Apple Podcasts presents the Better of 2021

November 30, 2021

UPDATE

Apple Podcasts presents the Better of 2021

Apple celebrates this 12 months’s finest and hottest podcasts and their creators

Annually, Apple acknowledges the very best and hottest podcasts for his or her distinctive content material, distinctive capability to have interaction audiences, and innovation in craft, spanning manufacturing, presentation, sound design, and extra, that develop the definition of podcasting and deepen its affect on listeners worldwide. This 12 months, Apple Podcasts Better of 2021 options reveals and creators that supplied listeners with a strong sense of connection in a difficult and unsure time, curated by Apple Podcasts’ world-class editorial workforce.

Apple Podcasts is happy to acknowledge “A Slight Change of Plans” with Maya Shankar from Pushkin Industries as Finest Present of the Yr, and “Something for Selena” with Maria Garcia from WBUR and Futuro Studios as Newcomer of the Yr. These deeply private but universally relatable reveals grapple with profound change, perceptions of identification and self-worth, and the that means of belonging, with thought-provoking discussions that mirror the human expertise.

“2021 marked the beginning of a brand new chapter for podcasting with reveals that moved us in methods in contrast to ever earlier than,” stated Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice chairman of Apple Music and Beats. “We’re honored to acknowledge the outstanding creators who’re redefining podcasting with this 12 months’s finest reveals, and to assist extra listeners all over the world uncover, get pleasure from, and help their inspiring work.”

Finest Present of the Yr: “A Slight Change of Plans” with Maya Shankar

Maya Shankar is not any stranger to alter. Earlier than she was a cognitive scientist who based the White Home Behavioral Science Crew and served as the primary Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations, she had a distinct plan. “My entire childhood revolved across the violin, however that modified in a second after I injured my hand enjoying a single notice,” stated Shankar, who was a scholar of Itzhak Perlman at The Juilliard College on the time. “I used to be pressured to try to determine who I used to be, and who I might be, with out it.”

“A Slight Change of Plans” blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human habits to assist listeners navigate their very own huge change. “It’s straightforward for us to really feel overwhelmed by any given change. I’ve typically discovered myself considering, ‘I’ve by no means gone by means of this explicit change earlier than — what do I do?’” Shankar stated. “However whereas our modifications might seem completely different on the floor, cognitive science teaches us that the methods we use to navigate these modifications will be fairly comparable. Which is heartening to understand! It means we are able to study from modifications that don’t appear like ours.”

The present options tales about all types of change, from Tiffany Haddish discussing how she navigated the foster care system and found that she had a uncommon present that will change her life, to John Elder Robison, who underwent experimental mind remedy to try to improve his emotional sensitivity. The present dives deep into the science of change with consultants like Adam Grant and Angela Duckworth, and options illuminating conversations with Oscar-nominated actor Riz Ahmed, Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves, skilled rock climber Tommy Caldwell, and different real-life inspirations like Shankar herself, who had her personal slight change of plans earlier this 12 months.

Newcomer of the Yr: “Something for Selena” with Maria Garcia

“Something for Selena” asks profound questions on belonging. “I cherished Selena since I used to be 7 years previous,” stated journalist Maria Garcia. “I couldn’t articulate this after I was youthful, however I felt a profound sense that she mattered — not simply due to her music, however due to her expansive cultural affect.”

That set Garcia on a private quest, main her to ask questions on Latino fatherhood, fraught relationships with race and language, and her personal identification. “We tried to make that means of Selena’s life and legacy,” she stated. “I wished to put in writing her a love letter, an ode, a ravishing story.”

“We began manufacturing in the summertime of 2020,” Garcia added. “I recorded the present with simply my microphone and MacBook in my walk-in closet, which we padded for crisp sound, so the podcast actually got here collectively within the thick of the pandemic. It felt pure to make use of the instruments of my craft — rigorous reporting, weak storytelling, cultural evaluation — to do Selena’s legacy justice, to show that she left an indelible mark on Latino identification and American belonging. And so many individuals wrote to inform me that the podcast made them really feel seen.”

Along with Finest Present of the Yr and Newcomer of the Yr, Apple acknowledged a curated assortment of reveals and episodes that outlined and mirrored 2021.

Reveals of the Yr

“A Children E-book About: The Podcast” with Matthew Winner, for taking a considerate, pleasant, and thought of method to explaining the large issues in life — worry, failure, and divorce, for example — but additionally activism, sharing, and cash, to youngsters.

“Something Goes with Emma Chamberlain,” for making listeners really feel as if they’re her finest pal, serving to them by means of doubt and unhappiness along with her distinctive frankness, eager observations, and real affection.

“Good Inside with Dr. Becky,” for Becky Kennedy’s calming, validating voice to folks in all places, acknowledging that if this time (and parenting typically) feels laborious, that’s as a result of it’s.

“Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang” from Will Ferrell’s Huge Cash Gamers Community, for a joyfully escapist expertise that takes listeners on a unusual, hilarious, and unforgettable journey into the beating coronary heart of tradition.

“Pantsuit Politics” with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, for providing a novel method to the information and politics by means of grace-filled conversations that unpack the legitimate, difficult, laborious variations that persist on this second.

“Teenager Remedy” with Gael Aitor, Kayla Suarez, Mark Hugo, and Thomas Pham, for reminding everybody that direct, weak conversations amongst pals — irrespective of the difficulty — is the very best medication.

“The Experiment” from The Atlantic and WNYC Studios with Julia Longoria, for elucidating the notion that international locations — like individuals — are unfinished works in progress, and facilitating a dialogue about what it means to be a citizen.

“The Midnight Miracle” from Luminary with Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle, for a very authentic expertise that transports listeners into the room with outstanding vitality from its hosts and really particular company.

“This Land” from Crooked Media with Rebecca Nagle, for investigating and explaining the experiences of Native People to recontextualize America’s understanding of its personal historical past.

“U Up?” with Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid, for exploring the very actual — typically hilarious — considerations of looking for a associate, with banter that retains listeners coming again irrespective of their relationship standing.

Episodes of the Yr

“A Pleasant Ghost Story,” a couple of painful, private ghosting expertise that explores the complexity of human relationships, from “Invisibilia” with Yowei Shaw and Kia Miakka Natisse by NPR.

“Bubba Wallace,” from Membership Shay Shay by FOX Sports activities, which sees host Shannon Sharpe and Bubba Wallace, a Daytona 500 runner-up and the primary African American driver to win Rookie of the Yr in a NASCAR collection, talk about the intersection of sports activities, politics, leisure, and humanity.

“Wonderful Basterds,” about an opportunity encounter with Paul Rudd at a movie show that causes a previously religious Jehovah’s Witness to rethink her future and embark on a brand new life, from “Storytime with Seth Rogen” by Earwolf.

“How Do I Love Somebody?” a nonfiction rom-com about love through the pandemic, from “WILD” with Megan Tan by LAist Studios and KPCC.

“My Mother and father, Ellen and Tom,” a clear-eyed gem of an episode that sees host Ian Coss look at divorce by interviewing his dad and mom about how and why their marriage ended with out anger or recrimination, from “Endlessly is a Lengthy Time.”

“The Physique Mass Index,” concerning the difficult historical past of the BMI and the “weight problems epidemic,” from “Upkeep Section” with Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes.

“The Folks within the Neighborhood,” which examines the homicide of George Floyd by means of the neighbors who bore witness to it, from “Nonetheless Processing” with Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris by the New York Instances.

“The Symphony,” a mesmerizing, lyrical journey that includes Kevin Hart, Questlove, Mo Amer, Invoice Burr, Pras, Michelle Wolf, and Jon Stewart, from “The Midnight Miracle” with Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle, by Luminary.

“The Unwritten Guidelines of Black TV,” which traces the cyclical, uneven historical past of Black illustration on tv, from “The Experiment” with Hannah Giorgis by The Atlantic and WNYC Studios.

“This Unusual Story,” about individuals who have been utterly minimize off from the world when 9/11 occurred and the way they processed it, from “9/12” with Dan Taberski by Amazon Music, Wondery, and Pineapple Avenue Studios.

Apple Podcasts Charts

Apple Podcasts additionally revealed new charts in the present day, highlighting the preferred new reveals, free channels, and particular person reveals and channels with subscriptions that launched this 12 months within the US. Listeners can browse these new charts, plus these for all High Reveals and High Episodes, at apple.co/podcasts.

High New Reveals

1. “We Can Do Laborious Issues with Glennon Doyle”
2. “Mommy Doomsday” with Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC
3. “The Apology Line” with Marissa Bridge from Wondery
4. “Dr. Dying Season 3: Miracle Man” with Laura Beil from Wondery
5. “Murdaugh Murders” with Mandy Matney
6. “O.C. Swingers” with Justine Harman
7. “The Ezra Klein Present” from New York Instances Opinion
8. “Suspect” with Eric Benson and Matthew Shaer from Wondery and Campside Media
9. “Darkish Historical past” with Bailey Sarian
10. “Unraveled” with Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen from discovery+

High Free Channels

1. audiochuck
2. The New York Instances
3. iHeartPodcast Community
4. Dateline NBC
5. Barstool Sports activities
6. ABC Information
7. ESPN
8. Precisely Proper
9. Crooked Media
10. TED Audio Collective

High Subscriptions

Particular person Reveals

1. “Dangerous Blood: The Last Chapter” with John Carreyrou
2. “The Simply Sufficient Household” with Ariel Levy
3. “U Up?” with Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid
4. “Contemporary Air” with Terry Gross
5. “The Handoff” with Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo
6. “How I Constructed This” with Man Raz
7. “Chameleon” with Josh Dean, Vanessa Grigoriadis and Trevor Aaronson
8. “Food plan Begins Tomorrow” with Aleen Dreksler and Sami Sage
9. “Planet Cash” with Amanda Aronczyk, Erika Beras, Mary Childs, Jacob Goldstein, Sarah Gonzalez, Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi and Kenny Malone
10. “Swindled” with A Involved Citizen

Channels

1. Wondery
2. Luminary
3. Sword and Scale
4. Tenderfoot TV
5. QCODE
6. Pushkin Industries
7. Crucial Leisure
8. Radiotopia
9. Realm
10. The Athletic

About Apple Podcasts

Apple took podcasts mainstream greater than 15 years in the past, serving to inform, entertain, and encourage tons of of hundreds of thousands of listeners worldwide with gripping tales and recent views. Apple Podcasts is the very best place for listeners to find and revel in their favourite podcasts, that includes hundreds of thousands of reveals in additional than 100 languages. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions is the simplest approach for listeners to help their favourite creators and unlock premium content material and extra advantages, together with early entry, additional episodes, and ad-free listening. Apple Podcasts is accessible without cost in over 170 international locations and areas on iPhone, iPad, iPod contact, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod and HomePod mini, CarPlay, iTunes on Home windows, Amazon Alexa, and different sensible audio system and automobile programs. Extra data is accessible at apple.com/apple-podcasts.

Press Contacts

Zach Kahn

Apple

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(669) 276-2811

Apple Media Helpline

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(408) 974-2042