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NPR’s Guy Raz, pictured here with Karlie Kloss during 2018 SXSW at Austin Convention Center, has two … More
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Summer road trips are always special. Hitting the highway to cruise to a favorite amusement park, explore a new town or visit friends and family is even more fun when you have the perfect podcast queued up and ready to play. The greatest summer road trip podcasts will keep everyone in the car engaged as they enjoy hours of bantering hosts or fascinating storytelling. The best part is, when you pick the best road trip podcast, you won’t have to hear a never-ending loop of “are we there yet”—everyone will be so engrossed, the miles will fly by. Here is a list of 35podcasts perfect for summer road trip listening.
Podcasts That Are Perfect For Road Trips
These summer road trip podcasts are grouped by subject area, so you can find the best one for your particular trip. They include a diverse range of topics, hosts and lengths to get you from point A to point B.
The list was selected based on podcast popularity, subject matter expertise and listener ratings from various podcast platforms.
Family-Friendly Podcasts
Family-friendly podcasts are ones you can listen to with anyone in the car, ages 2-99.
Forever Ago
Host Joy Dolo and the occasional child co-host explore history in a way kids and adults will enjoy. Forever Ago looks into topics you won’t find in the typical history class, though, like the origin of school uniforms, the invention of rap music, and how Sesame Street came to be.
Why is Forever Ago podcast a great road trip option? Focused on such a wide range of topics, Forever Ago has at least a few episodes everyone in the car will find interesting. You can listen to Forever Ago on iTunes, Tune In, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
Want something like a book that’s made for shorter attention spans (i.e., younger kids)? This imaginative podcast follows 8-year-old Finn’s journey across the universe with his friends Elias, Vale and Abigail. Each episode of The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian offers a self-contained adventure, but they are also working toward solving a greater mystery to save their space station.
Why is The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian podcast a great road trip option? The podcast tells a great story that will engage all ages—but especially kids interested in outer space (and what kid isn’t?). You can listen to The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian on iTunes, Amazon Music and Spotify.
Wow in the World
Wow in the World describes itself as a “cartoon for the ears,” and the zany energy of hosts Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas certainly delivers on that promise. They make STEM lessons not just fun but funny, using narrative storytelling, audio messages sent by young listeners and the occasional fart joke to explore dinosaurs, the science behind tickling, what’s super about super glue and so much more.
Why is Wow in the World podcast a great road trip option? It makes the time zip by, a must for any family road trip, and you can listen to episodes out of order based on your family’s interests. You can listen to Wow in the World on iTunes, Wondery, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Guy Raz, center, who co-hosts two top summer road trip podcasts.
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Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids
In the spirit of this puntacular podcast from one of the most recognized eco-focused media companies—you don’t want to “myth” this chance to hear about Greek heroes and legends. Greeking Out host Kenny Curtis and sidekick Tori Kerr (who plays the Oracle of Wifi) also share facts about Ancient Greece life and culture in between tales of gods’ and goddesses’ exploits.
Why is Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids podcast a great road trip option? Even kids who have studied Ancient Greece in school will learn something new, as the podcast goes beyond the better-known myths. You can listen to Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids on iTunes, Wondery, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Keyshawn Solves It
When 10-year-old Keyshawn receives a magical set of keys that can unlock every door, he and buddy Kiki decide to use them to solve the mystery of the disappearing bikes plaguing their neighborhood. Can they figure it out before the upcoming Juneteenth bike parade? Using storytelling, Keyshawn Solves It introduces kids to Juneteenth and focuses on social-emotional wellness.
Why is Keyshawn Solves It podcast a great road trip option? Perfect for kids 5-10, Keyshawn makes learning enjoyable, and each episode of the 10-part series is 17 minutes or less, making it easy to finish in one ride. You can listen to Keyshawn Solves It on iTunes, PRX, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Business-Focused Podcasts
Business-focused podcasts offer insights to success and strategies to go forth and conquer.
Business Wars
Business Wars host David Brown delves into the most fascinating business showdowns in history. From Marvel vs. DC Comics to Napster vs. the record labels to Domino’s vs. Pizza Hut, each saga includes an extensive backstory on all the parties involved as well as an analysis in the final episode looking at the aftermath of the conflict.
Why is Business Wars podcast a great road trip option? Each “war” lasts several 40-minute episodes, the perfect length to stay engaged for a car ride and wrap up the story before you hit your destination. You can listen to Business Wars on iTunes, Wondery, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
How I Built This
Guy Raz (who also hosts Wow in the World) turns his microphone toward grown-ups in this fascinating look at how people created the most successful businesses in the world. Most stories have a surprising amount of drama before finding the right approach. How I Built This has profiled hundreds of entrepreneurs and founders, including Lululemon’s Chip Wilson, Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole and Ben & Jerry’s Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.
Why is How I Built This podcast a great road trip option? While the headline-grabbing CEOs are interesting, hearing the stories of smaller companies is absolutely fascinating. You can listen to How I Built This on iTunes, Wondery, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Pivot
Prominent tech journalist Kara Swisher and New York University Professor Scott Galloway host this biweekly podcast that draws on their expertise to break down the day’s top tech, politics and business stories. Pivot pings from predictions to banter, with an edge that anyone familiar with Swisher’s social media feeds will appreciate.
Why is Pivot podcast a great road trip option? The combination of real-time news and takes no one else will voice make this an informative listen that will also spark in-car debate. You can listen to Pivot on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Tech journalist Kara Swisher, co-host of the “Pivot” podcast.
2024 Invision
The Tim Ferriss Show
Launched in 2014, The Tim Ferriss Show features interviews with the world’s most successful businesspeople. Ferriss, a tech consultant and author of the popular book The 4-Hour Workweek, welcomes a wide range of guests, from entertainers like Hugh Jackman and Kevin Hart to tech elites like Mark Zuckerberg to athletes like LeBron James. It is one of the most popular business podcasts out there, surpassing 1 billion downloads in 2024, according to the Journal of Business Communication.
Why is The Tim Ferriss Show podcast a great road trip option? The celebrity interviews drill down into more interesting topics than you get in a typical magazine profile, and you can listen to a bunch in a row without it feeling repetitive. You can listen to The Tim Ferriss Show on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Side Hustle Pro
For anyone who has ever dreamed of turning their after-hours passion project into their full-time job, Side Hustle Pro profiles Black women entrepreneurs who have succeeded in that quest. Their stories range from a nurse who paid off $1 million in debt from her side hustle to a surprising number of women who launched podcasts. Host Nicaila Matthews Okome also offers bonus episodes providing guidance to wannabe entrepreneurs.
Why is Side Hustle Pro podcast a great road trip option? Each woman’s story is different and fascinating, and the hour-ish runtime is perfect for sliding in road trip bathroom breaks. You can listen to Side Hustle Pro on iTunes, Podbean, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Entertainment Podcasts
Entertainment podcasts do a deeper dive on a singular aspect of entertainment or pop culture, such as fatphobia or identity.
Maintenance Phase
Maintenance Phase could be classified as a health podcast, but it’s so enlightening and goes on so many interesting tangents that it also fits for entertainment. Hosts Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon debunk the “junk science” behind popular diet and health trends, such as Herbalife, ultra-processed foods, Forks Over Knives and so much more.
Why is Maintenance Phase podcast a great road trip option? Anyone with even a passing interest in health will be pulled into the deep dives on nutritional value and fat-phobia. You can listen to Maintenance Phase on iTunes, Podlink, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Latinos Who Lunch
This alternately hilarious, raucous and touching podcast stopping creating new episodes in tk, but its entire library continues to hold up as it explores the universal themes of identity and belonging without getting too deep. Hosts FavyFav, an artist, and Babelito, a historian, are the beating heart of Latinos Who Lunch, and they’re also extremely funny. Their easy dynamic makes this longer podcast (most episodes are more than 60 minutes) a great listen on a lengthy trip.
Why is X podcast a great road trip option? You can hear both queer and Latino perspectives on issues of the day, and they cut through a lot of stereotypes in their conversations. You can listen to Latinos Who Lunch on. You can listen to Latinos who Lunch on iTunes, SoundCloud, Podbay and Spotify.
Asian Enough
Another podcast that flouts traditional perceptions of ethnicity, Asian Enough features interviews with today’s biggest Asian celebrities. The Los Angeles Times project, hosted by Jen Yamato, Johana Bhuiyan, Tracy Brown and Suhauna Hussain, features an impressive roster of guests, including Sandra Oh, Simu Liu, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and more, listening in as they discuss their identities.
Why is Asian Enough podcast a great road trip option? Each episode is very different because, duh, the Asian experience is so incredibly vast. You can listen to Asian Enough on iTunes, Podbean, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Actress Sandra Oh was a guest on the “Asian Enough” podcast.
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The Rewatchables
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is best known for sports, but he also serves up great cultural commentary in this podcast where he and his guests rewatch the most seminal movies in American cinema. Whether deconstructing the ‘80s fem-power movie Working Girl or discussing the continued merits of Pulp Fiction, The Rewatchables gang finds something new to focus on despite the movies’ long life span.
Why is The Rewatchables podcast a great road trip option? The podcast will inspire conversations about your own favorite movies, which is fun. You can listen to The Rewatchables on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Criminal
You can’t have a list of best road trip podcasts without a true crime entry. Criminal offers something for everyone—tales of hardened murderers as well as good-intentioned people who got caught up in the system. No two narratives are the same, and the storytelling style of host Phoebe Judge stands out. The podcast was named one of the best of 2023 by the New York Times.
Why is Criminal podcast a great road trip option? Since the show is not serialized, you can dip in and out of episodes based on what you’re interested in during that moment. You can listen to Criminal on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Pop Culture Podcasts
Pop culture podcasts dive into the hot topics of the day and provide new, offering sometimes nuanced, and often hilarious takes.
Vibe Check
Listening to this podcast hosted by real-life friends Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford feels like being in the company of the three funniest, coolest people who are wildly well-informed about pop culture and super smart. An episode about Beyonce’s new country album turns into a deep dive on Black culture and country music.
Why is Vibe Check podcast a great road trip option? The vibe (ahem) between the co-hosts is second to none. You can listen to Vibe Check on iTunes, Pandora, Amazon and Spotify.
Pop Culture Happy Hour
Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR serves up suggestions for the week’s best entertainment options. From books to movies to, yes, even podcasts, the hosts recommend both high- and lowbrow choices. Their commentary is part of the fun—they have an easy camaraderie that makes each episode zip along
Why is Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast a great road trip option? What better way to spend time than planning out the entertainment you’ll enjoy once you reach your destination. You can listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Las Culturistas
Comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) host this smorgasbord of pop culture content, which has twice been named an iHeartRadio best podcast. The two have teamed since 2016, serving up their unique, hilarious observations about everything from Pokémon cards to White Lotus to the Tony Awards.
Why is Las Culturistas podcast a great road trip option? Rogers and Yang’s witty, easy banter will make the miles fly by. You can listen to Las Culturistas on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Bowen Yang attends the Las Culturistas Culture Awards at Kings Theatre on June 15, 2024 in New York … More
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Decoder Ring
Slate’s podcast hosted by Willa Paskin does a deep dive on the history, meaning and significance of pop culture touchpoints. Her take stands out from other options thanks to a broad definition of pop culture. She might examine labeling one week and the “Boston cinematic universe” (think Ben Affleck and police dramas) the next.
Why is Decoder Ring podcast a great road trip option? The podcast invites you to think about things in a new way, which will distract you from road trip boredom. You can listen to Decoder Ring on iTunes, Player FM, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Cannonball
This New York Times venture features critic Wesley Morris (who hosted Still Processing with J Wortham) interviewing artists and writers about the current times. Cannonball is perfectly titled, as the host and guests dive headfirst into complex issues and work out their thoughts in real time. It also gets personal even while tackling topics like the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial and the legacy of Paul Reubens.
Why is Cannonball podcast a great road trip option? Morris is a smart, smooth host whose insights illuminate culture in an entirely new light. You can listen to Cannonball on iTunes, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Sports Podcasts
Sports podcasts may cover sports generally or home in on one particular league or topic.
Served With Andy Roddick
Served With Andy Roddick is dubbed “a tennis podcast with a new spin,” but it’s so much more than this glib description. Former world No. 1 player Roddick provides near-daily commentary during tennis’s majors, two of which fall in the summer, yet he also offers more, such as an episode diving into fertility support and maternity leave on the women’s tour.
Why is Served With Andy Roddick podcast a great road trip option? Roddick offers informed opinions and content relevant to even those who’ve never picked up a racket. You can listen to Served With Andy Roddick on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
A Touch More
World champion athletes (and longtime couple) Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe know something about athletic achievement; Bird won four WNBA titles and five Olympic gold women’s basketball medals, while Rapinoe earned two Women’s World Cup titles and a soccer gold medal. Their podcast, A Touch More, covers every aspect of women’s sports with their expert insights.
Why is A Touch More podcast a great road trip option? The natural chemistry between Bird and Rapinoe enhances the already-interesting subject matter. You can listen to A Touch More on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
30 for 30
ESPN’s exceptional 30 for 30 short documentary series found the perfect format with this audio version. The producers delve into sometimes mainstream, sometimes obscure topics, such as the woman who wanted to run an ultramarathon against a horse and a longform project on amateur ice hockey player Hobey Baker.
Why is 30 for 30 podcast a great road trip option? Even people who don’t love sports will love the stories about them, which are really more about people. You can listen to 30 for 30 on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
After the Whistle
The perfect mix of sports and pop culture, After the Whistle is nominally a podcast about hockey—but it’s also about so much more, like exploring rumors and misinformation related to reporting on the NHL and sports psychology. Hosts Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet also do deep dives into NHL trades, coaching moves and playoffs.
Why is After the Whistle podcast a great road trip option? Hockey fans will find the in-depth coverage informative, but even non-NHL aficionados will enjoy the entertainment value. You can listen to After the Whistle on iTunes, Podchaser, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
The NFL’s most celebrated brother act, former Philadelphia Eagle Jason Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, have the most entertaining podcast about the NFL. They talk candidly about the league and the game they love, while also giving each other a (lovingly) hard time.
Why is New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce podcast a great road trip option? The Kelce brothers are very entertaining—and if you don’t like football, maybe you simply want to hear Taylor Swift’s boyfriend (Travis). You can listen to New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Shorter-Form Podcasts
Shorter-form podcasts are not serialized and usually last less than a half-hour.
Retropod
History is a popular podcast subject, but rarely do you find such a perfectly bite-sized bit of history. Nearly every episode of this podcast from the Washington Post is under 10 minutes, delivering a digestible overview of an obscure or long-forgotten historical episode. Topics include profiles of famous athletes, overviews of scandals and discussions of important relationships.
Why is Retropod podcast a great road trip option? You can listen to dozens in one sitting while learning lots of interesting trivia. You can listen to Retropod on iTunes, Podchaser, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Grammar Girl
Who says grammar is dry? No one who’s ever listened to this podcast, which provides quick grammar lessons and background on all types of word-related topics. A typical episode, hosted by Mignon Fogarty, might cover the history of emojis or a deep dive on a tricky plural word. Most episodes are under 20 minutes.
Why is Grammar Girl podcast a great road trip option? It is possible to have fun while you learn, and Fogarty offers equal part entertainment and education. You can listen to Grammar Girl on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
LeVar Burton Reads
Actor LeVar Burton remains famous for hosting Reading Rainbow, and his mellifluous voice is perfect for reading short stories by famous authors. Each episode is generally under an hour, and since they’re all single stories, you can listen to one and then move to another podcast if you like. Burton’s list includes stories by Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Percival Everett and other literary greats.
Why is LeVar Burton Reads podcast a great road trip option? The short episodes offer a palate cleanser between seasons of other shows. You can listen to LeVar Burton Reads on iTunes, Podchaser, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
LeVar Burton, hosts of the wonderful podcast “LeVar Burton Reads.”
Getty Images for STARZ
60-Second Space
Science journalists sum up important, amusing or off-the-wall space stories in just a minute on this innovative podcast from Scientific American. Some subjects may be familiar, such as planets, while others may send you racing to the internet once you reach your destination to look up more on the subject.
Why is 60-Second Space podcast a great road trip option? You can listen to the episodes at the end of the trip, as you near your destination but still need a bit more entertainment to make it there. You can listen to 60-Second Space on iTunes and Player FM.
15-Minute History
This project from the University of Texas at Austin offers a platform for discussions about critical historical events—yes, broken up into 15-minute segments. While it’s envisioned as a resource for teachers or students, everyone will enjoy the accessible approach to history and focus on topics such as court packing, student protests and historical films and fiction.
Why is 15-Minute History podcast a great road trip option? Listeners will learn a lot about a diverse range of subjects. You can listen to 15-Minute History on iTunes, Podchaser, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Longer-Form Podcasts
Longer-form podcasts might explore a single topic for an entire season or serve up single episodes that are 60 minutes or longer.
History Impossible
With the tagline “historical events and people you wouldn’t believe, History Impossible explores lesser-known figures, moments and movements in history, such as Revolutionary War spy James Armistead Lafayette, an enslaved man. The podcast doesn’t shy away from difficult topics and encourages listeners to spend time thinking about them.
Why is History Impossible podcast a great road trip option? Any podcast that makes you think about your role in history is worthwhile. You can listen to History Impossible on iTunes, Wondery, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Slow Burn
A narrative history podcast from Slate, Slow Burn focuses each season on a single subject, conducting new research and interviews to reexamine what you thought you knew about a subject. Past focuses have included Watergate, Bill Clinton’s impeachment and the Iraq War.
Why is Slow Burn podcast a great road trip option? Seasons are the perfect length for completing a trip. You can listen to Slow Burn on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Leon Neyfakh, who hosted the first two seasons of Slate’s “Slow Burn.”
Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Swindled
This true crime podcast isn’t just telling stories. Its purpose is to uncover and expose greed, and it has a mysterious backstory—it’s run by someone dubbing themselves “Concerned Citizen” and aims to bring greed into the public eye. Schemes the podcast has exposed include Ponzi schemes, embezzlement and other corruption.
Why is Swindled podcast a great road trip option? Listening to these 75-minute-plus stories may inspire you to push for more transparency in your own life. You can listen to Swindled on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Rabbit Hole
The New York Times has produced a lot of excellent podcasts, and Rabbit Hole, hosted by tech reporter Kevin Roose, is near the top. It follows people who have been radicalized by the internet, going down “rabbit holes” where they find wild conspiracy theories and somehow become convinced of them. The eight-part series showcases exceptional research.
Why is Rabbit Hole podcast a great road trip option? You get roughly eight hours of content that will make you reconsider your mindless scrolling. You can listen to Rabbit Hole on iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Bone Valley
The first season of this excellent true crime longform podcast tells the story of a man who was wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder. Bone Valley fleshes out every character so well, you can understand everyone’s choices, even when they are wrong. A second season follows the son of the real killer and explores forgiveness.
Why is Bone Valley podcast a great road trip option? The depth of reporting and skillful storytelling will make the miles whiz past. You can listen to Bone Valley on iTunes, Player FM, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify.
Bottom Line
Whatever your taste, from pop culture to sports, you will enjoy a better road trip when you choose one of these outstanding podcasts to listen to as you cruise to your destination.
