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The Best Growing Comedy Podcasts of 2026 (Part 2): The Breakouts

The Best Growing Comedy Podcasts of 2026 (Part 2): The Breakouts

Welcome to Part 2 of our 2026 rankings of the fastest growing comedy podcasts in the world. Part 1, the Monsters, covered the five comedy podcasts that jumped +64 to +90 chart spots in a single cycle. Part 2 is the breakout tier: the next five fastest-growing comedy podcasts of 2026, every one of them climbing +50 to +64 chart positions in a single sample window. These are the best breakout comedy podcasts to listen to right now, the best affordable comedy podcasts to advertise on before rates reprice, and the best comedy podcasts to pitch for a guest appearance while booking windows are still open.

Comedy remains the single most competitive podcasting category in the world. On CastFox, we track roughly 287,000 active comedy podcasts in English alone, which is why lists of the "top comedy podcasts" are almost useless unless they are filtered by something meaningful. Our filter for this series is simple and strict: a podcast only qualifies as a fastest-growing comedy podcast of 2026 if it moved up at least 50 chart positions in a single cycle while continuing to actively publish. Every show below meets that bar, and every show has a real cover image, real chart data, and specific notes on who should listen, who should advertise, and who should pitch as a guest.

+50 to +64Chart-position jumps for these five breakout comedy podcasts
287K+Active comedy podcasts these rising shows are outperforming
5Breakout comedy podcasts profiled with real cover art
2026Refreshed with the latest Apple Podcasts and Spotify chart signals

The Best Breakout Comedy Podcasts of 2026 (Ranked #6 to #10 Overall, #1 to #5 in Part 2)

Each of these five breakout comedy podcasts climbed between 50 and 64 chart spots in a single cycle, making them the clearest breakout-tier comedy podcasts to track in 2026. Every cover image is the real Apple Podcasts artwork, and every number is from live chart data on CastFox.

#6
Standup Snobs with Jay Berg and Colton Drake podcast cover art. Standup Snobs with Jay Berg and Colton Drake is one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026.
↑ +64 spots #151 → #87 Breakout tier

#6. Standup Snobs with Jay Berg and Colton Drake

By Jay Berg

Why it matters: the comics-talking-comedy format done by two working stand-ups who actually know the craft, and right now one of the best indie stand-up comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026.

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Why this comedy podcast is growing in 2026

Standup Snobs is the clearest 2026 example of an indie comedy podcast for stand-up fans breaking through to mainstream listeners. Jay Berg and Colton Drake talk craft the way film directors talk craft, and that energy is pulling in aspiring comics, comedy writers, improv students, and comedy-nerd super-fans who would rather hear a bit dissected in real time than watch a red-carpet interview. The +64 chart jump is a textbook breakout curve for a comedian-hosted podcast on the rise, and this is exactly the sort of show smart advertisers want to buy before the CPM catches up to the audience.

Who should listen to Standup Snobs

Working and aspiring comedians, comedy writers, improvisers, open-mic regulars, comedy-club managers, and comedy super-fans who follow new specials on release day. Exceptional fit for listeners searching for best comedy podcasts for aspiring comedians and best podcasts about stand-up comedy.

Podcast advertising and sponsorship fit

Fit for comedy clubs looking for podcast advertising opportunities, comedy ticketing platforms, mic-and-audio gear brands, online writing courses, video editing SaaS, stand-up streaming services, and DTC merch targeting the 25-40 comedy-fan demo.

Guest pitching and PR angle

Prime pitching target if you are a touring comedian with a new special, a comedy industry guest (agent, club owner, writer), or a newsworthy figure in the comedy ecosystem. One of the best comedy podcasts to be a guest on for comedians actively building an audience.

#7
The Comment Section with Drew Afualo podcast cover art. The Comment Section with Drew Afualo is one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026.
↑ +59 spots #182 → #123 Breakout tier

#7. The Comment Section with Drew Afualo

By Past Your Bedtime

Why it matters: one of TikTok's biggest pop-culture voices translated into the podcast format and winning, and one of the best Gen Z comedy podcasts to advertise on in 2026.

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Why this comedy podcast is growing in 2026

Drew Afualo's transition from TikTok megastar to weekly podcast host is one of the cleanest case studies in 2026 of a creator-led comedy podcast scaling into a top-of-chart property. Her short-video audience was already huge and loyal enough to follow her into 45-minute episodes, and the show now lives on the global charts as one of the best pop-culture commentary comedy podcasts for women 18-34. The +59 jump is the back half of a classic celebrity-creator to podcast audience-consolidation curve, and it is still accelerating.

Who should listen to The Comment Section

Women 18-34, Gen Z pop-culture fans, TikTok power users, parasocial comedy audiences, listeners searching for funniest comedy podcasts for women, best comedy podcasts about dating and relationships, or best podcasts for commentary on internet drama.

Podcast advertising and sponsorship fit

Exceptional fit for Gen Z beauty brands looking for podcast advertising, skincare DTC, fashion DTC, dating apps, lifestyle subscription boxes, and mental-health apps. CPMs are high but conversion on Drew's audience is well-documented. A top pick for marketing teams building a 2026 podcast media plan for Gen Z female consumers.

Guest pitching and PR angle

Very hard to cold-pitch. Best approach is through her team or network. If you are a creator pitching a podcast guest appearance on a comedy show, Drew's audience is one of the highest-leverage in the category. High bar, high reward.

#8
Notes Of A Goon podcast cover art. Notes Of A Goon is one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026.
↑ +59 spots #154 → #95 Breakout tier

#8. Notes Of A Goon

By Notes Of A Goon

Why it matters: raw, unpolished, anti-mainstream comedy built for an audience tired of over-produced podcast studios. one of the best underrated comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026.

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Why this comedy podcast is growing in 2026

One of the cleanest signals in 2026 comedy is that audiences are rewarding shows that sound like they were made in a bedroom. Notes Of A Goon is on the rise because it leans fully into that aesthetic: no lower-thirds, no branded coffee mugs, just tight bits and friend-group chemistry. The 154 to 95 climb is the unmistakable shape of a word-of-mouth surge, not a paid-promotion spike, and it is one of the fastest-growing indie comedy podcasts of 2026 by that specific signal.

Who should listen to Notes Of A Goon

Comedy audiences 18-30 fatigued by corporate podcast production, fans of indie stand-up, Reddit-native listeners, and anyone searching for best indie comedy podcasts 2026, best lo-fi comedy podcasts, or best comedy podcasts that sound like a group chat.

Podcast advertising and sponsorship fit

Fit for energy drinks, gaming accessories, streetwear, merch subscription boxes, and streaming services with deep catalog. This is a top pick for brands looking for affordable podcast advertising opportunities in comedy before rates reprice. Avoid luxury and premium wellness.

Guest pitching and PR angle

Easier to pitch than the bigger celebrity-driven shows in this genre. Strong fit for indie comics, comedy writers, and creators who want an unfiltered hour. If you are researching best underground comedy podcasts to guest on, start here.

#9
World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh podcast cover art. World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh is one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026.
↑ +57 spots #138 → #81 Breakout tier

#9. World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh

By All Things Comedy

Why it matters: a veteran alt-comedy voice on the All Things Comedy network delivering one of the best alternative comedy podcasts of 2026.

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Why this comedy podcast is growing in 2026

Brendon Walsh has been a comedian's comedian for more than a decade, and the World Record Podcast has benefited from two trends colliding in 2026: the resurgence of the All Things Comedy network as a brand, and the broader audience migration from celebrity-interview pods back toward character-driven alt-comedy formats. The 138 to 81 jump is consistent with the show's broader year-over-year trajectory as one of the best alt-comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026.

Who should listen to World Record Podcast

Alt-comedy fans, long-time All Things Comedy network listeners, comedy super-fans who prefer committed bits over news-hook discussion, and anyone searching for best alternative comedy podcasts, best comedian-hosted podcasts, or best comedy podcasts by veteran comics.

Podcast advertising and sponsorship fit

Fit for craft beer, streetwear, indie film streaming, comedy festivals, live-event ticketing, and men's grooming DTC with personality. Ideal advertiser profile is a brand looking for podcast ads on comedian-hosted shows with a cult audience.

Guest pitching and PR angle

Solid pitching target for touring comics, indie filmmakers with a comedy angle, and writers from the alt-comedy world. A strong addition to any list of best comedy podcasts to pitch for guest appearances.

#10
Really Good Stuff with Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton podcast cover art. Really Good Stuff with Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton is one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026.
↑ +50 spots #193 → #143 Breakout tier

#10. Really Good Stuff with Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton

By Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton

Why it matters: one of the best Australian comedy podcasts of 2026 and a consistently climbing breakout in global comedy charts.

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Why this comedy podcast is growing in 2026

Australian comedy continues to be one of the most underpriced audiences in global podcast advertising in 2026, and Really Good Stuff is the breakout example this cycle. Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton build the episode around cultural curiosities and recommendations, and the show reads like the conversational rhythm of two friends who are both funny and genuinely interested in the world, which is exactly the audience-retention profile that wins in today's algorithmic distribution environment. The chart climb from 193 to 143 is a clean, consistent upward trajectory, not a one-week viral spike.

Who should listen to Really Good Stuff

Australian comedy fans, global English-speaking listeners searching for best Australian comedy podcasts 2026, best comedy podcasts about culture and recommendations, or best two-host comedy podcasts. Strong appeal to commuters, creative professionals, and listeners 25-40.

Podcast advertising and sponsorship fit

Fit for streaming services, audiobooks and reader apps, premium snack brands, travel and hospitality, and lifestyle DTC products targeting English-speaking audiences across the US, UK, and Australia. This is an underpriced podcast advertising opportunity for brands looking for comedy inventory in 2026 with cross-country reach.

Guest pitching and PR angle

Approachable pitching target for authors, musicians, comedians, and creators with a unique cultural perspective. A good target for anyone researching best comedy podcasts to be a guest on in Australia or looking to expand PR beyond US-only comedy placements.

How We Ranked the Best Breakout Comedy Podcasts of 2026

Every ranking in this series is built on three simple rules. First, the show has to be classified in the Comedy category on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, either as primary or dominant secondary. Second, the show has to have climbed at least 50 chart positions between our previous and current sample cycles, which filters out flat shows and random-noise movements. Third, the show has to be actively publishing, which filters out long-dormant podcasts that briefly reappear on the charts because of a single viral clip.

By those rules, any show that qualifies here is genuinely one of the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026 on a chart-movement basis. Part 1 covered the +64 to +90 tier (the monsters). Part 2 covers the +50 to +64 breakout tier. For the full context on how we estimate listener ranges and benchmark against category competition, read our companion guide: How to Benchmark a Podcast Audience and Category Competition with CastFox Market Insights.

For Listeners: Best Rising Comedy Podcasts to Subscribe To in 2026

If you are looking for the best new comedy podcasts of 2026 to add to your queue, or hunting for the best hidden gem comedy podcasts that your group chat has not discovered yet, this Part 2 list is built specifically for you. Every show on this list is small enough that subscribing now puts you ahead of the mainstream curve and large enough that the production quality and release consistency are already locked in.

If you liked the big comedy podcasts of 2024 and 2025 and you are wondering which breakout comedy podcasts of 2026 to listen to next, start with the cards above that match your taste. Fans of the Joe Rogan and Theo Von ecosystem will find the most overlap with Brendon Walsh's World Record Podcast and the Standup Snobs show. Fans of creator-led commentary podcasts will gravitate to The Comment Section with Drew Afualo. Fans of the lo-fi, indie aesthetic should start with Notes Of A Goon. Fans of international and Australian comedy podcasts should start with Really Good Stuff.

For Advertisers: Best Comedy Podcasts to Advertise On in 2026

If you run podcast advertising for a brand or agency, breakout-tier comedy podcasts are consistently one of the best buys in audio. The reason is simple arithmetic: audience growth is demonstrated and accelerating, but rate cards have not yet caught up. You get the conversion benefit of a growing, engaged audience at the CPM of a show that was smaller six months ago. If you are building a 2026 podcast advertising plan and looking specifically for the best comedy podcasts to advertise on for Gen Z, the best comedy podcasts for male audiences, the best comedy podcasts for women, or the best affordable comedy podcasts for host-read ads, this list is your shortlist.

Match buyer fit before you match audience size. If you sell Gen Z beauty, skincare, or dating apps, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo is one of the best comedy podcasts for Gen Z advertising in 2026. If you sell energy drinks, gaming gear, or streetwear, Notes Of A Goon is the strongest fit on this list. If you sell comedy tickets, writing tools, or creative-pro SaaS, Standup Snobs and World Record Podcast are the right buys. If you are looking for underpriced podcast advertising inventory for a cross-country brand with a UK, AU, and US footprint, Really Good Stuff is an obvious shortlist candidate.

Before you approve any buy, open the podcast's page on CastFox and read its Market Insights module. It shows listener range vs. category average and competition badges, which is the fastest way to confirm the show's audience size is priced fairly relative to the category. For the full walkthrough, see Podcast Market Insights: How to Benchmark a Show's Audience Before You Buy.

For Guests and PR Teams: Best Comedy Podcasts to Pitch in 2026

If you are a comedian, author, founder, creator, or publicist pitching podcasts, the breakout tier is almost always the best place to start. These are the best comedy podcasts to pitch as a guest in 2026 because response rates are still reasonable, booking windows are still open, and the audiences attached to each host are already measurable and growing. A placement here in Q2 is usually worth more than a placement on a top-10 comedy podcast in Q4, because by Q4 the same breakout show may have moved to the next tier up and your guest clip will be one of many.

  1. Lead with the host's thesis, not your own. Each of these breakout comedy podcasts has a distinct editorial point of view. A pitch that references that point of view specifically will always outperform a templated pitch.
  2. Pitch for a second appearance from the start. The second booking on any comedy podcast converts 2 to 4x better than the first, for both guests and advertisers. Plan it upfront.
  3. Use CastFox My Pitches to track every outreach. Podcast bookers have long memories. Professional, trackable follow-up reads as preparation and effort, not as spam.
  4. Pair the pitch with an explicit listener-fit hook. Comedy-podcast audiences are tighter than most category audiences, and a pitch that names the target listener of the show (e.g. "your Gen Z female commentary audience") gets answered faster than a pitch that treats the host as interchangeable.

For Comedians and Podcast Creators: What These Growth Curves Teach

If you host a comedy podcast, or you are planning to launch one, the ten shows across Part 1 and Part 2 of this series are an unusually honest set of case studies. Every one of them is growing, and every one of them is growing for a specific, replicable reason.

Pick a sharp lane. Identity-first comedy podcasts are outgrowing generalist comedy podcasts by a wide margin in 2026. The breakouts on this list are niche-first: stand-up insider craft, lo-fi indie, creator-led commentary, alt-comedy veteran, international English. The worst positioning for a new comedy podcast right now is "two friends talking about current events" with no sharper angle.

Commit to a cadence. Every show on this list publishes consistently. The correlation between release-schedule consistency and chart climb over a 90-day window is one of the strongest signals we see in our data.

Feed the short-video loop. Audio-first shows that ignore YouTube Shorts and TikTok distribution in 2026 are underperforming audio-first shows that feed the loop, even when audio quality and content are equivalent. Short video is not a substitute for the podcast, but it is the most consistent top-of-funnel for podcast audience growth right now.

Best Breakout Comedy Podcasts by Style: Stand-Up, Alt-Comedy, Creator-Led, International

  • Best breakout stand-up comedy podcasts of 2026: Standup Snobs with Jay Berg and Colton Drake and World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh. If you are searching for the best stand-up comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026, these two are the cleanest breakout stand-up comedy shows on our charts.
  • Best alternative and alt-comedy podcasts of 2026: World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh and Notes Of A Goon. Both are on the short list of best alt-comedy podcasts for listeners who want committed bits over current-events reactions.
  • Best creator-led and commentary comedy podcasts of 2026: The Comment Section with Drew Afualo. The strongest 2026 example of a creator-led comedy podcast for a Gen Z and millennial female audience.
  • Best indie and lo-fi comedy podcasts of 2026: Notes Of A Goon. The best example on our charts of an indie comedy podcast growing purely on word-of-mouth rather than production budget.
  • Best international and Australian comedy podcasts of 2026: Really Good Stuff with Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton. The clearest breakout Australian comedy podcast of 2026 with international English-speaking appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Growing Comedy Podcasts of 2026

What are the best comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026?

The best comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026 are the ones that are actively growing, not the biggest ones that peaked in 2024. The ten shows across Part 1 and Part 2 of this series are our 2026 picks, filtered by real chart movement rather than brand recognition.

What are the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026?

By chart-jump per cycle, the fastest growing comedy podcasts of 2026 are Unhinged - A Livestock Podcast, The Adam and Dr. Drew Show, The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament, Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet, and The Greg Larsen Show (all covered in Part 1), followed by Standup Snobs, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo, Notes Of A Goon, World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh, and Really Good Stuff covered in this Part 2 list.

What are the best new comedy podcasts to listen to in 2026?

Several of the breakouts on this list are relaunches or recent releases that hit their audience fit in 2026. The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament is a reboot, and Notes Of A Goon and Really Good Stuff are among the best new and newer comedy podcasts to subscribe to this year.

What are the best comedy podcasts to advertise on in 2026?

The best comedy podcasts to advertise on in 2026 depend on your buyer. For Gen Z female audiences, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo. For working comedians and comedy-nerd audiences, Standup Snobs. For alt-comedy and older comedy-fan demos, World Record Podcast with Brendon Walsh. For lo-fi indie audiences, Notes Of A Goon. For international English-speaking audiences with a cross-country footprint, Really Good Stuff.

What are the best affordable comedy podcasts to advertise on before rates go up?

Breakout-tier comedy podcasts in the +50 to +64 chart-jump range are almost always priced below their actual audience reach. If you are looking specifically for affordable comedy podcast advertising opportunities in 2026, this Part 2 list is the shortlist.

What are the best comedy podcasts to pitch as a guest in 2026?

For most pitchers, Part 2 breakouts are a better first target than Part 1 monsters. Specifically, Standup Snobs, Notes Of A Goon, and Really Good Stuff are the most approachable of the ten shows across Parts 1 and 2, with response rates typically 2 to 3x higher than the largest shows.

What is the best comedy podcast for Gen Z in 2026?

Based on chart trajectory, audience demographic, and cultural relevance, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo is one of the best comedy podcasts for Gen Z in 2026, particularly for Gen Z women interested in pop culture commentary, dating discourse, and internet-drama analysis.

What is the best Australian comedy podcast to listen to in 2026?

Across both Part 1 (The Greg Larsen Show) and Part 2 (Really Good Stuff with Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton), the best Australian comedy podcasts of 2026 on our charts are these two climbers, both of which have crossed into the global English-language comedy charts.

What is the best indie or lo-fi comedy podcast of 2026?

Notes Of A Goon is the clearest example on our charts of a best-in-class indie lo-fi comedy podcast growing purely on word-of-mouth in 2026.

How often do comedy podcast charts change?

Comedy chart positions can shift meaningfully within a single week, especially around new-episode drops and viral clips. CastFox refreshes chart data continuously, and the numbers in this article reflect a single sampled cycle. Expect exact rank positions to move by the time you read this, but the trajectory signals (who is climbing vs. flat vs. falling) are stable over longer windows.

Where can I find more growing comedy podcasts like these?

Use PodcastGPT on CastFox with a prompt like "find comedy podcasts that gained 50 or more chart positions in the last cycle" or "find breakout comedy podcasts for Gen Z female advertisers." The same pattern works for any category, not just comedy.

Did any of these shows pay to be included in this ranking?

No. This entire list is compiled from neutral chart data and editorial selection. No show, network, or PR representative paid for placement.

Keep Reading

This is Part 2 of the 2026 fastest-growing comedy podcasts ranking on CastFox. For the first five shows on the list (the +64 to +90 chart-jump tier), go back to Part 1: The Monsters. For the audience-benchmarking model we use throughout this series, read Podcast Market Insights: How to Benchmark a Show's Audience and Category Competition. And for a broader breakdown of podcast audience demographics, see Podcast Audience Demographics by Genre in 2026.

The Bottom Line on the Best Breakout Comedy Podcasts of 2026

Every one of these five breakout comedy podcasts is climbing the comedy charts right now on measurable, repeatable signal. For listeners, they are the best rising comedy podcasts to subscribe to before your friends find them. For advertisers, they are the best comedy podcasts to advertise on in 2026 before rates catch up to audience size. For guests and PR teams, they are the best comedy podcasts to pitch in 2026 with response rates still reasonable. And for comedians and podcast creators, they are five of the cleanest case studies of what works in the category right now.

Find more fast-growing comedy podcasts on CastFox

Open any of the ten podcasts across Part 1 and Part 2 on CastFox to see its Market Insights, listener range estimate, Top Audience chip, and verified contact data. Build your advertising shortlist and send your guest pitches from one place.

Explore CastFox →