As podcasts continue to rise in popularity, many listeners seek completed series to enjoy full stories from start to finish.
This trend resembles the appeal of audiobooks, with completed podcasts offering a similar, binge-friendly format for immersive and satisfying experiences. From platforms like The End, which curates over a thousand finished audio fiction series, to services like Podchaser, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts that house their own collections, the rise in completed series reflects growing listener preferences for entire, self-contained narratives.
The End: Established by Evo Terra, The End is a platform that specifically caters to listeners looking for fully finished audio fiction series. With over 1,000 completed shows, it has become a haven for fans of the serialized narrative, with categories ranging from thriller to sci-fi and fantasy. Terra’s selection provides listeners a diverse array of fiction series, enabling them to find a story to match their mood without worrying about waiting for future episodes to drop.
Podchaser: Podchaser is a broader podcast directory, yet it offers specific filters for "completed series," making it user-friendly for those wanting only finished content. This feature is especially helpful for listeners seeking closed-ended series, whether for storytelling or informational content, and provides direct access to shows across genres.
Spotify and Apple Podcasts: These major platforms have responded to the demand for completed series by curating specific collections. Spotify’s “Completed Series” section highlights popular podcasts that have concluded, making it easy for users to binge without interruption. Similarly, Apple Podcasts includes a "Finished Series Collection," which spans a variety of genres, from true crime to comedy and drama. These curated sections simplify the search for full series, catering to both new and seasoned listeners.
Listen Notes and Podcast Index: For users who prefer more extensive searching capabilities, platforms like Listen Notes and Podcast Index offer in-depth search tools and categories that can help locate completed podcasts. Listen Notes, for example, has robust filtering options that allow listeners to select for episodic length, genre, and completion status. Podcast Index, meanwhile, is a crowdsourced search engine that caters to a diverse range of interests, making it ideal for finding niche or independent podcasts that may not appear on major platforms.
Listeners drawn to completed series often have specific preferences that differentiate them from regular podcast audiences. Research shows that many of these listeners are similar to audiobook consumers in their habits and genre preferences. According to Edison Research, the average U.S. podcast listener often prefers genres like true crime, comedy, and society/culture, which aligns with some of the most popular completed series genres. Many listeners appreciate the closure that comes with finished series, as it allows them to immerse themselves fully without the anticipation of upcoming episodes.
Listeners of completed podcasts also tend to consume content more avidly. Pew Research finds that 75% of Americans aged 12 and older listen to online audio, with weekly podcast listenership reaching 70% in 2023. Those inclined towards completed series often binge multiple episodes in one sitting, a trait that mirrors audiobook listening habits. Many listeners, particularly during long commutes or while performing tasks, enjoy the uninterrupted flow of content that a completed series provides. This hands-free, on-demand nature of podcasts and audiobooks alike appeals to individuals with busy schedules who still want high-quality storytelling.
Moreover, studies from Voices.com reveal that audiobooks have a substantial following among those who value the portability and multitasking ease that audio content offers. Over half of audiobook listeners prefer fiction, with genres like mystery and thriller being especially popular. These preferences are mirrored in completed podcast series, where fiction-based, story-driven genres attract listeners who appreciate narratives with clear beginnings, climaxes, and resolutions. This narrative appeal, combined with the ability to consume content at one’s own pace, makes completed podcasts particularly popular.
Some of the top genres for completed podcast series include:
True Crime: True crime podcasts have consistently ranked as a favorite genre among U.S. listeners. The genre’s compelling narratives and real-life mysteries make it a prime choice for bingeable series. As many true crime podcasts follow a linear storyline, completed series allow listeners to dive into complex cases and see them resolved by the end of the show. True crime’s popularity is further fueled by its resemblance to serialized documentary-style content found in both audiobooks and TV series.
Science Fiction and Fantasy: These genres attract listeners who enjoy world-building and imaginative storytelling. Series like Welcome to Night Vale or Limetown have set the standard for fantasy and sci-fi podcasts, offering intricate plotlines and surreal narratives. Finished sci-fi and fantasy podcasts provide fans a satisfying escape into new worlds, often over dozens of episodes, which allow for rich character and plot development similar to a novel.
Comedy and Society & Culture: Comedy podcasts, often centered around episodic humor or narrative-driven series, have broad appeal. The “society & culture” genre, which includes commentary on current events, human interest stories, and cultural phenomena, also performs well among audiences who favor completed series. Shows in this category, such as My Dad Wrote a Porno or Heavyweight, often provide episodic yet cohesive narratives that keep listeners engaged throughout.
Thrillers and Mysteries: Completed thrillers and mysteries are particularly popular as they deliver the suspense and gratification of solving a case or witnessing a dramatic resolution. These genres align with audiobook preferences, where mysteries rank as top choices for fiction listeners. For instance, shows like Homecoming or Blackout offer suspenseful stories that resonate well with audiences who also enjoy thrillers in book form.
Historical and Investigative: Series that delve into historical events or investigative reporting are frequently structured to span several episodes, providing a comprehensive view of specific events or stories. Completed podcasts in this genre allow listeners to fully absorb an investigative piece without having to wait for updates. Shows like Slow Burn or You Must Remember This cater to audiences interested in deep, factual narratives similar to long-form documentaries or serialized audiobooks.
The surge in completed podcasts is similar to the growth seen in audiobooks, a format that has increased in popularity by over 106% since 2017. Audiobook listeners tend to prefer hands-free, multitasking-friendly formats, which allow them to enjoy content during commutes, household chores, or exercise. This ease of access is a major reason why many podcast listeners also gravitate towards completed series, as they offer a similar, unbroken listening experience without ads or filler episodes.
A key difference, however, lies in the episodic nature of podcasts. While audiobooks typically present a single, continuous narrative, completed podcasts are often divided into structured episodes that allow listeners to absorb stories incrementally or all at once. This episodic format can add suspense or cliffhangers that heighten anticipation within a completed series, a tactic particularly effective in genres like mystery and thriller. Furthermore, many listeners find that the shorter episodic length of podcast content, as opposed to the continuous hours typical of audiobooks, makes it easier to consume across multiple sessions.
The consumption patterns also differ. Audiobooks are frequently chosen based on specific titles or authors, often by dedicated readers seeking to replace physical or digital reading with listening. Podcasts, on the other hand, are often discovered through recommendations, genre explorations, or curated lists, making them accessible to a broader audience. While audiobooks require more intentional selection, podcasts’ discovery-based nature means listeners may stumble upon finished series they wouldn’t actively seek out in a bookstore or library, broadening their exposure to new genres and formats.
The rise of completed series also speaks to broader trends in podcast consumption. As podcasting has grown, with over 500 million global listeners in 2023, platforms have adapted to cater to specific listener preferences, such as the demand for fully finished stories. In the U.S. alone, podcasts account for approximately 5% of digital media time, illustrating a significant shift in how audiences consume information and entertainment.
With the increase in on-demand audio content, advertisers and creators alike are recognizing the value of targeting listeners who prefer the “all-at-once” model. This trend is evident in the rapid growth of platforms like Audible and Spotify, which host both audiobooks and podcasts, aiming to capture users across both formats. As audiobook and podcast audiences converge, the market for serialized, completed audio content is likely to expand, offering creators new opportunities to reach audiences seeking bingeable, cohesive narratives.
Completed podcast series offer a unique and satisfying way to experience audio content, appealing to listeners who appreciate uninterrupted, high-quality storytelling. Platforms like The End, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts have responded to this demand, curating collections that make it easy for listeners to discover completed shows in popular genres like true crime, fantasy, and thriller. This format’s popularity, closely mirroring the success of audiobooks, reflects an evolving audio market where listeners seek the convenience, depth, and closure that completed series offer.
