What do you listen to when you are home alone? When it is me and my husband, we usually play music, but when I am by myself (which if you are an empty nest home exec can be a lot of time!) I usually listen to either podcasts or audiobooks. I am always surprised by how many people haven’t tried this – so maybe this will inspire you to give it a try, and if you are a seasoned listener, maybe you will enjoy a roundup of some of my faves. I love listening to things like this because it makes boring jobs go by more quickly! It is also a really great way to get out of your own head and have positive or interesting things to think about.
Audiobooks –
There are really two places I listen to audiobooks – Audible and Libby.
Audible is a subscription service with three tiers that range from $7.95/mo – $22.95/mo (as of this writing – Jan 2025).
Audible Plus – $7.95/mo – Includes unlimited listening to the Audible Plus library. You can download titles for off-line listening. Podcasts and some Amazon originals are also available. “Premium” titles are NOT included in this library and must be purchased.
Audible Plus Premium – $14.95/mo or $149.50 annually – Includes everything from Audible Plus AND one credit each month for a “Premium” title (or any book you can download to keep). The credits are good for a year and the books you download using credits are yours to keep – even after your subscription ends.
Audible Plus Premium 2 credit – $22.95/mo or $229.50 annually. This is the same as Audible Plus Premium but with 2 credits per month.
Libby is accessed through your local United States library. You must have a library card to use it, and you will need to download the Libby App on your phone. Libby gives you access to both e-books and audiobooks and I love both!! I often will check out both versions of a book and flip back and forth between them depending on what I’m doing. To get started you will need to:
- Download the Libby (by OverDrive) app (available for both iOS and Android devices)
- Sign in with your library card
That’s it!! So easy! Great things about Libby – it is FREE! And there are no overdue fines, because your download will just expire and disappear.
Disadvantage – Your library may not have all the titles you are interested in, or there may be a long wait to get something you want. You can place a hold to get in line for popular titles and you can turn on “deep search” which will give you access to more libraries that your library may partner with.
Audiobooks I’ve listened to recently –
- The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
- The Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of the President by Candaice Millard
- The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
- A Night Divided by Jennifer A Nielsen
- Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
- The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
- The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- And a whole lot of Brandon Sanderson – The Stormlight Archive Series and the Mistborn Series (This has been great to connect with my kids over)
This is by no means an exhaustive list of recommendations – maybe just a place to start. I keep a “to-read list” on Goodreads, so often I just go to that and search those titles in Libby until I find something that is available.
Podcasts –
You’ve probably heard of podcasts. But if you don’t listen to them, you may not know what they are. They are basically audio programs available on-demand, covering an endless array of topics. I regularly listen to podcasts about religion, sewing, news, personal development and anything else that sounds interesting. It’s a great way to learn or be entertained while doing dishes, cooking dinner or running errands and most are free or low-cost.
How do you get started? Podcasts can be accessed on most electronic devices – but your phone is probably the easiest option. You will need a podcast app. Popular options include:
- Apple Podcasts (pre-installed on iPhones)
- Spotify (This links to the Android App)
- YouTube Music
- Pocket Casts
All of these apps allow you to search, subscribe, and download episodes for offline listening. Just try one – you can always try a different one if you don’t like it. I use Apple Podcasts but had good luck with Android apps before I got an iPhone. No wrong answers here!!
Now that you have the app, you need to pick a podcast or four to try out. Search for Topics or Shows. Think about your interests. Use the search bar in your chosen app to find topics or browse through categories.
Looking for some recommendations? Here are links to info about what’s in my podcast library. The links will give you information – but it will be easiest to access the podcast through your chosen podcast app.
- News – WSJ What’s News
- Religion
- Random Information
- Sewing
- Personal Development – Latter-day Life Coaches
- True Crime – Serial
I ordered each category in the order I reach for them – so the top of each list are my favorites.
Once you find a podcast you like, hit the “Subscribe” or “Follow” button to stay updated on new episodes. If you’re heading somewhere without internet access you can make sure that episodes get downloaded – most apps have a setting for how many they will keep at the ready for you.
Don’t be afraid to try different shows or genres. Most apps let you sample episodes without subscribing and it’s easy to cancel your subscription (which was probably free to begin with) if it’s not your cup of tea.
Finally, check out playback speed! All of the apps let you speed up or slow down episodes – I find I can easily listen to most podcasts at 1.3x speed (This is true in the Audible and Libby apps as well). My kids will go even faster.
Final Thoughts –
Audiobooks and podcasts are a fantastic addition to your daily routine. Whether you’re looking to unwind, stay informed, or learn something new, there’s a podcast or a book out there for you. So grab your headphones, explore some books or shows, and enjoy! I would love to hear what you are listening to – share in the comments!
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