When I'm not listening to Audible in the car, I turn to podcasts. I love a good story, and here are some of my favorites to pass the time in the car!

1. This American Life.

Ira Glass is simply the best. This podcast truly helps you see new perspectives and glimpses of life you might never really be exposed to. They describe it best:

This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme.

Mostly we do journalism, but an entertaining kind of journalism that’s built around plot. In other words, stories! Our favorite sorts of stories have compelling people at the center of them, funny moments, big feelings, surprising plot twists, and interesting ideas. Like little movies for radio.

2. Snap Judgement

More interesting stories from all walks of life - Glynn Washington is a master storyteller!

3. Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me

If you're like me and news makes you cringe, this is a comedic take on the news of the week- it will keep you laughing and updated on what's going on in the world all at once. They always have an interesting guest and hilarious comedians to comment on what's going on in the news.

4. Mixergy Startup Stories

Inspiring stories and interviews from other entrepreneurs and how they got to where they are now!

5. Hidden Brain

They describe it best on their website!
Hidden Brain helps curious people understand the world – and themselves. Using science and storytelling, Hidden Brain reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships.

6. Invisbilia

I can't say enough about this one. SO. INTERESTING. They describe it here:

Invisibilia is Latin for "the invisible things." We explore the invisible forces that shape human behavior — things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions. The show is co-hosted by two of NPR's award-winning journalists — Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin — who have roots at This American Life and The Atlantic. In past seasons, the show was also hosted by Lulu Miller, who has roots in Radiolab.

We weave incredible human stories with fascinating new psychological and brain science, in the hopes that after listening, you will come to see new possibilities for how to think, behave and live.

Invisibilia has explored whether our thoughts are related to our inner wishes, our fears and how they shape our actions, and our need for belonging and how it shapes our identity and fuels our emotions over a lifetime. We investigate ways everyday objects can shape our worldviews, the effects we have on each other's well-being, and the various lenses we don.

Invisibilia is a glimpse into a world you can't see.

7. RadioLab

They say they are "investigating a strange world" and that is completely true. If you love great stories, you will love this podcast!

8. Serial and S-Town

If you are ready to be captured by truly some of the best story telling around OR have a long car ride ahead of you, I can't recommend these enough. Serial is probably one of the most popular podcasts ever produced, and I am not surprised!

I do a TON of driving for my business. Getting to photo shoots all over the DMV area allows me to see so much of the city and surrounding areas- I love getting to so many unique areas that I would otherwise never know about!

But to pass the time in the car I have become an addict of Audible. I've always loved reading but time gets increasingly hard to just sit with a good book. So I use my time in the car to LISTEN to great books! I allow myself 1 book per month and if I zip through it faster than that I supplement with podcasts!

I bounce between fiction and nonfiction to keep things interesting! These are great in audio or book form.

Top 10 Audible books from 2017

1. A Man Called Ove, Frederik Backman
Okay, technically I just finished this one, but is the sweetest fiction story that will leave you in happy tears at the end.

2. When Breath Becomes Air, Abraham Verghese
I think this is my favorite. It's a memoir of neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi who is diagnosed with cancer at 36 and shares his struggle of life and death and everything in-between. I was beyond moved by his candid journey. yes, many many tears. (I cry a lot in my car I guess!)

3. Endurance: A Year in Space, Scott Kelly
I am fascinated by space and this just feeds that fascination. Astronauts are simply amazing and what we can do in space is mind blowing.

4. Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate
A fictional story but based on real life stories that happened in the 1940's when poor children were kidnapped to be sold and adapted by wealthy families who were lead to believe these children were true orphans. Yep, you'll cry with this one too!

5. Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott
I love Anne Lamott's quirky and honest sense of humor and take on life, God and everything in between.

6. Braving the Wilderness By Brene Brown
If you've ever read or heard anything by Brene Brown you know it's truly wise, honest and enlightening. I felt I needed to stop the car and take notes this was so good.

7. Into the Water, Paula Hawkins
Sometimes you just need a good thriller, and that's what this is. The same author as "Girl on the Train", it will have you sitting in the parking lot waiting to hear more because you need to find out what happens next!

8. Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly
I'm slightly obsessed with WWII era fiction and this one is one of the best.

9. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
I know I'm late to the game on this one, but it's just so good. Narrated by my beloved Gilmore Girls actor Edward Herrmann, just makes it even better to listen to. And SO much better then the movie!

10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Another WWII era fiction book, I don't understand why this is not a movie yet. So popular, but for good reason. It's a must read!