Hark Audio

Hark Audio operates a podcast curation platform and mobile app that helps listeners discover content across a large and fragmented podcast landscape. Company editors listen to podcasts and extract notable moments, organizing them into themed playlists called "Harklists," which function as curated audio mixtapes. These collections span broad categories such as News, Politics, Music, Science, Comedy, Business, Tech, Books, Sports, and Health & Wellness, as well as narrower topics and celebrity-focused compilations.

The Hark app also functions as a full podcast player, offering access to millions of shows, offline downloads, variable playback speeds, and personalized recommendations based on listening history. Users can import existing subscriptions from services like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, listen on iOS and Android devices, and access content via Alexa, CarPlay, and Android Auto. When a listener enjoys a clip, the app allows them to continue into the full episode and subscribe to the originating podcast.

Podcast creators can build their own "Best Of" Harklists highlighting moments from their shows, a feature used by programs such as RadioLab and Reply All. Users can also create and share their own Harklists and clips. Hark Audio, founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York City, was named a TIME Best Invention of 2021. The service targets podcast listeners seeking to explore new shows beyond their regular rotation, as well as creators looking to promote highlights from their existing content.