All Songs Considered: "What's the Perfect Roadtrip Playlist?"

Host: Robin Hilton
Guests: Stephen Thompson, Lars Gottrich
Release Date: August 12, 2025

As summer ushers in road trip season, NPR’s flagship music discovery show, All Songs Considered, delves into crafting the ultimate road trip playlist. Host Robin Hilton, alongside music enthusiasts Stephen Thompson and Lars Gottrich, explores various musical categories tailored to enhance the road trip experience. Through lively discussions, personal anecdotes, and shared favorite tracks, the trio offers insights into selecting songs that cater to diverse passengers, energize the journey, and evoke nostalgia.

1. Embracing the Road Trip Season

Robin Hilton sets the stage by acknowledging the universal love for road trips paired with the perfect soundtrack.

Robin Hilton [00:17]: "Well, it's road trip season, and nothing goes better with road trips and listening to music."

2. Navigating Road Trips with Kids

The conversation begins with addressing the challenges and joys of traveling with children. Lars Gottrich discusses his strategy for keeping his young daughter entertained during long drives.

Lars Gottrich [03:00]: "And especially if we're gonna do that eight hour drive, I need to have something right at the front of that trip that's gonna like, get her motivated to get through it until she has iPad time."

The trio emphasizes the importance of balancing screen time with engaging music, ensuring that children remain entertained without becoming overly reliant on electronic devices.

3. The Power of Sing-Alongs

Stephen Thompson highlights the significance of sing-alongs in fostering family bonding and making the journey enjoyable.

Stephen Thompson [06:25]: "I think that's a really, really important part of the family road trip and part of teaching your children to be goobers."

Robin shares her experience with the Broadway cast album of "Hamilton," noting how it serves as a perfect sing-along tool for her older children.

Robin Hilton [05:33]: "And my wife along with every lyric. I think having a group sing along is so important when you're in the car with other people."

4. Energizing the Journey with Upbeat Tracks

The discussion shifts to selecting songs that keep the energy high and everyone alert. Lars Gottrich introduces "Mystery" by the Wipers, praising its high-energy and existential themes that resonate during long drives.

Lars Gottrich [12:20]: "It's full of energy. It's existential as hell. It's asking big life questions in every single song."

Robin Hilton counters with her appreciation for Steely Dan’s "Countdown to Ecstasy," highlighting its timeless appeal despite differing personal tastes among the guests.

Robin Hilton [15:14]: "Well, I would. This is my old school from their album 'Countdown to Ecstasy.'"

5. Curating Nighttime Driving Music

Addressing the unique atmosphere of nighttime driving, Lars Gottrich recommends "Monster Collecting" by Unwed Sailor for its meditative yet engaging qualities.

Lars Gottrich [31:05]: "The song's called 'Monster Collecting.' Perfect for that moment in the night where you got a lot of thoughts running through your head and you need to collect them a little bit."

Robin Hilton adds "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers as a quintessential track that combines nostalgia with driving energy.

Robin Hilton [33:21]: "Midnight Rider from their album 'Idle Wild South.' ... it lifts me up, you know?"

6. Tapping into Nostalgia

Robin Hilton emphasizes the role of nostalgic songs in enriching the road trip experience by sparking memories and fostering deeper connections among travelers.

Robin Hilton [41:46]: "This is my playlist called 'No One Needs to Know,' and it is full of all of the 80s pop songs that I actually really, really love."

The guests agree that songs like Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" serve as powerful nostalgia triggers.

Robin Hilton [42:05]: "But, you know, this whole song, so they did not write it. Simple Minds did not write it. ... an anthem of a generation."

7. Personal Playlists and Anecdotes

Throughout the episode, the hosts share their personal road trip playlists and the stories behind them.

• Stephen Thompson discusses his "Grace against the Machine" mix for his daughter, blending 90s hard rock and heavy metal to suit her tastes.

  Stephen Thompson [28:46]: "She loves the darkness, clearly including the band the Darkness. And so I made her a mix, heavy music of the 90s called Grace against the Machine."

• Lars Gottrich talks about his disciplined approach to in-car music control, ensuring safety and enjoyment without distractions.

  Lars Gottrich [11:54]: "I'm not allowed to fiddle. I'm not allowed to, like, be touching screen. So I always literally do boxes of CDs..."

8. Celebrating 25 Years and Top Songs of 2024

In the final segment, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson reflect on their favorite songs from 2024 as part of celebrating All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. They discuss memorable tracks that have left a significant impact over the past quarter-century.

Robin Hilton [43:05]: "So we'll put all these songs and anything else that we can think of into a road trip playlist that people can find on Spotify and Apple."

They introduce new tracks like "Highlands" by Middle Kids and "God Person" by Matty Diaz, sharing why these songs resonate deeply with them.

Stephen Thompson [45:35]: "This is a song called 'Highlands' by the band Middle Kids... I hear it, and I'm like, this is phenomenal."

Robin Hilton [48:27]: "His behavior and a truly, truly gifted storyteller, too."

9. Wrapping Up and Future Plans

The episode concludes with the hosts announcing plans to release their year-end segments as individual episodes, allowing listeners to revisit favorite tracks and memories. They encourage listeners to create their own road trip playlists inspired by the episode’s discussions.

Robin Hilton [43:41]: "This is a way to inspire you to make your own mix for your road trip."

Stephen Thompson [50:08]: "Thank you, Robin."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Robin Hilton [00:17]: "Well, it's road trip season, and nothing goes better with road trips and listening to music."
• Lars Gottrich [03:00]: "And especially if we're gonna do that eight hour drive, I need to have something right at the front of that trip that's gonna like, get her motivated to get through it until she has iPad time."
• Stephen Thompson [06:25]: "I think that's a really, really important part of the family road trip and part of teaching your children to be goobers."
• Lars Gottrich [12:20]: "It's full of energy. It's existential as hell. It's asking big life questions in every single song."
• Robin Hilton [41:46]: "This is my playlist called 'No One Needs to Know,' and it is full of all of the 80s pop songs that I actually really, really love."
• Stephen Thompson [45:35]: "This is a song called 'Highlands' by the band Middle Kids... I hear it, and I'm like, this is phenomenal."
• Robin Hilton [48:27]: "His behavior and a truly, truly gifted storyteller, too."

Conclusion

"What's the Perfect Roadtrip Playlist?" offers a comprehensive exploration of musical selections tailored to enhance the road trip experience. From kid-friendly tunes and energizing tracks to nostalgic anthems and nighttime melodies, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson, and Lars Gottrich provide listeners with valuable insights and personal favorites. Celebrating 25 years of celebrated music discussions, the episode not only curates a diverse playlist but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the role music plays in making road trips memorable.

Listeners are encouraged to create their own playlists inspired by the episode’s categories and recommendations, ensuring that every road trip is accompanied by the perfect soundtrack.