Read with Jenna

Raised in the rural mountains of Idaho by survivalist parents, Tara Westover never dreamed she'd be where she is today. Her memoir “Educated” tracks her route into the outside world, starting with her first step into a classroom at age 17, to getting a Ph.D. at Cambridge University, to writing a New York Times bestselling memoir. Throughout the memoir, education was the tool Westover used to broaden her perspective. Jenna Bush Hage...

In this bonus episode of Read with Jenna, Rumaan Alam, the bestselling author of "Leave the World Behind", a Read with Jenna pick, joins Hoda & Jenna with his recommendations for good books that would make great gifts to share the joy of reading this holiday season. 

Follow the ‘Read with Jenna’ podcast now to hear new episodes every week. 

And the fun doesn’t stop here! Want to join our Read with Jenna community of book lovers? You ...

Children's book author Mo Willems never thought a pigeon wanting to drive a bus could turn into a career. But more than 20 years later, Willems is a rock star to both children and parents for his hilarious "Pigeon" book series. He has written dozens of other stories and characters that allow children to play as they are learning to read on their own. Willems sat down with Joe Fryer to talk about his famous pigeon's 20th anniversary...

While New York Times bestselling author Steven Rowley writes about life and love with heart and humor in his novels, his own real life romance is one for the books. Rowley joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about his novel “The Celebrants,” a recent Read with Jenna pick, and why he believes all parts of life — the happy, the sad, the messy and the beautiful — are worth celebrating. The two are joined by Rowley’s husband and author of “...

Helen Ellis is an Alabama-native turned New York Times bestselling author known for her warm brand of humor and amateur poker skills. In her newest release, “Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage”, Ellis offers a glimpse into her long marriage, and insight into what has made it work so well. Ellis joined Jenna Bush Hager to talk about lessons they have learned from their relationships … and how to ...

Kate DiCamillo is one of the biggest names in children’s books, with more than 43 million books in print. Her journey is a lesson in resilience. After receiving more than 400 rejection letters, she went on to win the Newbery Award for children's literature twice. Even though her books, like "Because of Winn Dixie" and "The Tale of Despereaux," are geared towards kids, readers of all ages can draw life lessons from her stories. 

Foll...

R.L. Stine has been giving readers “Goosebumps” for over thirty years. At the age of 9, he stumbled across a typewriter in his attic. With that, his love of writing began. Stine released the first “Goosebumps” book in 1992 — and never stopped. He has since sold more than 400 million books and written over 300 spine-chilling and spooky “Goosebumps” books with page-turning plots and unforgettable creatures that keep middle-grade read...

Comedian, actor and author Jerry Seinfeld gives an inside look into the minds of some of the greatest comedians of our time with the show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Eleven seasons and five Emmy nominations later, the show also inspired Seinfeld’s coffee table book of the same name. Seinfeld joined Jenna Bush Hager for a cup of — what else? — coffee to talk about some of his favorite moments from the series.

Follow the ‘Read...

Margaret Atwood is a living legend. The Canadian author and poet has written over 50 books and has been published in more than 45 countries. Her 1985 classic "The Handmaid's Tale" garnered acclaim and alarm, predicting a dystopian future in which women had no rights. Now in her 80s, she recently released her new book, "Old Babes in the Wood," a collection of 15 short stories. Jenna Bush Hager visited Atwood's alma mater, the Univer...

Though Amor Towles’ writing talent was recognized when he was just a child, his career as an author didn’t begin until after a 20 year stint as an investment banker on Wall Street. He wrote in his spare time and on weekends before finally finishing “Rules of Civility,” his first New York Times bestseller. He went on to release two more bestseller novels, including a Read With Jenna pick, selling more than six million copies and ear...

Ruth Simmons came from humble beginnings, growing up in east Texas as the daughter of sharecroppers. But she saw no barriers for her future. Simmons pursued a career as a successful professor and academic administrator, eventually serving as president of Smith College, Brown University and Prairie View A&M University. In this episode of Read With Jenna, Ruth reflects on her childhood and her mission to give back to others with simi...

Beloved author Judy Blume is a literary trailblazer. Cherished by millions of readers across multiple generations, her books have acted as a rite of passage for kids and pre-teens. The prolific author’s 29 books, including "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret", have sold over 90 million copies, and have been printed in more than 39 languages. Her stories are touchstones for adolescents eager to feel seen and understood. Blume join...

Javier Zamora is a renowned Salvadoran poet, author and activist. When he was just 9 years old, he emigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. to reunite with his parents, who were already there. His memoir "Solito" details this harrowing solo journey away from a war-torn country and into one where home always felt far away. Zamora is the first Salvadoran author to make the New York Times bestsellers list. Jenna Bush Hager spoke to Javi...

Colleen Hoover is a publishing phenomenon. While she didn’t necessarily set out for fame, she has achieved literary super-stardom, becoming one of the bestselling authors in the world and the top-selling author in the United States. In 2022, she outsold the Bible. She continues to dominate the New York Times bestseller list week after week, thanks to her passionate and dedicated following of fans, known as “CoHorts”. Hoover sat dow...

In this podcast, TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager brings you intimate, entertaining, and revealing conversations with her favorite writers. Hear from authors as they share their creative process, their love of books, and what inspires them to share their stories with the world. Join Jenna as she continues her mission to connect readers, create conversations and share her love of reading.  

Follow now to hear new episodes of ‘Read with Jenna...