Best Day to Publish a Podcast : Monday Leads, New Data Shows
Podcast creators have long debated the best time to publish episodes — but new data now points to a clear winner. Monday stands out as the most effective day to release podcast episodes, outperforming all other days of the week, according to a fresh analysis of the top-performing podcasts in the United States.
A recent study conducted by Ausha, based on the Edison Podcast Metrics Top 50 Podcasts for Q4, reveals that elite podcast publishers overwhelmingly favor Mondays to launch new episodes. The trend highlights how listener behavior, platform algorithms, and weekday routines shape podcast discovery and engagement.
This insight offers valuable guidance for podcasters, brands, and audio content creators looking to maximize reach, boost downloads, and improve listener retention.
Among the 50 highest-ranked podcasts tracked by Edison Podcast Metrics, Monday is the most frequently chosen release day. In fact, more than four times as many episodes are published on Mondays compared to Saturdays or Sundays.
Top Podcast Release Days Ranked
🥇 Monday — Most Popular
🥈 Thursday — Second Place
🥉 Friday — Close Third
❌ Saturday & Sunday — Least Popular
This pattern suggests that top-tier podcasters strategically avoid weekends, opting instead for weekday releases when listeners are more active.
Why Mondays Work Best for Podcast Releases
Industry analysts point to several reasons why Mondays outperform other days:
1. Stronger Listener Routines
Weekdays tend to align with structured daily habits, including commuting, working, exercising, and morning routines — all peak podcast listening moments.
“Releasing episodes on weekdays aligns with when Americans are more likely to have structured schedules,” Edison noted.
2. Higher Platform Engagement
Podcast apps and listening platforms see higher activity during weekdays, increasing the chances that new episodes appear in discovery feeds.
3. Algorithm Advantage
Many podcast platforms prioritize fresh content, meaning weekday uploads — especially Mondays — receive better visibility in trending sections and recommendation engines.
4. Fresh Start Mindset
Listeners often seek new content at the beginning of the week, giving Monday releases a psychological advantage.
Best Time of Day to Publish Podcast Episodes
Beyond choosing the right day, timing also matters.
Podcast Listening Peaks During Workdays
According to Edison’s “Share of Ear” data:
Highest Engagement Windows
🕕 Early Morning: 6 AM – 10 AM
🕙 Late Morning: 10 AM – 2 PM
These time slots correspond with:
Commutes
Morning work routines
Productivity hours
Exercise or gym sessions
Publishing episodes before or during these windows increases the likelihood of immediate downloads and engagement.
Consistency is a Major Success Factor
One of the strongest findings from the Ausha study is the importance of consistent publishing schedules.
Top Podcasts Publish Frequently
Average: 14 episodes per month
Many successful podcasts release 3–4 episodes weekly
This consistency helps:
Build listener habits
Improve audience loyalty
Signal reliability to platform algorithms
Boost long-term growth
Regular publishing is often more important than episode length or production budget.
Podcast Branding Trends Among Top Shows
The study also uncovered branding and metadata patterns that separate high-performing podcasts from average ones.
Ideal Podcast Show Name Length
Average: 21 characters
Shorter names are:
Easier to remember
More shareable
Better for mobile displays
Stronger for brand recognition
Podcast Description Length
Average: 473 characters
Top shows keep descriptions:
Concise
Informative
SEO-friendly
Not overly long or cluttered
Descriptions aim to explain the value of the show without overwhelming potential listeners.
Episode Title Optimization
Average title length: 57 characters
Why it works:
Long enough to include keywords
Short enough to display fully on apps
Optimized for search intent and discovery
Ausha notes that episode titles are more descriptive than show titles, helping attract search-driven listeners.
Does Podcast Length Matter? Not Necessarily
Interestingly, the data shows no strong correlation between episode duration and success.
Episode Length Range
Under 10 minutes
Over 2 hours
Average duration: ~165 minutes
This means:
Short-form podcasts can succeed
Long-form deep dives can also thrive
Success depends more on content quality, consistency, and audience alignment than runtime
What This Means for Podcasters in 2025
If you’re planning or scaling a podcast, this data offers clear strategic direction.
Key Takeaways
✔ Publish episodes on Mondays ✔ Avoid weekend releases if growth is a priority ✔ Schedule uploads between 6 AM and 2 PM ✔ Maintain consistent release frequency ✔ Keep podcast names short and memorable ✔ Write clear, keyword-rich descriptions ✔ Optimize episode titles for search and discovery ✔ Focus on content quality over duration
How Brands and Businesses Can Use This Insight
Podcasting has become a major marketing and branding channel, and this research provides a blueprint for companies and creators.
For Businesses
Align podcast launches with Monday drops
Schedule promotions early in the week
Leverage SEO-optimized titles for discoverability
Maintain content consistency to grow brand authority
For Independent Creators
Build listener habits with predictable release schedules
Publish during peak listening hours
Focus on storytelling, clarity, and audience value
Avoid burnout — consistency beats perfection
The Psychology Behind Monday Podcast Success
From a behavioral perspective, Monday represents:
A fresh start
A planning mindset
A moment when audiences seek motivation, news, or inspiration
Listeners often turn to podcasts for:
Productivity boosts
Industry insights
Entertainment during commutes
Personal development
This makes Monday the perfect moment to capture attention.
Future Podcast Trends to Watch
As podcast competition grows, future success will likely depend on:
Emerging Trends
Smarter algorithm optimization
AI-assisted title and description SEO
Short-form and micro-podcasts
Video podcast expansion
Cross-platform audience building
Community-driven podcast growth
Final Verdict: Monday Wins the Podcast Publishing Race
The evidence is clear: Monday is the most effective day to publish podcasts, especially for creators seeking higher engagement, stronger discovery, and consistent growth.
While quality content remains the foundation of success, strategic timing, branding, and consistency can significantly influence a podcast’s reach.
As the podcast industry continues to evolve in 2025, creators who align with data-backed publishing strategies will hold a competitive edge.
