In this article we outline our top 10 best podcasts for your commute to or from work. Listening to podcasts during you commute offers a multitude of benefits and can serve a number of different purposes. A good news podcast will have you well-informed and up to date on current events, making the most of your travel time ensuring you feel connected to the world’s goings on. For those seeking a cheerful start to the day, comedy podcasts can work wonders, brightening your mood and having you looking like that weirdo on the train who giggles to themselves. If you’re in a reflective mood, self-improvement and personal growth podcasts provide valuable insights and tips for self-enhancement. Furthermore, educational podcasts can transform your daily commute into a productive learning session, offering a range of subjects from science to history. You could even learn new skills to get a promotion! Whether you desire entertainment, knowledge, or simply want to get in a positive frame of mind, podcasts offer a diverse array of genres to make your commute not just bearable but truly enriching.
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I Could Murder a Podcast
An easy choice for the first space on our list of the best podcasts for commuting. With a standard episode length of an hour, give or take 10 minutes, this podcast is the perfect length for a commute. An episode of this each morning, and you’ll turn into the most interesting person in the office; your colleagues will flock to you at the coffee machine. Hosts Tom and Ben bring you unbelievable and fascinating stories of true crime, covering everything from serial murderers to unsolved mysteries. The clever combination of shock and comedy creates an immersive listening experience that will take you from your front door to your desk in no time. ICMAP makes for a slightly less intense listening experience than a deep self-improvement podcast, so if you’re looking to teleport into work with a tale to blow some minds, this is all you need.
The Rest is Politics
This is another one that seems to always be doing well on the Podcast charts. Keeping up with politics is pretty important, even if it’s not the most thrilling topic. Political decisions affect our daily lives, so it’s important to be somewhat clued up on what’s going on. It might sound like a snooze, but a good political podcast can actually be rather interesting. ‘The rest is Politics’ is great because it covers topics that don’t necessarily receive mainstream media coverage but which the hosts still deem important enough to share. However, if you find it challenging to stay level-headed about the political state of the world, you might want to save this podcast for your journey home; it’s best not to start your day on a negative note. Please bear in mind, they do seem to love to bombard you with ads at the start of each episode, so skip to a couple minutes in.
The Overshare: with Gemma Atkinson
“The Overshare” by Gemma Atkinson is a candid and refreshing podcast that offers a glimpse into the life and thoughts of the well-known British actress, broadcaster, and fitness enthusiast, Gemma Atkinson. In this podcast, Gemma Atkinson opens up about her experiences, challenges, and musings on various aspects of life, including health, relationships, parenthood, and personal growth. With a down-to-earth and relatable approach, Gemma shares her insights and invites guests to join her in discussions that are often both entertaining and inspiring. “The Overshare” provides a genuine and unfiltered perspective on navigating the complexities of modern life, making it a relatable and enjoyable choice for those seeking authenticity and valuable insights in a podcast.
The Lazarus Heist
I was actually introduced to this podcast by a work colleague (thank you, Dan; you know who you are). You can’t pick and choose episodes with this one; start at S1:E1 and accept that your next month of commutes will be spent listening in disbelief. You might actually look forward to your journey to work with this podcast as a part of your routine. A 4.9-star rating on Spotify is uncommon and speaks for itself. The podcast walks you through the story of the alleged North Korean hacking ring, the ‘Lazarus group,’ and their cybercrime activities resulting in the theft of billions of dollars. With each episode getting more twisted and crazy, you’ll struggle to believe the podcast is, in fact, narrating true events. It’s a fun one to discuss with friends, so share it with your fellow commuters and enjoy it together!
Diary of a CEO, or ‘DOAC,’ is another fantastic podcast for your commute. The podcast is hosted by Steven Bartlett, a well-known British entrepreneur. Steven made his millions by founding Thirdweb and various other businesses, and he has since become the youngest-ever host on the popular TV show ‘Dragons’ Den.’
More recently, Steven has devoted a large chunk of his time to creating his podcast, where he interviews a huge range of the world’s most talented and successful people. The eclectic range of guests he speaks with means there is undoubtedly an episode for everyone. There are so many brilliant episodes that we’ve actually created DOAC its own top 5 list; you can read it here! DOAC is an enlightening and educational way to spend your commute as you hear from the best in the world in everything from psychology to business to sports.
No Such Thing as A Fish
This just had to be on our best podcasts for commute list. “No Such Thing as a Fish” is a highly engaging and uniquely informative podcast that provides a delightful dive into fascinating and often bizarre facts from around the world. The show is hosted by the witty researchers behind the British TV panel quiz show “QI,” known as the ‘QI Elves.’ In each episode, these talented fact-finders share their favourite discoveries, spanning from history and science to pop culture and current events. With humour and a dash of British wit, they uncover the quirky, obscure, and intriguing details that you never knew you needed to know. Listeners are treated to an entertaining mix of laughter and knowledge, making it a perfect choice for those who crave both fun and enlightenment on their commute.
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
The podcast features a unique format where the hosts, along with a different celebrity in each episode, create their dream restaurant. Throughout the course (no pun intended) of the episode, the guest is asked to curate their dream meal by selecting their favourite starter, main, dessert, side dish, and drink. It’s a simple concept, but the chemistry between the hosts and their guests always makes for amusing listening. As promised, Ed and James venture well ‘off menu,’ always managing to get onto some of the most random subject matter. It’s here that the two’s comedic backgrounds shine through, delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for your journey.
The Therapy Crouch
This is a bit of a cheeky double entry because before we delve into ‘The Therapy Crouch,’ I’d first like to give a shoutout to host Peter’s other infamous podcast, ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast.’ If you’re a fan of all things football, be sure to check it out! Now, back to ‘The Therapy Crouch’… Peter is back in the studio, but this time with his wife, Abbey Clancy, and it just had to make our best podcasts for commute list. The dynamic of a husband-and-wife host pairing makes for interesting listening. Neither is shy about speaking their minds as they delve into the complexities of relationships, drawing on their own experiences together. It’s a unique format and refreshing to listen to a podcast that feels so authentic and unscripted.
Business of Hype
Sadly, this fascinating podcast is no longer being produced, but that’s not to say that there is no wisdom to be found in the many episodes already on popular streaming sites. Host Jeff Staple interviews well-known creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs from the pop culture space, and what ensues are fascinating stories about the trials and tribulations of today’s most popular brands. Some standout guests and personal favourite episodes are Sean Wotherspoon of Round 2, Jason Mark of Jason Markk shoe cleaning products, and Jerry Lorenzo of Fear Of God.
I remember listening to this podcast on my way to university lectures, feeling inspired as I heard about the struggles and successes behind the brands I loved at the time. Hearing the origin stories of such successful people gave valuable insight into what building success looks like and was a big motivator in starting this blog. I think a healthy dose of motivation should be in every commuter’s morning routine, which makes this podcast a fantastic option if you need a little push to get that side hustle started.
Joe Rogan experience
I was reluctant to include this one, as I’m sure you’ve already seen or heard about it, but just in case you haven’t, it takes our 10th spot. Reportedly achieving over 11 million listeners per episode, they must be doing something right. In addition, Spotify bought the rights to the show in 2020 in a deal estimated to be worth over $200 million. This is another podcast where the value is derived from the big-name guests they secure for host Joe Rogan to interview. With around 200 episodes a year, each up to 3 hours in length, there’s bound to be someone of interest to everyone, from athletes to scientists. The most-listened-to episode of the Joe Rogan Experience was his first iconic interview with SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Perhaps you could dream up the next mission to Mars while you commute to the office.
Conclusion
Nowadays there is literally a podcast on everything, so if our Best Podcasts for Commute list isn’t cutting it for you, just have a search for what you’re interested in, and someone will be talking about it. Also be sure to head over to our Facebook Group and see what the Mob is listening to. Make sure to share your favourite in ear commuting companions!