Podcasts have revolutionized the way we consume content, offering something for every taste and interest. Whether you’re looking for in-depth storytelling, expert insights, or pure entertainment, Spotify remains one of the top platforms to discover and follow the best podcasts.
But with millions of options available, how do you know which ones are worth your time? To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top podcasts on Spotify in 2025, highlighting the most popular and talked-about shows across various categories. From true crime thrillers to comedy hits and educational deep dives, these are among the most popular podcasts on Spotify right now, with millions of loyal listeners.
Looking for new podcasts to listen to? Let’s dive into the top-ranked shows on Spotify right now!
Top Podcasts on Spotify – Best Podcast Categories in 2025
Spotify hosts a wide array of podcast categories, catering to a vast audience with diverse interests. With over 6 million podcast titles available, users can explore genres ranging from mainstream favorites to niche topics ✅
Most Popular Podcast Genres on Spotify in 2025
Several genres consistently dominate the charts. According to Edison Research’s Q1 2024 data on U.S. podcast listeners, the most popular genres by reach are:
- Comedy 📊
- Popularity: Comedy podcasts are highly sought after for their entertainment value, maintaining the top spot with no change in its ranking from the previous quarter.
- Content: These podcasts provide humor, wit, and engaging storytelling, making them a favorite among listeners looking for a laugh.
- Society & Culture 🌍
- Popularity: This genre has risen in popularity, now ranking second, with a rank increase of +1 from Q1 2023.
- Content: Society & culture podcasts offer diverse and engaging content, exploring human experiences, cultural phenomena, and social issues.
- News 📰
- Popularity: Although it dropped one spot, news podcasts remain a staple for listeners wanting to stay informed.
- Content: These podcasts deliver daily updates, in-depth analysis, and expert opinions on current events, politics, and global issues.
- True Crime 🕵️♀️
- Popularity: Holding steady in fourth place, true crime podcasts continue to captivate audiences with their gripping storytelling.
- Content: These podcasts delve into real-life mysteries, criminal cases, and investigative journalism, often unraveling complex stories that keep listeners on the edge of their seats.
- Sports 🏅
- Popularity: Sports podcasts retain their position in fifth place, attracting fans eager for the latest updates and analyses.
- Content: These podcasts provide commentary, interviews with athletes, and detailed breakdowns of games and events, covering a wide range of sports.
Less Popular categories
While some genres dominate the charts, others cater to more niche audiences:
- Technology 💻
- Trend: Dropped by -1 to seventeenth place.
- Content: Focuses on innovation, gadgets, and digital trends, attracting tech enthusiasts.
- Kids & Family 👨👩👧👦
- Trend: Remained steady in eighteenth place.
- Content: Offers content suitable for younger audiences and family-friendly shows that can be enjoyed by listeners of all ages.
- Government 🏛️
- Trend: Remained steady in nineteenth place.
- Content: Focuses on political science, public policy, and governmental affairs, providing insights into the workings of various governmental systems.
Spotify’s extensive range of categories ensures that every listener can find content that resonates with their interests. Whether you’re looking for a good laugh, a deep dive into cultural topics, the latest news updates, gripping crime stories, or in-depth sports analysis, Spotify has you covered.
Top 10 Most Popular Podcasts on Spotify in 2025 – Must-Listen Shows!
Spotify has a wide variety of popular podcasts that cater to different interests and preferences. Check out our list of the top 10 most popular podcasts on Spotify in 2025—each one a standout on top charts podcast lists, covering true crime, comedy, and more! :
1. The Joe Rogan Experience
Host: Joe Rogan
Description: Known for its long-form interviews, this podcast covers a wide range of topics including politics, comedy, philosophy, and current events. Joe Rogan brings in a variety of guests, from celebrities to experts, ensuring engaging and thought-provoking conversations. The Joe Rogan Experience is often considered the #1 podcast in the world due to its massive reach and influence.
Why Listen: As the number one podcast in the world, it continues to attract high-profile guests and global attention.
2. The Tucker Carlson Show
Host: Tucker Carlson
Description: This podcast features Tucker Carlson discussing current events, politics, and social issues. Known for his provocative and often controversial viewpoints, Carlson provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the day’s most pressing topics.
Why Listen: For listeners interested in conservative viewpoints and political commentary, this podcast offers a deep dive into significant issues.
3. Wartime Stories
Host: Ballen Studios
Description: Focusing on gripping stories from various wartime periods, this podcast delves into the personal and often harrowing experiences of those who lived through conflicts.
Why Listen: The detailed storytelling and historical insights make it a must-listen for history buffs and those interested in personal narratives from wartime.
4. The LOL Podcast
Hosts: Cash, Maverick, Kate, Harper
Description: A comedy podcast that aims to entertain with humorous takes on everyday life, pop culture, and personal anecdotes.
Why Listen: If you’re looking for a light-hearted, fun listen that will make you laugh, this podcast is a perfect choice.
5. Shawn Ryan Show
Host: Shawn Ryan
Description: Hosted by former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, this podcast covers topics such as military experiences, personal development, and interviews with notable figures from various fields.
Why Listen: The podcast provides unique insights into the lives of military personnel and other intriguing personalities.
6. Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
Hosts: Smosh
Description: The Smosh team reads and reacts to some of the most entertaining and bizarre stories found on Reddit. This podcast combines humor with the fascinating world of Reddit.
Why Listen: For fans of Reddit and quirky internet stories, this podcast offers endless entertainment.
7. Drowning Creek
Host: Wavland
Description: A true crime podcast that investigates mysterious disappearances and unsolved cases centered around the fictional town of Drowning Creek.
Why Listen: The suspenseful storytelling and intricate plot lines make it a compelling listen for true crime enthusiasts.
8. Huberman Lab
Host: Andrew Huberman
Description: Hosted by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, this podcast explores topics related to brain function, health, and science-based tools for everyday life.
Why Listen: For those interested in neuroscience and self-improvement, this podcast provides valuable insights and practical advice.
9. Crime Junkie
Hosts: Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat
Description: This true crime podcast delivers weekly episodes on a variety of criminal cases, from high-profile mysteries to lesser-known incidents.
Why Listen: The meticulous research and engaging narration make it a favorite among true crime fans.
10. Acquired
Hosts: Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal
Description: This podcast delves into the stories behind the biggest tech companies and acquisitions, exploring the strategies and decisions that led to their success.
Why Listen: Ideal for business and tech enthusiasts, this podcast offers deep dives into the history and growth of major tech firms.
By offering a mix of comedy, true crime, science, and political commentary, these top podcasts on Spotify are some of the biggest podcasts in the world, covering everything from neuroscience to unsolved mysteries.
Want to discover even more podcast rankings? 🌍 With Ausha Charts, you can explore the most popular podcasts worldwide, sorted by category and country on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Whether you’re tracking your own show or curious about the global favorites, Ausha Charts offers the detailed insights you need—all for free! 🚀
Why Spotify Dominates the Podcast Industry in 2025 🎧
Spotify has rapidly become a leading platform for podcast discovery and is now dominating the top charts across genres.
Here’s why Spotify stands out in the crowded podcast landscape:
Massive Library of Content 📚
Spotify boasts an extensive library with over 100 million tracks, more than 6 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks. This vast selection ensures that there is something for everyone, regardless of their interests or preferences 📚
Global Reach
Spotify has a massive global presence with more than 615 million users, including 239 million subscribers in over 180 markets. Whether you’re following global trends or checking the American podcast charts, Spotify helps podcasts gain international exposure, attracting listeners from diverse backgrounds and regions 🌍
Video Podcasts
One of the notable features of Spotify is the ability to host video podcasts. With 79% of listeners having consumed a podcast with video, this feature significantly enhances the listening experience by providing a visual element that can make the content more engaging. Podcasters can easily upload video content to Spotify, ensuring that their audience has a versatile and enriched consumption experience 🎥
How to Rank Among the Top Podcasts on Spotify – Expert Tips!
Spotify’s podcast charts highlight the most listened-to and engaging shows. For listeners, it’s a great way to discover trending content, while for podcasters, it serves as a key performance indicator. But why do some podcasts consistently rank at the top? Let’s break it down.
🎯 How Spotify Ranks Podcasts
Spotify’s top podcast charts are not based solely on the total number of listens, but also on engagement metrics.
Several factors related to listener engagement and behavior play a crucial role:
- Unique listeners: It’s not just about the number of plays, but rather the number of distinct listeners tuning in to a podcast.
- Subscriptions and retention: Podcasts that attract many new subscribers and maintain strong listener retention until the end of episodes tend to rank higher.
- Trending episodes: A sudden spike in plays can push an episode up the charts, even if the overall podcast isn’t at the top.
- Category rankings: Podcasts are classified based on the category set in their RSS feed. Choosing the right category enhances visibility within relevant segments.
🔄 Spotify updates its rankings daily, meaning that continuous audience engagement is key to maintaining a strong position.
Where to Find Podcast Rankings on Spotify ?
Want to check which podcasts are topping the podcast top charts? Here’s how:
1️⃣ Open Spotify on your phone or computer.
2️⃣ Go to the “Search” tab and select the Podcasts section.
3️⃣ Navigate to “Podcast Charts” to explore trending shows and top episodes.
🔎 Looking for real-time rankings by country? Visit podcastcharts.byspotify.com 🚀
🛠 Go Further with Ausha Charts
While Spotify’s rankings provide an instant snapshot of performance, Ausha Charts takes it a step further by analyzing podcast rankings across multiple platforms. With Ausha Charts, you get access to:
- Real-Time Rankings for the top shows and episodes.
- Category and Subcategory Insights to uncover trends.
- Geo-Specific Data to filter rankings by country.
- Exclusive Spotify Data you won’t find anywhere else.
🚀 Stay ahead of the game—track your podcast with Ausha Charts today!
Q&A – Frequently Asked Questions About Top Podcasts on Spotify
🔹 What are the most listened-to podcasts on Spotify?
The top podcasts on Spotify change over time based on listener trends, but some shows consistently dominate the charts. Among the most popular podcasts, you’ll often find : The Joe Rogan Experience, Crime Junkie, and The Huberman Lab.
🔹 How does Spotify rank podcasts?
Spotify’s ranking system is based on factors like unique listeners, retention rate, new subscribers, and episode engagement. Trending episodes can also boost a podcast’s position in the charts.
🔹 Are Spotify podcast rankings different from Apple Podcasts?
Yes! While Apple Podcasts focuses more on reviews and overall downloads, Spotify prioritizes listener engagement, play-through rates, and recent popularity trends.
🔹 Can I listen to Spotify podcasts without a subscription?
Yes, Spotify allows users to listen to podcasts for free, though premium subscribers enjoy an ad-free experience.
🔹 How can I find more trending podcasts on Spotify?
You can explore Spotify’s Podcast Charts or use tools like Ausha Charts to discover top podcasts worldwide by category and country.
Conclusion
Spotify continues to dominate the podcasting world, offering a vast library that caters to diverse interests. From timeless classics to new hits, the top podcasts on Spotify includes some of the best podcasts of all time.
Whether you’re seeking a laugh, a gripping story, or insightful discussions, These are also some of the best podcasts on podcast app platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. 🎧
Exploring these top podcasts on Spotify will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired. If you’re a podcaster looking to reach a wider audience, you can distribute your podcast on Spotify using Ausha literally in just one click ! 🚀
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