This past weekend I moved to Hyde Park, a neighborhood located in Central Austin, and I just want to say that I definitely don’t wish a hot July move on anyone living in Texas. So if you have a move coming up in August, I wish you the best and I recommend a snow cone afterward as a reward! Coming from a house in the Zilker area, I discovered today that my commute to the office has been cut in half, which is a welcome change (it went from 25 minutes to about 12 minutes). And since I’ve gotten so used to a lengthier daily commute over the last couple years, I just wanted to share some things that I think make driving in Austin a little more pleasant.

I find myself drawn to either music or talk radio (including news or entertainment podcasts), depending on my mood, and whether I need something distracting or something stimulating. If I’m in the mood for the radio, it’s most often KUT or KUTX. When it comes to music, I’ve lately been jamming to new albums by Carly Rae Jepsen and Lizzo, but I also enjoy Hot Chip, Marina, and Tame Impala. As far as podcasts go, I'm always on the lookout for interesting discoveries. I regularly listen to “This American Life” and “Radiolab,” and earlier this year I enjoyed “The Dropout,” the hugely popular, 6-episode documentary podcast about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. “Safe for Work” is one I’ve heard about that I intend to check out. Its hosts, Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano, mix humor with much-needed advice for how to survive work. But besides those, I’m always on the lookout for other great storytelling and thought-provoking content. 

And sometimes when I’m driving to the office, I’m knocking out a conference call or work conversation (always hands-free, don’t worry!). Whether it’s short or long, how do you get through your commute around Austin and make it more fun or just more tolerable? Let us know in the comments section below.

Post by Keller Davis