What better way to prepare yourself for days of eating food and debating politics than with the escapist joy of a smart, well-produced podcast?

We asked some of Atlanta's top podcasting talent for their road trip recommendations.

Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Lisa Hagen, co-host of NPR's "No Compromise," the Pulitzer-winning look at a group of guns rights activists who have built a social media empire:

• "My favorite is 'Last Podcast on the Left.' It's not very not family friendly. It's about serial killers and cults and UFOs — which is exactly what the holidays put me in the mood for."

Rodney Carmichael, co-host of NPR's "Louder Than a Riot," an acclaimed series exploring the "interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration."

• "Resistance." "This show is the most urgent podcast out right now. There's nowhere else in mainstream media where I get to hear people who sound like me telling stories that matter to me. It feels like the real American revolution."

Victoria Lemos, host of "Archive Atlanta," a series about the city's history and the stories you never knew behind buildings and landmarks:

• "Freewheelin with Carden." "I've been working on being more informed and aware of my ableism, and I love the way Carden Wyckoff interviews her diverse group of guests."

Matthew Shaer, co-founder of Campside Media, the producer of series like "Suspect," "Witnessed: Borderlands" and "Chameleon."

• "Eclipsed." "Hosted by Bijan Stephen, the series is about historical events that were overshadowed by other things in the news at the time, to the extent we've now largely forgotten about them."

Christina Lee, co-host of "Bottom of the Map" and "Racket," and a weekly contributor to NPR's "All Songs Considered."

• "I'm hoping to revisit the "Bruce Lee Podcast" (yes, that Bruce Lee) co-hosted by his daughter, Shannon. During the first season Bruce Lee became my Brene Brown. Some of Bruce's most memorable quotes (i.e. this entire scene on "emotional content") were rooted in his personal philosophies about mindfulness, and ways to apply these lessons to everyday life."

Read the full list of podcast recommendations.

Time flies: Today is the last day to vote early in the Atlanta runoff elections. Election Day is Tuesday. (!)

By the numbers: According to Ryan Anderson with Georgia Votes, 23,176 Atlantans have already voted. That turnout is 1% higher than this time during the general election.

• Nearly 60% of the early voters have been women.
• 41.5% have been 65+.
• 45.1% have been white; 42% have been Black.

Of note: Anderson points out that Buckhead is outperforming all other districts in turnout so far.

State of play: An AJC/Channel 2 poll this week showed a tight race, with Council member Andre Dickens slightly ahead of City Council President Felicia Moore.

Go deeper: Catch up on our breakdown of the candidates' positions on preventing Buckhead cityhood, increasing affordable housing and their visions for the city.

Bottom line: You can vote early until 6pm today. Find Fulton County locations here and DeKalb County locations here.

When it comes to cranberry sauce, Georgians apparently opt for the cold canned jelly over the fresh version.

• Georgians are 9.9% more likely to buy canned cranberries compared to the national average, according to Instacart sales figures from November 2020.

🌳 Federal officials are supporting a proposal to cap the Downtown Connector with a 14-acre green space with cash. (Urbanize)

📍 Democrats in southwest Cobb County could soon be represented by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. (AJC)

🤔 Should Atlanta trade 44 acres of city-owned woodlands for roughly 13 acres near Collier Heights? (Saporta Report)

🛌 A 63-year-old grandmother says she and her granddaughter were kicked out of a Helen hotel after leaving a bad review. (11Alive)

🚨 The man who discharged a gun at the Atlanta airport Saturday is still on the loose. (Nexstar)