Happy New Year from the Podfest Team! As we enter 2026, we thought it would be helpful to look back at some of the most successful podcast episodes of 2025 so you can learn from them to reach all of your goals this year!

To that end, Reader’s Digest’s Marcy Lovitch wrote an article reflecting on what she learned from listening to what she described as the five most shared podcasts of 2025 according to Apple.

While the article and lessons learned were interesting (you can read it all here), we wanted to share the article with you with two observations from the team that could help you as you create content in 2026 and beyond.

Here are two observations we believe could help you as you create content.

First, it was interesting that all five most-shared episodes involved some type of skill, achievement, or current event with commentary. They included telepathy, longevity and healthcare, and political commentary. Three of them were about health and longevity. This suggests people want to share episodes that are not just interesting, but also useful.

Second, all five shows featured one personality. Although many co-hosted podcasts have grown in popularity (more on that below), this highlights how one-host shows can build deep relationships with listeners that encourage listeners to share the right episodes with their friends and families.

Although these podcasts undoubtedly reach large audiences, many podcasts do. The fact that these shows and episodes were the most shared in 2025 highlights how helpful it is for creators to build relationships with their audience and deliver quality content that’s interesting and helpful to them.

Check out the entire article here and please share your thoughts about how independent podcasters can benefit from this information in our Facebook group!

Read the entire article here.

Do You Have Your Ticket to Podfest Yet?

Podfest 2026 is Only 2 Weeks Away!

If you haven’t yet invested in making 2026 your best year yet as a creator, time is running out.

Podfest 2026 is packed with multiple education tracks for beginners, monetization, AI, authors, audience growth, and more! (You can check out the schedule here.)

It will also feature a number of brands with solutions designed to support creators like you with equipment, hosting, marketing, monetization, thought leadership, book publishing, and anything else you need to achieve your goals.

And it will, once again, feature what Podfest has become known for: the Podfam.

If it will be your first time attending Podfest, you’ll quickly learn that the Podfam is the greatest collection of creators assembled anywhere in the world.

From industry veterans to people just getting started, you’ll be able to feel an energy that is unmatched and meet a huge group of creators all looking to help you!

This year will be full of surprises. Just a few of the surprises we’ve already announced include:

• Pat Flynn delivering our opening keynote about how he built two YouTube channels to 10 million downloads a day in just a few short years as well as conducting a fireside chat with Podfest CEO Nick Pavlidis about how he self-published several books and then launched his first traditionally published book to become a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

• Pat will also be inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame at Podfest 2026.

• Personal finance guru, Dave Ramsey, attending the 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame ceremony to induct a dear friend of his, New York Times bestselling author, Dan Miller into the Podcast Hall of Fame, along with Dan’s entire family.

• John Lee Dumas and Kate Erickson Dumas of Entrepreneurs on Fire fame conducting multiple education sessions including John emceeing the Podcast Hall of Fame ceremony.

• Danielle Desir Corbett will teach 10 Lessons to Land Podcast Grants (Even If You've Never Applied Before)

• Joe Saul-Sehy of Stacking Benjamins fame speaking about Creating a Podcast Listeners Want To Binge.

• Rob Walch from Libsyn talking about the State of Podcasting in 2026.

• Alex Sanfilippo from Podmatch teaching 5 Ways to Grow Your Podcast Organically.

• and much, much more.

With 125+ speakers, great brands, and your Podfam, there’s no doubt you’ll find all the information, resources, and people you need to succeed in 2026 at Podfest!

So if you haven’t yet got your ticket, do get it today!

• Get your ticket for Podfest 2026! Jan 15-18 2026

• Would you like to host your:

  • Mastermind

  • Forum

  • Community

  • Facebook Group

  • Association

  • Non-Profit

  • Fellowship 

  at Podfest? Contact Andrew Weiss today!

• Send our Newsletter to a friend and tell them where the party is at! 

Can Podcasting Really be Simple?

It can! And Podcast Global Partner, Podmatch, will show you exactly how on January 8, 2026 — and it’s even FREE for the Podfam (see below).

Join the Podfam at the upcoming Podmatch virtual event! Use the code "PFLIVE" to register.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with PodMatch to bring you access to their upcoming virtual event on Thursday, January 8th!

Since January 2022, PodMatch has been hosting quarterly virtual events to help podcast hosts and guests level up through dedicated "host" and "guest" tracks.

JOIN with code "PFLIVE" Podcasting Made Simple Live

In case you need a little extra motivation:

These events sell over 300 tickets and receive incredible testimonials for its impact. You’ll get full access to both the live event and replay – no upsells, no catches!

This is a gift from Podfest, and we hope you’ll take advantage of it!

Thanks so much to Alex, Alecia, and Podmatch for helping us provide this valuable resource to the Podfam for free!

• The Wall Street Journal is looking for a Host/Producer for a Personal Finance Podcast in New York, New York.

• The Lubetzky Family Foundation is looking for a Hybrid Podcast / Digital Content Director in Austin, Texas.

• War on the Rocks is looking for a Podcast Engineer in Washington Highlands, MD.

• Tanium is looking for a Hybrid Podcast and Social Media Manager in Durham, NC.

• Sinclair, Inc., is looking for a Hybrid Producer, Sports Podcasts in New York, New York.

• iHeartMedia is looking for a Supervising Producer - Branded Podcasts in New York, New York.

On the Thrive Careers Podcast, Olajumoke Fatoki—a career coach, HR strategist, and advocate for newcomers, women, and mid-career professionals trying to build work that fits their life, not the other way around, shares everything she’s learned from walking that path—plus honest conversations with experts and real people navigating their own career crossroads. Whether you’re job hunting, transitioning or re-entering the workforce after burnout, or trying to grow into leadership, this space is for you.

Looking for real talk with remarkable people? Welcome to the I Can Do Podcast with Benjamin Lee — where high achievers, everyday heroes, and purpose-driven powerhouses pull back the curtain on what it really takes to keep going. Each week, Benjamin sits down with standout guests — from bestselling authors and elite athletes to entrepreneurs, faith leaders, and creatives — who share their honest stories, hard-won wisdom, and habits that fuel their “I CAN” mindset. With a mix of motivation, humor, and practical takeaways, this show is your reminder that greatness isn’t about being perfect.

The Chris Project is a weekly interview podcast hosted by Christian Brim that explores mental health, mindset, self-awareness, and leadership through candid conversations with experts and entrepreneurs. Born from a passion to address meaningful issues after the loss of a client to suicide, the show blends personal insight with practical discussion about resilience, growth, and purpose. Each episode features thoughtful dialogue on overcoming challenges in business and life, emphasizing emotional intelligence and human connection. Listeners can expect engaging, authentic conversations designed to inspire reflection and personal development.

Publish Your Book with Morgan James

Turn your podcast into a powerful, profit-driving book with Morgan James Publishing. As the publisher for entrepreneurs, experts, and creators, Morgan James gives you the credibility of traditional publishing with the speed and flexibility today’s content leaders demand.

With Morgan James, you get to retain your valuable intellectual property rights, earn higher royalties than typical publishers, and plug into global distribution that makes your book available wherever books are sold. If you’re ready to elevate your authority, expand your platform, and create a book that drives real business growth, Morgan James Publishing is the partner built for podcasters.

Podmatch: Automatically Matching Ideal Podcast Hosts & Guests For Interviews While Streamlining the Process

PodMatch believes that podcasting is the most powerful content medium for informing, inspiring, and motivating people to take action toward a more positive future. PodMatch’s purpose is to elevate independent voices on both sides of the microphone, empowering them to impact listeners in their own positive way, ultimately, making the world a better place.

Most podcast hosts and guests spend hours researching connections, coordinating interviews, and working on administrative tasks while only spending 10% of their time on what matters, recording impactful podcast episodes! PodMatch enables podcast guests and hosts to reclaim their time through automations and streamlined processes, so they can focus on creating content that serves listeners!