A book in any other form...

I used to have such scorn for audiobooks. I was a purist - I wanted to feel the book in my hand, smell the pages, put my own inflections on words and not have some narrator impose their voice on me. Then I started riding my bike to work, and discovered how listening to an audiobook can spice up the monotony. I decided to make it a rule that I could only listen to my book if I was doing something that was good for me (in the same way that you can have dessert after you eat your vegetables). Now I listen to them when I exercise, when I run errands, and while doing the dishes and other dreaded chores. It got even better when I learned that I can check out audiobooks from my library for free online.

I still have lots of books to listen to, but I'm curious about podcasts. Can anyone explain them to me? Does anyone have any good recommendations for awesome podcasts?

I still love physical books the best (for instance, they are easier to replace if, say, they get dropped in the tub) but it's awesome that I can get my reading fix another way!