Tag: Best of the year so far

Spotify’s Editors Pick Their Best Podcasts of the Year (So Far)

Spotify’s podcast editorial team is always on the hunt for shows and episodes that spark conversation, push boundaries, and keep us coming back for more. As 2025 hits its halfway mark, our editors have curated their picks for the year’s standout podcasts so far—spanning celebrity-driven interviews, deep-dive investigations, true crime, comedy, and the best in film and TV commentary.

“It would be impossible to overlook all the famous faces on our ‘Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)’ list. From Michelle Obama’s heartfelt real talk on IMO to Amy Poehler’s star-studded hangouts (did we mention Kylie Kelce and the Living Single ladies also made the cut?), shows hosted by megawatt talent have definitely stepped up their game this year,” said Rachel Selvin, Editorial and Audience Development Manager, Spotify. “But even with all the buzz around viral celebrity moments, the old rules of podcasting still hold true: A great investigation usually equals a great show. That’s why half of our picks focus on a single issue, unspooling it in all its complexity through a compassionate lens.”

From breakout new series to unforgettable episodes, here’s what topped our editors’ lists for 2025 (so far):

Best New Podcasts of 2025 (So Far)

Best Episodes of 2025 (So Far)

Best True Crime of 2025 (So Far)

Funniest Episodes of 2025 (So Far)

Best Movies of 2025 (So Far)

Best TV of 2025 (So Far)

Explore the Best of the Year (So Far) hub on Spotify to find your next favorite show or episode.

The Best Audiobooks of the Year (So Far)

We’re halfway through the year and at a perfect moment to consider which humorous, intriguing, and entertaining audiotales have captivated readers thus far in 2024. Spotify’s editors have explored the virtual book shelves to recommend the audiobooks that are making waves and are ready to add to your queue.  

 James: A Novel by Percival Everett

Narrated by Dominic Hoffman

This harrowing and darkly humorous reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. Upon discovering that he is about to be sent to New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter, Jim hatches a plan while hiding out on nearby Jackson Island. Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father and  begins the classic story of his journey by raft down the Mississippi River. While much of the familiar Huckleberry Finn remains, James paints Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion in a radical new light.


Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Narrated by Patric Gagne

Patric Gagne’s bestselling memoir explores her struggle to understand her own sociopathy and sheds light on the maligned and misunderstood mental disorder. When she was diagnosed, Gagne was told there was no treatment and no hope for a normal life. She was haunted by sociopaths in pop culture, madmen, and evil villains. But reconnecting with an old flame offered a glimpse of a brighter future. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way), she embarks on a journey to change her fate and build a life full of love and hope.

The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Creation of Tabloid Justice in America by Alex Hortis

Narrated by Erin Bennett

Polly Bodine was the first American woman put on trial for capital murder. On Christmas night 1843, shocked neighbors discovered the remains of young mother Emeline Houseman and her infant daughter, Ann Eliza. When an ambitious district attorney charged Polly Bodine—Emeline’s sister-in-law—with a double homicide, the new “penny press” exploded. Polly was the perfect media villain, and between June 1844 and April 1846, the nation was enthralled by her three trials for the “Christmas murders.” The Witch of New York is the first narrative history about the dueling trial lawyers, ruthless newsmen, and shameless hucksters who turned the case into America’s formative tabloid trial.

 Breaking Free from Broke by George Kamel

Narrated by George Kamel

Despite living in the most advanced society in history, we have less time and less money than ever before. The book explores how the path between financial stress and financial peace is littered with traps, myths, and distractions. George Kamel shares a personal story of how he broke free from debt and went from a negative net worth to a millionaire in less than a decade. Breaking Free from Broke promises that you’ll feel confident in your ability to buck the toxic money system, ditch debt, and build wealth.

Collide by Bal Khabra

Narrated by Julia Knippen, Max Meyers

Summer Preston is an honors student with ambitious graduate school plans. Aiden Crawford is a jock with only hockey on his mind. The two “collide” as part of a research project. While Summer can’t stand Aiden’s blasé approach to life and Aiden doesn’t understand why she’s 20 years old with a 25-year-plan, their bickering soon turns to bantering and their connection is hot enough to melt an ice rink.

This is just a sampling—we have lots more picks. For the full list, check out our Best of the Year (So Far) hub.