This year offered no shortage of excellent listening – from staggering sci-fi and far-out fantasy to memoirs and non-fiction that dominated the headlines. But such triumphs of storytelling don't begin or end with the book resounding through your headphones. Our team had the great honour of sitting down with the creators behind our favourite listens to discuss everything from their inspirations to what's coming next. At turns revelatory and light-hearted, these are the conversations that stuck with us the most. We hope you enjoy revisiting them as much as we loved recording them.
1. Playwright David Hare shared thoughts on theatre and surviving COVID-19.
Audible founder Don Katz chatted with renowned playwright David Hare about his new Audible Original, the power of great monologue and what you can learn when you nearly lose your life.
2. Journalist Oliver Burkeman helped us find our zen.
The bestselling author offers philosophical yet practical, bite-size advice for making meaningful change happen.
3. Bestselling romance writers Christina Lauren spilled on the fan fiction that bonded them.
The powerhouse writing duo discussed their all-time favourite characters, the key to their collaboration, and their incurable fangirl souls.
4. Charles Duhigg emphasised the importance of conversation.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist’s latest work explores the skills we need to connect with others and deeply enrich our own lives in the process.
5. Liane Moriarty got real about whether or not she believes in psychics.
The beloved author delivers a fast-paced, richly layered tale that explores fate versus free will in Here One Moment.
6. Matt Haig talked about the chaotic side of creation.
The bestselling author of The Midnight Library has written an ode to recovery through the epistolary tale of a retired teacher finding a new life in Ibiza.
7. Therapist Chantelle Otten revealed her favourite spicy listen.
Chantelle Otten shines a light on what happens both inside and outside the bedroom in Sex Therapy.
8. Yuval Noah Harari detailed how artificial intelligence is an innovation not unlike the atom bomb.
The historian and bestselling author talked about how intelligence differs from consciousness, why we need more boring politicians, and his post-Sapiens fame.
9. Kristin Hannah explained where and how she draws the line between history and fiction.
The author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds shared why now was the time to tell the story that’s been simmering in her imagination for decades.
10. Rufi Thorpe opened up about what it's like to have a book slated for adaptation before it even hit shelves.
Pro-wrestling, OnlyFans and single-parenthood combine for a fascinating meditation on artifice in Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
The best editorial features of 2024
An assortment of collections, essays, and more, here are 10 of our favorite posts from this year.
Explore more from the Best of 2024.
