Apple Reveals the Most Popular Podcasts of 2023

In a recent announcement, Apple unveiled the list of the most popular podcasts of 2023 on Apple Podcasts, providing insights into what content resonated with listeners worldwide. The comprehensive year-end charts, localized for nearly 100 countries and regions, are accessible through the Browse tab until year's end.

The U.S. charts were particularly noteworthy, with "Crime Junkie," "The Daily," and "Dateline NBC" leading the pack among the top shows. Newcomers such as "Scamanda" and "The Retrievals" also made significant waves in the top new shows category.

Listeners showed diverse interests, with "Huberman Lab" taking the top spot in the most followed shows, indicating a growing curiosity in science and health topics. Meanwhile, "Scamanda" led the most shared shows category, reflecting the increasing appeal of narrative-driven content.

The charts also highlighted the popularity of free and subscriber channels, with iHeartPodcasts and Wondery leading these categories, respectively. This data underscores the diverse content strategies and audience preferences across the podcasting landscape.

Apple's announcement also teased the reveal of the 'Show of the Year' set for December 5, adding anticipation to an already exciting year in podcasting. This move by Apple demonstrates its continued commitment to being a key player in the podcasting world, offering a platform for creators and a treasure trove of content for listeners.

Overall, the list provided by Apple offers a snapshot of the dynamic and evolving world of podcasts, reflecting a range of interests from true crime to health, and from narrative storytelling to investigative journalism.

Here are the most popular podcasts of 2023 in the U.S.:

Top Shows

1. Crime Junkie

2. The Daily

3. Dateline NBC

4. SmartLess

5. This American Life

6. Morbid

7. Up First

8. Huberman Lab

9. Hidden Brain

10. Stuff You Should Know

Top New Shows

1. Scamanda

2. The Retrievals

3. The Deck Investigates

4. Murder & Magnolias

5. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

6. The Girl in the Blue Mustang

7. The Coldest Case in Laramie

8. Murder in Apartment 12

9. The Girlfriends

10. Undetermined

Most Followed Shows

1. Huberman Lab

2. SmartLess

3. New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce

4. Scamanda

5. The Mel Robbins Podcast

6. Crime Junkie

7. The Retrievals

8. The Deck Investigates

9. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

10. On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Most Shared Shows

1. Scamanda

2. Sold a Story

3. The Retrievals

4. Huberman Lab

5. SmartLess

6. The Witch Trials of J.K Rowling

7. Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra

8. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis Dreyfus

9. The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

10. True Sunlight

Most Shared Episodes

1. Huberman Lab: “What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health”

2. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Julia Gets Wise with Jane Fonda”

3. The Daily: “The Fight Over Phonics”

4. Hidden Brain: “The Paradox of Pleasure”

5. Sold a Story: “The Problem”

6. The Mel Robbins Podcast: “The ‘Let Them Theory’: A Life Changing Mindset Hack That 15 Million People Can’t Stop Talking About”

7. The Retrievals: “The Patients”

8. We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle: “Why We Love the Way We Love: Attachment Styles with Dr. Becky Kennedy”

9. Just B with Bethenny Frankel: “Reality Reckoning: Rachel Leviss (Part One)”

10. Serial: “The Alibi”

Top Free Channels

1. iHeartPodcasts

2. audiochuck

3. The New York Times

4. Dear Media

5. Serial Productions

6. Barstool Sports

7. ABC News

8. The Daily Wire

9. Scicomm Media

10. Cumulus Podcast Network 

Top Subscriber Channels

1. Wondery

2. Dateline NBC

3. Pushkin

4. iHeart True Crime

5. Lemonada

6. Tenderfoot TV

7. TED Audio Collective

8. Freakonomics Radio

9. Radiolab

10. BBC Podcasts