Stuck for something good to listen to in the car? A podcast could be the answer. But with thousands of shows across a handful of platforms, how do you find the ones that are worth your time?
To help, we’ve put together a list of the best podcasts to listen to in your car, whatever your interests might be. With everything from sports to motoring, you can say goodbye to boring journeys and make time fly on your morning commute.
Choose what you fancy from the podcast categories below or read on for the full guide.
Podcast Categories
Motoring
Serious about motoring? Take these podcasts for a spin the next time you’re in the driver’s seat.
Car Chat by Simon Moores
Hosted by Simon Moores, regular contributor to the popular motoring site DriveTribe, Car Chat is a weekly podcast that features news, reviews and Q&As from across the world of motoring. Sam’s passion for cars is obvious from the get-go, so you can expect everything from entertaining interviews to practical how-to advice.
The Smoking Tire
If you like to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest car releases, The Smoking Tire is one podcast not to miss. Here host Matt Farah travels the world reviewing the latest makes and models fresh off the production line, with insider news and features making the podcast one of the most popular motoring shows around.
Diesel Performance
If you drive a diesel car, you really should listen to the Diesel Performance podcast. Hosted by Paul Wilson and Chris Ehmke, the series focuses on helping diesel drivers get the most from their engines, whether that’s simple maintenance tasks or performance improvements. With savings, hacks and tips, you don’t want to miss it.
Women on the Road
Great for all drivers (not just women), the Women on the Road podcast offers a fascinating look into women in the world of motoring. Hosted by Laura Hughes, the podcast features interviews with women from all walks of life, who all share a passion for driving, motoring and the open road.
Comedy
If you need a laugh behind the wheel, these comedy podcasts should make that morning commute a little sunnier.
Early Work
Early Work sees host Rhys James delving into the toe-curling history of some of Britain’s best-loved comedians, with funny, awkward and earnest accounts of their earliest steps into comedy. Expect revealing stories and daft one-liners from the likes of Sara Pascoe and David Baddiel.
From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast
In the words of the man himself, “all national treasures have a podcast”, so it’s no surprise that From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast has finally hit the airwaves. Available exclusively on Audible, From the Oasthouse is a must-listen for Partridge fans who can look forward to a “private exposé from this famously private man”.
Locked Together
Locked Together brings back comedy double-acts to hear how they’ve been coping through the pandemic. With funny and relatable stories from the likes of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, and Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield, it’s a breezy listen that’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Sports, Fitness and Lifestyle
Follow your team or get inspired to stay active by listening to the latest sports, fitness and lifestyle podcasts when you’re out and about.
That Peter Crouch Podcast
Funny and insightful, That Peter Crouch Podcast hosted by BBC 5 Live, sees Peter Crouch, Chris Stark and Tom Fordyce share their experiences of football. Ideal for football fans, the podcast takes you right into the inner circle, with funny stories and guest interviews thrown in for good measure.
Feel Better, Live More
If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, there’s no better place to start than the Feel Better Live More podcast, brought to you by Dr Rangan Chatterjee. Busting myths and cutting through the nonsense, Chatterjee and his peers offer simple health tips that you can easily make a part of your day-to-day routine.
Radio Headspace
Perfect after a stressful day when you want to switch off and drive, Radio Headspace is a mental health podcast that offers tips on everything from mindfulness to contentment. Each podcast is around five minutes long but is designed to bring you back down to earth and help you find some me-time after a tough day.
Entertainment and Culture
Tune in, have a laugh and be part of the conversation with our pick of the very best entertainment and culture podcasts to listen to in the car.
A Word in Your Ear
Hosted by two music journalism veterans, Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, A Word in Your Ear is the only music podcast you need. From their days as editors of Q magazine, Ellen and Hepworth have some great stories and anecdotes to share, not least a huge record collection to delve into. Give it a listen for music-related chat that feels like you’re down the pub.
The Rewatchables
Are you something of a film buff? Maybe you enjoy rewatching your favourites time and again? If that’s the case, The Rewatchables podcast is for you. In it, a panel of like-minded film fans analyse big screen classics, going into absurd detail about famous movie scenes. And with guest appearances from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, this is a must-listen.
The Penguin Podcast
Get the scoop on the latest page-turners with The Penguin Podcast. Brought to you by Britain’s biggest publisher, this weekly series features interviews with some equally high-profile authors, as well as lists and recommendation shows to keep your bedside table well-stocked.
Stories and Fiction
For the ultimate escape from the rush hour traffic, give these storytelling podcasts a spin.
SOLVE
A whodunnit’ that will keep you guessing to the very end; SOLVE is a fictional podcast presented in the true-crime style, which tasks the listener with identifying victim from villain. With gripping 40-minute episodes, the show will have you driving around the block so you can move a step closer to uncovering the truth.
Welcome to Night Vale
Like Netflix for your ears, Welcome to Night Vale is a creative and addictive sci-fi podcast that’s entertaining, gripping and funny in equal measure. Presented like a local news broadcast, the podcast features fictional weather forecasts, police reports and advertisements, all of which tell stories of strange goings-on. Give it a listen if you’re looking for something different on your next commute.
The Truth: The Short Story Podcast
If you prefer to round stories off in a single journey, The Truth is the podcast for you. Featuring short stories from loads of different writers, each episode has a standalone plot that’s wrapped up in under an hour, so you can look forward to an immersive and satisfying drive to work.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of the best podcasts to listen to in the car. For more motoring guides, how-tos and features, take a look at the rest of the Prestone blog, or visit the homepage for our full range of high-performance car maintenance products.
