I’ve been a podcast listener/fan for almost a decade now! I have them on doing chores at home, when I’m driving around running errands, in the background at work, during travel, or (when I’m really hooked) just because. I share my favorite listens from time to time on my seasonal update posts, but I’ve never written a big list of recommendations like this before. My boyfriend and I got hooked on an amazing podcast during our most recent road trip in Utah, and it got me thinking about my other best podcasts for a road trip.
That’s what inspired me to finally put this down on paper (metaphorically). Although I listen to many types of podcasts in my daily life, I’m just going to share the ones that would work well for a road trip or a long travel day. These are podcasts you can get sucked right into without having to be a fan of the host/show in itself. And a disclaimer before we begin, I am a millennial. You’ll see how my pop culture references show up in some of these recs.
I’m also going to organize these to help you find what you’re looking for a bit easier. I’ll do a section for true crime, comedy, pop culture, and Harry Potter (I warned you about being a millennial lol). Feel free to bop around to whatever section interests you the most. But I stand by every single one of these recs–they’re all amazing listens! Finally one last disclaimer… these are all explicit shows not meant for kids or a family road trip. Best podcasts for a road trip starts now!
TRUE CRIME
1. Root of Evil
This is the podcast I referenced in the intro that my boyfriend and I got hooked on during our road trip! If you want something you can dive into in just 8 episodes with really good production and storytelling, this is for you. Root of Evil is ultimately a family story. The hosts are trying to unpack generational trauma that started back in the early 1900s with their great grandfather, who they believe is the Black Dahlia Killer (the Black Dahlia case has never been solved). It’s a shocking story from start to finish. If you and your partner have a hard time finding something you both want to listen to, this will work!
Find it here: Root Of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia
2. Scamanda
This story blew my mind– I couldn’t binge it quick enough (8 episodes and 4 bonus episodes). It’s also set to air as a TV show on October 9, 2024. You can probably tell what this series is about from the title (a scam lol). It documents the journey of a woman who fakes a cancer diagnosis for YEARS and what happens as a result. I was shook to my core by this one and wanted everyone to listen to it, too, so we could discuss. It would definitely make the miles of a road trip fly by and lead to lots of conversation.
Find it here: Scamanda
3 and 4. anything by Hedley Thomas
Hedley Thomas is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and podcaster from Australia. His shows are so satisfying because he goes after people who have gotten away with crimes for DECADES and does the necessary investigation to get them arrested/convicted. And they air in semi-real time as he’s making discoveries, so you get to follow the whole journey from start to finish. He’s got a few shows out so far, but I wanted to share my two favorites here.
The Teacher’s Pet is probably the work he is best known for. He sets out to solve a missing woman cold case from the 1980s. A mother and wife “walks out on her family” and is never seen again. Hedley uncovers crucial information missed by police and the Australian justice system and makes a case against the man he believes is guilty. It’s a truly incredible story with real world, recent consequences, and you can listen to it all.
Find it here: The Teacher’s Pet
Since I loved so much of his previous work, I instantly downloaded Bronwyn when it was released this year (2024). It’s similar to The Teacher’s Pet because it focuses on a mother and wife who disappeared in 1993. Another cold case where the police completely botched the initial investigations. It’s thrilling to listen in real time as Hedley gets closer and closer to the truth.
Find it here: Bronwyn
COMEDY
Ok, let’s lighten things up. If you don’t want scary true crime as your road trip companion, the rest of these recs are for you. When I think about the best podcasts for a road trip in terms of comedy, one show instantly comes to mind. I think storytelling is key when picking a podcast for a road trip that you’ve never listened to before. Sure I could recommend random podcasts by comedians, but then where’s your entry point? I wanted to highlight a show with a clear starting point that you can easily get on board with, no prior understanding of the hosts necessary.
5. My Dad Wrote a Porno
This show is HILARIOUS. It’s had me crying laughing (not an easy feat) and has also helped me get through a really tough period of my life (comedy that can break through a sad spell…rare). And you can start from episode 1 and continue on with as many seasons as you have time for. The premise of this show is reading through and discussing a book, so you can literally start with them on the first page.
Yep, one of the hosts dads wrote a really raunchy erotic novel (many of them actually, which is why this show has multiple seasons). He gets his two friends to support him while he reads the books on air. If you want to be laughing out loud during your road trip, download season 1 right now! It’s British humor, too, which just hits different in the best way.
Find it here: My Dad Wrote a Porno
CULTURE
In this section we’ll touch on books, music, TV, and culture in general. But again, highlighting the best podcasts for a road trip means recommending shows you can enjoy without feeling like you’ve been thrown in the middle of something you’re not a part of. I have tons of podcasts focusing on cultural commentary that I listen to on a weekly basis, but the shows I’m sharing here aren’t as time-sensitive as those shows are.
6. Celebrity Memoir Book Club
The hosts hit on such a good idea when they started this podcast because how many celebrity memoirs are you curious about, but not curious enough to actually read? They have you covered! You can search their back catalogue and download the episodes that interest you the most. Plus the hosts are comedians so you get a touch of comedy in there as well. They’ve got some hot takes on these memoirs–you’re in for a treat. I also love listening to their episodes about books I have read, just to get another perspective I might not have considered.
Find it here: Celebrity Memoir Book Club
7. Every Single Album
I absolutely fell in love with this podcast when I found it and think it would be perfect for a road trip. You can listen to an episode about an album, and then blast that album with new appreciation afterwards. The hosts talk mostly about Taylor Swift, but they also cover other pop stars like Adele, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Chappel Roan, Charlie XCX, and more. The woman host is a younger pop music enthusiast, and the guy is a bit older and works in the industry. I love their dynamic and the conversations their different backgrounds lead to. If you’re a Swiftie, you’ll definitely want to start with the episodes where they grade each of her albums.
Find it here: Every Single Album
8. Be There in Five
Kate covers a range of millennial topics in this long-form podcast. The episodes are often deep-dives lasting 2+ hours–a perfect road trip companion where you can settle in and listen to her nuanced cultural commentary. Her episodes are topic driven, so you can search her back catalogue and find something that interests you… from Mormon mommy bloggers to Rachel Hollis to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The conversations are light hearted yet serious. You’ll be laughing out loud but also contemplating religious trauma. It’s truly like hanging out with a friend!
Kate is also an author. I loved her book, One in a Millennial, and even attended the book tour! That audiobook would be a wonderful road trip listen, too. Her work brings up so many things from the zeitgeist you haven’t thought about in years and leads to fun conversations in real life. Highly recommend the podcast and the book!
Find it here: Be There in Five
Her book: One in a Millennial: On Friendships, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
9. Girls Next Level
If you’re a millennial and came of age in the early 2000s, I’m sure you’ll remember E!’s big hit reality show, The Girls Next Door. The show followed Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends. Watching that show while my teenage brain was developing is something that should probably be discussed in therapy lol! Skip this rec if you never watched the show, but if you were a fan like I was then you will love the Girls Next Level podcast. Holly and Bridget are back discussing every single episode and giving major behind the scenes insight into all the drama and complicated relationships. This is an ongoing rewatch podcast and isn’t a succinct series, but download the first few episodes for your road trip and take a walk with them down memory lane.
Find it here: Girls Next Level
Harry Potter
I can’t talk about the best podcasts for a road trip without mentioning my Harry Potter shows. If you’re not a fan, skip this section, but I know so many people have read and loved this series (especially if you’re close to my age and grew up with the books). Let’s get into it!
10. Binge Mode: Harry Potter
You’ll have to go to Spotify to find these episodes, but oh my goodness is this podcast a treat. It’s one of those where I’m so jealous of people who get to listen to it for the first time. The hosts go back through the books (and movies) chapter by chapter and talk through all the themes. And somehow made me laugh and cry in the process! It sounds like such a simple concept, but it is SO GOOD.
Find it here: Binge Mode: Harry Potter Spotify playlist
11. The Fox and the Foxhound
This is a newer find, so I haven’t listened to all the episodes yet, but I have been obsessed with it. I get so much joy from being immersed in the Harry Potter world, and I love the concept of this show. The woman host is a massive Harry Potter fan, but her husband-to-be has never read the books or seen the movies. It’s so satisfying to see the books through the eyes of a new reader. And it’s so fun to listen to his predictions when those of us who have read the books know what’s actually coming. Listening to someone’s journey of falling in love with the series in “real time” warms my heart. Download all the eps for book 1 and that will cover your road trip, but I’m sure you’ll be hooked and want to listen to them all!
I also have to mention the two hosts are professional voice actors, so it makes for a very smooth and entertaining listening experience. That matters more than you might think, and it’s something I really considered when putting together this list of best podcasts for a road trip! There are several shows that didn’t make the cut because I can’t stomach the sound of the host’s voice for hours on end.
Find it here: The Fox and the Foxhound
12. The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
Sadly we can’t talk about Harry Potter post-2020 without mentioning the anti-trans platform that has become J.K. Rowling’s brand. I hesitate to recommend this podcast because she doesn’t need a bigger voice than she already has, and I don’t think you can trust the journalism behind it. (Many people describe this as exhausting.) So definitely listen with care if you do choose this one. I will say I found it fascinating to hear J.K. interviewed about the whole situation. It gave me more context to understand what exactly people are talking about when they’re discussing all these issues about her statements and stance on gender. Just know going into it that she’s pushing a narrative that works for her and is not based in facts or the reality that members of the trans community live in.
Find it here: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
13. Potterversity
With that in mind, I wanted to recommend a specific episode of Potterversity as a follow up listen if you decide to download the Witch Trials series. This is the best conversation I’ve come across so far about how to grapple with being a Harry Potter fan in current times now that all this stuff about J.K. Rowling is out there. I also love this podcast in general as a huge Harry Potter nerd who wishes they could’ve taken a course about it in college lol. You could definitely pick and choose some other episodes that interest you the most. But I highly highly recommend episode 54.
Find it here: Episode 54: Monsters and the Monstrous
My Regular Listens
I want to end this list with some of the podcasts I listen to consistently in my day-to-day life. So far in the sections above, I’ve focused on shows that aren’t as timely, so you can jump into them whenever. But maybe you’re using your road trip as an opportunity to find a show you can connect with and start following on the reg. If you search these shows and download the most recent episode, you’ll get some current takes and cultural references.
Girls Gotta Eat: a sex, dating, and relationship comedy podcast.
After Work Drinks: fashion commentary and current pop culture events. the only show I pay for monthly to get bonus episodes!
Bad on Paper: my favorite ever book podcast.
Happy Hour with Lucy and Nikki: two unhinged Australians talking shit.
This Is The Worst: dark humor and lots of tea spilling. probably the podcast that has me laughing out loud the most (besides My Dad Wrote a Porno).
Last Podcast On The Left: the pod I’ve been listening to the longest!!
Best Podcasts for a Road Trip Closing Thoughts
So there you have it! My top 13 podcast recs for a road trip, or really any long travel days/journeys (plus my top 6 regular listens as a bonus). As a huge lover of podcasts I would LOVE to hear what should have been on this list that I missed. I’m always looking for new shows to devour and learn from. Happy listening and happy road trip!
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