Ever since the massive success of "Serial" last fall, it seems as though podcasts are having a "moment." Podcasts are every college student's dream. They're informative, they're a great way to pass the way-longer-than-it-should-be commute to campus (shoutout to Atlanta traffic), and best of all, they're free. I've always loved podcasts, but this summer I've also discovered some newer ones that have changed the game. This list contains a well-loved mix of tried-and-true favorites and new discoveries, all worth a listen. So whether you're a total podcast newbie, a post-"Serial" convert or a seasoned subscriber, I hope this helps you discover a new favorite! (All of the podcasts mentioned are available on iTunes!)

1. "This American Life"

With over one million people downloading each week, "This American Life" is the most popular podcast in the United States for a reason (they're also the masterminds behind the cult favorite spinoff "Serial"). This show does a masterful job of applying the tools of journalism to real people and their everyday lives. NPR's website defines "This American Life" as "a documentary show for people who normally hate documentaries [and] a public radio show for people who don't necessarily care for public radio." Each week, they choose a theme (it truly could be anything) and put together two different stories centered around that theme. It's fun, surprising and, best of all, real. This is a great introduction to the world of podcasts, and it's sure to keep you checking back every week.

2. "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"

This is one of the few podcasts I'm subscribed to where I listen to every single new episode religiously (that is, if I don't listen to the program live on NPR on Saturday afternoons). "Wait Wait" is a weekly newsquiz where three panelists (some of the best and brightest of the news and entertainment world) and various listeners who call in to the show compete to find out who is the most knowledgeable about that week's news. They also feature a different celebrity guest each week (recent guests have included Mindy Kaling, Alice Cooper, Elizabeth Gilbert and Kim Kardashian). I've had to stop listening to new episodes in public places because I am always unable to stop myself from laughing out loud. It's funny, irreverent and current. Highly recommend.

3. "Dear Hank and John"

"Dear Hank and John" is a relatively new weekly podcast hosted by the Vlogbrothers, John and Hank Green. You probably also know John as the author behind wildly successful YA fiction like "The Fault in Our Stars," "Looking for Alaska" and "Paper Towns." You might also know Hank from his work on SciShow or as the creator of the YouTube convention VidCon. The podcast has a simple premise: Hank and John answering fan questions and providing updates from within the Nerdfighter community. However, their perspectives on the world around them are just so intelligent, and both brothers are quite well-spoken and knowledgeable in their respective fields.

4. "Startalk with Neil DeGrasse Tyson"

"Startalk," hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson (whom you might recognize as the host of the 2014 TV documentary "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey," or maybe just from his bromance with Bill Nye the Science Guy), is "the first and only popular commercial radio program devoted to all things space." Tyson himself once remarked that the target audience for the show is comprised of “all the people who never knew how much they’d love learning about space and science.” Each week, "Startalk" masterfully connects science with a particular element of pop culture, ranging anywhere from music to Twitter to TV to religion. "StarTalk" truly has something for everyone, and each week, the guests on the show are world-class experts in their fields. Any podcast that enables us to better understand the universe in which we live is surely worth a listen in my book!

5. "Happier with Gretchen Rubin"

This one is one of my more recent discoveries. "Happier" is co-hosted by Gretchen Rubin, #1 NYT bestselling author of "The Happiness Project," and her sister Elizabeth, a television writer. I love listening to this one while I'm drinking my morning coffee because I find that it gives me lots of useful information to think on as I go about my day! Each episode is only around 30 minutes long, and since it is a relatively new podcast, it was easy to get completely caught up on all the episodes. I always learn a useful new tip or trick that makes my daily life happier, healthier or more productive to some degree.

6. "Call Your Girlfriend"

Another recent discovery, "Call Your Girlfriend" is hosted by two long-distance best friends (I kind of sort of really want to join their squad) who cover the whole spectrum with the topics they discuss: from their personal lives to frivolous (but fun) things like makeup and pop culture updates to important issues regarding feminism and diversity. Listening to "CYG" feels like you're the third party in a phone call between smart, cool feminist ladies, and it's incredibly great.

7. "How to Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black"

On "How to Be Amazing," actor/author/comedian Michael Ian Black interviews some of today's most fascinating people to find out, well, how they became amazing. Recent episodes have featured Amy Schumer, Lin Manuel-Miranda and Elizabeth Gilbert.

BONUS: "Coffee with Chrachel"

So, this podcast doesn't actually exist yet (the first episode will hit iTunes sometime within the next week), but it's one that I'm highly looking forward to! This is going to be hosted by YouTuber Rachel Whitehurst and her meteorologist boyfriend Chris Hubbard. The two of them will be talking about, well, whatever topic they choose for the week, and they'll begin each episode by talking about what coffees they've been obsessed with that week. Rachel is HILARIOUS, and I can already tell that this podcast is going to get so real in the best way.