Spend Your Down Time In The Car Getting Wiser About Life With These 10 Podcasts

This award winning program investigates the science behind culture, news, and just plain interesting topics. It presents each side of an issue thoroughly and keeps you thinking all week. 

Comedian Darren Marlar rounds up the most absurd news you won't hear anywhere else in a quick 3-minute laugh each day. 

This is water cooler talk gold: "Oh, did you hear about that dog who drove his owner's car into a lake?"

Probably the most well-known and well-loved educational "talk show," TED talks feature one presenter who tells their story under the umbrella mission: to explore a plethora of topics aiming to inspire, intrigue, and stir the imagination. 

Some of the most popular include "Do schools kill creativity?," "The surprising science of happiness," and "How to spot a liar."

Mike Pesca hosts The Gist, presented by Slate Magazine, and discusses the day's most interesting talking points from culture to politics, news and technology all while remaining relatable. Bump up your happy hour conversation game with Mike's help. 

This weekly podcast isn't reporting the news to you, but rather leading more in-depth discussions about fascinating issues. Hosted by The New Yorker's Executive Editor, Dorothy Wickenden, this hour-long program will leave you well informed and looking forward to more. 

A division of "How Stuff Works," Josh and Chuck delve into the things you never knew you didn't know from "How Pez Works," to "How Audience Testing Works," these guys will enlighten you with fun facts perfect for your Wednesday night trivia game. 

Scientific American presents 60-second summaries on the most interesting studies in each covered field (Tech, Science, Health, Mind - brain/behavior, Space, and Earth). While the information is technical in nature, the content is still relatable to any audience. 

Another NPR player, Ask Me Another presents puzzles and trivia that will most likely stump you, but give your brain a great work out. Ophira Eisenberg keeps the tone lighthearted and funny while still packing an educational punch. 

This educational podcast presents some of the most interesting historical stories you never knew. While the history itself is dense and factual, the presentation is fascinating and will definitely help your Jeopardy skills.

Explore the hidden side of everything with host Stephen Dubner (co-author of the wildly popular Freakonomics books). Every week Dubner poses thought-provoking questions and interviews guest experts to discuss subjects like "Reasons Not To Be Ugly," "Parking is Hell," and "The Power of Poop." Check it our here.