Podcasts have grown exponentially in the past few years. Nearly 20% of internet-connected Filipinos listen to podcasts weekly, and there’s a clear reason why! It’s also the perfect partner for doing tasks that don’t require your full attention, like working out or doing chores.
The variety of genres also ensures you’ll never run out of options to suit your taste. Whether you’re looking for something informative or entertaining, chances are there’s at least a pair of people who you can listen to sharing their insights into your interests.
Want to listen to a breakdown of Gilas Pilipinas’ latest game? There’s a podcast for that. Want to hear about the latest in international news and how it affects the Philippines? There’s a podcast for that. Want to react to the most shocking local true crime cases? There’s a podcast for that.
However, this article seeks to reveal the best examples of Filipino podcasting in 2024 and what makes them different from the rest.
The Top 15 Pinoy Podcasts
These shows have captured the hearts and minds of listeners nationwide with their unique content, engaging hosts, and relevant topics
1. Barangay Love Stories
Image Source: Apple Podcasts
The Filipinos’ love of chismis is undefeated, placing Barangay Love Stories at the top of this list. Jairuz Ricafrente, better known by his stage name Papa Dudut, is the host of the show. He reads letters from the listeners and discusses their problems of love, heartbreak, and dating. The show also dramatizes the content into full-blown audio plays, which adds extra spice.
The podcast also started as a radio show, having first moved to the format in April 2016 before it became one of the best Filipino podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Papa Dudut has hosted almost 400 shows that are released once a week. You can also listen to him and other heart-wrenching stories on YouTube!
2. skypodcast
Slater Young grew to fame for his stint on Pinoy Big Brother. After he married content creator Kryz Uy, it made sense for the entertainment couple to start the skypodcast. In it, they have candid conversations about their marriage, pregnancy, and all things family.
They release episodes every Saturday and have been doing so since January 2021. That means the show has over 100 in-depth conversations between husband and wife. They also host many guests from the entertainment industry. Besides Spotify and Apple Podcasts, you can find them on YouTube.
3. Dear MOR
Dear MOR started out as a popular radio podcast in the Philippines where people could call in and send their stories. It sustained that format in its transition to digital, with added elements of audio dramas. It’s still being hosted by DJs Popoy and Bea, who have skills and charm from years of radio experience. They mostly tackle stories related to love, drama, and daily life.
Dear MOR the podcast began in May 2020 and has since produced over 400 episodes on a release schedule of several times a month. You can also listen in on these juicy stories on their Facebook page, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
4. Kwentong Takipsilim
This final Pinoy horror podcast is actually a double treat – Kwentong Takipsilim is the more popular of two horror podcasts under the same creators, the other being Sitio Bangungot. As the names suggest, these podcasts are spine-chilling audio drama horror stories.
You’ll never have to worry about running out of content! Kwentong Takipsilim releases around 10 times a month and has released over a thousand episodes since its start in September 2020. You can find more of them on their YouTube channel
5. Chink Positive
Chinkee Tan is a famous author, motivational speaker, and wealth coach whose mission in life is to help Filipinos increase their financial literacy. He’s been using his podcast, Chink Positive, to further that goal with financial and life advice. It only launched in April 2021 but already has over 300 episodes, thanks to his biweekly releases.
Chink Positive is one of the best motivational podcasts on Spotify and Apple Music. His various social media accounts all have at least 2 million followers, from YouTube to TikTok to Facebook, making his podcast one of the most popular in the Philippines.
6. Yellow Space
Yellow Space is hosted by Tol the Yellow Guy (Khian Phil). It was a project started by the host to find a place to vent about mental health issues and relationships. He figured he could talk about the challenges he had faced since the pandemic and maybe help others tackle similar problems.
The Yellow Space is a positive, self-help podcast that started in September 2021 and ended in February of this year with over 150 episodes. Even though it’s finished, there’s a lot of validation and sound advice to still be found there. You can follow Tol on Facebook for comics related to the podcast.
7. The KoolPals
Comedy is one of the most popular genres in podcasting, and the Philippines has The KoolPals to represent. It’s a show full of humor hosted by five prominent standup artists who aren’t afraid to make fun of everything. Its permanent roster includes GB Labrador, Nonong Balilan, James Caraan, Muman Reyes, and Ryan Rems Sarita, but they’re often joined by a rotating cast of guests.
@thekoolpals Kasama namin ngayon si @kevinmontillano, @euleenc at @nickimorenayeah ♬ original sound – The KoolPals on Spotify
The KoolPals is one of the top comedy podcasts in the Philippines. It started in May 2019 and has since released almost 700 episodes of almost non-stop jokes. If you fit their target audience, you can find out more on their website and on YouTube!
8. Hugot Marcelo (and Hugot Nights with Marcelo)
Marcelo Santos III is the author of two bestselling romance novels-turned-movies and a third novel. He’s turned that experience into a successful podcast with over 100 episodes, Hugot Marcelo, where he discusses relationships, love, and romance.
That project started in May 2022 and ended in September 2023. However, fans don’t have to despair because Marcelo launched a new podcast this year with a similar theme named Hugot Nights with Marcelo. If you enjoy his work, you can also find him on TikTok!
9. Podcast Ng Mga Walang Jowa by BINI
If you’re a fan of girl group BINI (and who isn’t!?), you’ve probably already heard of Podcast Ng Mga Walang Jowa. If not, you can join the girls as they discuss everything from their careers to their love lives in a less formal setting.
You can listen to their music and other media on their YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. This side project started in June 2023 and ended with 12 episodes in August of the same year. Even though it was a 2023 podcast, charts still report it as being a top performer of 2024.
10. ‘Wag Kang Lilingon
You can join Grace Marcellana and Mimai Cabugnason on their podcast, ‘Wag Kang Lilingon, where they talk about true crime, horror, and mystery. And if you have your own spooky tale to tell, you can email them at wagkanglilingonph@gmail.com to submit it for a future episode!
The show started in September 2019, and an episode is released every one to two weeks. You have a backlog of over 400 episodes to catch up! You can also find this show on Facebook and Instagram.
11. Will Talks
Jan Will Chua (janwillchua on TikTok) is another podcaster on this list who got their start on TikTok. He became popular performing spoken word poetry and discussing topics about love and relationships. He carried that momentum to start his podcast, Will Talks, where he continues to give advice and discuss the emotions in complicated relationships.
The podcast started in February 2022 as This Person Said but underwent a rebranding and relaunch in June of this year. It seems that Will has committed to a more consistent release schedule, with four episodes in its comeback month.
12. Book of Bad Ideas
The Book of Bad Ideas podcast offers the first (but not final!) foray into horror podcasting. The hosts, Steve and Nyx, are the writers and voices behind the wonderfully twisted horror stories narrated on this podcast. Since October 2023, the two hosts have released 20+ episodes containing standalone and serial stories of killers, monsters, and ghosts.
Image Source: Spotify
You don’t have to wait too long between episodes, as the Book of Bad Ideas releases new stories three times a month. Fans of the show who can’t get enough can find more stories and background information about the hosts on their TikTok and YouTube accounts.
13. Solo Flight Podcast
Speaking of new, host, vlogger, and world-traveler Nicole Andersson recently launched the Solo Flight Podcast to share her and her guests’ life experiences and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Though there have only been eight episodes since its launch on May 28, 2024, she’s had some prominent guests already, including Dr. Vicki Belo and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.
The podcast is on Spotify, but you can also find Nicole Andersson on YouTube and Instagram, where she models and talks about her travels.
14. Podcast ni Kenti
Want something a little more cozy and less professional? Kenti (kenti.best.boi on TikTok) started a podcast after gaining traction on TikTok as the cheerful, emotionally intelligent friend in a frog hat. On Podcast ni Kenti, he discusses life and self-care in a more structured and long-form format than his TikTok videos.
The podcast launched in November 2023, so it’s still fairly new. New episodes get released once or twice a month, meaning you can catch up super quick to the latest!
15. The Bare It All Podcast
Dani Baretto-Panlilio hosts The Bare It All Podcast, where she tackles unfiltered topics about some of the most guarded and uncomfortable issues in life and love. She also invites guests who have personal stakes in the topics she discusses.
Outside of Spotify, you can find the podcast on YouTube or follow the host on Facebook and Instagram. The podcast premiered in August 2023 and releases episodes two to three times a month, totaling almost 30 episodes and still going strong!
Mic Drop
Filipino podcasts have quickly grown from humble beginnings to titans in their own niches and industries. These top Filipino podcasts have set themselves apart as the perfect companion for multitasking. It just goes to show that no matter how specific your interests and preferences are, there’s a podcast for you.
Podcasts are an excellent avenue for marketing to niche audiences. Sponsoring a podcast that aligns with your brand can connect you with engaged listeners who are passionate about the topics you care about. Tap Spiralytics if you want to learn how to fully utilize podcasts for your advertising. We’re an advertising agency in the Philippines ready to help you skip the guesswork.
