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.