17 podcasts that will make you smarter

The massive success of last fall's "Serial" true crime podcast and this year's "WTF" podcast interview with President Barack Obama marked a cultural shift in podcasts going from a niche interest to a mainstream form of media.

According to a report this April from the Pew Research Center, one-third of Americans age 12 or older have listened to at least one podcast episode, up from just 9% in 2008.

There are tons of great podcasts on nearly any subject you can think of, but we've collected some of our favorites that are perfect for those of us always eager to learn something new, whether it's about the economy, history, or even the workings of Hollywood.

Here's some prime listening material for your next commute: