Apple has rolled out an update to its Podcasts app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, introducing new features that streamline the process of finding content within users’ preferred genres. The update includes the addition of nine new subcategories: Mental Health, Relationships, Self-Improvement, Personal Journals, Entrepreneurship, Documentary, Parenting, Books, and Language Learning. These subcategories join the existing ones such as True Crime and Sports.
Apple has been placing increased emphasis on mental health in recent years, with the introduction of the Journal app, allowing users to document their emotions. Additionally, the company recently introduced a mood tracking feature as part of Health in iOS 17. The inclusion of the Mental Health subcategory in Podcasts, along with others like Relationships, Self-Improvement, and Personal Journals, seems to align with Apple’s focus on mental well-being.
Each subcategory comes with its own charts, displaying the top shows and episodes within a specific market. Apple explained in its Podcasts for Creators blog, “For example, a listener in the U.S. can browse the charts for Mental Health, which display the top 200 shows and top 200 episodes available in the U.S. based on a mix of listening, follows, and completion rate.”
While users cannot follow or subscribe to specific categories, the new features greatly assist in content discovery. An Apple spokesperson stated to Engadget, “The more granular categorization, which creators manage and can update at any time, certainly helps us create better editorial and algorithmic recommendations.”
In comparison, Spotify currently offers eight main podcast categories and an extensive 54 subcategories. YouTube provides 14 main podcast categories, while PocketCast offers 19, but neither platform incorporates subcategories. Apple’s inclusion of nine new subcategories, in addition to the 19 primary categories, strikes a balance by providing users with a diverse selection without overwhelming them.
The nine new subcategories, along with the primary categories, have also been updated with fresh artwork and recommendations. These recommendations encompass New & Noteworthy shows, Shows of the Month, Feature Channels, and Creators, as well as global Highlights.
Furthermore, with the upcoming release of iOS 17, Apple plans to introduce additional Podcasts features, including a revamped Now Play experience and Queue, episode art, search filters, and more. While updates to the Podcasts app have been relatively infrequent, with the last major update occurring a year ago with the introduction of new Podcasts Charts, Apple’s primary competitor Spotify recently downsized its podcast division, laying off 200 employees, despite its significant investments in the podcasting industry back in 2019.
