28 Feb 5 Conscious Podcasts for Your Next Road Trip

I once had to drive twenty hours with a colleague who was notorious for her never-ending stories. Listen, it’s pretty handy when you want a meeting to be diverted, but on an extended road trip it’s a serious mental health hazard. Craftily, I downloaded all episodes of the record-breaking podcast, Serial. We reached our destination and sat in the car for another twenty minutes to finish an episode. In my bid to avoid prolonged conversation, I had introduced both my chatty colleague and myself to the world of podcasts. And it turns out it’s more like a universe; the scope of subjects, narrative techniques and production style is incredible. Whittling the list of conscious podcasts down to five was tricky. Next time you’re hitting the open road (or even just stuck in traffic or going to the gym), give one of these a listen to improve your knowledge of the ever-changing world and how we can all work to make it a more sustainable one.

The Minimalist Podcast: theminimalists.com

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud
With an audience of more than four million followers, Josh and Ryan of the Minimalist Podcast broadcast one of the highest ranking podcasts on all of iTunes. The duo discusses living a life with more meaning by having less stuff – and, having a positive impact on the environment while you’re at it. With an easy conversational style, they look at sustainability a little differently and answer questions from their regular listeners to take you deep into the mindset of the minimalist lifestyle.

Conscious chatter: consciouschatter.com

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, PodBean, PlayerFM
Kestrel Jenkins believes fashion and ethics ‘can jive, and maybe even thrive together.’ In 2009, she completed a yearlong project called Make Fashion Fair, in which she pledged to only purchase clothing that was made consciously with regard to people and the planet. Ten years later she’s still exploring where clothes come from but has taken her storytelling to the podwaves (that’s not a real word). She chats to a wide range of guests, experts and changemakers in the industry, exploring everything from production to best waste practices and stories behind the crafters.

Green Dreamers: greendreamer.com

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, GooglePlay
How can we live more sustainably? That is the question that host Kaméa Chayne seeks to answer thoughtfully, open-mindedly and eloquently. Green Dreamer features interviews with innovative pioneers, renowned conservation creatives, and industry thought leaders. Perfect for creatives pursuing more environmentally-conscious work and lifestyles, this podcast will inspire you to start that passion project that’s been on your mind. A recent podcast, for example, explores how documentary filmmaking can spread the message of sustainability.

Think: Sustainability: 2ser.com/thinksustainability/

Listen on iTunes
Think: Sustainability is about practical actions for a better planet. From waste to wealth, and grids to growth, the show digs into the impact of consumption across all areas of life — it tracks the movements, discoveries and technologies making way for a sustainable future. Based out of Australia (don’t worry, the accent is mild), but globally geared, episodes cover hot topics such as algae, veganism, drones, and e-waste. The issues they cover reveal the seriousness of some of the everyday problems we face. But it’s not all doom and gloom; it showcases the innovative individuals and their solutions that are working to solve environmental problems.

Hey, change: heychange.net

Listen on iTunes, Spotify, PodBean, Google Music, Stitcher
Anne Therese is a Swedish model who moved to New York and started an ethical model and talent agency. Her podcast is about finding the curiosity and courage to get out there and seek the new and unknown. She says, ‘I don’t believe we’re meant to be the same person our whole lives and the sooner we realise that, the sooner we can open our hearts to all the magic the Universe has to offer.’ She’s boundlessly positive and asks every guest to share something uplifting they’ve seen the news recently, which adds a fun element to it. Her focus is on figuring out how to change ourselves, and the world, for good.