Helpful: How podcasts changed my life

If your daily commute is about an hour each way, that adds up to 600 hours per year of passive time that could be used for entertainment or education. Since podcast subscriptions were first enabled in iTunes in 2005, I have tried to use my squadron of iPods/iPhones and that commute time to educate myself in a variety of subjects. 

I have used podcasts to learn about politics, new music, foreign languages, business management, technology, design, and sports. Making this a routine has expanded my education in a variety of subjects, all while using a block of time that I might otherwise waste.

Here are the podcasts that are on my iPhone right now. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, I recommend listening to podcasts and audiobooks at double speed - it helps you get through more content while still being understandable. Most people put a lot of "ums" and pauses in their speech that melt away at double speed. Try it out. 

With your iPod or music device of choice plugged into your computer, be sure to set up iTunes to add the latest 3 episodes of your podcast to your mp3 player, so it will be up-to-date. Automation is a big help, if you want to make commute-time learning a habit. 

Search in iTunes for any of these favorites and subscribe today!

Music

• KEXP Live Performances
• NPR All Songs Considered
• NPR Live Concerts
• GROOVELECTRIC
• PODRUNNER: Workout Music
• Latin Alternative

Business

• Achieving Predictable Success
• Career Tools
• HBR Ideacast
• Manager Tools
• 37Signals Podcast
• NPR Planet Money

Productivity and Creativity

• David Allen Company
• Back to Work
• 43 Folders
• The Accidental Creative
• Get-it-Done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips

Technology

• The Big Web Show
• Build and Analyze
• Hypercritical
• MacBreak Weekly
• The Pipeline
• The Talk Show

SmartyPants Time

• This American Life
• TEDTalks
• NPR On the Media
• President's Weekly Radio Address

Comedy and Entertainment

• You Look Nice Today
• The Nerdist
• Onion Radio News
• The Sound of Young America
• MaxFunCon

Sports

• Golf Tips
• ESPNsoccernet