The list is significant as a potential proxy for the overall success of top shows, though that idea would be argued by some. Actual download numbers are not released, naturally.
Apple also released the top 25 most-downloaded podcasts that started in 2018, similar in purpose to Podtrac’s top-10 list we reported yesterday. for anyone tempted to compare the Apple and Podtrac lists, go right ahead with the understanding that Podtrac measures only its clients, and Apple measures the vast swath of on-demand audio.
Here is Apple’s top 25 most-downloaded shows of all podcasts:
- THE DAILY
- THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE
- STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
- FRESH AIR
- THE DAVE RAMSEY SHOW
- MY FAVORITE MURDER
- TED TALKS DAILY
- UP FIRST
- THE BEN SHAPIRO SHOW
- POD SAVE AMERICA
- THIS AMERICAN LIFE
- TED RADIO HOUR
- PLANET MONEY
- PARDON MY TAKE
- FREAKONOMICS RADIO
- THE DAN LE BATARD SHOW WITH STUGOTZ
- UP AND VANISHED
- OPRAH’S SUPERSOUL CONVERSATIONS
- THE BILL SIMMONS PODCAST
- STUFF YOU MISSED IN HISTORY CLASS
- HIDDEN BRAIN
- THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD
- NPR POLITICS PODCAST
- RADIOLAB
- THE ADAM CAROLLA SHOW
Here is Apple’s list of new-in-2018 most-downloaded shows:
- ARMCHAIR EXPERT WITH DAX SHEPARD
- THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH: EARS EDITION
- TODAY, EXPLAINED
- DR. DEATH
- THE MORNING TOAST
- BUSINESS WARS
- THE WILDERNESS
- CONSPIRACY THEORIES
- THE RFK TAPES
- THE TEACHER’S PET
- AARON MAHNKE’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
- OPRAH’S MASTER CLASS: THE PODCAST
- CALIPHATE
- 15 MINUTES TO FREEDOM
- RISE TOGETHER PODCAST
- THE GOOP PODCAST
- THE HABITAT
- GET UP!
- WORKLIFE WITH ADAM GRANT
- TRUMP, INC.
- THE WALK
- NOBODY TOLD ME!
- UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES
- FATAL VOYAGE: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF NATALIE WOOD
- THE JORDAN HARBINGER SHOW
(Thanks to Jay Green of Cadence13.)