A new study from Edison Media Research found that the number of Internet users who downloaded and listened to an audio podcast grew from 13 percent to 18 percent in the last year. The report finds this six percent increase in the number of podcast listeners a "tremendous" growth. In 2006, only 11 percent of those polled said they listen to downloaded podcasts. This study was based on a random, national sample of the U.S. population, culled from 1,857 telephone interviews conducted this past January.

The report, available at the Edison Media Research Web site, says those who conducted the interviews made it clear podcasts were downloadable audio programs you can listen to anytime you choose, even on portable media devices, and not streaming audio content from a website. Video podcasts also showed impressive growth, rising from 11 percent of people who watched a video podcast in 2007 to 16 percent in 2008.

It’s not just that more of us are listening to podcasts. Many of us have certain podcasts we simply can’t live without. So, what's your favorite podcast you can't live without?