What do I do to pass the time on upcoming long solo car rides? Podcasts? What else?

I have over 35 hours worth of solo car trips coming up, including Europe. Usually on a ski weekend its easy 3-1/2 hours, turn on satellite radio and listen to sports, comedy, or music.

But did about 750 miles the end of last year over 5 days in Portugal, Spain, and Gibraltar and got pretty sick of the local music stations and songs I didn't recognize. Even worse in dead zones without cell service or radio at times. Trying to plan ahead.

I've never listened to a podcast in my life, so talk to me like I'm a small child - I'm middle aged and terrible with technology - what's the best way to listen to them? How do you sift through the thousands out there? I like mystery stuff, history, pro sports, skiing, boating, comedy, etc. Any reccos? Prefer to download as I will be without service for chunks of driving.

What else besides podcasts am I missing?

TIA

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Originally Posted by BCR

I have over 35 hours worth of solo car trips coming up, including Europe. Usually on a ski weekend its easy 3-1/2 hours, turn on satellite radio and listen to sports, comedy, or music.

But did about 750 miles the end of last year over 5 days in Portugal, Spain, and Gibraltar and got pretty sick of the local music stations and songs I didn't recognize. Even worse in dead zones without cell service or radio at times. Trying to plan ahead.

I've never listened to a podcast in my life, so talk to me like I'm a small child - I'm middle aged and terrible with technology - what's the best way to listen to them? How do you sift through the thousands out there? I like mystery stuff, history, pro sports, skiing, boating, comedy, etc. Any reccos? Prefer to download as I will be without service for chunks of driving.

What else besides podcasts am I missing?

TIA

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I like "How I Built this " and "This american life" podcast. Pretty decent catalogue to choose from, anything with David Sadaris in This american Life is pretty entertaining. This one is a must listen..................https://www.thisamericanlife.org/510/fiasco-2013 It's the flaming squirrel episode for those old fuckers like me for reference.

marc maron

Cocaine and furious masturbation

Pay for a spotify subscription and download a shitload of music to your phone. Then local musical tastes and cell reception are irrelevant. Spotify also has podcasts that you can download.

Books on Spotify or Audible


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Meth and heavy metal music.

Unless you have a thing against Conan, his podcast is great, depending on the guest.

If you want to nerd out on self improvement, Huberman Lab.

Plenty of both of these to get you through 35 hours.

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Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History.

Start with the king of kings series. It’s like 9 hours. Several more after that, WW2 one is solid as well. If you have iPhone, download them for free on the Apple podcast app. Lots of app options for droid too.

Not sure if it was tied to another subscription, but Audible gave me a few credits when I downloaded the app. Romney's book is pretty engaging.

Grateful DeaD concerts. Baldacci novels

Podcast > Smartless, start with David Letterman and Peyton Manning

John Craigie > Abbey Road Lonely

And my #1 reco for road tripping is Henry Rollins spoken word, if you can find the lab rat story that one is baller, devo suit and all

All can be found on Spotify


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Originally Posted by byates1

Cocaine and furious masturbation

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You've never lived until you rub one out driving 75mph down the Truckee River Canyon with a head full... Just watch out for truckers those bastards are notorious voyeurs.

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A more on-topic note: Blister: Gear 30 is generally good and can be downloaded via Spotify or Apple Music.

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Maybe take in the scenery?


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Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

Grateful DeaD concerts.

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He didn't say he was looking to blow his brains out by the end of it

Lol!!!^^

Pick up an older crazy looking hitchhiker and talk about weird stuff.

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

He didn't say he was looking to blow his brains out by the end of it

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We would not road trip well.





Was on a 24hr non-stop road trip with an old head this past summer. After about 3 hours he goes, "man, they must get tired at some point".
It was a nice introduction into mixing technology and digital media which lasted another easy hour of explanation.

Good times.

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Originally Posted by byates1

Cocaine and furious masturbation

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This is the way. Alternatively Hookers and Blow

I’ve done a number of longer solo road trips both in cars/trucks and on motorcycles, and I prefer to have something I’ve chosen playing for the majority of the time I’m on the road.

I have recognized that when you are driving, consistently, for 8 or more hours a day, that at some point on the 3rd day the task of selecting another fucking good podcast will become unbearable…it is much easier to go long form, set it and forget it.

I pay for Spotify, downloads are easy:
Full length live concerts, lots available
The entire musical catalog of your favorite band/artist, shuffled
Full podcast series, (one focus or story from start to end).

Audiobooks are excellent, but can be expensive.
Our local library has a decent selection of books on cd to checkout, they also have a download option, maybe you have this?

I have found that with audiobooks it is better for me to listen to more pulpy type fun and discardable novels that paint in and clear and consumable tones, like Stephen King or Clive Cussler, rather than more thought provoking, concept rich, or morally/ethically engaging literary works.

Zoning out is part of this type of travel, go with it, and enjoy the views while your mind is carried away.

Fly on the Wall podcast is pretty good (Dana Carvey and David Spade) to go along with the Conan and Smartless recs above.

Hari Krishna chant

This American Life.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/354/mistakes-were-made

Smartless
https://wondery.com/shows/smartless/...-john-mcenroe/

Audio book CDs from the library ftw

Loafers Glory - the hobo jungle of the mind.

Utah Phillips radio shows as podcasts:

https://www.thelongmemory.com/loafers-glory-episodes

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

Hari Krishna chant

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I respect this reply. Thanks for the laugh.

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Originally Posted by MagnificentUnicorn

Maybe take in the scenery?


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This is what I was thinking. There’s usually something interesting to look at if you’re paying attention.

https://soundcloud.com/lpgiobbi/lp-g...ive-dead-ahead

^^^ sick little soundtrack for you that just got released today

If you’ve ever watched/enjoyed the HBO series Band of Brothers then the podcast series Dead Eyes is enjoyable (it’s comedy - the first episode tells of its connection to the mini series - it’s a story that develops over three seasons with a great final episode - don’t read ahead)

Also I listened to a series that asked “was the Scorpions song ‘Winds of Change’ written by the CIA to help topple communism?” - don’t remember the name but it was good.

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Originally Posted by BCR

I have over 35 hours worth of solo car trips coming up, including Europe. Usually on a ski weekend its easy 3-1/2 hours, turn on satellite radio and listen to sports, comedy, or music.

But did about 750 miles the end of last year over 5 days in Portugal, Spain, and Gibraltar and got pretty sick of the local music stations and songs I didn't recognize. Even worse in dead zones without cell service or radio at times. Trying to plan ahead.

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35 hours? Waah. I do that much every week for a few months a year. Listen to whatever is available, if there's nothing worthy, just take in your surroundings. Even if it's places you're somewhat familiar with there's stuff to look at. Maybe take secondary roads and slow down a bit, so what if it takes a little longer, open the window and cruise with no sounds other than the wind. As often as not, when I'm somewhere I haven't been before I'm more likely to listen to nothing or whatever at low volume so I can pay attention to what I'm seeing.

Never understood the overrated and overplayed phenomenon called the Heavy Metal Ballad. Oxymoron. Metal is fast and furious.

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Originally Posted by yeahman

Audio book CDs from the library ftw

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You know how I know you’re old? [emoji12]

Libby app is available through most libraries and you can download ebooks to the app for free with a library card. More popular books usually have waits but there are good books immediately available all the time.

IMO a good book is better than podcasts, and x2 to the listening to pulpy nonsense as it’s more entertaining. Jack Reacher series is always a good one.

Work through the 'Heavyweight' podcast.

Great story telling

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcas...t/id1150800298

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Originally Posted by yeahman

Audio book CDs from the library ftw

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Seconded. I remember the wife and I rolling up to some sandwich place in Warren VT one summer. Windows down, Michael Connelly CD blasting. Had to wait for the chapter to end before we got out of the car, people were looking at us weird.

Just make sure some dickhead didn't scratch the CDs to shit.

Alternatively, your local library will (should) have some partnership with a streaming service which will have all sorts of videos and audiobooks for free. Ours is Hoopla, and it's how I watch Aspen Extreme.

Listened to the book "One Second After" on my way to ski in VT once. That story still hits. About a nuclear bomb going off in the stratosphere causing the entire USA to lose all electronics, and how a town and one man responds to the crisis. It's awesome and very realistic.

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Originally Posted by Supermoon

You know how I know you’re old? [emoji12]

Libby app is available through most libraries and you can download ebooks to the app for free with a library card. More popular books usually have waits but there are good books immediately available all the time.

IMO a good book is better than podcasts, and x2 to the listening to pulpy nonsense as it’s more entertaining. Jack Reacher series is always a good one.

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Yeah I've tried the downloads on my phone but I came to the conclusion that the CDs are just a lot easier to deal with. I like to rewind and listen to stuff over again and it's much easier not having to fuck with a phone while driving.

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Originally Posted by bennymac

Also I listened to a series that asked “was the Scorpions song ‘Winds of Change’ written by the CIA to help topple communism?” - don’t remember the name but it was good.

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What are we not being told about Milli Vanilli??? Girl, you know it's true?!?!?! Helloooooo.

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Originally Posted by riser4

Meth and heavy metal music.

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Subscribed.


You don't like Power Ballads?
Unsubscribed.
I unironically enjoy ghosts neo power ballad.

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Originally Posted by riser4

Never understood the overrated and overplayed phenomenon called the Heavy Metal Ballad. Oxymoron. Metal is fast and furious.

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https://youtu.be/tzXFZuB1wSQ?si=FNpwUA5Vi-3slq9-

Thanks for the ideas - I guess podcasts are really the way to go (I mean other than the self love, medicinal, and other suggestions). I'll give some of those suggestions a try on the commute this week and download for the trips.

Not complaining at all about the amount of driving - it's two separate trips, one 4 days and one 8 days and I decided to do it that way on purpose. Ski mountain to ski mountain thru travel in New England and in 6 countries across Europe. Some spots will be lovely for the views and some spots will be pure highway hell. Easy enough to listen to something plus look out the windows at the same time.

Something interesting on the radio always makes the time fly faster. Did 1,700 km in a campervan doing the same thing in NZ a few years back but a buddy was able to go with me so that made it easier to stay alert and pass the time. I once rented a car in NYC and just started driving West overnight in a snowstorm for 10-12 hours until I could find an open airport to be able to catch up with my buddies on a ski trip we had planned in Taos, but that car had satellite radio so I skipped around enough to be entertained. My first intentional long solo road trip thorough Europe was a few months back and those roads in rural Portugal and Spain were really monotonous without a ton to see and made me think I should go better prepared this time. Super looking forward to it.

Thanks again

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Originally Posted by subtle plague

Subscribed.


You don't like Power Ballads?
Unsubscribed.
I unironically enjoy ghosts neo power ballad.


https://youtu.be/tzXFZuB1wSQ?si=FNpwUA5Vi-3slq9-

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Hard no. Mushy music. Kissing cousin to Muzak in the elevator. Never liked "power" ballads. And the 80's officially killed any chance I might have had at liking them. I like thrash. Shit, I'll listen to techno before I listen to that MTV era crap. I need beats. Fast and furious.