What's on Your iPod?

My life changed the day I discovered podcasts.

It all started with a need to make my commute from Pearl River to West Point a little more interesting. In the early days, I alternated between listening to music and talk radio. After a year of this, I exhausted my CD collection. And I found the radio shows to be a dreadful mix of annoying phone calls and excessive commercials. Suddenly my commute wasn’t quite as fun.

Frustrated about my lack of quality listening material, I asked my colleague for advice. He suggested I look into podcasts. A podcast is similar to a radio program, except it’s pre-recorded and downloaded off the Internet.

I was amazed when I discovered how many interesting podcasts were available to download for free. After my first one, I was hooked.

In my opinion, podcasts are superior to terrestrial radio. There are no commercials and since they are taped, I can listen when convenient. Since I choose which podcasts I subscribe to, I don’t have to waste time listening to things I’m not interested in. My podcast library ranges from sports, to meditation, to television critics, to English grammar.

If you’re looking for a good introduction to podcasts, my favorite is a product of howstuffworks.com: “Stuff You Should Know.” As the name suggests, “Stuff You Should Know” is an informative podcast. Each episode presents facts on a different topic. Some of my favorites include castles, money laundering, and octopuses.

HowStuffWorks writers Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant host the show and deliver the information with superb research and hilarious banter (I’ve experienced more than a few belly laughs on my way to work). It’s entertaining, and I’m always learning new things. And like most podcasts, it’s free. What a deal!

Today, I listen to podcasts nearly every trip to and from West Point. Now I actually look forward to long drives, despite paying $4 a gallon for gasoline. If you have not explored podcasts, consider giving them a try. Who knows, maybe your life will change, too.