Audible partners with Uber on stories for stressed passengers

Audible has partnered with Uber to launch in-app short stories to help stressed passengers find a “literary escape” on their journey. 

The app will host seven free Audible Originals audio stories from authors including Joanne Harris, Daisy Johnson and Parker Bilal during travellers' Uber rides from today (Monday 21st October).

The campaign encourages passengers to relax through literature rather than read the news or scroll through social media while travelling. The partnership was created after research commissioned by Uber showed 46% of Brits said they suffer from “headline anxiety” and 41% said they felt “overwhelmed” by the news agenda.

The study also found a quarter (25%) spend most of their commuting time sifting through emails, replying to WhatsApp messages and scrolling through social media while 79% find that their stress levels fall when they allow themselves to get lost in a story. 

Audible UK senior director of content & brand Neil Caldicott said: “We know that getting absorbed in a good story during the commute is one of our members’ most popular times to listen – a routine journey can be transformed into an epic adventure, an amusing jaunt or a gripping exploration.

 “Plugging into an Audible Original audiobook or podcast provides listeners with the perfect way to lose themselves in a moment of calm whilst the city whirs around them. We’ve selected a mix of short stories, comedy comedy perfectly timed for a variety of journeys.”

 An Uber spokesperson said: “With millions of trips a week across the UK, these journeys offer the perfect opportunity to unwind and take a break from your busy routine. That’s why we’ve partnered with Audible to give passengers a free, literary escape en route.”

The list of free Audible Originals includes: The Wood Between The Worlds by Joanne Harris; Bully The Blue Bear by Sophie Hannah; A Retelling by Daisy Johnson; Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit performed by "Fleabag" actor Andrew Scott; The Dampness Is Spreading by Emma Glass; Sue Perkins’ Earpedia: Animals, African Lung Fish and The Zephyr’s Apprenticeship by Parker Bilal.