“Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci

If you’re the type to rise in the morning and check your Facebook feed before checking the weather outside, or peruse emails over your coffee before conquering Candy Crush on the daily commute, finding time to listen to podcasts may not be a high priorities.

It’s worth considering however, more and more research is concluding that all of the above are technically distractions, said to wreak havoc on your state of mind for the rest of the day. Joshua Waitzkin, author of The Art of Learning advises against indulging in too many of these kind of “inputs” first thing in the morning. He recommends engaging in “creating” activities upon rising (such as journaling) as one of the keys to productivity, and a habit of some of the most successful business people in the world.

Another tip, being selective about what you expose your mind to just before bed, because that is what your subconscious will process and try to “solve” in your sleep (hint: episodes of The Walking Dead are not recommended). So, what’s the alternative?

While some people spend hundreds of dollars to hear top level thinkers spout their wisdom on stage, you can receive it direct into your ears, regularly, and for free. That’s right, podcasts are back, and here’s our top recommendations for the business savvy and entrepreneurially minded to get the most out of your brain. Tune in.

The Tim Ferriss Show – Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss, author of the infamous Four Hour Work Week is basically BFFs with every wildly successful tech startup founder this side of Silicon Valley. The candid conversations on this podcast make you feel like you’re eavesdropping on Friday after-work-drinks. They’re refreshingly grounded, and Tim, an angel investor himself, asks really simple questions that humanise the lofty [Startup founder (think ZocDoc) / Child prodigy / Net-worth-starts-with-a-B-hedge fund manager] in a fascinating way. Tangible, actionable takeaways on the fundamentals of business, leadership and life are offered in abundance. Listen to the cast here on iTunes now: http://goo.gl/JY5lun

Social Triggers Insider – Derek Halpern
Derek Halpern is a master of human psychology and behaviour. His podcast specialises in how to skyrocket sales conversions online. His personality specialises in being a complete smart ass. Entertaining yet evidence based, Derek knows the difference between tactic and strategy, a red and a blue “Buy now” button, and generally how to achieve success growing your online following. You’re gonna love him. Listen to the cast here on iTunes now: http://goo.gl/eEJ6fy

This Is Your Life – Michael Hyatt
Kind of big deal in the publishing world, Michael Hyatt is the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, one of the largest publishing houses in the world. Also the New York Times bestselling author of Platform, Michael’s podcasts cover everything from leadership, productivity to family life. Michael also knows social media and is not afraid to provide guidance on establishing a highly effective digital landscape every business should adopt. Listen to the cast here on iTunes now: http://goo.gl/lnzatH

So there it is. No matter the time of day, podcasts can be an excellent inclusion to your daily habits, whether you want to expose your to mind fruitful pearls of wisdom to reflect on during your sleep, or just to have something intelligent to say at your work Christmas party.