While many people have different tastes in television, there are TV shows that are so engaging and well-told that they become embedded in popular culture. Some of these hits include shows like “Game of Thrones”, “Breaking Bad”, “The Simpsons”, “The Sopranos”, “Stranger Things”, and many more.
New research from BetMGM Casino has revealed the TV shows generating the most discussion across U.S. podcasts in 2026, with “Game of Thrones” taking the top spot ahead of modern streaming favorites including “Stranger Things”, “Severance”, and “Off Campus”.
After analyzing more than 73,000 U.S. podcast episodes published between January 2026 and July 2026, BetMGM Casino found that Game of Thrones was mentioned in more podcast episodes than any other show in IMDb’s 50 Most Popular TV Series ranking.
The findings suggest that while new releases continue to capture viewers’ attention, older shows still have a powerful hold on popular culture.
America’s Most Talked-About TV Shows on Podcasts
| Rank | TV Series | Podcast Episodes
(2026) |
State by State Favorites |
| 1 | Game of Thrones | 6,895 | Alaska, New York |
| 2 | Stranger Things | 6,192 | Utah |
| 3 | From | 4,456 | Delaware |
| 4 | The Simpsons | 3,973 | Oregon |
| 5 | Love Island USA | 3,579 | District of Columbia, Texas |
| 6 | The Bear | 3,170 | Illinois |
| 7 | Breaking Bad | 3,144 | New Mexico |
| 8 | Family Guy | 2,755 | Rhode Island |
| 9 | Off Campus | 2,630 | North Dakota |
| 10 | Severance | 2,529 | District of Columbia |
| 11 | The Sopranos | 2,469 | New Jersey |
| 12 | The Office | 2,149 | Utah |
| 13 | Nemesis | 2000 | Wyoming |
| 14 | Ted Lasso | 1,884 | Vermont |
| 15 | The Four Seasons | 1,636 | District of Columbia |
| 16 | Rivals | 1,412 | Wyoming |
| 17 | Euphoria | 1,293 | Arizona |
| 18 | The Walking Dead | 1,293 | Kentucky |
| 19 | Every Year After | 1,194 | Utah |
| 20 | Grey’s Anatomy | 1,145 | Wyoming |
| 21 | Black Mirror | 1,134 | Wyoming |
| 22 | House of the Dragon | 1,073 | District of Columbia |
| 23 | Dexter | 1,000 | Wyoming |
| 24 | The Big Bang Theory | 982 | South Dakota |
| 25 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 959 | West Virginia |
| 26 | Among Us | 931 | Wyoming |
| 27 | The Pitt | 838 | Pennsylvania |
| 28 | Better Call Saul | 809 | New Mexico |
| 29 | Interview with the Vampire | 750 | Louisiana |
| 30 | The Rookie | 747 | West Virginia |
| 31 | The Handmaid’s Tale | 710 | Vermont |
| 32 | Teach You a Lesson | 692 | Hawaii |
| 33 | The White Lotus | 681 | Hawaii |
| 34 | Spider-Noir | 665 | Utah |
| 35 | Rick and Morty | 647 | Alaska |
| 36 | The Witness | 615 | Connecticut |
| 37 | Cape Fear | 538 | North Carolina |
| 38 | Dutton Ranch | 478 | Oklahoma |
| 39 | The Boroughs | 455 | New Mexico |
| 40 | Clarkson’s Farm | 428 | Vermont |
| 41 | Not Suitable for Work | 389 | District of Columbia |
| 42 | Criminal Minds | 371 | Arkansas |
| 43 | Star City | 338 | District of Columbia |
| 44 | Attack on Titan | 293 | Wyoming |
| 45 | Yellowstone | 190 | Montana |
| 46 | Alice and Steve | 104 | Alaska |
| 47 | Widow’s Bay | 37 | District of Columbia |
| 48 | Your Friends & Neighbors | 36 | New Jersey, District of Columbia |
| 49 | Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World | 15 | Kansas |
| 50 | Raakh | 11 | New Jersey |
Game of Thrones Is Still America’s Most Discussed TV Show
The HBO fantasy drama was mentioned in 6,895 podcast episodes during the study period, generating 4.7 times more discussion than the average show in IMDb’s Top 50 ranking.
Stranger Things Comes Close, But Falls Short
Netflix phenomenon “Stranger Things” ranked second overall with 6,192 podcast mentions. With its final season dominating headlines and fueling countless fan theories, the hit horror series remains one of the biggest talking points in entertainment.
Cult Hit From Emerges as a Surprise Top Three Contender
One of the biggest surprises in the rankings is “From”. The mystery horror series ranked third overall with 4,456 podcast mentions, placing it ahead of major television titles including “Breaking Bad”, “The Bear”, and “Love Island”.
While it may not command the same mainstream attention as some of its competitors, the data suggests it has become one of the most-discussed shows of the year among podcast hosts and audiences alike.
Classic TV Shows Continue to Drive Conversation
The findings suggest that cultural relevance doesn’t always align with release schedules, with older and legacy series continuing to dominate conversations years after their first airings.
“The Simpsons” ranked fourth overall, while “Breaking Bad” and “Family Guy” also secured places inside the top 10. Meanwhile, other long-running television giants placed lower than expected. “The Walking Dead” finished 18th, “Grey’s Anatomy” ranked 20th and “The Big Bang Theory” placed 25th.
Reality TV Is Competing With Prestige Drama
Reality television also performed strongly. “Love Island USA” ranked fifth overall, outperforming critically acclaimed dramas.
TV Remains One of Podcasting’s Biggest Topics
Across the study, researchers found that nearly one in eight U.S. podcast episodes referenced at least one of IMDb’s 50 Most Popular TV Shows.
In total, the shows analyzed appeared in 73,375 podcast episodes, highlighting television’s continued influence on entertainment conversations across America.
Methodology
BetMGM Casino analyzed over 73,000 U.S. podcast episodes published between January 1 and July 1, 2026, tracking mentions of titles from IMDb’s 50 Most Popular TV Series ranking. The analysis identified podcast episodes containing at least one mention of a show from the ranking.
Due to challenges in accurately distinguishing references to generically titled series from everyday language, titles such as “The Boys” or “Lost” were excluded from the study.
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