The best podcasts in the world - Apple Podcasts 2020

Apple Podcasts have released a list of their “Shows of the Year”, together with their “Biggest Shows”, “Biggest News Shows”, and editorial favourites.

The 'biggest’ lists are drived by the Apple Podcast charts, which encompass a mix of new subscriptions, playback activity and completion rate; ratings and reviews aren’t factored into these charts. Eligible shows were those with multiple episodes available on December 1.

Your own country’s list of shows is in the Apple Podcasts app - but here are the biggest shows (including the biggest NEW shows, shows that were only released in 2020) for a number of countries across the world.

Click each show to listen in Apple Podcasts (or in a podcast app of your choice).

US

Show of the year:

Code Switch (NPR) (press)

Biggest New Shows:

Nice White Parents

CounterClock

Red Ball

SmartLess

Blood Ties

Supernatural with Ashley Flowers

Down The Hill: The Delphi Murders

Park Predators

Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction

Biggest Shows:

Stuff You Should Know

This American Life

The Daily

Crime Junkie

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

The Ben Shapiro Show

Up First

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Apple Podcasts’ “Our favorites this year”:

California Love (LAist Studios)

Canary: The Washington Post Investigates (The Washington Post)

Dying for Sex (Wondery)

FANTI (Maximum Fun)

Floodlines (The Atlantic)

Ghost Tape (QCODE)

How To Citizen with Baratunde (iHeartRadio)

In The Bubble with Andy Slavitt (Lemonada Media)

Louder Than a Riot (NPR)

Nice White Parents (New York Times)

Rabbit Hole (New York Times)

You’re Wrong About (Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall)

Canada

Show of the year:

The Hopeful (Frequency Podcast Network)

Biggest New Shows:

Nice White Parents

SmartLess

Rabbit Hole

The Dating Game Killer

Chasing Cosby

Sofia with an F

Dying For Sex

Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction

The Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast

Biggest Shows:

Stuff You Should Know

This American Life

The Daily

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

Spittin Chiclets

Uncover

Canadian True Crime

Apple Podcasts’ “Our favorites this year”:

Hustled (The Toronto Star)

This is Not a Drake Podcast (CBC)

Recall: How to Start a Revolution (CBC)

Unreserved (CBC)

More with Anna Maria Tremonti (CBC)

History of the 90s (Curiouscast)

We Are Not the Virus(Encampment Support Network)

Cityline Real on Race (Cityline / Frequency Podcast Network)

Parkdale Haunt (Frequency Podcast Network)

Notes from the Frontline (Entertainment One)

Jay du Temple discute (Studio SF)

Avec son Sam (Sam Breton)

Brazil

Show of the year:

A Terra É Redonda (Revista Piauí)

Biggest New Shows:

Praia dos Ossos

Modus Operandi

History Cast

E Tem Mais

5 Fatos

Caixa Preta

Fernanda Witwytzky - Fora do FEED

A Terra é redonda

Bom dia, Obvious

Invista Com Tiago

Biggest Shows:

NerdCast

O Assunto

Academia CBN - Mario Sergio Cortella

Mamilos

ResumoCast | Livros para Empreendedores

Do Zero ao Topo

Autoconsciente

Inglês do Zero

Xadrez Verbal

Foro de Teresina

UK

Show of the year:

The Joe Wicks Podcast (BBC Radio)

Biggest New Shows:

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald

Here We Go Again with Stacey Solomon

Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hell

Americast

The High Performance Podcast

Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything

Fake Heiress

The Joe Wicks Podcast

Biggest Shows:

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Desert Island Discs

Happy Place

Sh**ged Married Annoyed

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

That Peter Crouch Podcast

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Apple Podcasts’ “Our favorites this year”:

I Weigh with Jameela Jamil (Earwolf)

Phone a Friend with George Ezra & Ollie MN

The Fault Line (Somethin’ Else)

Growing up with gal-dem

How Did We Get Here? (Somethin’Else)

How to Wow (Chris Evans)

Anthems (Broccoli Content)

Americast (BBC Radio)

Lockdown Parenting Hell (Keep It Light)

Grounded with Louis Theroux (BBC Radio)

France

Radio France has its podcasts listed in Apple Podcasts, but Apple does not supply third-parties like Podnews with their RSS feeds.

Show of the year:

Vulgaire (Marine Baousson)

Biggest New Shows:

Mythes et Légendes

Philosophy is Sexy

Un Bon Moment avec Kyan KHOJANDI et NAVO

Vulgaire

Travail (en cours)

Pandémie

Biggest Shows:

Les Grosses Têtes

Le Cours de l’histoire

Nicolas Canteloup - La revue de presque sur Europe 1

Hondelatte raconte - Christophe Hondelatte

Les couilles sur la table

Franck Ferrand raconte…

Au cœur de l’histoire

Spain

Biggest New Shows:

The Wild Project

Estirando el chicle

Filosofía de bolsillo

Mi año favorito

MI PATIO DE VECINAS - EL PODCAST DE LA FORTE

Un café secreto con Carlos Ríos

La Parroquia del Monaguillo

Dentro de la pirámide

El colegio invisible

El Mundo Today

Biggest Shows:

SER Historia

Nadie Sabe Nada

Herrera en COPE

Entiende Tu Mente

Es la Mañana de Federico

La Vida Moderna

El Partidazo de COPE

Más de uno

El podcast de Cristina Mitre

Aquí hay dragones

Italy

Biggest New Shows:

Il podcast di Alessandro Barbero: Lezioni e Conferenze di Storia

Muschio Selvaggio

Start - Le notizie del Sole 24 Ore

Alessandro Barbero. La storia, le storie - Intesa Sanpaolo On Air

LessonPod: pillole di cultura!

SENZA TABÚ ??

Notizie a colazione

L’Asciugona

Biggest Shows:

Global News Podcast

La Zanzara

Il podcast di Alessandro Barbero: Lezioni e Conferenze di Storia

Marco Montemagno - Il Podcast

Morgana

Muschio Selvaggio

Fottuti geni

Da Costa a Costa

In 4 Minuti

Germany

Show of the year:

Apokalypse & Filterkaffee (Studio Bummens)

Biggest New Shows:

Das Coronavirus-Update von NDR Info

Baywatch Berlin

Der tagesschau Zukunfts-Podcast: mal angenommen

Unter Pfarrerstöchtern

Verbrechen der Vergangenheit

PLÖTZLICH SCHWANGER

Die Sendung mit der Maus zum Hören

Das ist ja Claße(n)

Kekulés Corona-Kompass von MDR AKTUELL

Schaumermal

Biggest Shows:

SWR2 Wissen

Das Coronavirus-Update von NDR Info

Verbrechen

Baywatch Berlin

Eine Stunde History - Deutschlandfunk Nova

Lage der Nation - der Politik-Podcast aus Berlin

happy, holy & confident. Dein Podcast fürs Herz und den Verstand

Mordlust

Steingarts Morning Briefing – Der Podcast

Dick & Doof

South Africa

Biggest New Shows:

Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction

A Bit of Optimism

The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Podcast

Djy Jaivane

BlackMusic Experience

Major League Djz

Our Love Journey With Mpoomy & Brenden

Amapiano Pandemic

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

Biggest Shows:

Stuff You Should Know

TED Talks Daily

Global News Podcast

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

Joel Osteen Podcast

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah: Ears Edition

Elevation with Steven Furtick

The Robin Sharma Mastery Sessions

Russia

Biggest New Shows:

Чай с психологом

Otvet.co

Истории кино

К тебе или ко мне? 18+

Темная материя

Серёжа и микрофон. Подкаст

Запуск завтра

Извини, что голосовым

Ты же мать

Арт и Факты

Biggest Shows:

Radio Record

ЕвроХит Топ 40 Европа Плюс Official - новинки песен

ТЕД на русском

KuJi Podcast

Короче, история

Пожалуй, самая красивая музыка на свете!

Психология на Дожде

Это разве секс? 18+

Что случилось

РУССКИЙ ТАНЦПОЛ

Turkey

Biggest New Shows:

The English We Speak

Kendimiz İçin Yapıyoruz

Kendine İyi Davran

Bunu ben de yaparım

Metro FM - Aragaz

Merdiven Altı Terapi

English Hour (İngilizce Saati)

Nasıl Olunur

Virgin Radio - Mesut Süre ile Rabarba

Yoldayız Geliyor Musun?

Nereden Başlasam?

Fularsız Entellik

Zihnimin Kıvrımları

O Tarz Mı?

Biggest Shows:

Kendimiz İçin Yapıyoruz

Merdiven Altı Terapi

Nereden Başlasam?

Zihnimin Kıvrımları

Tasarım Bienali Sohbetleri

Biraz Konuşabilir miyiz?

Anormal Şartlar Altında

Gülünecek Bir Şey Göremiyorum

Nasıl Gidiyor Karantina?

Austria

Biggest New Shows:

Das Coronavirus-Update von NDR Info

Baywatch Berlin

Unter Pfarrerstöchtern

Verbrechen der Vergangenheit

Die Pochers hier!

Die Sendung mit der Maus zum Hören

Das ist ja Claße(n)

Schaumermal

Hawi D’Ehre

Besser leben

Biggest Shows:

Das Coronavirus-Update von NDR Info

Verbrechen

happy, holy & confident. Dein Podcast fürs Herz und den Verstand

Dick & Doof

Ö3 Frühstück bei mir

Ö1 Journale

FALTER Radio

Thema des Tages

ZIB2-Podcast

Erklär mir die Welt

Arab World

Show of the year:

• 

  بحب | B’Hob (Kerning Cultures)

Biggest New Shows:

بعد أمس

Fool W Tamees

Juha | جحا

مذكرات جنائية

بحب | B’Hob

بودكاست نقطة

Reham Podcast with Reham Al-Rashidi

Taqat Hob | طاقة حب

سكون | Sukoun

Business Wars | حروب الأعمال

بودكاست بعوضة

Ara - أرى

Vikings: The Nine Realms | فايكنغز: العوالم التسعة

حكايات رمضان | Hkayat Ramadan

صوت معنى

Biggest shows:

بودكاست أبجورة

فنجان مع عبدالرحمن أبومالح

أشياء غيرتنا

عقل غير هادئ.. مبارك الزوبع

PaperSamwich ساندوتش ورقي

معنى مع محمد الحاجي

بحب | B’Hob

1001 Nights | ألف ليلة وليلة

مهارات

وجدان | Wijdan

Eib | عيب

قبس مع خالد اليحيا

الشيخ ماهر المعيقلي

Taqat Hob | طاقة حب

بودكاست بعوضة

Australia

Show of the year:

The Eleventh (ABC Radio)

Biggest New Shows:

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Chasing Cosby

The Night Driver

Dying For Sex

I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin

The Eleventh

Coronacast

Chasing Charlie

It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield

Biggest Shows:

Stuff You Should Know

The Daily

Casefile True Crime

Conversations

The Lighthouse

Australian True Crime

No Filter

Shameless

Coronacast

Apple Podcasts’ “Our favorites this year”:

CrossBread (ABC Radio)

The Deep (Zoe Marshall)

Chasing Charlie (Fremantle Australia)

So Now What with Waleed Aly (10 Speaks)

In Good Health (Sandro Demaio)

Always was, Always will be our stories

Naked City (The Age and Sydney Morning Herald)

Everyone Has An Ex (Minty media)

The Wait (The Guardian) - a miniseries within Full Story

McUniverse

Zero Waste Baby (PodcastOne Australia)

ListenABLE (PodcastOne Australia)

New Zealand

Biggest New Shows:

Rabbit Hole

Grounded with Louis Theroux

The Night Driver

White Silence

Chasing Charlie

RNZ: The Aotearoa History Show

The Girls Uninterrupted

RNZ: The Service

Tick. Tick.

Biggest Shows:

Stuff You Should Know

This American Life

The Daily

TED Talks Daily

Casefile True Crime

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

White Silence

China

Show of the year:

梁文道·八分 (梁文道)

Biggest New Shows:

梁文道·八分

一席英语·脱口秀：老外来了

日谈物语

不合时宜

大咖说

天才捕手FM

东亚观察局

说归说

Naive咖啡馆

Biggest Shows:

段子来了

潘吉Jenny告诉你|学英语聊美国|开言英语 · Podcast

酷狗新歌榜

睡前故事：一千零一夜

大内密谈

日谈公园

故事 FM

梁文道·八分

忽左忽右

Taiwan

Biggest New Shows:

Gooaye 股癌

哇賽心理學

那些電影教我的事

聽天下：天下雜誌Podcast

台灣通勤第一品牌

姐妹悄悄話｜SistersTalkTalkShow

好味小姐開束縛我還你原形

壹加壹電台

M觀點 | 科技X商業X投資

《The Real Story》By 報導者

Biggest Shows:

Gooaye 股癌

Kevin 英文不難

百靈果NEWS

通勤學英語

哇賽心理學

大人的Small Talk

呱吉

台灣通勤第一品牌

姐妹悄悄話｜SistersTalkTalkShow

科技島讀

Korea

Biggest New Shows:

씨네마운틴

표창원의 뉴스 하이킥

How Did I Get Here? w/ Jae and AleXa

그것이 알고싶다

* [KBS] 주진우 라이브

아메리카노2020

Biggest Shows:

TED Talks Daily

* [지대넓얕] 지적 대화를 위한 넓고 얕은 지식

컬투쇼 레전드 사연

김영철의 진짜미국식영어

두시탈출 컬투쇼

이진우의 손에 잡히는 경제

* [듣똑라]듣다보면 똑똑해지는 라이프

Japan

Show of the year:

J-WAVE INNOVATION WORLD ERA (J-WAVE)

Biggest New Shows:

辛坊治郎 ズーム そこまで言うか！

霜降り明星のオールナイトニッポン0(ZERO)

英語で雑談！Kevin’s English Room Podcast

Creepy Nutsのオールナイトニッポン0(ZERO)

TBSラジオ『ジェーン・スーと堀井美香の「OVER THE SUN」』

トータルテンボスのぬきさしならナイト！Season2

飯田浩司 The Daily News

TBSラジオ「アフター6ジャンクション」

J-WAVE INNOVATION WORLD ERA

ファーストサマーウイカのオールナイトニッポン0(ZERO)

Biggest Shows:

TED Talks Daily

Global News Podcast

NHKラジオニュース

バイリンガルニュース (Bilingual News)

English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN

All Ears English Podcast

スピードラーニング ポッドキャスト* [Speak UP Radio]

Hapa英会話 Podcast

飯田浩司のOK! Cozy up！ Podcast

辛坊治郎 ズーム そこまで言うか！