The podcast boom really came out of nowhere.

Apple began supporting podcasts on their iTunes store way back in 2005 and launched their official standalone Podcast app in 2012. So the medium has been supported for so long, but there wasn't much growth in the industry outside of the last five years.

For context, in 2014, there were 7 billion podcast downloads all-time. By 2015, that number jumped to 10.5 billion and by March of 2018, had surpassed 50 billion downloads.

Industry estimates predict there are currently 525,000 active shows on Apple's platform, growing from 400,000 the year prior. What makes podcasting so awesome is how niche it is. If there's something you're passionate about, or even slightly interested in, chances are there's a podcast out there for you.

But with any entertainment industry, be it movies, television, books, or in this case podcasts, the barrier to entry rises as the popularity of the medium does. It's similar to when you're scrolling through Netflix trying to figure out what show or movie to watch. How do you know which ones are good without wasting your time randomly picking and choosing hoping you find something that sticks?

I've been listening to podcasts on and off for at least four years, and I've probably unsubscribed from more podcasts than I can remember. Basically, I've been around the podcast block a few times. I'm currently subscribed to 16 different podcasts and I've got over 200 hours of episodes I've yet to listen to.

Having to do that math really makes me re-evaluate whether my podcast listening is out-of-control. Regardless, if you're new to podcasting or just looking for something new, here are some of my favorite podcasts I'm currently subscribed to (in no particular order.)

1. Bodega Boys

Genre: Pop Culture

Hosts: Desus & Mero

I didn't realize how much I needed a perspective of the world from two true New Yorkers until I started listening to Bodega Boys. I honestly couldn't tell you about any topic in particular that these two talk about on any given podcast, but they still manage to be wildly entertaining regardless.

If you're familiar with Desus & Mero, you have some sort of an idea about their style. They used to have a show on Complex where they briefly had their own podcast before moving to MTV and then landing at VICELAND. They basically sit down with a list of topics and then just riff off each other and it's hilarious every single time.

The production value is also unexpectedly high thanks to audio engineers from Red Bull Studios where they record the podcast. Random bits and jokes become sketch-quality with added voice modulation and sound effects. Definitely worth subscribing to if you're looking for a hilarious take on current events.

2. Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

Genre: Health

Hosts: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer & Justin Andrews

I came across Mind Pump after they were guests on a different podcast I was listening to at the time. I ended up unsubscribing from the podcast they were guests on, but I've been a dedicated listener to Mind Pump ever since. Their backstory really explains why I find them so informative. All three of them used to work for 24 Hour Fitness gyms as either personal trainers or managers.

Coincidentally, every single gym they ran became one of the top-performing 24 Hour Fitness gyms in the country. The three of them eventually met and decided to work independently producing informative fitness videos, programs and a podcast. They focus on a handful of topics which is helpful because I often find myself skipping episodes that don't pertain to me or my fitness goals, especially considering they upload episodes daily. I highly recommend them for anyone who's interested in getting into fitness or have already been working out for some time.

3. Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast

Genre: Comedy

Hosts: Bill Burr

Bill Burr is the godfather of podcasting. He's been doing this longer than any other podcast I'm currently listening to. He started in 2007 and is now dominating the podcasting charts. His format is also ridiculously simple: talk about current events/rant, answer questions and give advice and have 30-45 minutes from a previous podcast if it's Thursday. He records and releases a full hour every Monday (hence the name) and records half and episode and does half from a throwback episode on Thursdays.

Burr is incredibly candid and he's definitely benefitted from sticking with podcasting for so long. Not only has he developed material from the podcasts into his standup, but over the past 11 years listeners have been able to get an inside look at Burr's life as he transitions to the married with kids life. If you're looking to get into listening to podcasts, this is definitely a strong one to start with.

4. The Daily

Genre: Politics

Hosts: The New York Times

The Daily is one of those podcasts that seemingly just came out of nowhere and then took to podcast world by storm as if it had been in the space since the very beginning. Granted, being produced by The New York Times gives The Daily an immediate boost in credibility, production quality and reach. As the name suggests, The Daily posts episodes every single day about a singular, relevant political topic. Because of the specificity, the episodes are very short usually staying within the 25-minute range.

Every episode features a guest who reports on the area The Daily is covering that day. In any given episode, you hardly hear anything from the host, Michael Barbaro, and almost exclusively from the guest and sampled audio clips. The Daily isn't editorial in the slightest and only aims to explain the complexities of political issues in our society today. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in politics or just looking to become a more informed citizen.

5. The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Mal

Genre: Music

Hosts: Joe Budden, Rory & Mal

I had no idea who Joe Budden was until he was dissing Drake. And then Drake released the most popular diss track of all time (Back2Back) and I thought that was the last time I'd ever hear from Budden. Well he stuck around in the media and signed a deal with Complex to host Everyday Struggle. He had some extremely viral moments, including the time he almost had to fight all three members of Migos by himself at the BET Awards. 

Eventually Budden and Complex part ways over contract disputes but little did I know he'd been recording a podcast independently. For those who are unaware, Budden was blackballed from the music industry by Jay-Z in the early 2000's over Jay-Z's support (or lack thereof) of new artists in Def Jam.

If you look at Budden's history, it's full of fights and disputes over his candid attitude. That attitude extends to the podcast. He'll talk about everything and everyone in the music industry, but his attitude never comes off as hating for hating sake. His two hosts are also very charismatic and informative about the industry. I'd recommend this podcast for anyone who's interested in what goes on in the behind the scenes of the music industry.