Jalopnik’s Top Automotive Podcast Recommendations for Long Road Trips

Hosted by comedian and car fan Spike Feresten, Spike’s Car Radio brings all manner of interesting guests in for a chat about all things automotive. As well as regular guests like Jerry Seinfeld and Jonny Lieberman, SCR has also hosted race team boss Beth Paretta and Jay Leno.

If you like your podcasts with a side order of design then 99% Invisible is the show for you. Each week, this podcast dissects an element of design, whether it’s buildings, infrastructure or even transport. There are hundreds of fascinating episodes to work through, including this one about the design of bikes and this about the Mexico City subway system.

Don’t worry, race fans, we’ve got you covered too. If you want an in-depth and lighthearted look at the week’s biggest racing stories then look no further than the Donut Racing Show. Each week, join Nolan Sykes, Alanis King and Elizabeth Blackstock as they break down the biggest stories from F1 and the wider motorsport world.

If you want something a bit more left-field, might I suggest Everything is Alive from Radiotopia. In this short podcast, host Ian Chillag chats with an inanimate object about its life. In one recent episode, Chillag sits down to talk with Alzo, a rental car in Florida.

Back in the real world, this podcast from the World Rally Championship is a great way to find out more about the history of the sport. In every episode, a guest from the world of WRC is brought in to talk about their career in the sport. Past guests have included Sébastien Loeb and Molly Taylor.

If engineering is your thing, then you’ll want to give Well, There’s Your Problem a listen. This lighthearted look into mechanical mishaps from around the world is a great listen as it tackles everything from engineering disasters to systemic failures.

Having recently celebrated its one year anniversary, Two Girls 1 Formula is a relative newcomer but has quickly made a name for itself as an essential listen for F1 fans. In each episode, hosts Kate and Nicole are on hand to fill you in on the latest racing action, F1 gossip or race weekend top tips.

If you’ve got a really long drive on your hands, then movie podcast Blank Check has some great deep dives into some classic car movies for you to enjoy. The podcast sees the hosts tackle the filmography of a different director in each season, such as Stephen Spielberg, Christopher Nolan or Nancy Meyers. If you want a car-centered episode, then Black Check’s run on 2 Fast 2 Furious is well worth checking out.

If you’d like the lowdown on workers rights and the issues being faced across the U.S. then Work Stoppage Pod is the show for you. This weekly labor news show covers workers’ struggles around the world in fascinating detail. They’re currently offering insights on the rail strikes threatening both the UK and U.S.

A true car show made by car fans for car fans. The Smoking Tire is a behemoth of the automotive podcast genre. From reviews and interviews, to breaking news and car project updates, this show has it all. In recent episodes, hosts Matt Farah and Zack Klapman have discussed autonomous cars, the new Jackie Stewart documentary and interviewed members of the team behind the Top Gear TV show.

Unspooled is another movie podcast that’s covered some great car films over the years. The premise for the show is simple: hosts Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson sit down to discuss some of the top ranking movies of all time. A good place to start with this show is the episode on Mad Max: Fury Road, which is a fascinating listen.

If you prefer your podcasts on two wheels, then Highside/Lowside is the show for you. This motorbike-centric show covers the most exciting topics shaking the motorcycle world in each episode. Hosted by Spurgeon Dunbar and Zack Courts, the series has so far covered everything from beater bikes and electric rides to poor purchases and first track days.

If you like to get down and dirty with your car, then Off the Road Again is well worth a listen. Hosted by Chris Tracy and Ross Ballot, each episode sees the pair navigate a new facet of off-road driving, such as adventure stories, news about new car launches and project updates. It’s even featured appearances from Jalopnik alum and contributors such as Bradley Brownell, Emme Hall and Derek Powell.

Not quite a podcast and more of a weekly radio show, but Race Tracks is well worth checking out. In the weekly show, host Will Buxton updates listeners on all the biggest news from Formula 1 and soundtracks it with some killer tunes. Buxton has also hosted guests on the show, including F1 driver Pierre Gasly who talked about his favorite music and passion for racing.