Podcasts

Podcasts are all the rage right now, and rightly so. They are a great and entertaining way to kill time, and they’re educational, as well. Most podcasts are released on a weekly basis (some admittedly have more convoluted schedules), which gives you something to look forward to every week, and assures constant, new content.

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If you’re the type to binge, no problem. Some podcasts, like the recent and superb S-Town, have begun dropping all their episodes at once. Either way, podcasts will give you hours of enjoyment during your commute, and are one of the only safe apps to use if you’re driving to work. Be warned, though: most free podcasts want you to invest in a new mattress or Blue Apron.

Games

The issue with podcasts is that they’re a little hands-off. Maybe you want something more active to do on your commute. If so, game apps are the answer. Although Chess is one of the world’s oldest games, it is believed that there are still variations of a Chess match that haven’t been played yet. Apps like lichess allow you to play against other humans or, if you’re stuck underground in the metro, against a computer. Threes!, like its less complicated cousin 2048, is less focused on competition — you only need to try to outdo yourself. Unlike 2048, Threes! tiles include adorable little faces.

Twitter

An oldie, but a goodie: when all else fails, you can always surf Twitter. With a constant stream of content that you curate, it is always easy to find something to read or to watch. Find your favorite news sources and follow them; events happen swiftly in the modern world, and there is a great possibility that something may happen between leaving home and arriving at the office. “Wow” your friends and co-workers with your up-to-date knowledge. Or, if you want to relax and have a laugh, follow your favorite comedy website or late night talk show. They’ll post quick clips and articles you can browse on your way in, helping you begin your day with a smile.

1. Up First by National Public Radio (NPR)

As one of the most trusted news sources out there, NPR delivers an informative punch about daily events in a few minutes flat. Three hosts run reports at an early time slot, but that ten minutes of news is delivered with efficiency — and an early-morning car ride or train commute — in mind.

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2. Freakonomics

This podcast series is based on two popular books that challenge ways of conventional thinking. Join the authors in exploring wacky, obscure human behavior and different ways of thinking about human approaches to life.

3. The Joe Rogan Experience

Comedian and former Fear Factor host Joe Rogan interviews an eclectic variety of guests in his top-rated podcast series. No subject is untouched, and with former guests such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Gary Johnson, it’s understandable why the broadcasts often exceed three hours in length.

4. TED Radio Hour

Already a popular discussion board service, TED offers human interest stories and broad topics that touch on bigger-picture ideas. Guest speakers are the crux of production, and content constantly shifts, making this a fascinating series to indulge in.

5. Serial

This is one to follow from the beginning of each season, respectively. The host receives a true story and tells it one chapter at a time, not knowing how it will end, so the readers can follow along and have a similar, emphatic experience. There is suspense and an addictive quality to Serial that makes it fun to follow.

6. Pod Save America

For the politics fans out there, Pod Save America is a lively discussion on current political happenings. A variety of guests keep the content fresh, and the show explores current topics in unbiased ways. This is a prime choice for those who want to stay informed on news as well.

BeyondPod Podcast Manager

BeyondPod Podcast Manager is a great app for keeping all of your podcasts in one place. It lets you stream audio and video podcasts from CNN and ESPN, as well as other big-time news stations. Additionally, you can make playlists of your favorite shows and control when and which podcasts you want to have continuously downloaded.

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Podcast and Radio Addict

Offering support for a lot of different platforms including Chromecast and Pebble, this free app works well for all types of podcast lovers. Like BeyondPod, Podcast and Radio Addict suggest new audio and video podcasts for you, as well as letting you customize your download preferences, widgets, and themes.

Podkicker

Podkicker is such an effective app because of its simplicity. It has a ton of useful features like a car mode for driving and a sleep timer. While the free app works well, a measly $1.99 gets you a premium app that doesn’t play any ads and gives you access to the first app updates as they become available. The only problem with this app is that it can’t always find more obscure podcasts.

TuneIn Radio

For those of you who are more old school, TuneIn Radio gives you access to not only podcasts, but also AM/FM radio talk shows and other radio stations. While TuneIn is a great option, the podcast owner has to make their shows available on TuneIn before the app will find them.