Apple Podcasts has been fine for years. I know what I want to listen to — I don't need discovery, social features, or library management getting in the way. Just the show, the play button, and a good dark mode.
I tried Overcast, Pocket Casts, and Spotify. Each one was either doing too much or doing the wrong thing well.
Then I found Shadow. It's lightweight, fast, and unapologetically focused on listening. No ads, small subscription, and the dark mode is properly considered rather than tacked on. It's the first podcast app in years that's gotten out of my own way.
Worth checking out if you're looking for a new podcast app.