Written by Robert Scucci | Printed 8 seconds in the past
It is official. Final Podcast on the Left is coming to Netflix. I first heard the information on Wednesday, January twenty first’s episode of Weekly Facet Tales, the place sequence host Marcus Parks introduced that the full-on crime comedy podcast could be hitting Netflix’s feed by the tip of the month. On this case, the long-running sequence is a part of a licensing technique, that means video episodes from the again catalog can solely be streamed on Netflix for subscribers, whereas common listeners can proceed utilizing Spotify or the podcast app as typical.
In different phrases, even when you do not have Netflix, you may tune in and hearken to “Final Podcast on the Left” each week. However for those who’re a hardcore Netflix addict, now you can watch exhibits on Netflix with out altering your media consumption habits.
Whereas that is excellent news for Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ed Larson, it additionally indicators additional modifications within the media panorama heading into 2026. What’s altering is that Netflix is making a severe effort to dominate the podcast house.
The Left’s Final Podcast to Attain a Wider Viewers
The Final Podcast on the Left, hosted by Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ed Larson, is a real crime and comedy podcast that covers the whole lot from serial killers and alien invasions to authorities conspiracies and each different spooky topic possible. The sequence debuted in 2011, has over 1,100 episodes, and has continued to develop in recognition over time.
I’ve all the time been drawn to the “Heavy Hitter” sequence. The sequence explores the lives and crimes of figures resembling BTK, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Aileen Wuornos in a number of episodes. That stated, this present has been a part of my weekly viewing routine for over a decade now, and it is good to see what began as a bootstrapped mission proceed to thrive. When you have a darkish humorousness and love studying concerning the worst folks and occasions in historical past whereas three males resolve issues by means of thorough investigation, you will be hard-pressed to beat this one. We hope this cope with Netflix will enable us to achieve a wider viewers with out compromising the present’s integrity or heritage.
Evaluating licenses for current properties and Netflix originals
Personally, I breathed a sigh of reduction when Marcus Parks clarified that The Final Podcast on the Left’s involvement with Netflix was strictly a licensing settlement. It is nonetheless the identical present, simply leveraging Netflix’s infrastructure and attain to achieve new viewers. Along with that, the group has additionally hinted at further initiatives coming to streaming platforms within the coming months, which ought to develop their attain as podcasters, media personalities, and content material creators. This appears like a uncommon win-win scenario, particularly since no possession of the present was transferred within the course of.
On a broader scale, Netflix plans to companion with Spotify, iHeartMedia, and Barstool Sports activities in 2026 to get severe about podcasts as a approach to carry current programming to the streaming house. On the flip facet, this additionally signifies that Netflix is beginning to produce its personal podcasts to fill out its ever-increasing quantity of content material. As of this writing, Bridgerton: The Official Podcast will function as a sister sequence to the hit sequence and is scheduled to debut on January 29, 2026.
Past that, it stays to be seen what the idea for an authentic podcast untethered to current IP will seem like, particularly when filtered by means of committee choices and focus group suggestions, which Netflix productions are good at. Netflix has already introduced The Pete Davidson Present, and The White Home starring Michael Irvin lately premiered, but it surely feels inevitable {that a} scripted podcast will in all probability be subsequent. If that occurs, I am actually curious how Netflix plans to carry the eye of distracted viewers who will not be listening to something anybody is saying.
