When I Laugh on the Bus...

it's probably because I am listening to Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! Like, sometimes I have literally had to start listening to something else because I was starting down a road of uncontrollable, that-girl-is-nuts, tears-streaming-down-my-face kind of laughter. All because of a podcast.

Most of us spend some part of our days on a commute. You may spend yours in a car. I spend mine on a bus, metro, school shuttle and walking. But no matter how you get somewhere, there is always that little voice in the back of your head saying that you are wasting part of your day. But what if you weren't? What if you could reclaim that time? What if you could transform your commute into a time of learning, laughter, and growth? That's where this little tool comes into play. The podcast. Something that sounds so archaic can actually be the light at the end of the tunnel. Your underpass tunnel, so to speak. Or my metro one.

My Dad first introduced me to podcasts on long-distance road trips. Soon, after many silent and boring commutes here in Istanbul, I found myself downloading Podkicker onto my phone. This was indeed one of the best free downloads I have ever installed. Suddenly, my commute had all of these opportunities opening up in front of it. Did I want to listen to international news? Or learn about how perfumes work? Or get some Turkish studying in? The options were countless.

My main 3 podcast areas are these:

News
Listening to the news helps you to break out of the bubble of your reality. It helps you remember that the world is moving along just as you are. My favorite news podcast is the Global News by the BBC and I also greatly enjoy listening to the Diane Rehm Show.

Learning
I have started using some Turkish phrases in my daily conversations that I didn't even learn in class...I learned them from podcasts like Turkish Tea Time. Funny side note: Many of my friends here  in Istanbul listen as well to Turkish Tea Time, and it is actually produced here in Istanbul. We have heard the host's voice so much that we joke that if ever we hear him out in public, we are going to shout "Justin!!!" Podcasts aren't just great for learning a new language (which is a wonderful thing to do, by the way - http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27634990). Stuff like RadioLab, Freakonomics, How Stuff Works, Stuff You Should Know and more can help you learn about any and all topics.

Laughter
It's true. Laughter is the best medicine. And sometimes it's just what you need after a day at work or school. So try Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me or The Prairie Home Companion by NPR if you are up to getting a few laughs (and probably tears) in while you drive.

Comment below with the podcasts that you listen to and recommend, if you are already transforming your commute!

If you want to listen to some books on your commute, try out Audible! Doing the free trial also helps fund my traveling through Amazon Affiliates :)