Recording a podcast about eating and reviewing food from chain restaurants sounds like a dream job, and that's exactly what Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger do with their podcast, Doughboys. While the premise seems ridiculous, the show draws in large amounts of monthly listeners and is the 53rd most popular Patreon page on the website, which is how the duo makes money off the podcast.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $700,000 in annual income
- 333 episodes and counting
- #82 on Apple Podcasts: Comedy
Pat Flynn is an online entrepreneur who created and runs the brand Smart Passive Income. While SPI is much more than just a podcast, there's no denying that Flynn's podcast of the same name is wildly popular and majorly profitable for him. Some of his biggest episodes have included other famous online entrepreneurs like Tim Ferriss and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- Estimated $1.2 million in annual earnings
- 550 episodes and counting
- #137 on Apple Podcasts: Business
Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle are the two hosts behind the wildly successful podcast True Crime Obsessed. Despite the overwhelming number of true crime podcasts out there, these two have managed to create a show that viewers just can't get enough of. Whether you're looking for gruesome crime tales or bizarre celebrity stories, True Crime Obsessed has you covered.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- Estimated $1.2 million in annual earnings
- 225 episodes and counting
- #87 on Apple podcasts
If you've never heard of Chapo Trap House, consider yourself lucky. The show, created by Will Menaker, Matt Christman, Felix Biederman, Amber A'Lee Frost, and Virgil Texas, is part of what's known as the "dirtbag left" online, and, despite bans from both Reddit and Twitch, the group has managed to make their political podcast very profitable.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- Estimated $2 million in annual earnings
- 589 episodes and counting
- #98 on Apple Podcasts: News
You never know what you're going to hear when you listen to Scott Aukerman's comedy podcast Comedy Bang Bang. The basic format for the show involves an interview with a real-life comedian or celebrity followed by another interview with one or more fictional characters played by improvisors. Despite the strangeness, Comedy Bang Bang has managed to reach millions of listeners and even spawned a seasons-long TV series of the same name.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $2 million in annual income
- 741 episodes and counting
- #118 on Apple Podcasts: Comedy
Ira Glass isn't the only NPR on-air personality who has a wildly successful podcast. Journalist Terry Gross and her radio show-turned podcast, Fresh Air, have managed to draw in millions of listeners with her interviews over the decades she's been doing the show. Originally airing all the way back in 1975, it's estimated that Fresh Air has upwards of 5 million weekly listeners today.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $3 million in annual income
- Thousands of episodes and counting
- #25 on Apple Podcasts
Marc Maron may be a comedian, but his podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, can get pretty bleak sometimes. The format is simple—Maron interviews a celebrity in his garage, and the conversation is long-ranging and can go to some pretty dark places. If you're a guest, be prepared for some uncomfortable questions! Despite its intensity, fans can't get enough of it.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $4 million in annual income
- 1211 episodes and counting
- #104 on Apple Podcasts
It seems crazy that an AM radio show would go on to be a successful podcast listened to by millions, but that's exactly what Leo Laporte managed to do with his show, The Tech Guy. Originally airing over the radio waves of Los Angeles, the show now reaches more than 500,000 listeners on the radio and through downloads.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $4 million in annual income
- 1822 episodes and counting
- #31 on Apple Podcasts: Technology
Like a couple of others on this list, Ira Glass's show, This American Life, began, not as a podcast, but as a radio show. It's been airing on NPR since 1995 and has proven to be popular both on the airwaves and digitally. If you're into soft-spoken hosts covering a wide variety of themes related to American life, this is the podcast for you.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $5 million in annual income
- 743 episodes and counting
- #22 on Apple Podcasts
Not many podcasters can say that they've turned a hit podcast into a hit TV show, but Aaron Mahnke is one of the rare few. His horror and folklore podcast, Lore, went on to be an Amazon Prime original series for multiple seasons. It's estimated that his monthly listeners number in the millions, and it's one of the most well-known scary podcasts out there.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $6 million in annual income
- 191 episodes and counting
- #124 on Apple Podcasts
If you're a fan of sports and podcasts, you're probably already familiar with Bill Simmons' wildly popular podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast. Described by some as an "ESPN replacement", the show manages to net hundreds of thousands of downloads per episode. Seeing an opportunity, Spotify quickly picked up the podcast for a ridiculous sum of money.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $7 million in annual income
- 589 episodes and counting
- #161 on Spotify Podcasts
Dax Shepard was doing just fine money-wise before his popular podcast, Armchair Expert, thanks to his successful acting career. However, he's now reaching more people than ever on the show where Shepard and his guests delve into pretty much every issue under the sun. Needless to say, his equally famous wife, Kristen Bell, has made more than a few appearances on the show.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $9 million in annual income
- 381 episodes and counting
- #68 on Apple Podcasts: Comedy
Dave Ramsey has been hosting his financial advice show, The Ramsey Show, since before podcasts were even a thing! Originally airing on the radio starting in 1992, Ramsey has been giving callers practical and heartfelt advice about their money for decades now. Currently, it's estimated that his show has more than 18 million viewers for every episode.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $10 million in annual income
- Thousands of episodes and counting
- #19 on Apple Podcasts
There are several successful true crime podcasts out there (and thousands that are much less successful...), but none come close to the behemoth that is My Favorite Murder. Hosted by actress Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the show became so successful that they left their original podcast home, the Earwolf Network, to form their own. Since then, the podcast has been more popular than ever.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $15 million in annual income
- 311 episodes and counting
- #10 on Apple Podcasts
For kids of the '90s, Joe Rogan will always be that guy from Fear Factor, but he's done quite well for himself since his days forcing people to eat pig rectums. His podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, is one of the most popular, most contentious, and longest-running podcasts in history. There never seems to be any rhyme or reason to his guest or subject choices, but he's clearly doing something right, as he recently signed a $100 million exclusivity deal with Spotify.
Here are some stats behind the success of the show:
- $30 million in annual income
- 1770 episodes and counting
- #1 on Spotify Podcasts
