In a notable shift in podcast dominance, The Daily now reaches nearly twice the audience of The Joe Rogan Experience, according to Podscribe’s October 2025 rankings. The New York Times' flagship news show claimed the top spot with 11.1 million listeners, followed closely by Crime Junkie with 10.8 million. Joe Rogan, once a consistent leader, came in third with 6.2 million.
The rankings highlight evolving audience preferences—toward fast, narrative-driven news and crime content over longform interviews. The Daily’s ability to deliver timely updates in a concise format seems to resonate especially with on-the-go listeners.
Another standout is the decline of The Charlie Kirk Show, which had surged to #9 in September but plunged to #25 this month. Its monthly audience dropped from over 4 million to just 2 million, signaling volatility in political podcast engagement.
For creators and marketers, the key takeaway is the importance of consistency, relevance, and format. News and true crime continue to dominate because they deliver habitual, high-retention content. Meanwhile, format fatigue and audience shifts can dramatically impact even high-profile hosts.
