The Best Family Podcasts for Summer Road Trips 2023
By: Heather Brooker (she/her), creator of Motherhood in Hollywood and Brooker Family POPcast
Summer is here and that means it’s time to pile everyone in the car for a family road trip. Before your kids put their faces in their screens (and you know they will!), try these podcasts to keep the wheels turning in their minds and on the road.
Who am I and how do I know so much about podcasts? I’m Heather Brooker, an actress, comedian, and Emmy Award-winning journalist who has created two successful podcasts. Motherhood in Hollywood is all about parenting in the entertainment business (this one’s just for moms and dads), and Brooker Family POPcast is a weekly family-friendly pop culture and entertainment show for parents AND kids!
I’ve scoured the podcast world to find the best family podcasts for summer road trips, so subscribe to these shows ASAP. That will be one less thing you have to worry about when you’re packing up the car.
Instead of trying to find some music everyone agrees on, pop on one of the best family podcasts and make your summer road trip as smooth as asphalt.
The Best Family Podcasts for Summer Road Trips
Click on the images to listen
Brooker Family POPcast
Obviously, I had to put my own show at the top of the list. Creating content for families is what we do! Brooker Family POPcast is hosted by me, my husband, Chris, and our 10-year-old daughter, Channing. We have funny, unfiltered conversations like a lot of families do and would love to have you join in the conversation.
On Brooker Family POPcast, we explore everything from the latest Marvel movie and Roblox games, to what’s trending online, to music recommendations. Each week, we’ll tell you about what we’re watching and if you should see it or skip it. Brooker Family POPcast is a great show for families and caters to a wide range of ages. BFP is the only pop culture podcast for families.
Greeking Out
I’m all for sprinkling in a little education while you're on vacation. And Greeking Out from National Geographic does this very well. Greeking Out is a storytelling podcast that revisits the greatest stories ever told. Stories of gods and goddesses, monsters, and heroes! Your kids might actually learn something on the road trip with this kid-friendly retelling of classic ancient Greek myths for the whole family.
Family Road Trip Trivia Podcast
This one is a little on the nose, right? My list of the best family podcasts for summer road trips wouldn’t be complete without including the Family Road Trip Trivia Podcast. This fun podcast engages kids and parents with themed trivia questions. Each episode is short (around 15 minutes) and very binge-able. And who doesn’t love shouting out the answers to trivia questions to pass the time?
Whose Amazing Life?
You venture deep into the jungle to solve its greatest mysteries. You gaze at Earth from the surface of the moon. You write music that has the whole world humming along. Whose Amazing Life? is the new series from the creators of Little Stories Everywhere and Adventures of Cairo. Walk in the shoes of the world’s most inspiring people, from Amelia Earhart to Lin-Manuel Miranda to Ariana Grande. Experience the challenges and triumphs they faced on their journeys — before everyone on the planet knew their names.
Listen closely for clues, because they won’t reveal who the person is until the very end of each episode! Each week brings a new adventure where listeners of all ages can immerse themselves in the life of someone amazing.
Earth Rangers
If you think that animals are amazing, this is the show for you! Join host Earth Ranger Emma as she travels the world to discover the wildest animal facts out there and solve nature’s biggest mysteries. With top ten countdowns, an animal guessing game, conservation conversations, and epic animal showdowns, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!
No Bad Dogs
Do you often wonder what your dog is thinking? Tom Davis hosts this paw-sitively fun show as he teams up with dog trainers, dog lovers, dog enthusiasts for the No Bad Dogs podcast. Each episode features dog training information and tips and a weekly Q&A where you can send in your own pup-related questions.
Curious Kids Podcast
Is your kid asking a lot of questions? Turn on the Curious Kids Podcast and some of them may be answered BEFORE they even ask. Or, they may inspire more conversation. Join Jacob and nine-year-old Olivia as they learn fun and educational things. They take on a new topic each episode with the goal of providing an educational and entertaining experience for listeners of all ages.
African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo
African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo is a Webby Award-winning children's podcast of diverse short stories originating in Africa, originally passed down through generations by word of mouth. These traditional tales told with a new twist are not only entertaining but serve to teach a lesson as well — sometimes of moral value and other times of survival.
Heather Brooker, host of Brooker Family POPcast
