Five podcasts to binge on a road trip, long plane road, or any other time! I’ve spent a lot of time over the years driving across the state of South Dakota. Which if you’ve never done is probably the most boring drive you could think up. It is flat as can be and literally one straight interstate. What’s got me through these trips (along with a constant stream of coffee), is podcasts. And specifically podcasts you can binge listen to for a full six hours. Listen, I am slightly obsessed with all kinds of podcasts – see my weekly/daily favorites here. But there are specific ones that you just have to binge. You want to listen to episode after episode and they tell you a story. Here are my favorite podcasts to binge:
Podcast #1: Nice White Parents
I actually listened to this one not driving, but just in daily life. However, I still finished it within 24 hours. I grew up a public school principal’s daughter and truly do think education is so important. I think a good solid education for all kids is essential. So this podcast caught my eye right away. Told by Chana Joffe-Walt, “Nice White Parents” weaves one New York City public school’s story with the history of education reform. Whether you have kids are not, this story will compel you to really think who is the driving force behind our public schools.
Podcast #2: Louder Than A Riot
NPR’s “Louder Than A Riot” is my current obsession. Hosts Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael chronicle “rhyme and punishment” in America. This podcast documents a few different artists entanglement with the law during their rise to fame, including Bobby Schmurda and Nipsey Hussle. “…this podcast is invested in power from all angles — the power the music industry wields over artists, the power of institutional forces that marginalize communities of color, the power of the prison industrial complex and the power dynamics deep-rooted in the rap game.” (NPR)
Podcast #3: Serial
The podcast that got me (and it seems like the rest of the world) into podcasts. Serial may just be the perfect podcast to binge. Sarah Koenig dives into the 1999 Baltimore murder of Hae Min Lee and the subsequent arrest of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. There is actually three seasons of serial that are all very good! They don’t all cover the Adnan’s case, but are all very interesting. Season 3 covers a Cleveland courthouse and the lawyers, accused, and others who frequent the building. Being very interested by our criminal justice system, I thought that season was incredibly interesting, however I believe the consensus is that season on is the favorite.
“A high-school senior named Hae Min Lee disappeared one day after school in 1999, in Baltimore County, Maryland. A month later, her body was found in a city park. She’d been strangled. Her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was arrested for the crime, and within a year, he was sentenced to life in prison. The case against him was largely based on the story of one witness, Adnan’s friend Jay, who testified that he helped Adnan bury Hae’s body. But Adnan has always maintained he had nothing to do with Hae’s death. Some people believe he’s telling the truth. Many others don’t.” (NPR)
Podcast #4: In the Dark
After I binged the first season (and at that time only season) of Serial, I was dying for more true crime podcasts. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one and there were multiple wonderful podcasts coming out after Serial. “In the Dark” investigates the Minnesota case of missing child Jacob Wetterling. Shortly after I listened to this podcast there were some major advances in the case, which made the podcast even more popular. Again, there is actually two seasons to this podcast. The second seasons investigated the case of Curtis Flowers.
“In this season, we investigate the case of Curtis Flowers, a Black man from Winona, Mississippi, who was tried six times for the same crime. Flowers spent more than 20 years fighting for his life while a white prosecutor spent that same time trying just as hard to execute him.” (APMreports)
Podcast #5: S-Town
This podcast follows John B. McLemore’s life in Woodstock, Alabama. Storyteller Biran Reed comes to Alabama after John sends a letter to the “This American Life” podcast asking them to look into a murder and cover up in his hometown, a place he not-so lovingly refers to as Shittown (AKA S-Town). Brian and John exchange letters and phone calls before Brian ends up visiting John in Alabama. The podcast does cover the alleged murder and cover-up, but it really is about so much more than that.
“He [John] asks Brian to investigate the son of a wealthy family who’s allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But when someone else ends up dead, the search for the truth leads to a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life.” (Apple Podcasts)
There you have it. My top five podcasts to binge. Whether you are new to podcasts or are looking for a new favorite, I hope you find something you can enjoy! I am always looking for new podcasts, let me know in the comments which ones you recommend!
Much Love,
Justina