Apple Podcasts App Updated With Enhanced Search Functionality

Apple today announced it has enhanced the search functionality of its Podcasts app across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV by adding nine additional subcategories to the Search tab. This makes it easier to discover new shows across various genres and topics.

Podcasts Feature
The new subcategories:

  • Mental Health
  • Relationships
  • Self-Improvement
  • Personal Journals
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Documentary
  • Parenting
  • Books
  • Language Learning

The new subcategories are available now, with no software update required.

"Each subcategory has its own charts, which display the Top Shows and Top Episodes available in a listener's market," says Apple. "For example, a listener in the U.S. can browse the charts for Mental Health, which display the top 200 shows and top 200 episodes available in the U.S. based on a mix of listening, follows, and completion rate."

Apple Podcasts Subcategories
Apple has also added a new "Podcasts by Language" section to the app in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia that allows users to more easily find podcasts in their native language. This feature includes support for over 20 languages to begin with, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

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Top Rated Comments

cfountain72 Avatar
27 months ago
It's solid update for a solid app. I'm just never entirely sure if I tap on something, if it will play the episode or take me to its summary page.

I'd like to see Episode ratings in lieu of/in addition to overall Show ratings. Seems like something podcasters and consumers would find helpful.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
27 months ago

Jesus Christ will they just merge this with Apple Music? What a pia to have separate apps
I prefer separate apps, but I would like to be able to share a playlist between the two..at least now playing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
25 months ago
Check out the iOS 17 Podcasts Feature.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
27 months ago
I wish there were more "learn a foreign language" podcasts that weren't just advertisements for a paid subscription.

I'm happy they are refining their search models. It is much needed.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xxray Avatar
27 months ago
Very welcome improvement! I always found the few categories available to be surprisingly generic and limited.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
27 months ago

Built-in/Default Apple iOS/iPadOS apps usually get updated with a new release... Are updates to those apps no longer bundled with the new OS release like in android? Or is this just the backend/server side?

iOS 16.5 has been released for a few days/weeks now... Am I missing something?
Sounds to me like this is limited to an update to the server-side search algorithms, along with Apple providing extra categories in the Search tab (which, if anything like Music, seems to be a 'live' web-like page that can be updated by Apple separately from the app itself).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)