👉 Why Whillo? 🎧

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Crazy name for a post title, don’t you think? I wanted to catch your attention and point you to this fascinating interview with my guests, Layne and Melinda van Rhijn (what’s not to like about her name, Melinda, right?)

Whillo >> is brand-new audio and music streaming service based in Canada. For a subscription of only $7.00/ month, you get unlimited access to Audio books, and you can listen as much as you want! (for $9.00/month you get all of the hymns and songs too, unlimited). Every one of my Circle C and Goldtown books are either up on Whillo right now or are in the queue to be added each month. Also, the Christmas Collection will be up in time for the holidays (and I’m going to ask them about adding a short-story collection my narrator is working on shortly). Anyway, there are dozens and dozens of audios books, more coming all the time (they are barely a year old). I wanted to give these fine folks a shout out for the fine work they are doing. Layne and Melinda agreed to an interview, so let’s dive right in.

Note: Read all the way to the end to learn how to 1) Enter the Giveaway to win a year’s streaming subscription, and 2) grab the coupon code to get a 25% discount on one of their streaming subscriptions.

Win a One-year Whillo Subscription!

Yes, that’s right. Win a full year of this trustworthy audio streaming service by clicking the giveaway link at the end of the interview. Plus, Whillo is offering a coupon code to sign on. So, with no further delay, let’s go to my visit with Layne and Melinda, the Whillo owners.

Visit with the Whillo Team

• 1. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions about Whillo. First of all, When did you launch Whillo, and what led you into this kind of streaming business?
  • Whillo was launched in June of 2022, so it’s a little over a year old! It started because we wanted our children to enjoy audio books without us having to proof listen to everything. Layne, who has a strong tech background, envisioned and created the app with the help of a team of developers.
• 2. You guys really are brand-new! So . . . Why did you choose “Whillo” for your company’s name and what does it mean?
  • In our search for a memorable name appealing to both adults and children, we pondered the idea of “Willow,” evoking peaceful reading under a willow tree. However, the domain name was already taken. Instead, we decided to alter the spelling to create our unique name, “Whillo”, ensuring no trademark conflicts. Thankfully, “whillo.com” was available, and the rest is history! Whillo.com >>
• 3. What kind of streaming content do you offer?
  • We offer conservative Christian content with biblical morals and values. While not all stories contain Christian themes, we do ensure that no offensive words or questionable morality makes its way onto our platform. With a wide range of content suitable for all ages, we provide a safe space for families seeking quality audio that reinforces positive principles. Our commitment to maintaining a wholesome environment sets Whillo apart from other audio streaming services.
• 4. What kind of content do you hope to offer in the future?
  • In the future, we hope to continually add more audiobooks and music for an even greater selection for our listeners. We also have several fun and educational series in the works that we are very excited for!
• 5. Streaming and subscriptions seem to be the most popular way to listen to our favorite books and music. Please tell the fans how your subscription works and what it may cost per month. Does the service give listeners to everything on your site?
  • Many listeners are grateful for the Whillo app, as it allows them to enjoy their favourite audiobooks and music in their vehicles, especially since newer vehicles typically lack CD players. You can download the app from the apple or play store.
  • We offer three tiers for users to choose their desired service: 1) audiobooks, 2) music, or 3) a combination of both! These tiers are named the bronze (audiobooks only), silver (music only) and gold (both audiobooks and music) plans. Opting for a Gold plan (audio books + music costs only about $9 per month. (Psst- we are offering a free one-year GOLD PLAN subscription to one contest winner!)
• 6. This sounds like a great service for those who have easy access to cell and/or wi-fi service. But what if I have terrible (or no) cell service on a cross-country trip? Is it possible to download the stories/music before I head out on my trip?
  • Absolutely! You can easily download stories and music before your trip, and the process only takes a few minutes. While you’ll need to download each track individually, it’s a straightforward procedure. If you require any assistance, we have a tutorial video available on our website to guide you through the process!
• 7. Do you have any personal favorite books on Whillo?
  • Choosing a favorite is tough because we genuinely love them all! Personally, Melinda adores the short story “Ragged Robin”. Our kids are enthralled by the Andi stories, while the Benji books and the entire Thornton Burgess series are also definite favourites!
• 8. What do you like least (or is the most difficult part) about setting up and running a streaming service for your books and music?
  • The journey has been far more challenging than we could have imagined! Securing permission from publishers, sourcing appropriate content, covering the expenses of audiobook narration, and managing various other aspects of Whillo have been daunting tasks. As well, we’ve worked hard to keep our commitment to introduce new content each month, demanding substantial effort and dedication.

• 9. What do you love most about running a streaming business?
  • The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our users has been incredibly encouraging, making all the challenges worthwhile. Additionally, listening to audiobooks and music on Whillo has become an integral part of our family life and we wouldn’t want to do without it!
• 10. Where are you located?
  • We are located near Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, a place renowned as the “Windy City”, and as you might guess, it’s often quite windy here! Although we occasionally long for shorter winters, we try to remember that the beauty of spring, summer, and fall wouldn’t be as cherished without the contrast of the long winter 😉
• 11. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” When life seems hard, remembering that God is in control gives peace.
• 12. Have you listened to (proofed) every audio book you offer?
  • Yes, we have proof listened to every audio book we offer! Melinda started out proof listening to everything, but it soon proved to be a monumental task (what with her also being a stay at home mom to three children) so we soon had to hire more proof listeners!
• 13. Currently (as of this interview), how many audio books do you offer?
  • There are just over 100 audiobooks currently on Whillo, with more being added each month!
• 14. What types of music genres do you offer to stream?
  • Whillo has an extensive collection of conservative Christian hymns, Psalters, and Psalms. You’ll discover a diverse range of instrumental and orchestral albums, with many exclusives available only on our platform. We have a growing selection of children’s albums, and more are in the works. Additionally, we offer Dutch music and Mennonite a cappella melodies, along with various choir albums. Notably, a recent favourite is a soothing piano/cello album, perfect for creating a peaceful ambiance during study, work, or reading. With such a wide array of choices, there is something to delight every listener!
• 15. For what ages (or genres) do you offer audio books?
  • At Whillo, we provide audiobooks suitable for all ages. While our collection leans toward a family-friendly selection, we do have some missionary stories, books about slavery, and other content geared toward adults. Many of our grown up listeners have also expressed their enjoyment of series like Wambu, Journey Through the Night, and Scout, with families often cherishing these stories together. And let’s not forget the excitement of the Andi stories, which have proven to be enjoyable for both children and adults alike!
• 16. Do you accept requests for future audio books? If so, where can the fans go to put in a request?
  • We enthusiastically welcome requests from our listeners! While obtaining the necessary permissions can be challenging at times, we genuinely appreciate hearing from them and work hard to fulfill their requests to the best of our abilities. If you have a specific request in mind, please visit whillo.com/requests to submit it. Your feedback means the world to us, and we’d love to hear from you! Contact Us >>
• 17. One final request. Tell us a little bit about your family.
  • We are a happy family of five, with three children aged 10, 9, and 6. Our favorite activities include hiking and enjoying nature, spending time in our backyard pool, and, of course, enjoying audiobooks and music together! Recently, we’ve made the exciting decision to begin homeschooling, and we eagerly anticipate starting this new chapter in the fall!