Of course, I still wish I could do this...
I've discovered a lot of great "educational" podcasts over the past year or so. Now, I put educational in quotes because one's first thought when they see that word is probably something along the lines of "boring, dry, bland... and non-fun." However, the podcasts that I've included on this list definitely don't fall into that category. They might not be traditionally educational, but there are lessons to be had! From little known historical figures to life lessons, podcasting has created opportunities for a lot of smart, interesting and talented people to create content that is largely free. Also, they're starting to boom in popularity thanks to the massive success of Serial.
I've crafted this list with a variety of audiences in mind, so I've identified which ones are explicit/otherwise inappropriate for younger audiences. So, if you're looking for something new to listen to while logging your miles on the treadmill, prepping your next meal or stuck for hours in terrible traffic, here are my recommendations!
Stuff You Missed in History Class: Co-hosted by two hilarious ladies (Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey), Stuff You Missed in History Class is the podcast that really opened my eyes to the medium. They cover a variety of topics, from people to events across different regions of the world and time periods. While the hosts are funny and engaging, they also do a wonderful job staying on topic throughout the show. One of my favorite things about this podcast they always either mention their sources during the episodes or at least write about them in their show notes on their website. Even as a lover of history, I've learned so much from listening to Stuff You Missed in History Class.
The Nerdist Podcast: Nerdist has become a large podcast "network," but this is the podcast that started that whole shebang five years ago. Chris Hardwick (of Singled Out and Talking Dead fame) and team interview pop culture personalities without a clearly-defined structure, really just falling into an extended conversation on a variety of topics. Sure, it may just sound like an opportunity for these personalities to pitch their latest venture, but most of the time, they dive into topics about life including success, death and psychology. For example, the "Wil Wheaton Returns" episode dealt with his depression in a refreshingly frank manner. These episodes can be long, but if they're with a person you're particularly interested in, they're incredibly captivating. Along these lines, I would also recommend Aisha Tyler's Girl on Guy. She is super rad and her conversations with guests have helped me to discover a lot about the world and myself. Note: Both of these podcasts would not be appropriate for younger audiences because of occasional explicit language and topics.
Ask Me Another: I looooooooove NPR. If I'm not listening to podcasts or sports radio in my car, the dial is tuned to my local NPR station. They have tremendous programming, including the famous and personal favorite news game show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Ask Me Another is like Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!'s more nerdy, less popular cousin. They have word and trivia games that span the spectrum of topic areas, always with a humorous edge. You'll be laughing along with the audience as you struggle to figure out answers to the tough questions. Get ready to have your vocabulary expanded! Jonathan Coulton, the show's house musician has a great voice and his musical games and covers of popular songs that he plays between games are huge favorite of mine. The show also has guest VIPs (Very Important Puzzlers, of course) each week. My other favorite NPR podcast is This American Life. Note: There are some episodes of this podcast that are inappropriate for all audiences, but there's announcement in front of those episodes. 
Brains On!: This may be a science podcast for kids, as the title suggests, but adults should not avoid this one. Recently, this podcast tackled why paint sticks and it was FASCINATING! Seriously! The Brains On! team does a phenomenal job with building an audio story full of voice, sound and music. It's like a really fun professor taking you on a field trip with engaging guest speakers popping in and out. The episodes are so captivating that I've listened to topics that I would have never chosen otherwise. The episodes are fairly short with the longest being only about twenty minutes, so a whole bunch of them can be saved up for one extended listening party.
Okay, so, there's five (plus if you read through my little reviews!) podcasts for you to subscribe to for now. When I discover more, I'll definitely share them.
Funny little story: When I was writing this article, I had to look up how to punctuate podcasts in my MLA guide book and online. I couldn't really find a direct answer (often an issue with new forms of media) but applied the television show way of doing things, with a series title in italics and the episode in quotation marks. Have a different theory on how this should be done? Let me know in the comments!
Before I go, this is what my cat was doing next to me while I was writing this post:
Before I go, this is what my cat was doing next to me while I was writing this post:
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