The top podcasts to kick-start your morning commute

With 80,000 minutes of content produced every day podcasts are an excellent tool to access information and learn new things. Photo / Getty Images.

Over the last decade the rise of the podcasts continues to enable us to expand our minds without having to open a book or scroll through the Internet.

With almost 2.5 million minutes of podcasting produced every week and up to 55 podcasts being recorded at any given moment, it's a safe bet there's something for everyone.

Podcasts are a simplistic yet ultimately effective way of finding new information, keeping updated or being simply entertained.

Ideal for listening through a tedious daily commute here are eight podcasts waiting to unleash wisdom, knowledge and amusement into the lives of all who are willing.

The Daily Boost

This podcast has been iTunes top ranked self-help program since 2004. The Daily Boost provides daily motivation to help you discover what makes you happy, reduce stress and get inspired. Master life skills like lifestyle design, balance, communication, career advancement and enjoy more success.

Radio Headspace

From the same amazing team behind the Headspace app, this podcast teaches you to be more mindful of yourself and others. Tackling everything from kindness on the internet, stress, meditating and learning, and creativity.

Call Your Girlfriend

A podcast for long distance besties everywhere, covering politics, pop culture and everything in between on a wine-fueled podcast that's become a cultural phenomenon. Co-hosted by Ann Friedman and Animatou Sow.

Ingredipedia

A factual food fight podcast. Every episode, one ingredient is picked and three mind-blowing owing facts, anecdotes or uses for it are revealed.

Can't Live Without

Are you all about making your home life better? Finding the small joys and little luxuries to escape the everyday? This is a glimpse into the lives of lifestyle experts. From celebrity chefs to home stylists, find out the things they can't live without. How do you make a house a home? What's the one item that can transform a living room? And mostly, what are the cool gadgets we need to buy? This is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants shortcuts to the best in life.

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin takes listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers. Alec sidesteps the predictable by going inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people we want to understand better: Ira Glass, Lena Dunham, David Brooks, Roz Chast, Chris Rock and others.

TEDTalks

Still the best podcast for learning about ideas. TEDTalks inspire, intrigue, and stir the imagination from some of the world's leading thinkers and doers, speaking from the stage at TED conferences, TEDx events and partner events around the world.

Lore

Lore is a bi-weekly podcast about the dark historical tales that fuel our modern superstitions. Each episode explores the world of mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction