Who’s Hot in Podcasting Now (and Exactly How They’re Doing It)
Short answer: The creators winning right now act like social-first storytellers. They build trust with personal POVs, engineer clippable moments on purpose, and run a tight, repeatable distribution stack. Below you’ll find who’s doing it, why it works, and a step-by-step playbook you can use to grow—and evolve your voice.
What “doing it now” looks like
Clip-first, pod-second: Short clips pull people in; the podcast keeps them.
Personal POV > safe takes: They’re specific, candid, and a little spicy.
Tight packaging: Hooks, titles, and thumbnails that promise tension or payoff.
Relentless distribution: Reels/TikTok/Shorts → YouTube full → audio apps → newsletter.
Mini bios (brand & social lens) + “recent vs. early” episode picks
Lauryn & Michael Bosstick — The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her
Why they win: A hybrid of wellness, beauty, and business with sharp, practical takeaways, optimised for YouTube and social clips. They also cross-pollinate with Dear Media creators and package every episode with timestamps, resources, and guest links.
Recent example: #903 with Dr. Terry & Heather Dubrow (GLP-1s, cosmetic procedures, relationship advice)—a timely, search-friendly topic with clear clip moments. Dear Media
Early example: Their 2016 intro-era episodes set the candid, co-host vibe (blog archive still live). The Skinny Confidential+1
Steal this: Build evergreen + timely mix (evergreen “how-to” + timely cultural hook).
Emma Chamberlain — anything goes
Why she wins: Intimate solo monologues that feel like a voice memo, deep parasocial trust. Video-first on Spotify, consistent “advice session” series for predictable clips.
Recent example: “i am a hypocrite” (new this week) — title with vulnerability signal + clear cold-open hook. Spotify
Early/format context: Running since 2019; twice-weekly cadence with video has become part of the brand promise. Apple Podcasts
Steal this: Use series labels (“advice session,” “hot takes”) so fans know what they’re getting—and so clips are easy to batch.
Alix Earle — Hot Mess
Why she wins: FYP-native storytelling—GRWMs, chaos, and celeb-adjacent life updates. Even in breaks/format shifts, she keeps the audience warm via YouTube and social.
Recent context: Season drops and YouTube vlogs keep the brand alive between audio pushes. YouTube
Early example: Launched Sept. 21, 2023; “episode 1” moment documented across socials. shuspectrum.com+1
Steal this: When your show is young or on pause, keep the pipeline (YouTube shorts, vlogs, IG stories) so your next episode lands hot.
Amanda Hirsch — Not Skinny But Not Fat
Why she wins: Pop-culture heat, fast. She catches celebrity storylines while they’re peaking, then lands guest POVs that travel on social.
Recent flavor: Ongoing A- to B-list guest mix keeps Tuesdays sticky and clippable. iHeart
Early context: Running since 2018/2019; built from Instagram voice → pod authority. Apple Podcasts+1
Steal this: Ride the wave, then book the wave. Clip the story, then bring on someone in the storyline to react.
Steven Bartlett — The Diary of a CEO
Why he wins: Deep, cinematic interviews + a full media flywheel (book, events, AI spinoffs). Thumbnails and titles are tension-heavy; the storytelling is deliberate.
Recent example: Brené Brown conversation (leadership, trust)—evergreen yet trending in business feeds. Brené Brown
Early example: Episode 1 (2017): personal diary-style—shows how format evolved from solo to marquee interviews. Spotify+1
Steal this: Evolve format with scale. Start solo, add “moments,” then swing to premium guests as your pipeline grows.
Jay Shetty — On Purpose
Why he wins: Helpful, structured takeaways and celebrity/expert balance; strong newsletter and tour extensions.
Recent example: Live iHeart episode (Oct 2025) on saying “no” and reframing adversity—clean clips with universal hooks. iHeart
Early example: First episode (2019) with Radhi—personal, values-led, and human. Spotify
Steal this: Build signature frameworks (“3 habits…”, “5 steps…”) that slice neatly into Shorts/Reels.
Jake Shane — Therapuss with Jake Shane
Why he wins: A twist on talk: celebrity guests help answer listener dilemmas—therapy-adjacent, funny, and highly clippable. Celeb roster fuels discovery.
Recent examples: Sessions with Hilary Duff, Glen Powell, Rachel Sennott, Banks—celebrity-driven clips that travel. Spotify+3YouTube+3Spotify+3
Early context: Launched Jan 2024 off the viral “Tell Me What’s Wrong” series; fast path to A-list bookings. Apple Podcasts+1
Steal this: Format flip. Let fans ask the questions and have the celebrity co-solve—every answer is a clip.
The repeatable patterns (so you can copy them)
Hook → story → payoff in 60 seconds. Open with the “thing you’d clip.”
Own a lane. Pick a clear vibe (dating candor, wellness/business, introspective solo, celeb culture, founder psychology).
Pre-plan “clip questions.” Literally write 5 prompts designed to produce headlines, one-liners, or “oh wow” moments.
Parasocial depth. Add a 15–30s personal cold open before guest intros.
Guest laddering. Peers → niche stars → mainstream names as your clips perform.
Distribution stack. Reels/TikTok/Shorts daily → YT full → audio → newsletter recap.
Packaging discipline. Titles promise tension (“I did X so you don’t have to”), thumbnails show emotion, timestamps reward scanners.
Monetization snapshots (how they likely do it)
Integrated host-reads: Conversational, value-first midrolls that feel like friend tips (TSC is a masterclass). Dear Media
YouTube rev: Long-form + Shorts revenue as volume grows. YouTube
Products & books: Courses, live tours, and books (Shetty, Bartlett). Jay Shetty+1
Events/IRL: Live tapings, meetups, premium Q&As. iHeart
Affiliates/commerce: Roundups and show notes drive trackable sales (TSC ecosystem). Dear Media
Premium tiers: Ad-free, early access, bonus episodes.
Your “this week” clip & social plan
5-Clip Rule per episode:
1 “headline” (confession, reveal, counter-intuitive lesson)
2 “story” (a before/after, an origin moment)
1 “LOL” (true levity)
1 “insight” (framework or step-by-step)
Trojan captions: Lead with the quote or payoff, not the setup.
Recurring segments: Train the audience (e.g., “2 Red Flags & 1 Green,” “3 Things I Learned”).
Community prompts: End clips with a question you’ll actually answer in comments.
Title formula: Tension + Specific + Short → “I Swapped My Phone for 7 Days—Here’s What Broke.”
How to develop your voice (even if you’re new)
Voice triangle: topic × tone × take. You need all three.
Pick your spice level: Candid → unfiltered → vulnerable (choose what’s sustainable).
Reps over perfection: Record 10 five-minute voice notes. Transcribe, highlight what sounds like you, and spin 3 short solo episodes.
Guardrails doc: Words you use/avoid, your “why,” and your “no-go” zones. This keeps you bold and safe.
The starter playbook (step-by-step)
Choose a lane + format: Solo, co-host, or interview—and who it’s for.
Write a Clip Map: 5 intentional moments you plan to create.
Cold-open the hook: 15–25s before music/intro.
Edit for clips first; then export the full episode.
Ship the stack: Shorts/Reels/TikTok (daily), YouTube full, audio apps, newsletter recap.
Measure 30s retention (shorts), CTR (thumbs/titles), saves/comments (quality).
Iterate weekly; ladder up guests every 4–6 weeks.
CTA: Learn with us, in public
If you love social and want to grow and evolve your voice, subscribe, follow our journey, and join the newsletter. We’ll share teardown threads, clip maps, and behind-the-scenes experiments you can swipe for your show.
