Christian Podcasting Surges as Major Digital Media Trend
Podcasting has surged in popularity and now rivals television and radio as a leading medium for sharing the gospel and faith-based messages.
“Podcasting has become the soundtrack of modern life, and faith-based content is riding a powerful wave of growth,” according to NRB. “With millions tuning in weekly and spiritual genres among the fastest-growing categories, Christian creators are gaining fresh momentum in the podcasting space. If you’re a Christian communicator, this is more than a trend. It’s a mission field wired for your message.”
The latest research on podcasting in 2025 reveals important implications for ministries, broadcasters and faith communicators:.
- More than half of Americans aged 12 and older now consume podcasts monthly..
- Forty percent (about 115 million people) listen weekly, another record high.
- The average listening time per user is more than seven hours a week.
- Weekly podcast listening time has soared more than 350 percent since 2015, now totaling around 773 million hours each week.
- As of 2025, nearly three-quarters of Americans aged 12 and older have consumed a podcast.
YouTube leads as the top platform for podcasts, used by 33 percent of weekly podcast listeners in the United States. surpassing Spotify (26 percent) and Apple (14 percent). Video podcasting now accounts for billions of hours watched per month on screen devices; this genre is reshaping advertising models and content formats. As video podcasting gains ground, platforms such as Spotify and Netflix are investing in video-friendly formats for podcasts. Wondery and others have embraced animated and visual storytelling for narrative content.
Christian and spiritual content is not only growing, but also crossing into mainstream culture and breaking out as a major podcast genre. Globally, the religion and spirituality genre for podcasts grew by 49 percent from 2024 to 2025, one of the fastest-growing categories.
“Podcasting in 2025 is growing as fast as it’s transforming,” NRB reported. “While faith content surges, digital media are redefining how audiences discover and engage with stories. For Christian broadcasters, communicators and content creators, these trends open fresh avenues for outreach and connection.”
–Alan Goforth
