Why Listening Beats Reading for Busy Professionals
Research shows audio content helps you consume more information while multitasking. Here's why converting articles to podcasts is the productivity hack you've been missing.
We all have the same problem: too many articles saved, not enough time to read them. Between newsletters, industry blogs, and that ever-growing "read later" list, the backlog never shrinks.
But what if you could consume all that content while doing other things?
The Multitasking Advantage
Reading demands your full visual attention. You can't read an article while driving, cooking, or working out. But listening? That's a different story.
Audio content fits into the gaps of your day:
- Commuting — turn dead time into learning time
- Exercising — absorb industry insights while you run
- Cooking — catch up on newsletters while making dinner
- Walking — learn something new on every stroll
Retention is Better Than You Think
A common myth is that listening leads to worse retention than reading. Research from the University of Waterloo found that for narrative content, comprehension is comparable between reading and listening. The key factor isn't the medium — it's engagement.
When you actually consume content instead of letting it sit in a tab, you retain infinitely more than if you never read it at all.
The Rise of Audio-First Content
Podcasts have exploded for a reason. Over 460 million people listen to podcasts globally, and that number keeps growing. People have discovered that audio fits their lifestyle in ways text doesn't.
The problem? Not everything you want to consume comes in audio form. Your favorite Substack newsletter, that technical blog post, the research paper your colleague shared — these are all text-only.
That's exactly the gap Heark fills.
How Heark Works
Heark converts any article into a natural-sounding podcast in under a minute:
- Paste an article URL or text
- Choose your preferred voice and duration
- Listen anywhere, anytime
No more "read later" guilt. No more choosing between staying informed and staying active.
Getting Started
Ready to turn your reading list into a listening list? Sign up for Heark and start converting articles today. Your commute will thank you.