There were lots of questions on the packing list post, so I thought I’d supply some quick answers:
How do you fit ALL THAT STUFF into your backpack??
My backpack is like the TARDIS. It’s a Crumpler Barge, made to carry camera equipment and a laptop plus some extras. It’s big for a daypack, but I use it for work everyday as well as traveling.
I was wondering if you would share what brand of sunless tanner you use?
After much cross consultation with beauty magazines and very pale friends, I use Clarins Self Tanning Gel, which looks like this:
A tube lasts forever, and after a couple of applications, people always ask if I’ve lost weight, which is American for “you look hot.”
I am curious — do you actually follow your toiletries list separately each trip? Or do you a keep an always-packed toiletries kit (with its own toothbrush, lotion, etc) and just throw the whole thing in your bag?
The latter. Though I do double-check against the list because I am anal. Also, I find it very satisfying to refill the little toiletry containers.
Why hand sanitizer only for foreign countries? The airplane is filthy enough, no matter where you go, no?
Before I had a kid, I only traveled with sanitizer in countries where I thought it would be tough to find public sinks, places where there’s a thriving street food culture for example. Now I carry a 20-gallon container with fire hose attachment, which I use to spray down the entire interior of the plane before I let Hank touch anything. On the advice of our pediatrician.
Is there a reason that the cuticle scissors aren’t grouped with the nail kit?
I don’t use them for my cuticles, I use them as scissors. Cutting tags off clothes, cutting out things to paste in my journal, makeshift weaponry should someone try to hijack the plane or use more than his alloted half of our shared armrest. That kind of thing.
Would you ever consider a make-up post?
My main thing is that I use Clinique’s City Block tinted sunscreen instead of foundation. It looks like this:
It evens out my skin tone. Plus, I’m 1000 percent more likely to apply foundation daily than sunscreen, so it saves me from burning when I’m unexpectedly in the sun for thirty seconds or more. Or when I spend too much time in the glare of our refrigerator light.
What podcasts do you download?
This American Life. What podcasts do you download? I want to know more about good podcasts.
Mighty Girl 
foreign dispatch from npr
craft sanity
SWRadioAfrica
And the BBC has lots of podcasts which are good
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Wait, wait, don’t tell me from NPR.
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WTF by Marc Maron. He had a radio show on the early Air America, and I am still a big fan. Crude and neurotic.
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Wait, Wait, don’t tell me.
Stuff You Should Know is awesome! I love it!
Dial A Stranger
The Coolest Stuff
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The Bugle
Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me
Forum with Michael Krasny – I always turn on KQED just as a show I’d like is ending, so this keeps me covered.
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Ditto to everyone who said The Moth. AMAZING. I listen a lot to All Songs Considered, but really only because I’m a music junkie. Dunno if Hank’s a Sesame Street watcher, but they put out a podcast that’s basically a mini-me version of the show. Lots of fun–I’m in my mid-twenties and single and I enjoy it (actually, i probably shouldn’t have just admitted that).
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as a fellow fan of This American Life, i suggest The Moth
http://www.themoth.org/podcast
: )
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Check out 92nd St Y and the NPR Live Concert Series
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How has no one mentioned the Savage Love podcast yet?
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Mountain Stage – a 2 hour show of fantastic live music broadcast from my home state (WV) on NPR
TEDTalks
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We have the best public radio station in MN, The Current. They play the best music that no other radio station would consider(some of my faves: Avett Brothers, Metric, Band of Horses, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, The Big Pink… I could go on and on!) They have a podcast for their “Song of the Day” that gives you a free MP3 song everyday, and their weekly “musicheads” breaks down the latest releases. Great if you’re looking for new music. You can also stream the radio station live from your computer or iPhone!
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Love those podcasts!
TAL
Planet Money
Several from the Quick and Dirty Podcast list (Money Girl, Nutrition Diva, etc)
Selected Shorts
Car Talk
NPR’s Story of the Day
And I completely second Laurie’s shout out for TBTL. So funny and genuine. Love it.
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Same as Laurie in #21, I gotta have “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me”. I even bought one of their ball caps which has embroidered on the back, “NPR without the dignity”.
I also like “Says You” also from NPR, a must for anyone who loves the English language, especially as spoken in America.
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My podcasts:
* This American Life (PRI)
* Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me (NPR)
* Car Talk (NPR)
* Sunday Puzzle (NPR)
* A Prairie Home Companion (NPR)
* The Moth
* The New Yorker Fiction
* President Obama’s Weekly Radio Address
* The Sound of Young America (PRI)
* The World – Geo Quiz (PRI)
* You Look Nice Today
* Hey, Brooklyn!
A few of them are really quite short; 5-15 minutes (The President, Geo Quiz, Sunday Puzzle and Hey, Brooklyn!). I also subscribe to a few language lessons to keep up on my German.
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By the way, Maggie – thanks for asking everyone to post about what podcasts they listen to. It’s great to read what is out there and look forward to listening/subscribing to a few that your other readers have mentioned.
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Someone probably mentioned this already, but I love Dinner Party Download!
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along with all the above repeats:
stuff you should know
the memory palace
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Lots of stuff from CBC – Jian Ghomeshi’s Q (interviews with very interesting people,) Nora Young’s Spark tech stuff)plus documentaries, discussions, endless options. CBC is fascinating.
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In addition to “This American Life,” I also download (from NPR):
The Writer’s Block
Selected Shorts
Sound Opinions
This I Believe
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CBC’s (Canadian) “The Debaters” episodes. Comedians hilariously go head-to-head in a formal debate format. They can use a combination of “facts” and “funny”, and the winner is decided by applause. 🙂
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Even though everyone has already said all three of my faves… I love them SO much they’re worth another mention…
THIS AMERICAN LIFE – can’t live without it
THE MOTH – so great, you never know what kind of story you’re going to hear, but they’re always true!
STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW – I have learned so much fun and interesting and RANDOM stuff from Josh and Chuck… Look forward to them every week!!!
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I second the Slate Political Gabfest, Also WBEZ’s Sound Opinions, Rock Talk show good stuff.
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My faves (many/most previously mentioned):
* The Moth
* TAL
* Never Not Funny
* You Look Nice Today
* Jordan Jesse Go
* The Sound of Young America
* David Mitchell’s Soap Box (has finished, but 24 eps to catch up on — hilarious)
* Radio Lab
* Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me
* Radio Lab
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Definitely check out Amateur Traveler and the Indie Travel Podcast (http://indietravelpodcast.com)
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In addition to TAL – I love “Speaking of Faith” with Krista Tippett – NPR’s platform for conversation about diverse, enlightening paths to the mountain top.
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Great podcast available on iTunes: TBTL (Too Beautiful To Live) 🙂
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I listen to podcasts while I’m in the kitchen as well as traveling. It’s a great way to keep myself from taking the cupcakes out early, keep stirring the risotto, etc. Time flies!
I’m miserly, so I listen to free podcasts. Then I feel guilty and donate to the station–so it works out.
The How Stuff Works guys are fantastic–they crack me up, and I get smarter. I also enjoy the Old Time Radio Mysteries.
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should Have Learned in History Class
KEXP Music that Matters
Rachel Maddow Show (no commercials!)
Keith Olbermann
This American Life
Old Time Radio
Kitchen Sisters Hidden Kitchens
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