I have been spending so much time in the car lately. It's easy for me to get tired of the radio. I've tried everything (but cassette tapes) to keep me sane behind the wheel. I've put together my top three songs and top 5 podcasts that have been helping me deal with holiday traffic.
SONGS:
It's that cold time of year again. My current local temperature is about 22 degrees, which makes car travel less fun toff the bat. I need music to get me in the car. A good holiday song will make you forget you're in traffic. A great song will turn your boring commute into a party-like atmosphere , which is great when there is a bottleneck to view an accident on the other side of the highway.
3.
Florida Georgia Line: Cruise
"I've got my windows down, and my radio up..."
This 2013 radio staple get me to roll down my windows and relax (if it is above 40 degrees out). I caught FGL in the summer of 2013 touring with Luke Bryan as this song was burning up the country, pop and hip hop charts. It was a near religious experience on a sweltering Labor Day weekend in Pennsylvania as
Tyler Hubbard (Georgia of the aforementioned
Line) yelled out "Yeah Girl" to my "
Let's cruise" sign. Something about the song on the radio takes me back to that concert and the memories of that weekend. Cruise and other songs about sipping beers, falling in love, dancing in fields, and other summer fun can be found on
Here's to the Good Times.
2.
Maren Morris: 80's Mercedes
"...Feel like a hard to get starlet when I'm driving...."
I love listening to this song in the car. It reminds me of summertime, no traffic, and it's very catchy. Maren Morris has blown up the country scene this year, winning Bes New Artist at November's CMA Awards. Her mix of pop, soul and country make her Summer 2016 album
Hero on repeat.
1.
Tim McGraw: Shotgun Rider
"...No I don't ever want to know... no other shotgun rider beside you, singing along to the radio."
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PODCASTS:
Everyone has a podcast these days. All you need are some good microphones, the gift of gab, and an iTunes account. All you need to listen are ears. I have been devouring the following podcasts in no particular order :
5.
Shondaland Revealed
TGIT fans can rejoice!
ABC super EP
Betsy Beers is back bi-weekly this season and interviewing her beloved Shonda Thursdays actors. Stars of
Grey's Anatomy,
Scandal (premieres next month),
The Catch (premieres March) and
How to Get Away with Murder come to chat about their shows. I also believe this started as a Scandal podcast and expanded out to the other shows. In the news, I have to know who is under the sheet (dead) on HTGAM! I know Betsy will have that interview (and the actor's fashion report) soon. The podcast is on
iTunes alternate Fridays with first looks on
EW.com Thursday nights.
4.
Buffering the Vampire Slayer
Real-life couple
Kristin Russo and
Jenny Owens Young have just completed a watch of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's season 1. January is the perfect time to jump in on the emotionally crippling season 2. There's some important conversations to be had here about the dialog (mostly from Xander) and situations from the 90's (just yell "The Patriarchy") that are no longer politically correct. There's also much amazing fashion to discuss (t-shirts under camis and dresses, velour everything, anyone?) Buffy fans new and old will enjoy this podcast. I loved the interview with
Armin Shimerman (aka Principal Synder) and hope to hear more behind the scenes tidbits as Buffy turns 20 this spring. Each episode ends with an original composition the ladies have written about the theme of the episode. I know the upcoming School Hard already lends itself to an easy chorus. The podcast drops on
iTunes Wednesday nights/Thursday mornings. Visit the podcast website
here.
3.
Bitch Sesh- A Real Housewives Breakdown Show
Hosts
Casey Warner and
Danielle Schneider are celebrating year on the airwaves with special guest, Bravo's King
Andy Cohen. Both women come from comedy writing and acting backgrounds, and they launched the
Hulu original mockumentaries "The Real Housewives of Orlando" and "The Real Housewives of Las Vegas." This podcast is all bravo, all the time. The episodes recap all of the Real Housewives franchises (mainstays Orange County, Beverly Hills, NY, NJ, Atlanta, and the less successful Dallas, DC, and Potomac forays.) The podcast is usually found Wednesdays! Catch the crew on
iTunes here.
2.
Gossip Guys
Andy Greene and Aaron
Davitian have steered the ship USS
Gossip Girl for nearly three seasons, and only spoiled one major plotline. If you listed to the "Never Have I Ever" episode, you and Andy will find out who is
Gossip Girl. The L.A.-based pair always have something to say as two guys watching a post-Internet boom teen drama. They push through the party and scheme of the week, coining phrases such as '
manipiate': a manipulation, usually involving Nate. I've found myself yelling "It's not enough," when they honor Blair's stepdad Cyrus, or "It's a small island," whenever a character unfathomably appears in the next scene after going from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Join the guys as we head into the (personal opinion) turbulent and off-putting season 4. Let's hope next season will end with a "Summer of Serena" movie binge of
Blake Lively classics. Episodes usually release Mondays. Spot the guys on
iTunes here.
1.
The Shipping Room
If you've ever rooted for a TV couple, this podcast is for you! From
The Wonder Years to
Chicago P.D. and everything in between (usually
902010 or
One Tree Hill), Christine and Tamar fearlessly plunge into important TV relationship topics. Past episodes have been about affairs, pregnancies and engagements. The ladies share weekly listener "Tip 10 Ships" lists and talk with top T.V. writers. Episodes drop on Fridays. Check them out on
iTunes.
I cannot remember the last time I've been reading lines from a book out loud to my boyfriend. He really started to enjoy some of the stories and passages, many of which I had heard outlined in Casey Wilson's podcast, Bitch Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown Show. Wilson discusses parenting, Real Housewives, getting fired from SNL, and shares many cringe-worthy stories about her beloved father, Paul. 
