Spotify's Editors Pick Their Best Podcasts of the Year (So Far)

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.

LINK:	https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-07-16/spotifys-editors-pick-their-be...
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