Want to get smarter during your commute? There are a lot of fantastic podcasts that will teach you new things in a thoroughly entertaining way. Here are 13 podcasts that will expand your brain with cutting-edge science and cutlural analysis.

You probably knew that literary superstar Junot Díaz is a big fan of science fiction and fantasy, but did you know he's written a couple of science fiction novels that never saw the light of day? Talking to Geeks' Guide to the Galaxy, Díaz explains that he wrote a far-future novel in the vein of Gene Wolfe, called…

Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (basis for the movie Hugo), joins us to discuss working with Martin Scorsese, interviewing Sacha Baron Cohen, and creating his new book Wonderstruck.

Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club and new novel Damned, joins us to discuss chatting with telemarketers, being appalled at Hollywood hypocrisy, and writing stories that make people faint dead away.

R. A. Salvatore, creator of the popular Dungeons & Dragons character Drizzt Do'Urden, joins us to discuss breaking into novel writing, bullying, and why a city of evil elves is a lot like Middle School.

Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians and The Magician King, joins us to discuss goofing on Narnia, reviewing for Time, and rebelling against your parents when you're 35.

Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash and Reamde, joins us to discuss farming gold, learning Western martial arts, and changing the world through science fiction.

Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion, joins us to discuss working with Dave McKean, being friends with Douglas Adams, and whether or not a human can mate with a chimp.

Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files and The Codex Alera series, joins us to discuss really bad ideas, tabletop gaming, and finding out that your dad is Rambo.

Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, basis of the hit HBO series True Blood, joins us to discuss wrapping up the series, her oddest fans, and whether or not vampires poop.