Thanksgiving Day is filled with traditions. Customs including but not limited to: a turkey trot, a long drive to Grandma’s, hours spent in the kitchen (no, not microwaving a turkey) or last but not least, that after dinner nap.

For my family, the listening tradition has always been to play the 18 minute long Alice’s Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie on repeat, a practice my brother and I have been attempting to change for years. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great– but really, once is enough (Dad, I’m looking at you). However, if you aren’t preparing for a “Thanksgiving dinner that couldn’t be beat” with Arlo, I would highly recommend tuning into a Thanksgiving themed podcast episode or two, to get in the spirit, pass the time on the road or to ease yourself into that nap—you can always finish the episode when you wake up.

Here’s a short list to get you started:

  1. The Bill Simmons Podcast


If you’re a lover of football, this is the episode to catch this Thanksgiving—or in the approaching days.

The Bill Simmons Podcast, hosted by HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, dives into the potential picture of the upcoming NFL playoffs, the “surging” Dallas Cowboys, who are playing on Thanksgiving Day—when a win could secure them the number one spot– and reviews matchups from last weekend including Bengals-Ravens and the Steelers-Jags. He also sets his predictions for the Week 12 NFL lines.

Get ready for the Thanksgiving Day Cowboys-Redskins game on Thursday at 4:30 EST with Bill Simmons.

  1. Live Happy Now — Live Happy CEO, Deborah Heisz


This is the time to be giving thanks, and Live Happy Now, a podcast meant to help people live happier and more meaningful lives through interviews with thought leaders and positive psychology, is here for that aspect of the holiday.

This week’s episode brings Live Happy’s CEO, Deborah Heisz, to talk about the “amazing power of gratitude.” In this episode, she dives into how important it is for us all to express gratitude as a daily practice and not just on Thanksgiving.

Make sure you’re thinking about what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving and get insight on how important it is to think about what you feel gratitude for on the daily with this episode from Live Happy Now.

  1. Turkeys (LIVE!)


Last year, in Chicago, husband and wife duo, Travis and Teresa McElroy, recorded a live episode of their show, Shmanners—a podcast to help improve one’s etiquette week by week.

If you didn’t get a chance to tune in last year, this episode, a Thanksgiving special is still incredibly timely and worth a listen. Focused entirely on “TURKEYS!”, the McElroys dive into the history of Thanksgiving, including President Abraham Lincoln’s involvement, turkey eggs, turkey parades, the question: why turkey at Thanksgiving? and so much more.

The 30-minute episode is the perfect appetizer to a helping of turkey breast, perhaps with cranberry sauce on the side.

  1. Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone


Nobody’s Listening to Paula Poundstone premiered earlier this year. The podcast, featuring comedian Paula Poundstone and her co-host Adam Felber, is a “comedy field guide to life, or at least a set of IKEA assembly instructions.”

For their first Thanksgiving episode, Paula and Adam discuss what they’re thankful for: their listeners. The hosts read through letters from their audience and playing through some of the submissions to their “Theme Song Contest.” The episode also features a review of the first “Rocky”, what they call a “heartwarming Thanksgiving classic.”

If you’re looking for a chuckle this Thanksgiving, make sure you ARE listening to Paula Poundstone.

  1. Stuff to Blow Your Mind — Jive Turkey


Finally, if you’re really interested in “the great bird” and couldn’t get enough after listening to the Shmanners Turkeys episode. Take a listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind’s 2012 Thanksgiving episode: “Jive Turkey.”

Hosts Julie and Robert dig into the history of the North American bird that’s come to hold so much importance in American culture and Thanksgiving—the ancient history, the origins of its name and how we humans have continued to “bend the creature” for our Thanksgiving wants and needs.

And if you decide you have an extra 20 minutes or so to spare after finishing up the podcast playlist above, or you want something to play during dinner, listen to “Alice’s Restaurant” and Adam Sandler’s “The Thanksgiving Song”.

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

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