Around this time last year, I put together a list of the five best podcasts to listen to while driving cross-country. As someone who has traveled from coast to coast quite a few times, I’d like to think I have some sort of weird authority when it comes to staying entertained while behind the wheel. Since creators are constantly coming up with ingenious and unique podcasts every day, here’s an updated list of the best podcasts of 2018 (so far) to listen to on a road trip.
Need a New Ride for Your Road Trip? Check out these great choices for your new car
Keep It
If there was ever a time where you thought, “I wish this thing didn’t exist. Why did this become a thing?” you’ll most likely enjoy Keep It from culture critic Ira Madison III. Dubbed as a “show about pop culture, politics, and what happens when they smack into each other at alarming speed,” Madison III is joined each week by politicians, comedians, actors, and more to discuss what everyone is currently obsessing over, whether it be something fantastic or something so horribly annoying. Hot topics in the past have included Rachel Dolezal’s Netflix documentary, the cancellation of Roseanne, and an in-depth conversation about Childish Gambino’s “This is America” music video.
The Gender Knot
To me, there’s no better way to explain what men can do to help women achieve equality than having an actual human woman speak on these topics. Nastaran Tavakoli-Far does just that on The Gender Knot with her co-host Jonathan Freeman, as the pair discusses topics like the #MeToo movement and the atrocious act of mansplaining. Other thought-provoking episodes include conversations on homophobia within the gay community and women in the business world. Season three just started up, but there are 40 episodes from the first two seasons that’ll last a good while during your road trip.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
How many fairytale stories involve a fair maiden being saved from evil by a strapping young prince? Almost all of them, right? Well, if you’ve got a young child in the car and want to instill the idea that girls can be just as independent and tough as boys, tune in to Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. The podcast is based off the best-selling book of the same name, with authors Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli adding a bit more of an emotional touch with personal takes on the stories of strong women in history.
Binge Mode
The era of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime has allowed anyone willing to pay a monthly subscription the ability to watch as many episodes of their favorite show as they want. Binge Mode taps into the cultural phenomena of the world like the Harry Potter franchise and, of course, Game of Thrones. While some pop culture recap episodes can often lack direction or structure, The Ringer’s Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion have a setup that works and keeps you listening, episode after episode after episode after episode…
Alt.Latino
Latinx culture and influence is on the rise in America, with songs like “Despacito” and “Havana” dominating the charts for months. Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd (with occasional guest host Jessica Diaz-Hurtado) discuss a variety of topics with journalists, musicians, and DJs via NPR’s Alt.Latino podcast. The program goes in-depth on the impact of successful Latinx artists and their work, while also broaching larger topics like sexism, feminism, and identity.
Budget-Friendly Options: Under $15,000 vehicles
Ben never thought he’d be writing about cars for a living, but here he is, knowing more about the Kia Stinger than he’d care to admit. When he’s not devoting his time to researching engine specs and other oh-so-exciting car details, he can be found enjoying time with his wife and dogs. See more articles by Ben.