For the past 5 years I’ve been taking a 40 minute commute to work 2 days a week. Because I’m alone in the car, I always make sure I have something fun to listen to to keep my brain entertained. I love music, but I need something a little more gripping to make the time in the car go by faster. Here are 3 non-music alternatives, and my favorite examples, to listen to while driving.
Audiobooks
Hello, captain obvious. This was my first non-music discovery. The right audiobook can keep me engaged just enough that I can concentrate on driving but the time just flies by. Without a doubt my favorite audiobooks ever are the Harry Potter series read by Stephen Fry. You can download it on Amazon or use your Audible subscription to listen to them one at a time. They are totally worth it, even if you’ve read the books and watched the movies before (But who hasn’t?). He really captures the spirit of the books and made me feel like I was experiencing it all over again. Other great audiobooks for me are Born a a Crime by Trevor Noah (great because it’s read by the author so you can appreciate all the accents and dialects as intended) and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn which was just read superbly and made me cry (so maybe not so good for driving).
Podcasts
If you’re interested in, well, anything, there is the perfect podcast out there for you. My first discovery, and still one of the best I’ve ever listened to, is Serial (season one), which is a true crime series about a small town murder and the investigation and case that followed. I also absolutely loved S-Town, which I won’t even describe because you just have to listen to it- it’s totally unexpected and real. My husbands favourite ever is Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History, which has stand alone episodes that really make you think. I listen to podcasts on the Apple Podcasts app, but you can also get them on Spotify. They are free, which makes them even better!
Broadway Soundtracks
So strictly not non-music, its the story that makes listening to shows so satisfying. I’ve always loved listening to the Les Miserables soundtrack, and a few years ago I experienced the genius that is Lin-Manuel Miranda when I listened to Hamilton for the first time. I know that everyone says this, but you guys, this show blew my mind. I’ve listened to it start to finish about 5 times and I just cannot stop. Every time I listen I hear something new. I also loved In The Heights, and the more recent Hadestown was wonderful too. I listened to them all on Apple Music, but you can also purchase these soundtracks on Amazon or iTunes or listen on Spotify.
Whatever you listen to you, I highly recommend downloading them onto your phone or device before you leave home. There’s nothing sadder than getting stuck because your signal dropped.
What else do you like to listen to? Let me know in the comments below.
Comments