The Best Podcasts to Listen to at Work or On Your Commute

No matter where you live or work, commuting is not always the most fun experience. Whether you’re dealing with the hustle and bustle of the subway or train, driving and sometimes stuck in traffic, or even simply walking, it’s always nice to have something to make the experience pass by a little quicker. Listening to podcasts, like listening to music, is a great way to stimulate your brain and get you to start thinking creatively before the day even starts.

Or perhaps you’re looking for something to listen to while you’re at work to keep you awake when the coffee has worn off. Either way, here are our suggestions for the best podcasts to listen to!

Reply All by Gimlet Media
The one-of-a-kind show Reply All explores the tantalizing topic of the history of the internet, and all of the different ways people have used it since it was created. You’ll hear from people like the inventor of pop-up ads, people who have in-depth knowledge about phishing scams, and experts on bitcoin, among other things. How have people shaped the internet and how has it shaped us? Listen to it to find out!

Invisibilia by NPR
Brought to us by NPR, Invisibilia is a talk show where the hosts discuss the intangible things that affect our everyday lives, like death, reality television, emotions, and our ideas about the future. Join them as they go into a deep dive to find the stories behind it all.

The Limit Does Not Exist by Forbes
This show is specifically about learning how not to limit yourself in your career and the choices you make about it. The hosts of the show essentially interview different people and talk to them about their career paths, how they made their choices, and how they ended up where they are. Each episode provides unique and fresh perspective on how to expand your curiosity and work on the skillsets you have to go places you may have never imagined in your career, and life in general.

Death, Sex, and Money by WNYC
This podcast is self-described as being “about the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.” It’s extremely educational, and covers everything from how people deal with their personal finances, to how to work on the relationships in your life, with all the nuance and complexity the conversations require.

Up First by NPR
If you’re someone who feels like you never have enough time to catch up with the seemingly 24/7 news cycle, this podcast is perfect for you. There’s a new 15-minute episode every day at 6 am, just in time for you to catch up with all of the big things going on in the world so you’re in the loop before starting your day.

LeVar Burton Reads by Stitcher
Remember the days of Reading Rainbow when you could learn amazing new things and drift off on a cloud with no responsibilities? Well, your childhood days are back thanks to LeVar Burton, the former host of the kids’ TV show, only in an even better way. Now, thanks to the podcast LeVar Burton Reads, you can listen to LeVar dive into a great story, as he narrates stories by Neil Gaiman, Haruki Murakami, Octavia Butler, Ray Bradbury and more, and brings them all to life. Unleash your creativity!

TED Radio Hour by NPR
All the education and enjoyment you get from a TED Talk, only without the fuss of a video or the trouble of leaving your seat. TED Radio Hour talks about the things in life that are most interesting and least discussed publicly, from what we can learn from the loss of a loved one, to how design shapes our world, to how dealing with crises shapes us as people. You’ll gain new perspective, and come out feeling 200% more informed than before.

Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR
Release your inner concert-goer during the workday with these intimate, live-recorded concerts in small spaces with some of your favorite artists! Tiny Desk Concerts will provide you with the perfect soundtrack for your commute or working at your desk, and might even inspire a new idea or feeling in you.

The Moth by The Moth
Listen to stories of all kinds, some serious and some funny, told in front of a live audience open mic-style. You’ll learn new things you never thought about before, and hear from people you’d never imagined existed.

How to Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black by PRX
Actor and comedian Michael Ian Black interviews the big names from all backgrounds, focusing on creative fields and creative questions, so you can learn all about how people found their success and what habits they have that keep propelling them ever upwards.

Enjoy, and let us know what your podcast suggestions are as well!

All the best

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