Podcasts are one of my favorite things about my sprawling dog walks.

Podcasts have come a long way – they used to be these clunky massive MP3 files that you had to download and manually transfer to your MP3 player. (Remember MP3 players?)

Now podcasts are available as free audio streams that you can listen to on the TuneIn Radio app or iTunes.

Like so many people, the show that first got me hooked on podcasts was Serial.

Season 1 of Serial followed the 1999 murder of high school student Hae Min Lee. It’s like a radio version of a 48 Hours true crime episode.

Serial was so addictive that I would wait for new episodes like an old lady anticipating a radio soap opera.

The second season of Serial is set to appear this fall.

I’m so excited.

My favorite podcasts

Here are the 5 podcasts that I currently listen to:

Longform

Longform is a weekly interview show with a non-fiction writer or editor on their career and writing process.

From war correspondents to food critics, it is fascinating to hear about how these writers approach their work.

Many of the writers have very nomadic lives – reporting from various exotic countries – and I love vicariously living through their stories. (Although I could never do the same, the move to Dallas was exhausting enough.)

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On the Media

On the Media is a show about the business of journalism and reporting. It explores how news stories and other forms of media are made, and how misinformation and clichés spread.

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Slate’s Political Gabfest

This is a hilarious talk show where journalists discuss the absurdity of American politics.

The current episode is called “Let’s Get All Smug About That Kentucky Clerk.”

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This American Life

Every public radio listener knows this show. Each week, host Ira Glass explores a series of stories related to a theme.

The best thing about this show is that every story is “compelling” – you’ll feel something, be it horror, amusement, a slight sense of unease, or unbelievable sadness.

For example, the recent podcast about Hurricane Katrina had me crying the Katy Trail.

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The Tim Ferriss Show

The Tim Ferriss Show is a podcast from the author of the Four Hour Workweek (among other things.) In this podcast, Tim Ferriss interviews successful people from a variety of professions.

The topics are wide ranging, and these rambling podcasts are best consumed over the longer walks.

I’m always looking for new podcasts to try out – what are your favorite?