Making the Most Out of Your Commute!

Hello, WAIPers! It’s hard to believe that we’re already a third of the way through the summer program. By now, we’ve acquainted ourselves with much more of the city than just our commute. But make no mistake, the daily commute is nothing to be minimized. During the work week, I look forward to my morning walks (or if I’m running late, metros,) to work. It is the only part of my day that seems truly “free.” During that time there’s nothing I can do except walk or ride the train as transportation is literally out of my hands. 

It's a special treat to watch the Capitol glow on those night was home. 

To make the most of this sacred time, I’ve turned to a mix of music and podcasts and am here to share some of my favorites with the hope that they either speak to your interests or spark some ideas of your own on how you can spice up this otherwise dead time in your day. 

Podcasts: 

1. The New Yorker Radio Hour, this podcast presents a weekly mix of in-depth interviews, profiles, and short bursts of humor that make the magazine come to life. This podcast provides a deep dive into current political happenings and aims to explain cultural shifts. 
2. The Call, self described as a podcast which interviews wildly inspiring women on their journey to answer their life’s calling. While still in its infancy, this podcast tells the stories of diverse women who are experiencing their version of success. Think of these episodes as girl-powered informational interviews on the go. 
3. The Moth Radio Hour, this podcast produces three true stories per episode, told as remembered by the storyteller, and are recorded live. Each episode has a thought-provoking, and often unexpected, theme. 

Music: 

1. Alt-J’s new album, “Relaxer” was just released on June 2nd. Like most of Alt-J’s albums, this one is best listened to straight through. It is the perfect chill jam to transition from the walk to work to the office environment, if you’re allowed to work with headphones in. If not, it makes for great background music to a late-night monument tour. 
2. Fleet Foxes, “Third of May/Odaighara,” provides the necessary folksy Simon and Garfunkel song of the summer. This song perfectly suits someone who wishes to wander through a meadow to have a picnic with friends on a hot summer day.  
3. London Grammar’s album, “Truth is a Beautiful Thing.” If listening to music is tolerated at your workplace, London Grammar’s new album may be just for you. But if not, there are some great study tunes on the album. The group combines sparse electronic music with big vocals, reminiscent of the xx. 
4. Bombay Bicycle Club. A summer classic, their tunes perfectly balance energy and sentiment. “So long, see you tomorrow” came out in 2014, but in my (likely biased) opinion it doesn’t feel stale at all, though some may argue that their oldest stuff is best, see “I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose”. 

Sarah Souders