Podcast Categories & Subcategories Guide

Choosing the right category for your podcast is important for discoverability, chart placement, and audience targeting. Most major podcast platforms follow a standardized category structure.

This guide explains how categories work and what options are available.

How Category Selection Works

Across most podcast platforms:

• You can select up to two main categories.
• For each main category, you can select one subcategory.
• The first main category selected becomes your Primary Category.
• Your primary category determines chart rankings and overall placement.

Structure example:

Main Category 1 → Subcategory 1
Main Category 2 → Subcategory 2

Selecting subcategories is not mandatory but strongly recommended for better targeting.

Main Categories and Subcategories

1. Business

Subcategories:

• Careers

• Entrepreneurship

• Investing

• Management

• Marketing

• Non-Profit

Suitable for founder interviews, startup discussions, investing insights, marketing shows, leadership content, and professional development.

2. Arts

Subcategories:

• Books

• Design

• Fashion & Beauty

• Food

• Performing Arts

• Visual Arts

Suitable for creative storytelling, book reviews, fashion discussions, culinary shows, and artistic commentary.

3. News

Subcategories:

• Business News

• Daily News

• Entertainment News

• News Commentary

• Politics

• Sports News

• Tech News

Suitable for current affairs, daily briefings, commentary shows, and news analysis.

4. Education

Subcategories:

• Courses

• How To

• Language Learning

• Self-Improvement

Suitable for instructional shows, exam preparation, language podcasts, and skill-building content.

5. Comedy

Subcategories:

• Comedy Interviews

• Improv

• Stand-Up

Suitable for humor-driven shows, comedian interviews, and improvised content.

6. Health & Fitness

Subcategories:

• Alternative Health

• Fitness

• Medicine

• Mental Health

• Nutrition

• Sexuality

Suitable for wellness shows, medical discussions, therapy conversations, and fitness guidance.

7. Kids & Family

Subcategories:

• Education for Kids

• Parenting

• Pets & Animals

• Stories for Kids

Suitable for parenting advice, children's storytelling, and family-oriented content.

8. TV & Film

Subcategories:

• After Shows

• Film History

• Film Interviews

• Film Reviews

• TV Reviews

Suitable for movie reviews, show recaps, entertainment breakdowns, and film analysis.

9. Society & Culture

Subcategories:

• Documentary

• Personal Journals

• Philosophy

• Places & Travel

• Relationships

Suitable for cultural discussions, travel diaries, personal storytelling, and social commentary.

10. Science

Subcategories:

• Astronomy

• Chemistry

• Earth Sciences

• Life Sciences

• Mathematics

• Natural Sciences

• Nature

• Physics

• Social Sciences

Suitable for research-based podcasts and scientific explanations.

11. Leisure

Subcategories:

• Animation & Manga

• Automotive

• Aviation

• Crafts

• Games

• Hobbies

• Home & Garden

• Video Games

Suitable for hobbyists, gaming podcasts, lifestyle enthusiasts, and recreational topics.

12. Music

Subcategories:

• Music Commentary

• Music History

• Music Interviews

Suitable for musicians, music reviewers, and industry discussions.

13. True Crime

No subcategories.

Suitable for investigative storytelling and crime series.

14. Religion & Spirituality

Subcategories:

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Hinduism

• Islam

• Judaism

• Religion

• Spirituality

Suitable for faith-based content, religious teachings, and spiritual discussions.

How to Choose the Right Category

1. Select the category that represents the majority of your content.

2. Choose the most relevant subcategory to narrow your positioning.

3. Use the second category only if your show genuinely fits both.

4. Ensure your podcast description aligns with your selected category.

Your primary category directly impacts chart placement, so choose carefully.