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The Top Podcasts Gen Z Is Listening To in 2025
Podcasts are basically Gen Z’s love language in 2025. They’re more than just background noise. We stream them like comfort food, binge them like Netflix shows, and share them like memes. For a generation that craves authenticity and community, podcasts hit different. They’re where news feels digestible, where advice feels like a FaceTime with a bestie, and where niche passions (from hoops to politics) feel like belonging.
I didn’t realize how much they shaped my own day until I caught myself switching between The Daily while getting ready, Call Her Daddy on a walk, and Tea With GenZ before bed. It’s like a rotating playlist of vibes and perspectives. Here’s the real breakdown of Gen Z’s 2025 podcast culture, and the shows we can’t stop streaming.
Quick Picks: Gen Z's Podcast Playlist by Category
If you’re overwhelmed by the endless podcast choices out there, here’s the cheat sheet. These are the go-to’s by vibe and category:
- Best for News on the Go: The Daily – Quick, sharp, and story-driven updates that won’t bore you.
- Best for Pop Culture & Memes: Tea With GenZ – Feels like hanging in a group chat about the internet’s wildest moments.
- Best for Sports & Ambition: Gen Z Hoops – Basketball plus career inspo equals a winning combo.
- Best for True Crime Junkies: Crime Junkie – Suspenseful stories that fuel solo runs or late-night listening.
- Best for Raw, Unfiltered Conversations: Call Her Daddy – Viral moments, relationship talk, and honesty that hits.
- Best for Lifestyle & Self-Discovery: Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain – A comforting escape with relatable rants.
- Best for Political Takes That Don’t Suck: Next Generation Politics Podcast – Bite-sized, youth-led, and surprisingly fun.
Consider this your podcast starter pack for 2025.
Crime Junkie: The Suspense Staple
True crime stays undefeated. Crime Junkie delivers suspense without making it feel too polished or heavy. Gen Z listeners love the casual storytelling style that makes murder mysteries feel like late-night convos with friends. Whether it’s solo listening on a jog or dissecting cases during dorm room debates, this podcast sparks conversations that last longer than the episode itself.
Call Her Daddy: The Unfiltered Confessional
Alex Cooper continues her reign with Call Her Daddy, now Gen Z’s #1 show among college students. Her raw, vulnerable takes on relationships, sexuality, and identity resonate deeply. Gen Z gravitates to unfiltered honesty, and Cooper’s mix of humor, oversharing, and viral quotables makes the show more than just entertainment...it’s social currency. Clips trend on TikTok within hours, creating digital campfires where everyone has an opinion.
The Daily: Staying Informed, Gen Z Style
Gen Z might scroll TikTok for news, but we still want reliable breakdowns, and The Daily nails it. The New York Times podcast takes overwhelming headlines and transforms them into bite-sized, human stories. It’s the perfect fit for our routines: streaming it on bus rides, walks to class, or while cooking ramen. It’s news that respects our time and doesn’t feel robotic.
Gen Z Hoops: Where Sports Meet Ambition
Basketball isn’t just a sport for Gen Z...it’s culture. Gen Z Hoops taps into that by blending insider sports talk with career advice, athlete interviews, and stories that go beyond the court. For a generation obsessed with hustle culture but allergic to fake motivation, this podcast feels like a mentorship chat with big-brother energy. It’s sports, but relatable.
Next Generation Politics Podcast: Youth Voices in Action
This show is proof that civic engagement is cool now. Gen Z’s activism has skyrocketed, and Next Generation Politics Podcast gives it a platform. The episodes are short, biweekly, and designed for TikTok-era attention spans while still delivering depth. With creator interviews and youth-led analysis, it makes politics accessible without dumbing it down.
Tea With GenZ: Pop Culture With a Twist
Imagine group chat energy turned into a podcast. That’s Tea With GenZ. It’s where memes, TikTok drama, and pop culture meet deeper convos about what trends say about us. The YouTuber-style banter makes it perfect for chilling after class, while the honesty keeps it from feeling like fluff. For Gen Z, it’s both entertainment and reflection.
Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain: The Relatable Escape
Emma Chamberlain is basically the older sister of Gen Z, and her podcast is the audio equivalent of a sleepover. In 2025, her unscripted rants about burnout, friendship drama, and existential dread feel comforting. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and that’s exactly why we keep listening. It feels less like a polished show and more like catching up with a friend who gets it.
Why Gen Z Loves Podcasts Right Now
- Multitasking Fit: Podcasts slide into daily routines. Streamed on Spotify during workouts or on YouTube while doing chores. YouTube’s dominance in 2025 changed how we consume podcasts, making them as visual as they are auditory.
- Authentic Hosts: Gen Z doesn’t vibe with perfection. Hosts who show flaws, laugh at themselves, or admit struggles make us feel seen.
- Flexible Formats: From 15-minute mini-episodes to hour-long deep dives, podcasts let us choose our level of commitment. Perfect for busy schedules and scattered attention spans.
- Community Feel: Podcasts aren’t just content, they’re conversation starters. Whether it’s Discord groups, TikTok reactions, or campus debates, they fuel real connections.
More Than Background Noise
Podcasts in 2025 are cultural lifelines. They give comfort during solo commutes, spark debates at dinner tables, and offer companionship during late-night study sessions. They reflect Gen Z’s hunger for authenticity, relatability, and belonging.
The shows we love—whether it’s true crime, political breakdowns, or Emma Chamberlain venting about life—aren’t just entertainment. They’re mirrors of how Gen Z wants to connect: honestly, messily, and together.
Stay connected with more insights from the evolving soundscape of Gen Z culture at Woke Waves Magazine.
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