One of the confusions that most beginner podcasters face is what genre to pick for their podcast.
There are many best types of podcasts out there. From true crime to comedy, there is a podcast for everyone.
While some genres are more popular than others, every type of podcast has a place in the podcast-o-sphere.
In this episode, we will take a look at the 10 popular types of podcasts and discuss why they are so popular.
We will also talk about the most popular shows in each of these podcast genres.
Most Popular Types of Podcasts – Podcast Genres
Just as in any audio-visual media, podcasting too has a variety of genres to pick from – both as a listener and as a creator.
While as a listener, picking your favorite genre is pretty simple, as a creator that decision becomes a little difficult.
Aspects like what genres are better, which has more audience, which is popular etc. are questions that you might want to answer.
While there is no single genre that is better than the other, some genres do have more listenership than others.
But then, the decision that you need to take is – do you want to get into a crowded genre or, one which isn’t crowded?
Anyways, in order to help you with that decision, I have 10 podcast types for you today – or, Podcast genres and some of the most prominent shows in these genres.
True Crime Podcast
The first type of podcast on our list is the true-crime podcast.
These types of podcasts are usually based on real crimes and often include interviews with witnesses or people involved in the case including the victims.
What makes them so popular is that they often offer a new perspective on well-known cases. They also usually have a great production value and are very well-researched.
Some of the most popular true crime podcasts include Serial, Dirty John, and Drilled.
Business Podcast
The second podcast type on our list is the business podcast. These types of podcasts usually feature interviews with successful entrepreneurs or business experts.
They offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the business world and often include tips on how to be successful in business.
They can be in two different formats – the interview format or, the solo shows.
Some of the most popular business podcasts include How I Built This, The Tim Ferriss Show, and Business Wars.
Self-improvement Podcasts
The third type of podcast on our list is the self-improvement podcast. These types of podcasts usually feature interviews with experts in the fields of psychology, productivity, and wellness.
They offer listeners advice on how to improve their lives and reach their goals.
These podcasts are mostly in the form of interviews.
Some of the most popular self-improvement podcasts include The School of Greatness, The Tony Robbins Podcast, and Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations.
Comedy Podcast
The fourth type of podcast is the comedy podcast.
These types of podcasts usually have two formats – the interview format which features interviews with comedians or comedic actors, and the solo format which includes stand-up comedy routines, jokes, and satirical takes on different aspects of society like movies, politics, etc.
They offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the world of comedy. Some of the most popular comedy podcasts include WTF with Marc Maron and Comedy Bang! Bang!.
Sports Podcast
The fifth type of podcast on our list is the sports podcast.
The popular format in this type of podcast is the interview format which usually features interviews with athletes or sports experts.
Another format is a solo or, dialogue format that covers sports events, commentary, discussions, etc. around specific sports.
They offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the world of sports and often include commentary on current sporting events.
Some of the most popular sports podcasts include The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pardon My Take, and The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.
News Podcast
The sixth type of podcast on our list is the news podcast.
The more popular format in this genre is the solo or, dialogue format which covers the news. They usually have a daily frequency and aim at providing a synopsis of the news events for the day for people who would have missed watching daily news on Television.
The other format is in the form of interviews, which usually feature interviews with journalists or experts on current affairs.
They offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the world of news and often include commentary on current events. Some of the most popular news podcasts include The Daily, This American Life, and Radiolab.
Interview Podcast
The seventh type of podcast on our list is the interview podcast. These types of podcasts usually feature interviews with interesting people from all walks of life.
The best part about this genre is that you don’t necessarily need to focus on a specific niche. You can bring in guests from any niche from cooking to sports or, business to politics.
The aim of most of the podcasts in this genre is to motivate listeners.
They also offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of these interesting people. Some of the most popular interview podcasts include The Joe Rogan Experience, The Tim Ferriss Show, and WTF with Marc Maron.
History Podcast
The eighth type of podcast on our list is the history podcast. These types of podcasts usually are in two different formats.
The first one is the interview format which features interviews with historians or experts on historical events.
The second format is a solo format or, a dialogue that covers specific events in history and gives the users additional knowledge about those events in the past.
Some of the most popular history podcasts include The History Chicks, Stuff You Missed in History Class, and The Bowery Boys.
Fiction Podcast
The ninth type of podcast on our list is the fiction podcast.
This is another very popular podcast genre primarily because of the entertainment factor in them.
These podcast genres are usually based on stories or novels. The most popular format is the narrative format where the host usually narrates the story.
Another less popular format is the one that includes interviews with the author or narrator.
What makes them so popular is that they offer listeners a new way to experience a story. They also usually have very high production values, with music and sound effects that help to create a more immersive experience.
Some of the most popular fiction podcasts include The Indian Noir, Welcome to Night Vale, The Bright Sessions, and The Black Tapes.
Music Podcast
The tenth and final type of podcast on our list is the music podcast.
This is a less popular podcast genre.
The most popular format in this genre is the interview format which usually features interviews with musicians or experts in the music industry.
The other format is a solo format that educates the listeners about music.
Some of the most popular music podcasts include Song Exploder, Switched on Pop, and All Songs Considered.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the ten different podcast types and some of the most popular ones in each category.
Each of these podcast types has a place of its own and which podcast would you want to listen to will depend upon your choice and taste.
What type of podcast do you like to listen to? Let us know in the comments below.
And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more great content like this. Until next time!
P.S. If you’re looking for a great podcast to listen to, you can check out our very own The Tastes of India Podcast. It’s a bi-weekly podcast and the only recipe podcast in India.
You can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. We hope you enjoy it!
Resources Recommended in Podcasting
Here are some tools and resources that I recommend for podcasting. These are the ones that I personally use and am satisfied with and hence am recommending them.
- Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my favorite podcast hosting company. They have excellent customer support, have a pocket-friendly plan, and even have a free option with no limits.
- Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
- Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast.
- Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
- Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
- Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
- Fusebox – Embeddable Podcast Player
Thank You for Joining
Thank you for joining me on the episode today.
I hope you found value in the discussion today.
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What are 3 Podcast Genres?
Podcast Genres are many and not limited to only 3. But the most popular 3 podcast genres are True Crime, Comedy, and News & Politics.
What is the most popular podcast genre?
The popularity of podcast genres can vary depending on the audience, but according to various sources, the most popular podcast genre is True Crime.
Which genre does Christian motivation fit? Do you have any data on these types of podcasts
Thank you- Joy
It will be in the motivational podcasts genre.
Great post! I love how you broke down the different podcast genres. It’s interesting to see how true crime and comedy have such massive followings. I’ve been wanting to explore more educational podcasts, so your recommendations are super helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found value in it!
I loved this breakdown of podcast genres! It’s fascinating to see how diverse the podcasting world has become. I especially appreciate the emphasis on storytelling podcasts—there’s something so captivating about hearing a good story unfold. Can’t wait to explore some of the recommendations you mentioned!
Great overview of the different podcast genres! I love how you highlighted the reasons behind their popularity. I’m always on the lookout for new recommendations, and you’ve given me some fantastic ideas to explore. Thanks for the insights!