
Photo by Bruno Bergher on Unsplash
Two summers ago I shared the Best Podcasts for a Road Trip. I was fresh off of moving across the country to San Francisco and that meant I'd listened to a ton of podcasts.
This past fall, I undertook another 35+ hour drive to move to Minneapolis. Again, I listened to a lot of podcasts. I also gave audiobooks another try and this time I actually paid attention (romance novels for the win) so audiobooks are now a part of my road trip arsenal. Maybe podcasts were my gateway to actually making audiobooks a useful endeavor.
In any case, I still primarily listen to podcasts while I'm driving and there continue to be so many amazing ones, I thought it was worth giving more brand new recommendations.
Road trips are the perfect time to dive into the archives of your favorites and try out new podcasts. Enjoy!
(If there's a podcast you love and they have a Patreon account or use affiliate links, consider supporting them. Podcasters work so hard to give us amazing content, often with little to show for it. Think of it like a magazine or newsletter subscription.)
Best Podcasts For a Road Trip

Another Round
Heben and Tracy have a great dynamic and their segments range from informative to hilarious. Their enthusiasm for their guests and topics is contagious!
Recommended episodes:
Padma Lakshmi
Valerie Jarrett
Hilary Clinton
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Lin-Manuel Miranda- I loved how much they geeked out with one another!
Water Protectors and Fear Allerton interview with Dr. Adrienne Keene- fantastic resource concerning the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Longform Podcast interviewed the hosts of Another Round and, as always, it made for fascinating listening. It was great getting to learn more about Heben and Tracy.
The Baby-Sitters Club Club
Jack and Tanner are going book by book through Ann M. Martin's beloved series with hilarious results. Imagine you're in English class discussing the Gothic and Marxist influences present in the novel...and that novel is Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls. Every time they enter a new theory (Bees, Dolls), it somehow ends up making a lot of sense. One of my favorite segments is Tracking Jackie, which includes a clip of Jack from LOST yelling "we have to go back." This podcast brings me so much joy and I always laugh hard while listening.
Start with Episode 1: Kristy's Great Idea and work your way up.
Code Switch
Honestly, you should go back and listen to the entire archive of this podcast. Gene Demby, Shereen Marisol Miraji, Kat Chow, and company are always on point, always on fire. Code Switch examines themes on race, ethnicity, and culture and the ways they impact our lives and communities. It's a must-listen.
Recommended episodes:
Struggling School, Or Sanctuary?
Say My Name, Say My Name (Correctly, Please)
Nate Parker's Past, His Present, And The Future Of "The Birth Of A Nation"
The episodes on Obama’s Legacy: Diss-ent or Diss-respect?, Callouts and Fallouts, and Did He Remix Race?
Hold Up! Time For An Explanatory Comma is precisely why I listen to Code Switch.
Code Switch's Safety Pin Solidarity
Talking Black-ish with Star Yara Shahidi and Creator Kenya Barris
The Blessing (And Curse?) Of Miss Saigon
Master Of None's Alan Yang Unpacks Season 2
Deep Dives from The Popcast
Yes, I included this the last time but this is different. Did you know each month Knox and Jamie record a deep dive episode for their Patreon supporters? If you're not a Patreon supporter, did you know you can purchase these episodes separately? No matter the topic, Jamie and Knox do their homework. I laugh, I learn, I enjoy. You should, too.
Recommended episodes:
LOST
Saved By The Bell
Gilmore Girls
Pixar
How To Be Amazing With Michael Ian Black
It turns out actor Michael Ian Black is an impressive podcast host. Not only does he have a variety of guests, he asks such interesting questions. These are not your average interviews, that's for sure. I started listening to this a few months ago and have been working my way through the archives ever since.
Recommended episodes:
Tim Gunn (possibly my favorite)
Andy Cohen
W. Kamau Bell
Ira Glass
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Josh Groban
The Lively Show
Jess Lively gives me so much to think about. It's not unheard of for me to end up taking notes while listening or even listening twice. I don't always agree with her conclusions but often whatever she's talking about resonates with me. This might not be for everyone but if you like learning about how to be a healthier person, if you're not afraid of outside-the-box thinking, or if you're curious about values-based intentions, this is the podcast for you.
Recommended episodes:
#87: How to Change Negative Thought Patterns and Understand the Ego with Brooke Castillo
#88: How to Access Your Intuition and Find the Answers You Seek with Lynn Robinson
Episode #106: How the Enneagram Can Help You Grow and Improve Relationships (my episode! Such a thrill to appear on the show.)
The Lively Show Episode #152: When You Want All Of The "Answers" Right Now
The Law of Attraction. (Hint: it's not The Secret!)
Episode #197: What I'm doing to manifest and prepare for my future partner
Off Camera With Sam Jones
Sam Jones has such an impressive guest list but the conversations are what set it apart. I could listen to him talk to his guests all day. I love the insights into Hollywood, music, or whatever the guest's profession might be.
Recommended episodes:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Connie Britton
Elisabeth Moss
Rob Lowe. (Note to self: I still need to read his second memoir.)
Rachel Bloom
Joanne Froggatt
Glen Hansard
Sam Richardson
Overdue
A podcast about the books you've been meaning to read. Craig and Andrew take turns reading a book, then discuss it together. They have great insights and are often funny. I love when they or their guest hosts take on silly or problematic books! If you plan on reading something, you might want to skip the episode until you do so because they don't shy away from spoilers. After all, you probably should have read that book by now.
Recommended episodes:
A Prayer For Owen Meany (my favorite novel)
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Flowers In The Attic (with guest hosts Dame Margaret and Dame Sophie)
From The Mixed-up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
A Walk To Remember
The Likeness
Lord Of The Flies
Reply All
It's hard to describe this show featuring hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman. It's about all things internet and technology but it's about so much more than that. The stories they feature serve to both inform and inspire the listener.
Recommended episodes:
#55: The Line
Stolen Valor
Making Friends
On The Inside (3 part story)
Voyage Into Pizzagate
What Kind Of Idiot Gets Phished?
Smart Podcast, Trashy Books
If you're not a romance reader, you might be tempted to think this podcast isn't for you but it's extremely relevant for readers and writers of all kinds. Yes, it's fun when one of my favorite authors appears on the show but I also learn a lot from other people in the publishing industry (ranging from personal assistants to the head of marketing) or when the hosts discuss a topic. I look forward to a new episode every Friday. If you like the podcast, be sure to check out the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books site!
Recommended episodes:
Closing The Door at the Intersection of Religion and Sex
Discussing Rape, Trigger Warnings, And Also What We're Reading
Romance, Dating, and Very Real Expectations: An Interview with Alisha Rai
The First Year Of The Ripped Bodice: An Interview with Bea and Leah Koch (I want to go to there.)
New Books And New Insights Into History: An Interview with Beverly Jenkins
Discovering Romance and Navigating Approval: An Interview with Faith Salie
An Interview with Robin Bradford, Genre Avenger and RWA Librarian Of The Year
Come As You Are- Sexuality And Romance: An Interview with Emily Nagoski, PhD (if you haven't already read her book Come As You Are, get on that!)
Smartest Person In The Room
This is my friend Laura Tremaine's excellent show. It's organized by series, which allows her to focus on one topic for a period of time. Laura says she isn't the smartest person in the room but she knows who is. But I think the quality of her work shows she's one of the smarties too.
The Hollywood Series (Favorite episode: Production Designer Ethan Tobman)
The Religion Series (Favorite episode: Judaism as a Cultural Identity)
The Viral Series (Favorite episode: MTV's Ridiculousness creator/producer Shane Nickerson)
StartUp
From its first season, StartUp captivated my attention. Gimlet Media cofounder Alex Blumberg showed listeners the very process of becoming a Startup, from his first pitch all the way to making Gimlet Media into something. After the first season, the show has gone in different creative directions but it always remains relevant. The more risks they take, the more I love listening.
Recommended episodes/seasons:
Season 1: start with How Not To Pitch A Billionaire
Season 2: Diversity Report
Season 4 followed Dov Charney, the controversial founder of American Apparel.
The West Wing Weekly
A must-listen for West Wing fans, they go episode by episode and give all manner of behind-the-scenes info. It is so fun hearing the hosts Hrishikesh Hirway and Josh Malina talk about the show and they've had some great special guests.
Start with Season 1, Episode 1: The Pilot.
Here's the episode list if you've already seen the show and want to skip around.
What Should I Read Next?
My friend Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy's podcast is a wonderful option for confirmed book nerds and those who want to read more. It is such a delight to listen to. The only problem is not being able to join in on the conversation! Plus, your To Read list might explode.
Recommended episodes:
#9: The Reality Of Bookworm Problems with Leigh Kramer (yep, I appeared on the show! My only regret is Anne was trying to keep the show at 30 minutes or less then so some of my snarkier comments were left on the editing floor.)
#31: Lifetime Favorite Books and Reading for a Living with Adam Verner (who narrates audiobooks!)
#44: Like Speed Dating, But With Authors with Annie Jones
#66: Books that Glitter, Sparkle, and Pop with Megan Tietz
#71: A Super Elegant Apocalypse with Knox McCoy
#80: Books that Make You Want to Skip Dinner, Work, and the Rest Of Your Life with Cori Jara
#81: The Suspense Is Thrilling Me with Chelsea Humphrey
Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links included in this post.