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UPDATE November 30, 2021
Each year, Apple recognizes the best and most popular podcasts for their exceptional content, unique ability to engage audiences, and innovation in craft, spanning production, presentation, sound design, and more, that expand the definition of podcasting and deepen its impact on listeners worldwide. This year, Apple Podcasts Best of 2021 features shows and creators that provided listeners with a powerful sense of connection in a challenging and uncertain time, curated by Apple Podcasts’ world-class editorial team.

Episodes of the Year

“The Symphony,” a mesmerizing, lyrical trip featuring Kevin Hart, Questlove, Mo Amer, Bill Burr, Pras, Michelle Wolf, and Jon Stewart, from “The Midnight Miracle” with Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle, by Luminary.

Apple Podcasts Charts

Top New Shows
  1. “We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle”
  2. “Mommy Doomsday” with Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC
  3. “The Apology Line” with Marissa Bridge from Wondery
  4. “Dr. Death Season 3: Miracle Man” with Laura Beil from Wondery
  5. “Murdaugh Murders” with Mandy Matney
  6. “O.C. Swingers” with Justine Harman
  7. “The Ezra Klein Show” from New York Times Opinion
  8. “Suspect” with Eric Benson and Matthew Shaer from Wondery and Campside Media
  9. “Dark History” with Bailey Sarian
  10. “Unraveled” with Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen from discovery+
Top Free Channels
  1. audiochuck
  2. The New York Times
  3. iHeartPodcast Network
  4. Dateline NBC
  5. Barstool Sports
  6. ABC News
  7. ESPN
  8. Exactly Right
  9. Crooked Media
  10. TED Audio Collective
Individual Shows
  1. “Bad Blood: The Final Chapter” with John Carreyrou
  2. “The Just Enough Family” with Ariel Levy
  3. “U Up?” with Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid
  4. “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross
  5. “The Handoff” with Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo
  6. “How I Built This” with Guy Raz
  7. “Chameleon” with Josh Dean, Vanessa Grigoriadis and Trevor Aaronson
  8. “Diet Starts Tomorrow” with Aleen Dreksler and Sami Sage
  9. “Planet Money” with Amanda Aronczyk, Erika Beras, Mary Childs, Jacob Goldstein, Sarah Gonzalez, Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi and Kenny Malone
  10. “Swindled” with A Concerned Citizen
Channels
  1. Wondery
  2. Luminary
  3. Sword and Scale
  4. Tenderfoot TV
  5. QCODE
  6. Pushkin Industries
  7. Imperative Entertainment
  8. Radiotopia
  9. Realm
  10. The Athletic

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