Russ: Six straight weekends at number one. Just... let that sink in.
Nadia: This is Nadia.
Russ: And I'm Russ.
Nadia: And you're listening to Podcast Pundits. It's Monday, September 14th, 2026.
Russ: We're tracking three big stories for you today from the wild world of podcasting.
Nadia: We start in South Korea, where the fiction podcast The Odyssey is on an absolutely dominant run.
Russ: Then we'll look at China, where that same show is making a fortune... but somehow can't seem to crack the top spot.
Nadia: And there's a new documentary about Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders that's getting rave reviews—we'll ask if it's worth your time.
Nadia: Okay, let's start in South Korea. Russ, you mentioned it up top—The Odyssey has held the number one spot for six straight weekends.
Russ: Six weekends. That's insane. According to Variety, citing the tracking service KOBIS, nothing else is even close.
Nadia: It's a historic run. We're talking about market saturation on a level we haven't seen since maybe the first season of Serial. This is a genuine cultural phenomenon over there.
Russ: Okay, but Nadia, break it down for me. Is the show actually good? Or is this just a case of a massive marketing budget buying up every ad slot in Seoul?
Nadia: It's both, and that's the key. The production value is off the charts—a full-cast audio drama that sounds like a blockbuster. But you can't buy six weeks at number one. This is pure word-of-mouth now.
Russ: So people actually like it. Is anyone even trying to compete?
Nadia: There is a challenger. A new true crime show called Obsession is climbing the charts, but it's a distant second. For now, The Odyssey's voyage continues, making this one of the most successful single-market podcast runs ever.
Russ: So what does this mean for me, the listener? That we're going to get fifty more of these giant, epic fiction shows?
Nadia: It means the industry has a new blueprint for creating global IP. They proved the model in one market, and now they're taking it everywhere... which brings us to China.
Russ: Okay, so let's stick with The Odyssey in China. It's a monster there too, but a very different situation. Nadia, what's the big number?
Nadia: The big number, according to Variety, is that The Odyssey just crossed one hundred million dollars in listener revenue in mainland China alone.
Russ: [whistles] A hundred million. From one country. For one podcast.
Nadia: Exactly. But here's the twist: it's not number one there. It has been stuck at number two for five straight weeks.
Russ: Wait, what could possibly be beating a show that's printing that much money?
Nadia: A local production. A war comedy-drama from a studio called Dirty Monkeys titled Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.
Russ: Dirty Monkeys. Okay. [laughs] I love that. And it's holding off the global juggernaut?
Nadia: Firmly. And this is the big lesson for the industry: even with a nine-figure monster like The Odyssey, you can't just assume a global hit will conquer every local chart. Regional taste is powerful.
Russ: So the big global behemoth doesn't just automatically win? I kinda love that. It means there's still room for local stories to succeed.
Nadia: It proves the market is healthy. You can have the massive global blockbusters and the strong regional hits co-existing.
Nadia: Alright, let's shift gears to a review. A new podcast docuseries called Pretenders is getting a rave in Variety, which calls it a 'superb portrait' of Chrissie Hynde and her band.
Russ: Okay, Nadia, you know how I feel about music docs. Most of them are just... fine. A narrator reading Wikipedia over the band's greatest hits. What makes this one different?
Nadia: Well, this one seems to be a real character study. The reviewer focuses on how it captures Hynde's 'incandescence and tragedy'—and get this, calls her the most 'romantic songwriter' of the entire punk scene.
Russ: Hold on, 'romantic' and 'punk' are not words I usually put together. What do they mean by that?
Nadia: Not romantic like love songs—romantic in the classical sense. Conjuring majesty, longing, a sense of place. Think 'Brass in Pocket' or 'Back on the Chain Gang.' The songs are tough, but they're also incredibly heartfelt.
Russ: Okay, you've got me. I was ready to hate it, but 'romantic songwriter of the punk scene'... that's a hook. Does it sound like they actually got the access, the good tape?
Nadia: The review certainly implies it. Calling it a 'superb portrait' suggests this is a premium, well-produced documentary, not just a quick cash-in. It's a reminder that a great story, told well, is always worth the listen.
Russ: And for the industry, I guess it means don't be afraid to go deep on a subject, even one we think we already know.
Nadia: So, quick recap: The Odyssey is smashing records in South Korea.
Russ: But in China, it's making a hundred million dollars while getting beaten by a local show from a studio called Dirty Monkeys.
Nadia: And a new documentary podcast on The Pretenders sounds like a must-listen for anyone who loves a great music story.
Russ: Hey, before we go, Nadia. I was looking at the listener reviews for The Odyssey.
Nadia: [amused] Oh no, where is this going?
Russ: I found my favorite one-star review of all time. The entire review is, quote: 'It wasn't about the book by Homer.' One star.
Nadia: [laughs] That's incredible. Guess you can't please everyone. That's our show for Monday, September 14th.
Russ: We're back tomorrow. In the meantime, for 'what we're actually listening to'... I'm checking out Pretenders. You sold me. Nadia?
Nadia: I'm listening to an old classic, 99% Invisible. Just because something isn't at the top of the charts doesn't mean it isn't perfect. We'll see you tomorrow.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.