When finishing the finale of “Stranger Things” (2016), did you ever think ‘I could watch a podcast now?’ Netflix is now your one-stop-shop for the option of watching “Squid Games” (2021), or your favorite true crime podcast.
Netflix is always on the hunt for the next ‘big thing’ to add to their streaming platform. With the virality of podcasts skyrocketing in 2025, it was not long until subscribers started to see their favorite creators on their Netflix homepages.
In January of 2026, Netflix rolled out their first batch of podcasts, exclusively to view on the streaming service. From sports talk to therapy sessions with your favorite celebrities, Netflix now has it all. Not only is the streaming service bringing the most successful podcasts from YouTube and beyond, but they have introduced some new Netflix Original Podcasts as well. “The Pete Davidson Show” (2026) and “Bridgerton: The Official Podcast” (2026) are two examples of Netflix’s new original podcasts.
While podcasts are an art form to be listened to, they have expanded in popularity with their viewership over the last year. From 2022 to 2025, the percentage of podcast listeners has grown from 49% to 54%. Further, one-in-three listeners in the United States consume their podcasts on YouTube, which makes it the most popular podcasting platform. Seeing this increase, Netflix is choosing to boost their subscriber engagement while competing with most podcasters’ original platform YouTube.
Video podcasts such as “Therapuss with Jake Shane,” (2026) are still available to listen to on Spotify, but are now available in video format, exclusively on Netflix. The first roll-out of podcasts on streaming service in early January was 43 podcasts. Everything from self-help to cooking Netflix made sure to cover all their bases.
While most of the popular podcasts Netflix has collected for their service come from Spotify, where you can listen for free (with ads), are these video podcasts going to increase in streams on a subscription-based service? With a monthly price range of $7.99-$24.99 ($7.99 for students), these podcasts might be harder to access for those without Netflix subscriptions. Additionally, Netflix believes adding these podcasts are also better for the creators – being able to personalize and modify their ad-breaks for more pleasure-filled watching.
Spotify and Netflix forged a deal early January of 2026 to bring their top performing podcasts to stream on Netflix and listen to on Spotify. “At Netflix, we’re always looking for new ways to entertain our members, wherever and however they want to watch,” says Netflix VP of Content Licensing and Programming Strategy, Lauren Smith. The pace of agreements with podcasters, to premiere dates was fast – under a month from the announcement to when viewers could enjoy the platform’s new addition.
As of the beginning of 2026, over 584.1 million people listen to podcasts, and it is predicted that the number will grow to 619 million by the end of the year. Just over 480,000 podcasts have launched in the past three months – possibly safe to assume this is why Netflix created this deal with Spotify.
Viewership might be increasing, but not without a cost — literally. Netflix’s launch of podcasts included close to every genre that listeners may be attracted to. The podcasts were all added on varying dates in late January of 2026, some of which being “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” “Conspiracy Theories,” “Stuff You Missed In History Class,” “In the Test Kitchen” and “The Psychology of your 20s”.
It is unsure when Netflix will release more podcasts to the platform, but viewers can likely expect more if Netflix’s subscribers take this new opportunity to watch/listen to more podcasts; or if this addition is the cherry on top of the consumeristic cake that keeps Netflix bringing in more money.
Ava Puelo is a second-year Media and Culture major with minors in Journalism and ASL AP1050154@wcupa.edu.