Don’t let your brain go on pilot mode during the holiday breaks. With all your glorious free time, try listening to an educational podcast that will sharpen your brain and engage your curiosity rather than indulging in another Netflix binge or scrolling through the black-hole that is internet (We’ve all been there).

Podcasts are incredibly portable (dare we say, even more portable than books) and usually 100% free. Just download or stream one that interests you, and listen while you work out, walk the dog, or do chores.

Ace the Reading Section: the Best Books to Add to Your Reading List

We’ve curated more than 30 podcasts that are educational but still engaging and accessible. Topics range from science and design to linguistic oddities and politics. We’ve listed our favorite in each category first, but they’re all high-quality and interesting.

Now, grab those earbuds and start sampling:

Educational Podcasts to Keep Your Curiosity Alive:

Podcasts that will teach you something new without you even realizing you’re learning.

99% Invisible
Ted Radio Hour
Freakanomics
How I Built This
Radio Lab
Planet Money
This American Life
Hidden Brain

Math Podcasts:

Podcasts about math, its history, and its presence in the world.

Math Dude
Oxford’s The Secrets of Mathematics
BBC A Brief History of Math
Breaking Math

Science Podcasts:

Podcasts that dive into scientific news, oddities, and big discoveries.

Scientific American’s Science Talk
Science Friday
The Guardian’s Science Weekly
BBC Discovery
Mindscape
Ologies

English/Grammar Podcasts:

Podcasts for the grammar nerd in all of us.

The World in Words
Grammar Girl
The Allusionist
BBC 6 Minute Grammar
Lexicon Valley

Language Podcasts:

Podcasts to help you learn and speak a new language.

Coffee Break Spanish
Coffee Break French
Duolingo Spanish
Duolingo French
Radio Ambulante

College Admissions Podcasts:

Podcasts that share college admissions and ACT/SAT advice.

The College Prep Podcast
Accepted
Demystifying College Admissions
The College Essay Guy

News Podcasts:

Podcasts to help you stay informed about politics, events, and culture.

Up First
The Daily
BBC Global News
Pod Save America
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Found a podcast you like? Let us know! Send us a message on Instagram or comment below.