ON THE RADIO: Answer Me This!

As the Answer Me This! jingle says, you can ask Helen, Olly and Martin any question and they will -- or attempt to in the funniest way -- answer it. Sometimes the answers seem researched and sometimes it seems like there's a lot of guessing going on, depending on what category the question falls into. Of course, funny is the point here as much as answers, and that's always delivered. This one is definitely rated R for language and subject matter, so adult roadtrips only (or when the kids inevitably fall asleep).

ON THE RADIO: Grammar Girl (Quick and Dirty Tips)

Grammar Girl is another podcast I started listening to years ago whose offerings have grown into a whole website of useful tips on everything from managing your money to grooming your dog. Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty makes learning about grammar fun enough for my kids to enjoy it; I swear, it's not just for grammar dorks like me. You can also vote for Grammar Girl in the Education category for this year's Podcast Awards.

ON THE RADIO: Stuff You Should Know

Ever wondered how stuff works? There's a website for that, and this podcast is one of many derivatives. Everything from the ninja to the sun is covered in a fun, entertaining way by hosts Josh and Chuck. They are especially responsive to young fans, so this is a great listen if you are roadtripping as a family. And on the rare occasion there's something not so family friendly (ninja ARE assassins, after all), the hosts are great about giving a heads up. Make sure to take a look at the other offerings from How Stuff Works as well.

ON THE RADIO: Radio Lingua

Want to learn a language? Radio Lingua is an excellent, free (with excellent paid upgrades) resource. I have to admit, I started listening to Coffeebreak Spanish many years ago because I liked Mark's Scottish accent, but was soon on to Zulu and a dozen others. I don't practice enough anymore to remember them, but when I was listening every day, these were amazing aids. Awesome for family listening and learning in the car, especially if you're traveling through places with bilingual signs.