1. A method for presenting an interactive audio publication to a user, the method comprising: (a) receiving a plurality of content items that includes at least one text-based content item or speech-based content item; (b) converting the received plurality of content items into corresponding audio content items that each include digital audio data corresponding to a spoken representation of a corresponding text-based content item or speech-based content item, and audio content item metadata indicating a structure of the included digital audio data, the audio content item metadata including a plurality of markers designating boundaries of a title segment, a summary segment, and a story body segment of an audio content item; (c) assembling an audio publication from one or more of the audio content items, the audio publication being organized into one or more sections; (d) generating audio publication metadata that defines a structure of the audio publication, said generating comprising customizing the audio publication metadata for at least one user; and (e) distributing the audio publication to a user for interactive presentation, the distributed audio publication including the audio publication metadata and the one or more audio content items.