Audiobooks & Podcasts Deep Dive - Beyond Libby

Audiobooks and Podcasts - What's the Difference?

These two often get mentioned together, but they are different things, and knowing which is which helps you find what you want. Both come to you as sound through your phone, but they work differently.

Think of it this way: an audiobook is a specific book you sit down with, while a podcast is more like a favorite show or magazine that keeps arriving. Many people enjoy both - an audiobook for a long trip or a good novel, and a few podcasts for daily company on topics they love. There is no need to choose just one.

• An audiobook is a book read aloud - a complete story or work, often many hours long, usually one you borrow or buy.
• A podcast is like a radio show you choose - an ongoing series of episodes on a topic, released over time, almost always free.
• Audiobooks have a beginning and an end, like any book. Podcasts keep going with new episodes.
• You typically pay for or borrow audiobooks; podcasts are free to listen to.

Libby - Free Audiobooks From Your Library

Let us begin with the best free source of all: your public library, through the Libby app. If you have a library card, you have access to thousands of audiobooks at no cost, borrowed just like paper books but delivered straight to your phone.

Because Libby uses your library, popular titles sometimes have a wait, just like a paper book on hold. You can place a hold and Libby tells you when it is ready. It is an extraordinary free resource, and libraries here in Portage County and across Ohio all offer it. If you only ever use Libby, you will never run out of things to listen to.

• Download the free Libby app from the App Store or Play Store.
• Sign in with your library card number and PIN - the library can help if you do not have these.
• Search for a book, then tap Borrow to check it out for a couple of weeks.
• It downloads to your phone and you can listen anytime, even without internet.
• When the loan ends, it simply returns itself - no late fees, ever.

Audible - The Big Paid Service

Audible, which is owned by Amazon, is the best-known paid audiobook service. It has an enormous catalog, including many titles you may not find at the library, and some folks find the convenience worth the cost. Let me describe it honestly so you can decide.

My honest take: Audible is excellent but not necessary. If you read a great deal, want the newest titles right away, or dislike waiting for library holds, it can be worth the monthly fee. But if you are happy waiting a little and love a bargain, Libby covers most needs for free. Try the free trial, and only keep it if you truly use it.

• It is a paid service - usually a monthly membership that gives you credits for books, plus the option to buy more.
• One credit typically equals one audiobook, which is yours to keep even if you cancel.
• It has a vast selection, often including brand-new releases the moment they come out.
• It works through the free Audible app on your phone, tied to your Amazon account.
• There is usually a free trial so you can try it before paying.

Other Places to Find Audiobooks

Beyond Libby and Audible, there are several other ways to get audiobooks, some free and some paid. It is worth knowing them so you can find the best deal or the widest selection for what you like.

If your library offers both Libby and Hoopla, you have doubled your free options - and Hoopla often has no wait at all. And if you love the classics, LibriVox offers them free forever, read by kind volunteers. Between the free choices alone, you could listen for the rest of your life and never pay a cent.

• Hoopla - another free library app, like Libby, that some libraries offer; often no waiting.
• Spotify - the music app also offers audiobooks, some included with a paid plan.
• Apple Books - on the iPhone, you can buy audiobooks directly to own.
• Libro.fm - a paid service that supports your local independent bookstore.
• LibriVox - completely free audiobooks of older, classic works read by volunteers.

Podcasts - Free Shows on Everything

Podcasts are one of the great free pleasures of modern life, and yet many people are unsure exactly what they are. Simply put, a podcast is a show you listen to - like radio, but you pick exactly what and when, and it is free.

Whatever you are interested in, there is almost certainly a wonderful podcast about it, made by people who share your passion. Once you find a few you love, they become like old friends dropping by regularly with something interesting to say. And unlike radio, you are never at the mercy of the schedule - you listen on your own time.

• There is a podcast on nearly every topic imaginable - history, gardening, faith, news, sports, hobbies, comedy.
• They come in episodes, released regularly, that you can play any time you like.
• They are free - you do not pay to listen, though some offer paid extras.
• You can "follow" a show so new episodes arrive automatically for you.
• They are perfect company for chores, walks, drives, and quiet evenings.

Finding and Playing Podcasts

You already have a podcast app on your phone, most likely, and using it is simple. Here is how to find shows and start listening, on either kind of phone.

Spotify works on iPhones too, and Apple Podcasts is free, so you can use whichever you prefer. Both let you search, follow shows, and play episodes with a simple tap. Once you follow a few favorites, your app fills up with fresh episodes waiting whenever you want them.

• Find the Podcasts app - a purple icon - already on your phone.
• Tap Search at the bottom and type a topic or show name.
• Tap a show to see its episodes; tap an episode to play it.
• Tap Follow to have new episodes appear automatically.

Getting the Sound to Headphones

For private, clear listening, nothing beats a good pair of headphones or earbuds. They keep the sound close, cut out background noise, and let you listen without disturbing anyone. Here is how to connect them.

Wireless earbuds and headphones are wonderfully convenient once paired, with no cord to tangle. The one thing to remember is to charge them. If sound stops coming through, check they are charged and turned on. We will talk more about Bluetooth on the next page, because it is the same idea that connects your hearing aids and your car.

• Wired headphones plug into your phone (or an adapter) and simply work - no setup at all.
• Wireless (Bluetooth) headphones connect without a cord but must be "paired" once first.
• To pair wireless headphones, turn them on, then look under Settings and Bluetooth on your phone.
• Tap the headphones' name when it appears, and they connect - after that they reconnect on their own.

Sending Sound to Your Hearing Aids

This is one of the finest features many people never realize they have. Many modern hearing aids can receive sound straight from your phone, so an audiobook or podcast plays clearly right in your ears, tuned to your hearing. It can be a revelation.

The beauty of this is that the audiobook comes through at exactly the volume and tuning your hearing aids already provide for you, often more clearly than any headphone could. Not every hearing aid supports it, and setup varies by brand, so it is worth asking your audiologist. If yours do support it, it may become your favorite way to listen.

• Many newer hearing aids connect to your phone by Bluetooth, the same wireless link as headphones.
• Your hearing aids may have their own app from the maker, which helps set this up.
• Once connected, sound from your phone can play directly through the hearing aids.
• Your audiologist or the hearing aid maker can confirm whether yours have this feature.

Listening in the Car

A long drive is one of the very best times for an audiobook or podcast, and there are several easy ways to play your phone's sound through your car's speakers. Which one you use depends on your car.

Bluetooth is the most common these days: you pair your phone with the car once, and after that the audiobook flows to your car speakers automatically whenever you get in. Start the book or podcast before you set off, or use the buttons on your steering wheel if your car has them. Never fuss with the phone while driving - set it up parked, then just drive and listen.

• Bluetooth - most cars from the last decade connect to your phone wirelessly; pair once and it reconnects each drive.
• A cable - some cars have a socket (an "aux" jack or a USB port) you plug your phone into.
• Apple CarPlay or Android Auto - newer cars show your phone's apps right on the dashboard screen.
• Older cars - a small FM adapter can send the sound through your radio.

Playback Speed - A Pace That Suits You

Here is a favorite trick that many people never discover: you can change how fast the narrator reads. If a reader is too slow and you get impatient, speed them up. If they are too fast to follow comfortably, slow them down. You are in charge of the pace.

There is no right speed - only the one that suits you and the book. A gentle memoir might be lovely at normal speed, while a lighter book might feel better a touch faster. If you are ever struggling to keep up with a fast narrator, slowing them down can make all the difference to your comfort and enjoyment. Play with it freely.

• Look for a small button while a book plays, often showing something like 1x or a speed symbol.
• Tap it to choose slower (like 0.75x) or faster (like 1.25x or 1.5x).
• 1x is the normal speed; below that is slower, above it is faster.
• Adjust it a little at a time until the reading feels natural and easy to follow.

Handy Playback Tricks

Beyond speed, audiobook and podcast apps have a few gentle features that make listening more comfortable. Once you know them, they become second nature.

The sleep timer is a favorite for listening in bed - it lets you drift off without the book playing on for hours. And the skip-back button is a small mercy for anyone whose attention drifted for a moment; a tap or two and you have caught the thread again. Your app always remembers your place, so you can stop and start whenever life calls.

• Sleep timer - set the book to stop after, say, 20 minutes, so it does not play all night as you doze off.
• Skip back - a button that jumps back 15 or 30 seconds, perfect for when your mind wandered.
• Bookmark - mark a spot you want to return to, like a favorite passage.
• Pause and resume - the app remembers exactly where you stopped, always.
• Chapter list - jump to a particular chapter if you want to skip or revisit.

Downloading for Trips and Weak Signal

If you are going somewhere without good internet - a long drive, a plane, a cabin - you can download your books and episodes ahead of time so they play without any connection. This also saves on internet data. Here is the idea.

Downloading over your home Wi-Fi before you leave is the smart move. It means your listening will not stutter or stop when the signal is weak, and it will not use up your phone's internet data on the road. For a long trip, download several books or a stack of episodes the night before, and you are set no matter where you go.

• While you have good Wi-Fi at home, open the book or episode you want to take along.
• Look for a download button - often a small downward arrow or a cloud with an arrow.
• Tap it and wait for it to finish downloading fully to your phone.
• Once downloaded, it plays anywhere, with no internet needed at all.
• Libby and Audible download your borrowed books; podcast apps let you download episodes too.

Finding Good Things to Listen To

With so much available, the happy problem becomes choosing. Here are gentle ways to find books and shows you will love, without feeling overwhelmed by the endless choice.

Give a book or podcast a fair try - a chapter or an episode - but never feel obliged to finish something you are not enjoying. Life is too short for a book that bores you, and there are endless others waiting. Half the pleasure is the pleasant hunt for the next thing that truly grabs you. Follow your own taste and enjoy the search.

• Start with authors and topics you already enjoy - a favorite writer likely has audiobooks.
• Ask friends and family what they are listening to; personal recommendations are gold.
• Browse the library app's featured and popular lists for well-loved titles.
• For podcasts, search a hobby or interest and try a few episodes to see what clicks.
• Do not be afraid to abandon something you are not enjoying - there is always another.

Comfortable, Clear Sound

Listening should be effortless and pleasant, never a strain to hear. A few simple adjustments make the sound clearer and more comfortable, whatever you are listening on.

The phone's own speaker is fine in a quiet room, but for the clearest, most comfortable listening, headphones or connected hearing aids win every time. They bring the voice close and cut the noise around you. If you ever find yourself straining to catch words, the answer is almost always better headphones or hearing aids, not just more volume.

• Use the volume buttons on the side of your phone to set a comfortable level.
• Headphones or hearing aids give clearer sound than the phone's little speaker, especially in noise.
• If a recording is quiet, try headphones, which often make speech clearer.
• In a noisy room, earbuds that block outside sound help you hear every word.
• If your hearing aids connect, they tune the sound to your own hearing - often the clearest of all.

Storage and a Little Housekeeping

Downloaded audiobooks can take up room on your phone, and a little tidying now and then keeps everything running smoothly. It is simple to manage once you know how.

There is no need to hoard finished books and episodes on your phone. Once you have enjoyed something, letting it go frees up space for the next. Libby tidies up after itself when a loan ends, and podcast apps make it easy to clear old episodes. A quick clean-out every so often keeps your phone happy and roomy.

• Downloaded books and episodes take up storage space; finished ones can be removed.
• In Libby, returning a book removes its download and frees the space automatically.
• In podcast apps, you can delete episodes you have finished to reclaim room.
• If your phone warns that storage is getting full, deleting finished downloads is an easy first fix.
• Streaming instead of downloading uses no storage, but needs a good internet signal.

When the Sound Won't Play

Now and then the sound stops or will not start, and it is almost always something simple. Here is a calm checklist to run through before you worry.

The most common surprise is sound going to the wrong place - your phone may still be connected to your car's Bluetooth or a pair of earbuds in another room, so nothing comes from the speaker in your hand. Checking where the sound is being sent solves this most of the time. When in doubt, a simple restart of the app or phone clears up the rest.

• Is the volume turned up, and is the phone not on silent or mute?
• If using headphones or hearing aids, are they charged, turned on, and connected?
• Is the sound going somewhere unexpected - like still connected to the car from earlier?
• For streaming, is your internet working? Try downloading instead if the signal is poor.
• Try closing the app fully and reopening it, or restarting the phone.

Staying Safe and Spending Wisely

Listening apps are wholesome and safe, but wherever money and accounts are involved, a little care protects you. Here are simple habits that keep you safe and your spending sensible.

The apps and services in this guide are legitimate and trustworthy. The caution is really about scam emails pretending to be from Amazon or Audible, and free trials that quietly become paid subscriptions. Stick to the official apps, watch your trial dates, and you can enjoy all the listening you like with complete peace of mind.

• Download apps only from the official App Store or Play Store, never from an emailed link.
• Ignore any email or text claiming there is a problem with your Audible or Amazon account and asking you to click or pay.
• Remember free trials turn into paid memberships - note the date and cancel if you do not want it.
• Do not pay for audiobooks from a website you have never heard of; stick to known services.
• Keep track of any subscription so nothing quietly charges your card.

Your Simple Listening Plan

Let us tie it all together into one calm plan. Whether you love novels, history, or lively conversation, here is how to fill your ears with wonderful things easily.

That is truly all there is to it. With Libby and a few podcasts alone, you have a lifetime of listening for free, sounding clear in your ears or your car, at a pace that suits you. Set it up once, and a world of stories and voices is always with you.

• Start free: set up Libby with your library card for free audiobooks.
• Add podcasts: follow a few free shows on topics you love in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Consider Audible only if you read a lot and want the newest titles - try the free trial first.
• Get the sound right: headphones, connected hearing aids, or your car - whatever suits.
• Use the tricks: adjust the speed, set a sleep timer, and download before trips.
• Tidy up finished downloads now and then to keep your phone roomy.

What's in the 27-page PDF

• The difference between audiobooks and podcasts, in plain words
• Free sources - Libby and more - and paid ones like Audible
• Getting sound to your hearing aids, headphones, or your car
• Playback tricks: speed, sleep timers, skipping, and bookmarks
• Finding good things to listen to, and downloading for trips
• Keeping it all comfortable, simple, and safe

Why I wrote this

I write these as printable handouts because a guide you can keep in a drawer beats a web page you have to find again. No jargon, no judgment, no rushing. If you'd rather have someone sit beside you and go through it together, that's a flat $99 first visit with the 30-day follow-up included — serving Portage County from Atwater, Ohio. — Bill