Many of us now check the “some college” box on many questionnaires and applications.  Many think if you didn’t finish college or get the degree then you must not have learned anything.  I struggle with this presumption often.  In my younger years I didn’t have the thirst for knowledge as I do now.  It isn’t realistic to think I could give up my work or sacrifice my family time to go to class and get a degree I would most likely never use.  So what does one do when they have a thirst for knowledge in a vast amount of subjects and limited available time?  Listen to podcasts.  We are in an age where experts and novices use their voice to put knowledge out into the world.  You can find a podcast on almost any subject you are interested in.  And if there isn’t one you should probably start one.  They range in length and structure and can be listened to virtually anywhere.  When radio has become stagnant and you spend lengthy amounts of time in your car, traffic becomes a great opportunity to get educated.

With hundreds of hours available on many subjects, you can gain the amount of knowledge in one subject needed to obtain a masters degree.  You will never receive a diploma for it but at this point in life is that really what’s important?  Are you doing this to get a job? If so then by all means go to school.  If you are merely trying to arm yourself for intellectual conversation or improve your skills for your hobby then podcasts are great.  I listen to some for knowledge and others for entertainment.  With politics I listen to opinions from the opposition that I respect for perspective and those I often side with for conversation. Ben Shapiro has a respectable conservative podcast and Dave Rubin has a good libertarian podcast. I listen to a variety of podcasts for knowledge.  Some are a fun way to learn and others are very serious like a college lecture.  Sam Harris is my favorite for knowledge although he does dip into politics, and the Stuff You Should Know podcast is a fun way to learn a number of subjects.  Joe Rogan has the most popular podcast of them all and offers a wide variety of guests and subjects.  If finance is your thing, the guys at Choose FI have a great show on becoming financially independent.  Find the ones that speak to you best.  It should be an enjoyable experience.

No matter what your interests are, gaining knowledge in them can only be beneficial.  We live in an age where the world’s knowledge is at your fingertips, literally.  We have phones that have the equivalent power of the computers that got a man on the moon.  I am always puzzled as to why people walk around with curious minds while having every answer they need in their pockets.  I feel that tapping into that knowledge in an engaging way seems to be the problem.  Podcasts offer a great way to tap into that knowledge in a form we are all accustomed to using.  So next time you are going for a drive and are tired of the same stale stations or songs you know every word to, try out an interesting podcast and feed your brain.