I dunno about that. I listen to book, podcasts, music... and my mind often wanders. Often I have to go back 10 minutes to pick up the last section I was paying attention to (if I care -- books, yes, podcasts, maybe, music no).

In my experience it’s more like a guided meditation. An audiobook (esp non-fiction) doesn’t tell you what to think on your run, it tells you what to think about.

This Sunday I read The Inner Game of Tennis on a single long run. It was fantastic.

No idea what the book said specifically, but the thought process it sparked and revelations it guided about my own psychology, how to approach teaching workshops, how to train team members, how to create psychological safety on teams, how to get out of a funk, what to focus on when writing books and articles, … wonderful. Amazing. Loved it. Everyone should read this book. Preferably while walking or running.

For exercise, I walk with audiobooks. They're great for this.

Figured out 30 years ago that I can't think independent thoughts with one of those going, though.

For thinking, I walk with nothing. If I want to remember something, I'll do something out of the ordinary as a reminder (e.g., transfer my keys or phone to a different pocket, or pick up a pebble and carry it) and write it down at the end of the walk. Notebooks seem to chase ideas away.

I have found that just by failing to clear my mind before exercise I can end up mentally crunching some problem (if the parts are sufficiently well specified that I can imagine them), which negates a lot of the mental benefit of exercise.