.”

Winfrey’s dialogues with Keegan and the featured book club selections will be produced in collaboration with Starbucks. The conversations will be filmed in various Starbucks locations, beginning with one situated in the Empire State Building. Additionally, each book discussed will be paired with a Starbucks beverage, adding a unique touch to the listening experience. Winfrey has a long history of working with Starbucks, previously collaborating in the 1990s on initiatives aimed at raising literacy funds and also in 2014 for the Teavana Oprah Chai Tea that amassed millions of dollars for youth education programs.

In her statement, Winfrey remarked, “Connecting with people about what matters to us in this moment, so we can all continue to reach our highest, truest potential is what I’m most interested in offering at this time in my life. One of my greatest pride and joys over the past 30 years has been introducing books to new audiences. I am delighted to partner with Starbucks as we craft this new podcast. It is the perfect opportunity to bring together readers around things we both love: books, coffee and conversation.”