Podcasts, if you don't know, are radio shows recorded. You can listen to them at any time, in any place because they are available to download for free on your smartphone. I started listening to podcasts at the very beginning of the summer and they are great because they are like reading that you can do while driving, walking home, cleaning, whatever. You do not need to dedicate separate time to them, but trust me, you will want to. Here is a list of the best podcasts you will want to dedicate time to listening to.

1. Serial

Let's start with my favorite. This podcast is a spin-off of another popular podcast, This American Life, and it is hosted by Sarah Koenig. It is an irresistible, true crime story about Adnan Syed, who is currently in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend. He still claims to be innocent. Koenig delivers as much information as possible about the case and makes you wonder, is he innocent?

2. Revisionist History

We have all been to history class, but we have never learned history like this. Malcolm Gladwell, the author of bestselling books like The Tipping Point and Blink, teaches history through and alternative lens. It is all the history you learned in school, just a different interpretation, or a different focal point. This podcast will allow you to really grasp those history lessons from school by presenting a differing viewpoint.

3. Freakonomics

You have probably read the book by now. No? Seen the documentary by now, then. No? Well, it does not matter, the podcast is a perfectly good place to enter the world of Freakonomics. This podcast is hosted by one of the writers of the book, Stephen Dubner. He talks about everything from parenting to crime to cash and does so through an economic lens. This podcast will make you rethink everything!

4. Alice Isn't Dead

This podcast is weird. But, I like weird and I think you will too. It tells the story about a woman who drives a truck across the country to find a wife she thought was dead. Along the way, she meets a creature who wants to prevent her from reaching the wife. It is narrated by the woman in the truck via the truck's built-in radio and is guaranteed to give you the chills.

5. Fivethirtyeight Elections

Politics are "yuuuge" right now. So learn more about them with this podcast. it hosted by Nate Silver a famous statistician and he is not here to repeat what you heard on the news. He dives headfirst into the polling of elections and predicts the outcomes of various events.

Add your favorite podcasts in the comments below. Happy listening!