Best Podcasts and Audiobooks for Your Commute

So, Covid had you working from home, but now that things have shifted, you are back to the grind with your daily commute? Never fear, podcasts and audiobooks are here to keep you company and inspire you while you make the trip. The listening industry has become so large that there is something for everyone out there. Whether you want to inspire yourself to be the next Steve Jobs, or you want to find a more relaxed way to approach life, check out our list of top podcasts and audiobooks to help get you there, all while driving in your car!

Want to feel more relaxed and mindful throughout your day? Start your morning commute with some inspirational dialogue. Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday podcast is a great place to begin, featuring so many amazing guest interviews with current thought leaders, bestselling authors, and even spiritual trailblazers. The Science of Happiness is another great one, starring award-winning professor Dacher Keltner, head of Berkley’s Greater Good Science Center. He is a researcher on the forefront of happiness, so if you want to find inspiration that can help you to boost your mood and infuse your life with more meaning, this is the place. And, in case you haven’t joined the Pod Squad, check out Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things, an honest and authentic look into the pain, sorrow, joy and beauty of living in this human world. 

If audiobooks are your thing, Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart is a deep look into the world of human emotions. The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer is a classic dive into what it means to be human, living this very impermanent life. Inspiration can come from many places, including beautiful storytelling—if you want something that takes you into another world, try The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho or The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd.

Want something that will entertain both you and your kids while you are driving them all over town? NPR’s Wow in the World podcast is a hilarious look into a plethora of fun scientific topics, such as orangutan behavior, millipedes, robots and slime. Don’t worry, it will have you laughing along as well. For older kids, You’re Wrong About, hosted by Sarah Marshall, is a fun and unique way to learn all about historical or scientific events that have been miscast in the public imagination. Learn things like how email took over the world, what it was like to be inside an iron maiden, and who Catherine the Great really was.

If you want to awaken your inner smarty pants, podcasts and audiobooks are a great way to gather information on topics you are passionate about. Just because you are driving to work, it doesn’t mean that you need to listen to something regarding your field of study. Instead, let your hobbies and side interests shine. Do you really like learning about birds? Check out The Science of Birds with Ivan Phillipsen. What about women’s history? The WhatsHerName women’s history podcast will deliver you right into the stories of historical women who changed our world. Taking time on your commute to build your IQ will give you fun things to talk about with friends and will help you to remember just how giant and exciting our world really is.

Hoping to gain some inspiration for life and get a good laugh? Good thing there are plenty of great ways to indulge your funny bone on your way to work. Motivational speaker Jen Sincero has a number of audiobooks that are both a hoot and get you thinking about what you are doing with your life. Listen to You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life or her latest book, Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick. If you are into humor and fictional storytelling, then you must listen to What Fresh Hell by Lucy Vine or Confessions of a Forty-Something F–k Up by Alexandra Potter. Samantha Irby is another great author, with her candid storytelling and hilarious memoirs. You may need to pull over to get a good laugh in!

Listening to something entertaining on your morning commute can help you to get inspired and feel great about your day. Whether you like to laugh, build your IQ, or help yourself get grounded into the present moment, there is something out there to satisfy your ears.