Who Were You Listening To In 2025?
Podcasts fought against the attention span that was dropping like flies
By the time 2025 is catalogued in cultural annals, one fact will be indisputable: it was a year in which podcasts stood their ground as the arbiters of attention. Amid an ecosystem dominated by micro-episodes, rage-bait virality, and the tyranny of the infinitely scrollable, long-form discourse staged a triumphant renaissance, if one may take the liberty to call it so.
What was once considered niche, today putting out a well recorded podcasts feels like taking a candy from a baby. Get on any major streaming platforms, audio media has staged its coup against other mediums. On one end, there’s the manicured, meticulously produced content that doubles as cultural commentary, life coaching, or deep-dive investigative journalism. On the other, there are chaotic, irreverent shows that feel like someone inviting you into their living room, spilling thoughts, confessions, and tangents with unexpected enthusiasm about ghosts, crime, sex and relationships.
Whether you tuned in for the meticulous breakdowns of the market on YouTube, the absurdist humour of a Southern storyteller, or the quiet cadence of a Mahabharata narration on Apple, podcasts were somehow entwined as cultural imperative.
Here are the top podcasts your bros and maybe even you were bingeing in 2025. This is not a ranked list, and it is certainly not a hierarchy of quality; it is, rather, a cross-section of what kept ears occupied, minds curious, and thumbs momentarily idle amid a year defined by ever-shortening attention spans and the ceaseless churn of micro-content.
Some podcasts, Indian and Global, made you smarter, some made you chuckle, some made you rethink how you measured your own productivity and all of them, in their way, reminded us that listening well is still a skill worth cultivating. So, checkout the list of 14 best podcasts in 2025 as per metrics collected from YouTube, Apple and Spotify:
Raj Shamani Podcast
Focused on entrepreneurship, career insights, and the creator economy, Shamani interviews founders and professionals, often discussing practical challenges and lessons learned from building businesses in India.
The Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan is an American comedian, mixed martial arts (MMA) commentator, actor, is a podcast host of the most popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that follows long-form conversations with guests covering a wide range of topics, from science and culture to politics and comedy. Rogan’s style is informal, often allowing guests to speak at length without interruption and at times join him a smoking up session while on the podcast.
Kill Tony
KILL TONY, hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe, is a live comedy podcast blending open-mic performances, improvisation, and interviews, with episodes typically released following live recordings. The format is spontaneous, blending interviews and stand-up.
The Desi Crime Podcast
India’s The Desi Crime Podcast narrates true crime stories, often focusing on cases in India, and provides investigative context and detailed storytelling.
48 Hours
Similar to The Desi Crime Podcast, he U.S.-based 48 Hours podcast from CBS News covers investigative true crime, using interviews and archival material to analyse criminal cases, often timed with ongoing investigations or case anniversaries.
Huberman Lab
Hosted by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, focusses on neuroscience, human behaviour, and health optimisation, translating research into practical insights, Huberman Lab releases weekly or with bonus episodes released periodically.
The Horror Show by Khooni Monday
The Horror Show by Khooni Monday is an Indian podcast that presents narrated horror stories, including folklore, urban legends, and fictionalised accounts, with episodes released weekly or seasonally that has everyone hooked.
The Diary of A CEO
On The Diary of a CEO, British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett interviews founders, creators, and thought leaders and celebrities to explore professional journeys and personal reflections, with new episodes released frequently.
WTF with Nikhil Kamath
While podcast don't really require any introduction, WTF with Nikhil Kamath, (hosted by Indian entrepreneur and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath) covers markets, finance, and entrepreneurship, offering insights from the startup and investing world, with episodes released regularly since the early 2020s.
The Mel Robbins Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast, hosted by American motivational speaker Mel Robbins, focusses on behaviour, motivation, and self-improvement, offering practical advice on productivity and mindset in weekly or biweekly episodes.
Stories From Mahabharata
Stories From Mahabharata, narrated by author Sudipta Bhawmik, retells episodes from the ancient Indian epic, making mythology accessible and engaging for modern listeners through periodic episodes.
Rotten Mango
Rotten Mango, hosted by American creator Stephanie Soo, explores true crime cases with investigative storytelling and context in an engaging way.
The Daily Brief
The Daily Brief, produced by Zerodha, offers concise summaries of financial markets, news, and economic trends, with daily episodes aimed at keeping listeners informed.
Finshots Daily
Shrehith Karkera through Finshots Daily offers short, approachable episodes that explain the latest in finance and the economy and is amongst the top trending podcasts in India.