Podcasts and Audiobooks for a Cross Country Move
Are you sick of moving content yet?! I hope not, but if you are, this post is useful even if you aren’t planning a move. Today I’m listing podcasts and audiobooks for a cross country move. I hope these help your big trip go a little more smoothly. Enjoy!
Podcasts
Below is a list of some of my favorites. There’s a good mix of education, entertainment, and inspiration depending on what you’re craving that day!
- How I Built This with Guy Raz: A deep dive into the entrepreneurs who started companies like Yelp, Chesapeake Bay Candle, and Peloton. The episodes are both interesting and inspiring.
- The Daily: 20 minute episodes that give you the biggest news of the day. Great for people like me who can’t stand watching the news.
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty: This is an advice podcast that doesn’t get overly preachy. The host covers a variety of topics with guests so pick and choose which episodes might speak to you!
- Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: Here’s the pure entertainment option. Dax and Monica host celebrities and experts from a number of different fields. It’s fun, it’s light, it’s great for road trips.
- Science Rules! with Bill Nye: Brush up on your science knowledge with your favorite nerd. This podcast tends to focus on topics that are relevant in today’s world.
- Young House Love has a podcast: This list wouldn’t be complete without at least 1 interior décor podcast! John and Sherry are so fun and relatable. Listen for tips, tricks, and humor.
Audiobooks
I need to preface this list by mentioning that I am VERY into WW2 novels. So excuse the lack of variety!!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
“Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.” -Amazon. THIS BOOK! It was phenomenal. Made even better by the fact that it is based on a true story. It’s being made into a movie soon too.
Where the Crawdads Sing
“Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.” – Amazon I read this entire book in about 3 nights. So don’t start it if you need to sleep! It is beautifully written and full of twists and turns.
The Underground Railroad
“As Whitehead brilliantly re-creates the terrors of the antebellum era, he weaves in the saga of our nation, from the brutal abduction of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is both the gripping tale of one woman’s will to escape the horrors of bondage—and a powerful meditation on the history we all share.” -Amazon. Another book I couldn’t put down. I was invested in the main character from the second she was introduced, and I sat white-knuckled through the rest of the book as her story unfolded.
The Last Mrs. Parrish: A Novel
“Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more – a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.” – Amazon. I listened to this one on the 12 hour car ride home for Christmas this year. I couldn’t wait to get back in the car after each rest stop to continue listening. It’s an easy read and sooo juicy.
A Fire Sparkling
“After a crushing betrayal by the man she loves, Gillian Gibbons flees to her family home for a much-needed escape, but when she finds an old photograph of her grandmother in the arms of a Nazi officer, Gillian’s life gets even more complicated. Rattled by the discovery, Gillian attempts to unravel the truth behind the photos, setting her off on an epic journey through the past…” – Amazon. This book had a bit of a slow start, but once it got going I was hooked! It’s a beautiful story about love and the secrets we keep to protect it.
Matchmaking for Beginners: A Novel
“Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.” -Amazon A very easy and light read. This book was totally enjoyable from beginning to end. Perfect for the long car ride!
The Atlantis Gene: A Thriller
“Together, Kate and David race to unravel a global conspiracy and learn the truth about the Atlantis Gene… and human origins. Their journey takes them to the far corners of the globe and into the secrets of their pasts. Their enemy is close on their heels and will stop at nothing to obtain Kate’s research and force the next stage of human evolution–even if it means killing 99.9% of the world’s population. David and Kate can stop them… if they can trust each other. And stay alive.” – Amazon. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a HUGE fan of fantasy and science fiction. So this book was basically a home run for me. If you have even the slightest interest in these genres, get this book. It’s sooooo good. And it’s $2.99. Win, win.
All the Light We Cannot See
“From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.” – Amazon. Oh look, another WW2 book. You’ve probably heard of this one. Yes, it’s excellent. Yes, you should get it.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.” – Amazon. This book is a treat. Set in WW2, it is charming and funny and warm and just lovely. It was recently made into a movie on Netflix as well.
The Nightingale
“With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.” – Amazon. Ok, this is the last WW2 novel. It is a must read! You won’t be able to put this down, so it’s perfect for a long drive!
What gets you through a long car ride? If you have any podcast and audiobook recommendations, please let me know in the comments. For other moving advice, check out my checklist here. Best of luck to you on your move!
