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20 Absolutely Essential Podcasts For A Road Trip (The Master List)

Post Summary: Best Podcasts For A Road Trip For Long Car Drives

Alright, we’ve heard you loud and clear! One of our  most frequently asked questions (besides what camera gear we use !) is what podcasts we listen to on road trips!

Being travel photographers, Berty and I are in the car all. the. freaking. time. This means we’ve clocked plenty of podcast hours learning new things about running our business, gasping at terrible true crime stories, and binge-listening to commentary on the latest Bachelor episodes.

We know there are THOUSANDS of amazing podcasts out there, but we’re here to share our personal favorites with you. We’ll continue to add to this list as we discover new ones, too!

Let’s get listening!

Psst…. To make it a little bit easier to navigate this blog post, we’re breaking down our favorite road trip podcasts into different categories. This way you can use the table of contents to jump to your favorite genre , and get downloading your favorites ASAP!

Additionally, we are always looking for new shows and recommendations. If you think you’ve found the perfect podcast for a road trip and you want to share it, tell us all about it in the comments below!  If we love it, we’ll add it to our list and credit you for recommending it to us!

Our Absolute Favorite Podcasts For A Road Trip (The Master List)

Easy listening podcasts.

Just want to be entertained? Some of our favorite road trip podcasts to listen to include TV recap shows , commentary from internet celebrities, and fun stories about things that went on in history! Here’s our current list of podcast favorites:

Love To See It

If you’re a lover of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, or really any of their many spinoff shows, this is definitely the podcast for you!

Emma Gray and Claire Fallon share snarky and playful commentary and recaps of the latest Bachelor Nation episodes, with comments on its ridiculousness while also loving every second of it.

It feels like the juiciest gossip with your closest girlfriends making for very easy listening on long road trips!

Download Here to Make Friends on iTunes.

The Dirtbag Diaries

Love a good adventure story? Engage in exciting outdoor tales from the rugged cliffs of Denali to the local high school shop class. Hosted by the outdoor brand, Patagonia, The Dirtbag Diaries is filled with inspiring stories that immerse your imagination.

Go To The DD Website

Office Ladies

Calling all fans of The Office! This is literally the podcast we’ve all been waiting for, an episode by episode recap /behind-the-scenes look at each episode hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey (Pam and Angela).

They share fun facts about the episode, behind-the-scenes info about the filming on the show, and fond memories of characters and actors alike as they recap episodes with guest speakers and more.

This is one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you love the show!

Download Office Ladies on iTunes.

What We Said Podcast

What We Said Podcast is hosted by Jaci Marie Smith and Chelsey Jade Curtis in a fun, banter-style podcast about life as young creatives . It’s one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you want an easy listening episode.

Best friends in real life, these two talk about everything from funny high school memories , their journeys into entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyles, and more!

We especially love their episodes when they ask the audience to submit a story and they share them in one single episode. It’s fun to hear about bad dates, scary stories, and lots of other random things for a fun podcast for road trips.

Download What We Said Podcast on iTunes.

Young House Love Has A Podcast

This one is actually more of a DIY home podcast than easy listening, but we can’t help but put it in this category for John and Sherry’s fun banter and lighthearted stories about their life at home !

From a very real obsession with LED lights to fun ways to tackle home projects , these two give really practical advice on how to upgrade your home and fit your specific needs.

Download Young House Love Has A Podcast on iTunes.

TRUE CRIME PODCASTS

Sometimes the shock of a truly horrendous murder can keep you alert on the road. (Does that make us bad people by saying that?) Here are some of our favorite true crime podcasts for a road trip that will keep you alert!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is a true-crime podcast hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat that gets straight to the facts and tells us all the nitty-gritty details about the strangest, most shocking, and legendary crimes of our past.

Not only do they cover high-profile crimes , but they also share stories about missing persons, conspiracies, and real-time cases for an exciting way to learn about today’s stories.

We love this podcast because of its compelling storytelling , but also its consistent call to action for support on topics that matter most to you. We appreciate that they give shoutouts to local groups that are doing some heavy lifting on some of these cases and that they share ways you can support crime-fighting organizations and make a difference, too!

Download Crime Junkie on iTunes.

My Favorite Murder

My Favorite Murder is hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and is a true-crime COMEDY podcast. These two genres may not seem like they would go well together, but Georgia’s sarcastic comments and Karen’s witty banter make for easier listening on some of the world’s most unnerving topics.

Come for the murder, but stay for their pre-show back and forth banter as you get to know Karen and Georgia, their personal lives, funny moments from their tours, and more!

Download My Favorite Murder on iTunes.

The Dropout

While this may not be the murderous true-crime podcast you’d expect, The Dropout is still the story of a crime…and it’s true!

Set in the late 2000s/early 2010s, The Dropout tells the story of the Silicon Valley superstar Elizabeth Holmes who became a billionaire with her genius idea of a blood test as small as a finger prick that can detect hundreds of diseases.

From interviews with people closest to her, you soon discover that this isn’t quite the case…and the story is still going on today!

Download The Dropout on iTunes.

POP CULTURE PODCASTS

Who doesn’t love a good internet story ? From viral memes to online sensations, we listen to these pop culture podcasts on road trips to keep us up to date on the latest trends!

The Last Podcast On The Left

The Last Podcast On The Left is hosted by three long-time friends Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski, and they share weird, terrible, strange, and outrageous horror stories . They lean into the dark side of history and culture, covering everything from cults to zombies, haunted towns to serial killers, and so much more!

If you don’t mind lots of crass words , dirty jokes , and people raising their voices and talking over one another, you’ll get a kick out of Henry, Marcus, and Ben.

Download The Last Podcast On The Left on iTunes.

Motherhacker

Motherhacker is an extremely binge-worthy story broken up into short 9 15-minute episodes . Only one season (so far), it follows the story of a mother who keeps getting spammy calls to her cellphone in the middle of her hectic and stressful life.

After being scammed, she’s determined to get her money back and enters a deep dark world of online thieves that she can’t escape…

Download Motherhacker on iTunes.

The Facebook Files

The Wall Street Journal and Gimlet present the Facebook Files, an investigative series diving into internal Facebook documents, revealing how the social media mogul works from the inside. From whitelisting celebrity posts to not protecting their users, this is a unique perspective on how the social media giant works. This is an ongoing series!

Read more about The Facebook Files Here.

Reply All is simply a podcast about the internet and life online. From viral sensations, extraordinary memes, and black-market social media username thieves, Reply All breaks down the mystery of it all and reveals the unique and strange humans behind it all.

One of our favorite parts of their show is when their boss comes to the hosts, PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, to break down tweets on Twitter that he doesn’t understand. It’s an incredible program breaking down the nuances of popular culture and understanding how they are interpreted in everyday life. This road trip podcast is a must-listen for any good adventure!

Some of our favorite Reply All Episodes:

• #102, #103 Long Distance Call (Part 1 and 2)
• #130 The Snapchat Thief
• #56 Zardulu
• #76 Lost In A Cab
• #83 Voyage Into Pizzagate
• #29 The Takeover

Download Reply All on iTunes.

PODCASTS FOR LEARNING NEW THINGS

Sometimes the best podcasts for a road trip include learning something new! These contemplative and informative podcasts for road trips will make you smarter, wiser, and ready to learn about a new perspective or idea.

Stuff You Should Know

Satisfy your curiosity with this podcast that takes a deep dive into different topics. Stuff You Should Know is a program by iHeartRadio, and you can download episodes based on your own personal curiosities. No need to commit to a season-long story, pick a random topic that sparks your interest!

Listen To Stuff You Should Know here .

No Small Thing

No Small Thing is a podcast dedicated to living a curious life , and treating every topic with the attention and appreciation it deserves! Scott and Macie are the hosts of NST, and their perfect blend of varying perspectives, generations, and unique guests brings many perspectives to the table when discussing things.

Some of their most popular content is around the Enneagram and defense mechanisms , and they have a huge list of recommended episodes to encourage self-reflection and discovering new things about yourself.

It’s one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you want to self-reflect!

Download No Small Thing on iTunes.

Armchair Expert

Dax Shepard is the host of Armchair Expert and every episode celebrates the disorganized, chaotic journey that is humankind . In each episode, Dax dives in deep with incredible guests that have interesting life stories to share, and we as the listeners get to hear from people from all walks of life.

From actresses to bounty hunters, TV show hosts to psychologists, Dax isn’t afraid to ask hard questions and dive into what makes us unique. As a recovering drug addict himself, he’s not afraid to go deep, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the most honest and engaging dialogues on the internet today!

Download Armchair Expert on iTunes.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a US correctional facility , East Hustle is giving you the inside scoop! Hosted out of San Quentin State Prison just north of San Francisco, Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, along with Antwan Williams, bring light to life in prison .

From what they eat on a daily basis to roommate drama to conjugal visits, Ear Hustle brings honest stories about life behind bars to the curious listener. You get to hear life stories of people in prison and the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and all the while growing in a deeper understanding and compassion for the people around you.

Download Ear Hustle on iTunes.

Sleeping At Last Podcast

The Sleeping at Last Podcast is hosted by Ryan O’Neal and his ethereal music is the star of the show.

In each episode, he breaks down one of his songs and everything that went into making it. From specific tempos to chosen instruments, thoughtful lyrics to hidden messages, he shares it all!

One of his most popular sets of episodes is his Enneagram series. Ryan O’Neal crafted a song for each of the 9 Enneagram types and beautifully reflects each type and their unique traits. Just like his other song episodes, he breaks down the thoughts behind the music , with special guest Chris Heuertz giving Enneagram commentary throughout.

Download Sleeping At Last on iTunes.

Invisibilia

Invisibilia is a podcast from NPR (National Public Radio) discussing the hidden forces that drive social behavior . Some of these episodes have been incredibly thought-provoking for Berty and I, sparking interesting conversations on our long road trips.

Invisibilia brings on guests to chat about empathy, vulnerability, fear, and more for a really raw look into the social behaviors of today’s humans.

Download Invisibilia on NPR.

How Do You Deal With…

How Do You Deal With is a podcast by Joelle Riding where she dives deep into questions that many people are too afraid to ask ! From failure to van life to long-distance relationships, Joelle brings on guests that aren’t afraid to tackle these tough topics.

Her welcoming spirit and genuine curiosity to know the heart of her guests really shine through her episodes!

Download HDYDW on Spotify.

PODCASTS ABOUT BLOGGING, SOCIAL MEDIA, + BUSINESS

Are you searching for podcasts for a road trip about bettering your business, blog, or social media strategy? Here are some of our favorite small business podcasts. We learn so much from these people and we hope you can give them a listen!

The Blogging Millionaire

Looking for easy ways to implement new strategies when blogging and writing articles online?

Brandon Gaille shares bite-sized tips on blogging , productivity, and the latest strategies for growing your web platform. His short, 10-ish-minute episodes are packed with information to help you grow your audience step by step in a meaningful and thoughtful way.

Download The Blogging Millionaire on iTunes.

The Influencer Podcast

The Influencer Podcast was one of the first entrepreneurship podcasts we listened to! Julie Solomon is an online course creator, social media marketing expert, and all-around cheerleader for women in the content creation industry .

She brings on inspiring guest speakers , dives deep into topics like growing email lists, connecting with brands, and so much more for authentic influencer goodness!

Download The Influencer Podcast on iTunes.

How I Built This

How I Built This is a podcast by Guy Raz that sits down with the  people who have built incredible companies that shape our lives today.

From the people who created Lyft, Zapps, Lululemon, Away bags, and more, you get to hear from the founders themselves on the humble beginnings of their businesses! We like to listen to these podcasts for a road trip because it inspires us to better our own business.

It’s one of the most inspiring podcasts for a road trip if you are an aspiring entrepreneur!

Download How I Built This on iTunes.

So…what are some of your favorite podcasts for a road trip? Do you like to listen to music, books, podcasts, or a mix of all three? Let us know in the comments below!

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This is a great list! I thought I was a podcast fanatic, but I haven’t heard of a bunch you mentioned here. I definitely want to try out How Do you Deal With…, Reply All, What We Said, and The Blogging Millionaire. I love Dax, Invisibilia, and How I Built This — they are soo good.

The ones that I would recommend are: True Crime: 1) Casefile – hosted by an Australian guy who has an awesome accent. The podcast itself goes into gory details of some of the most horrific murders all over the world 2) Criminal – hosted by Phoebe Judge. This was actually the first podcast I’ve ever heard and I have been loyal since then. She talks about stories of crimes that have happened and interviews the criminal. Not all are quality, but the ones that are make up for it! The ones I would recommend are episode #1 “Animal Instincts”, #51 “The Money Tree”, I’ll actually give you this link since I can’t remember them all haha! https://www.ranker.com/list/best-criminal-podcast-episodes/ranker-podcast . 3) Serial – if you haven’t listened to season 1 of Serial then drop everything and do it now! But I a m assuming you did since this was more popular than Regina George when it came out.

Pop Culture: 1) Binge Mode – if you are a Harry Potter, GOT, or Star Wars fan, this is really great for you! The hosts go into detail of all the episodes and book chapters in a fun and enticing way! This is great listening for longer travel!

Science: 1) Hidden Brain – goes into the science behind why we think and behave the way we do 2) Freakonomics 3) Revisionist History – don’t know if you’ve heard of Malcolm Gladwell, but you need to listen to this regardless! Season 1 is GREAT (but it kind of goes downhill from there). The podcast “explores events in the past that have been overlooked or misunderstood”.

Hi! and WOW! What great recommendations! Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed list!

Leaving tomorrow for a long trip so thank you! If you don’t know it, download Twain’s Feast by Nick Offerman on Audible. If you love his weird brain and mark Twain, you’ll be smiling and fascinated for about 187 miles

Hi Patricia! I’m so glad you liked our list! Thanks so much for the audiobook recommendation too, we’ll have to check it out!

The 46 Best Podcasts for Your Next Road Trip or Long Flight

The podcasts to listen to on your next long drive or plane ride, whether you’re a history nerd, traveling with kids, or just in need of a true-crime fix..

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What takes a road trip from good to great? Hours and hours of top-notch podcasts.

Design by Elizabeth See

Summer is made for long leisurely travels: road trips, week-long beach sojourns, multi-country hops. It’s also made for binge-listening some of the most creative, funniest, and thought-provoking podcasts being produced right now.

But there are a lot of podcasts out there. And the big podcast players only surface a handful, based on algorithms and newsworthiness, not necessarily what best suits you, your friends, or your family.

So we’ve done the work for you. Now that you’ve planned your adventure (or maybe not!), here are some of the best podcasts out there, all perfect for your next extended road trip or plane ride, whether you love a good murder mystery, need a family-friendly listen, or want to laugh for miles.

If you like going to unexpected places

Explore curiosities of the world, download the AFAR podcast, and more.

Images courtesy National Park After Dark and AFAR

1. The Atlas Obscura Podcast

• Listen Now : Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Did you know you can visit Hitler’s toilet in a New Jersey car repair shop? Or that there’s a 7-Eleven convenience store in Baltimore, Maryland, marking where the Ouija board was invented? These are the strange facts you’ll glean from the 15-minute-or-less episodes of the daily Atlas Obscura podcast, which also ties classic episodes to current events and does the occasional deep dive into travel’s obscurities.

2. Travel Tales by AFAR

• Listen Now : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In season five of Travel Tales by AFAR , we hit the road again. Travel to northern Canada with a polar bear expert, learn what it was like to cycle across the United States with no money or food, and explore the world of rewilding in Argentina. Our podcast is your ticket to the world—no passport required.

3. Unpacked

In Unpacked by AFAR —our second podcast —we explore life’s big questions. In season three, we unpack eclipse travel, budgeting, building confidence around foreign languages, and much more. Watch for our new series, “Unpacking,” where we dive into cities around the world, including Toronto, Albuquerque, and Madison, Wisconsin. Through a mix of interviews and personal stories, we delve into your deepest travel dilemmas. Because the world is complicated. We’re here to help you unpack it .

4. Outside Podcast

• Listen Now : Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Adventurers yearning to learn about epic rescues, endurance athletes, and what it’s really like to be on Naked and Afraid should tune into this weekly podcast from the team at Outside magazine. In the most recent season, the podcast asks if whales are really gentle giants, why cats are taking over New York City, and if golf can be an endurance sport, among many other fascinating topics.

5. Jump With Traveling Jackie

Jackie is the vivacious host of this long-running podcast, on which she discusses her own travel and brings in guests for tips and conversation. Some of Jackie’s most powerful episodes feature unpolished narration from outside the studio in which she explores her own feelings and experiences on the road, whether walking through Jordan or exploring the truck camper life. Dedicating an hour to each topic allows for a deep and expansive dive.

6. National Park After Dark

If Lore was only about stories that had taken place in U.S. national parks , it would sound like this. Hosts Danielle and Cassie are friends who tell each other true tales set in the parks, such as the horrific medical care given at the Battle of Gettysburg, a runner who mysteriously disappeared in Shoshone National Forest, and Diana of the Dunes, a woman who left society to live off the land in what is now Indiana Dunes National Park.

7. Wander Your Way

A classic weekly podcast with a host (Lynne Nieman) who seems to have been everywhere across the pond. She shares excellent travel tips, but her specialty is pointing listeners to the off-the-beaten-path destinations. With Lynn, you’ll visit the Scottish stone circle site Killmartin Glen instead of Stonehenge, and Umbria instead of Tuscany in Italy. A particularly great listen for those who’ve already been to the tourist traps.

If you like fiction

Dive into fictional worlds, from a world where sleep kills to a desert town where every conspiracy theory is true.

Images courtesy Welcome to Night Vale and the Edge of Sleep

8. Welcome to Night Vale

One of the best-known fiction podcasts, about a desert town where every conspiracy theory is true , Welcome to Night Vale has been described as “Lake Woebegone as told by Stephen King.” Twelve years in, the series—which has spawned several books and a fervent fan base—is still going strong at almost 250 episodes! Two drop each month.

9. Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books

Zibby Owens is a publishing powerhouse who posts author interviews five times a week. She focuses on books that will appeal to the mom demographic but she casts a wide net, showcasing historical fiction, general interest nonfiction, and self-help as well as the big events in publishing. Each episode introduces listeners to an author and their process, sparking interest in books widely available, making that next to trip to the library or bookstore even more fun.

10. LeVar Burton Reads

• Listen Now : Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Lovers of short fiction should check out LeVar Burton Reads. Yes, THE LeVar Burton, of Reading Rainbow, Roots, Jeopardy! , and Star Trek fame, whose velvety warm voice encouraged youngster millennials and Gen Z-ers to embrace their love of reading. For each of his 150-plus episodes, he selects a short story he loves and reads it, in episodes that last up to an hour, with immersive audio effects: the snaps of twigs in the woods, the snarl of traffic on a New York City street.

11. Birds of Empire

From Qcode Media comes a fictional podcast set in New Dakota in 15,000 C.E., thousands of years after the fall of human civilization. Four heroes arise, from the tribes of what was once South Dakota, one each from the Wolves, the Bears, the Rams, and the Birds, powered by the myths of the world as it was, seeking what it could come to be. As that description implies, this podcast, now entering its second season, is perfect for fantasy lovers.

If it’s all about the comedy (and culture)

12. don’t ask tig.

Beloved comedian Tig Notaro offers a kind of anti-advice show: She constantly reminds listeners not to ask her for advice and yet they continue to do so, asking questions that range from the silly (Help! I don’t like tea—how do I turn it down?) to the more profound (Help! My mother wants to move in with us. What do I do?). Then she and her celebrity guests give answering them their best shot, anyway.

13. Las Culturistas

Powered by a recent viral Tina Fey appearance, Las Culturistas is hipper than ever. Since 2016, comedians Matt Rogers and SNL ’s Bowen Yang have hosted hundreds of episodes, mixing deep dives into pop culture, fun bickering, celebrity guests, and plenty of criticism (such as the recurring minute-long game “I Don’t Think So, Honey!” about frustrating social and cultural phenomena).

14. Pop Culture Happy Hour

When you need a quick hit of cultural insight, whether it’s an overview of a new movie or TV show, or a read on the newest Taylor Swift re-recording, NPR’s weekday review show will help. A rotating array of hosts with unexpected opinions keeps it fresh, and they shake up the round-table format often enough to keep it an engaging daily listen. Episodes never top 30 minutes.

15. You Are Good

Hosts Sarah Marshall (of You’re Wrong About fame) and Alex Steed discuss popular movies of the last 50 years from a fan’s perspective, leading to thoughtful (and funny) discussions of topics that are cultural, personal, and metaphysical. Marshall and Steed are joined by a writer or fellow podcaster who chooses a favorite film to discuss—topics have included Everything Everywhere All at Once , Newsies , and Jesus Christ Superstar.

16. How Did This Get Made?

In this Earwolf podcast, three popular comedians (Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas) ask the titular question about recent films. Their famous, funny friends, like Nicole Byer, Cameron Esposito, and Joel Kim Booster, stop by to help analyze “classics” like Road House and Fifty Shades of Grey. Let’s just say that these folks don’t talk like they want to keep working in Hollywood.

17. Talk Art

British actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament talk to artists, art fans, and other folks connected to visual art, including big names like Ryan Murphy and Judy Chicago, in hour-long episodes. The unique combination of Tovey’s appreciation for artists of another genre and Diament’s art world experience makes for a winning and educational show.

18. Go Fact Yourself

This hilarious podcast is also a game show that’s recorded live twice a month. Hosts J. Keith Van Strataan and Helen Hong quiz a visiting celebrity (such as Drew Carey) on their self-proclaimed area of expertise (in Carey’s case, the conversation drills down on game shows). In about an hour, you’ll be charmed by the quick wit and erudition. There are some 150 episodes to keep you entertained.

19. If Books Could Kill

Ever wonder if those airport pop-psychology bestsellers are worth your time? Hosts Michael Hobbes ( Maintenance Phase) and Peter Shamshiri ( 5-4 Podcast) are here to tell you that those books are most definitely not. Each episode is a witheringly smart and funny read of such tomes as Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. While their obvious hatred for these books drives the show, Hobbes and Shamshiri’s hilarious, discursive, and digressive banter is what makes the trip fun.

If you like interviews

Listen to conversations about earworms from the 1990s and navigating the world as women of color.

Images courtesy Latina to Latina and 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s

20. Ologies

Tune in to science journalist Alie Ward’s fascinating conversations with various researchers who specialize in the “-ology” of each episode. Lately, they’ve delved into ancient Rome, black holes, and capybaras! She also includes “Smologies” in the feed, which are 15 to 30–minute bite-size shows (compared to the hour-plus full episodes) and a good way for new listeners to dig in.

21. Latina to Latina

Journalist and host Alicia Menendez welcomes Latinas like activist Paula Ávila-Guillén, actor Gina Rodriguez, and former U.N. General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces to talk about life, challenges, and successes while navigating the world as women of color. Latina to Latina ’ s weekly half-hour episodes have been running since April 2018 so there are plenty to choose from.

22. WTF with Marc Maron

Launched all the way back in 2009, this OG podcast remains vital. Comedian Maron’s in-depth interviews with famous guests are funny, compelling, and revealing. The guest list is more diverse these days: Hong Chau, Michelle Yeoh, Lily Gladstone, and Radhika Jones have appeared on the show in recent seasons.

23. 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s

The Ringer staff writer Rob Harvilla wrapped up his exploration into the music that made the 1990s earlier this year. Each episode focused on a classic, like “Whoop! There It Is!” or “Semi-Charmed Life.” (Sorry for the earworms!) Harvilla always included an interview with someone connected to the song, from super-fans who love the artist to music producers who explained why a song is particularly compelling. But the real appeal remains Harvilla’s own heartfelt memories of how these songs shaped him.

Host Cameron Esposito is a comedian and queer activist. In each episode of this now-concluded podcast, they sit down with a fascinating guest to discuss LGBTQ+ issues. From figure skater Adam Rippon to actor/comedian Mae Martin, the guest list is wide-ranging and touches on most aspects of queer identity. Stand-out episodes include a visit from astrologer Chani Nicholas (who discusses Esposito’s birth chart) and drag queen Trixie Mattel (who talks about Provincetown and peeing while dressed in drag). Because the show has finished its run, it feels like a completed body of work.

25. Normal Gossip

Host Kelsey McKinney welcomes a guest to share, discuss, debate, and laugh at a story of utterly banal (and yet somehow deeply juicy) reader-submitted gossip, such as a years-long family contretemps over . . . what to call Grandma? Each episode is equal parts hilarious and confounding and truly leaves no aspect of the gossip undiscussed.

If You’re Traveling With Kids

Among the top podcast for kids are two that place girls firmly at the center, including Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and the Story Seeds Podcast .

Images courtesy Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and Story Seeds

26. WOW in the World

From Tinkercast, and supported by NPR, WOW in the World is an educational kids show cohosted by Guy Raz and author Mindy Thomas. Learn about black holes, supergerms, AI, and more in every episode, which hits the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the day’s theme in a tone best suited for elementary grades.

27. The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

This very long-running series—it launched in 2004 and now has 800 episodes—is like an old-timey radio program crossed with Mystery Science Theater 3000 , then given an educational spin. In every episode, Dr. Floyd tries to foil the villain Dr. Steve . . . and laughs (and learning) happen along the way. The evocation of radio sound effects from another era is particularly delightful. And it’s fun for all ages!

28. Who, When, Wow!

An engaging look at obscure historical stories, hosted by “aspiring time travel detective” Carly Q. Recent episodes dug deep into the mysterious disappearance of bank robber D. B. Cooper and why the pineapple is a symbol of welcome. Episodes run about a half-hour and are perfect for kids ages eight and up. The podcast website provides additional activities, too.

29. A Way with Words

Slang, new words, dialects, grammar, and word games are a few of the topics that journalist Martha Barnette and lexicographer Grant Barrett discuss on their long-running podcast. They answer callers’ questions about words, discuss vocabulary that’s appeared in the news, and ponder linguistic curiosities from around the world. While not specifically designed for children, the pair have created a fun, educational, and family-friendly show.

30. Ear Snacks

Roughly once a month, Andrew and Polly pick a topic (fruit! space!) and write a 30-minute episode around it, including original songs. A recent episode exploring colors, rainbows, and the Holi holiday is a true standout . The New York Times says this is one of the best podcasts for kids, and it’s hard to argue with the guaranteed happy ear worms the duo produces—there’s a reason why they’ve been nominated for Grammys.

31. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

These 20-minute-ish episodes featuring narration about the lives of inspiring women are a good listen for kids ages six and up and for grown-ups, too. It’s a self-described “fairy-tale podcast” that explores famous figures like Frida Kahlo , Harriet Tubman, and Celia Cruz. A recent miniseries called “Growing Up Powerful” teaches wellness through several lenses.

32. Brains On!

American Public Media’s science podcast is for curious kids (and adults). Each episode poses an intriguing question—Do plants sleep? How do hearing aids work? Why do we have friends?—and spends a half-hour or so answering it. The series does a good job of publishing in tune with current events, such as a solar eclipse episode this past April.

If you like true crime

33. think twice.

This 10-episode podcast exploring Michael Jackson’s complicated life and myriad controversies is hosted by journalist Leon Neyfakh and hip-hop commentator Jay Smooth, who work through their own complex feelings about the artist and accused child molester. Managing to be both compassionate and hard-hitting, the series will shake your convictions about Jackson, whatever they may be.

34. Last Seen

After spending their first season exploring the famous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston, the hosts of Last Seen (all Boston Globe or WBUR journalists) have turned their attention to other mysterious local cases. Each episode takes a deep dive into a particular event or person, from a murder in Haitian Boston to the “Jesse James of New England Community Theatre.” No prior knowledge of Boston is required. Just listen.

As concepts for podcasts go, a show in which a hairstylist and an autopsy technician poke around crime and its many related topics is already a winner. Hosts Ash and Alaina are relatives and friends, both obsessed with the, well, morbid. Each episode is a spellbinding mix of goofy humor, genuine creepiness, and assertive knowledge. Check out the recent episode about the death of Steven Robards for proof. Turns out, his teenage daughter killed him. But was it an accident—or murder?

36. Stuff the British Stole

This popular Australian podcast from the CBC has the tagline: “Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff.” From that winning premise, the completed series explains why so many treasures from so many other countries ended up in the British Museum and other sites throughout the United Kingdom. Journalist Marc Fennell digs into stories as varied as the real life of Pocahontas (who was infamously stolen by the British, in a sense, from the then-American colonies) and that of an Ethiopian prince—buried on the grounds of Windsor Castle, after he was kidnapped from his home country—with a delightfully cheeky tone.

37. The Murder in My Family

For a different perspective on true crime, try this powerful show, which focuses on the families of murder victims. In each episode, a family member shares the story of how their loved one’s death has affected them. Their ongoing attempts to understand and accept what has happened makes for riveting listening, and the hour-long episodes allow for a more nuanced view.

38. Ridiculous Crime

For those who prefer true crime without all that murder business, we have a podcast for you. Hosts Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share hour-long episodes of, yes, ridiculous crimes. Con artists, jewelry thieves, and bank robbers all get their hilarious due. Recent episodes unpacked the weird reasons musicians get arrested and the tiger king of Harlem, who raised a tiger (and a few other wild animals) in his fifth-floor New York City apartment.

If you like stories about famous people

39. comments by celebs.

Specializing in people who are famous (and famous for being famous), this podcast thrives on of-the-moment celebrity gossip, with a heavy emphasis on the Kardashians and any breaking news in the world of Taylor Swift. Hosts Emma Diamond and Julie Kramer are experts on these celebs and provide context and even nuance around the doings of the Vanderpumps, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, and many other people whose names you know even if you don’t quite know why.

40. Super Soul

Still miss Oprah on your TV? Well, great news: she’s got a podcast, and it feels pretty perfect to listen to her soulful explorations in audio form. The show is meant to help listeners connect with their inner lives and the world around them. Oprah personally selects episodes from her collection of interviews with celebrities, authors, wellness experts, and world leaders—such as Deepak Chopra and Shirley MacLaine—to help you access your best self.

41. Office Ladies

Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer (who played Angela and Pam, respectively, on the sitcom The Office ) are also real-life BFFs. On this warm, cozy show, they discuss each episode of the series—they’re now on Season 9!—sharing both behind-the-scenes details and thoughtful analysis. Their banter is warm and delightful, making this a fun choice even for folks who never got into the show, and the occasional guest star from the series dials up the fun.

If you’re a history buff

Dive into the archives of the Smithsonian, dig into juicy scandals, and explore historical events with comedians.

Images courtesy Crash Course Black American History and Sidedoor

42. You’re Wrong About

Hindsight is 20/20—and it’s particularly interesting to revisit the events and public figures of the past with a modern perspective. That’s how host Sarah Marshall approaches her podcast , which reconsiders topics like the Terry Schiavo case, Yoko Ono and the Beatles, and an ongoing, discursive exploration of the O.J. Simpson case. Adventurer Blair Braverman is their “survival correspondent,” and in a recent episode, they took a close look at the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed into the Andes—it’s spellbinding listening.

43. Sidedoor

The Smithsonian has more than 157 million artifacts in its collection, and its Sidedoor podcast offers the best possible insider access. Host Lizzie Peabody invites listeners in, speaking with scientists, artists, historians, and others to explore topics like the world’s oldest winery, the life of hip-hop artist J Dilla, and an ingenious machine that harvests algae and converts it to biomass—which could one day power your iPhone. Another plus? It’s family friendly.

44. Slow Burn

Slate’s astoundingly well-researched long-form narrative series has looked at Watergate, the Clinton impeachment, the Biggie-Tupac beef, and the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court hearings. Each season, a different host builds a fascinating, multi-layered look at the topic, bringing in key voices through interviews. No matter what you think you already know about the subject, you’re sure to learn more. Next up? The Briggs Initiative (season nine, launching in May) and the rise of Fox News (season 10, out in late 2024).

45. Crash Course Black American History

Writer Clint Smith hosts this 50-episode podcast, which wrapped at the end of 2022. It provides a nuanced and comprehensive history class on Black America in relatively short (15 minutes long) episodes. Smith starts with the arrival of the first enslaved people to what would become the United States and concludes with the Black Lives Matter movement.

46. The British History Podcast

Setting out on a lengthy road trip? Start at the beginning of this 430-plus-episode (and growing) podcast. Host and writer Jamie Jeffers continues to make his stately, and fascinating, way through British history. He began with the end of the last ice age and recently arrived at Prince Robert’s rebellion against his father, William the Conqueror, in the 11th century. In other words: There are miles to go before the sun sets on the British Empire.

This story originally published in 2018. It was most recently on May 1, 2024, to include current information.

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These are the best podcasts for long road trips

Make your drive better while you listen to these great podcasts.

Depending on who you are, a road trip may be a necessary evil or something you’ve looked forward to for weeks. Whatever your position is on road trips generally, though, we can all agree that every road trip is made better by a high-quality podcast.

The Memory Palace

Sincerely, x, the only one in the room, sawbones: a marital tour of misguided medicine, my brother, my brother and me, the nosleep podcast.

• Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!

Outside Podcast

How i built this, blank check with griffin and david, my favorite murder.

This is not to say you shouldn’t embrace the sounds of the road. Nor should you avoid your fellow passengers or overlook that special quiet you get when you’re driving an empty road during the wee hours. But at some point along the way, you might want a little sonic pick me up. That’s where the road trip podcast really comes in handy — an audio copilot that will keep your brain running while the odometer ticks away.

We’ve made a roundup of the best podcasts  to add to your road trip essentials list, and boy, was there a podcast for everything. So whether you’re a fan of history or horror, you just might find yourself taking the long way to squeeze in a little extra listening time. Whatever you’re into, these are the best podcasts for road trips.

If you want a thorough, even meticulous history-oriented podcast that will, say, take you through the whole of Ancient Rome or the entire tale of the Aztec Empire, then this is not your podcast. If, on the other hand, you want to dive into unexpected places like the dining room at Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello , the life of Shipwreck Kelly , who claimed to have survived multiple ships sinking, or the summer of 1816, the so-called Year Without a Summer due to ash sent into the air by a Pacific volcano, you’re in the right place. Host and producer Nate DiMeo digs into little-discussed but fascinating pockets of history and crafts short vignettes that bring them back to life.

As gripping as it is enlightening, Sincerely, X is a Luminary-exclusive TED podcast that plunges into the hidden stories that surround us. Each week, host Sarah Kay guides listeners through stories that are “too risky, painful, or controversial” to be shared openly, told by the anonymous people who lived them. From the woman who shares the details of her life in and after a cult to the ex-con who used the pain of his prison experience to lend a helping hand to other inmates, the stories shared on Sincerely, X are raw, powerful, and deeply personal in a way that can only be achieved through anonymity. Kay handles the series beautifully, probing deeper into the details of each story without losing the show’s deep sense of respect for its storytellers and their anonymity. The show is currently in its second season, so combine the newest episodes with the show’s 10-episode first season run, and you’ll have plenty of miles worth of listening.

In 2018, Laura Cathcart Robbins attended a popular retreat with hundreds of other writers, only to find herself surprisingly alone when she arrived. As the only Black person at the retreat, Robbins felt unexpectedly isolated, and the experience prompted her to share her story on The Huffington Post . When people from all walks of life responded by sending her their own stories of feeling “othered,” Robbins realized the connections that can be uncovered by daring to share the stories of our loneliest moments. Episodes begin with guests completing the phrase, “I was the only one in the room who …” and delicately settle their way into stories of pain, loneliness, altered perspectives, and self-realization. On its surface, The Only One in the Room is a podcast about feeling excluded, isolated, and “othered.” What it ultimately becomes, however, is an exercise in human empathy and a beautifully aching reminder of the common ground that lies between us all. Once you start an episode, you won’t want to stop, making the show perfect for whiling away long hours on lonely roads.

Radiolab is almost as tough to describe as it is rewarding to listen to. Equal parts science, philosophy, politics, history, and humanity, the show is wide in scope and rich in heart, and one of the best science podcasts out there. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich employ investigative journalism and a warm narrative style to bring you all the scoop on topics that include plant intelligence, driverless cars , medical triage, the U.S. nuclear chain of command, and the history of football. The hosts’ passion for every topic they cover is palpable and infectious. Because of the sheer vastness of the show’s topic pool, you can start pretty much anywhere you like, although truth be told, it only takes a couple of episodes before you find yourself scrolling back to the beginning for complete listening. If you want a driving soundtrack that’s sure to spark conversation and will have you lost in an endless array of worlds you didn’t even know existed, Radiolab is a must-download.

If you’ve ever spent more time than you’d care to admit watching those wild emergency room shows, Sawbones might be right up your alley. While it’s not filled with strange modern-day medical cases, it does take a deep dive into the annals of medical history, which is even weirder and more entertaining. Hosted by Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband, Justin, the show is addictively fascinating and bursting with personality. Every week, Dr. Sydnee lays out the strange and/or unsettling history of a medical procedure, condition, or phenomenon while Justin cracks jokes and pretends to understand science. The couple’s lighthearted ribbing of each other and early medical practitioners (who came up with ideas like drinking plague poo, you know, for science) will have you wishing you could become best friends with them, travel back in time together, and put the show’s patron saint Pliny the Elder on blast. For all its silly overtones, the show is impeccably researched and genuinely educational. Start at the first episode and before you know it, you’ll be a full addict.

Another podcast giving ear-time to hidden stories is Ear Hustle , from Radiotopia. Hosted by visual artist Nigel Poor and former inmate-turned-full-time producer, Earlonne Woods, the podcast explores the realities of daily life in prison and affords inmates in San Quentin the opportunity to share their stories themselves. The show, which is now in its tenth season, has explored everything from lockdown and falling in love behind bars to death row and parenting from prison, all while remaining vigilantly focused on the humanity we too often fail to acknowledge in people who are incarcerated. Ear Hustle is not a rubbernecker’s delight, but rather a poignant, haunting, inspiring, and enlightening view of a world so often ignored by those untouched by it. If you’d like to open your mind out on the open road, this show is beyond worthy of a listen.

Sometimes the only cure for road boredom is childlike euphoria, which is why we’re including MBMBaM on this list. Hosted by your eldest brother Justin McElroy, your middle brother Travis McElroy, and your sweet baby brother Griffin McElroy, the show is a wild ride into the goof-filled minds of three siblings who spend “roughly five-sixths of an hour each week” doling out advice they have absolutely no business giving. The format of the show is simple: They cull questions from the existential dumpster fire that is Yahoo Answers, mix in some listener questions submitted via email, and spend the next 50 or so minutes turning it all into a sweet brew of totally un-actionable advice. The real charm of the show, though, is the wild tangents the three go on as their responses inevitably morph into rants, oversharing, parody songs, and displays of pop-culture-reference one-upmanship. Starting this trip anywhere but the beginning would be a full sin, as the ever-evolving canon of characters, scenarios, and reflections on Scott Bakula are too rich to miss even one precious second of. Past episodes have included such wonders as the three brothers being completely pwned by Al Roker at the premiere of Jimmy Buffet’s musical, “The McElroy Family Fun Hour Brought to You by Totino’s,” and too many Lin-Manual Miranda-related delights to list. The show has over 600 episodes, so buckle in for a long, beautiful journey. You might not get any actual advice from this advice cast, but we promise you’ll be a better person for listening.

Another surefire cure for road boredom is the sheer terror that comes from listening to scary stories on a desolate highway in the middle of the night. The NoSleep Podcast is the perfect elixir of spookiness for anyone for whom horror stories are a guaranteed ticket to sleeplessness. The show is hosted by David Cummings, whose dulcet tones are the only source of comfort in an otherwise unsettling experience. He’s joined by a pool of voice-acting talent that turns every tale into a mini audio-drama, complete with eerie music and atmospheric sound effects. Stories are pulled from the popular subreddit of the same name, along with direct submissions from amateur and seasoned horror writers. While creepiness is a constant theme, subjects range from paranormal events to monsters to tales of stalkers and shadowy figures. The show is currently in its 18th season, so there’s plenty of content to make you regret that choice to drive through the night.

Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!

This weekly pod from radio masters NPR and WBEZ Chicago is a raucous, interactive show that mixes current events news with game-show-style trivia. The show is staged and recorded in front of a live audience and features a rotating panel of commentators and listeners who take on the role of contestants. There are a variety of trivia challenges, including Bluff the Listener (in which contestants listen to three stories and choose which one is fake), Not My Job (in which celebrity guests are quizzed on subjects that are nowhere near their field of professional expertise), and, of course, a final Lightning Round. Woven into the trivia games are genuine (but often hilarious) discussions of the week’s news, along with panel predictions on how news stories will eventually conclude. Panelists and guests range from journalists and authors to comedians and performers, including Drew Carey, Mike Birbiglia, Salmon Rushdie, Madeleine Albright, Neko Case, Hannibal Buress, and so many more. If you’re looking for a car-friendly game to replace worn-out standards like Punch Buggy and I Spy, Wait Wait! is a perfect way to liven up a long haul.

There’s a decent trip that the road trip you’re on is going to lead to some pretty places in the great outdoors. This podcast focuses on as much, dabbling in everything from where your brain goes after many consecutive hours on a ski lift to one person’s journey to visit every National Park in America in a single day. Like the publication it stems from, Outside is entertaining and inspires an even broader appreciation of the natural world. Moreover, if you have the time, it’ll nudge you away from the car for an impromptu hike or a slightly different route to see something new.

The name says it all with this highly listenable podcast. It’s all about the best inventions and how they came to be. From the culinary impetus to redefine and reestablish Native American cuisine to flavored kombucha, it’s all about how things came to be. There are a lot of rags-to-riches tales here, concepts developed in garages or over sleepless nights that are now international brands or big-name retail affairs. Ever wonder how the Leatherman came to be? How about the Discovery Channel? This podcast will explain it all, in colorful detail that will accompany you nicely as you knock out those highway hours.

If you’ve got a movie buff in your car, Blank Check  may be exactly what you need to pass the hours away. For one thing, each episode is long and guaranteed to fill plenty of drive time. Film critic David Sims and actor Griffin Newman host the show together, and they dive deep into the filmographies of directors who have received a “blank check” at some point in their careers, allowing them to make whatever passion project they want. Griffin and David have covered everyone from Steven Spielberg to Christopher Nolan, but the real reason to listen is because of the sincere friendship between them and the many tangents and bits that emerge as a result.

Are you a true crime fan who’s going on a road trip with someone who prefers comedy? Then My Favorite Murder could be the ideal podcast. The podcast, which is described as a true crime comedy podcast, is hosted by Karen Kilgraff and Georgia Hardstack and debuted way back in January 2016 — with over 400 episodes (and counting), there will be no shortage of content for those long road trips. Each episode is centered on one particular murder, true crime story, survivor story, or historical event, with one host sharing the details with humorous commentary from the other host. The podcast has built a rabid fanbase, who call themselves “Murderinos,” and the longer you listen, you may just find yourself becoming a Murderino, too.

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Although it's now only one big player in an even bigger streaming market, Netflix still manages to crank out plenty of stuff to keep its users subscribing. That glut of good movies on Netflix is great if all you want is to never get bored, but it can make it difficult to figure out which things are actually worth your time, and which aren't. If that's your goal, we've got you covered. This list is a combination of great Netflix original movies, and good movies to watch that Netflix is currently housing on its service, and it even includes a few great Netflix action movies. What unites these movies, though, is that they are the very best Netflix movies currently available. If you're looking for films to watch on some of Netflix's competitors, we've also found the best Amazon Prime movies, the best Hulu movies, and the best Disney Plus movies. You can also check out some new Netflix movies at the bottom of this post.

Blackhat (2015)

There was a time when great TV was hard to come by. While not every TV show is great, these days it can sometimes feel like viewers have the opposite problem. There are simply too many shows, and too many streaming services, to choose from. Thankfully, the best shows on Hulu are also among the best shows you can watch anywhere. From new originals to legacy series from decades past, it has tons of shows that will fill the hours of your day. You're probably aware that, while Hulu shows are great, it's far from the only streaming service with plenty of TV to offer. So whether you’re looking for the best Amazon Prime shows, the best Disney Plus shows, or the best Netflix shows, we've got you covered. Below, we'll dig into the best shows on Hulu that you can watch now.

Shōgun (2024)

Now that HBO Max has rebranded as Max, it's the right time to get acquainted with all of the great movies to watch on the streaming service. In addition to large portions of the Warner Bros. catalog, it also has tons of seminal, classic films, as well as plenty of foreign releases. Because the catalog is so big and rich, there are about 250 titles that could go on this list. There's a wealth of options to choose from whether you're into action movies or comedies, and you shouldn't feel limited by the selection below. Instead, you should treat it as a jumping-off point of HBO Max movies, one that will hopefully allow you to explore many of the titles that didn't quite make the cut. Max has great movies in every genre and from every period of film history. This is just a sampling of the best movies on Max. And if you're looking for more Max content, we've rounded up the best shows on Max to watch right now.

The Dark Knight (2008)

When you've got a long drive ahead of you, music isn't always enough. Podcasts are a road trip's best friend, and for good reason: a really well-done podcast can distract you for hours on end, keeping you engaged and simultaneously allowing you to drive safely for hundreds of miles. The only challenge, then, is finding enough quality podcast content so that you don't run out before you finish the drive.

The trick to most great podcasts is a compelling premise. Whether it's debunking theories around an unsolved murder, or exploring what goes on behind closed doors in another relationship, a good podcast helps you get closer to answering a question you've always wondered  — or maybe one that's never even occurred to you to begin with.

It can also help to have some variation with your listening content. If you enjoy true crime, you might want to add a helping of cultural analysis to your plate, or perhaps add some fiction to the docket as well. The more varied your podcast arsenal is, the more entertained you're guaranteed to be. You might enjoy yourself so much that you end up driving past your destination, just to get to the end of an episode. Crazier things have happened, after all — and you'll know this for certain once you get into some of these road trip-friendly podcasts.

1 The Dropout

The Dropout is a six-episode podcast about the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of medical technology company Theranos who now faces criminal charges for allegedly lying about the capacities of the company's health care technology. The podcast is the result of a three-year investigation by ABC News, and tracks Holmes' growth from early childhood to her years at Stanford to the stratospheric rise and downfall of Theranos. And yes, it also addresses all that controversy about Holmes' voice, too.

2 Gay Future

Gay Future asks you to consider a specific premise in the very first episode:

The year is 2062 and everyone is gay. A totalitarian government rules over what's left of North America to spread its insidious gay agenda. Humanity's only hope for a rebellion rests on the shoulders of a precocious teenage boy who harbors a dark secret: He's straight.

The self-proclaimed narrative sci-fi comedy series is fiction, but it'll pull you in so quickly that you might start to forget what's real and what's imagined. Throughout the six-episode first season, you'll travel along with characters in search of the Lost City of Straight, making intrepid trips through places like the Chloe Sevigny forest and more. And if you're not convinced yet, consider this: The podcast claims to be an adaptation of a "recently discovered, never released YA novel by Mike Pence."

1619 is an audio series by The New York Times that commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of a slave ship to America. The five-part series is at once wide-reaching and specific, deploying first-person and familial stories to depict the history and legacy of slavery in America. From the "birth of American music" to the longstanding, embedded racism in American medical institutions, this podcast serves as a groundbreaking education on the history of race in America.

4 Bear Brook

Bear Brook is a "podcast about a cold case that's changing how murders will be investigated forever." Specifically, the podcast unpacks the famous Bear Brook murders, also known as the Allenstown Four, in which two female bodies were found at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire, in 1985, and another two female bodies were found in 2000, though all four women are believed to have died around 1980. Fans of true crime will definitely find a home with this story — and for those who finish and want more, they can listen to Stranglehold , a podcast made by the producers of Bear Brook about the true stories behind the New Hampshire Primary.

5 Julie: The Unwinding Of The Miracle

What does it feel like to die? This podcast answers that question. Told from the perspective of the late Julie Yip-Williams as a companion to her posthumously released memoir, The Unwinding of the Miracle , this podcast gives readers an insight into the conversations, emotions, fears, and more that took place while Yip-Williams "watched herself die from Stage IV colon cancer."

For those who are a little afraid of such heavy subject matter, you might want to scroll through the reviews for the podcast before you opt out. One reviewer called the series "brilliant, funny, [and profound]," explaining, "[The podcast is] more inspiring than sad: how a creative mind documented and approached this challenge and left us all a gift."

Most podcast aficionados have, at the very least, heard of Serial , and just as many have likely argued about the subject of the first season for the podcast . But what others might not know is that there are two additional seasons after the one that tackled the case of Adnan Syed, and each of them are every bit as engrossing as the first.

Season 2 of Serial covers the story of Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who was captured by a Taliban group after he deserted his post in 2009. Season 3 of the show takes a different narrative approach, eschewing one long story for many: It covers the "extraordinary stories of ordinary [courthouse] cases," all from one court in Ohio. All three seasons are narrated by Sarah Koenig.

7 In The Dark

The first season of In the Dark chronicles the 1989 abduction and murder of a child named Jacob Wetterling in Minnesota, which would soon become one of the "most notorious child abductions in the country." The second season of the podcast covers a different aspect of apparent criminal injustice: It tells the story of Curtis Flowers, a man on death row who has "maintained his innocence" for 20 years, won "appeal after appeal, but every time, the prosecutor just tries the case again." The show asks, "Why does the justice system ignore the prosecutor's record and keep Flowers on death row?" You'll have to listen to learn the answer.

8 Last Seen

Last Seen explores the mystery behind the largest unsolved art heist in human history. The 1990 disappearance of 13 pieces of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston has still never been solved, but that doesn't make this story any less juicy to absorb. Like all good crime podcasts, you'll be given multiple theories and suspects to keep you entertained for hours.

9 Where Should We Begin?

If you like listening to couples argue (or make up) at the table next to you at your local coffee shop, then Where Should We Begin? is the podcast for you. Narrated by world-renowned couples therapist Esther Perel, the three-season podcast offers up dozens of different real-life relationships for you to dissect, with each episode featuring a new couple who attend a recorded therapy session with Perel.

10 Happy Face

Ever wondered how the family members of famous criminals feel about that criminal activity? Wonder no longer. Happy Face chronicles the many crimes of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, as analyzed by his own daughter, Melissa Moore.

In addition to breaking down the details around Jesperson's murders and behavior, Moore takes the reader along a more internal journey, too, by asking a central question: "When you look like your father, and you share his intelligence and charisma, how do you know you’re not a psychopath, too?"

11 Moonface

Moonface is a fictional podcast about a gay Korean American man who wants to come out to his mother but can't because they don't speak the same language. The debut season of the podcast was widely considered one of the best new podcasts of 2019, and is described by Vulture as the "kind of podcast that stays with you."

12 Sincerely, X

Sincerely, X is a podcast that features anonymous TED Talks — i.e., talks about ideas that "can't be shared in the open," which often include stories that are "too risky, painful, or controversial" for an open stage. The podcast describes its own content as "stories that deserve to be heard, from people who deserve to be hidden." Talk about enticing.

13 The Only One In The Room

The Only One in the Room was inspired by a singular moment: host Laura Cathcart Robbins attended a famous writer's retreat and realized she was the only black woman in the room. This experience led to an article in HuffPost, which led to an outpouring of messages to Robbins from people who had shared similar experiences. This podcast explores those experiences, as shared by "people from all races, ethnicities, creeds, and nationalities who had felt 'othered.'"

14 The No Sleep Podcast

The No Sleep Podcast is a horror fiction anthology series of stories so scary they'll keep you wide awake, even on the 13th hour of your road trip in the middle of the night. Even better, the famous podcast has racked up a whopping 13 seasons, each of which have 25 episodes. All the better to scare you with.

15 My Favorite Murder

My Favorite Murder is kind of like Serial in that it's slowly garnered a cult-like following of support. The show bills itself as a "true crime comedy podcast," in which hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark dissect a new murder mystery, crime, or similar topic each week. The difference between this show and every other true crime podcast you've listened to is one single factor: humor. The whole purpose of the podcast is how these hosts approach a true crime analysis with a complete sense of humor, making each story exponentially more interesting along the way.

16 Homecoming

Homecoming is a fiction podcast about a caseworker at an experimental facility. The show features a number of famous voices, including Oscar Isaac and David Schwimmer, and was so successful that it generated a television series of the same name on Amazon Prime, which premiered in November 2018, helmed by Julia Roberts.

The best part about podcasts is they're the gift that keeps on giving; even after you're done listening to a really good one, you get the benefit of hours of conversation with friends and family, not to mention a few friendly arguments. So the next time you get into the car for a long haul, you can plug in your phone, turn up the volume, and buckle up for one fantastic ride after another.

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The 16 Best Podcasts for Road Trips

Posted by Arthur McMahon September 18, 2020 Updated September 15, 2021

Podcasts are a great way to stave off the boredom of the open road.

Let’s be honest. Road trips can be chock full of beautiful views, tasty food, and interesting roadside attractions, but they don’t often have a thing worth listening to — spouse and children aside, of course.

You need something to tickle your eardrums while you’re out there crushing highway miles en route to your far off destination. Hunting for radio stations can be tedious, and the aging playlist of your favorite songs from high school can only last you for so long. It’s time to add some fresh audio to your road trip rotation.

Best Road Trip Podcasts

Listening to podcasts can help to keep you alert and attentive while driving — and maybe even boost morale during a long road trip too. The best podcasts for road trips will keep you entertained for hours while you let multiple episodes play through without pause.

1. The Best Road Trip Podcast Overall: Outside Podcast

What we dig: Outside Podcast is a fascinating mix of adventure-focused material that will hold your interest for hours on end.

Combining an outdoorsy theme with high production values and well-developed content from multiple non-fiction genres, Outside Podcast has solidified its standing as our favorite podcast for long road trips. It’s the best show out there for those stricken with wanderlust.

The mission of Outside Podcast is to “entertain, inspire, and inform” its listeners. Its production style is reminiscent of the highly-praised public radio podcasts This American Life and Radiolab, but with adventurous and sporty topics directing the flow of each episode.

The show has four different ongoing programs that serve to mix up the content. It all started years ago with the Science of Survival, a captivating study of what it takes to be self-reliant in extreme circumstances.

Since that initial run, the podcast has branched out with several other popular programs including The Outside Interview, in which Outside Editor Christopher Keyes interviews big names in sports and adventure, Dispatch, which focuses on newsworthy storytelling, and Sweat Science, which dissects the world of extreme athletes.

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2. The Best Story-Driven Road Trip Podcast: Serial

What we dig: Each season contains a gripping narrative from end to end.

You’ve likely heard of Serial , and you may have already listened to it. This is arguably the podcast that brought podcasts into the mainstream media. Each season of the show has an engrossing narrative that’ll have you on the edge of your seat throughout each and every episode.

The first season aired in 2014. Its 12 episodes are each about 30 to 60 minutes in length. The story is broken down into digestible segments and each one provides more questions than it does answers, leaving you wanting more as the show’s iconic piano tune signifies the end of each episode.

What’s great about this show is that each season provides a provocative story that can be totally consumed throughout the course of a long road trip. The following two seasons focus on different stories, but they’re produced in the same easy-to-consume fashion.

If you haven’t listened to Serial before, now is your chance to dive into the story that turned the world onto podcasts. And if you have listened before, you know it’s worth another go, especially if you’re road tripping with a friend who has never heard it before.

Those who crave even more Serial will be happy to hear that HBO put together the docu-series The Case Against Adnan Syed to recap the popular podcast’s first season and provide a follow-up to the story.

3. The Best Road Trip Podcast for Outdoor Enthusiasts: America’s National Park Podcast

What we dig: Each episode is jam-packed with the history, stories, and people of the National Parks.

Consider America’s National Park Podcast to be your personal tour guide to the national parks. The couple who run the show weave area history with entertaining stories, politics, visitor and employee opinions, fun facts, and their own experiences in the national parks to create well-rounded overviews of each park.

In fact, this podcast is as informative taking a guided hike with a park ranger. Timely context helps to build a narrative around each park’s history. The juxtaposition of past versus present shows how both politics and nature have shaped each park over the years.

The contemporary stories and opinions provided by park rangers, visitor center staff, and vacationers offer different perspectives, not all of which are positive, about the current status of the national parks.

While this show mostly focuses on providing entertainment and insight for its listeners, many episodes contain logistical information as well. You’ll still want to plan further before you visit a featured park on the show, but you’ll get a good introductory taste of the park’s highlights.

The podcast is managed by the RV Miles Network, and so RV camping is another aspect that is briefly discussed about the parks. The hosts tend to provide useful tips and tricks relative to National Park campgrounds and the nearby amenities.

4. The Best Comedy Road Trip Podcast: My Brother, My Brother, and Me

What we dig: Laugh out loud commentary and advice doled out by three cockamamie brothers.

Each week the three McElroy brothers of My Brother, My Brother, and Me respond to listener questions or the perplexing queries found deep in the trenches of Yahoo! Answers. The chemistry between these brothers is outlandish and outstanding. A simple question can lead them down a spiraling abyss of hilarity.

This podcast is a lot like listening to your best friends banter about stupid stuff. The conversation rarely turns serious, or intelligent, but it is always a riot.

The show has won multiple awards for its comedy, and it even spawned a short-lived television series starring the trio. They often venture into adult themes and spout crude language, so you may want to reserve this podcast for when the kids aren’t around.

The question-and-answer format repeats every episode, but there are a dozen or so recurring segments that break up the monotony and change up the rhythm of each episode. If you need a giggle to help get you through those long hours on the road, this is the show for you.

5. The Best Road Trip Podcast for Kids: Sesame Street with Foley & Friends

What we dig: It’s a Sesame Street podcast! Young tykes will love it.

This podcast has not been released yet as of the date of this article’s publication, but from the samples we’ve listened to, Sesame Street with Foley & Friends is going to be a top choice podcast for parents with young children.

The show stars a new muppet named Foley, who is most interested in making weird sounds, and her sidekick Mikee the Microphone. Every one of the 15-minute episodes will focus on an educational theme, such as the alphabet or animal noises.

Though the host is new to Sesame Street, famous guest stars like Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird will make regular appearances. Recurring segments like Elmo’s Joke of the Day and original songs will mirror the appeal of the venerable children’s television show.

Podcasts for children is a burgeoning genre, and Sesame Street is sure to be a forerunner of even greater programs to come. It’s hard to beat the reliability of Sesame Street’s educational programming, though, and we think adults will have fun singing along and mimicking Foley’s weird sounds as well.

The Best of the Rest

Though these podcasts didn’t grab a “best of” label from us, they’re still binge-worthy shows that deserve a listen. Load up your playlist so that you never run short of episodes to listen to.

6. Dirtbag Diaries

Dirtbag Diaries started out as a modest outdoor storytelling podcast by a young writer over 12 years ago. Since then, the show has evolved into a conglomeration of outdoor enthusiasts from all ilks sharing their stories of the trail, the slopes, the open sea, and wherever else their wanderings have taken them.

Each episode delves into a grand story, or a series of short stories, that span the range of human emotion and endurance. This show will inspire you, hit you with humor when you least expect it, and showcase both the struggles and triumphs of intrepid explorers from around the globe.

7. Freakonomics Radio

Freakanomics Radio is an ancient program in the podcasting world. There are hundreds of episodes in its archive, all of which dissect the socioeconomic issues of our modern world.

The show’s tagline “Discover the hidden side of everything…” does well to explain what the show is all about, because its broadness makes it difficult to define. You’ll learn lots of interesting things about topics you’ve never even thought about. It’s a great show for building up your trivia bank, and it will lead to some interesting conversations with your car mates.

8. Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy

Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate podcast for us fiction-loving nerds. The show is sponsored by WIRED Magazine, hosted by fiction author David Barr Kirtley, and produced by John Joseph Adams of Lightspeed Magazine.

Topics range from video game-inspired cartoons to epic fantasy films to science fiction conventions. The episodes range from one to several hours in length, making this a great show for long stretches of highway cruising. Panel guests frequent the show, including notable sci-fi and fantasy legends like Neil Gaimen, Wil Wheaton, and N. K. Jemisin.

9. Philosophize This!

The be all end all of philosophy podcasts, Philosophize This! breaks down philosophers and their ideas to their building blocks. Host Stephen West does well to whittle down grandiose concepts into laymen’s terms so that we all can understand what the world’s greatest thinkers were trying to get at.

Each episode, starting with the very first, follows the evolution of philosophy chronologically, making it exceptionally friendly to beginners in the field who wish to start from its genesis. As the episodes progress, so do the depth of the ideas. It’s a remarkable journey.

To keep it brief, S-Town is an investigative journalism piece in the same style and format as Serial. It was created by the producers of Serial and This American Life.

Fans of Serial will absolutely become fans of S-Town. The setting is ominous, the characters are quirky, and the story is exciting. Host Brian Reed lets the drama of the tale hold its own as his matter-of-fact way of speaking, and interviewing, unveils the truth hidden between the words.

11. Stuff You Should Know

In each episode of Stuff You Should Know , the offbeat hosting duo digs deep into a specific topic and reveal the answers to just about every question an average person would wish to know about the subject. You can browse through the hundreds of episodes for the topics that interest you or listen to them all to learn something completely new to you.

The show works well for those who want a show they can intently listen to, and for those who want some background noise that doesn’t require their full attention.

12. The Habitat

The Habitat is a seven-episode docu-series that follows the lives of six well-qualified volunteers who are left to their own devices in a faux Mars-like habitat on a remote mountain in Hawaii. If you’ve ever wondered how people would cope in an off-world biodome, this podcast explores that fantasy in reality.

Humans are humans, even when they’re pretending to be on another planet. The relationships between the individuals are the most compelling part of this experiment. Frustration, love, and toilet troubles are all recurring themes.

13. The Moth Podcast

Highlighting storytellers from all walks of life and from all over the world, The Moth Podcast is a menagerie of tales both bright and dark. These are the real tales of real people, told live without scripts.

This series debuted live in 2009 as The Moth Radio Hour, putting storytellers on stage to speak their raw, unedited truths. It has since won a Peabody Award and is now broadcasted on over 500 radio stations. The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts from and will provide untold hours of entertainment.

14. The No Sleep Podcast

A grassroots podcast built from a small community of horror fiction writers on Reddit, The No Sleep Podcas t is an anthology of all things that go bump in the night. Each episode features one or several hair-raising tales that can serve as the perfect road trip pre-game to your campfire stories.

Most of the stories feature a terrifying realism that pulls you into their prose. Eerie music and sound effects add to the podcast’s spooky atmosphere.

15. This American Life

The content of This American Life varies from episode to episode. Non-fiction stories are overwhelmingly featured, though short fiction does make it on to the show every so often. A mix of writers and storytellers present a thematic tale, or series of tales, each episode.

These stories are presented through investigative journalism, memoirs, found footage, and all sorts of other mediums that mix up the pacing to keep listeners interested. The stories feel unfiltered and factual, giving the show credence since its inception as a radio show in the mid-1990s.

16. Wild Thing

Wild Thing is a podcast about “wild places, wild people, and wild ideas” featuring campy topics like Bigfoot, extraterrestrials, and other mysteries that science has left unexplained. The show explores the relationship between science, fiction, and society, and it goes deeper than you would expect.

One reviewer on Stitcher summed up this podcast with a simple question — “What if Serial went hunting for Sasquatch?” This podcast mixes investigative journalism with a bit of imagination. It’s sure to scratch an itch for those who love mystery, folklore, and superstition.

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Posted by Arthur McMahon

Arthur loves to walk. It’s as simple as that. Whether it be in the mountains, on the beach, or along the city streets — he believes walking is the best way to experience the world. Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was his first backpacking foray, and he hasn’t stopped crushing miles since. Arthur and his wife now regularly travel into the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest seeking new trails to hike.

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• Entertainment

10 Transportive Podcasts to Listen to During Your Next Road Trip

W hether it’s a gripping true-crime story or an extended interview with your favorite celebrity, podcasts make an excellent travel companion on long car trips. But podcasts can also help you learn about the places you’re going—or maybe the places that are still on your list to visit.

Here are 10 podcasts that provide a deeper understanding of regional American culture, from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South. Add one or more to the playlist for your next road trip to immerse yourself in the stories of the places that are flashing by your car window.

The Dirtbag Diaries

This is Patagonia’s podcast about the outdoors, particularly the Mountain West. The show is filled with stories of adventure on mountains, rivers, and more. While some outdoor lifestyle shows geek out about gear and technique, The Dirtbag Diaries keeps the focus on the humans at the center of each story. Nature is a character, but not the star of the show. The focus remains on people and how nature changes our relationships with each other, which makes each episode even more compelling.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

The Bitter Southerner

The podcast from The Bitter Southerner magazine, in collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting, explores what it means to live in the South in all its complexity. It takes a fresh look at some of the region’s well-known tropes, from southern accents to J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy to food like okra. There’s an episode on Waffle House that sticks with me a couple years after I originally heard it in early 2020. After you listen, I guarantee you won’t think about the iconic chain the same way again.

Read More: The 10 Best Podcasts of 2021

Peak Northwest

This show from The Oregonian is the most straightforward travel show on the list. Each episode explores something different to do in Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest. It’s a must-listen if you’re traveling to that part of the country. Learn about overlooked state parks, where to go crabbing on the Oregon coast, and Portland’s dining scene. Even people who live in this region can uncover something new from hosts Jamie Hale and Jim Ryan, as well as the experts they interview.

Black in Appalachia

The Appalachian region technically consists of 13 states from New York to Mississippi and has received a ton of media coverage since the 2016 presidential election. Stories typically focus on white, working-class people and ignore the experiences of Black people living in those places. The Black in Appalachia podcast changes that by centering Black voices and breaking apart cultural and historical stereotypes. Episodes explore the myth of John Henry and the history of Black music from freed and escaped slaves in the region.

New Jersey Is the World

If you ever wanted to put New Jersey into a podcast, this is it. Unlike some of the other shows on this list, New Jersey Is the World is not filled with rich sound design or engaging narrative storytelling. Rather, comedian Chris Gethard hosts conversations about what makes the Garden State so great. He leans into the state’s stereotypes and isn’t afraid to talk about things that need to change. Whether you already love New Jersey like Gethard does or are just N.J.-curious, there’s something for you here.

Driving the Green Book

Traveling in the United States has not always been easy, particularly for people of color. This podcast traces the route that Black Americans traveled from Detroit to New Orleans when they were on tour in the Jim Crow era. The Green Book is the handbook of Black-friendly businesses and other safe havens along the route. The show includes an Apple Maps component so you can follow along the route and see what’s become of the locations in The Green Book today.

Threshold is the perfect show to get lost in on a long stretch of highway. Rather than focusing on one region, it covers our relationship to nature in an immersive way. Each episode is filled with natural sound and rich storytelling. The show’s third season, which won a Peabody Award in 2021, features reporting from Kaktovik, Alaska, the only town in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a place at the center of the controversy over drilling for oil there.

Read More: The 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now

Dolly Parton’s America

This show received lots of buzz when it debuted in 2019, and with good reason. It’s a story about Tennessee, but also about American culture more broadly and Dolly Parton’s place within it . Travel inside what the creators call the “Dollyverse”—the world that Parton created and the one she and her fans inhabit. It’s complicated and far from perfect, but the idea of Dolly as a uniting figure is worth exploring as you traverse parts of the country that might be different from where you live.

Makers of the USA

One of the best things about traveling is finding the off-the-beaten-path places that make something unique that you can take home as a souvenir—and that will give you a story you’ll tell for years to come. The podcast Makers in the USA puts a spotlight on artists and artisans from Maine to Maryland. Learn about how they started their businesses and how they connect with their communities. Episodes cover everything from candles to gourd banjos to razors and also discuss how these creators survive in an ever-changing economy and grow their businesses while maintaining artisan craftsmanship.

Welcome to LA

No list of travel shows would be complete without mentioning the Golden State. Many people find themselves in California, and Los Angeles specifically, because they see it as a beacon of the American Dream. As you might expect, things are not that simple. Award-winning journalist David Weinberg highlights the complexities in this series from public radio station KCRW. One particularly moving episode chronicles what happens on Friday nights across the city, both before and after the early days of COVID-19.

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The 15 best road trip podcasts

You’re racking up some big miles, you’re done with the radio – here are the best podcasts for a big road trip

What is a quintessential road trip podcast? To be honest, there’s no real answer: the best podcast for a road trip is whatever you feel like listening to on your road trip. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of inspiration, and as a rule, you’re probably after something fun and light rather than difficult and challenging. So that’s what we’ve gone for here, a mix of upbeat music podcasts, gripping stories, big old belly laughs and fascinating trivia. All of them should at the very least keep your mind stimulated and your eyes open as you’re racking up the miles. Safe travels, and keep on podcastin’!

RECOMMENDED: 🎧  The best podcasts to listen to right now 🎶 The best podcasts on Spotify 🔪  The best true crime podcasts 😂  The best comedy podcasts 🏃  The best motivational podcasts ✊  The best political podcasts

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best road trip podcasts, ranked

Desert island discs.

Okay, the word ‘podcast’ had emphatically not been invented when ‘Desert Island Discs’ launched. Or, indeed, 50 years later. Running since 1942, the BBC’s iconic long-runner features a guest chatting about their life while choosing eight songs that mean something to them, plus the luxury item they’d take if stranded on a hypothetical desert island. It is a simple formula made a winner by the show’s brilliant hosts over the years, and the exceptional calibre of guests, who run the gamut from interesting business figures to huge celebrities. Savvily, the episodes are made available on Apple and Spotify as de facto podcasts, with many classic editions from the vaults nestling up to the new ones. Mixing interesting names with big tunes and a vast archive, there’ll be something fun for your road trip guaranteed here.

Renegades: Born in the USA

Nothing says ‘drivetime’ like Bruce Springsteen. Probably you’ve cranked out ‘Born to Run’ five times already on your road trip. But if you’re going for a more contemplative vibe, you can still enjoy The Boss via this luxury limited-edition podcast that sees him in conversation with the even more famous Barack Obama. ‘Renegades’ is a series of musings on life, the universe and the American Dream, with lashings of music chat inevitably in the mix. Yes, it’s liberal elite babyboomerism writ large. But it’s bloody classy.

A Very Fatal Murder

Sometimes a laugh is all you need to pass the miles away: this deathlessly funny parody of true crime podcasts from The Onion is, straight up, a hoot. It follows David Pascall, a New York City reporter who uses an algorithm to determine which small town he should head to to find a hot dead girl he can make a lengthy podcast series about. It only ran for one series, but ‘A Very Fatal Murder’ is a pin-sharp parody of ‘Serial’ et al that should enliven even the most tedious journey, regardless of whether you personally are into true crime.

Song Exploder

Nothing says ‘road trip’ like blasting a few tunes, but technically that’s a radio show, not a podcast. However, there are lots of great podcasts *about* music, one of the foremost of which is ‘Song Exploder’. Hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway, it’s a deceptively simple concept: for each edition, an artist talks us through the creative process behind one of their songs and… that’s it. Insightful and varied, with a good mix of legacy greatest hits and contemporary songs from cutting edge artists, the 20-minute-episodes are long enough to feel like you’ve learned something, but short enough to feel like you’re flipping between songs. It’s as much about learning to appreciate something new as geeking over a classic.

No Such Thing as a Fish

If keeping the brain teased and stimulated is your goal on a lengthy trip, look no further than ‘No Such Thing As a Fish’, the weekly podcast from the ‘QI Elves’ (aka the researchers for the long-running trivia-based UK game show ‘QI’). Essentially each edition features the rotating cast of presenters - usually four per show - going to bat for their favourite fact that they’ve unearthed that week. The results are inevitably gloriously outlandish, amusingly useless, and utterly fascinating.

You don’t want road trip podcasts to be overly challenging. SmartLess may not be dumb, but it’s the podcast equivalent of a big glossy summer blockbuster, as A-lister hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnott entertainingly shoot the breeze with their A-lister guests. There is a nominal conceit based on the fact that until the show starts the identity of the week’s guest is unknown to two of the three hosts. But that’s not really something you need to get hung up on. The appeal is the massive guests - pretty much as big as it gets - plus the undeniable easy, breezy, multimillion-dollar charm of the hosts.

The Trojan Horse Affair

If you want something a bit more nitty and gritty to dig into on a long journey, why not hook yourself up to the big zeitgeisty podcast of the year. From the makers of ‘Serial’, ‘The Trojan Horse Affair’ is a very deep dive into the titular British scandal, wherein an anonymous letter was sent to a Birmingham city councillor regarding a supposed plot by Islamic extremists to take over the city’s schools, leading to an Islamophobic scare and various toughenings of the law. But an in-depth investigation from reporters Hamza Syad and Brian Reed suggests a thoroughly dubious story behind the letter and the reforms carried out in its name.

The Lovecraft Investigations

Engrossing, accessible, funny and terrifying, Julian Simpson’s brilliant BBC trilogy of HP Lovecraft adaptations - that’s ‘The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward’, ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’ and ‘The Shadow Over Innsmouth’ - are binge-listing heaven. Rather than straight adaptations of Lovecraft’s early-twentieth-century cosmic horror stories, they’re modernised as a series of faux true-crime podcasts called ‘Mystery Machine’, in which intrepid hosts Matthew Heawood and Kennedy Fischer investigate a series of unusual cold cases that bring them into contact with beings beyond the scope of human comprehension.

Dolly Parton’s America

In this divided era, you’d still seriously struggle to find anybody who doesn’t think Dolly Parton is a living saint. And if you like the country music queen without being entirely sure of her story, this delightful podcast series tells you at length. It’s presented by Jad Abumrad, a US radio host who found out his father is a passing acquaintance of Parton’s and successfully parlayed it into getting access to the country music legend for an affable and energetic series that delves into everything from the enduring power of the song ‘Jolene’ to the delights of her Dollywood theme park.

Things I Got Wrong at Trivia

Billing itself as ‘a pub quiz with friends’, ‘Things I Got Wrong at Trivia’ is a smart but slick trivia-based quiz show in which a posse of question-setting pals attempt to challenge each other - and by extension, us - with a series of tricky but never boring questions. Crafted with love, there are only a couple made a month, but they’re always top quality and feature a host of thoughtful cultural recommendations alongside the quizzing fun.

Another easy, breezy podcast, ‘Newcomers’ basically sees loud, loquacious hosts Lauren Lapkus and Nicole Boyer delve into some film series or other pop-cultural monolith that they’ve allegedly never seen before and do a deep dive with the aid of an expert guest who acts as their guide. Presented in lengthy themed ‘series’ - eg ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Fast and the Furious’ and in 2022, the MCU - the odds are that you the listener are already reasonably acquainted with whatever’s being discussed. that is a large part of the fun, as is Lapkus and Boyer’s game willing to go really deep - their ‘LOTR’ adventures included listening to the 1978 radio version, and even trying their hands at Dungeons & Dragons.

Another really meaty drama in podcast form, ‘Homecoming’ is a serial thriller that features a proper celebrity cast headed by Catherine Keener, Oscar Isaac and David Schwimmer. The short, punchy, expensively wrought episodes follow the story of Keener’s Heidi, a caseworker from an experimental facility treating psychologically damaged combat veterans, including Isaac’s Walther Cruz. ‘Homecoming’ is some years old now and begat a TV series of the same name with an even starrier cast. That probably outstayed its welcome: the OG ‘Homecoming’ is white knuckle perfection.

Ask Us Anything

Another fun trivia podcast, this time from the American magazine Popular Science, the USP here is that rather than the more traditional format of nerds bringing in their own obscure duelling factoids to the table, here listeners pose questions that host Claire Maldarelli and producer Jess Boddy must answer. It’s a simple idea, but thanks to the thoughtfulness, thoroughness and - naturally - good humour brought to bear, even the weirdest enquires yield rewarding answers. Did food taste better 50 years ago? What does space smell like? Find out here!

This murder mystery podcast has its origins on Snapchat of all places, where the interactive features of the multimedia messaging app allowed followers to take a stab at solving dozens of imagined murder mysteries. Clearly, you can’t do that with a podcast, but the excellent season one of ‘Solve’ (the podcast) featured a different murder each week, with a clue-laden first section followed by a break for listeners to try and figures out who they think did it - perfect for a bit of back and forth with your travel companions on a long journey.

Questlove Supreme

Drummer for The Roots and all-around genial dude Questlove has a delightful music-based podcast, perfect for whiling away the miles. The format of what Questlove describes as ‘a Black, nerd version of NPR’ is pretty simple: he chats –geekily, but entertainingly – with some big musical icon or other about their life and times. What makes it really stand out is the intensive research he does – he reckons he listens to about 200 songs per episode – and the accompanying, integrated mixtape is what really elevates the show. It’s very much based on Questlove’s hip-hop and soul-based musical tastes, but while it’s maybe not going to be a destination for, say, metal fanatics, it’s a very classy listen.

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The Best Podcasts to Fill Road Trips and Long Flights

No matter your circumstances, downloading a good podcast before setting out for a road trip should be as routine as checking the pressure on your tires. After all, we are in the Golden Age of podcasting, which means there is a bounty of shows to help you pass the time when you're on the open road—whether you’re headed cross-country to Las Vegas or Dollywood and it’s salacious entertainment talk that you seek, or bound for a family get together a state or two away and need a friendly voice to supplement your road trip companion. Here, a few shows to get you started, including deep dives on juicy gossip, laugh-out-loud cultural takes, and memorable interviews with A-listers.

I’ve been a Toaster for over five years and still can’t get enough. There’s a new episode every Monday through Friday, so it’s the perfect light-hearted companion for my hour-long commute to work, daily outdoor walks, and road trips. It’s hosted by sisters Claudia Oshry (better known on Instagram as Girl With No Job) and Jackie Oshry, and together they deliver the Fast Five: the top five stories of the day, breaking down everything you need to know from pop culture to business news to McDonald’s newest McFlurry flavor. The Oshry sisters are smart, hilarious, and have a unique jive that’s unlike any other podcast I’ve binged. — Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor  

Normal Gossip

It's a beautiful thing to become privy to gossip with which you have nothing to do: Who sent something intended for one pair of eyes only to a Disney World group chat ? Who pretended to be poor when, really, they were rich ? What did you hear through the thin walls of your miserable apartment ? On Normal Gossip, host Kelsey McKinney invites a guest to discuss juicy gossip submitted by listeners. It's completely anonymous and completely fun, with an archive of 40 hour-long episodes plus new ones dropping weekly making this perfect for a cross-country binge. — Charlie Hobbs, editorial assistant

How I Built This There’s no better kick in the pants than binging on the success stories of the entrepreneurs featured in this beloved podcast. Host Guy Raz is a delightful interviewer and his Q&As are both inspiring and humanizing—a good reminder that even billionaires like  Airbnb’s Joe Gebbia or  James Dyson , of vacuum cleaner fame, put their pants on one leg at a time. Most episodes follow a rollercoaster arc that rises, falls, and rises again on the ingenuity and problem-solving skills of its star businesspeople. The biggest takeaway, of course, is a nugget we could all stand to remember: If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. —Ashlea Halpern, contributor

For proper storytelling

Last summer I had a nine-hour drive home from the Ontario lakes to New York City with my sister and her fiancé. We wanted to burn through the journey with an engaging, narrative podcast that would fill the time, and went searching for something vaguely about “Canada.” Wild Boys delivered, and we were captivated for at least seven consecutive hours. Let me give you a preview, from the podcast’s own description: “Two strange brothers, Will and Tom Green, blow into a small Canadian town, telling an unbelievable story about their upbringing. The community, led by a hockey Mom named Tami, rallies to help them. But the boys have a secret.” I mean, hit play already! — Megan Spurrell, senior editor

A not-so-great Netflix show about  The Watcher house in New Jersey got me into this (much-better) podcast last year, around the time when my partner and I started looking to buy property of our own in a historic part of Boston. It’s equal parts HGTV and true-crime stories, and tackles some of my longtime favorite legends, from the Conjuring witch house in Burrillville, Rhode Island, to the Mercer-Williams House murder in Savannah , Georgia. The focus is on the homes’ architectural histories, the people who lived in them, and a deep dive into factual reporting about the infamous stories of what happened in them—so deep that you might find yourself playing detective—alongside the editors of House Beautiful magazine, and often a guest or two who have a connection to the home or its story. — Shannon McMahon, destinations editor

For popular culture

Las Culturistas  

What  is  the culture that made you say, “Culture is for me?” That central question is answered most weeks by Matt Rogers and  Bowen Yang ’s guests—recent sit-downs feature Andy Cohen,  D’Arcy Carden , Melanie Lynskey, and Michelle Yeoh. But some of my favorite episodes of this weekly podcast, which first launched in 2016 (I started listening a few years ago after going to a live taping in New York City), are the ones with just Matt and Bowen—if you don’t know them by name, you’d recognize them from  Saturday Night Live ,  Fire Island , and  I Love That for You —shooting the breeze, catching up on all things culture: pop stars, reality TV, films, general life happenings. They’re hilarious, their takes on culture are so smart, and they cover an impressive breadth of content. Most episodes are over an hour, making them great to tune in to on road trips, train rides, or long commutes, too. If you’re new to the pod, start with May’s three-part Las Culturistas Culture Awards nomination special—it’ll have you laughing out loud at seminal categories like the ‘Slouching Toward Bethlehem Award for Chicest Book to Hold’ and ‘Meal We Should Have Gotten But Didn’t.’ — Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

This Had Oscar Buzz  

Stuck in Memorial Day traffic on my way out to Rhode Island from Connecticut a few weeks ago, desperate to pee but knowing any detour to do so would be punished by further time spent in the standstill, I needed a distraction. This podcast, hosted by entertainment writers Joe Reid and Chris Feil, kept my eyes on the road and my mind on the past, rather than a future in which I might imminently wet myself. I’ve long been a fan of  This Had Oscar Buzz , in which a typical episode sees Reid and Field perform a port-mortem on a film that failed to receive a single Academy Award nomination despite indications that it might. My drive benefited from a miniseries titled  100 Years, 100 Snubs  (styled after the various AFI lists of the same name). Here, Feil and Reid spend several episodes naming the snubs most atrocious to them since the awards’ inception (I agree with them most strongly on Michelle Pfeiffer for  Age of Innocence  and Jennifer Garner for  Juno ) and then choose somebody who  did  get nominated that year who they would kick out to make room. It’s thoughtful, a little mean, and very entertaining. — C.H.

99% Invisible Design aficionados and the insatiably curious alike have fallen for Roman Mars. His wildly popular, 30-to-45-minute weekly show seeks answers to questions most of us never think to ask, like “ What is the origin of the ring tone? ” and “ How did the cul-de-sac become the symbol of the suburbs ?” History, tech, infrastructure, objects, and sounds are all game for dissection—the more unexpected, the better. One surprising episode, for example, digs into  the spooky saga of the Ouija board ; another examines  the rise of the critically loathed American McMansion . —A.H.

Song Exploder So it turns out “Closing Time” isn’t just about last call in a bar. But you wouldn’t know that unless you heard  Dan Wilson , the songwriter behind the Grammy-winning Semisonic, breaking it down for “Song Exploder” host Hrishikesh Hirway. Each 20-minute episode in Hirway’s podcast series features one musician unpacking the nuts-and-bolts of a single song: how it came together, what it meant then, and what it means today. From its debut breakdown of The Postal Service’s “ The District Sleeps Alone Tonight ,” the programming has leaned hard on millennial and Gen-X indie rock, but what’s most fun about the series is how it evolved, incorporating hip-hop (Ghostface Killah’s “ The Battlefield ”), pop (Carly Rae Jepsen’s “ When I Needed You ”), and even classical takes (Yo-Yo Ma’s “ Prelude, Cello Suite No. 1 in a G Major, by J.S. Bach ”). —A.H.

The Sporkful Dan Pashman is the force behind one of the smartest and most awarded foodcasts ever recorded. ( The Sporkful has swept prizes at the Beards, the Webbys, and the  Saveur Awards.) Each 15- to 30-minute episode is a kitchen-sink take, anchored by a playful interview with a YouTube star (cookbook author Claire Saffitz ), celebrity toque ( Jamie Oliver ), rising chef (Washington, D.C.’s  Kwame Onwuachi ), comedian ( Ronny Chieng ), or other grub-obsessed personality. Then, Pashman dives deep, exploring topics like the upside-down world of cannabis-infused edibles or bringing in heavyweight food-sci gurus like  Serious Eats’ Kenji Lopez-Alt for comment . But he also keeps it real, contemplating important food-related questions (“Should you tip for takeout?”) and offering practical tips, like how to make airline meals more palatable. —A.H.

WTF with Marc Maron Comedian Marc Maron has been podcasting since 2009, which makes him the Yoda of this particular audio world. Now on his 1,443rd episode, his roster of A-list guests would give any prime-time awards show a run for its money. In years past, Maron has chatted up Paul McCartney, Anjelica Huston, Hank Azaria, and  Barack Obama (in his garage, no less!), but it was his April 2010 and December 2011 interviews with the late Robin Williams and the late  Anthony Bourdain , respectively, that will stick with listeners for years to come. Equally humorous and darkly sobering, the men spoke frankly about the ravages of drug addiction, alcoholism, and fame. (If you want access to all of the  WTF with Marc Maron episodes, you'll have to sign up for  Stitcher Premium , as only some episodes are available on Apple Podcasts.) —A.H.

This article was originally published in September 2020. It has been updated with new information.  

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Allison Williams' 10 Best Movies and TV Shows, Ranked

Russell crowe's 10 best action movies, 10 actors quentin tarantino has cast over and over.

It was recently announced by Twitter that the social media giant will be offering podcast services. The podcasts will integrate into their services using their Spaces tab , where podcasters will be able to publish audio conversations to be shared and listened to on the Twitter app.

With Twitter opening up for podcast streaming, road-trippers have even more options to find podcasts to listen to during their travels. A popular way to pass the time on road trips, podcasts can keep drivers and passengers engaged and awake while on the open road.

The Secret Room

The Secret Room , hosted by Ben Hamm, is a series of stories told by guests who have a secret they would like to share. The secrets range from interviewees' experiences with cults to strange addictions and antics such as shoplifting. Each episode has a new interviewee, and they tend to be just regular people, not celebrities.

Related: Top 10 Podcasts About Romance Novels

Listening to various people spill their interesting secrets makes for a great way to pass the time on road trips. The Secret Room has over 170 episodes to its name, and each one lasts more than an hour, giving travelers plenty of secrets to listen in on during their adventures.

Duncan Trussell Family Hour

Hosted by the titular stand-up comic and actor, the Duncan Trussell Family Hour sees Duncan Trussell interview a variety of figures about various topics in philosophy, religion, entertainment, and more. Trussell also utilizes these interviews in his show The Midnight Gospel , a television adaptation of the podcast .

With over 500 episodes, including some that are over two hours long, the Duncan Trussell Family Hour is a perfect podcast for a road trip. The podcast keeps occupants of the car awake and intrigued by various entertaining interviewees, such as Lily Reinhart and Damien Echols, while having enough episodes of length to last the entire drive and more.

The Only One In The Room

Inspired by a writers retreat where she was the only Black woman in a room of 600 writers, author Laura Cathcart Robbins started a podcast to allow individuals to share their stories of when they felt othered. The Only One in The Room has a wide variety of guests, from abuse survivors to goths to swingers.

With fourteen seasons and counting having been released by Robbins, The Only One in The Room has plenty of content for road trippers to listen to. Episodes range from quick interviews of 20 minutes to over an hour, giving listeners who might get bored with longer episodes a variety to choose from.

Scam Goddess

Hosted by Laci Mosley, Scam Goddess delves into the world of fraud. The podcast explores a wide variety of fraudulent crimes, from cryptocurrency scams to fake art. Episodes also take a look at both current happenings in the scamming world as well as diving into historical scams and their outcomes.

Related: The 10 Best Sports Podcasts, According To Reddit Scam Goddess keeps listeners enthralled and has enough episodes to fill even the longest of drives. Episodes tend to be right around an hour long, allowing road trippers to get a good variety of scamming knowledge in throughout their adventure.

Behind The Bastards

An investigation into the most villainous the human race has to offer in history, Behind The Bastards explores the nitty-gritty of history's evilest individuals. Each deep dive looks past what is commonly known about these dastardly people, exploring the interesting odd facts, such as Saddam Hussein's romance novels.

Each Behind The Bastards dive consists of multiple episodes chronicling a specific individual or group. These episodes tend to be over an hour, making each exploration a multi-hour fest perfect for long road trips. Depending on the person road-trippers choose to learn about, their entire drive could be an extended look at one historical villain.

Things I Got Wrong At Trivia

An award-winning general trivia podcast, Things I Got Wrong at Trivia brings a creative and narrative spin on trivia. The show consists of the three hosts giving each other a variety of trivia questions that explore a wide range of topics, from Disney to math to vocabulary.

Unsurprisingly best for travelers who love trivia, Things I Got Wrong At Trivia will keep listeners engaged and guessing throughout their drive, even allowing passengers to compete with each other using the point system the hosts use. The podcast has over 80 episodes that are each around an hour long, giving road-trippers plenty of interesting and unusual factoids to get them through their trip.

Ologies With Alie Ward

Hosted by science correspondent Alie Ward, Ologies is a deep dive into a wide array of scientific topics and phenomena. In each episode, Ward interviews a different expert in a specific field in the science world about their work, allowing listeners to learn about unique sciences they might not have even heard of prior.

Related: 10 Podcasts Marvel Fans Have To Listen To With plenty of episodes that last well over an hour, Ologies is the perfect podcast to keep science-interested road-trippers engaged and learning throughout their drive. The podcast also has a wide variety of fields that it discusses, giving listeners an array to choose from to find something that will capture them and keep them awake and engaged on the road.

Hidden Brain

A part of the NPR family, Hidden Brain is an educational podcast hosted by Shankar Vedantam that explores human behavior. Vedantam looks at various phenomena in human behavior from a scientific perspective, often inviting guest experts to help explain these behaviors in a storytelling manner.

With a large catalog of episodes ranging from a half-hour to an hour, Hidden Brain is perfect for psychologically-focused road-trippers looking to binge episodes about behavior. Vedantam employs story-telling narration in each episode, making them easy listens for passengers and keeping them engaged throughout their drive.

Hosted by three beloved comics—Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes— SmartLess is a mix of guest celebrity interviews sprinkled with comedy. The shows start out with banter between the three actors before shifting to an interview with an entertaining guest, such as Jimmy Fallon or Kristen Wiig.

With a bevy of hilarious conversations and never-before-heard celeb tidbits about their guests, SmartLess makes for an easy and fun listen for road-trippers. The episodes tend to be over an hour as well, giving listeners long and engaging talks with their favorite celebrities to listen to for their drive.

Based in the Bay Area, Ear Hustle looks into the lives of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals living in the United States. The podcast gives listeners a look into the prison system of the US from the inside, as well as a view of the reintegration process for those who have served their time.

Launched in 2017, Ear Hustle has amassed a large catalog of episodes chronicling the life of prison inmates. Episode range from around a half hour to over an hour, allowing road trippers to vary their story length to keep interest at the maximum while learning about first-hand experience within the US incarceration system on their drive.

Next: Top 10 Best Book Podcasts Focused On Horror

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The 10 Best Travel Podcasts

Even when you're not traveling, there are ways to scratch your travel itch from the safety of your house—travel podcasts. You can travel vicariously thanks to audio storytelling. Listen in as others share their stories of offbeat adventures, deep dives into worlds you never knew, or offer fascinating dispatches from around the globe. 

Here are 10 of the best travel podcasts to listen to while you hunker down and plot your next trip.

 iHeartRadio

When Brad and Matt Kirouac decide to pack up their dog and their lives in Chicago to hit the road in an RV, they don’t really know what they are in for, but they can’t wait to find out. Parklandia documents their often hilarious journey through the national parks, spanning from the Florida Everglades to the desert Southwest and the Olympic National Forest in Washington State. Along the way, they re-learn history, find the Mary Kate and Ashley of Arches National Park, and learn what happens when a married couple is cooped up together for weeks on end as they test-drive a nomadic lifestyle.

Start with: The Oscars of Rivers—Cuyahoga Valley National Park

 Outside/In

This show from New Hampshire Public Radio crafts portraits of the natural world and how we travel through it. This isn’t just a show for wilderness buffs, though, topics range from traveling to Antarctica to count penguins, the "raw water movement," storm chasing, moose whisperers, and Lyme disease. While the show has a slight New England bent, host Sam Evans-Brown finds topics that are surprising, engaging, and delightful, proving that a love of the natural world is truly universal.

Start with: Now I am an Axolotl

On She Goes

 On She Goes

This podcast is the audio offshoot of the On She Goes travel community, a digital platform created by and for women of color. The show has been around since 2017, so there is a vast back catalog of episodes where guests like The Read's Crissle West, yogi and author Jessamyn Stanley, and "Bad Feminist" author Roxane Gay share their stories of travel and leaving their comfort zones. They cover topics like camping, road trips, the pros and cons of voluntourism, the upside to romance while on the road, the joys of winter travel, and how to satisfy your wanderlust while staying sane.

Start with: What Is Business Travel with guest Roxane Gay

Counting Countries

 Counting Countries

There are 193 sovereign nations in the world, according to the United Nations, and an elite group of privileged travelers are determined to visit all of them—sometimes twice! Each episode, host, Ric Gazarian chats with a traveler who has either visited all 193 or is well on their way to hitting that goal or aiming to break Guinness World Records as they trek. The interviews are fascinating portraits of what happens when travel turns from past time to life's work. Fair warning, though, these stories will make you positively itchy to grab your passport and hit the road as soon as possible.

Start with: Audrey Walsworth

This podcast, hosted by Willow Belden, explores enormous questions of life and how to live it through the lens of traveling through nature. True to its mission, episodes ask big questions like what it means to go on a pilgrimage when you aren't outdoorsy or religious. Other episodes explore what it's like to live so deep in the woods that the only people you meet are strangers passing through on the Appalachian Trail, redefining the word "adventure," and when you're allowed to complain when living a privileged life.

Start with: Everest for a Sherpa Teen

A Different Way of Traveling

 A Different Way of Traveling

People with able bodies tend not to stop and think about, say, hopping into a jeep during a South African safari or strapping in for a zipline through the Costa Rican jungle canopy. Folks living with disabilities though can’t help but think about accessibility, though. This podcast talks to travelers and tour guides who are determined not to let the need for a wheelchair or living with cerebral palsy or a lack of sight or hearing stop anyone from going on safaris, taking up surfing, going on a hajj, or training for a triathlon.

Start with: Let’s Go Ziplining with Angelique Le Roux

Extra Pack of Peanuts

 Extra Pack of Peanuts

One of the OG travel podcasts, fans have been following host Travis and Heather on their nomadic adventures around the world. They’ve been traveling since 2010 and started podcasting about in 2013—so far in the past that they had to explain what a podcast was to their fans. Their specialty is showing people how to travel on a budget without sacrificing any of the fun and as their long track record shows, living a globetrotting life on a budget is entirely possible.

Start with: 7 Lessons Learned

The audio dispatches from Outside magazine make for intriguing listening even if you haven’t stepped foot in nature since a disastrous third-grade field trip. The show features interviews with outdoor enthusiasts, scientists, travelers, athletes, and average folks in extraordinary circumstances. While you may never plan on nearly freezing to death on Mt. Everest, encountering a grizzly bear, or finding a freaky fish in the swamps of Alabama, the Science of Survival series will make sure you know what to do in such an emergency.

Start with: Science of Survival: Snakebit, Part 1

Inappropriate Traveler

 Inappropriate Traveler

Despite what you might see on Instagram, travel is not always a glorious adventure traipsing unencumbered through gorgeous landscapes. That’s where this show comes in. San Francisco Chronicle travel editor Spud Hilton interviews travelers, journalists, influencers, and globetrotters about life on the road, favorite destinations, and what happens when travel goes very, very wrong. While guests share stories of touching moments and poignant encounters, the best episodes feature the sagas of misadventures. It serves as an often-hilarious reminder that travel isn’t always perfect and that almost any nightmarish situation can be funny when it’s in the rearview mirror. Fingers crossed that a second season is coming soon.

Start with: Travel Hookups with Fly Brother Ernest White II

Wander Woman

 Wander Woman

To be clear, this isn’t a podcast, but an “audio travel magazine” created by writer, photographer, and Wanderlust contributing editor Phoebe Smith. Like its glossy printed counterparts, each episode (issue?) offers a variety of stories in various formats. There are field recordings captured during her round-the-world adventures, like when she goes beer bathing in Estonia or hiking through Tasmania. There are interviews with conservationists and trailblazing tour guides, ideas for shopping and beating jet lag, tips from travel writer Bill Bryson, and manatee spotting in Florida. The issues are diverse, informative, and fun to listen to.

Start with: Wild Waters Run Deep

Related Articles

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The Best Podcasts for Family Road Trips in 2022

A podcast is a great way to make long family road trips unforgettable. Continue reading to find the best podcasts for your family road trip.

Updated by Jan Keyser on November 14, 2022

Why listen to podcasts on a family road trip?

Podcasts are a great way to stimulate mental energy while learning more about topics you find interesting. Without film or photos to look at, you create mental images of what’s being discussed when you listen to podcasts.  

During a family road trip, podcasts can be a great way to bond while entertaining everyone on what could otherwise be a boring drive. Podcasts are more popular than ever these days and there are so many to listen to. The key is picking the right podcasts for family road trips is to ensure that everyone in the car remains engaged, listens, and learns something. 

Podcast vs audiobooks

Aside from music, podcasts and audiobooks are two of the most popular forms of entertainment for families on a long road trip. Both offer a great way to learn something new.

Audiobooks and podcasts both have a lot to offer but they differ in a few ways that make podcasts a better option for your ride. Think of an audiobook as a collection of many podcasts. Whereas a podcast is shorter, focusing on one topic at a time. Make it easy to shuffle through podcasts while driving with this car phone mount.

What to keep in mind when picking family-friendly podcasts?

The main thing to keep in mind when picking a family-friendly podcast is that it should be interesting to everyone in the car. Everyone should find some value from learning and it gives you something to talk about later. If you have young kids in the back seat, try out this travel tray for kids . Don’t forget to include some healthy snacks .

If you have really young kids it may be more difficult to keep them engaged if the topics are far too advanced. Let’s check out some of the best podcasts for a family road trip in 2022

A list of the best podcasts for family road trips in 2022

The following podcasts for family road trips are the most highly recommended. 

1. Storynory

Everyone loves a good story. Storynory is a short-form podcast that tells great stories for younger kids that adults will also find entertaining. Visit Storynory.com to subscribe and find the episodes.

2. Short & Curly

Focusing on important lessons for kids and their parents, all episodes of Short & Curly are fast and full of great ideas. This will be sure to keep your attention and that of your kids also.

3. Wow in the World

  Gay Raz and Mindy Thomas host this family-friendly podcast that most would recommend for a family road trip. Episode length ranges from 15 to 20 minutes and a wide variety of topics, guaranteed to WOW you, are covered.

4. Brains On

Interested in science? How about checking out Brains On to learn some fun little science tips if you’re raising a future scientist. Many adults find the topics interesting and fun to remember things they also learned in school.

5. Dream Big

A family-friendly podcast that inspires children to dream big and follow their passions in life. Maybe it can also spark a new dream in the hearts of mom and dad. Either way, this is a great podcast for a family road trip.

6. Story Time

Podcasts that tell everyone’s favorite stories are made for kids ages 2 – 13. Who doesn’t love a good story? Each episode is around 10 mins so short and sweet so you can make sure everyone’s attention is captured.

7. The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

Dr. Floyd, the world’s greatest scientist, goes on a range of adventures that are fun for a whole family on a long road trip. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts if you’re subscribed. This show has been running since 2004 and is the longest-running family-friendly audio drama.

8. What If World

A storytelling podcast produced for children with weekly episodes. Mr. Eric, the host, runs through various “what if?” questions to help everyone on the road trip learn something new and exciting.

9. Stuff You Should Know

This one isn’t quite as directed to children as some of the other podcasts on our list of best podcasts for a family road trip. However, we all benefit from learning something new. Especially if it’s something we “should” know.

10. Circle Round

The final entry on our list of podcasts for family road trips is Circle Round. Targeted at children ages 4 – 10, this podcast features weekly 10 – 20 minute episodes that adapt our favorite folktales from around the world. It might bring up some nostalgia for parents while keeping kids entertained in the back seat.

Pros and Cons of Podcasts

Podcasts are simple, convenient ways to learn about a wide range of topics. There are several pros to listening to podcasts including being educated, entertainment, and variety.

There are few cons to podcasts other than not all of them being available on one platform. You have some that will be on Apple Podcasts others on Spotify. The subscriptions can add up.

15 amazing podcasts for travel lovers

Check out a recent article highlighting 15 amazing podcasts for travel lovers you won’t want to miss.

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Raphael Brion and the Road to the 2024 Best New Chefs

Food & Wine's restaurant editor reveals what it's like behind the scenes of a life-changing accolade.

On this episode

Meet our guest, meet our host, highlights from the episode, about the podcast.

Paula Forbes

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 17 of Tinfoil Swans , a podcast from Food & Wine. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listen and follow on: Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen

Food & Wine's restaurant editor Raphael Brion talks about the tremendous impact that the Best New Chefs accolade has had on people's careers, why each member of the 2024 class was selected, his time working in New York City kitchens, the time Anthony Bourdain gave him a paper bag full of $100 dollar bills, and what it does to the human body when you spend months on the road eating one billion restaurant meals a day.

Food & Wine restaurant editor Raphael Brion has led editorial teams at publications including The Infatuation, Wirecutter, Bon Appétit, and Eater National , where the website earned James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards for Best Food Blog in 2013 and 2014 under his direction. Brion co-founded the pioneering mid-2000s food blog Eat Me Daily, and has cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City. Brion lives in Austin, Texas, but is originally from Brussels, Belgium, thus instilling his lifelong love of mayonnaise and Liège waffles.

Kat Kinsman is the executive features editor at Food & Wine, author of Hi, Anxiety: Life With a Bad Case of Nerves , host of Food & Wine's podcast, and founder of Chefs With Issues. Previously, she was the senior food & drinks editor at Extra Crispy, editor-in-chief and editor at large at Tasting Table, and the founding editor of CNN Eatocracy. She won a 2020 IACP Award for Personal Essay/Memoir and has had work included in the 2020 and 2016 editions of The Best American Food Writing . She was nominated for a James Beard Broadcast Award in 2013, won a 2011 EPPY Award for Best Food Website with 1 million unique monthly visitors, and was a finalist in 2012 and 2013. She is a sought-after international keynote speaker and moderator on food culture and mental health in the hospitality industry, and is the former vice chair of the James Beard Journalism Committee.

On learning English from watching TV

[After moving to the United States from Belgium at age 10] "I'd just started picking up the English language from Sesame Street . It was absolutely huge. It was stuff like the Count who I thought was great, but Oscar the Grouch — always, always good. I could never really understand why he lived in the garbage can. Were there not better places to live? But it was so important and helpful to learn English via that. It was a whole new window into a very, very different culture. All of a sudden, I was in a place where I could barely communicate with other people and Sesame Street gave me that entry point."

On his vegetable awakening

"My mom was never a great  fan of vegetables. So it was this duality of my mom microwaving a lot of food for us, but then on the flip side, summers would be spent with my grandma, who was just this, this very accomplished, curious cook. It was a lot of going to farmer's markets. I remember green beans with shallots and butter. I didn't realize at the time how impactful that was, how different it was. And I always looked forward going back to Belgium every summer because it just meant that the food was going to be significantly better."

On how he started working in restaurants

"Basically, I went to a restaurant that I liked a lot. It was French meets New American. I walked in and asked to talk to the chef. 'Hey, I'm interested in cooking. I don't know how this works.' And they were like, 'Yeah, just come, come for a sub. Bring your knives.' I had knives, I was cooking at home so I had a sense of what I was doing. So I would go after work and help prep. And all of a sudden they were like, 'Hey, do you wanna stay for service?'"

On becoming a restaurant critic

"Infatuation was the first place I did restaurant reviews. I reviewed Pasta Bar in Austin — a tasting menu that actually did not have very much pasta at all. At a place called Pasta Bar! It made me so mad that I went home and was like, 'I have to write this, like, I can't not.' I was actually surprised by the reaction that I got from the chef and restaurant community — that they were happy that someone would actually write a negative review, because they hadn't seen that."

On what the Best New Chef accolade means to a chef — and to him

"I know that this accolade is deeply important. I've heard from chefs who were literally selling their cars to make payroll when they found out that they got this accolade. I do not take it lightly; I take it very seriously. I know the impact that it can have on people's lives. And not only their lives, but their spouse and their families. So I put in the work. I know what it takes."

On the perfect dinner companions

"You've gotta pace yourself and not overdo it. A few bites here and there, and go with people who are willing companions, who are willing to take leftovers home so nothing goes to waste. The best dining companions come with their own Tupperware."

On the future of Best New Chefs

"Always be scouting. I think that there are so many young culinary voices out there. You go sometimes and it's not fully formed yet. And you can see that there's a vision. You can see that there's something there and it's just not there yet — and whether it's gonna take. It just needs to cure a little bit. And it's a year or two or three for people to truly find their own voice."

Food & Wine has led the conversation around food, drinks, and hospitality in America and around the world since 1978. Tinfoil Swans continues that legacy with a new series of intimate, informative, surprising, and uplifting interviews with the biggest names in the culinary industry, sharing never-before-heard stories about the successes, struggles, and fork-in-the-road moments that made these personalities who they are today.

This season, you'll hear from icons and innovators like Daniel Boulud , Rodney Scott , Asma Khan , Emeril and E.J. Lagasse , Claudia Fleming , Dave Beran and Will Poulter , Dan Giusti , Priya Krishna , Lee Anne Wong , Cody Rigsby , Kevin Gillespie , Pete Wells , David Chang , Christine D'Ercole, Channing Frye , Nick Cho, Ti Martin, and other special guests going deep with host Kat Kinsman on their formative experiences; the dishes and meals that made them; their joys, doubts and dreams; and what's on the menu in the future. Tune in for a feast that'll feed your brain and soul — and plenty of wisdom and quotable morsels to savor.

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listen and follow on:   Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify , or wherever you listen.

These interview excerpts have been edited for clarity.

Editor’s Note: The transcript for download does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.

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