In a historic shift for the Triton Australian Podcast Ranker, Mamamia has claimed the #1 spot with its flagship Mamamia Out Loud, marking the first time a female-led independent podcast has summited the chart.
The January 2026 results reveal a tale of two summers: while independent digital publishers and news-heavy formats surged, legacy entertainment giants saw massive seasonal contractions.
Mamamia’s breakthrough moment
Mamamia Out Loud claimed the top spot with 755,303 monthly listeners, a staggering jump of 194,408 from December, representing one of the strongest single-month audience increases in recent ranker history.
“Today’s result proves you don’t just reach an audience – you lead the conversation. Hitting #1 isn’t a fluke of the calendar; it’s a proof of concept. It proves that when the big broadcast machines take a breath over Summer, Mamamia Out Loud, and our entire podcast network, does not,” said Zara Curtis, Chief Content Officer, Mamamia.
The “always-on” strategy paid off, with the show recording 2.02 million downloads for the month – a 31% year-on-year increase.
Zara Curtis and Mia Freedman. Source: Mamamia
The summer slump
While Mamamia rose, the industry’s perennial heavyweight, Hamish & Andy, suffered the steepest decline of the month.
The LiSTNR flagship fell from over 609,000 listeners in December to roughly 315,000 in January – a drop of 293,845 listeners.
The decline saw the duo slide from #1 to #8, reflecting the show’s reduced publishing cadence during the summer break.
Other entertainment and sports titles followed suit as seasonal interest waned:
• Unravel (ABC): −174,551 listeners
• The Grade Cricketer: −165,238 listeners
• Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki: −75,732 listeners
• The Imperfects: −48,954 listeners
News formats consolidate power
As Australians returned to their usual routines, news podcasts strengthened their hold on the Top 10.
The New York Times’ The Daily (via ARN/iHeart) gained 65,852 listeners to land at #7, while ABC’s If You’re Listening climbed 45,133.
The structural strength of news was evident across the board, with ABC News Top Stories (#2), Sky News Australia Update (#3), and The Update (#5) all maintaining ironclad positions in the top five.
Hamish & Andy. Source: LiSTNR
Verified reach for advertisers
For media buyers, the January results highlight the reliability of the Triton Ranker as a “single source of truth” for verified data.
“Mamamia Out Loud is a modern superbrand and one of the most powerful marketing vehicles in the country.
“Over the last 10 years we have built a loyal audience, providing an unrivalled platform to connect with the most engaged listeners in Australia,” said Georgie Nichols, Chief Revenue Officer, Mamamia.
January 2026: The Top 10 Podcasts
Mamamia Out Loud (Mamamia)
ABC News Top Stories (ABC)
Sky News Australia Update (News Corp Australia)
Conversations (ABC)
The Update (NOVA Entertainment)
The Front (News Corp Australia)
The Daily (The New York Times/ARN/iHeart)
Hamish & Andy (LiSTNR/SCA)
Life Uncut (ARN/iHeart)
Hamish & Andy Plus + (LiSTNR/SCA)