Edison Research’s latest podcast rankings offer a familiar top tier, but one sports show is making real noise. The Herd with Colin Cowherd delivered one of the biggest headlines in Edison Podcast Metrics for Q1 2026. The show reached a record high among weekly podcast listeners ages 13+.
That climb comes amid heightened attention around Colin Cowherd, who recently faced some criticism after launching an AI version of himself. Despite the noise, audience interest clearly hasn’t dipped.
Sports audio also showed strength across the board. Edison reports seven sports-specific podcasts landed inside the Top 50, reinforcing the category’s continued growth and relevance. The category was led by New Heights w/Jason & Travis Kelce ranking at number ten.
Other notable sports podcasts include Club Shay Shay (#33), Pardon My Take (#41), The Bill Simmons Podcast (#42), Millon Dollaz Worth of Game (#47), and Nightcap (#48).
At the top of the chart, little changed.
The Joe Rogan Experience, Crime Junkie, and The Daily held the top three spots. The top six shows remained unchanged from Q4 2025. Movement did occur just below that tier. Dateline NBC climbed two spots, while MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories jumped eight positions.
One of the biggest quarter-to-quarter surges came from Good Hang with Amy Poehler. The show vaulted from 38th to 13th after winning the Golden Globe for Best Podcast. It marks the second straight quarter the show has reached a new peak.
Additional gains came from The Mel Robbins Podcast, Up First, and Armchair Expert.
Other notable developments included The Giggly Squad entering the Top 50 for the first time. The Dan Bongino Show also returned after a brief hiatus.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
