Guinness World Records highlighted the episode's broad appeal, noting that 74% of viewers were from outside Saudi Arabia, and 21% chose to watch with English subtitles.
A Saudi Arabian podcast episode titled Secrets to Thriving Relationships, produced by Thmanyah, has set a new Guinness World Record for the most-viewed podcast episode on YouTube, amassing 110m views. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Joe Rogan’s interview with Elon Musk, which garnered 68m views over five years.
Thmanyah, which means “eight” in Arabic, launched its flagship podcast Fnjan in 2016. The show’s name, translating to “small Arabic coffee cup,” symbolises intimate and engaging conversations. Over the years, Fnjan has steadily built a dedicated audience in the Middle East, with each episode averaging over 1m views. Now, with over 350 episodes, the podcast has refined its approach to content, setting the stage for this record-breaking success.
The episode, featuring relationship coach Yasser Al Hazimi, resonated deeply with listeners by addressing universal themes of self-awareness, communication and personal growth. Al Hazimi’s expertise, combined with the compelling topic, created a perfect formula for viral success.
Despite being produced in Arabic, the podcast attracted viewers from around the world, with 21% opting to watch with English subtitles. This highlights the universal appeal of the content, which transcended language barriers.
The majority of the 110m views—over 74%—came from outside Saudi Arabia, with the largest demographic being viewers aged 25-34, indicating the episode’s appeal among millennials and young professionals. The episode’s success not only reflects the growing influence of Arabic-language content but also showcases Thmanyah’s ability to connect with a global audience.
