Ten Fascinating Podcasts That Will Make You Want To Travel The US

We’ve teamed up with Contiki to explore the US through some untraditional means.

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Everyone knows travel guides are essential for any tourist. They tell you the best things to see, give a bit of historical context and add some funny quirks about the place you’re visiting to be spouted at your travel companions on long walks or tedious bus rides. But not many realise that podcasts are even better. They can throw you right into the heart of a place, make you an instant expert on whatever town you’re visiting, and show you the most interesting stops along the way.

It’s no secret, post-Serial, that the US is the heartland of creative audio, which makes it abundant with podcast-approved destinations. If you were thinking of taking a trip some time soon, here are a few of the best to get you started; remember to pack your headphones.

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99% Invisible – ‘Reversal of Fortune’: Chicago, IL

99% Invisible is a show about design and architecture that’s hosted by Roman Mars, a juggernaut of the podcasting revolution. This episode explores the history of the river that runs through Chicago — it was supposed run into Lake Michigan, but in a project spanning the second half of the 19th Century, its flow was reversed. The story is about the reversal of more than just water; it’s the reversal of Chicago’s fortune, through design.

While you’re there: The Chicago Architecture Foundation has a cruise that looks at the history and architecture of the city as seen from the river.

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Why Oh Why – ‘My Bubba Gump Cherry‘: Times Square, New York, NY

Why Oh Why is about dating and technology but producer and presenter Andrea Silenzi has repeatedly said that it’s actually about the ways people are awful to each other. In this episode, Andrea’s goes to dinner with regular guest Randy — possibly the worst man in New York City. Randy is incredibly attractive, came up with the slogan for fast food chain Quiznos and is obsessed with Bubba Gump, the Forrest Gump-themed restaurant chain. For a few episodes, his favourite way to change the subject is to insist she join him at Bubba Gump for dinner and, in this one, she does. Venture down to Times Square and pop your own Bubba Gump cherry with them.

While you’re there: Order the Lieutenant Dan’s Hot Beef Bites, Louisiana’s Shrimper’s Big Haul to Rock ‘n’ Roll, and drink many Baltimore Zoos.

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This American Life – ‘Niagara’:  Niagara Falls, NY

While it doesn’t paint the same pretty picture of Niagara Falls you know from movies and postcards, nothing has made me want to go there more than this episode of This American Life. Producer Alix Speigel — who now hosts the excellent Invisiblia — travelled to Niagara and talked to the people who live in the shadow of this epic natural tourist attraction. There are stories of weddings, schemers, death and adventure and everything’s wound up with playwright David Kodeski’s tales of growing up in the town. Your visit to the Falls will be so much more incredible knowing everything that orbits around them.

While you’re there: Get married! Or at least buy a postcard.

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You Must Remember This – ‘Follies of 1938, Hollywood’s Greatest Year’: Hollywood, CA

Whenever anyone visits Hollywood, they really want to be visiting the Hollywood of the 1930s or ’40s, and listening to this podcast is the closest you’ll get. Presented by Katrina Longworth, You Must Remember This is all about the secret and forgotten histories of 20th Century Hollywood. This episode in particular will put your mind firmly in another era, as you wander down a more glamours, exciting and magical version of Hollywood Boulevard.

While you’re there: Visit Katharine Hepburn’s star on Hollywood Boulevard, between Argyle Avenue and Vine Street.

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John’s Old Time Radio Show – ‘Great Hawaiian Music of the 1920s and ’30s’: Hawaii, HI

John Heneghan’s not your regular music program presenter; you won’t hear anyone like him flicking through the FM dial. “If you didn’t like that, turn off this show and never come back!” he says, after a ukelele-only rendition of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’. Each episode, he picks a very niche theme and shares his favourite songs of that style from his collection of 78 RPM records. This time, it’s Hawaiian music from the 1920s and ’30s.

https://soundcloud.com/dusttodigital/john-heneghans-old-time-radio

While you’re there: Time your trip in with the Ukulele Festival Hawaii: “Where the laughter fills the air with joy and happiness”. I am sure John Heneghan wouldn’t approve of this recommendation, but after listening to a few episodes of OTRS you’ll understand he doesn’t approve of anything really.

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On The Media – ‘OTM Goes Inside Washington’: Washington, DC

On the Media looks at the ways media interact with society every week, regularly turning their attention to particular places. In this episode, intrepid foreign correspondent Bob Garfield treats his nation’s capital as a foreign land, just like US politicians do in election time. OTM makes the city of Washington more exciting than any guidebook ever could. It starts at the iconic Palm Restaurant, and takes us to the Washington Post offices, and the White House via the press room. It’s also packed with references to The West Wing, and comes to the conclusion that Veep is probably, depressingly, the most accurate fictional depiction of Washington on TV.

While you’re there: Rub shoulders with the politicians, journos and lobbyists at the Palm — order the $130 lobster and keep an eye out for Wolf Blizter.

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Radiolab – ‘Lu vs Soo’: Damascus, VA

Lulu Miller — who’s also heard on Invisiblia these days — tells the story of a bike trip she took across America, with her friend Su. When the bike route they’re following crosses the Appalachian trail in Damascus, Virginia, they stay in an unmanned hostel for bikers and hikers, and Lulu has a major epiphany. If you’re travelling with a friend, are on a bike, or have a lot of time for thinking about The Meaning Of Life, this one is for you.

While you’re there: Find that hut, of course. It’s free accommodation!

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BackStory – ‘Untrammeled’: Yosemite National Park, CA

Backstory takes a broad concept from American history that’s reflected in the present and explores it through radio stories. This episode is one of the best — it pulls apart the idea of untamed, unaffected wilderness, but doesn’t dismiss its importance as an idea. Historically, the idea of wilderness is very important and it’s shaped the way we experience nature today. If you’re going on any bushwalks, camping, or planning to feel humbled by magnificent vistas during your travels, this episode will give your trip a whole other dimension. You’ll be walking with LBJ, Thoreau and Muir arguing in your ears.

While you’re there: Venture off the Yosemite Falls Trail, to the former location of John Muir’s cabin, and experience the park the way the 19th Century environmentalists did.

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State of the Re:Union – ‘Portland, OR: A Tale of Two Cities’: Portland, OR

You might be visiting Portland for The Dream Of The ’90s, or for the promise of great food and a city surrounded by trees. It’s an appealing destination, that seems to live up to the hype — this 99% Invisible’s episode taught me that even its airport is home to a farmer’s market. But this episode of State of the Re:Union looks at more of Portland than we’re used to hearing about. SOTRU reports on American communities in creative ways — when they visit a city they invite locals to write letters, and they usually cast an eye on issues of class, economics, race and city planning. In this episode they explore racism in the bike lane, a black sorority in one of the greenest buildings in the city, and the transformation of Portland into the stereotype we know today.

While you’re there: Hire a bike. But don’t be a dick like the green-haired cyclist in the podcast.

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WBEZ – ‘Chicago to Mexico by Bus’: Chicago, IL, Effingham, IL; Matthews, MO

If your visit to the US involves a 55-hour bus trip, chances are it’s a one off. But WBEZ producer Linda Lutton has taken the 2000-mile trip from Chicago to Zamora in Mexico nearly a dozen times, and this time she records it. The story is all about family and coming home and living far from a place you feel you belong, but it’s also about unpredictability when you’re travelling, annoying noises, long waits and speeding bus drivers. For all this, it also won the Little Mermaid Award in the 2014 Third Coast Competition, which means it’s a pretty terrific yarn.

While you’re there: Make friends at the restroom stops. Why? You might get clues that you’re going in the right direction.

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Feature image via Jonathan Grado/Flickr Creative Commons.

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Jess O’Callaghan is a co-Executive Producer of FBi Radio’s All The Best, and the producer of the Re-Readers podcast. Previously her writing and radio has appeared on the Meanjin podcast, Right Now, Something You Said, AWOL and Farrago.