Choosing a podcast category might seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of launching your show — but don’t underestimate its impact.
The right category not only makes your podcast easier to find but also boosts its chances of climbing the charts and attracting new listeners.
In this guide, we’ll break down how podcast categories work and how to pick the right one for your show.
Podcast categories are labels that tell podcast directories, like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, where to list your show.
When you upload your podcast through a hosting platform, you’ll need to select at least one category to generate an RSS feed.
At the moment, no. YouTube doesn’t use specific categories to organise podcasts. Instead, it relies on reading your video content, titles, tags, and analysing viewer behaviour to recommend videos to the right audience. So, you can just let the algorithm do its thing for you!
Think of podcast categories like the sections in a bookstore. If you're looking for a new romance novel, you’d head straight to the romance section instead of wandering around aimlessly.
The same applies to podcasts. If your podcast isn’t categorised correctly, you’re effectively shelving your book in the wrong part of the store, making it harder for your target audience to find you.
Choosing the right podcast category helps with:
1. Discoverability
Your podcast’s metadata allows algorithms to recommend your show to listeners actively searching for content in that category.
2. Podcast chart rankings
Podcast directories rank shows within each category, and being high on the charts in a specific category can boost your visibility.
Feeling unsure about where your show should sit? Here’s a simple framework to help you narrow it down:
Think about your central theme. If you mainly talk about dogs on your podcast, ‘Pets & Animals’ is probably the best fit.
Consider the listener’s perspective: What are they expecting to hear when they hit play? Are they tuning in to learn about parenting with some humour on the side, or is it a comedy show that not just parents will enjoy?
Take a look at other podcasts in your niche. What categories are they listed under? If there’s a pattern, that’s a strong sign that you might want to follow suit.
It can also be helpful at this point to consider whether you’re trying to reach a broad, general audience or a niche, highly engaged one.
Broader categories tend to work well for podcasts likely to attract a large audience, but niche categories help smaller or specialist shows get noticed faster. So if you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to niche down to meet your audience where they’re at.
🧠 Remember: Your first category matters most. Choose your strongest match there, ideally in categories that are a little less saturated as it’s easier to chart there.
For example, the climate change podcast, Fossil vs Future, only had a few hundred downloads in its first few days, yet it managed to hit number 10 in the Science and Nature category.
If no category feels like a match, it could be a sign that your show needs some repositioning.
Podcast categories are built around what audiences are already searching for. If your show doesn’t fit within any existing category, it might struggle to find an audience. A slight pivot could make a big difference in making your podcast more discoverable.
The most popular British podcast genre is reported to be Humour/Comedy (38%), closely followed by True Crime (30%), Sport (30%), Chat/Conversational (27%), and News (22%).
The least popular genres in the study include Arts (9%), Fashion (10%), Fiction (12%), Business (13%), and Technology (13%).
Choosing the right podcast category isn’t just a box to tick during the upload process — it’s how you get your show in front of the right people.
The bottom line? Pick a category that feels authentic to your show and the audience you are trying to reach, back it up with great episodes and let the algorithms do their thing!
Need some support with launching your podcast? Get expert support from Podshop today.
