I have been infected with podcast mania.

Initially, I wasn't interested in podcasts. I'm reasonably modern: not afraid of computers, own an iPod, have played games on the Wii. But I often don't bother with whatever new thing has come around the bend; we're just so cluttered with stuff and media already. A lot of the time, I don't think I'm missing much. Sometimes, I feel like a dork later on when I discover how simple or helpful a new trend or technology turns out to be.

So I finally looked into podcasts. It seemed easy and interesting. In a lightning-flash of time a world of knowledge and opportunity opened up before me. Thanks to Barnes and Noble's Meet the Writers Podcast, I finally know how to pronounce Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk's last name. After listening to episode 98 of Grammar Girls' Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing —"For Whom the Grammar Tolls" — I have, for the first time in my life, a useful way to confidently choose between "who" and "whom."

And so I keep downloading more and more. My iTunes podcasts list grows (312 right now), and with its expansion my number of listened-to episodes drops. One day, I downloaded earfuls of sermons and faith-related podcasts. Today? History and biography.

Lots of podcasts are mediocre, and often you have to overlook the advertising and unnecessary musical interludes. But some are quite educational and interesting at the same time, or at least are good for a laugh. Following are some suggestions from a novice listener. I'm also including podcasts I look forward to enjoying sometime, but whose quality I can't vouch for just yet.

1. Stuff from back in the day, today! Listening to poems read aloud is more enjoyable than you might think, especially when the readers are British. I've tried, and enjoyed, Classic FM Love Poems, Classic Poetry Aloud and the Intro to Poetry Podcast.

Looking forward to: Some old radio shows, mostly Agatha Christie mysteries and sci-fi stories. The Classic Tales Podcast, featuring works by G.K. Chesterton, Robert Louis Stevenson and others. Some free LibriVox public-domain audiobooks.

2. Podcasts related to faith and theology. The Ask Pastor John series with John Piper addresses questions about topics from birth control to female pastors to using anti-depressants to Christian hope. I also like Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul.

Looking forward to: The Albert Mohler Program with Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Albert Mohler, which offers "intelligent conversation about the issues that matter"; videos with Mark Driscoll and others at the Desiring God 2006 National Conference; the Mars Hill Church podcasts with Mark Driscoll; Desiring God sermons by John Piper; John Eldredge; Josh McDowell.

3. History and biography. Since these are all newly downloaded, they all go in the next paragraph.

Looking forward to: Ancient & Medieval History podcasts on Beowulf, Charlemagne, Pompeii & Herculaneum, and the Teutonic Knights. Various podcasts related to art history; British History 101 covering Tolkien and Guy Fawkes' Day, among others; Experience History with St. Valentine's Day, Who Was Chaucer? as topics. Great Speeches in History with the likes of "I Have a Dream," and "Television is a Vast Wasteland". The Biography Podcast - Stories of Life has provided biographies of J.K. Rowling, Vlad the Impaler, Jesus of Nazareth, Martin Luther and Santa Claus.