Audiobooks & Radio Dramas
Why I Listen
Many years ago, I had a long commute to work... typically 60-90 minutes each way. Most radio stations repeat the same songs far too frequently. Too much talk radio isn't good for mental health.... so I turned to audiobooks.
For quite a few years, I've worked mostly from home and don't have the long commute, but health issues have made reading more difficult.
How I Listen - Car
I listen from my Android device using a variety of apps. Unfortunately, newer phones are now omitting the headphone jack, so it's always bluetooth.
Both of my vehicles are too old to have built in bluetooth.
Vehicle #1 doesn't even have a line-in jack. I installed an iSimple hands free kit that is wired directly in to the antenna jack of the factory radio, automatically disconnecting the antenna when in use to prevent interference. This setup works well and sounds much better than a regular bluetooth FM unit that has a low power transmitter. Right now, they run about $70 on ebay.
Vehicle #2 has an older bluetooth system that can handle phone calls, but does not do audio/music. Fortunately, it also has a 3.5mm line in jack. Here is a relatively cheap bluetooth adapter that works well. This will work both as a line-in adapter for the car, as well as a headphone adapter.
How I Listen - Bed
I often listen in bed. For this to work well, you will want a headband that is comfortable even when sleeping on your side. AcousticSheep SleepPhones have slightly thinner speakers than other options... the problem is that they are around $40 and don't last very long. Both they and the generic copies tend to have cable/wire problems after a while.
Some of the generics have very thick speakers and are uncomfortable. I even found a generic bluetooth headband for around $5 on aliexpress... it worked, but was not something I would want to wear for long.
The sweet spot for me is this uneed headband that sells for around $10 on aliexpress. I like the lycra/mesh band as it doesn't feel as warm as the soft/fleece style. They took around 2 weeks to arrive from China. If you want faster shipping or aren't comfortable with aliexpress, you can find a similar pair on amazon under the Cozy brand for around $18.
As for bluetooth, I like this unit, as it has decent battery life, pairs quickly and supports aptx on newer qualcomm based phones.
Library Services
Your local library. Many libraries have books on tape and CD that can be checked out. These services do charge your library, so you may want to make a small donation if you use them frequently to at least cover your own costs.
Libby (overdrive) - Service may be provided by your local library. Many books may require waiting for a hold period before you can 'borrow' the audiobook.
Hoopla - Service may be provided by your local library. There is usually a limit to the number of items you can check out each month.
Podcast Serials and Downloads
Castbox is a nice podcast app that provides a nice index for finding high quality content. The audiobooks section gives direct access to the mostly public domain audio from loyalbooks.com. The Arts category isn't what you would expect... it mostly contains episodic fiction content / radio dramas.
Old Time Radio Downloads - has many of the old radio dramas, many from before TV took over entertainment. You can also find many of these through castbox / loyal books.
Paid Services
When I first started listening to audiobooks, I would buy cassettes and CDs from half price books or ebay, and sell them back on ebay when I finished. There are better options now.
Audible Membership - Audible has been around for a long time and has a huge selection. For 1 credit (book) a month, it runs $12.50 (when prepaid annually). They do frequently run sales where you can get (from a limited selection) 2 for 1 credit or 3 for 2 credits. The credits are best used for longer or more expensive books. Purchased books continue to be available after your membership expires.
Audible without membership/credits - Many books are available with "whispersync". This is a nice feature where you have both the kindle edition and audible edition of a book and can switch back and forth between them while amazon keeps track of your progress. Many books are much cheaper buying the kindle edition and adding the audiobook than they are if you purchased the audibook alone... sometimes less than $4 total. Here is a list of books where adding the audiobook is less than $4 over the cost of the kindle edition.
Scribd - $9/mo. Think of it as Netflix for books. Overall, their selection is very good for an unlimited service. Unfortunately, the book (not audio) side of things won't work with eInk readers.
Recommendations
Here are a few things I've enjoyed over the past year or so.
X Minus One / Old Radio Show (Castbox, Audible, Scribd, etc)
The Martian / Andy Weir (Audible)
Wayward Pines Series / Blake Crouch (Audible, Scribd)
A Christmas Carol read by Tim Curry / Charles Dickens (Audible)
The Adventures of Tom Stranger / Larry Correia (Audible)
Children of Time / Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audible)
Timeline, State of Fear, Airframe / Michael Crichton (Libby, Audible, Scribd)
History of the Ancient World / Susan Wise Bauer (Audible)
Lost Boy / Christina Henry (Audible)
The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist, Rise of the Warrior Cop / Radley Balko (Audible, Hoopla, Libby)
The Sky Below / Scott Parazynski (Audible)
Ender's Game Alive, Ender's Game series / Orson Scott Card (Audible)
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates / Brian Kilmeade (Libby, Audible, Scribd)
The Gifts of the Jews, How the Irish Saved Civilization, etc / Thomas Cahill (Audible, Scribd, Libby, Hoopla)
Ranker - Best Scripted Podcasts