Let’s face it; a long commute repeated over a sustained period of time is a recipe for tedium. But instead of resenting the long, leg-numbing hours you spend strapped to the driving seat, you could use the time to expand your horizons.
There are podcasts on almost any topic you care to name, whether you want to learn how to fly-fish like a pro or speak Japanese with aplomb. Be gripped by the latest and best in drama writing, learn more about your idols, travel the world or discover a new recipe to add to your repertoire. Don’t just give in to boredom. Now you know about these sonic treasures, it’s no longer an option.
Serial
For: A dose of real-world drama
Unless you’ve been living under a Wi-Fi-forsaken rock for the past three years, it’s likely you’ll have at least have heard murmurings about Serial. Every season, host Sarah Koenig prises open an enthralling true story. The first series centres on the case of Adnan Syed, a man convicted of murder who has always insisted on his innocence. It’s nothing short of compelling to follow his case as the details are carefully and objectively teased apart, witness-by-witness, fact-by-fact and chapter-by-chapter. In fact, it’s so addictive you’ll soon be planning your routes around traffic jams.
Desert Island Discs
For: Music (and people) fans
Since it first aired on 29th January 1942, Desert Island Discs has been enchanting listeners with its simple but incisive interview format. Every week, a famous guest is asked to choose the eight music tracks they’d choose to take with them if they found themselves washed ashore a desert island. To date, the formidable roster of castaways has included Alfred Hitchcock, Liberace, Goldie Hawn, Tony Bennett, and Zadie Smith. Because if you must spend rush hour marooned in a sea of metal, you might as well be in good company.
The Blacklist Table Reads
For: Moviegoers going nowhere fast
If you love cinema but spend more time staring desperately through your rain-streaked windscreen at exhaust fumes, you should supplement your filmic intake with some ear movies. The Black List Table Reads takes a selection of the best screenplays that have never been made… and turns them into feature length-audio films. A rotating cast of talented thesps bring them to life – covering genres from sci-fi to period drama to comedy. Just add popcorn.
The Splendid Table
For: Foodies
Roadside pitstops aren’t exactly known for their gourmet gastronomy, so while you’re gnawing at a three-day old chocolate twist, be transported to a superior culinary experience (if only in your mind) at The Splendid Table. Every week the hosts serve up mouth-watering discussions with famous foodies like Nigella Lawson, explore exotic cuisine and tuck into the tasty trends that are whetting appetites across the globe. Just make sure you’ve eaten first, or you’ll end up getting drool on the steering wheel.
Freakonomics
For: Number crunchers
Fancy a little roadside navel gazing? Freakonomics wrangles with the strange questions that define human existence – like how competitive eating works, why we have strange dreams when we eat cheese and whether expensive wine really does taste better. Host Stephen Dubner invites comment from social entrepreneurs, economists and psychologists to help, so you’ll arrive at your destination with all the answers (and a few solid lunchtime debate topics).
The Football Ramble
For: Fans of the beautiful game
Can’t make it home before the match? Tune into The Football Ramble for an entertaining round up of all the latest fixtures, plus any notable or bizarre goings-on on the world’s pitches. There’s even a bitesize preview show – perfect for topping up the sport-themed chat on shorter journeys.