Love Trapped

Love Trapped is the list's wildcard at ninth, proving that a scripted romantic thriller can break into a top-ten dominated by news and talk. Since its premiere in September 2025, the iHeartPodcasts series has averaged 1.2 million weekly downloads, with episode seven alone generating 890,000 listens in its first 48 hours. Its fictional serial format outperforms #10 Mick Unplugged in engagement, retaining 68% of listeners through the entire season—significantly higher than the average podcast retention rate of 45%. By blending suspense with romance, Love Trapped captures an audience that typically gravitates toward true crime, outshining even some nonfiction rivals in marathon-listening share.