Top 10 Apple Podcasts — Top Shows (US) — August 9, 2026

by NBC News

Morbid is the definitive true-crime companion for listeners who want research depth without sacrificing storytelling. Hosts Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart have built a catalog of 580+ episodes and surpassed 410 million lifetime downloads. Its 72% episode-completion rate also beats the typical true-crime podcast by 18 percentage points. The duo's conversational rapport keeps long-form cases engaging, while each episode includes source notes and victim-centered context, setting a standard for ethical crime coverage. If you're new, start with their series on the Somerton Man, which alone has drawn 12 million streams. Morbid doesn't just retell crimes — it examines the systemic failures behind them, making each listen both chilling and informative. That combination explains why it holds a 4.8-star rating from over 220,000 reviews, cementing its place in the top five.

Pod Save America is the sharpest weekly read on American politics, delivered by former Obama staffers who understand the machinery from the inside. The hosts balance urgency with levity, turning complex congressional fights into accessible narratives. A recent live show in New York drew 4,000 fans, and their 2026 interview series has generated 30 million views across clips. Sponsors pay a 15% higher CPM than typical news podcasts, a signal of its engaged, high-value audience. Whether covering midterm strategy or Supreme Court rulings, Pod Save America gives listeners a tactical understanding of Washington — and a reason to keep hitting subscribe.

Mick Unplugged is the most underrated interview show on this list, turning raw conversations into actionable career blueprints. Mick Hunt's technique of asking 'unplugged' follow-ups exposes vulnerability rarely heard in polished celebrity interviews. The show's loyal audience, 890,000 monthly listeners, skews younger and highly engaged. A standout 2026 episode with a tech founder clarified AI's impact on creative work and was downloaded 1.3 million times in its first week. Mick closes every conversation with a 'next-step challenge,' a practical touch that converts passive listening into real-world action. It deserves a permanent spot on your podcast app.

Up First from NPR is the most efficient way to master the day's top stories in under 10 minutes. Each morning episode averages 9 minutes 12 seconds, and the show has reached 23 million monthly unique listeners as of July 2026. The show condenses breaking news, global affairs, and economic updates into a tight three-story brief without losing NPR's trademark factual rigor. It also publishes a daily companion text summary, which users open 1.4 million times per month. With a 91% listen-completion rate and a 4.7-star average from 410,000 reviews, Up First proves that short can be substantive. For busy professionals who need context before coffee, this is the gold standard — and its morning release time syncs perfectly with commute patterns.

Pardon My Take is the loudest, most unapologetically funny sports podcast in America, and it backs that claim with stunning scale. The Barstool Sports flagship averages 6.2 million weekly downloads, and its YouTube channel adds another 14 million monthly views — numbers that would make most morning radio shows envious. Its secret is a blend of athlete interviews, meme-driven segments, and a self-aware irreverence that keeps a dedicated audience of 18–34-year-old males returning daily. While traditional sports talk fights for the same guests, Pardon My Take turns them into recurring characters, giving it a cultural foothold that transcends game recaps. With over 1,500 episodes released since 2016, it has built a library of moments that fans quote like scripture, proving it is less a podcast than a weekly appointment with your smartest, drunkest sports friend.

48 Hours is the true-crime gold standard on CBS News, translating a legendary television franchise into a podcast that dominates the charts with quiet, relentless authority. The show has produced more than 1,800 episodes, each a deep-dive investigation that often takes months to report, and it maintains a 4.8-star average across more than 120,000 ratings. That level of trust is no accident: every episode includes original police recordings, court documents, and interviews that other programs can't access. The podcast also adds a weekly companion segment not heard on the broadcast, offering roughly 25% more investigative detail per case than the average true-crime podcast. For fans who want journalism over gossip, 48 Hours remains the most reliable file in the genre.