In my last post I talked about steps to surviving your commute.  The one thing that really gets me through my commute is listening to something. I would even go so far as to say that I enjoy the commute, because of what I listen to. I am not a picky listener either. I will listen to pretty much anything and everything, but some things are definitely better than others!

My top three sources of pure listening entertainment…

  1. CBC Radio 1 – I LOVE this radio station. I promise they aren’t paying me to say this; they really do have great content. I love Matt Galloway’s Metro Morning and if I am driving early enough to hear him, I will tune in. For my evening commute back home, my go-to is CBC’s As It Happens at 6:30 p.m.. Carol Off and Jeff Douglas make me laugh, and sometimes cry, with their quirky rendition of the day’s events. While they can be serious with some of the issues they cover and seem to take a strong stance on controversial topics, they are enjoyable to listen to and interview some very interesting people from across the globe. I always chuckle to myself, both at the odd-ball stories they tell and the inevitable pun that gets delivered at the beginning of every episode.
  1. Overdrive – Overdrive is an app I have on my phone that connects me to Libraries on the Go. Many local library memberships in the GTA give you access to Libraries on the Go, which hosts hundreds of eBooks and audio-books. If you live in a suburb and work in the city, you may be able to get a membership at both local libraries, giving you access to even more online books! I use Overdrive to download audio-books, which I listen to during my drive. They are more convenient than audio-books on CD and they are way more affordable. Of course, there are some additional considerations that factor into liking an audio-book or not, the narrators voice and style being major ones. I have enjoyed most of the books I’ve listened to. It’s like being a kid again, listening to a bedtime story… except they are adult books and they do not put you to sleep (hopefully).
  1. Podcasts – I listen to podcasts in the car a lot less often than audio-books or the radio, but there are some fantastic podcasts out there and they fill in the gaps between books. It was also a podcast series that got me through a winter of running outdoors last year. I’ve been hooked ever since. There are so many podcasts to choose from, and with millions of topics and stories there is something for everyone. They are convenient too; you can listen to a podcast episode right on your phone. Apple products come with their own Podcasts App, as do most other Smartphones out there. Many podcast producers also have their own apps from which you can stream or download episodes.

With coming up on four years of listening experience, I would like to share the best of what I have heard. On Sundays, I will start getting you ready for your week by posting an audio-book or podcast that I recommend, and if I happen to hear a good radio segment on CBC, I will share that too. My aim is to spread the word on audio-books, podcasts and talk radio, to help my fellow commuters everywhere find a bit of enjoyment in the ride.  Even if you don’t commute, maybe you run. Consider taking these audio gems out for a spin; they may just get you to run an extra kilometer or two.

What are you listening to?

Leave a comment