5 Niche Podcasts You Should Steal Ideas From

Open your phone and scroll your feed. Within 60 seconds, you’ll see a podcast clip. It’s usually the same setup every time: Two people. $400 mics. Studio lighting and captions tracking along.

There are 4.4 million podcasts out there: one for every person who’s ever said “we should start a show.” And honestly, they should. Even a simple, consistent podcast can drive 25% more qualified leads for a brand. And much of that growth happens organically.

But here’s where most get it wrong: they start by copying podcasts from the top shelf such as Call Her Daddy, Rogan, Diary of a CEO, Huberman Lab. It seems logical. Why reinvent the wheel? But the problem is, everyone’s doing the same thing. That’s why most shows blend in instead of standing out.

Copying the winning pattern ≠ Making the hit

In the early 2000s, a company called Polyphonic HMI built a tool called Hit Song Science. It analyzed the mathematical patterns in music and compared them to past chart-toppers, predicting a new song’s chances of becoming a hit. It worked on paper. Flagged Norah Jones and Maroon 5 as hits. But then they fed it Billie Jean... and the model, hilariously, called it a miss.

Turns out, the algorithm was great at spotting patterns but blind to cultural shifts. Hits aren’t just formulas. They’re disruptions. They happen when timing, tension, and a little bit of weirdness collide. Podcasting is no different.

The key isn’t to blindly copy what’s worked before. It’s to remix it, pull what fits, then add something unexpected, even if it’s niche. And sure, you could argue “What if I just want to make the next Norah Jones or Maroon 5 of podcasts?”. You can try. But expect a fight because now you’re up against thousands chasing the same sound.

So how do you steal smart?

You know the saying “Good writers borrow, great writers steal”. People often credit T.S. Eliot, though some doubt it because versions of the quote showed up long before him. Still, if he did say it, pretty sure he was talking about podcasts.

The first step in stealing smart is knowing where to look. Don’t just chase the top 50 charts. Dig deeper. Pay attention to what’s actually working in the overlooked corners.

Here are a few lesser-known podcasts doing exactly that: carving their own lane, building real hits in their niche. Use them as inspiration:

1. The Burnouts
   Hosted by Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni
   They’re building a startup and documenting the chaos in real-time. Investor calls, personal doubts, family drama - all of it.

   Steal this: Let the messy process be the content.

2. Good Hang
   Hosted by Amy Poehler
   Feels like a voice note from your funniest friend. Recurring prompts like “what’s been making you laugh” give it just enough shape.

   Steal this: One simple segment can give your show rhythm and identity.

3. Subway Takes
   Filmed on NYC trains. No set, no intro music, no perfect lighting—just raw energy and a MetroCard-as-mic. It breaks every "studio podcast" rule. And racks up millions of views.

   Steal this: Whatever your niche, look for a backdrop or format that feels lived-in.

4. The Ezra Klein Show
   Hosted by Ezra Klein
   Big ideas, intimate tone and all recorded remote. Guests call in from wherever. The cuts are clean, the flow is sharp. You feel like they’re in the same room.

   Steal this: Remote doesn’t have to feel distant. It’s all about post-production, content and tone.

5. Girls Rewatch
   Hosted by Amelia Ritthaler and Evan Lazarus
   Content is king but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s just rewatching your favorite TV show with full dedication. Their show nails the TikTok formula: obsessive details, unfiltered takes, and punchy hooks that combine their commentary with show footage. It lands because they go all in.

   Steal this: Pick one niche. Go deep. Own it completely. Half-measures don’t get remembered.

Back to the Hit-Making Analogy: Don’t Copy- Sample

Wu-Tang didn’t just replay old soul records. Take C.R.E.A.M. They chopped, looped, and distorted them into something raw and new. The Verve pulled six seconds from a Stones cover and turned it into Bittersweet Symphony. Same ingredients, completely different result.

That’s the point: don’t follow someone else’s format. Sample what fits. Remix it into something that actually feels true to you, your product, or your audience.

Before you hit record, ask yourself:

• What actually feels honest for me or my brand?

• What’s been done but not like this?

• Where can I break format not to show off, but to be real?

That’s how culture moves. Not by repeating loops. By flipping them.

Need a hand figuring out what would work for your show?