The time before and after work is sacred to me. We only get so much non-work time during the week, and I always aim to make the most of those hours. Previously in my career, I had to wake up early, take a bus to a train, and then walk to my office, and do it all again in reverse when the work day was done. Because my commute was so long, I turned to podcasts to make the time feel a bit more productive while also making my mornings a bit brighter.
Now that I work from home full-time, my mornings are a bit slower, and my commute is a bit faster. But one thing that hasn’t changed is I’m always listening to something as I get ready for the day and settle into my home office. Depending on my mood, I switch between audiobooks and podcasts, and the content varies greatly day-to-day. Some days, I want to catch up on current events. Others, I want to laugh so hard I cry—and some days, I want to focus on introspection and growth. Whatever vibe I’m feeling, I have a podcast queued up and ready to go for my morning. Here are 10 of my favorite podcasts that are perfect for your daily commute.
1. The Daily
Episodes: 2,000+
The Daily is the one podcast that I listen to, well, daily. It’s an understatement to say there is so much happening in the world, and on top of that, it’s an election year in the United States, so it’s more important than ever to stay informed. It can get overwhelming to scroll through social media or news apps and try to process it all. With The Daily, I’m able to consume important current events in about 20 minutes and truly get an understanding of what’s going on, how events are unfolding, who’s involved, and how it may impact my life or the world. This is the perfect podcast if you, too, feel overwhelmed scrolling through news sites but want to stay informed every day.
2. Pop Culture Happy Hour
Episodes: 585+
Not only do I like to know what’s going on in the real world, but I also like to stay on top of what’s going on in the world of pop culture. The cast of this podcast talks about the latest movies, TV shows, music, books, and more in ways that make it digestible but also intrigue you to consume a new piece of content. I also enjoy listening to this podcast after I’ve seen/heard/read something new so that I can hear the opinions of pop culture “experts.” Pop Culture Happy Hour makes it easy to consume bite-sized episodes of trending pop culture moments every day. It’s perfect for your 20-30 minute commute!
3. The Everygirl Podcast
Episodes: 100+
No podcast roundup would be complete without mentioning The Everygirl Podcast. Hosted by The Everygirl’s Senior Wellness Editor, Josie Santi, this podcast is a must-listen. The Everygirl Podcast covers wellness, mental health, manifestation, love, life, and more. Each episode is different, and Josie usually has expert guests who provide unique takes and actionable advice. It always makes me feel like I’ve been given a new tool or learned a new technique to get one step closer to being the best version of myself. While this one is great any time of day, adding it to your morning commute will get your day started off right.
4. Almost 30
Episodes: 685+
The Almost 30 podcast has been fueling my morning commute for years. I may officially be 30 now, but this podcast will continue to be my go-to for a long time. These episodes tend to be a little on the longer side, so I often listen to some in the morning, some at night, and even some on my lunch break if I can’t wait to hear more. The hosts, Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, along with their guests, cover topics of wellness, spirituality, love, and life. Growing into womanhood isn’t easy, but the advice from Almost 30 makes it easier to navigate and also shows you week after week that you’re not alone. Almost 30 is the perfect commute podcast because it gives you about an hour every day to focus on one of the most important things—yourself.
5. Career Contessa
Episodes: 285+
OK, so maybe a podcast about work on the way to work isn’t the best approach to work-life balance, but hear me out. The Career Contessa podcast doesn’t focus on the nitty gritty details of work and your daily tasks. It focuses on women in the workplace, how to be more successful, how to sharpen important skills, and most importantly, how to be more fulfilled with your work life. I love listening to this podcast in the morning because it gives me the confidence to tackle a new workday and work toward my goals.
6. Morning Quickie
Episodes: 65+
If you’ve got a quick commute like mine, which is now simply down the hall of my house, then Morning Quickie is the podcast for you. These bite-sized episodes are usually less than 10 minutes but are packed with helpful tips and anecdotes about life, business, health, and pop culture. Some of these episodes will provide you with advice you can apply to your workday, and others will give you fun anecdotes to chat about with your coworkers and friends. The mix of topics and guests, plus the short length of each episode, make it an easy one to listen to on your way to work or even when you just need a five-minute break in your workday.
7. Giggly Squad
Episodes: 175+
Starting or ending the day with laughter is simply the best. For those days when your schedule is about to be hectic, or you’ve just had a rough day at the office, Giggly Squad is the answer. Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner are two of my favorite reality star podcast hosts because they’re hilarious, have the best chemistry on air, and, although often outrageous, their content is usually relatable. Their episodes are typically about an hour long, so this is another good show to listen to half in the morning and half on your way home, but I promise you, it will be hard to press pause on most of their episodes because you’ll be laughing too hard.
8. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
Episodes: 285+
There is a lot in life that doesn’t always go right. Relationships, jobs, friendships, finances… the list goes on. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day shows us that it’s actually OK when things don’t go right because, more often than not, there’s a lesson there that will help us grow. While not every situation discussed on the podcast is relatable to my life, the strength, resilience, and growth the guests share always inspire me. It’s a gentle reminder that no matter what life throws at you or whatever your work day throws at you, you are strong enough to get through it. Hearing these stories before heading into my workday gives me a fresh perspective and the boost I need to take on whatever comes my way.
9. New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce
Episodes: 85+
Why am I recommending a sports podcast as one you should listen to on your daily commute? Well, TBH, I think this started off as a sports podcast, but now it is so, so much more. Ever since our girl Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce, New Heights has popped off on social media, and their listeners have grown beyond the Brads and Chads of football. While they do still discuss sports, they also have fun guests, chat about current events, talk about their lives, and really, the Kelce brothers are just a hilarious duo. Although not as often as I’d personally like, we do sometimes get insights into Travis and Taylor’s love story, which is reason enough to add this to your commute rotation.
10. Be There in Five
Episodes: 300+
I am a huge Kate Kennedy fan, especially her podcast, Be There in Five. If you’re a Millennial, I bet you’ll feel the same way. I love that this podcast somehow found a balance between trends I once loved, trends I currently love, and trends I just don’t understand. This is one of the longest podcasts on this list, as each episode is usually around 90 minutes to 2 hours, so think of it more like a multi-day commute podcast. It may seem lengthy, but the long-form style almost makes it feel like Kate (and sometimes her guests) are on your commute with you in a non-creepy way. Kate’s style is captivating, informative, and relatable, and I often find myself getting so lost in the “conversation” that my commute is over before I know it.
