You have been counting down the minutes until your next trip, and finally it’s time to get going. Before you get to the destination of your next adventure though you have to put up with a seemingly endless wait at the airport, and way more time with only 30 inches of legroom than should be legal. Thankfully, we are here to help with a list of podcasts that will help you kill the time, get pumped, and perhaps teach you a thing or two before your adventure officially starts.
Photo: Jaromir Chalabala
Best 7 Podcasts to Download at the Airport Before Your Next Flight
Podcasts that will get you stoked for your trip
1. Wild Ideas Worth Living
Perfect for: Igniting the stoke while you fly into a tiny, secluded airport at the base of the Andes or Himalayas.
Launched in 2017, Wild Ideas Worth Living is part of the REI Co-Op program. It’s hosted by surfer and travel writer Shelby Stanger, so you know it’s going to be jam packed with adventure and crazy stories. Podcast episodes regularly feature adventure seekers, explorers, record breakers and even business owners who have taken their ventures out of the office building and into the wild.
2. The Trip
Perfect for: Those whose idea of the perfect Sunday morning includes reruns of Parts Unknown and a helping of leftover goat meat from Saturday’s pit BBQ.
The Trip was created by Roads and Kingdoms, an Anthony Bourdain-funded online travel publication. The show is hosted by R&K co-founder Nathan Thornburgh, though each episode is narrated by a different journalist and takes you behind the scenes of a reporting trip to remote locations in places like Cuba, Madagascar, and Pakistan. It’s like a slice of your favorite Bourdain episode for when you’re without CNN.
3. The RV Entrepreneur
Perfect for: #vanlife lovers, also great for fans of the Becoming Minimalist blog.
Hosted by husband and wife duo Alyssa and Heath, The RV Entrepreneur exists to show you how to downsize your life, create a remote income, and work from anywhere in the world. In your earbuds, you will be joined by a different guest every week who shares tips on how to create a remote business so you can travel non stop, no matter what your chosen mode of transport is.
4. Nomadtopia
Perfect for: anyone who has ever uttered the phrase “I just wish I could keep traveling” on the last day of a trip.
Nomadtopia host Amy Scott has been interviewing location independent workers and entrepreneurs for over 3 years in order to learn exactly how people manage to travel non-stop by working remotely. Warning: everyone on this podcast has a serious case of wanderlust, making it ideal for a flight but not so much for when you’re back at work. It’s tough to be productive when you can’t stop checking airfare sales.
Podcasts to stimulate the mind
5. The Tim Ferriss Show
Perfect for: Hearing crazy stories about how head-turners like entrepreneurs, athletes, and writers were able to break away from the mold and build their own path.
Tim Ferriss is the New York Times bestselling author of the 4-Hour Work Week and a self-described human guinea pig. Every week Tim interviews some of the world’s top performers (I’m talking about people like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tony Robbins here) in order to pull out the golden nuggets that have helped them rise to the top. Listen to this podcast 30,000 feet in the air and when you land there’s a good chance that you’ll be at least a little bit smarter than when you took off.
6. The School of Greatness
Perfect for: Those travel partners who aren’t wanting to do much more than lounge around on the trip. Share an earbud with them and after an episode they’ll be as motivated as you are to optimize each day.
From sleeping on his sister’s couch, to being named one of the top 100 entrepreneurs by President Obama, Lewis Howes has had quite a journey over the last 10 years. On his renowned podcast, Lewis interviews some of the most successful people from the realms of entrepreneurship, fitness, relationships, and mindset. The School of Greatness will help you get inspired and energized to hit the ground running at your next destination.
7. Joe Rogan Experience
Perfect for: Getting to know the weirder and more intimate side of your favorite celebrities, and a bunch of random pseudo-celebs as well.
No, this podcast is not about eating insects, but it is a wild dive into the mind of one of the most bizarre people in the entertainment industry. With over 1000 episodes featuring interviews with people like Russell Brand and Natasha Leggero and zero restrictions on topics, The Joe Rogan Experience is a podcast that will keep you entertained for hours on end. 