13 Podcasts for Your Holiday Travel
Do you have a long trip ahead? In a car with people of different tastes? It’s road trip season, and if you need a podcast to keep you entertained in the car, this list will help. You can watch short stories about family drama and scams, or dive into real-life sagas of catfishing, CIA conspiracies, and a missing crypto queen. The miles will fly by and you’ll instantly find yourself at your in-laws’ table eating turkey.
On the way to
Over the Road explores the world of long-haul trucking and the experiences of truckers who cross the United States and beyond to deliver goods. It’s driven by “Long Haul Paul” Marhofer, an experienced truck driver himself, which gives the proceedings an air of authenticity. Through personal stories, interviews and soundscapes, you are put in the passenger seat and observe the lives of truckers (men and women) – their challenges, adventures and the unique subculture that exists within the industry. It’s filled with personal stories, but it also takes a step back to talk about the impact of technology and changing regulations. It’s a storytelling show that you can enjoy anywhere, but it’s the perfect thing to listen to while you’re on the go.
Habitat
Habitat is a serialized (real) documentary about a fake community on Mars (actually located in Mauna Loa, Hawaii). Six volunteers were invited to live there to work as fake astronauts for one (very real) year, a simulated mission known as the Hawaiian Islands Space Exploration Analogue and Simulation (HI-SEAS). Host (and Radiolab alumna) Lynn Levy followed along. experiment from the very beginning, collecting comments from participants through audio diaries and occasionally asking them questions that reflect their daily experiences – the joys, annoyances, isolation, frustration of surviving on freeze-dried food and their developing relationships (there’s some communication there).
The wind of change
You may know the hit ballad “Wind of Change” by the Scorpions, but did you know there’s a conspiracy theory behind it? Released in 1990, “Wind of Change” became an anthem of hope and change in the final years of the Cold War and is often associated with the fall of the Berlin Wall. But journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has a theory that the CIA secretly wrote the song as part of a psychological operation aimed at influencing public sentiment in Eastern Europe and hastening the end of the conflict. In the Winds of Change podcast, Patrick interviews former CIA employees, music industry insiders, members of the Scorpions and others who were part of the music scene during this era, attempting to chart historical events and uncover documents that might support or debunk the theory.
The Missing Crypto Queen
The Lost Crypto Queen investigates the mysterious and disturbing story of Dr. Ruja Ignatova, the Bulgarian entrepreneur who founded OneCoin, a cryptocurrency widely considered one of the biggest cryptocurrency scams in history. Hosted by journalist and presenter Jamie Bartlett, it unfolds as an investigative thriller that chronicles the rise and fall of Ruja Ignatova and her cryptocurrency venture. Dr. Ruja promised to create a “Bitcoin killer” with OneCoin, and he managed to amass a significant following and raise billions of dollars from unsuspecting investors around the world. She presented herself as a visionary leader but suddenly disappeared in 2017, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and angry investors. The Lost Crypto Queen follows the efforts of a group of people who were victims of a scam as they try to uncover the truth about what happened to her. Featuring interviews with people who knew her, law enforcement officials, financial experts, and others who were involved or influenced by OneCoin, this book may not give you all the answers you need, but it will keep you excited between stops for relax.
Dear Prudence
Dear Prudence host Jeni Desmond-Harris brings Slate’s flagship advice column to your ears, inviting guests to answer listener’s burning questions about relationships, work and life. Is it ever possible to ghost a friend? What if your friend wants to bring her kids to a party at a winery? Should you donate sperm to your ex? Can you ask your brother, rather than your father, to walk you down the aisle at your wedding? This is a great conversation starter for everyone in the car—you can even pause between questions to come up with your own answers (as long as you think things won’t get too heated).
Is it true
Pravda features audio dramas and fictional stories reminiscent of radio dramas. Created by Jonathan Mitchell and first released in 2012, it is known for its high-quality production and innovative storytelling techniques, with each episode being a self-contained story exploring different genres and themes. While these stories usually challenge your perceptions and play on the boundaries between fiction and reality, they are also often fun and filled with completely original ideas. There’s something for everyone here – science fiction, romance and the mundane aspects of human nature. I always tell people who say they don’t like fiction podcasts to try Pravda and come back to me – it’s your gateway drug into the world of audio drama, and it’s great for car trips because you can immerse yourself in one story and then move on. to the next, and there’s something for everyone in the car, including the kids!
Dear Bobby
Want to see a wild true crime story about love and deception? Sweet Bobby is an investigative series about the world’s most sophisticated cat catcher as he hunted Kirat, a British woman who was the victim of a sophisticated scam that unfolded over eight years and involved up to 60 (entirely fictional) characters. The sweet Bobby in question was a handsome cardiologist whom Kirat met online. They developed a close friendship that blossomed into a romance, although they never met in real life. It turns out that Bobby was a real person whose identity was stolen by a scammer, and the resulting story is so strange and disturbing that it will have you locked in for every second – and will make the miles fly by.
Opportunist
The Opportunist is an episodic crime show, with some stories spanning multiple episodes so you can really get into the swing of things. Each one tells the story of someone who took advantage of others for personal gain and an invitation into a world of unethical wilderness therapy programs, corrupt churches, crooked cults, and more. Result? Fraud, manipulation and exploitation are not just one car ride away. Through detailed storytelling , The Opportunist sheds light on the dark side of human behavior and the impact of deception on both individuals and communities. It’s absolutely addictive. Once you burst, you just can’t stop.
Skyline Drive
There are many astrology podcasts out there, but none are as beautifully made or presented with such unbiased journalism and storytelling as Skyline Drive . You think you’re getting an investigation into the role of astrology in history (such as the fact that Reagan consulted an astrologer about key White House decisions), but then, almost by accident, host Mangesh Hattikudur gets into his own life story as a second-generation immigrant after as an astrologer predicts a tragedy that grips the series, turning it into a personal memoir about family, loss and the stars above. (I hope there are tissues in the car.)
S-Town
S-Town is a narrative nonfiction podcast created by the producers of Serial and This American Life . It tells the story of John B. McLemore, a small-town Alabama resident who contacts journalist Brian Reed to investigate a murder and other perceived injustices in his town. While investigating the murder, Reed meets the eccentric and troubled McLemore and understands his complex relationship with his hometown. The stunning third episode of S-Town takes listeners down a path that seems completely unexpected. This is a story about a murder, but more importantly, about the man who led Reed to the scene of the alleged crime.
In the dark
The first season of Into the Dark , hosted by Madeleine Baran, chronicles the case of Jacob Wetterling, a Minnesota boy who was abducted in 1989 and remained missing for 27 years until his remains were discovered in 2016. It’s exciting, but for this list, I want to direct you to season two, which follows the case of Curtis Flowers, a man who was tried six times for the same crime in Mississippi. Madeleine and her team conducted extensive research to examine the flaws in the case against him and highlight how race and politics may have influenced the prosecution’s efforts. “Into the Dark” became famous for uncovering new evidence, an alternative suspect, and possible evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court cited reporting about the show in deciding to overturn Flowers’ conviction, but only after he had spent 23 years in prison.
America Dolly Parton
Whether you’re young or old, conservative or progressive, vegan or carnivore, you love Dolly Parton. In Dolly Parton’s America, you’ll hear the story of the queen of country music, from her humble beginnings to worldwide fame. He was introduced by Jud Abumrad (formerly of Radiolab ), who learned that his father was a passing acquaintance of Parton and successfully used this connection to gain access to the country music legend. Get the inside scoop, from the enduring power of “Jolene” to the delights of her Dollywood theme park.
Family Travel Trivia Podcast
This may seem a little obvious, but that’s only because it’s too perfect. If you’re looking for something the whole family can listen to together, check out the Family Road Trivia Trivia Podcast , brought to you by Brittany and Meredith, who will test your knowledge of pop culture, video games, geography, Disney, Harry Potter, and science. , Star Wars and much more. It’s a game you can play that will make long car rides more bearable. Episodes are grouped by theme, so take turns letting those on your journey choose which rabbit hole to explore.