The Talking Newspaper arriving weekly was a highlight for a couple of my Great Aunts when I was growing up in the '70s in the UK. I know that groups of both sighted and not folks organized "Listening Coffee Mornings" through church at that time.

It's interesting to think that then, Talking Books were a thing primarily for visually-impared people only, whereas now, audio books are a thing for everyone. Audible (and the rest) owe their existence to standing on the shoulders of giants.

A great episode that reminded me that people do good stuff for other people for reasons other than financial reward.