The Listening Room

The Listening Room is a little corner of A Wild and Simple Life devoted entirely to original audio storytelling.Inside, you'll find a growing library of short fiction written and narrated by Julie Ann, with immersive sound design that brings each story's world to life. Some take you into old bookshops and quiet villages, others beneath forest canopies, along winding country lanes or into the ordinary moments that make a life feel rich.These are stories to enjoy for the pleasure of listening. There are no lessons to complete, no tasks to follow and nothing you need to achieve. Simply choose a story, find somewhere comfortable and let yourself be carried into another little world.A new story is added each week, and your A$8.95 monthly subscription gives you access to the full library for as long as you're a subscriber.

Yes, and we'd love you to!Before joining The Listening Room, you're warmly invited to visit The Cozy Corner, our complimentary collection of audio stories.Inside, you'll find three complete original stories to enjoy, giving you a chance to experience Julie Ann's narration, the immersive sound design and the kinds of little worlds waiting inside The Cottage.There's also a special bonus story that offers a glimpse of what you'll discover in The Listening Room.It's our way of inviting you in for a little while before deciding whether you'd like to stay.

Not at all.Most of our stories are complete little worlds of their own, so you're welcome to begin wherever your curiosity takes you.You might choose a story because its title catches your attention, because it suits the season or simply because it sounds like somewhere you'd like to spend a few minutes.There's no required listening order and no need to catch up before enjoying something new. The library is yours to wander through at your own pace.

The Listening Room uses the familiar convenience of podcast listening, but what you'll find inside is a little different.Rather than conversations, interviews or discussions, our episodes are original works of short fiction, written especially to be experienced through sound.Each story is narrated by Julie Ann and carefully brought to life with immersive sound design, creating the feeling of stepping inside the world of the story itself.There are no advertisements interrupting the experience, and no pressure to keep up with the latest news or trends. Just a growing collection of literary audio stories, made to be enjoyed whenever you feel like listening.

Every story in The Listening Room is written and narrated by Julie Ann, the author and creator of A Wild and Simple Life.The stories grow from a lifelong love of literature, nature, folklore, older ways of living and the extraordinary things that can be found within seemingly ordinary days.The immersive audio production is created in collaboration with her partner Lucas, whose experience in sound design and editing helps bring each story's setting and atmosphere to life.Together, we hope to create something that feels a little like being told a story by someone who has invited you into their home.

There's absolutely no need to keep up.Although a new story is added each week, The Listening Room isn't something you have to follow on a schedule. The stories remain in the library, waiting for whenever you feel like returning.You might listen to a new story every week, revisit an old favourite or spend an afternoon exploring several at once.We created The Listening Room to offer a little breathing space in a busy world, and the last thing we'd want is for it to become another thing on your to-do list.Listen whenever you like. The stories will be waiting.

That's perfectly alright.We understand that everyone enjoys stories differently, which is why we offer The Cozy Corner as a complimentary introduction before you join.If you become a subscriber and later decide The Listening Room isn't quite what you were looking for, you can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no long-term commitments, and cancelling prevents future renewals.Payments already made are generally not refunded for a change of mind, but if something hasn't been provided as promised or you experience a problem with your subscription, please contact us so we can help. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law remain unaffected.We hope you'll find something here that makes you want to stay, but you're always free to come and go.Supercast currently confirms that cancelled subscriptions retain their benefits through the remainder of the paid period. SupercastNo awkward goodbye required. The Cottage door is always allowed to swing both ways.

Many of our stories are gentle enough to be enjoyed together as a family, particularly those inspired by nature, animals, everyday adventures and the changing seasons.However, The Listening Room is written primarily for a general audience rather than specifically for young children. Some stories may explore more reflective subjects, folklore or experiences that younger listeners might not fully understand.If you're listening with children, we recommend choosing stories together and previewing them when you're unsure.There's something rather lovely about sharing a story aloud, whatever your age, and we hope many of our little worlds will become part of those moments.

Yes! When you enter The Listening Room, you'll have access to our growing library of previously published audio stories, as well as every new story released during your active membership.You don't have to begin with the newest episode or wait for stories to be released one at a time.You can wander through the collection, discover something that catches your interest and return to your favourites whenever you wish.And because we're adding a new original story every week, there will always be something new waiting to be discovered.

Most of our stories are around 7 - 15 minutes long, although some may be a little shorter or longer depending on the story being told.They're long enough to settle into another world, but short enough to enjoy during a quiet moment in your day.You might listen while preparing dinner, sitting in the garden, travelling somewhere or simply resting for a few minutes.There's no need to set aside an entire evening. Sometimes a little story is all you need.

Yes, you can enjoy stories offline through a compatible podcast app that supports episode downloads.Once you've connected your private Listening Room feed to your chosen app, you can download episodes for listening when you don't have an internet connection.The exact steps depend on which podcast app you use, and your private feed remains connected to your active membership.It's a lovely option for travelling, walking or spending a little time away from screens and notifications.Supercast also provides web access to premium content and supports private feeds through many commonly used podcast players. SupercastI rather like the idea that something from the Cottage can still reach you when the rest of the online world cannot.

The Listening Room costs A$8.95 per month, with payments managed securely through our audio story platform, Supercast.When you subscribe, you'll be guided through the checkout process, where you can see the available payment methods and confirm your subscription.Your subscription renews automatically each month unless you cancel, giving you uninterrupted access to the growing story library.There are no long-term contracts, and you can manage your subscription through your Supercast account.Subscription payments are handled securely through Supercast and Stripe, rather than directly through A Wild and Simple Life.At present, subscriptions can be paid for using credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. SupercastOnce you've joined, Supercast takes care of the practical side of your subscription so I can spend my time on the much nicer part — writing and making the stories waiting for you inside.

Of course.The Listening Room is a monthly subscription, and you're welcome to stay for as long as the stories bring something lovely to your days.You can cancel your subscription through your Supercast account whenever you wish. Cancelling stops future renewals, so you won't continue being charged for a subscription you've decided to leave.There's no need to explain your decision, although we'd always be happy to hear from you.And should you feel like returning to The Cottage one day, you'll be warmly welcomed back.HOW TO CANCEL:You can cancel your subscription at any time through your Supercast account.Simply log in to Supercast, open your subscription, select Manage Subscription, and follow the cancellation instructions.You'll continue to enjoy your subscription benefits until the end of your current billing period, and no further subscription payments will be taken.If you change your mind before your subscription ends, you can undo your cancellation through your account.If you need assistance, you can contact Supercast at support@supercast.com.

In many cases, yes!The Listening Room is hosted through Supercast, which allows you to connect your private Listening Room feed to a range of compatible podcast apps.Once you've joined, you'll receive instructions for setting up your listening feed, so you can enjoy the stories in a familiar place without needing to learn an entirely new way of listening.Compatibility depends on your chosen app, but you can also access your stories through your Supercast account.After joining, you'll receive your own private Listening Room feed and Supercast will help you connect it to a supported podcast app. Current supported options include familiar players such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict and a number of others. SupercastYou don't need to learn a complicated new system just to listen to a story. Once everything is connected, The Listening Room can sit quietly alongside whatever you already listen to — except its stories remain available only to A Wild and Simple Life Listening Room subscribers.And if you prefer, Listening Room content can also be accessed through Supercast on the web. Supercast

A new original audio story is added to The Listening Room every week and a bonus story is additionally added each month for our Print Circle subscribers.Each one is written and narrated by Julie Ann and brought to life through immersive sound design.Over time, the library will grow into a collection of stories inspired by the natural world, changing seasons, old traditions, everyday adventures and the many different ways we experience a life.There's always something new on its way, but the stories already waiting inside remain yours to enjoy throughout your subscription.

Yes, it is!Every Print Circle subscription includes full access to The Listening Room, so there's no need to purchase both subscriptions separately.The Print Circle combines our monthly printed literary zine, dòigh beatha, with a collectible art postcard, a personal letter from Julie Ann and access to our entire audio story library.If you love the idea of receiving real mail and collecting beautifully illustrated printed stories, The Print Circle offers both the pleasure of reading and the pleasure of listening.You can explore the full details on The Print Circle page.