How to Find New Podcasts: 12 Best Ways to Discover Shows (2026)

There are over 5 million podcasts available today. The problem isn't finding podcasts—it's finding the right ones for you. Here are the 12 most effective ways to discover shows you'll actually want to listen to.

1. Browse Podcast Directories by Category

The simplest way to find new podcasts is to browse by topic. Most podcast apps and directories organize shows into categories like:

• Business & Entrepreneurship
• Technology & AI
• True Crime
• Science
• Comedy, News, Health, History, and more

Pro tip: PodBrief's directory lets you browse 10,000+ episodes by topic with AI-powered summaries, so you can preview episodes before committing.

2. Check Podcast Charts & Top Lists

Podcast platforms publish daily and weekly charts showing the most popular shows:

• Apple Podcasts Charts – The industry standard for podcast popularity
• Spotify Top Podcasts – Reflects Spotify's massive listener base
• Chartable – Aggregates charts across multiple platforms

Why charts work: Popular shows are popular for a reason—high production value, consistent quality, engaging hosts.

3. Ask Your Favorite Podcasts for Recommendations

Many podcast hosts recommend other shows they love, especially:

• In episode outros – "If you enjoyed this, check out..."
• Guest appearances – Guests often host their own podcasts
• Cross-promotions – Podcasters in the same network promote each other

4. Follow Guest Appearances

When you hear a great guest on a podcast, search for other episodes they've been on. Many interesting people appear on multiple shows.

Example: Naval Ravikant has been featured on The Tim Ferriss Show, Lex Fridman, and many others. Each interview offers different insights.

5. Use AI-Powered Discovery Tools

Modern podcast discovery tools use AI to match shows to your interests:

• PodBrief – Browse AI summaries of 10,000+ episodes organized by topic and show
• Listen Notes – Search engine for podcast episodes with AI recommendations
• Podchaser – Podcast database with user ratings and recommendations

6. Search for Podcasts About Specific Topics

Instead of browsing broad categories, search for specific niches:

• "Podcasts about stoicism"
• "Best podcasts for product managers"
• "Podcasts about space exploration"
• "Comedy podcasts with celebrity interviews"

Google, podcast apps, and dedicated podcast search engines all support these queries.

7. Join Podcast Communities on Reddit

Reddit has active communities for podcast discovery:

• r/podcasts – General podcast recommendations
• r/podcastrecommendations – Dedicated to discovery
• Topic-specific subreddits – r/truecrimepodcasts, r/sciencepodcasts, etc.

8. Check "People Also Listened To" Recommendations

Both Apple Podcasts and Spotify show "Listeners also enjoyed" or similar sections on podcast pages. These algorithmic recommendations are surprisingly accurate.

9. Follow Podcast Critics and Curators

Some people make it their job to find great podcasts:

• Podcast newsletters – Hot Pod, The PodSheets, Podcast Business Journal
• Twitter/X curators – Follow podcast journalists and critics
• Podcast awards – Check nominees for categories you like (Ambies, Webbys, etc.)

10. Sample "Best Of" Lists

Media outlets and blogs publish annual "best podcasts" lists:

• Best Finance Podcasts 2026
• Best Technology Podcasts 2026
• Best Marketing Podcasts 2026

These curated lists save you from sorting through thousands of shows yourself.

11. Listen to Podcast Networks

Major podcast networks produce multiple high-quality shows:

• NPR – News, science, culture (The Daily, Hidden Brain, Planet Money)
• Wondery – True crime, history, business stories
• Gimlet – Narrative podcasts (Reply All, StartUp)
• The Ringer – Sports, pop culture, entertainment

If you like one show from a network, explore their other productions.

12. Ask Friends What They're Listening To

The oldest method still works. Personal recommendations from people who know your taste are often the most accurate.

The Fastest Way to Discover Podcasts: PodBrief

Traditional podcast discovery has one major problem: you have to listen to know if it's good.

PodBrief solves this by giving you AI-powered summaries of 10,000+ episodes. You can:

• Browse by topic – Business, tech, science, true crime, and more
• Read summaries in 2 minutes – No need to listen to full episodes
• Discover hidden gems – Find great episodes buried in long-running shows
• Save hours of time – Preview before committing to a full listen

Final Thoughts

Finding new podcasts doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start with one or two methods that match your style—whether that's browsing categories, checking charts, or using AI-powered tools like PodBrief.

The key is to preview before you commit. Read summaries, check episode descriptions, and sample a few minutes before subscribing. Your perfect podcast is out there—you just need the right tools to find it.