Apple on Tuesday published its showcase of this year’s best and most popular podcasts in the United States. It also called 2021 a year for “shows that moved us in ways unlike ever before.”
A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar has been named the Best Show of the Year, while Anything for Selena with Maria Garcia is Apple’s Newcomer of the Year.
The biggest and best podcasts of the year
Apple stepped up its support for podcasts in 2021, making big improvements to the Podcasts app and introducing Podcasts Subscriptions, which allow listeners to support their favorite shows in more than 170 countries, for the first time.
Bad Blood: The Final Chapter, The Just Enough Family, and U Up? are the top three subscription shows of 2021, while We Can Do Hard Things, Mommy Doomsday, and The Apology Line are the top new shows.
A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar, which “blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help listeners navigate their own big change,” was named by Apple as 2021’s best show.
Anything for Selena with Maria Garcia, which “asks profound questions about belonging,” was named as the best newcomer.
‘A new chapter for podcasting’
“2021 marked the start of a new chapter for podcasting with shows that moved us in ways unlike ever before,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats.
“We are honored to recognize the phenomenal creators who are redefining podcasting with this year’s best shows, and to help more listeners around the world discover, enjoy, and support their inspiring work.”
Find out more about 2021’s hottest podcasts, and all the others that Apple has recognized for their success throughout the year, on the company’s website.
