This year offered no shortage of excellent listening—from staggering sci-fi and far-out fantasy to memoirs and nonfiction 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 honor of sitting down with the creators behind our favorite listens to discuss everything from their inspirations to what's coming next. At turns revelatory and lighthearted, 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 theater 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. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson took us from high school speech and debate to the highest court in the land.
Justice Jackson discussed her new memoir and got candid about the struggles of balancing family and career.
3. Tommy Orange talked mitigating self-doubt and opening doors for Native creators.
"Wandering Stars," the dazzling sequel to Orange's “There There,” plumbs Native American history and the contemporary echoes of trauma in an epic novel that sings in audio.
4. Bestselling romance writers Christina Lauren spilled on the fan fiction that bonded them.
The powerhouse writing duo discussed their all-time favorite characters, the key to their collaboration, and their incurable fangirl souls.
5. Actor and writer Colman Domingo opened up about loss, performance, and Philadelphia.
The Audible Original creator shared his journey from news writing to writing plays, acting, and that moment when he learned he was nominated for an Oscar.
6. 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.
7. Journalist Oliver Burkeman helped us find our zen.
The bestselling author offered philosophical yet practical, bite-size advice for making meaningful change happen.
8. Anna Marie Tendler got vulnerable about the nonlinear process of treatment and recovery.
On the heels of years of tabloid speculation, Men Have Called Her Crazy disrupts the rumor mill and centers Tendler's singular story on her own terms, in her own voice.
9. Lev Grossman revealed what his knightly moniker would be.
The bestselling author of The Magicians on how he approached remaking a beloved epic, what his knight name would be, and the surprising diversity of the Round Table.
10. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin meditated on the process of compiling, writing, and recording her late husband's story.
Part memoir of the 1960s, part biography of her husband, the Pulitzer winner’s latest is a self-narrated audio treasure including archival recordings and guest starring Bryan Cranston.
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.
