Podcasts are clearly growing in popularity. This form of media has been steadily rising since the aughts, back when podcasts seemed like a conveniently pre-recorded variant of radio.
But in the age of streaming services with on-demand content libraries and ubiquitous smart devices, the appeal of podcasts that people can listen to whenever and wherever has been cemented. The mark on pop culture is clear.
Video content shared on social-media platforms is another driver of popularity for podcasts. Content-marketing strategy is increasingly involving access to podcasting equipment, the way search-engine optimization needs blog posts.
Plus, that also opens the door to podcast listeners across many target audiences. The podcasting directories on the major podcast apps have great content for just about everyone.
2025 will surely be a year where podcasts’ relevance will only grow, as video podcasts continue to grow.
Four Most-Influential Podcasts in 2025
Below, you will find a list of podcasts that could be considered influential for many reasons.
The criteria for this list is that even if the podcast is long-running, it still has a significant following in 2025 and reaches plenty of listeners, as well as informs the podcasting landscape as a whole.
However, some podcasts are newer, but have gained a level of popularity that suggests the podcasting industry will be taking clues from the success.
#1: The Most-popular 2025 Podcast (So Far): The Mel Robbins Podcast
At the #1 spot on Spotify’s charts and #2 on Apple Podcast’s ranking (as of the writing of this blog) is The Mel Robbins Podcast.
If you do not know who Mel Robbins is, know that she is a best-selling author who has billions of views on YouTube.
This show’s specialty is self-improvement and motivational content.
Her podcast titles and related marketing content directly address the listeners. For instance, the title “If You’re Feeling Uncertain & Anxious, You Need to Hear This”.
The undeniable popularity of this podcast, which has been around for years, goes to show that producing audience-focused content that has direct relevance to many people’s lives will always have a shot at gaining, maintaining, and growing a sizable listenership.
#2 IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
An increasingly common phenomenon in podcasting is to see high-profile people—politicians, celebrities, and other big names—become the hosts, rather than be just guests, of podcasts.
This podcast, hosted by Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson, has the #3 spot on the Apple Podcasts and Spotify charts for top podcasts. (Again, that ranking is as of the writing of this blog.)
The format is simple: discussing, sometimes with a celebrity guest, listener-submitted questions that can cover a range of topics. (“IMO” is an abbreviation for “in my opinion”, signaling that this is an advice podcast.)
This podcast could prove influential in getting more big names into podcasting, thereby making the podcasting industry more competitive and raising the status of podcasts in the media landscape.
#3 Three
Admittedly, it is hard to resist putting this podcast at anywhere but #3, but it certainly earns a place on this list. As of this writing, this podcast is in the top ten of both Spotify (at the #7 spot) and Apple Podcasts (#1).
This podcast is in the true-crime genre, specifically the subgenre where a real-life tragedy is put into a narrative that lasts over the course of multiple podcast episodes.
What makes it so influential? It reiterates something that the podcasting industry has known since Serial: narrative true-crime podcasts can get huge followings, and retain them over seasons by delivering nonfiction in a storytelling format.
That has an influence on podcasts outside this genre, as delivering factual information in a compelling way is expected of podcasters by many listeners.
#4 The Telepathy Tapes
Sitting comfortably in or around the middle of the top ten on the podcasts charts for both Apple and Spotify, this podcast is hosted by Ky Dickens and features neuroscientist Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell.
The podcast covers their travels around the world, connecting with non-speaking autistic people and their families. By exploring silent communication and the phenomenon of telepathy, this podcast sheds light on experiences and phenomena that many listeners may not have much or any exposure to in their daily lives.
The undeniable popularity of this podcast demonstrates that, in podcasting, a supposedly niche subject can actually be of wide interest.
The State of Podcasts in 2025
So, which of these podcasts will prove the most influential going forward?
It may be too early to say, but anyone interested in starting a podcast can take some key lessons from the success of these podcasts.
The Mel Robbins Podcast shows that effectively reaching an audience involves creating content that is directly relevant to that audience, and marketing that content as such.
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson shows that it is increasingly becoming the case that podcasting is seen as an important medium for reaching the public, perhaps even the primary one for many people in the public. For this reason, we are seeing very-famous people starting podcasts of their own.
Three demonstrates that podcasters who make a commitment to delivering content in a compelling way will always have an edge in the podcasting landscape.
Lastly, The Telepathy Tapes shows that podcasts that are of general interest do not always have general topics, but can in fact be quite specialized.
Looking to start a podcast of your own? Reach out to Resonate Recordings today!
