Podcast host Joe Rogan happens to be one of the most famous in the world. The Joe Rogan Experience is his show and usually does Number 1 on most podcast platforms. Something unexpected just happened though. That meant his show ceded the top spot on YouTube’s podcast chart. That show that beat him is Rotten Mango.
The Rise of Rotten Mango
True crime podcast Rotten Mango is hosted by Stephanie Soo. On TikTok and YouTube, she is also popular. Her podcast narrates real life crimes in a way it hooks people. It just became incredibly popular and recently so, when it covered a high profile trial about music star Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Updates were given from the courtroom — directly from Stephanie. What she saw and heard at the trial, she shared with everyone. The audience could feel as if they sat in court together.
After releasing four episodes about the Diddy trial, that show went viral. The first one I posted was titled ‘I spent 8 hours in a Courthouse with Diddy and this is everything he did’ and it got just over 6.5mil views. More than 3.7 million people viewed another episode. Big numbers like these pushed Rotten Mango to the top of YouTube’s podcast chart.
What Happened to Joe Rogan?
Joe Rogan’s show didn’t even make it to the top spot, even if he has almost 20 million subscribers on YouTube. He was number one at first, Rotten Mango was number three. After the Diddy episodes went viral, Stephanie’s show quickly moved up and became No. 1.
It’s a change that highlights just how quickly things can change on something like YouTube. Something new and exciting can throw even the biggest names.
Why This Matters for Podcasts
Last week YouTube launched its own official podcast chart. It’s updated Wednesday. This is just for full podcast episodes marked as podcasts on this chart. This game doesn’t count short clips or highlights. So this new system gives smaller creators a better chance to get discovered.
Until recently, you’ve probably checked out this podcast ranking on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. More than ever, however, YouTube is part of podcasting.
The True Crime Boom
There’s more than one true crime podcast, though, making a name for itself. And two other crime shows, 48 Hours and Law & Crime Sidebar, also made YouTube’s top 10. It becomes clear how much people want to read about real crime stories. They want to learn what went down with these court cases.
Now one of the most popular podcast genres is true crime. Clearly these kind of stories draw more listeners.
A Shift in Podcast Power
Joe Rogan has been at the head of the podcast chart for years. Yet, with the recent change, all things are not the same anymore. Fresh content is coming, and new creators like me are taking up where the chain was left off and marveling through the lens of their unique styles. Because Stephanie Soo told real stories with emotion and detail, hers was a hit podcast.
Podcasters are now very inclined towards YouTube, as in 2024 a study by Edison Research showed most podcast listeners now use YouTube. That’s more podcast listeners than Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It allows new voices to grow quicker and to reach an audience. Podcasting continues to be a big deal, with Joe Rogan. Success of Rotten Mango proves fame isn’t nearly as important as storytelling, timing and connecting with the crowd.
Conclusion
Rotten Mango, which successfully launched in 2014, demonstrates that podcast listeners are hungry for the next set of voices and narratives. With Stephanie Soo’s story, we see how great storytelling can land, even in the presence of all those big names. The future is for those creators who build a deep relationship with their audience, as YouTube takes over as a top podcasting platform.
