The most listened-to podcast on iTunes and Apple Podcasts of 2024 have been revealed by Apple in its yearly Top Charts wrap-up. Here it highlights the most popular podcasts on the platform for listeners who use devices from the company.
“Today, Apple shared the most popular podcasts of 2024, with year-end charts localized for listeners in nearly 100 countries and regions,” it shared in a statement on Tuesday.
“The 2024 charts are available in the Browse tab through the end of the year, and include the top podcasts overall, the top new shows that debuted this year, the most followed shows, the most shared shows and episodes, and the top free and subscriber channels.”
True crime dominates the charts, but daily news updates saw the most listeners.
The 10 top Apple podcasts for the US in 2024
- The Daily – News,
- Crime Junkie – True Crime,
- The Joe Rogan Experience – Comedy,
- Dateline – True Crime,
- Smartless – Comedy,
- Huberman Lab – Health & Fitness,
- This American Life – Society & Culture,
- New Heights – Sports,
- Up First – Daily News,
- Morbid – True Crime.
The Cupertino giant has also made sure to localise the lists, so we also know which podcasts South Africans listened to the most the entire year and we’re glad to see a few locals in the top 10.
The top 10 Apple podcasts in South Africa
- The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett – Business,
- Podcast and Chill with MacG – Comedy,
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty – Mental Health,
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast – Self-improvement,
- Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba – Mental Health,
- Huberman Lab – Health & Fitness,
- What Now? with Trevor Noah – Society & Culture,
- The Mel Robbins Podcast – Education,
- True Crime South Africa – True Crime,
- The Psychology of your 20s – Mental Health.
Business and lifestyle Show Diary of a CEO by British businessman Steven Bartlett reigned as the most popular podcast for South Africans in 2024. The top 10 chart also has a few notable mental health and self-improvement series which may show that South Africans have an appetite for learning about how to improve their own wellbeing when they listen to podcasts.
MacG’s Podcast and Chill was the most popular local show, in second place, showing that the series continues to dominate South Africa’s podcasting space, but Mpoomy Ledwaba is on the come up with her own show about life lessons and growing as a person.
Perhaps more interesting than top shows, is which episodes raked in the most listeners.
The most listened-to episodes in South Africa for 2024
- How to Reprogram Your Brain for Success (ft. Derek Sivers) – The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast,
- Cassper Nyovest On: Finding God – Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba,
- Trevor Noah: My Depression Was Linked To ADHD! Why I Left The Daily Show! – The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett,
- Episode 134 The Heidelberg Murders – True Crime South Africa,
- Michelle Obama: How to Stay with Your Partner When They Are Changing & 4 Check-ins You Should Be Doing in Your Relationship – On Purpose with Jay Shetty,
- Trevor Turns 40! – What Now? with Trevor Noah,
- Glass Ceilings Part 1 – Ideas that Matter Podcast with Vusi Thembekwayo,
- David Goggins: How to Build Immense Inner Strength – Huberman Lab,
- Episode 1: Most Wanted – Mandela: The Lost Tapes,
- The Disciples: 1. Sin No More – BBC’s World of Secrets.
You can find more of the top episodes of the year here. South Africans will tune into local shows more often if they are offering an explosive episode. For example, the Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is the fourth most popular show overall, but its episode about how to rethink your life has been the most listened to podcast episode this year.
Again, Apple users in South Africa are looking for health, wellness, financial advice and to be generally intrigued by the podcasts they are listening to. Interestingly MacG doesn’t feature in top episodes for the year.
For shows that are hot and fresh and making a splash for South African listeners, Apple has ranked the top new shows locally.
Top new podcasts in South Africa for 2024
- Meet me in my corner with Dr K – Mental Health,
- Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry – Religion,
- Mandela: The Lost Tapes – History,
- Wondery’s Hysterical – Documentary,
- BBC’s The Global Story – Daily News,
- The Issue with Dan Corder – Documentary,
- The Financial Freedom Pod with Bruce Whitfield & Warren Ingram – Business,
- Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy – True Crime,
- SLUMBER STORIES – True Crime,
- Wondery’s The Spy Who – History.
