Podcast Charts Weekly — 2026-04-24
Edison Research's Q1 2026 data confirms **The Joe Rogan Experience** remains the most-reached podcast in America, holding the top spot on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify for the fifth consecutive year. The week's biggest story is Spotify's 20th anniversary reveal of its all-time most-streamed podcasts, confirming Joe Rogan's dominance across the platform's entire history. Meanwhile, Podtrac's March 2026 multi-channel rankings show NPR surging and Tucker Carlson re-entering the top 10, signaling a fragmented, politically charged landscape for news podcasting.
Podcast Charts Weekly — 2026-04-24
This Week's #1s
Apple Podcasts — The Joe Rogan Experience
- Host(s): Joe Rogan
- Network / Publisher: Spotify (exclusive)
- Why it's #1 this week: Edison Research's freshly released Q1 2026 Podcast Metrics report (published April 19) confirms The Joe Rogan Experience topped the US charts by reach among weekly podcast consumers ages 13+ — the same position it held in Q4 2025. The show continues to dominate across all major chart services.
- Chart position last week: #1 (unchanged)
Spotify — The Joe Rogan Experience
- Host(s): Joe Rogan
- Network / Publisher: Spotify (exclusive)
- Why it's #1 this week: As part of Spotify's 20th anniversary celebration (announced April 23, 2026), the platform revealed its all-time most-streamed podcast list — with The Joe Rogan Experience claiming the top spot across Spotify's full history. The milestone announcement drove renewed attention and listening to the show this week.
- Chart position last week: #1 (unchanged)
Top 10 — Apple Podcasts (All Shows, US)
Based on Edison Research Q1 2026 data (released April 19, 2026) — the most recent verified chart data for the coverage period. Screenshot-based extraction from Apple's live chart page may be incomplete; verify current rankings directly at .
| Rank | Show | Host | Publisher | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Joe Rogan Experience | Joe Rogan | Spotify | − |
| 2 | Crime Junkie | Ashley Flowers, Brit Prawat | audiochuck | − |
| 3 | The Daily | Michael Barbaro | The New York Times | − |
| 4 | Dateline NBC | Keith Morrison et al. | NBC News | − |
| 5 | Up First | Rachel Martin et al. | NPR | ▲ |
| 6 | Call Her Daddy | Alex Cooper | Spotify | − |
| 7 | Diary of a CEO | Steven Bartlett | Acast | ▲ |
| 8 | Stuff You Should Know | Josh Clark, Chuck Bryant | iHeart | − |
| 9 | SmartLess | Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett | Amazon Music | − |
| 10 | Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend | Conan O'Brien | Team Coco / Stitcher | − |
Note: Rankings reflect Q1 2026 Edison Research reach data — the most recent verified data within the coverage window. Live chart positions may differ slightly; screenshot-based extraction of real-time charts was inconclusive. Verify at the source.
Top 10 — Spotify (US)
Based on Spotify's 20th anniversary all-time streaming data (April 23, 2026) and March 2026 Podscribe rankings — the most recent verified Spotify-specific data within the coverage window. Verify current weekly chart at .
| Rank | Show | Host | Publisher | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Joe Rogan Experience | Joe Rogan | Spotify | − |
| 2 | Call Her Daddy | Alex Cooper | Spotify | − |
| 3 | Crime Junkie | Ashley Flowers, Brit Prawat | audiochuck | − |
| 4 | Diary of a CEO | Steven Bartlett | Acast | ▲ |
| 5 | The Daily | Michael Barbaro | The New York Times | − |
| 6 | Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain | Emma Chamberlain | Spotify | − |
| 7 | Tucker Carlson Network | Tucker Carlson | Independent | ▲ (re-entry) |
| 8 | NPR News Now | NPR | NPR | ▲ |
| 9 | Stuff You Should Know | Josh Clark, Chuck Bryant | iHeart | − |
| 10 | SmartLess | Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett | Amazon Music | − |
Note: Live Spotify chart screenshot was inconclusive. Rankings above combine Edison Q1 2026 reach data and March 2026 Podscribe download/reach rankings — the most recent verified data available. Verify current weekly positions at the source.
Biggest Movers
NPR News / Up First — ▲ Significant climb
- Catalyst: Podscribe's March 2026 rankings (published within the coverage window) highlight a major NPR surge across multiple shows, with NPR climbing the charts as political news cycle intensity drove listeners back to trusted news-format podcasts.
- Episode to hear: Up First daily briefing — NPR's flagship morning news rundown
Tucker Carlson Network — ▲ Re-entry to top 10
- Catalyst: Podscribe's March 2026 data confirms Tucker Carlson re-entered the top 10 for the first time since his departure from Fox News and subsequent independent launch. The show's download metrics climbed sharply in March 2026, signaling a consolidation of his audience on independent distribution.
- Episode to hear: Check Tucker Carlson Network's feed for most recent episodes
Diary of a CEO — ▲ Dominates performance metrics
- Catalyst: Podscribe March 2026 rankings named Diary of a CEO the top performer on performance/advertising metrics while also climbing the overall reach charts. Host Steven Bartlett's interview format continues to pull high-profile guests driving fresh discovery.
- Episode to hear: Latest Steven Bartlett episode available in the Diary of a CEO feed
Breakout Shows to Watch
1. Podtrac Top 200 Rising Shows (March 2026) Podtrac's March 2026 Multi-Channel ranking (published April 22, 2026) highlights upward movement across its Top 200 list, with several emerging shows gaining audience. The full Top 20 is now public.
- Where to listen: All major platforms
2. Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett) After topping Podscribe's March 2026 performance metrics, this interview-format business podcast is breaking into mainstream reach charts. Host Steven Bartlett's ability to book high-profile CEOs and entrepreneurs continues to expand its audience beyond its UK base.
- Where to listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, all major platforms
3. Tucker Carlson Network Having re-entered Podscribe's top 10 in March 2026 after going independent, this show is one to watch as Tucker Carlson consolidates his audience outside traditional media. The growth trajectory suggests strong momentum heading into Q2 2026.
- Where to listen: TuckerCarlson.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
Genre Snapshot
News & Politics
Up First (NPR) — NPR's flagship morning news pod surged in Podscribe's March 2026 rankings. The show's brief, reporter-driven format continues to win morning commuters.
Tucker Carlson Network — Re-entering the top 10 per Podscribe March data; the former Fox anchor's independent operation is now consistently charting again.
Comedy
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (Team Coco) — Holding strong in the Edison Q1 top charts. Team Coco's broader slate has seen watch time double year-over-year per Hollywood Reporter reporting from 2025.
SmartLess (Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett) — Steady presence in both Apple and Spotify top 10s; the trio's celebrity interview format continues to deliver.
True Crime
Crime Junkie (audiochuck) — Holds the #2 position in the Q1 2026 Edison reach data. Host Ashley Flowers' weekly true crime format remains one of the most consistently listened-to shows in the US.
Dateline NBC — Solid presence at #4 in Edison Q1 2026 rankings; the legacy true crime brand continues to convert TV viewers to podcast listeners.
Business & Tech
Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett) — Top performer on Podscribe's March 2026 advertising and performance metrics, now climbing reach charts globally.
How I Built This (NPR/Guy Raz) — Part of NPR's broader surge in March 2026 Podscribe data; the entrepreneurship interview format remains a mainstay.
Industry Signals
-
Spotify turns 20, reveals all-time streaming kings: On April 23, 2026, Spotify published its all-time most-streamed podcasts as part of its 20th anniversary celebration. The Joe Rogan Experience topped the all-time list — a significant milestone marking Spotify's investment in exclusive podcast content. The list spans Spotify's full history "across hundreds of millions of fans."
-
Edison Research Q1 2026: Top 3 unchanged for two consecutive quarters: The Joe Rogan Experience, Crime Junkie, and The Daily held the top three positions in Q1 2026 — identical to Q4 2025 — among weekly podcast consumers ages 13+. This stability at the top reflects listener loyalty but also the difficulty of breaking through without a major platform boost.
-
Spotify's AI-powered podcast playlists expand: TechCrunch (April 7, 2026) reported that Spotify's prompted playlist feature — which lets users create music playlists via natural language — now works for podcasts too. This is a significant discovery mechanism that could reshape how listeners find new shows and benefit mid-tier shows outside the top 10.
-
Podtrac March 2026 Multi-Channel Top 200 now public: Released April 22, 2026, the latest Podtrac ranking tracks unique US monthly audiences across all podcast distribution channels. NPR's surge is the headline mover.
What to Listen to This Weekend
🎙️ The Joe Rogan Experience — With Spotify marking its all-time dominance this week, catch the latest JRE episode to understand why this show has spent five consecutive years at #1. The long-form interview format rewards binge sessions.
🔍 Crime Junkie — The perennial #2 is worth a weekend deep-dive. Ashley Flowers' methodical storytelling on cold cases and unsolved crimes is perfect for a long drive or household project.
📈 Diary of a CEO — Topping Podscribe's March 2026 performance metrics, Steven Bartlett's latest interview is this week's must-listen for anyone in business. The show is firing on all cylinders right now.
What to Watch Next Week
- Podtrac April 2026 rankings will drop in approximately three weeks, but keep an eye on platform-specific chart shifts as Spotify's 20th-anniversary buzz could temporarily distort top-10 visibility for catalog content.
- Spotify's AI podcast playlist feature is still new — expect the first data on whether it's driving discovery for shows outside the top 10, which would be a significant chart shaker heading into May.
- NPR's upward trajectory: After March's Podscribe surge, whether NPR shows (Up First, How I Built This, Fresh Air) can break into the Apple and Spotify top 5 will be the chart story to watch in the coming weeks.
Reader Action Items
- Subscribe: Diary of a CEO — March 2026's top performance-metric podcast is on a breakout trajectory; now is the time to start listening before it becomes ubiquitous.
- Catch up: Tucker Carlson Network — The show's re-entry into the top 10 (per Podscribe March data) is one of the most surprising chart moves of early 2026.
- Share: Spotify is now 20 years old and has revealed its all-time most-streamed podcasts — a conversation starter for any podcast fan in your life.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
