Commuting to and from work in Dublin can be a long and tedious process.

In the morning you sit there half asleep and after work your brain is so overloaded you just don't want to think. It's time wasted where you just don't want to do anything.

So don't waste it! Learn something new, hear someone tell their story, be riveted by a podcast that's ladling information directly into your brain — just try one of these.

1. S-Town

This podcast is about a man named John who despises the corruption in his hometown in the Deep South and asks the investigators behind Serial to look into it.

The true crime series looks at "Shittown, Alabama", as John calls it, where the son of a wealthy family has been bragging about getting away with murder. Then someone else ends up dead and a nasty feud begins, leading to discovery of mysteries in the small town...

Download S-Town HERE.

2. Freakonomics Radio

Freakonomics Radio is a series of conversations with Nobel laureates, social scientists and business people that looking at economics' more fascinating aspects.

Hosted by Steve Levitt, co-author of the book Freakonomics, the riddles of everyday life are pondered by the speakers, from cheating and crime to parenting and sports.

Download Freakonomics Radio HERE.

3. Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

One for the movie buffs.

Film critic extraordinaire Mark Kermode joins Simon Mayo to give his verdict on the week's latest cinema releases in a brilliant and funny fashion.

Download Kermode & Mayo's Film Review HERE.

4. The Forward

Presented by Lance Armstrong, The Forward allows audiences to listen to the cyclist's one-on-one chats with an eclectic range of personalities, be they politicians, entertainers, artists, or athletes. 

Armstrong encourages interaction with his audience, asking them to send in their questions and comments so he can respond to them directly.

Download The Forward HERE.

5. StartUp

Budding entrepreneurs, this one's for you.

Pretty much exactly like it sounds, StartUp is a podcast about what it’s really like to get a business off the ground and the trials you'll face in those early days.

Download StartUp HERE.

6. An Irishman Abroad

In this hilarious series, comedian Jarleth Regan meets well-known Irish actors, sports people, writers and other celebrities to chat about their experiences of Ireland and abroad.

With around 200 episodes under his belt at this stage, Regan has interviewed such celebrities as Gabriel Byrne, Graham Linehan and, our personal favourite, Chris O' Dowd.

Download An Irishman Abroad HERE.

7. The Daily

Even if your journey to and from work is pretty short, you can still squeeze in a lot of audio learning thanks to The Daily.

Twenty minutes a day, five days a week, this podcast is hosted by Michael Barbaro and powered by New York Times journalism.

You get an accessible rundown of the day's big issues, be it about the ins and outs of the US budget, how Bashar Hafez al-Assad rose to power in Syria, or how the outcome of the French presidential election will affect the world. You won't find an easier way to get your daily dose of knowledge.  

Download The Daily HERE.

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