
Spotify's podcast editorial team is always on the hunt for shows and episodes that spark conversation, push boundaries, and keep us coming back for more. As 2025 hits its halfway mark, our editors have curated their picks for the year's standout podcasts so far-spanning celebrity-driven interviews, deep-dive investigations, true crime, comedy, and the best in film and TV commentary.
It would be impossible to overlook all the famous faces on our Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)' list. From Michelle Obama's heartfelt real talk on IMO to Amy Poehler's star-studded hangouts (did we mention Kylie Kelce and the Living Single ladies also made the cut?), shows hosted by megawatt talent have definitely stepped up their game this year, said Rachel Selvin, Editorial and Audience Development Manager, Spotify. But even with all the buzz around viral celebrity moments, the old rules of podcasting still hold true: A great investigation usually equals a great show. That's why half of our picks focus on a single issue, unspooling it in all its complexity through a compassionate lens.
From breakout new series to unforgettable episodes, here's what topped our editors' lists for 2025 (so far):
Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Sea of Lies
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
Embedded: Alternate Realities
ReLiving Single
The Protocol
Tortoise Investigates: Lucky Boy
Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
The Telepathy Tapes
The Zach Lowe Show
Redefined with Leslie and Arielle
Best Episodes of 2025 (So Far)
Therapuss with Jake Shane: Session 63: Lisa Rinna
Fresh Air: Cole Escola's Stupid' Dream Came True With Oh, Mary!'
RedHanded: Episode 396 Lord Lucan: the Vanishing Earl
Search Engine: The Dave and Buster's Anomaly
Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Tina Fey
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang: We're Gonna Dance (w/ Lady Gaga)
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson: Some Friendships Need to Go with Issa Rae
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #579 Mark Zuckerberg
SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma: This Is Cate Blanchett's Sexiest Word To Say | Uncut
Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries: 123. The Mysterious Death of Cindy James Part 1
BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime: The Haunting Murder Case of the Hammersmith Ghost
Baby, This is Keke Palmer: Usher's Confessions: Dancing With Keke and Being The Last Showman'
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce: Caitlin Clark on Life Changing' Rookie Year, Chiefs Fandom, NBA Ratings Debate and More | Ep 117
Dissect: S13E1 Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Best True Crime of 2025 (So Far)
Sea of Lies: E1: Luck, Or Something Like It
CreepTime the Podcast: Ep. 147 Found In Her Bathtub New Year's Eve: The Murder Of Shele Covlin
Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy: Party's Over
Devil in the Desert: Cat and Mouse
Unseen: The Dollhouse Farm Murders | The Case of Dameon Huffman
Conspiracy Theories: UFOS, Occultists, Murder Schemes: The Deaths of Miguel and Manuel
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer: Episode 1: Isolated Incident
RedHanded: Melanie McGuire: The Suitcase Killer | #403
Funniest Episodes of 2025 (So Far)
The Comment Section with Drew Afualo: DOING BLASPHEMY Ft. Caleb Hearon | Episode 171
Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Kathryn Hahn
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: E558 Katt Williams
SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma: Hasan Minhaj Wants to Cancel Birthdays
SmartLess: Amy Poehler
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang: Monstro SarahNicole (w/ Sarah Sherman)
Outlaws with TS Madison: Chappell Roan and Sasha Colby: Casting Karma Spells
So True with Caleb Hearon: Gianmarco Soresi Returns
Therapuss with Jake Shane: Session 68: Amelia Dimoldenberg
Best Movies of 2025 (So Far)
The Big Picture: Sinners' Is for the Sickos, the Cinephiles and You, with Ryan Coogler!
The Weekly Planet: 569 A Minecraft Movie
The Ringer-Verse: Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning' Reactions | The Midnight Boys
The Extra Credits: 28 Years Later' is One of the Great Horror Movies of the Decade
Movie Files: Bring Her Back (2025) Movie Review | A24
Raiders Of The Lost Podcast: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Does The Live Action Need To Exist??
Best TV of 2025 (So Far)
In Review - A Kinda Funny Film & TV Podcast: The Last of Us Season 2 FINALE Spoilercast Kinda Funny Screencast
The Prestige TV Podcast: The White Lotus' Season 3 Finale Deep Dive and Theories: A Super Cynical Season
The Reel Rejects: ANDOR SEASON 2 Episode 10, 11, & 12 FINALE Breakdown & Review!!!!
ReelTok Podcast: Adolescence is One of this Decade's Most Important Shows | Ep. 133
Pop Culture Happy Hour: Forever
The Watch: Noah Wyle on the Season Finale of The Pitt' and the Show's Unexpected Success
Explore the Best of the Year (So Far) hub on Spotify to find your next favorite show or episode.
More from Spotify
28/08/2025
Corridos have been a cornerstone of M sica Mexicana for generations, telling stories rooted in everyday life. Now, a new chapter is taking shape: motivational c...
28/08/2025
Los corridos han sido un pilar de la M sica Mexicana durante generaciones, contando historias enraizadas en la vida cotidiana. Ahora, un nuevo cap tulo est tom...
28/08/2025
Earlier this month, we promised our Verano Forever party would bring the heat, a...
27/08/2025
As summer days stretch out, long and languorous, listeners across the Northern H...
27/08/2025
It's the waning days of summer, and for anyone trying to squeeze in one more road trip before the leaves begin to turn, Spotify is here with a collection of...
26/08/2025
Spotify's Fan Life is back-and this time, the spotlight shines even brighter...
26/08/2025
Recommendations have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Friends...
25/08/2025
As summer winds down and backpacks come out, Gen Z isn't just heading back to class, they're shaping the soundtrack for a whole new season.
For Back to...
25/08/2025
When we launched Jam, the idea was simple: Music is better when it's shared. Since then, listeners around the world have been queuing up tracks, enjoying th...
22/08/2025
The wait is over: Stray Kids return with their fourth full-length album, KARMA. ...
22/08/2025
With their new album, hickey, out now, Aussie indie darlings Royel Otis decided ...
21/08/2025
Spotify and amra, the world's first and only global digital licensing collection society, have entered into a direct multi-territorial, multi-year licensing...
21/08/2025
Spotify is making it easier than ever to connect with your friends on Instagram ...
21/08/2025
From enemies-to-lovers banter to star-crossed soulmates battling curses, romanta...
20/08/2025
There's still plenty of summer left to soak up-and time to catch its hottest flicks. This year, blockbuster season is alive with remakes, superhero sagas, a...
19/08/2025
Spotify users around the world have soundtracked their everyday moments by creating nearly 9 billion playlists. Now, Premium users can take their creativity to ...
19/08/2025
Los usuarios de Spotify en todo el mundo han creado casi 9 mil millones de playl...
15/08/2025
On an otherwise ordinary Wednesday afternoon at one of New York City's most iconic museums, Spotify treated visitors to an extraordinary surprise. As patron...
15/08/2025
At 12:12 AM on August 12, Times Square lit up with something new: a bright-orang...
14/08/2025
Colombia siempre ha sido potencia en innovaci n musical! Desde la revoluci n del reggaet n en Medell n, pasando por las escenas indie y rockeras en Bogot , y el...
14/08/2025
Colombia has long been a powerhouse of musical innovation. From Medell n's reggaet n revolution to Bogot 's indie and rock scenes and Cali's salsa l...
14/08/2025
As the mercury rises and the days stretch long, Spotify has been turning up the vibrant sounds of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean with our Ver...
13/08/2025
Spotify and Kobalt, the world's largest independent music publisher, have entered into a direct, multiyear licensing agreement designed to deliver greater f...
13/08/2025
A vibrant blend of pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and rock, K-Pop is more than just a genre in Mexico-it's a way of life. With more than 14 million K-Pop fa...
13/08/2025
Con una mezcla vibrante de pop, hip-hop, R&B, electr nica y rock, el K-Pop en M xico no es solo un g nero: es una forma de vida. Con m s de 14 millones de fans ...
13/08/2025
In the wake of the devastating July floods in Texas Hill Country-which experienc...
12/08/2025
Whether you're curating a playlist for your dorm, promoting an artist at a live show, or simply sharing your favorite album with friends, Spotify Codes make...
05/08/2025
Since we announced our global partnership with FC Barcelona in 2022, we've been finding new ways to unite the worlds of music and football-amplifying artist...
04/08/2025
At Spotify, we're committed to delivering a world-class, personalized experience for every user. To continue to innovate on our product offerings and featur...
04/08/2025
En Spotify, estamos comprometidos a ofrecer una experiencia personalizada y de primer nivel para cada usuario. Para seguir innovando en nuestras funciones y pro...
04/08/2025
No Spotify, temos o compromisso de oferecer uma experi ncia personalizada e de alto n vel para cada usu rio. Para continuar inovando em nossos produtos e recurs...
01/08/2025
Over the past six weeks, Spotify's been in the vibrant city of Durban in the...
31/07/2025
Next month, Spotify teams up with Live Nation Urban for an exciting new live mus...
30/07/2025
At Spotify, we're always working to enhance your listening experience and connect you more deeply with the artists and music you love. That means helping yo...
29/07/2025
Today, we announced our second quarter 2025 earnings, fueled by standout subscriber and MAU growth. In the first half of 2025, subscriber net additions grew mor...
29/07/2025
Idag rapporterar vi resultatet f r andra kvartalet 2025, med stark tillv xt av antalet prenumeranter och m natliga aktiva anv ndare. Under f rsta halv ret kade...
28/07/2025
Summer is here, and whether you're road-tripping, relaxing poolside, or hosting friends for a backyard barbecue, the right soundtrack can make every moment ...
28/07/2025
In 2021, Spotify launched Amplifika in Brazil as a dedicated program to foster t...
28/07/2025
Summer is the perfect time to dive into a new story, whether you're on the move or just looking for an escape. With Spotify Premium, eligible listeners in s...
25/07/2025
Southeast Asia's music scene is one of the most culturally diverse and it's not just growing, it's exploding. Here, listeners actively champion home...
25/07/2025
Just in time for the release of Happy Gilmore 2, Netflix is turning to Spotify t...
23/07/2025
The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and the soundtrack of summer keeps evolving. Back in May, Spotify's global editors kicked off the season with ou...
23/07/2025
To celebrate the release of KAROL G's acclaimed new album, Tropicoqueta, Spo...
23/07/2025
In June, Spotify and Miley Cyrus tangoed in Paris during an unforgettable evenin...
22/07/2025
After legendary blink-182 drummer and producer Travis Barker survived a horrific, life-threatening plane crash in 2008, his doctors told him he may never walk o...
22/07/2025
In Southeast Asia, music isn't just a backdrop, it's a force that pulses through generations, communities, and cultures. It's the sound of late-nigh...
17/07/2025
Spotify's goal with audiobooks is to help grow the publishing industry and create the best possible experience for booklovers, which is why we're launch...
16/07/2025
Spotify's podcast editorial team is always on the hunt for shows and episodes that spark conversation, push boundaries, and keep us coming back for more. As...
15/07/2025
Spotify une fuerzas con DiDi, la app l der en servicios de movilidad, delivery y...
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...