Featured stories

Explore the Story Hive with our author's picks and most popular stories.

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The Story Hive

Listen to exclusive short stories, non-fiction and serialised novels.

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Stories for children

From adventures to bedtime stories and life lessons, we have children’s stories for all ages.

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Laugh out loud

Let yourself be delighted and entertained with stories from our humour section.

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Dive into a novel

Tazzie and Howl, the first of our serialised novels, is a wonderful adventure for all ages.

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Thrills and chills

For gripping stories that will have you on the edge of your seat, check out our thriller section.

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Latest Stories

June 25, 2024

Plan Bee: The Last Bee

This story is written especially for Tony and Alice Briggs - true pioneers - in gratitude for their amazing work. "The Last Bee" is dedicated to them. https://www.tonybriggs.com/planbee
Phil Ryan
Love0
June 25, 2024

The Horror Club: Henry

Everybody needs a friend in childhood. Just be careful who you choose...
Phil Ryan
Love0
June 25, 2024

The Horror Club: The Site

It's an interesting conundrum when the modern world tries to impinge on ancient traditions. Usually, it doesn't end well!
Phil Ryan
Love0
June 25, 2024

The Horror Club: Mas Hotep

Every young boy dreams of being Indiana Jones on a great adventure. It's just that sometimes adventures don't quite turn out how you'd hoped.
Phil Ryan
Love0
May 24, 2024

Love Stories: Bear

If you ever had a favourite childhood toy, then this story is just for you.
Phil Ryan
Love0
May 24, 2024

Love Stories: The House

It takes a special person to understand that love comes in all shapes and sizes. In this case, house-shaped!
Phil Ryan
Love0

Welcome to the Story Hive, the home of amazing audio stories!

The Story Hive is a place full of free stories you can listen to at home, in the park, in the car, on a train, by the ocean, or wherever you go. From short stories to serialised novels, from the humorous to the dark, for adults and children – we have stories for everyone.

Browse stories

Featured stories

Not sure where to start? Explore our author’s picks and most popular stories to  get a taste of the amazing range of audio entertainment waiting for you inside the Story Hive.

Collections

Short fiction

September in Rome

This collection of short stories follows the interwoven lives of fascinating characters in the Eternal City, filled with love, laughs and thrills.

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The Crime Files

The secret files of a high-ranking, retired police officer offer a glimpse into true crime stories that the public never knew about until now: fact or fiction?

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The Other Place

A collection of short stories that will transport you to strange, alternative worlds, where things and people are never quite what they seem

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The Storm House

Spellbinding modern fiction stories, ranging from humorous to very dark, featuring everyday characters in intense and enthralling situations.

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Just the Job

Every person’s job has a story and many are more fantastical than you could ever imagine. Take a look beyond the obvious and meet some extraordinary people.

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The World of Ink and Dreams

Every tattoo tells a story: this gorgeous collection of stories about the art of ink on skin will take you into a world beyond your wildest dreams.

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Love Stories

Love is all around us, and it comes in many shapes and colours. This collection celebrates the many different kinds of love we will find in a lifetime.

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The Random Emails File

The art of the letter for the 21st century: Email exchanges ranging from funny to  bizarre – prepare to be moved and entertained.

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Uncle Phil’s Slightly Altered Fairy Stories

A completely irreverent and slightly saucy rewriting of your favourite fairy tales – strictly for adults only!

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The  Horror Club

A selection of darkly clever and terrifying horror stories, not for the fainthearted. It’s probably best to keep the lights on when you listen…

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Shakespeare’s Sonnets

This is a collection of my favourite Shakespeare sonnets. Over the coming year I’ll be inviting guest readers to join us on the Story Hive, delivering their favourite ones too.

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The Gallery

A series of engaging tales from a well-known London gallery. Can you guess which one?

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Falling Into The Sky

A collection of poetry and prose.

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True stories

Overheard In London

You can believe your ears with these genuine conversations overheard in cafes, museums and public places around London and the UK.

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True Stories

An amazing collection of true stories that were told to – or actually happened to – author Phil Ryan during his career. Prepared to have your jaw drop.

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Plan Bee

The Story Hive is incredibly proud to support Tony Briggs’ amazing new initiative to restore the UK bee population and propogate the use of hives across schools, colleges, community groups and businesses.

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Longer fiction & novels

Circular Motion: A Short Novel

Follow the progress of a falling satellite across a continent and the lives it touches in a series of unbelievable and entertaining ways.

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Tazzie & Howl: A Novel

A charming tale of a young boy scout, his friends and their dog Howl going on a magical adventure in the late 1960s.

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Radio Plays

A collection of radio plays offering everything from life-affirming tales to humour and horror.

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Stories for children

Sleepy Bedtime Stories

Stories written for children aged 3-6 to listen to at bedtime, featuring a wonderful cast of characters having little adventures.

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The House of Eternal Summer

A delightful children’s book for ages 8-12, full of charming tales that gently explore the many emotions children encounter growing up.

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Sleep, mindfulness & meditation

The Sleep Room

Voice-guided exercises designed to help you get into a better sleeping cycles, perfect for those struggling with insomnia and poor sleep

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The Meditation Circle

Guided meditation exercises to help you relax, for first-time meditators and experienced folks alike.

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Things You Really Need To Know

Phil Ryan has travelled the world for the last forty years in an extraordinary career. Along the way, he has learned many life lessons and felt it a good idea to jot some of them down.

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