Notably, some of the best comedy podcasts have emerged from the minds of renowned comedians, leveraging the podcast platform to showcase their wit and engage with fans on a deeper level. Names like Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett have joined forces for “SmartLess,” delivering laughter and insightful conversations with celebrity guests. The success of “How Did This Get Made” with Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael reflects the audience’s appetite for humorous deep dives into the absurdities of the entertainment industry, making it a must-listen for pop culture enthusiasts.

Among the comedic offerings, “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” stands out as a testament to the enduring appeal of beloved comedians transitioning into the podcast realm. Featuring the iconic late-night host, Conan O’Brien, engaging in candid and humorous conversations with celebrity guests, the show exemplifies the intimate and entertaining fly-on-the-wall experience that has become synonymous with the best comedy podcasts. As the podcast landscape continues to evolve, the delightful banter of “Office Ladies,” where Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey revisit their time on “The Office,” exemplifies the trend of bringing beloved sitcoms and iconic moments into the podcasting world.

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Conan O’Brien, the iconic stand-up comedian and TV show host, invites celebrity guests to dive deep into hilarious conversations, showcasing his wit and charm. With a fly-on-the-wall perspective, this podcast explores the world of Hollywood and pop culture, making it a must-listen for those craving a true crime podcast alternative with a comedic twist.

WTF with Marc Maron

Marc Maron, a seasoned stand-up comedian and former sitcom star, presents “WTF,” a weekly podcast featuring intimate interviews with celebrity guests. Maron’s probing questions reveal the true depths of his guests, offering a unique, fly-on-the-wall experience. While not a true crime podcast, its deep dives into personal stories make it a captivating alternative for true crime enthusiasts in search of authentic narratives.

How Did This Get Made

Join comedians Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas as they take a hilarious deep dive into some of the worst movies ever made. While not a true crime podcast, “How Did This Get Made” provides a refreshing break, offering laughter and absurdity. Dive into the world of bad movies and enjoy the comedy these hosts bring to their dissection of cinematic failures.

Office Ladies

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, beloved co-stars from “The Office,” reunite to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the hit sitcom. While not a true crime podcast, “Office Ladies” is a delightful fly-on-the-wall experience, revisiting favorite episodes with insider anecdotes. If you’re seeking a break from crime stories, enjoy the camaraderie of two friends reminiscing about the world of Dunder Mifflin.

SmartLess

“SmartLess” features Hollywood stars Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett engaging in comedic conversations with celebrity guests. Though not a true crime podcast, it offers an entertaining fly-on-the-wall experience with unexpected twists. This star-studded show provides a delightful diversion from crime stories, making it an excellent choice for those looking for the best comedy podcasts.

Fly on the Wall

“Fly on the Wall” promises a unique perspective into the lives of its hosts or guests. While not a true crime podcast, this show offers a behind-the-scenes, fly-on-the-wall experience that might appeal to those seeking a break from crime stories. With the potential for celebrity guests and candid conversations, it provides an entertaining alternative to typical true crime fare.

Why Won’t You Date Me?

Nicole Byer’s “Why Won’t You Date Me?” is a hilarious deep dive into the complexities of dating. As a stand-up comedian, Nicole brings her wit and charm, making it more than just a true crime podcast alternative. With episodes featuring celebrity guests and discussions on relationships, it’s an engaging listen for those looking for a laugh without the crime drama.

Off Menu

“Off Menu” offers a delightful escape with hosts James Acaster and Ed Gamble taking guests on a fantasy meal journey. While not a true crime podcast, the show’s comedic approach to discussing food and life provides a welcome diversion. With celebrity guests and humorous banter, it’s an excellent choice for those seeking a break from crime stories and looking for the best comedy podcasts.

All Fantasy Everything

“All Fantasy Everything (AFE)” brings together comedians Ian Karmel, Sean Jordan, and David Gborie for a hilarious podcast experience. In this unique show, the hosts and their expert guests conduct drafts, selecting pop culture items ranging from music and movies to unconventional categories like sandwiches. With drafts covering everything from Tom Hanks movies to dunk-worthy phrases, “AFE” offers a comedic fly-on-the-wall experience into the world of imaginative and amusing pop culture discussions.

Call Chelsea Peretti

“Call Chelsea Peretti” features the witty Chelsea Peretti taking calls from listeners. Although not a true crime podcast, Chelsea’s humor and unique take on life make it an entertaining choice. It’s a fly-on-the-wall experience as Chelsea engages with fans, offering a light-hearted alternative for those looking to step away from crime narratives and explore the best comedy podcasts.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness invites listeners to join him on curious explorations of various topics. While not a true crime podcast, its deep dives into diverse subjects offer an engaging and informative experience. With celebrity guests and Jonathan’s infectious enthusiasm, it’s a refreshing alternative for those seeking a break from crime stories and looking for podcasts that mix humor and education.

My Dad Wrote a Porno

“My Dad Wrote a Porno” is a standout in the comedy podcast world, providing a unique and hilarious approach. This true crime podcast alternative, featuring Jamie Morton reading his father’s erotic novels, offers a fly-on-the-wall experience into the absurdity of the written world. With recurring themes and celebrity guests, it stands out among the best comedy podcasts for its unconventional yet side-splitting content.

Trashy Divorces

“Trashy Divorces” combines humor and true crime elements by delving into the messy divorces of celebrities. This engaging podcast, while not strictly a true crime podcast, provides a unique perspective on relationships gone awry. For those seeking a break from traditional crime stories, the show offers celebrity gossip, laughs, and a fly-on-the-wall experience into the lives of the rich and famous.

A Very Fatal Murder

“A Very Fatal Murder” is a satirical take on the true crime podcast genre. This fictional podcast, produced by The Onion, brilliantly parodies crime stories with humor and wit. A must-listen for comedy podcast enthusiasts, it cleverly incorporates elements of true crime while delivering laughs, making it an entertaining choice for those looking for a departure from traditional crime narratives.

No Such Thing As a Fish

The QI Elves’ podcast, “No Such Thing As a Fish,” stands out for its blend of comedy and deep dives into obscure facts. While not a true crime podcast, its witty banter and insightful discussions offer a refreshing alternative. Dive into the world of quirky trivia, celebrity guests, and humorous anecdotes for an engaging, fly-on-the-wall experience that’s perfect for those in search of the best comedy podcasts.

RHLSTP with Richard Herring

“RHLSTP with Richard Herring” is a comedic interview podcast where Richard Herring engages with a variety of guests. Though not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall approach provides intimate conversations with celebrities and comedians. With episodes featuring stand-up comedy and unique insights into the lives of the guests, it’s a compelling alternative for those looking to mix humor and entertainment.

Athletico Mince

“Athletico Mince” is a surreal and humorous podcast featuring Bob Mortimer and Andy Dawson. While not a true crime podcast, its unpredictable banter and absurd scenarios offer a delightful fly-on-the-wall experience. With celebrity impressions, quirky characters, and a touch of football talk, it’s a top choice for those seeking the best comedy podcasts with an offbeat flavor.

The Adam Buxton Podcast

“The Adam Buxton Podcast” showcases comedian Adam Buxton’s engaging interviews with various guests. Though not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall conversations cover a range of topics with a humorous touch. With celebrity guests, insightful discussions, and personal anecdotes, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy a more relaxed and humorous podcast experience.

Fake Doctors, Real Friends

“Fake Doctors, Real Friends” reunites “Scrubs” stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison for a comedic look back at the beloved sitcom. While not a true crime podcast, it offers fans a fly-on-the-wall experience into the behind-the-scenes stories of the show. With humor, nostalgia, and guest appearances, it’s a must-listen for “Scrubs” enthusiasts and those seeking the best comedy podcasts.

2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer

“2 Bears, 1 Cave” brings together comedians Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer for a hilarious look at their friendship. Though not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall conversations offer an intimate and funny perspective into their lives. With witty banter, celebrity guests, and unfiltered discussions, it stands out among the best comedy podcasts for those seeking an entertaining break from crime narratives.

Adam Carolla Show

The “Adam Carolla Show” features comedian Adam Carolla’s humorous take on current events and interviews. While not a true crime podcast, it offers a fly-on-the-wall experience into Carolla’s world of comedy and commentary. With celebrity guests and Carolla’s witty insights, it’s a compelling choice for those looking for the best comedy podcasts with a talk show format and a touch of humor.

Your Mom’s House with Christina P. and Tom Segura

“Your Mom’s House” with Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky is a comedic podcast offering a fly-on-the-wall experience into their marriage and family life. While not a true crime podcast, its humor, inside jokes, and entertaining banter make it a top choice for comedy podcast enthusiasts. With recurring segments and celebrity guests, it provides a delightful escape from true crime narratives.

The Breakfast Club

“The Breakfast Club” is a popular radio show featuring interviews with celebrities and discussions on current events. While not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall format allows listeners to experience candid conversations and celebrity interviews. With a mix of humor and serious discussions, it stands out among talk show formats, providing an engaging alternative for those looking beyond true crime stories.

Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald

“Heather McDonald’s Juicy Scoop” is a comedic podcast exploring celebrity gossip and pop culture. While not a true crime podcast, its humorous take on current events offers a light-hearted fly-on-the-wall experience. With juicy stories, celebrity interviews, and McDonald’s witty commentary, it’s a top choice for those seeking the best comedy podcasts with a focus on entertainment news.

Good For You

“Good For You” is comedian Whitney Cummings’ podcast where she engages in honest and insightful conversations. While not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall discussions with celebrity guests provide a unique perspective. With Cummings’ humor and unfiltered conversations, it’s an excellent choice for those interested in comedy podcasts that offer a mix of laughter and thought-provoking insights.

Help I Sexted My Boss

“Help I Sexted My Boss” is a comedic podcast featuring etiquette advice from hosts Jordan North and William Hanson. While not a true crime podcast, it provides a humorous fly-on-the-wall experience. With celebrity guests, the show offers a unique blend of comedy, pop culture, and helpful tips, making it an engaging choice for comedy podcast enthusiasts.

My Therapist Ghosted Me

“My Therapist Ghosted Me” is a podcast exploring mental health with comedians Joel Dommett and Melissa Broom. Though not a true crime podcast, it delves deep into personal stories with a comedic touch, offering a fly-on-the-wall experience into therapy discussions. With a focus on self-improvement and mental health, it provides a unique perspective for those interested in best comedy podcasts with substance.

Films To Be Buried With

“Films To Be Buried With” is hosted by Brett Goldstein, a comedian, and actor. While not a true crime podcast, it offers a deep dive into guests’ favorite films with a humorous twist. With discussions about life, death, and cinema, it’s a captivating alternative for those looking for the best comedy podcasts with a cinematic focus.

Nobody Panic

“Nobody Panic” is a comedy podcast hosted by Tessa Coates and Stevie Martin, providing practical advice with a comedic flair. While not a true crime podcast, it offers a fly-on-the-wall experience into discussions on adulting, making it a refreshing alternative for those seeking a break from crime stories.

The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner

“The Office Deep Dive” with Brian Baumgartner is a podcast where the actor, known for playing Kevin Malone on “The Office,” explores the show’s behind-the-scenes stories. While not a true crime podcast, it offers a fly-on-the-wall experience for fans of the sitcom, providing insights and laughs.

Also check out the new iteration of his podcast with “Off the Beat.“

Storytime with Seth Rogen

“Storytime with Seth Rogen” offers a humorous and engaging podcast where Seth Rogen shares entertaining stories. While not a true crime podcast, it provides a fly-on-the-wall experience into Rogen’s life, featuring celebrity guests and anecdotes that captivate listeners seeking the best comedy podcasts.

Early Work with Rhys James

“Early Work with Rhys James” showcases comedians discussing their early creative efforts. While not a true crime podcast, it provides a fly-on-the-wall experience into the world of comedy, with guests sharing their early works and humorous anecdotes.

Good One

“Good One” is a podcast focusing on jokes and the creative process of comedians. While not a true crime podcast, it provides a deep dive into the world of stand-up comedy, making it a must-listen for those interested in the best comedy podcasts and the art of humor.

Tailenders

“Tailenders” is a cricket-themed podcast with Greg James, Jimmy Anderson, and Felix White. While not a true crime podcast, it offers a fly-on-the-wall experience into the world of cricket with humor, anecdotes, and celebrity guests.

The Dollop

“The Dollop” features comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds discussing historical events with humor. While not a true crime podcast, its fly-on-the-wall format provides a hilarious deep dive into intriguing and often absurd stories from the past.

Comedy Bang Bang

“Comedy Bang Bang,” hosted by Scott Aukerman, is a hilarious podcast featuring celebrity interviews and improv comedy. Broadcasting on Earwolf, the show stands out as one of the best comedy podcasts, offering a unique blend of humor, sketches, and guest appearances. With its roots in New York’s comedy scene, “Comedy Bang Bang” has become an iconic staple, delivering fresh and entertaining content to its listeners.

Doug Loves Movies

“Doug Loves Movies,” hosted by comedian Doug Benson, is a podcast where guests discuss movies and play entertaining games. While not an NPR production, it captures the essence of comedic banter and cinephile discussions. With new episodes regularly released, the podcast has become a go-to for movie enthusiasts looking for engaging and humorous content.

Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me

“Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” is an NPR-produced comedy news quiz, combining humor and current events. Airing new episodes weekly, the show features panelists and celebrity guests who humorously dissect news stories. As one of NPR’s beloved offerings, it continues to be a reliable source of laughs for audiences seeking the best comedy podcasts with a news-oriented twist.

The Joe Rogan Experience

“The Joe Rogan Experience” needs no introduction, as Joe Rogan’s long-form interviews have become synonymous with the podcasting world. Airing new episodes regularly, the show features in-depth conversations with a diverse range of guests. While not an NPR production, it has gained a massive following, making it one of the best comedy podcasts globally.

Call Her Daddy

“Call Her Daddy,” hosted by Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn, is a podcast exploring dating and relationships with a humorous twist. Although not an NPR production, the show has achieved immense popularity, particularly among young adults. With its unabashed discussions and new episodes, it has secured its place among the best comedy podcasts in the relationship genre.

Bertcast

“Bertcast” is comedian Bert Kreischer’s podcast where he engages in candid conversations with guests. Airing new episodes regularly, the show captures the essence of Kreischer’s comedic style and storytelling. While not an NPR production, “Bertcast” stands out as one of the best comedy podcasts for those seeking unfiltered and entertaining discussions.

The Adventure Zone

“The Adventure Zone” is a highly acclaimed actual play Dungeons & Dragons podcast by the McElroy family. Airing new episodes regularly, the show is known for its engaging storytelling, humor, and unique characters. While not an NPR production, it has gained a massive fan base, becoming a standout in the best comedy podcasts within the realm of gaming and storytelling.

The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast

“The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast” features comedian duo Cody Ko and Noel Miller discussing a variety of topics. Airing new episodes regularly, the show has gained popularity for its humorous take on current events and internet culture. While not an NPR production, it has become a favorite among listeners seeking the best comedy podcasts for a fresh and irreverent perspective.

The Gus & Eddy Podcast

“The Gus & Eddy Podcast” showcases the comedic chemistry between Gus Johnson and Eddy Burback. Airing new episodes regularly, the show provides a humorous fly-on-the-wall experience into the hosts’ lives. While not an NPR production, it’s a delightful choice for those looking for the best comedy podcasts with a lighthearted and conversational tone.

Anna Faris is Unqualified

“Anna Faris is Unqualified” is a podcast where Anna Faris and her celebrity guests give unfiltered relationship advice. Airing new episodes regularly, the show combines humor with insightful discussions. While not an NPR production, it stands out among the best comedy podcasts for its candid conversations and entertaining take on love and relationships.

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

“You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes” features comedian Pete Holmes engaging in lengthy and humorous interviews with various guests. Airing new episodes regularly, the show is known for its deep dives into personal and comedic topics. While not an NPR production, it has become a staple in the best comedy podcasts for its unique blend of humor and introspection.

Smodcast

“Smodcast” is filmmaker Kevin Smith’s podcast featuring conversations with his longtime collaborator Scott Mosier. Airing new episodes regularly, the show is a relaxed and humorous exploration of various topics. While not an NPR production, it remains a favorite among listeners seeking the best comedy podcasts for its conversational and unscripted nature.

The Pete and Sebastian Show

“The Pete and Sebastian Show” features comedians Pete Correale and Sebastian Maniscalco discussing life and comedic anecdotes. Airing new episodes regularly, the show captures the chemistry between the co-hosts, providing a humorous fly-on-the-wall experience. While not an NPR production, it’s a delightful choice for those looking for the best comedy podcasts with a comedic slice-of-life approach.

The Pat McAfee Show

“The Pat McAfee Show” is a sports and comedy podcast hosted by former NFL player Pat McAfee. Airing new episodes regularly, the show features McAfee’s humorous take on sports and current events. While not an NPR production, it has gained popularity among sports and comedy enthusiasts, establishing itself among the best comedy podcasts in the sports genre.

Comedy Podcasts FAQ

What is the number one comedy podcast?

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is often considered one of the most popular comedy podcasts.

What is the funny podcast about reviews?

“How Did This Get Made?” is a hilarious podcast that reviews and discusses notoriously bad films.

Who is the LA-based comedian podcast host, TV, and film star?

One prominent LA-based comedian podcast host, TV, and film star is Marc Maron, known for “WTF with Marc Maron.”

What should I listen to if I like SmartLess?

If you enjoy “SmartLess,” you might also like “The Dollop” or “No Such Thing As A Fish” for their humorous and informative content.

What are some good comedy podcasts?

There are many good comedy podcasts, including “The Comedy Store Podcast,” “My Dad Wrote A Porno,” and “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend.”

What are the best comedy podcasts on iTunes?

Some of the best comedy podcasts on iTunes include “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “My Dad Wrote A Porno,” and “The Dollop.”

Can you recommend any hilarious improv comedy podcasts?

Sure! Check out “The Improv Punch Up,” “Hello from the Magic Tavern,” or “Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins” for hilarious improv comedy.

Which comedy podcasts are popular for their improv sketches?

“Comedy Bang! Bang!” and “The Big Ones” are popular comedy podcasts known for their entertaining improv sketches.

Can you recommend a comedy podcast with improv elements?

“The Off Menu Podcast” and “The Adventure Zone” (Balance Arc) incorporate improv elements into their comedic storytelling.

Which comedy podcasts are best for a long road trip?

For a long road trip, consider podcasts with engaging storytelling and humor like “The Adventure Zone,” “My Dad Wrote A Porno,” or “The Last Podcast On The Left.”

What are the most popular comedy podcasts right now?

For the most current information, check podcast charts, but some popular comedy podcasts include “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “SmartLess,” and “The Dollop.”

What are the top-rated comedy podcasts for a good laugh?

Top-rated comedy podcasts often include “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend,” and “My Dad Wrote A Porno” for a good laugh.

Which comedy podcasts are recommended for a good laugh during my commute?

For a humorous commute, try “The Office Ladies,” “The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast,” or “The Comedy Store Podcast” for a good dose of laughter.

Which comedy podcasts are the most popular right now?

Popular comedy podcasts can change, but “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “SmartLess,” and “The Dollop” are widely recognized.

Can you recommend any comedy podcasts similar to “The Adventure Zone”?

If you enjoy “The Adventure Zone,” you might like “Critical Role” or “Not Another D&D Podcast” for more entertaining role-playing game adventures with a comedic twist.

The post The 52 Best Comedy Podcasts of All Time appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Buzzsprout, a leading podcast host, aggregates their podcast base to get a representative sample size to provide the data. So while this data is a sampling of the overall podcast streaming, it’s compiled of millions of streams and there’s no reason to believe the data would benefit Spotify more than any other player. Slowly creeping up, Buzzsprout’s data shows Spotify commanded 29.4% of downloads compared to 29.3% from Apple. 

Starting to measure in October 2020, Apple maintained a 47% market share versus Spotify’s 24.4%. Though nearly double, Buzzsprout’s CTO, Tom Rossi, tells me it’s likely due to an attribution error other podcasts hosts likely see as well. Two months later the two competitors were closer: Apple 30.3%, Spotify 26.4%.

Rossi says, “Whenever somebody downloads an episode from Buzzsprout, we have to determine which podcast app is making the download, where the listener is located in the world, and what type of device they are using.

There are a large group of downloads that were using something called Apple Core Media on iPhones. Until October 2020, we included these plays as being Apple Podcasts, but after digging into the data, we determined it was actually various apps that were using an Apple API and not properly identifying themselves. When we updated our data, this caused a significant drop in the number of plays we attributed to Apple Podcasts.”

Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, Alban Brooke tells us, “in the past four years, Spotify has grown from not having podcasts on their platform to be neck and neck with Apple Podcasts as an industry leader. Instead of just pulling listeners from other podcast apps, they’ve primarily grown by introducing millions of new listeners to podcasts.”

It’s impossible to overstate how much of an advantage Apple started with. Apple was the first major audio player to support podcast RSS feeds, the Apple Podcast app comes native on every iPhone, they’re called “podcasts” because of the iPod. However, it seems the podcast market was never large enough (and still might not be) to merit significant resources to continue innovating and growing that side of the business. The app has been slow to adopt more advanced features found in other players, they’ve been hesitant to develop original content or sign exclusive partnerships, and have overall taken a complacent role in the industry. 

While some will argue this hands-off approach has allowed podcasts to remain free and open — as opposed to Spotify’s largely closed garden strategy — the inaction has allowed competing apps to continue innovating and gain significant market share. 

Not everyone has taken advantage of the opportunity. Google’s podcasting strategy hasn’t quite bore fruit. Instead of a dedicated app, they initially made podcasts available to stream within a mobile browser before creating a dedicated experience. This model, along with lacking substantial playing features, hasn’t enticed users. According to the same Buzzsprout data, they only have 2.8% of the market despite Android phones eclipsing their iOS competitors. 

Further exemplifying this listener behavior change is a drill down on the device level. Despite Spotify overtaking Apple Podcasts as the preferred player, Apple devices still overwhelmingly dominate where users are listening from. 62.6% of streams come from the iPhone, 2.4% from an Apple Computer, 1.5% from an iPad, and still 0.1% from iPods. Android phones make up 24.1% of the streams.  

According to Buzzsprout, Spotify may have a significant advantage in Spanish-speaking countries when it comes to podcasts. Brooke continues, “for a lot of our Spanish-speaking podcasts, Spotify is already their top podcast app. We think this is because Spotify initially was focused on introducing podcasts to new listeners rather than moving listeners from other listening apps.”

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In the 2019 Podcast Trends Report, we found:

• 82.4% of people listen to podcasts for more than 7 hours each week.
• 33.2% of respondents have listened to a podcast on a smart speaker.
• 59% of respondents spend more time listening to podcasts than on social media.
• 55.6% of respondents said they purchased an item after hearing it advertised on a podcast.
• 61.3% of podcasters list marketing and building an audience among their top challenges.

The full 2019 report PDF can be found here.

While many are familiar with Edison Research’s reports, The Infinite Dial and The Podcast Consumer, The Podcast Trends Report strives to provide deeper insight into both podcast fans and podcasters alike. Edison Research’s reports are the standard benchmark for understanding podcast growth among the total population, The Podcast Trends Report instead only looks at those who actively listen to podcasts.

The post Announcing the 2020 Podcast Trends Report appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

*more on this below

The Details

We don’t have the full details of the licensing deal, but we do know most of the basics. The deal is a multiyear licensing agreement that will bring The Joe Rogan Experience to Spotify starting September 1st and exclusive sometime shortly after that. 

Along with the audio podcast, the interviews will be available in video format through Spotify as well. 

The crucial details we don’t have confirmation on yet are the financials or years behind the deal. The WSJ reported the deal is worth “more than $100 million”, while a reporter at New York Magazine reported it’s worth $200 million. 

The years are the major variable here. If the deal is indeed worth $200 million over two years that’s a lot more lucrative than ten years. In the initial news write-up, I speculated the deal would likely mirror Howard Stern’s first deal with Sirius XM, $500 million over five years. My gut still feels like it’s worth at least $75 million each year with incentives. 

Spotify reportedly bought The Ringer for around $250 million, and though this is a licensing deal versus a purchase, I think Rogan moves the needle more. 

Related reading: best Joe Rogan podcast episodes

Exclusivity and the “open” podcast ecosystem

*Podcasts are fundamentally an open media. When you start a podcast, your podcast host generates an RSS feed which most podcast streaming services crawl and provide your show in their directory. This allows the same feed to be in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, and most other podcast apps.

However, this fundamental openness is challenged by exclusivity and walled gardens. Whether it’s Spotify, Luminary, Stitcher Premium, or other services that require a subscription, the audio shows on these services are no longer open. Which begs the question, are they still podcasts? 

Ben Thompson writes often about aggregation and business models and as Spotify entered the podcast space he’s been warning of their moves to destroy the open model of podcasts. In his daily briefing this morning, he writes,

“Spotify doesn’t just want to capture new listeners, it wants to actively take them from Apple and other podcast players. And, if it can take a sufficient number, the company surely believes it can create a superior monetization mechanism such that the rest of the podcast creator market shifts to Spotify out of self interest.”

The echoing I’ve seen on Twitter from indie podcasters has been generally “this is bad for podcasting.” I’m not willing to go that far, but it’s piqued my interest to pay more attention to the shockwaves from this deal. 

On one hand, exclusive content — whether it’s music, podcasts, video games, TV shows, etc. — is usually never good for the end consumer. You don’t want to have to subscribe and change apps to consume your favorite content. 

On the other hand, this is an inevitable growing pain of the industry. Exclusive walled gardens within podcasts have been attempted several times in the past, with limited success. The money Spotify is willing to invest shows their intent to dominate the market. That said, more money invested in the industry should be thought of as a good thing. The more resources funneling into the industry the more mature, sustainable, and ultimately beneficial it will be for those working in the space. These benefits will ultimately trickle down to listeners as the number, quality, and ubiquitous of podcasts increases.

The impact on Spotify

“Big boy version of what Luminary was trying to do” – Zach Mack, Recode Media

When the news was announced, Spotify’s stock shot up about 10%. The market thinks it’s an overall good thing for the company even if the financial details weren’t disclosed. 

Why? The potential user acquisition growth is obvious.

• Spotify: 286 million monthly active users
• The Joe Rogan Experience: 190 million monthly downloads

These aren’t mutually exclusive numbers, but we can estimate 50% of Rogan listeners aren’t active on Spotify. Out of that 50%, let’s say 75% are loyal and will listen to the podcast on Spotify. That’s over 71 million new monthly users for Spotify, an influx growth of about 25% for Spotify.

Podcasts are uniquely beneficial for Spotify since they are fixed and scalable costs. If a song on Spotify is streamed 100 times they owe royalties on each stream. As that song’s popularity grows, so do the costs for Spotify. For a podcast, the cost is generally the same whether it’s downloaded 100 times or 100 million.

What podcasts are left to gobble up?

The Joe Rogan move will likely reignite the “podcast wars” takes. Which podcasts or networks are available to either acquire or partner with exclusive rights that would move the needle?

Here are my picks in order of likelihood:

1. Wondery
2. Crooked Media
3. Pushkin Industries
4. WTF with Marc Maron
5. Barstool Sports
6. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
7. This American Life
8. Night Vale Presents
9. Headgum
10. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
11. NPR
12. New York Times

The post The fallout of Joe Rogan joining Spotify appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

The Joe Rogan Experience has a reported 190 million monthly downloads to go along with 8.4 million YouTube subscribers. Previously not even available on Spotify, JRE will be added on September 1st and become exclusive shortly after that. According to the release, Rogan will retain full creative control which will be something Spotify will need to reckon with.

According to The Verge, the YouTube channel will remain active but will no longer contain full episodes.

The parallels to SiriusXM and Howard Stern should be relatively straightforward. In an effort to gain a large and loyal audience, SiriusXM signed Stern to an exclusive deal in 2006 for five years. Valued at a reported $500 million, the deal created shockwaves in the media landscape.

I couldn’t venture to guess what the financials are behind the Joe Rogan and Spotify deal, however, I’d imagine they’re in the same range as the Stern contract (update: per WSJ, the deal is worth more than $100 million; another reporter claims it’s worth $200 million). Spotify last reported 286 million monthly active users. Rogan said on a podcast his show regularly earns 190 million downloads each month.

The repercussions from this move are likely twofold:

• Rogan will decrease his overall audience and anger many touting him an advocate for the “intellectual dark web”
• Spotify’s listener base will drastically increase as Rogan arguably has the largest and most loyal fanbase

Spotify has been active in the podcast acquisition market. In February 2019, they acquired Gimlet, and podcast host Anchor. In March 2019, they acquired true crime podcast network Parcast. In February 2020, Spotify acquired The Ringer. Though this Rogan news isn’t an acquisition, it serves as the latest big swing Spotify takes in the podcast wars.

Other Spotify licensing deals include The Joe Budden Podcast and The Last Podcast on the Left.

Related reading: best Joe Rogan podcast episodes

Updating….

image credit: joerogan.com

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As with any “best of” list — especially those written by a single person (like this one) — there’s a decent amount of subjectivity as indivudual’s tastes vary drastically. I feel like this is magnified in the world of podcasts. So given the obligatory disclaimer, my best podcasts of 2019 list is through my lens. I tend to skew towards newer podcasts — or those who made a substantial leap this year — and run the spectrum of indie to mainstream. 

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive list that takes into account multiple interests and opinions, read our list from midyear, The Best Podcasts of 2019 (So Far). Also, while I’ve got your attention, here’s my list from 2018 and the requisite 2018 midyear collective list. 

2019 continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible in podcasting, from a creative and quality perspective. As always, podcast stalwarts like This American Life, Radiolab, Criminal, Reply All, and others are deserving of every accolade thrown their way. That said, I didn’t include them on my list, opting to go with newer and less known podcasts. 

End of the preamble, here are my best podcasts of 2019 — in no particular order — along with some honorable mentions.  

Running From COPS

Dan Taberski continues his elite storytelling run and is in my short-list for podcasters I’ll auto-subscribe to their new work, whatever the subject (see: Trufelman, Avery in the recommendation below). After the successes of Missing Richard Simmons and Surviving Y2K, Taberski focused his next Headlong installment on the long-running TV program, COPS, and the troubles with how police action and crime is portrayed. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Nice Try! Utopian

As I alluded to in the Running From COPS paragraph, we can go ahead and pencil in whatever new project Avery Trufelman is working on for the 2020 list. In the midyear roundup, Nice Try! Utopian was recommended by true podcast tastemakers, Wil Williams, Paul Bae, and Zack Kahn — something that shouldn’t go unnoticed. 

As Trufelman tested (and found success) with her 99PI spin-off mini series, Articles of Interest in 2018, she took a similar concept to found a standalone project. Nice Try! Utopian is a seven-episode series covering design failures in utopia attempts. As Kahn succinctly reviews, “Trufelman leverages the expansive canvas of longform narrative audio to paint a rich, color portrait of attempts to try and design a better world, and what happened when those designs didn’t go according to plan.”

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Dolly Parton’s America

Host Jad Abumrad explores country music icon, Dolly Parton’s impact on American and global culture, her life and her worldview. He finds that Dolly Parton’s fan base is a cross-section of American demographics, and he embarks on a quest to answer why. 

Jad’s interviewing showcases Dolly Parton’s charm and no-nonsense approach to song writing. She laments about the darkness in her early music while still being able to laugh about it. “I used to write a lot of sad-ass songs,” she tells Jad. Sound clips of her music and wisdom drape nine episodes that explore the “Dollyverse.”

Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5” was an anthem to women’s empowerment. In the episode Dollitics, Jad delves into Dolly Parton’s relationship with politics, how she manages risk, and seems to “circumvent disaster.” Her “verbal judo” has kept her afloat in an age of deep political polarization. What connects with people is her genuineness, down-to-earth-nature and big heart.

The show is not without critique. Writer and editor, Aisha Harris, states in an interview that even good-hearted people have blind spots. What is so refreshing is Dolly Parton’s response to the controversy surrounding Dixie Stampede.   

Dolly Parton’s America will reward and satisfy her biggest fans, and convert new ones. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

StartUp

The first season of StartUp documented Alex Blumberg’s post-This American Life entrepreneurial project which would later become podcast studio success story, Gimlet. It was an expertly-narrated meta look into the difficulties of podcasting and starting a business. 

I didn’t find any subsequent season of StartUp to be all that fascinating. 

Then in February, the news broke Spotify would be acquiring both Gimlet and podcast hosting company, Anchor. Many hoped Blumberg and co-founder Matt Lieber would give a similar behind the scenes documentary into the acquisition, and they delivered. The final season of StartUp provides a truly honest view into the difficulties of podcasting at scale, dealing with start-up growing pains including financial and inter-personal issues, and ultimately what led to them selling to Spotify. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

All Fantasy Everything

I wrote in a CBC round-up that All Fantasy Everything is my guilty pleasure podcast and two paragraphs later Jody Avirgan mic dropped the term out of existence, ”you should never feel guilty about the things you like.”

The truth is, however, AFE leveled up in 2019. 150+ episodes later, and the comedy improv show about fake drafting obscure items like Tom Hanks movies, things you say after you dunk on someone, or the perfect sandwich has nearly perfected what I’d look for in a comedy podcast. 

This year, they produced what I’d consider their best episode, Disney Songs with guest Katie Nolan. The core crew has an unrivaled rapport and their ability to integrate guests make for a super fun listening experience and more than a couple laughs.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Spectacular Failures

Following the success of How I Built This, it seemed like there was a mad dash for entrepreneur interview podcasts. You know what’s even more interesting than rich people talking about their success? Stories of failures. 

Executive Producer of Radiotopia, Julie Shapiro, wrote a review of Spectacular Failures in our midyear round-up, “While other pods have taken on the culture of failed business and ruined legacies, none have done so with the particular spirit and chummy schadenfreude that Lauren Ober brings to Spectacular Failures. The show features stories you’ll realize you’ve been wondering about for years, as soon as you read the episode titles: “Schlitz Beer goes bad, then worse,” “Kodak misses its moment”, etc.”

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Uncover

Award-winning Uncover spans five seasons of compelling and chilling story-telling. Each season is hosted by a different journalist as they investigate Canadian and international crime mysteries. People closely connected with the topics at hand will often get emotional when they recount the horrors experienced or mourn the loss of loved ones. 

Dark themes are explored by CBC Podcasts through the exposé of the cult NXVIM (pronounced “Nexium”) in Season 1: Escaping NXVIUM, the unsolved case of 1965 Canadian Pacific Airlines Flight 21 in Season 2: Bomb on Board, a serial killer that targeted Toronto’s gay community dating to 1975 in Season 3: The Village, the 1998 disappearance of 77-year-old woman Joan Lawrence in Season 4: The Cat Lady Case, and the homicide of Toronto teen Sharmini Anandavel in Season 5: Sharmini. 

Journalists Josh Bloch, Ian Hanomansing, Johanna Wagstaffe, Justin Ling, Zander Sherman and Michelle Shephard tackle unresolved questions in their individual styles. 

To cherry-pick a few moments from such a wide-scope, a tape-recording of Sharmini’s voice in S5: E6 is particularly haunting, Season 1’s Sarah Edmondson’s realization of abuse in her community deeply disturbs, and Chuck Shaw-MacLaren’s eyewitness account of Canadian Pacific Airlines Flight 21 crash as an ambulance driver grips the listener. Stories that he had kept to himself for 50 years tug at the heart strings. “I’m talking more to you, than I have to anybody,” he admits after he takes host Johanna Wagstaffe’s hand.

Uncover peers into the tragedies and trauma caused by unsettled mysteries.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

ESPN 30 for 30 The Sterling Affairs

Sometimes I think the ESPN brand actually holds back the 30 for 30 podcast from a larger audience. Sure, the podcast focuses on stories with a sports angle, but simplifying the podcast into a narrow category does a disservice to its excellent documentary storytelling ability. Though their individual contained episodes are often wonderful, I think the podcast is at its best when it’s given a couple episode mini-series. Last year, their Bikram series made my best of list, and this year they went back to the well with a season focused on disgraced former NBA owner, Donald Sterling. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

BROKEN: Jeffrey Epstein

Before we hit “peak Epstein podcasts” (related: peak impeachment podcasts), BROKEN hit the scenes combined with seasoned journalists (The New Yorker’s Ariel Levy, The Miami Herald’s Julie K. Brown), with podcast studio Three Uncanny Four Productions and Oscar-winning director Adam McKay. 

There may be some fatigue around the subject matter, however, BROKEN is a riveting six-episode series detailing Epstein’s history, rise of his monstrous empire, and eventual arrest and death.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

1619

The New York Time’s foray into podcasting has been an unbridled success on every level. Last year’s limited series, Caliphate, was my personal pick for best podcast of the year. This year, they produced a five- (really, six-) episode miniseries about the history of the US and the slave trade. 

Hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, the podcast gives an excellent history and insight into America’s civil liberties problems and institutional racism. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Mobituaries

Mo Rocca applies his love for obituaries in pieces that explore the lives of people that have inspired him. Funny and inquisitive, Mo Rocca’s experience as a correspondent on The Daily Show and CBS Sunday Morning helps structure well-paced narratives. His journalistic integrity and approach stand out. Mobituaries weaves interviews with experts and enthusiasts, poll questions, and elements of film, music, and television to great effect. What results are compelling stories that shine a light on forgotten historical figures and aspects of household names that are not common knowledge.    

In the episode Thomas Paine: Death of a Forgotten Founding Founder, Mo Rocca asks Anthony Salvanto, CBS News’ Director of Elections and Surveys, “If there would have been no Thomas Paine, there would be no ‘what’?” His questions open up in-depth conversation that relates to the world we live in today. 

In The Black Congressmen of Reconstruction: Death of Representation, the sounds of the Charleston Harbor backdrop a riveting tale of enslaved seaman, Robert Smalls’ great escape into the Union Blockade. Mo Rocca’s exchange with Michael Bouleware Moore, Robert Small’s great-great-grandson, provides a personal touch and reminds us that we are not too far removed from the age of slavery.

History buffs and curious minds will appreciate Mobituaries and Mo Rocca’s enthusiasm for forgotten knowledge.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Rewatchables / The Rewatchables 1999

Another podcast entry that’s nowhere near new but one that seems to get stronger the more episodes they do. The Ringer expanded their partnership with Luminary and created a spin-off podcast solely focused on movies that came out in 1999. Besides the narrowed scope, the two podcasts are essentially identical. 

If you’re unfamiliar, The Rewatchables is a movie podcast which analyzes and mostly celebrates past movies. Their vibe is very much “friends watching on the couch” but mixed with insights, jokes, and genuine fun. The Rewatchables at least partially makes this list for their episode on Old School, which single-handedly forced me to end a workout early because I was crying laughing and in no shape to even stand up. 

The Rewatchables Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Rewatchables 1999 Listen: Luminary

Gay Future

We’ve covered audio drama and fiction podcasts extensively on this site, but it truthfully needs to be repeated ad nauseam: the most creative and ground-breaking work in podcasts is being done in the audio drama genre. The Allusionist’s Helen Zaltzman perfectly sums up the appeal of Gay Future, “In a long-lost YA novel by Mike Pence, it’s 2062 and, under the totalitarian regime ruling North America, everyone is gay. Except one schoolkid… This show is so funny; the acting is on point and the production is great. I had such a blast listening to this caper.”

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Slow Burn

Slow Burn’s future seemed uncertain after the creator, Leon Neyfakh, left Slate to start a new podcast exclusive to Luminary (see: FIASCO below). The first two seasons covered the political climate and delved into the respective impeachment processes for Presidents Nixon and Clinton. The third season, however, takes a departure from the traditional political genre and instead covers the infamous feud and eventual deaths of rappers Tupac and Notorious BIG.

Though the chosen topic is a departure, fortunately that’s the extent of the differences of the podcast in the post-Neyfakh era. The interviews, analysis, and overall documentary narrative are among the best examples in podcasting today.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Switched on Pop

With both AFE and The Rewatchables I mention they sort of leveled up this year. In Switched On Pop’s case, which started in 2014, this is especially true. Media giant, Vox, picked up the podcast earlier this year and the show was exposed to a much larger audience. 

Hosted by songwriter and music journalist, Nate Harding, and musicologist, Nate Sloan. Together they have both an expanse of knowledge and the chemistry to make a truly entertaining and informative podcast. 

Related reading: Switched On Pop: A podcast that’s music to your ears

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Dropout

The Dropout opens with Elizabeth Holmes, once Silicon Valley’s youngest female self-made billionaire, taking an oath for her testimony on July 11, 2017 on nine criminal charges of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In six episodes that range from 39 to 47 minutes, host Rebecca Jarvis unfolds a story of unbridled ambition, gratuitous ethics violations and the culture of celebrity.

Elizabeth Holmes and her blood-testing company, Theranos, were poised to become the “Apple of healthcare.” Rebecca Jarvis’s thorough journalism and interviews are weaved in the style of a true-crime drama. She delivers the story as a reporter, and manages to remain an objective narrator. 

Theranos’s promise to conduct a myriad of tests from a single pin-prick of blood was lofty, but with Elizabeth’s business savvy, charm and cunning she was able to convince investors of her product. The allure of working with the then world’s youngest self-made female billionaire is honed in on the episode A Star Is Born. Jared Leto introduces Elizabeth at the 2015 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards, and Bill Clinton sings praises as he assures a captive audience that “We’re in good hands.”

Join Rebecca Jarvis as she unravels the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes in a stark commentary on fame and corporate greed.         

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Honorable Mentions

Have You Heard George’s Podcast

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Moonface

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

FIASCO

Listen: Luminary

The Big One

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Sonic Boom

Listen: Luminary

The post The 22 Best Podcasts of 2019 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

The Podcast Trends Report 2019 was compiled after surveying 1,203 podcast fans, 234 of whom are podcasters. Other reports, namely The Podcast Consumer by Edison Research, do an excellent job benchmarking podcast growth among the general public, however we view the Podcast Trends Report as a drill down into this segment of the population to understand specific trends among the greater podcast community. This report understands the podcast app market, where people listen to podcasts and how long they’re listening for, the most popular categories, and more. These insights are also combined with a unique understanding of actual podcasters to know what they feel are the biggest challenges and priorities when creating their shows.

Though the report is full of interesting data, here are some statistics that jumped out at us:

• 82.4% of people listen to podcasts for more than 7 hours each week.
• 33.2% of respondents have listened to a podcast on a smart speaker.
• 59% of respondents spend more time listening to podcasts than on social media.
• 55.6% of respondents said they purchased an item after hearing it advertised on a podcast.
• 61.3% of podcasters list marketing and building an audience among their top challenges.

59% of respondents spend more time listening to podcasts than on social media

This is the third time we’ve asked the same question, where respondents choose if they consume other content types more or less than podcasts. The past two years, the splits were relatively even. It’s no surprise the vast majority of podcast listeners spend more time listening to podcasts than reading a newspaper. However, social media has always had a comfortable lead over podcasts, except this year. Did something change in the landscape? Did people get fed up the toxicity on Twitter?

From newspapers, to online publications, to blogs, to radio, to TV we have never had so many resources and content options to kill our time. This question was added to the report to understand how podcasts fit in with other media types.

While the social media split is interesting, the TV split continues to grow in podcasts’ favor. Last year 61% reported they spend more time listening to podcasts than watching TV. This year that number climbed to 66%.

82.4% of people listen to podcasts for more than 7 hours each week

Last year this number was 76.8% and the year before it was 66.8%. This year over year growth maps the increased time spent listening to podcasts nicely. This growth is not only substantial, but the entire podcast landscape should take notice. We also saw super-listeners grow with 22.4% listening to over 21 hours of podcasts each week, more than 3 hours per day.

With the growing popularity of listening at increased speeds or app features that remove silences, this added time allows podcast fans to cram even more podcasts into their days.

55.6% of respondents said they purchased an item after hearing it advertised on a podcast

This is a metric nearly every marketer should perk up to. Currently, direct response brands like Casper, Blue Apron, SimpliSafe, ZipRecruiter and others dominate the podcast advertising market. Why? Because with podcast analytics still in their relative infancy, these consumer-focused brands can easily measure the efficacy of their ad spends through promo codes and unique landing pages.

Only now are we just seeing larger companies focusing on branding (as opposed to direct response) like Coca Cola, Geico, State Farm, and others enter the podcast game. Think about the Super Bowl for ads … the Super Bowl. Very rarely do you see direct response ads similar to those prevalent on podcasts. Instead, Super Bowl ads focus on the brand, why you should buy this car, drink this beer, eat these chips, etc. That’s where the major dollars are spent.

So while the 55.6% stat is amazing and correlated to the ubiquity of direct response ads, brand marketers should heed this and view it as the next advertising frontier.

Below is the full report highlighting more of the key findings. If you’d like a direct PDF download, click here.

The post Podcast Trends Report 2019 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

In the 2018 Podcast Trends Report, we found:

• 76.8% of people listen to podcasts for more than 7 hours each week.
• 61.2% of respondents spend more time listening to podcasts than watching TV.
• 48.8% of respondents said they purchased an item after hearing it advertised on a podcast.
• 57.4% of podcasters list marketing and building an audience among their top challenges.

The full 2018 report PDF can be found here.

While many are familiar with Edison Research’s reports, The Infinite Dial and The Podcast Consumer, The Podcast Trends Report strives to provide deeper insight into both podcast fans and podcasters alike. Edison Research’s reports are the standard benchmark for understanding podcast growth among the total population, The Podcast Trends Report instead only looks at those who actively listen to podcasts.

The post Announcing the 2019 Podcast Trends Report appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

They’ve raised some serious capital, $100 million to be exact. And what they’ve done with that money isn’t necessarily a secret. They’re launching a premium podcast app with exclusive podcasts from Lena Dunham, Trevor Noah, Guy Raz, Malcolm Gladwell, Leon Neyfakh, and several other marquee names with mass appeal. The catch is to access these podcasts you’ll have to fork over $7.99 a month. The price is notable since Disney recently announced their new Netflix-competing streaming service will be $6.99 a month. For a dollar less you’ll have access to the entire Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel libraries. It’s a tough comparison for Luminary.

Whatever your feelings on the company and maybe-inevitable shift to paywalled podcasts, all eyes will be on Luminary to see if it’s a sustainable business model.

How Luminary can succeed

The list of exclusive podcasts and podcasters is a truly strategic mix that’s undoubtedly their greatest strength right now. The mix is especially genius because they were able to grab names who will appeal to the masses — people who may not even listen to podcasts already (grow the denominator) — such as Conan O’Brien, Russell Brand, Hannibal Buress, to go along with the names I listed above. These personalities have built-in fanbases who may subscribe simply because of their fandom and may be new to the podcast genre.

The other side of the equation are the seasoned podcast folks they brought on with devout podcast-specific fanbases. These include The Bright Sessions’ Lauren Shippen developing an anticipated spin-off, The Ringer spinning off their popular The Rewatchables podcast, a new podcast from Slow Burn’s Leon Neyfakh, seemingly buying(?) Love+Radio, and several others.

Anecdotally, I’ve heard good things about the new shows, notably The AM Archives.

The key equation here will be if they can convert enough existing podcast fans and introduce new fans to the medium to sustain what I can assume are lucrative deals in place with the creators.

The other side of their model is as a podcast app which will could serve ads similar to other players out there. The idea is that all (more on this later) your podcasts will be freely available like any other player and they’d slowly entice you into a subscription to access their exclusive shows. If Luminary can build an intuitive, user-friendly app that allures both existing podcast fans and easy for newcomers, there’s an opportunity for success here.

How Luminary can fail

Podflix

The “Netflix for podcasts” pitch is tired, but more importantly, it’s not accurate. Netflix didn’t start with original content behind a subscription service. They “started” — after their pivot from mail-order DVD rentals — by having a mass catalogue of network and studio content readily available to stream. These titles had trust, relevance, fans, and convenience to stream where no other players truly had a competing product. Netflix started creating original content once the networks and studios saw the writing on the wall and began to pull their content. If Netflix started day 1 with only unknown original titles they likely would have had a much harder user acquisition model and substantially slower growth.

The other issue with the Netflix-esque model is one startups everywhere face: will their capital last long enough to prove out their business model? Sure, $100 million is a lot to go on. However, they first raised money in May 2018 and unless I’m missing something, they haven’t been earning any revenue until the subscriptions are opened. How many $7/month subscriptions will they need to stay afloat after these celebrity contracts are paid out and they’re paying an entire employee staff? What does their burn rate look like?

Podcast App

I’ve played around with their app a little bit and it’s … fine. It’s a pretty basic player without some of the advanced features you find in other apps. That said, I imagine this will be a tough area to compete in for a variety reasons. First and foremost, there are already several very good podcast apps out their with substantial market share. Will the future iterations of the Luminary app be substantially better than Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Stitcher, or the much-improved Apple Podcasts app? These apps have been around long enough and have improved based on user feedback and needs.

Furthermore, they’re starting at a disadvantage since The New York Times and Spotify announced they wouldn’t allow their shows to go on Luminary’s free app. No The Daily, Reply All, and several other major shows is a ding to Luminary’s catalogue. I also pondered whether Stitcher would pull theirs (and Earwolfs) shows as well. Luminary can still succeed overall even if their free app isn’t a runaway hit, it’ll simply be yet another obstacle they’d face in gaining significant traction.

Podcast Creators and Fans

It’s very difficult to even squint to see how you could spin Luminary into a pitch that’s good for users. To date nearly all podcasts are free. Luminary needs to convey that their podcasts are markedly better than the litany of free podcasts out there. A tall order.

It’s made tougher when there’s questionable commitment from the creators as well. Many creators seem to be testing the waters of Luminary rather than jumping right in. Take The Ringer, for example. The Rewatchables is one of their most popular podcasts (and one of my personal favorites). Instead of putting this entire feed behind Luminary’s paywall, they made a spin-off to focus only on movies made in 1999 (which is also already an existing podcast). By going hyper-specific in the movies they’ll cover, they’re also only agreeing to a finite amount of episodes (Update: they’re committed to 15 episodes). Same goes for several other creators. Instead of bringing their main project to Luminary, they’re creating something new or a spin-off. Is this uncertainty over the business model?

Taking something that’s basically always been free for existing users and suddenly charging for it will always be met with criticism and anger. Luminary hasn’t helped their case with some questionable tweets and marketing. Many podcasts fans view this move as a company holding their favorite podcasts and personalities for ransom.

Netflix won because of their catalogue and convenience of streaming. It’s unclear if Luminary has an advantage on either front.

The post Why Luminary is bound to fail appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

And how can I forget all the Game of Thrones theories?! Not since Lost — and probably not ever, really — has a universe been so expansive and complex that has the ability to lend itself to such scrutinization and theorizing.

This is the area Game of Thrones podcasts thrive. Any specific TV show podcast can summarize and review the latest episode, only Game of Thrones podcasts can discuss frame by frame analysis and debate the potential meaning of a random object or sentence. Since our beloved show is wrapping up and likely to become more conversation-worthy and dense, I thought there’s no better time than to take a look at the Game of Thrones podcast landscape.

Related reading: Binge Mode: The most audacious Game of Thrones podcast

1. Binge Mode

Binge Mode is an absolutely fantastic Game of Thrones podcast chronicling and deep-diving every episode. It was launched after the original creation of this list but is definitely worth including with the update. I originally wrote I wasn’t sure how the format could succeed, it seemed like too much content in too little time. However, for my money hosts Mallory and Jason might have the perfect blend of Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire knowledge combined with the the entertainment and articulation that you need when it comes to breaking down complex theories and motivations.

I also got the chance to speak with the then-producer of Binge Mode, Zach Mack, about their grueling recording schedule and the massive undertaking it took to create a podcast episode for every Game of Thrones episode and release them in six weeks.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

2. Game of Owns

As I was developing this list, it was a no-brainer who should be near the top. The Game of Owns hosts produce an excellent podcast and provide some amazing analysis on both the books and the TV show. When the show is not in season they keep their listeners up to date on the current news and make sure to give adequate spoiler warnings — an important thing in this community.

They also slow burn through the books and analyze chapters and hidden meaning for you book readers.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

3. Not A Podcast

You know those friends or coworkers who just know EVERYTHING about Game of Thrones? That’s Not A Podcast co-host Jeff, better known around the internet as BryndenBFish. BryndenBFish knows so much about GoT and ASOIAF there was speculation that he actually was George RR Martin. Jeff is joined by co-host, Emmett, who is also better known as PoorQuentyn. Together, they are a formidable duo who likely know more about the greater ASOIAF world than any other pair.

Not A Podcast goes chapter by chapter sifting through the dense material to discuss the plot, characters, foreshadowing, and more.

If you’re interested in the motivations, allegiances, and history among the characters in Game of Thrones that cause them to act the way they do, this is a podcast for you.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

4. Radio Westeros

Radio Westeros is one of those excellent Game of Thrones podcasts that does deep-dive analysis on a specific topic or person. So if you’re interested in the origins of Petyr Baelish and why he acts in the slimy manner he does, this is a podcast you should add to your queue.

A definite fan favorite among the Reddit and Twitter communities, Radio Westeros is a great addition if you just can’t get enough.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

5. A Cast of Kings

A Cast of Kings is the first podcast on this list specifically dedicated to the show universe rather than adding in some book context. So if you’re a show-only person, take notice. A relative newcomer to the Game of Thrones podcasts scene, A Cast of Kings analyzes individual episodes on their merit and theorize what’s to come.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

6. Storm of Spoilers

Like Game of Thrones so much you have no issues with potential spoilers and speculation? Storm of Spoilers is for you. When the show is in season, the hosts take their collective book knowledge and speculate on the future of certain characters or plot lines.

When Game of Thrones isn’t in season, however, Storm of Spoilers talks about other shows and movies in the nerdom including American Gods, the Alien franchise, and more.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

7. Game of Thrones (Tower of Babble)

You know how some readers can be a bit pretentious and close their eyes as they say “well, the book was better”? Game of Thrones isn’t quite that but it does feature a book reader and show-only watcher discussing their thoughts on Game of Thrones.

The two different views do provide an interesting perspective as they undoubtedly develop different opinions on certain characters and events after first experiencing them through different mediums and with more (or less) context.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

8. Boars, Gore, and Swords

Self-described as “the third greatest Game of Thrones podcast”, I feel bad putting them seventh on my list. Boars, Gore, and Swords hosts Ivan and Red might have the best chemistry of any hosting pair on this list and if the podcast name gives any indication, they inject a specific brand of comedy into their episodes.

Like others on this list, when Game of Thrones isn’t in season they talk about other TV shows you might be interested in like Westworld and American Gods.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

9. Game of Thrones: The Podcast

Another podcast dedicated specifically to the TV show, Game of Thrones: The Podcast only produces podcasts while the show is in session. When it is in season, however, this podcast provides excellent analysis and is quite funny.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

10. Davos Fingers

Davos Fingers is decidedly book oriented. Each episode hosts Matt, Scaddy, and Brooke discuss a few chapters of ASOIAF. They describe their podcast as “nerding out about [the chapters] on pop-culture-infused, irreverent, relaxed-yet-hopefully-insightful podcast.”

If this sounds like your type of podcast, give them a listen!

1. They’re also a great Twitter account to follow @DavosFingers.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

11. A Podcast of Ice and Fire

Heralded as the “longest running podcast” about Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, A Podcast of Ice and Fire was started in 2008 because the hosts couldn’t wait until the next book (editor note: sigh). Part comedy, part analysis, hosts Mimi, Ashley, Amin, and Kyle created an excellently-produced podcast for show watchers and book readers alike.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

12. Maester Monthly

Maester Monthly was a new podcast entry for season seven of Game of Thrones. Though it’s relatively new, it doesn’t lack any nerdy star power — it’s brought to you by the moderators of the A Song of Ice and Fire sub-Reddit. These are some of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to understanding the vast universe George RR Martin has created.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

13. History of Westeros

History of Westeros was one I mistakenly left off the first rendition of this list and was (rightfully) called out for its omission. As I’ve mentioned, and you’ve undoubtedly noticed yourself, A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin has created an impressively large universe complete with its own history. The History of Westeros podcast approaches the Game of Thrones podcast landscape with a unique angle — becoming the History Channel version of GoT.

If you’re looking for more than just a recap or analysis of the latest episode, and would prefer to understand the historical precedent of actions, characters, places, etc, this is the podcast for you.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

14. Game of Thrones (Coffee Klatch Crew)

The Coffee Klatch Crew reviews several popular TV shows, they’re not specific to Game of Thrones. That said, their GoT podcast does provide some interesting insight that you might not find elsewhere. They’ll give you a sneak peak behind the scenes, uncover alternate storylines, and even get some of the cast and crew as coveted interviews.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

15. Oysters, Clams & Cockles: Game of Thrones

Oysters, Clams, & Cockles is another relative newcomer to the Game of Thrones podcast arena. They started recording for season six and host a weekly recap for every episode. They also take listener phone calls and emails to crowdsource peoples opinions, theories, and predictions.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

Honorable Mentions:

Game of Microphones, Take the Black, Brotherhood Without Manners, A Pod of Casts, Behind the Iron Throne, Bend the Knee, Shat on TV, Hardcore Game of Thrones, and Podcast Winterfell.

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