13 of the best podcasts for a summer road trip

By now, your "songs of summer" playlists should be fine-tuned in time for that 4th of July barbecue. But what about your podcast queue — is it road trip-ready?

Don't worry, we're here to help. Here are 13 shows worth downloading (from Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio shows) for your summer vacations.

If you need your “footie” fix

"American Fiasco" Season 1 from WNYC

It doesn’t even matter if you follow the World Cup, any human will be captivated by charming Men in Blazers host Roger Bennett. His show about America’s underdog soccer team is surprising and engaging, probably made more so by his British cheekiness and accent.

If you’re wondering about what happened to Bikram Yoga

"30 for 30 Podcast" Season 3 from ESPN

Even before the #MeToo movement took hold, producer Julia Lowrie Henderson was tracking down sexual assault and rape allegations against the man who started the hot yoga craze, Bikram Choudhury. In a 5-part series, she navigates the eye-opening rise and fall from grace of the yoga guru.

If you want to ignite a healthy debate

"Revisionist History" Season 3 from Panoply

What does the second amendment actually state, and is the meaning altered by a single semicolon? How dangerous is playing college football? Should you support a sport that causes CTE? Bestselling author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell explores those controversial questions in the new season of his excellent podcast.

If you want to feel like you’re on the "Magic School Bus"

"Radiolab" Gonads series from WNYC

Don't be thrown off by the title: Reporter Molly Webster's new "Radiolab" series takes listeners inside of the earliest weeks of an embryo's development, to how a baby becomes a boy or girl.

If you think being stuck in a car is bad

"The Habitat" Season 1 from Gimlet

"The Habitat" is like "Real World," but on a fake planet Mars with plenty of dry food. Six volunteers document their time spent in a space that's smaller than a tennis court, to give astronauts an idea of what it might be like to inhabit the red planet in the future. And to make you feel better about being trapped in an automobile.

If you’re in a romantic mood

"Modern Love" from WBUR

Before it becomes an Amazon anthology series, hear the popular "Modern Love" column from the "New York Times," as read by actors including Krysten Ritter, Mandy Moore and Saoirse Ronan. The stories aren't all about romance — some are about romantic love and familial love — but they all have the potential to make you cry a single, pretty tear.

If you’re looking for a good throwback

"The Babysitters Club Club" from HeadGum

Two grown men reading and discussing “The Babysitters Club” — yes, that '90s book series about a group of young girls running a local babysitting service — is a bizarre premise that's wonderfully executed in this podcast. It’s roughly as productive as an actual book club, in that it includes a good amount of alcohol, very little discussion of the novel at hand and a ton of fun.

If you and your friends need some honest dating advice

"U Up?" from Betches

Named for that tricky little 2 a.m. text usually sent from one intoxicated party to another, “U Up?” features hosts Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid who tackle listeners’ relationship questions with snark and brutal honesty. Through debates on whether certain actions are red flags or deal breakers, social media do’s and don'ts, and wacky dating stories, they help listeners navigate the complicated world of 21st century relationships.

If work is on the brain, even now

"Happier in Hollywood" from Panoply

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Writing partner duo Liz Craft and Sarah Fain (“Angel,” “The Shield,” “Vampire Diaries”) take you behind the scenes of the television industry as they work to get their latest pilot, “The Fix,” on the air. They welcome a myriad of Hollywood guests, share life hacks and their latest celebrity sightings, and divulge tips to make work-life better, no matter what industry you’re in.

If you can’t decide between listening to a podcast or the radio

"36 Questions - The Podcast Musical" from Two-Up

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In a three-part fictional musical, we meet a couple (Jonathan Groff and Jessie Shelton) trying to save their marriage in the same way they got together: answering 36 increasingly personal questions aimed to fast-track a romantic relationship.

If you’re counting down the days until Fall TV returns

"The Good Place: The Podcast" from NBC

Fans of NBC’s “The Good Place” get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the making of one of the best plot twists in recent television history. It’s only a few episodes in so far, but the first is with creator Mike Schur (who also created “Parks and Recreation” and “Brooklyn 99,” and wrote for “The Office”) and is a must-listen for anyone interested in the TV business.

If you miss the old Kanye

"Dissect - A Serialized Music Podcast" from Spotify Studios

Calling all rap fans: If you love geeking out over song lyrics, this is the podcast for you. Each season of “Dissect” tackles a different album: Season 1 covers Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Season 2 is all about Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” and Season 3 is currently analyzing Frank Ocean’s discography. Each episode picks apart a single song, dissecting it word-by-word.

If you have an appetite for food policy

"Plate of the Union" from Food Policy Action

Those with a taste for food politics will be satisfied with this fresh new podcast, which launched June 28. Hosts Spike Mendelsohn (a celebrity chef and restaurateur who you may remember from "Top Chef" Season 4) and Monica Mills (executive director of Food Policy Action) serve up episodes on important topics like food as medicine and urban agriculture. Guests include chefs like José Andrés, members of congress and food activists. Fingers crossed for a Michelle Obama cameo.

WSBTV