Books, movies, podcasts and the Obama Presidential Center: Barack Obama’s second act keeps growing
TheGrio...
The former president’s newest project takes listeners inside the literature that influenced his thinking as a young man.
While former President Barack Obama holds the place as “forever president” in many communities’ hearts, his work expands far beyond the political landscape. Since completing his final term in the Oval Office, Obama has poured his time into more creative ventures like Higher Ground Media, his and Michelle Obama’s production company.
And this week, the former President announced he’s expanding his creative works with a new podcast. In collaboration with Audible and Higher Ground Media, he presents “A Great Book with Barack Obama,” a podcast he says will explore the impactful works in his personal library.
“At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it’s important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading. And some books don’t just tell a story – they change the way we see the world,” Obama wrote, announcing the show. “A while back, I revisited a few of the books that made an impact on me as a young man, influencing how I think about family, faith, race, politics, and America…I invited some friends to explore why these books resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever.”
Set to release on Audible on September 24, the former president teases the inclusion of authors such as James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy, and more. Now, this is not his first time stepping into the podcast world. In addition to appearances on shows like “IMO” and the “Pivot Podcast,” Obama hosted his own podcast, “Renegades: Born in the USA,” with Bruce Springsteen in 2021 where they explored conversations about “their lives, music, and enduring love of America, despite all its challenges.”
In a similar vein, in 2020, Obama released his second memoir, “A Promised Land.” And through Higher Ground Media, the former president and first lady have platformed a myriad of Black storytellers producing documentaries, comedies, and more.
Most notably, since ending his term, Obama has devoted his time to resting, spending time with his family, and to his eponymous foundation and building the recently opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is described as “a new space of possibilities.” From its one-of-a-kind Museum, to its public library, basketball court, plaza, playground, garden, and more.
“Even though we’re getting kind of old, we can still inspire young people. If we can find ways to lift up, support, inspire, shine a spotlight on the next generation of talent… that would be worth doing,” Obama said, reflecting on life after presidency on the “All The Smoke with Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson” podcast. “So that’s how I’ve been spending a lot of my time.”