New York: In a definitive year-end announcement, Apple Podcasts has officially revealed that The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) is the most popular podcast in the United States for 2025 — marking a major milestone for the show and its host, Joe Rogan.
What the Charts Reveal
In its “Top Shows” list for the U.S., Apple placed the Joe Rogan Experience at #1, ahead of The Daily at #2 and The Mel Robbins Podcast at #3.
This ranking is based on listenership across Apple’s platform, giving the top spot based on what audiences actually consumed in 2025.
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Why This Matters
- Victory in a fiercely competitive field: Podcasts such as The Daily, Crime Junkie, Dateline NBC and more have been long-time heavyweights in the audio space. For JRE to rise to the top spot signals both longevity and renewed momentum.
- Listenership over novelty: While many podcasts gain quick attention, Apple’s list emphasises ongoing engagement. The fact JRE leads suggests consistent, broad-reaching appeal rather than a fleeting spike.
- Cultural resonance: Rogan’s show features high-profile guests, spanning entertainment, science, politics and more — helping drive cross-demographic interest and listener loyalty.
What’s Driving the JRE Surge?
- Diverse guest lineup: The show regularly brings in names from varied fields — thinkers, athletes, entertainers, scientists. That diversity keeps new ears tuning in and longtime listeners engaged.
- Format freedom: With long-form conversations and minimal restrictions, JRE allows deeper dives than many tightly-formatted shows, which resonates with many podcast fans seeking more than sound-bite length content.
- Platform shifts & audience reach: Rogan’s move from exclusivity deals and broader distribution have helped elevate visibility. As cited by The Wrap: “Joe Rogan is the #1 podcast of 2025 on Apple Charts, unseating ‘The Daily’.”
- Headline-making episodes: For instance, his episode #2223 featuring Elon Musk landed at #4 in Apple’s “Top Episodes of 2025” list — showing that even individual episodes deliver huge impact.
A Brief Look at the Top 10 (U.S.) – 2025
According to Apple:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- The Daily
- The Mel Robbins Podcast
- Crime Junkie
- Dateline NBC
- SmartLess
- Call Her Daddy
- This American Life
- Huberman Lab
- The Ezra Klein Show
This mix reflects a wide spread of genres — from true crime and news daily to comedy, self-development and narrative storytelling.
What This Means for the Industry & Listeners
- For podcasters: It underscores the value of consistency, bold guest selection, and broad appeal. JRE’s win is a case study in building and sustaining an engaged audience.
- For listeners: It suggests that longer-form, in-depth conversations still hold major pull, even in an era where shorter content often dominates.
- For the market: Brands, advertisers and platforms will likely pay attention — success like this makes JRE more than just a show; it becomes a hub for culture and influence.
- For global reach: While this list focuses on the U.S., Apple’s broader “Top Charts” effort covers over 15 markets and multiple categories, pointing to continued global growth in podcasting. Apple
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The announcement by Apple Podcasts signals a strong vote of confidence for The Joe Rogan Experience — not just as a podcast among many, but as the leading podcast of 2025 in the U.S. It’s a moment that reflects its host’s sustained relevance, the show’s adaptability, and the appetite of listeners for deep-dive dialogue.
If you’re in the podcast space — whether as creator, listener or industry watcher — this moment deserves attention. It’s more than a chart position; it’s a marker of what resonates in audio today.
