I’ve found myself recently having a lot of windshield time; tractor and car. The Board of Directors and I drove to Indiana to visit family last week, allowing about three hours of dead air. Of course, it’s really a 12-hour round trip minimum, but you really only get about three hours of peace when the CEO and COO refuse to nap at the same time, need different-timed potty breaks and spending an hour in a double-jointed position trying to re-shove a pacifier into a earsplitting COO’s mouth while simultaneously trying to not hit the rumble strips…again. “MOOOMMMM, you’re going to run us into the ditch”, says the 3 year old. And I say, “Let’s see how you drive when you pick up your kids bleeping purple crayon for the 27th time, Miss. Traffic Cop.”

After listening to Daddy Shark, the Wizard of Oz Soundtrack and Elvis (the CEO is into “Rock N’ Roll” these days. Early, hot Elvis, not strawberry-stuffed glazed donut with facial hair in the shape of pork chops Elvis) for a few hours, I decided to pull up the Podcast app on the ole’ iPhone.

When I have a brief alone minute, I typically listen to topics like Small Farmer, Farmers Markets, super boring business management or Mike Rowe podcasts (although I feel I’m cheating on my husband when I listen to Rowe). But this time, with multi-pitched screaming babies on hour four, I typed in “Children’s Storytime” and quickly found myself knee-deep in a virtual voiceover world of wonder.

There are princess stories, Alice in Wonderland narratives, Wild Kratts podcasts, tales from the Lilly Pad and children reading Bible stories. There are podcasts on being brave, being jealous, being sweet and being different. PBS Kids has their own channel. Sesame Street is at every turn. Heck, there are even TedTalk episodes for Kids+Family.

HAVE I BEEN UNDER A ROCK?!

It took a minute for the CEO to realize she needed to pay attention to the radio, and subsequently understand that someone was telling a story, typically in multiple voices. But once she did, she was spellbound. And quiet. Awwwwhhhh, silence. Sweet, sweet silence.

Do yourself a favor and find a children’s podcast (or 10), that works for you. You’ll be glad you did when you find yourself with a lot of windshield time.