For many millennials and the intellectually curious, the last 5 years have felt like the height of podcasts both in terms of diversity and available information. Podcasts are a great way to learn about something new or hear about something you are passionate about! There is a podcast out there for everything under the sun. Personally, I always listen to podcasts when I’m in the car. Many people like myself are taking road trips this year. odcasts can be the perfect sidekick for your next trip. These last few months I have been on a mission to find some unique podcasts for you in this exact scenario. You might have heard of a few of them, but hopefully you find at least one new one to enjoy!
#1: The Popcast
I originally heard about this podcast from a friend on Instagram last October and now I listen to it every week! The Popcast is a pop culture podcast with really great structure. The Popcast focuses on current pop culture events, but they also have topics like The No’s of Parenting, Deep Dives of Bridesmaid (and other movies!) and Urban Dictionary Episodes. I remember the first episode I listened to was Gingers in Pop Culture and I couldn’t stop laughing the entire time! One of the best parts of The Popcast is at the end of each episode they have red lights and green lights, where they provide recommendations and conclusions. These lights can be anything, ranging from a tv show, movie, book, a person or even a situation.
#2: Twenty Thousand Hertz
A friend of mine recommended this podcast and it is one of the most unique ones I’ve found! Twenty Thousand Hertz is all about unique sounds and their origins. It could be a sound you’ve heard before like the Pew Pew from Star Wars, or sounds you may have forgotten about like 20th Century Fox movies or when you click on a new Netflix show. From education about sound creation to how this niche industry operates, the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast is nothing like you’ve listened to before!
#3: Ringer Dish
Ringer Network is apparently very large in the world of podcasts, yet I have just only discovered their content! In their network, they have a pop culture podcast called Ringer Dish. Being honest, the only reason I listened to this podcast is because they did a deep dive of EVERY single Taylor Swift album. I am a pretty big swiftie and have been for some time. In these episodes, I learned so much from these episodes about Taylor as an artist and her song writing. I personally loved the 1989 Episode the most, but Every Single Album: Taylor Swift is worth a listen if you are a fan too!
#4: Milk Street Radio
A friend of mine whose fiancé loves to cook recommended this podcast to me several years ago. I finally listened this past year and I was hooked! Any foodie or cook in your life is the perfect audience for this podcast. Milk Street Radio started as a magazine that shares recipes, cook books, new restaurants, stories about food and associated culture. The podcast dives into all these subjects in-depth. The best part is their Question and Answer series at the end of each episode. These are questions you might have had in the kitchen, but that you have never figured out. They are read aloud and answered by hosts Christopher Kimball and Sara Moulton.
#5: Floodlines
For anyone who was alive in 2005, Hurricane Katrina likely impacted you or someone connected to your life. Floodlines dives deep into this catastrophic event and tells the story that many of us didn’t hear through mainstream media. This story is told with a ton of color. Utilizing a mixture of live interviews from both people who endured the storm as well as politicians charged with making decisions around the disaster relief situation. Floodlines is an 8 episode series that is fantastic for chewing up time on your next road trip. In my mind, it is a deeply rewarding series that will both shock and humble you with fresh information.
#6: Bear Brook
Bear Brook is a recommendation from my sister. She listened to the entire series while traveling from New York last year. If you are a fan of Crime Junkie or any other true crime-related podcast, this one is a fantastic listen. Centered around a puzzling case from the 1980s which left detectives stumped until new scientific breakthroughs emerged. The podcast weaves an intriguing story on how this cold case was solved over 30+ years later through new DNA and isotopic evidence. Bear Brook is a short series with only 10 episodes (3 of them were actually published with new updates post the conclusion of the original podcast).
#7: Slow Burn
I discovered this podcast a few years ago and am delighted that a new season has recently been released! My husband and I loved the first two seasons, which are centered around the Watergate Scandal and the Impeachment of Bill Clinton. The host did a fantastic job of taking us day by day through both of these events. If you are a history or politics enthusiast I highly recommend Slow Burn. The next three seasons are about the tension between Tupac and Notorious Big, the rise and fall of David Duke, and the road to the Iraq War. I’m excited to listen to the newest season in the near future!
#8: Wind of Change
You may be detecting a theme around road trips. I discovered this particular podcast during my road trip to Virginia last summer. If you are a history buff or alternatively love pop culture, Winds of Change intertwines these two subjects together in a neat and engaging manner. The host, Patrick, does a fantastic job of interviewing ex-CIA officials and locals over the course of the podcast. Do you think a pop song could influence the end of a war? Wind of Change will have you asking this question and keeping you on your toes!
#9: You’re Wrong About
I found out about this podcast from Bailey over at Whole Kitchen Sink. She shared it on Instagram about how Mike and Sarah did a deep dive on Princess Diana. As someone who is secretly obsessed with the royal family, I was instantly hooked. I love the hosts’ contrasting personalities and banter throughout the podcast. It alternates well with the factual historical information they provide. After I listened to the initial Princess Diana episode, I have also listened to other episodes of You’re Wrong About and have fallen in love with their random topics ranging from celebrities and true crime.
#10: In The Dark
I have always enjoyed classic true crime podcasts like Serial and Crime Junkies. Although, I love the individual deep dives of specific events in true crime. In the Dark season two explores one of the many flaws in our justice system through the case of Curtis Flowers. It takes you step by step through his case and his appeal. It actually goes all the way up to the supreme court. Do not google the story ahead of time! It is worth it for the suspense and the detail you get through In the Dark’s extraordinary re-telling.
There are so many podcasts out there for every type of person in the world! Road trips are a fantastic time to find a new podcast and accelerate your trip to your final destination. I hope you find a podcast, perhaps one of the above, that satisfies your intellectual cravings. Comment on the post and let me know what podcasts you have listened to!
