{"id":74431,"date":"2019-08-02T13:41:01","date_gmt":"2019-08-02T20:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=74431"},"modified":"2019-08-21T15:09:39","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T22:09:39","slug":"the-ultimate-podcast-library-for-your-next-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/social\/the-ultimate-podcast-library-for-your-next-trip","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Podcast Library for Your Next Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a young girl careening across the Southwest in my parents\u2019 minivan on cross country adventures, I had a clear understanding of how the radio worked: a quartet of miniature creatures stood tucked behind the cassette player, playing instruments or narrating talk segments. Tiny mice, or sometimes shrunken little bears, jamming to my dad\u2019s favorite Yes album. I was sure of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though I still love a good classic rock throwback, my preferred road trip audio these days comes in podcast form\u2013and I know now that the sound pumps from a magical concoction of iPhone and wireless technology, not a pocket-sized band of animals. Nothing helps miles of desolate driving or commuting to the crag pass quicker than a good story. Here are a few of the podcasts you\u2019ll find bumping through my speakers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Safety Third<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

From the creators of Duct Tape Then Beer, Safety Third is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. Hosts Paddy O\u2019Connell and Elizabeth Nakano interview\u2013and mercilessly heckle\u2013everyone from mountaineers and environmental leaders to O\u2019Connell\u2019s own parents. Come for the compelling stories, stay for the way Paddy says \u201cflippity floppitys\u201d during the Chaco commercial breaks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anything True Crime-Related<\/b><\/h4>\n

This entire genre earns a top podcast ranking, because there is nothing that helps long road trip stretches fly by like a gripping murder mystery\u2013unless I\u2019m on my way to camp solo in the woods, then it\u2019s just terrifying. Start with a classic like S-Town<\/a>, which explores an expletive-laced Alabama man, hidden treasure, and a wheels-off family feud. Then refine your crime palette with A Killing on the Cape<\/a> or Dirty John<\/a>, two storylines centered around affluent crimes on opposite coasts. <\/span>(Bonus points: Dirty John is now a TV series you can watch on Delta flights when you fly instead of drive.) <\/span><\/i>When you blow through all of those in a listening haste and still have a few state lines to cross before reaching your destination, try on Dr. Death<\/a>, Up and Vanished<\/a>, or Happy Face<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wildfire<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

Remember the Oregon wildfire in summer 2017 that left 150 hikers stranded on a trail and burned more than 48,000 acres in the Columbia River Gorge? This REI-produced series dives deep into the Eagle Creek Fire with six episodes that combine powerful storytelling and first-person testimony with scientific and political perspectives that help listeners gain understanding on the impacts of wildfires and how we can move forward in managing them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wait Wait…Don\u2019t Tell Me<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

Watching the news is depressing\u2013and staying up to date on current events via social media is like diving headfirst into a perennial dumpster fire\u2013but we need to keep tabs on what\u2019s happening in the world around us, right? Cue Wait Wait Don\u2019t Tell Me, my all-time favorite audio delight. This NPR show turns the weekly news into a side-splitting gameshow where the points don\u2019t make sense and panelists constantly interrupt to mock everything from the White House to pop culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She Explores<\/a> & Women on the Road<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

These sister shows are the holy grail of podcasts for women, by women. She Explores started with host Gale Straub, who has produced over 100 episodes profiling outdoor women on topics like solo hiking, motherhood, entrepreneurship, diversity, conservation and more. The success of She Explores helped birth Women on The\u00a0 Road, hosted by Laura Hughes. WOTR examines \u201clife on the road from a feminine perspective.\u201d Both shows are highly recommended for your next ladies\u2019 trip or soul-searching solo adventure. I listen to these podcasts when I need to be reminded that being a woman in the outdoor space is a powerful gift.<\/span><\/p>\n

Science Friday<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

Alright, I\u2019ll say it\u2013I live for NPR. I think public radio is one of America\u2019s finest institutions, and though we could argue over the semantics of whether or not NPR segments count as podcasts, it\u2019s undeniable that Science Friday is a worthy listen any day of the week. Expand your brain with hourlong shows that get nerdy on everything from unisexual salamanders and how black holes work to renewable energy on the Navajo Nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dirtbag Diaries<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

A true outdoor industry classic that has earned a place on any proper list of podcasts. Another Duct Tape Then Beer production, this series led by Fitz Cahall and his rockstar team is a favorite not just for the way they profile humans\u2013it\u2019s the way Dirtbag Diaries brings stories of place to life that keeps me coming back for more. I wept in my car while listening to tales from endangered spaces in Alaska, and felt a fire explode in my chest during the episode about Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. If you want to ignite your advocacy, listen to Dirtbag Diaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All My Relations<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

Hosted by Adrienne Keene and Matika Wilbur, All My Relations delves into modern topics facing Native American communities. You\u2019ll learn about Native fashion, appropriations, food sovereignty and more. The hosts and their guests craft a lively balance of directly addressing tough topics, hilariously laughing through awkward moments, and sharing a sassy sisterhood that reaches through the speakers to make <\/span>you<\/span><\/i> feel good about how good <\/span>they<\/span><\/i> feel in each other\u2019s company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The thing about podcasts is, once you start curating a library, it starts to grow exponentially\u2013and this list is a mere peek into my collection. Whatever you\u2019re into, there\u2019s a podcast for you. Love creepy and lore history? Check out American Hysteria<\/a>, which examines urban legends, conspiracy theories, and moral panics. Need a boost of inspiration? Play an episode of REI\u2019s Wild Ideas Worth Living<\/a> with Shelby Stanger. Want to nerd out on marketing? I listen to Jenna Kutcher\u2019s The Goal Digger Podcast<\/a> religiously. When all else fails, This American Life<\/a> always delivers. Pack your rig, turn up the volume, and hit the road. And if you pass me on the highway blaring NPR with my windows down, give me a honk.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a young girl careening across the Southwest in my parents\u2019 minivan on cross country adventures, I had a clear understanding of how the radio worked: a quartet of miniature creatures stood tucked behind the cassette player, playing instruments or narrating talk segments. Tiny mice, or sometimes shrunken little bears, jamming to my dad\u2019s favorite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":74441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[242],"tags":[541,12,613],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-74431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social","tag-podcast","tag-travel","tag-travel-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/social\/the-ultimate-podcast-library-for-your-next-trip","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The Ultimate Podcast Library for Your Next Trip","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/social\/the-ultimate-podcast-library-for-your-next-trip","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/social\/the-ultimate-podcast-library-for-your-next-trip"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/podcast2.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/podcast2.jpg?fit=1592%2C1055"},"articleSection":"Social","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chelsea Davis"}],"creator":["Chelsea Davis"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["podcasts","travel","travel tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-08-02T20:41:01Z","datePublished":"2019-08-02T20:41:01Z","dateModified":"2019-08-21T22:09:39Z"},"rendered":"