Figuring Out with Raj Shamani becomes first podcast in the world to reach 22 million YouTube subscribers

Raj Shamani has become the first podcaster in the world to reach 22 million subscribers on YouTube, as his show Figuring Out with Raj Shamani surpasses Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO (21.9m) and The Joe Rogan Experience (21.2m) to become the platform’s most-subscribed podcast.

The achievement marks a significant moment for the global podcast industry, with Raj Shamani building one of its biggest creator-led media platforms from India. The show’s rapid growth reflects its increasing international reach, establishing Figuring Out with Raj Shamani as a gateway between India and the wider world, bringing leading figures in global business, politics and culture into conversations that resonate with audiences across the globe.

In 2026 alone, guests have included French President Emmanuel Macron, Andrew Huberman, Dr. Scott Galloway, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who recently revealed during his appearance on the show that India had overtaken the US as ChatGPT’s largest market.

The milestone follows a period of extraordinary growth for Figuring Out, which has added 8 million YouTube subscribers in 2026 alone. The show now generates 1.4 billion monthly views across platforms and international subscribers account for 22% of its YouTube subscriber base.

Commenting on the milestone, Raj Shamani said: “When I started Figuring Out in a small room in Indore, I had one obsession: understanding how the world’s most extraordinary people think, what they know that the rest of us don’t, and what makes them different. I’ve always believed that where you come from shouldn’t determine what you get to learn or who you get to learn from. You shouldn’t have to be born into the right family, live in the right city, or have access to the right rooms to learn from the greatest minds in the world.

Figuring Out was built for ambitious people. People who are curious, hungry to learn, and believe there’s more they’re capable of becoming. 22 million subscribers is an incredible milestone, but what excites me more is knowing that millions of people across the world share that ambition. Every conversation is an opportunity to understand something we didn’t know before, challenge how we think, and expand our sense of what’s possible. We’re still just getting started. My ambition is to build Figuring Out into a global media institution that brings the world’s most extraordinary minds, ideas, and conversations to anyone, anywhere, who wants to build an extraordinary life.” 

Beyond the podcast, Shamani is expanding Figuring Out Media into a global media business, building on the show’s rapid growth to develop new commercial partnerships and reach international audiences. He recently signed with leading entertainment agency WME to support the platform’s expansion and has partnered with global brands including Levi’s and ASUS, as he looks to build a media ecosystem that helps people think bigger and learn faster.