Kelsa Betis discovered the Floria audiobook walking group through an Instagram algorithm. She was looking for ways to be more social but struggled with anxiety, making it difficult for her to connect with others. A walking group seemed manageable; she could talk if she wanted or return to her book if she didn't.
Social Experience Without Pressure
Betis soon became part of a small group of women who gathered at least once a month on the beaches and trails of Southern California. After her first walk, she made plans to grab coffee with some of the women she had met. She says, "The best part is connecting with others." She regularly returned to the group and eventually invited her friends as well. She says, "There’s something irresistible about seeing a group of women walking on the beach."
Audiobook walking groups are currently forming across the country, transforming this typically solitary activity into a social event without pressure. In these groups, each person listens to a chosen book for an hour and then gathers after the walk to compare thoughts and plan future meetups. It’s a book group without a specific reading and a walking group without competition, and a social activity that allows you to disengage whenever you want.
Growth of Audiobooks and Human Connections
In a typical book group, individuals must read the same book by a certain date and then be prepared to discuss it. However, audiobook walking groups do not require prior planning and lack the social pressure of sitting in a circle. All you need is a book on your phone, a pair of headphones, and comfortable shoes.
At the Pao events, people usually mingle for about 30 minutes before the walk. Then they put on their headphones and split into faster and slower groups, with each person immersing themselves in a different story. She says, "Anyone can join, no matter what your book taste is." As the group gets smaller, she asks participants to share the books they’ve chosen, and inevitably someone gets excited as another person is listening to the same book or adds a new title to their list.
In the Washington D.C. area, Megan Menzies runs a similar group called Pages on the Path. Menzies moved from New Jersey to D.C. looking for friendship, so she started this group with one other person. Now, about 30 people regularly participate in its monthly activities. Participants in this group range in age from 13 to 80; new parents bring their children in strollers or wear them in slings.
Menzies says, "There are nearly a thousand running groups in D.C." But not everyone wants or can run. An audiobook walking group offers an alternative route to the same main destination: movement, fresh air, and new friendships. The growth of these groups coincides with the audiobook boom in the United States. Audiobook sales reached $2.43 billion in 2025, a 9% increase from the previous year.
Jim Dingar, executive director of the Audio Publishers Association, says, "This growth isn’t surprising, but it’s good growth." Part of the appeal of audiobooks is their convenience: people can listen while driving, exercising, cooking, cleaning, or unloading the dishwasher. But Dingar has also noticed that people are becoming more open about their enthusiasm. He says, "Now, those people are finding each other."
Walking silently alongside strangers while wearing headphones may seem antisocial. However, for some, it can make socializing feel more natural.
