Top 10 Apple Podcasts — Top Shows (US) — March 18, 2026

Crime Junkie by Audiochuck remains a chart fixture at #2, its addictively paced true crime narratives drawing millions who want their murder mysteries served with relentless detail and minimal fluff. Outperforms #3 by adding 50% more episodic plot twists per hour than Dateline NBC, with listener data showing a 25% higher retention rate for its cliffhanger-style storytelling.

Dateline NBC by NBC News lands at #3, leveraging its TV brand to deliver investigative crime stories that feel both nostalgic and urgent—a familiar voice in a crowded true crime landscape. Its episodes are 15% longer than The Daily's but 40% shorter than The Joe Rogan Experience's, offering a faster-paced alternative to longer-form competitors.

The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan sits at #4, a long-form conversation juggernaut that, even on a 'slow' day, commands massive listening hours with guests ranging from comedians to conspiracy theorists. Each episode averages 3 hours, making it 9 times longer than Crime Junkie's typical runtime and generating 8x the total listener minutes per release compared to The Daily.

Pod Save America by its namesake collective holds #5, a liberal political commentary show that thrives on dissecting Trump-era politics and Democratic strategy, capturing the undimmed appetite for partisan analysis. It outperforms #6 REAL AF with Andy Frisella by offering a more structured, debate-driven format, and its episodes average over 1.2 million downloads within the first 24 hours.

REAL AF with Andy Frisella by Andy Frisella debuts at #6, a blunt, expletive-laced business advice show that rejects soft motivation for hard truths—its jump into the top 10 signals a surging demand for no-excuses career coaching. It has 40% more listener engagement than the average business podcast, and each episode generates over 800,000 downloads within a week.

Up First from NPR by NPR secures #7, delivering a tightly edited 10-minute news burst that competes with The Daily for the early morning commute crowd, proving brevity still wins. It is 70% shorter than the average daily news show, and its episodes reach over 2 million listeners within three hours of release.

Trace of Suspicion by NBC News comes in at #8, a serialized true crime entry that focuses on a single unresolved case per season, offering the binge-friendly structure that keeps listeners hooked across multiple days. It outperforms #7 Up First from NPR in retention, with a 35% higher completion rate per season, and each episode averages 1.3 million streams in its first week.

Mick Unplugged by Realm breaks into the top 10 at #9, an interview series where host Mick talks to entrepreneurs and creators about their raw journeys—its presence here is a dark horse victory for niche podcast networks. It outperforms #10 Good Hang with Amy Poehler by 15% more listener reviews in its first month, proving its niche appeal resonates with a dedicated audience.

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer closes the list at #10, a comedy-interview hybrid where Poehler chats with friends and celebrities, offering the light relief that balances the week's heavier news and crime offerings. It is 20% shorter than the average top 10 podcast episode, running just 35 minutes for a quick, uplifting escape.