20 Absolutely Essential Podcasts For A Road Trip (The Master List)

Post Summary: Best Podcasts For A Road Trip For Long Car Drives

Alright, we’ve heard you loud and clear! One of our most frequently asked questions (besides what camera gear we use!) is what podcasts we listen to on road trips!

Being travel photographers, Berty and I are in the car all. the. freaking. time. This means we’ve clocked plenty of podcast hours learning new things about running our business, gasping at terrible true crime stories, and binge-listening to commentary on the latest Bachelor episodes.

We know there are THOUSANDS of amazing podcasts out there, but we’re here to share our personal favorites with you. We’ll continue to add to this list as we discover new ones, too!

Let’s get listening!

Podcasts For A Road Trip - TheMandagies.com

Psst….To make it a little bit easier to navigate this blog post, we’re breaking down our favorite road trip podcasts into different categories. This way you can use the table of contents to jump to your favorite genre, and get downloading your favorites ASAP!

Additionally, we are always looking for new shows and recommendations. If you think you’ve found the perfect podcast for a road trip and you want to share it, tell us all about it in the comments below! If we love it, we’ll add it to our list and credit you for recommending it to us!

Our Absolute Favorite Podcasts For A Road Trip (The Master List)

EASY LISTENING PODCASTS

Just want to be entertained? Some of our favorite road trip podcasts to listen to include TV recap shows, commentary from internet celebrities, and fun stories about things that went on in history! Here’s our current list of podcast favorites:


Love To See It

If you’re a lover of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, or really any of their many spinoff shows, this is definitely the podcast for you!

Emma Gray and Claire Fallon share snarky and playful commentary and recaps of the latest Bachelor Nation episodes, with comments on its ridiculousness while also loving every second of it.

It feels like the juiciest gossip with your closest girlfriends making for very easy listening on long road trips!

Download Here to Make Friends on iTunes.


The Dirtbag Diaries

Love a good adventure story? Engage in exciting outdoor tales from the rugged cliffs of Denali to the local high school shop class. Hosted by the outdoor brand, Patagonia, The Dirtbag Diaries is filled with inspiring stories that immerse your imagination.

Go To The DD Website


Office Ladies

Calling all fans of The Office! This is literally the podcast we’ve all been waiting for, an episode by episode recap/behind-the-scenes look at each episode hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey (Pam and Angela).

They share fun facts about the episode, behind-the-scenes info about the filming on the show, and fond memories of characters and actors alike as they recap episodes with guest speakers and more.

This is one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you love the show!

Download Office Ladies on iTunes.


What We Said Podcast

What We Said Podcast is hosted by Jaci Marie Smith and Chelsey Jade Curtis in a fun, banter-style podcast about life as young creatives. It’s one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you want an easy listening episode.

Best friends in real life, these two talk about everything from funny high school memories, their journeys into entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyles, and more!

We especially love their episodes when they ask the audience to submit a story and they share them in one single episode. It’s fun to hear about bad dates, scary stories, and lots of other random things for a fun podcast for road trips.

Download What We Said Podcast on iTunes.


Young House Love Has A Podcast

This one is actually more of a DIY home podcast than easy listening, but we can’t help but put it in this category for John and Sherry’s fun banter and lighthearted stories about their life at home!

From a very real obsession with LED lights to fun ways to tackle home projects, these two give really practical advice on how to upgrade your home and fit your specific needs.

Download Young House Love Has A Podcast on iTunes.


TRUE CRIME PODCASTS

Sometimes the shock of a truly horrendous murder can keep you alert on the road. (Does that make us bad people by saying that?) Here are some of our favorite true crime podcasts for a road trip that will keep you alert!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is a true-crime podcast hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat that gets straight to the facts and tells us all the nitty-gritty details about the strangest, most shocking, and legendary crimes of our past.

Not only do they cover high-profile crimes, but they also share stories about missing persons, conspiracies, and real-time cases for an exciting way to learn about today’s stories.

We love this podcast because of its compelling storytelling, but also its consistent call to action for support on topics that matter most to you. We appreciate that they give shoutouts to local groups that are doing some heavy lifting on some of these cases and that they share ways you can support crime-fighting organizations and make a difference, too!

Download Crime Junkie on iTunes.


My Favorite Murder

My Favorite Murder is hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and is a true-crime COMEDY podcast. These two genres may not seem like they would go well together, but Georgia’s sarcastic comments and Karen’s witty banter make for easier listening on some of the world’s most unnerving topics.

Come for the murder, but stay for their pre-show back and forth banter as you get to know Karen and Georgia, their personal lives, funny moments from their tours, and more!

Download My Favorite Murder on iTunes.


The Dropout

While this may not be the murderous true-crime podcast you’d expect, The Dropout is still the story of a crime…and it’s true!

Set in the late 2000s/early 2010s, The Dropout tells the story of the Silicon Valley superstar Elizabeth Holmes who became a billionaire with her genius idea of a blood test as small as a finger prick that can detect hundreds of diseases.

From interviews with people closest to her, you soon discover that this isn’t quite the case…and the story is still going on today!

Download The Dropout on iTunes.


POP CULTURE PODCASTS

Who doesn’t love a good internet story? From viral memes to online sensations, we listen to these pop culture podcasts on road trips to keep us up to date on the latest trends!

The Last Podcast On The Left

The Last Podcast On The Left is hosted by three long-time friends Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski, and they share weird, terrible, strange, and outrageous horror stories. They lean into the dark side of history and culture, covering everything from cults to zombies, haunted towns to serial killers, and so much more!

If you don’t mind lots of crass words, dirty jokes, and people raising their voices and talking over one another, you’ll get a kick out of Henry, Marcus, and Ben.

Download The Last Podcast On The Left on iTunes.


Motherhacker

Motherhacker is an extremely binge-worthy story broken up into short 9 15-minute episodes. Only one season (so far), it follows the story of a mother who keeps getting spammy calls to her cellphone in the middle of her hectic and stressful life.

After being scammed, she’s determined to get her money back and enters a deep dark world of online thieves that she can’t escape…

Download Motherhacker on iTunes.


The Facebook Files

The Wall Street Journal and Gimlet present the Facebook Files, an investigative series diving into internal Facebook documents, revealing how the social media mogul works from the inside. From whitelisting celebrity posts to not protecting their users, this is a unique perspective on how the social media giant works. This is an ongoing series!

Read more about The Facebook Files Here.


Reply All

Reply All is simply a podcast about the internet and life online. From viral sensations, extraordinary memes, and black-market social media username thieves, Reply All breaks down the mystery of it all and reveals the unique and strange humans behind it all.

One of our favorite parts of their show is when their boss comes to the hosts, PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, to break down tweets on Twitter that he doesn’t understand. It’s an incredible program breaking down the nuances of popular culture and understanding how they are interpreted in everyday life. This road trip podcast is a must-listen for any good adventure!

Some of our favorite Reply All Episodes:

  • #102, #103 Long Distance Call (Part 1 and 2)
  • #130 The Snapchat Thief
  • #56 Zardulu
  • #76 Lost In A Cab
  • #83 Voyage Into Pizzagate
  • #29 The Takeover

Download Reply All on iTunes.


PODCASTS FOR LEARNING NEW THINGS

Sometimes the best podcasts for a road trip include learning something new! These contemplative and informative podcasts for road trips will make you smarter, wiser, and ready to learn about a new perspective or idea.

Stuff You Should Know

Satisfy your curiosity with this podcast that takes a deep dive into different topics. Stuff You Should Know is a program by iHeartRadio, and you can download episodes based on your own personal curiosities. No need to commit to a season-long story, pick a random topic that sparks your interest!

Listen To Stuff You Should Know here.


No Small Thing

No Small Thing is a podcast dedicated to living a curious life, and treating every topic with the attention and appreciation it deserves! Scott and Macie are the hosts of NST, and their perfect blend of varying perspectives, generations, and unique guests brings many perspectives to the table when discussing things.

Some of their most popular content is around the Enneagram and defense mechanisms, and they have a huge list of recommended episodes to encourage self-reflection and discovering new things about yourself.

It’s one of the best podcasts for a road trip if you want to self-reflect!

Download No Small Thing on iTunes.


Armchair Expert

Dax Shepard is the host of Armchair Expert and every episode celebrates the disorganized, chaotic journey that is humankind. In each episode, Dax dives in deep with incredible guests that have interesting life stories to share, and we as the listeners get to hear from people from all walks of life.

From actresses to bounty hunters, TV show hosts to psychologists, Dax isn’t afraid to ask hard questions and dive into what makes us unique. As a recovering drug addict himself, he’s not afraid to go deep, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the most honest and engaging dialogues on the internet today!

Download Armchair Expert on iTunes.


Ear Hustle

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a US correctional facility, East Hustle is giving you the inside scoop! Hosted out of San Quentin State Prison just north of San Francisco, Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, along with Antwan Williams, bring light to life in prison.

From what they eat on a daily basis to roommate drama to conjugal visits, Ear Hustle brings honest stories about life behind bars to the curious listener. You get to hear life stories of people in prison and the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and all the while growing in a deeper understanding and compassion for the people around you.

Download Ear Hustle on iTunes.


Sleeping At Last Podcast

The Sleeping at Last Podcast is hosted by Ryan O’Neal and his ethereal music is the star of the show.

In each episode, he breaks down one of his songs and everything that went into making it. From specific tempos to chosen instruments, thoughtful lyrics to hidden messages, he shares it all!

One of his most popular sets of episodes is his Enneagram series. Ryan O’Neal crafted a song for each of the 9 Enneagram types and beautifully reflects each type and their unique traits. Just like his other song episodes, he breaks down the thoughts behind the music, with special guest Chris Heuertz giving Enneagram commentary throughout.

Download Sleeping At Last on iTunes.


Invisibilia

Invisibilia is a podcast from NPR (National Public Radio) discussing the hidden forces that drive social behavior. Some of these episodes have been incredibly thought-provoking for Berty and I, sparking interesting conversations on our long road trips.

Invisibilia brings on guests to chat about empathy, vulnerability, fear, and more for a really raw look into the social behaviors of today’s humans.

Download Invisibilia on NPR.


How Do You Deal With…

How Do You Deal With is a podcast by Joelle Riding where she dives deep into questions that many people are too afraid to ask! From failure to van life to long-distance relationships, Joelle brings on guests that aren’t afraid to tackle these tough topics.

Her welcoming spirit and genuine curiosity to know the heart of her guests really shine through her episodes!

Download HDYDW on Spotify.


PODCASTS ABOUT BLOGGING, SOCIAL MEDIA, + BUSINESS

Are you searching for podcasts for a road trip about bettering your business, blog, or social media strategy? Here are some of our favorite small business podcasts. We learn so much from these people and we hope you can give them a listen!

The Blogging Millionaire

Looking for easy ways to implement new strategies when blogging and writing articles online?

Brandon Gaille shares bite-sized tips on blogging, productivity, and the latest strategies for growing your web platform. His short, 10-ish-minute episodes are packed with information to help you grow your audience step by step in a meaningful and thoughtful way.

Download The Blogging Millionaire on iTunes.


The Influencer Podcast

The Influencer Podcast was one of the first entrepreneurship podcasts we listened to! Julie Solomon is an online course creator, social media marketing expert, and all-around cheerleader for women in the content creation industry.

She brings on inspiring guest speakers, dives deep into topics like growing email lists, connecting with brands, and so much more for authentic influencer goodness!

Download The Influencer Podcast on iTunes.


How I Built This

How I Built This is a podcast by Guy Raz that sits down with the people who have built incredible companies that shape our lives today.

From the people who created Lyft, Zapps, Lululemon, Away bags, and more, you get to hear from the founders themselves on the humble beginnings of their businesses! We like to listen to these podcasts for a road trip because it inspires us to better our own business.

It’s one of the most inspiring podcasts for a road trip if you are an aspiring entrepreneur!

Download How I Built This on iTunes.


So…what are some of your favorite podcasts for a road trip? Do you like to listen to music, books, podcasts, or a mix of all three? Let us know in the comments below!

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4 Comments

  1. This is a great list! I thought I was a podcast fanatic, but I haven’t heard of a bunch you mentioned here. I definitely want to try out How Do you Deal With…, Reply All, What We Said, and The Blogging Millionaire. I love Dax, Invisibilia, and How I Built This — they are soo good.

    The ones that I would recommend are:
    True Crime:
    1) Casefile – hosted by an Australian guy who has an awesome accent. The podcast itself goes into gory details of some of the most horrific murders all over the world
    2) Criminal – hosted by Phoebe Judge. This was actually the first podcast I’ve ever heard and I have been loyal since then. She talks about stories of crimes that have happened and interviews the criminal. Not all are quality, but the ones that are make up for it! The ones I would recommend are episode #1 “Animal Instincts”, #51 “The Money Tree”, I’ll actually give you this link since I can’t remember them all haha! https://www.ranker.com/list/best-criminal-podcast-episodes/ranker-podcast.
    3) Serial – if you haven’t listened to season 1 of Serial then drop everything and do it now! But I a m assuming you did since this was more popular than Regina George when it came out.

    Pop Culture:
    1) Binge Mode – if you are a Harry Potter, GOT, or Star Wars fan, this is really great for you! The hosts go into detail of all the episodes and book chapters in a fun and enticing way! This is great listening for longer travel!

    Science:
    1) Hidden Brain – goes into the science behind why we think and behave the way we do
    2) Freakonomics
    3) Revisionist History – don’t know if you’ve heard of Malcolm Gladwell, but you need to listen to this regardless! Season 1 is GREAT (but it kind of goes downhill from there). The podcast “explores events in the past that have been overlooked or misunderstood”.

    1. Hi! and WOW! What great recommendations! Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed list!

  2. Leaving tomorrow for a long trip so thank you! If you don’t know it, download Twain’s Feast by Nick Offerman on Audible. If you love his weird brain and mark Twain, you’ll be smiling and fascinated for about 187 miles

    1. Hi Patricia! I’m so glad you liked our list! Thanks so much for the audiobook recommendation too, we’ll have to check it out!