Getting up to speed on podcast

Dear PropellerHeads: I feel like I am late to the podcast dance. Any tips for getting me up to speed so I don't look lame when my friends ask me what I am listening to?

A: Sometimes it's OK to be fashionably late to the party. You now have an in-depth library of great podcasts to choose from as well as established series so you can seem current. It's like that moment your parents finally figure out what Netflix is and Mom gets hooked on Orange is the New Black. It's all new and amazing and who cares that she is three seasons late? Norma Toast is worth the wait.

So here are a couple of things to wet your whistle.

If you want to be hip and grown-up, or grown-up and still hip (it's like a chicken-and-egg thing), you should be listening to This American Life (bit.ly/1oF78kf). Ira Glass hosts the popular radio show and accompanying podcast (basically being the pimp of educational entertainment) in this award-winning and most-recognized podcast out there.

Once you get acquainted with Ira, start your love affair with Serial (serialpodcast.org), a spin-off of TAL. It delves deep into a real-life murder case, unfurling the story one episode at a time. Its smart structure, twists, and turns make it a must-follow after episode one. It quickly became a phenomenon, being downloaded more than 60 million times, and its much-anticipated second season is due out this fall.

Welcome to Night Vale (commonplacebooks.com) gives you glimpses into the creepy fictional desert town of Night Vale in the style of old-time radio programming, including weather updates, news stories, and community happenings. Be forewarned - these are not your Grammy's stories.

Perhaps you want to be entertained but you also just want to know things. Check out Stuff You Should Know (bit.ly/1lEWKEv). Hosted by the creators of How Stuff Works, this podcast covers a topic on everyone's interest list.

If you want to understand more complex ideas but need them simplified, check out Freakonomics Radio (bit.ly/1qT1vK4). From the authors of the book by the same name, the topics are dense and topical but explained in a highly relatable way. In other words, it will totally make you sound smart when you repeat it word-for-word to your friends later.

You got the giggles or need some more of them? Mark Maron's WTF (wtfpod.com) is kind of a trailblazer in this category. Whether it's your bag or not you should check it out because you won't be able to talk comedy podcasts with your buds without having this one under your belt. We like to keep it nerdy here, so you might want to check out The Indoor Kids (bit.ly/1IdTAmG) - comedy and gaming, just our speed.

Did someone say keep it nerdy? Star Talk Radio (bit.ly/1cuyiC1) with Neil deGrasse Tyson is the best of this now randomly awesome, purveyor of sciences. If your wormhole theory is not on point, NdGT is sure to lay the smackdown.

You could also take a listen to Talking Machines (thetalkingmachines.com). This fairly new podcast has already landed some big dogs in machine learning from Facebook and Google as guests. I am pretty sure you become a robot after two episodes but that could have its upsides.

If you want something light-hearted but still dorktastic, the Nerdist Podcast (bit.ly/1SyB5RO) could do the trick. One interview features Booger from Revenge of the Nerds...need I say more?

Music, anyone? Check out Popcast (nyti.ms/1iYfRtS). New York Times music critics keep you up-to-date on what is relevant in music right now and provide some insight on trends as well as behind-the-scenes scoop. If you want a more touchy-feely approach, check out Soul Music (bbc.in/1KKP56T). This series breaks down songs through interviews and how they were significant to those individuals through storytelling. I don't know about you, but I am feeling all the feels right now.

Need a snack? Try out The Sporkful (sporkful.com) and Spilled Milk (spilledmilkpodcast.com). Foodies, cooks, and just plain eaters can find something to chew on here.

Have a knitting itch you need to scratch? Yeah, I was going to mention a podcast about knitting but I didn't want the three subscribers to suddenly jump to seven and completely shock the system.

My point is there is something for everyone, all of which could be easily addicting, mildly pretentious, and provide hours of listening pleasure. You now have a crib sheet. You're welcome.

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our website at www.askthepropellerheads.com.