5 podcasts to get you through your travels

When preparing for an upcoming getaway, packing doesn’t just involve what you need when you get there, but what you’ll need while you’re getting there. Snacks, a cozy hoodie or blanket, and a travel pillow, among other things are necessities during a flight, road trip or scenic train ride. Unless you plan on sleeping during your travels (which is always a viable option), entertainment options will need to be thought of and planned ahead, too.

While there’s a lot to choose from these days, not everything will match your desired vibe once you’re on your way. Maybe music or a TV show is too much, but silence or the random chatter from other travelers isn’t cutting it either. Enter: podcasts. Over the past few years, podcast popularity has been on a rapid incline, among listeners and creators. According to Buzzsprout, there are 120 million podcast listeners in the U.S. and over 420 million listeners in the world, while Podcast Index estimates that there are roughly 4.1 million podcasts.

Whether you’re new to podcasts or need something different to add to your library, there’s something for everyone. Check out these five shows during your next trip. Oh, and don’t forget your headphones.

If you want a little bit of everything, listen to: Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

“Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.”

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

If you’re a music lover, listen to: Song Exploder (Hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway)

“Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording.”

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

If you want to feel like you’re hagning out with friends, listen to: The Read (Hosted by Kid Fury and Crissle)

“Join bloggers Kid Fury and Crissle for their weekly podcast covering hip-hop and pop culture’s most trying stars. Throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude, no star is safe from Fury and Crissle unless their name is Beyoncé. (Or Blue Ivy.) As transplants to New York City (Kid Fury from Miami and Crissle from Oklahoma City), The Read also serves as an on-air therapy session for two friends trying to adjust to life (and rats) in the big city.”

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

If you want to feel nostalgic, listen to: The Afternoon Special (Hosted by Bobbi Miller)

“Your friend who knows just a little bit too much about pop culture. Each week, join Bobbi Miller as she takes deep dives into everything in pop culture that you never knew to ask about, but now need the answer to. ‘I started The Afternoon Special as a series of videos on TikTok to keep me sane in the beginning of the pandemic. Soon, I decided to take my pop culture love to podcasts and The Afternoon Special Podcast was born,’ says Bobbi Miller, host and creator of the show, which was chosen as the Apple Podcasts’ Spotlight pick for March 2023. Bobbi, who describes herself on the show as ‘your friend who knows just a little bit too much about pop culture’ takes her audience on an eclectic deep dive of topics that range from adult animation to vampires in media, and what makes the perfect holiday special.”

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

If you want to nurture and honor your soul, listen to: The NUDE Podcast (Hosted by Tyler Riley)

“NUDE is changing the narrative around vulnerability. Being vulnerable and sharing our authentic selves leads to connection and fulfillment; however, those processes aren’t always easy. Tyler uses NUDE as a public diary with the intention of liberating herself and her listeners from limiting beliefs and behaviors. Be well. Be real. Be NUDE.”

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. When she’s not working on a story, Roshae enjoys cooking, watching and analyzing reality TV, and spending time with family and friends.

This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 8:00 AM with the headline "5 podcasts to get you through your travels."