13 of the Best Podcasts to Binge During Your Next Trip

Podcasts. They’re a fantastic way to kill time. Whether it’s on your next long drive or long layover/flight, there’s a binge-able podcast for everyone.

The choices are seemingly endless. That’s because basically anyone with a smartphone can make a podcast. Many say we’re in the golden age of podcasting. And it’s hard to argue with that. But while having so many choices at your fingertips is a good thing, there’s at least one unintended consequence: you have to sift through a lot of crap in order to find the good stuff! Now, if you had all week, you could theoretically do a deep dive into that list and find your favorites. But who has that kind of time?

I do.
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(I’m kidding. Mostly.)

I’ve put together a list of some of the best podcasts out there that’ll satisfy anyone from the true crime lovers to the history buffs and more.


True crime

Atlanta Monster

​This podcast reopens an investigation into one of the most disturbing parts of Atlanta’s past: the disappearance and murder of over 25 children and young adults, most of them black boys from poor neighborhoods. The murders happened between 1979 and 1981. The podcast producers and host interview Atlanta residents, and law enforcement officials as they try to get to the bottom of the many unanswered questions that still surround the case.

Bonus: Atlanta Monster comes from the same people who produced the popular 2016 podcast Up and Vanished, which shed light on a decades old case about the disappearance of a Georgia school teacher. If you haven’t listened to that, and enjoy true crime podcasts, I’d highly recommend doing so!

​Dirty John

​A disturbing look into how easily someone looking for love can be manipulated into doing some pretty crazy things, Dirty John delves into the story of a successful businesswoman’s new love, John, who seems to be the perfect find for the divorcee. Her daughters, however, aren’t convinced.

​And trust me when I say, the ending of this podcast is worth the listen alone. A story of “seduction, deception, forgiveness, denial, and survival,” this is a podcast you won’t wanna stop once you start.

My Favorite Murder 

​What happens when you combine true crime with a full serving of comedy?

​You get My Favorite Murder, a podcast that will tell you a different true crime story every week. The banter between the two hosts, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, is unforgettable - which is a big reason why this podcast just keeps growing in popularity. ​

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Politics

Politics is a big part of the podcast world. No matter which side of the political spectrum you find yourself on, you can find something you’d agree with. Though, I’d recommend listening to one’s you don’t agree with too. With that said, here are two podcasts worth checking out. One is on the right. One is on the left.

Pod Save America (left)

The Ben Shapiro Show (right)

​News/Current Events

Curious City 

​A podcast that’s all about Chicago. And it is a very unique concept. Here’s how it works: the listeners submit questions about something they want to know. Then the producers of the podcast, the fine folks at WBEZ, will track down the answer. With titles like “What Are Chicago’s Oldest Laws?”, “Where Does Your Poop Go?” and “O’Hare’s Ghost: Whatever Happened to Terminal 4?” you’ll likely be listening for hours.

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The Daily 

​If you want to catch up on the news of the day on your way to work, this is a pretty good option. Produced by the New York TImes, The Daily is a 20 minute podcast that is uploaded daily at around 6:00 a.m. that will give you the headlines of the morning. It’s short, simple, and to the point.

Caliphate

How does a person become radicalized? What is the appeal of ISIS? This well-produced podcast tackles those questions and more.

​Caliphate, which is also produced by the New York Times, is not only gripping and deeply disturbing, it’s also addictive and easily binge-able. This should definitely make the short list when considering what to listen to when going on your next trip.

The Joe Rogan Experience

Hosted by stand-up comedian Joe Rogan, this podcast strikes me as more of a radio show. On each one, he’ll interview a guest. He’s had everyone on from celebrities to comedians to authors and more.

If you don’t listen to The Joe Rogan Experience already, but want to binge it, I’ve got good news: you easily can. He does one almost every day - and he’s been doing it for a while. So you can even pick and choose which ones you want to listen to and which ones you want to skip.

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History

Philosophize This! ​

This one may sound like it’s not for everyone. And honestly, you're probably right. But Philosophize This! actually makes philosophy understandable. Give it a listen. You may be surprised by how much you actually like it. I know I was.

In chronological order, the host, Stephen West, breaks down the ideas that helped create the world that we all live in today.

Tides of History

​I’m a huge fan of history. I love learning about it, whether it’s WWII, the Civil War, or waaay back to the fall of the Roman Empire. If you’ve ever wondered how history has shaped the world to the way it is today, Tides of History is for you.

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Entertainment

Bourbon & Branch

With the bourbon kick I’ve been on lately, I found this podcast very interesting. With reviews, news, factoids, and more, Bourbon & Branch is certainly worth checking out. Especially if you’re new to bourbon. If you’re an experienced bourbon drinker, you may find yourself going out to buy a brand you’ve never tried before.

If you start at the beginning, you'll notice the host is quite the novice. That's not meant as a slight at all. Stick with it. You won't regret it. 
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Denton Dallas and Beyond

I would describe this as a combination of a travel podcast and a local podcast. Each episode is three segments: one about Denton (for those not aware, Denton is a city about 40 miles north of Dallas), one about Dallas, and one “beyond” those two.

The reason I describe DDB as a combination travel/local podcast is because if you are among the roughly 10 million who live in North Texas, like I currently do, it’s a local podcast. If you live outside of the area it’s more of a travel podcast. Give it a listen (no matter where you live). You’ll enjoy the content and conversation.

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Bottom line

The truly great thing about podcasts is that they’re always there when you need them. It’s on demand entertainment that’s free. There’s something soothing about picking out your favorite podcasts and listening to someone else tell you a story while you’re working out, commuting to work, or cooking dinner.

But with the amount of content you have at your disposal, picking out the cream of the crop can be a daunting task. You have better things to do than look at a list of thousands of podcasts trying to find the best ones. This list is to help you out.

If you are looking for even more of a selection of podcast recommendations, go ahead and check out this post and this post.


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