September 2026 Podcast Rankings
Summary
Crime Junkie and The Daily hold the top two spots in audio reach, with Crime Junkie climbing 11% to #1 (25.3M) and The Daily steady at #2 (7.9M).
The Joe Rogan Experience declined across every metric this month, falling from #3 to #6 (4.1M) in audio reach, dropping 28% in downloads, views & plays per episode, and down 32% to #5 (32.4M) in downloads, views & plays per month.
MeidasTouch holds #1 (90.9M) in downloads, views & plays per month with a 5% increase, despite a 14% decline in audio reach.
NPR strengthens in audio reach, with Up First up to #3 (4.5M, +6%) and This American Life back in the top 10 (3.1M, +16%).
We've made two major updates to our ranker (September 2026).
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1
Spotify "Plays" are the new standard for consumption
Podscribe has adopted Spotify's new podcast plays standard, which counts a play only after 30 seconds of watching or listening. Read more →
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2
Prioritizing YouTube engaged views instead of the public views everywhere
When YouTube Analytics is connected, we will report on the exact engaged view count. For shows that are not connected, we will estimate the engaged view at a 39% rate to the public view count. Read more →
Top Podcasts by Audio Reach
Ranked by the estimated number of monthly listeners who download at least one episode. Excludes YouTube viewers.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls., Views & Plays / Ep. | Dls., Views & Plays / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
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Top Podcasts by Downloads & Views per Episode
Ranked by the average estimated downloads and views an episode receives within its first 60 days. Includes podcast and YouTube metrics.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls., Views & Plays / Ep. | Dls., Views & Plays / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
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Top Podcasts by Downloads & Views per Month
Ranked by the total estimated downloads and views across all episodes for the month. Includes podcast and YouTube metrics.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls., Views & Plays / Ep. | Dls., Views & Plays / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
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*Data captured from September1st - September 30th, 2026.
**Wondery data is computed solely from public data such as Apple & Spotify ratings, not direct download data.
About Podscribe’s Ranker
The Podscribe Ranker is the industry's most comprehensive podcast ranker, offering a complete view of show, publisher and advertiser performance. Unlike traditional rankers, we go beyond RSS data—tracking podcast downloads, YouTube views, Spotify Video, and more—to reflect how audiences consume podcasts today.
We also include every known show and publisher in the rankings, to always ensure a complete industry view.
Rather than a static snapshot, Podscribe provides live growth trends, helping buyers and publishers spot rising shows early. With cross-platform tracking and direct data from major shows, it delivers the most accurate rankings available, even for podcasts without a prefix.
