What does summer bring to mind? Perhaps you think of school holidays, lazy days by the pool or beach, road trips and adventure. Your summer may not be all ice cream and sunshine, but we’ve put together a sampling of podcasts to enjoy whether you’re relaxing on the beach or fantasizing about it while commuting to work. Hopefully, these podcasts will transport you to another place or serve as a “beach read” for your ears.
These podcasts aren’t necessarily safe for little ears, so check out our Family-Friendly Podcasts for Road Trips if you want something for the whole family. We’ve included a few different categories so you can explore new genres and find something you’ll love.
Travel and Adventure
Zero To Travel Podcast
Hear More Amazing Travel Stories at zerototravel.com | Travel On Your Terms
The Dish Food Travel Show
The Food Travel Podcast Uncovering The Stories Behind The World’s Most Famous (& Best!) Dishes. Join us & expert guests for tasty facts, foodie secrets and more! Your hosts are Tommo & Megsy from foodfuntravel.com
The Amateur Traveler
Amateur Traveler is an award winning audio travel show that focuses primarily on the question: “where should you go next and what should you see, do and eat there?”. Amateur Traveler won its creator Chris Christensen a Travel&Leisure SMITTY award as the best independent travel journalist and a Society of American Travel Writers Lowell Thomas Award. It is also used to teach English at Oxford University.
Be Our Guest WDW Podcast
This award-winning podcast features Monday, Wednesday, and Friday shows that focus on Disney resorts, theme parks, attractions, restaurants, dining, runDisney, vacation tips and much more. Join hosts Mike Rahlmann, Rikki Niblett, and Pam Forrester and take a fun and family-friendly dive into the world of Disney vacation planning.
Switchbacks: Our Year in the National Parks
We spent last year exploring, hiking through, and tent camping inside all 59 U.S. national parks. Now we’re here to share our experiences, insights, and advice about our year in the national parks.
She Explores
Stories of women who are inspired by time spent outside take the shape of interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions. These make up a tapestry of episodes covering themes such as solo hiking and camping; entrepreneurship; aging; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); conservation; motherhood; chronic illness; and feminism as they intersect with outdoor experiences. Hosted by Gale Straub.
True Crime and Horror
True Crime Garage
Each week Nic & The Captain get in the garage and talk true crime and drink beer.
True Crime Bullsh**
True Crime Bullsh** is a serialized, investigative podcast exploring meticulous and enigmatic serial killer Israel Keyes. Join me on this strange, terrifying, and emotional journey, as I attempt to find the missing, understand a killer, explore the impacts of crime, and reconcile with those left behind.
Dirty John
Debra Newell is a successful interior designer. She meets John Meehan, a handsome man who seems to check all the boxes: attentive, available, just back from a year in Iraq with Doctors Without Borders. But her family doesn’t like John, and they get entangled in an increasingly complex web of love, deception, forgiveness, denial, and ultimately, survival. Reported and hosted by Christopher Goffard from the L.A. Times.
Wine & Crime
Wine & Crime is a true crime/comedy podcast. Join three friends as they chug wine, chat true crime, and unleash their worst Minnesotan accents!
Campfire Radio Theater
A Modern Audio Drama Horror Anthology… Hear the Fear!
Tacos & Tales
A deliciously scary podcast for the taco enthusiast.
Storytelling and Conversations
1A
1A is home to the national conversation. Joshua Johnson hosts with great guests and frames the best debate in ways to make you think, share and engage.
Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People
1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. Thats the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and one of Time Outs 10 best comedians of 2015). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he cant hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen! Theme song by Shellshag.
Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books
Writer Zibby Owens, an NYC-based mom of four, interviews and chats with other writers about their work.
The Memory Motel
Created and hosted by Moth storyteller, Terence Mickey, Memory Motel finds the drama in what we want to remember or forget.
Lauren Conrad: Asking for a Friend
In today’s social media culture, it’s easy to look around and believe that everyone else has life figured out. But things aren’t always as they appear! Each week, fashion designer, NYT bestselling author and lifestyle expert, Lauren Conrad will host a variety of experts for candid conversations on everything from life, love, and business! Whether it’s the ideal seven-minute morning beauty regimen, how to snap that perfect IG-worthy flat lay or tips for tricking party guests into believing you’re a gourmet chef, Conrad’s guests will offer listeners tips for quickly navigating a Pinterest-obsessed world, as well as offering a healthy dose of reality. Because life isn’t always about knowing how to do everything perfectly yourself; it’s about knowing the people who do!
Conversations with People Who Hate Me
The show where negative online interactions become positive offline phone calls. Host Dylan Marron reaches out to people who have sent him negativity online and moderates calls between strangers who have gotten into it with each other. Sometimes awkward, often political, and always fascinating, Conversations with People Who Hate Me reminds us that there’s a human on the other side of the screen. Webby Winner, Best of 2018 (Apple Podcasts), “The Timeliest Podcast” (Fast Company), Podcast Pick (USA Today & The Guardian)
Laughs
Why Didn’t They Laugh?
An examination of Comedy, how it works, and why it sometimes doesn’t. Created and Hosted by Comedian/Pianist Owen Benjamin
Sloss and Humphries On The Road
Two touring buffoons tell you about their thoughts and then insult you for being a muggle.
Quick Question with Soren and Daniel
Quick Question with Soren and Daniel is a comedy podcast from the former editors of Cracked.com Soren Bowie and Daniel O’Brien. With new episodes, every week, join Soren and Daniel in answering life’s deep and also probably shallow questions.
The Absolute Peach
Stupidly sublime comedy podcast. Blending snark and silliness, since 2007.
Pop Culture
The Countdown: Movie and TV Reviews
A weekly comedic podcast in which two massive film buffs countdown a topic from 10-1 while throwing shade at the other’s list.
Epic Film Guys
In-depth film discussion w/ a heap of comedy since 2014. Proud member of the indie podcasting community & working hard to make a difference. Tune in, don’t be shy. #PodernFamily
Pop Culture Cosmos
It’s our look at the latest news and trends in pop culture with our Discover Pods Awards nominated two weekly shows and bonus podcasts!
Pop Culture Connoisseurs: A Gal & A Gay
We are two friends who can’t stop talking about all things Pop Culture. We are in the media, so TV is basically our life and we love to chat about it. Join us!