diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
index 402cb040..56f9da20 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """ activitypub model functionality """
+import asyncio
 from base64 import b64encode
 from collections import namedtuple
 from functools import reduce
@@ -6,9 +7,8 @@ import json
 import operator
 import logging
 from uuid import uuid4
-import requests
-from requests.exceptions import RequestException
 
+import aiohttp
 from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA
 from Crypto.Signature import pkcs1_15
 from Crypto.Hash import SHA256
@@ -510,15 +510,22 @@ def broadcast_task(sender_id, activity, recipients):
     """the celery task for broadcast"""
     user_model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.User", require_ready=True)
     sender = user_model.objects.get(id=sender_id)
-    for recipient in recipients:
-        try:
-            sign_and_send(sender, activity, recipient)
-        except RequestException:
-            pass
+    asyncio.run(async_broadcast(recipients, sender, activity))
 
 
-def sign_and_send(sender, data, destination):
-    """crpyto whatever and http junk"""
+async def async_broadcast(recipients, sender, data):
+    """Send all the broadcasts simultaneously"""
+    timeout = aiohttp.ClientTimeout(total=10)
+    async with aiohttp.ClientSession(timeout=timeout) as session:
+        tasks = []
+        for recipient in recipients:
+            tasks.append(
+                asyncio.ensure_future(sign_and_send(session, sender, data, recipient))
+            )
+
+
+async def sign_and_send(session, sender, data, destination):
+    """Sign the messages and send them in an asynchronous bundle"""
     now = http_date()
 
     if not sender.key_pair.private_key:
@@ -526,21 +533,25 @@ def sign_and_send(sender, data, destination):
         raise ValueError("No private key found for sender")
 
     digest = make_digest(data)
+    headers = {
+        "Date": now,
+        "Digest": digest,
+        "Signature": make_signature(sender, destination, now, digest),
+        "Content-Type": "application/activity+json; charset=utf-8",
+        "User-Agent": USER_AGENT,
+    }
 
-    response = requests.post(
-        destination,
-        data=data,
-        headers={
-            "Date": now,
-            "Digest": digest,
-            "Signature": make_signature(sender, destination, now, digest),
-            "Content-Type": "application/activity+json; charset=utf-8",
-            "User-Agent": USER_AGENT,
-        },
-    )
-    if not response.ok:
-        response.raise_for_status()
-    return response
+    try:
+        async with session.post(destination, data=data, headers=headers) as response:
+            if not response.ok:
+                logger.exception(
+                    "Failed to send broadcast to %s: %s", destination, response.reason
+                )
+            return await response
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        logger.info("Connection timed out for url: %s", destination)
+    except aiohttp.ClientError as err:
+        logger.exception(err)
 
 
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument