The 12 best podcasts of 2016, according to Apple

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Apple helped usher the podcast format into existence, and every year it releases a list ranking the best ones.

This year's list includes Malcolm Gladwell, a retired Navy SEAL, and shows about mystery and murder. In its list, Apple said true-crime shows, politics, and radio dramas were particularly hot in 2016.

Here are the top 12 podcasts Apple said were the best in 2016, along with the company's comment:

"Revisionist History"

Apple's comment: "No one turns history on its head like Malcolm Gladwell. We love his provocative take on everything from satire to Wilt Chamberlain."

"How I Built This"

Apple's comment: "We were incredibly inspired by hearing the founders of Spanx, Instagram, and other startups explain how they made it big."

"In the Dark"

Apple's comment: "This year's huge breakthrough in the Jacob Wetterling abduction case fueled a fascinating look at why it went unsolved for decades."