5 Things to Listen to Besides Music While Road-Trippin’
You’ve got everything you need for your car ride: snacks (yes, the healthy kind), a full tank, and what feels like a million songs queued up on the aux. But after you’ve listened to Ariana Grande’s album for the third time and Aretha Franklin‘s entire discography, you might start rethinking your preparedness. Thankfully, streaming services don’t stop at music; in fact, there are tons of ways to stay auditorily entertained no matter how far you’re flying, riding, or driving.
1. Podcasts: This might seem like an obvious one. (Come on, we started listening to “Serial” in 2014!) But the breadth of podcast topics, if you don’t take the time to explore them, isn’t so obvious. There are shows about design and architecture (99% Invisible), a show in which the two hosts call strangers to ask them if they know who Jason Segel is (Do You Know Who Jason Segel Is?), and just about everything in between. Most podcasts are free on iTunes, Spotify, and other streaming sites.
2. Audiobooks: Maybe you can’t read in the car (motion sickness, anyone?), but you sure can listen. Play your faves over the speakers and be instantly transported to realities much more interesting than staring out the front windshield. Fortunately, apps such as the Amazon service Audible ($15/month with a subscription) make downloading literature easier than ever, though you can always go the old-school route and rent the CD version from the library. Plus, most books run between 8-13 hours long, so there goes your whole drive!
3. Famous Speeches: As iconic as the Kanye West mic grab of ’09 was, we’re talking something with a little more depth. The Presidential Voices playlist on Spotify contains words of wisdom from Woodrow Wilson and Bill Clinton alike and clocks in at 11 hours and 41 minutes long. If you’re looking for speeches that are more girl power-infused, check out novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk called “We Should All Be Feminists” or Hillary Clinton’s “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” speech from 1995.
4. Stand-Up Acts: Sarah Silverman and Ali Wong have us cackling on our couches, so why not take that to the car? Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road! Comedy acts are a great, oftentimes non-visual form of entertainment. You can also discover some great emerging artists you probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Although you might not get all the jokes, like those reliant on props, bodily gestures, etc., the amusement in between will be worth it. Humor us, and give it a try.
5. Meditation: Forget road rage; we’re into road relaxation. There are dozens of apps, such as Stop, Breathe & Think (free for iOS and Google Play) and Calm (free for iOS and Google Play), that cater to in-the-car meditation with features such as breathing exercises, soothing sounds, and varied multi-length segments on topics including depression, anxiety, and compassion. You’ll leave the car feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on your adventure.
We’re all ears! Let us know what you listen to @BritandCo.
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