In a typical day, my commute from home to campus takes 15 minutes, the drive from campus to work is 10 minutes, the trip from work to my afternoon meetings or activities takes eight minutes, the ride home takes 10 minutes, and my run for dinner (and back home) takes 20 minutes.

At a minimum, I spend an hour and three minutes in my car on any given day.

Up until last month I had been listening to music during my drives. Yes, there had been the occasional audio book, but for the most part, I either listened to a local radio station or a playlist on my phone. After a conversation I had with a friend about how we misuse valuable time by indulging in various forms of entertainment, I realized I wanted to get more out of my time in the car.

Music is great, but I wanted to use as much time as possible behind the wheel to become a better person. I've heard over and over how wonderful podcasts are but had not tried them out. I decided I needed to invest some time and start listening to them. I reached out to my brother-in-law (a podcast aficionado) for some suggestions on where to start. Within five minutes of me asking he gave me six shows to listen to. I dug in, began listening, and haven't turned back.

I can tell you from just a month of listening that this has been one of the best decisions I've made in the past year. At this point, I've listened to 47 episodes, each ranging from 25-75 minutes. From comedy to leadership development to talk radio, I've learned a great deal and have felt better about my commute. In addition to listening while I drive, I now listen while I walk across campus or am waiting in lines. I take what I hear and use it to fuel conversations with friends, co-workers, family members, random strangers, and just about anyone who asks me how I'm doing.

While our interests vary, I think we all desire to learn new information about the areas in our live we're passionate about. Podcasts allow you to hear from someone who cares deeply about a topic without having to pay money for their opinions. You choose what you take away from the time you invest in listening to podcasts. If you need encouragement, check out an inspirational episode. If you want to be challenged in your leadership ability, there's an episode right for you. If you want to hear a rundown on the latest political news, podcasts have you covered.

Make the choice to invest in yourself by listening to something that can inspire you to grow as a person and member of society. Start exploring for the podcast that's right for you.

Oh! If you listen to podcasts, comment with your favorite shows below. I'm on the lookout for new listens.

GETTING STARTED

If you have an iPhone, you already have the Podcasts app installed (it's one of those pre-loaded apps). If you're an Android user like me, you can get CastBox, which is what I've found to be the best app. Within the app, you can search for specific shows or topics, subscribe to the ones you are interested in, and download episodes to your device for offline listening.

SOME CRITERIA TO CONSIDER

Choosing a podcast to listen to can be tricky at first. I'm new to this whole podcasts biz, but I've found that there are just a few things I consider when deciding if I'll continue listening to the podcast after the first episode.

1. What is the mood of the show?

I'm not one for the sad and scary shows. I like the positive and upbeat feel where I leave with a smile. But you know yourself best, so figure out which mood you like and look for that in any new podcast you check out.

2. Is it still being produced?

Unfortunately, not all podcasts last a long time. I've been disappointed when I have fallen in love with a podcast and then it's done after six episodes. If you want to have a long-term relationship with the content of the show, make sure they're still making it.

3. Does the host have a tolerable voice?

Whether it's an interview style podcast or an opinion based series, you'll need to be able to stand the host's voice. You won't make it far in your relationship with a podcast if you dislike the voice you'll hear the most.