The Podcast Academy, the preeminent professional podcast organization, has unveiled the nominees for its inaugural Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). The Ambies celebrate excellence in podcasting and elevate awareness and status of podcasts as a unique and personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling and expression. The hour-long ceremony will be streamed LIVE on YouTube, Twitch and other platforms on Sunday, May 16, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA at 5PM PT/8PM ET, with a pre-show starting at 4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET.
The Ambies will highlight 164 nominees across 23 categories, selected by every voting member of The Podcast Academy, in addition to a Governor’s Award. Eligible new members will be able to vote to determine this year’s winners if registered by March 26.
“The Podcast Academy was founded a year ago with the mission to foster inclusivity, elevate awareness and build excitement for podcasts through initiatives, programming and our annual awards,” said Chairman of the Podcast Academy, Donald Albright, President & Co-Founder of Tenderfoot TV. “Today, we celebrate the community with the announcement of our first-ever Ambies nominees. They are just as diverse as the creators, both in front of and behind the mic, and are reflective of the far reaching medium. On behalf of the membership, we congratulate all of the nominees.”
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Get it free Dirty Diana, The Left Right Game and Wind of Change earned four nominations each, the most for any program.
A variety of podcasts from independent and nonprofit media entities also earned nominations including Adult ISH (YR Media), Borne the Battle (US Department of Veterans Affairs), DEM TIMES (Our Day), DETOURS (WGBH/PRX), On Being with Krista Tippett (On Being Studios), among others.
This year’s slate of inaugural nominees feature activists, award-winners, bestselling authors, luminaries and renowned journalists including: Hillary Rodham Clinton; Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey; NAACP Image Awards-winner Tessa Thompson; Order of Canada recipient Malcolm Gladwell; Back Issue’s multidisciplinary artist Josh Gwynn and Netflix’s Strong Black Legends Tracy Clayton; New York Times bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe; Forgotten: Women of Juarez’s Peabody Award-winning journalist Oz Woloshyn and public radio journalist Mónica Ortiz Uribe; The Heist’s Pulitzer-winning reporter Mei Fong and award-winning radio journalist Sally Herships; as well as Pulitzer finalist Ear Hustle, co-hosted by Earlonne Woods, a former inmate at San Quentin, and Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, a current inmate.
The full list of nominees
Editor’s note: Podnews has added publisher detail from individual show listings. Just show titles were given by the Ambies; we’ve matched these up to listings ourselves: however, some titles are used by multiple podcasts.
Podcast of The Year
Trailer Play trailer Bunga Bunga History
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.2 ★
Trailer Play trailer Chasing Cosby True Crime
From: Los Angeles Times
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer DETOURS History
From: GBH
Hosted by: PRX
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Dying for Sex Society & Culture
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer For Life: The Podcast Society & Culture
From: Sony Pictures Television & ABC
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer Say Their Name Society & Culture
From: DCP Entertainment
Hosted by: Megaphone
3.6 ★
Best Business Podcast
Trailer Play trailer An Arm and a Leg Society & Culture and Health & Fitness
From: An Arm and a Leg
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Go For Broke Business and Society & Culture
From: Vox Media
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Teamistry Business
From: Atlassian
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Heist Culture
From: Center for Public Integrity
Hosted by: Podbean
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Women at Work Business
From: Harvard Business Review
4.8 ★
Best Comedy Podcast
Culture Kings Comedy
From: Jacquis Neal & Edgar Momplaisir, Earwolf
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.7 ★
Don’t Ask Tig Comedy
From: American Public Media
Hosted by: American Public Media
4.8 ★
Groceries
From: A Spotify Exclusive
Hosted by: Spotify
4.8 ★
How Did This Get Made? Reviews
From: Earwolf and Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Breakfast Club Comedy
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.4 ★
Trailer Play trailer Threedom Comedy
From: Scott Aukerman, Lauren Lapkus, Paul F Tompkins
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
Best Documentary Podcast
Trailer Play trailer For Life: The Podcast Society & Culture
From: Sony Pictures Television & ABC
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.9 ★
I’m Not A Monster Society & Culture and True Crime
From: BBC Radio 5 Live
Hosted by: BBC
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Edge: Houston Astros Sports and Society & Culture
From: Audacy Studios | Ben Reiter | Prologue Projects
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Best Entertainment Podcast
Dissect
From: A Spotify Exclusive
Hosted by: Spotify
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Even the Rich Culture
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.4 ★
Trailer Play trailer For Life: The Podcast Society & Culture
From: Sony Pictures Television & ABC
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer Office Ladies Comedy and TV & Film
From: Audacy & Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Prime Video Presents TV & Film and Arts
From: Amazon Studios / AT WILL MEDIA / Tim Kash
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.7 ★ The First One (Amazon Music)
Best Fiction Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Asking For It Arts
From: CBC and Mermaid Palace
Hosted by: Triton Digital
4.5 ★
Trailer Play trailer DEM TIMES Drama
From: Our Day
Hosted by: Captivate
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Two Princes Fiction and Kids & Family
From: Spotify Studios
Hosted by: Megaphone
Best History Podcast
Trailer Play trailer DETOURS History
From: GBH
Hosted by: PRX
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Slow Burn History
From: Slate Podcasts
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Best Interview Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Asian Enough Commentary
From: Los Angeles Times
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Back from Broken Culture
From: Colorado Public Radio
Hosted by: PRX
4.9 ★
Best Knowledge, Science or Tech Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Brave New Planet News
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.5 ★
Trailer Play trailer Short Wave Science and News
From: NPR
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Tai Asks Why Kids & Family
From: CBC
Hosted by: Triton Digital
4.3 ★
Best News Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Do No Harm True Crime
From: Wondery | NBC News
Hosted by: ART19
4.7 ★
Post Reports News
From: The Washington Post
Hosted by: Triton Digital
4.3 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Journal News
From: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.2 ★
What Next News
From: Slate Podcasts
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.2 ★
Best Original Score and Music Supervision
Trailer Play trailer Bunga Bunga - Scott Velasquez, Jeff Schmidt
History
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.2 ★
Trailer Play trailer Dead and Gone - Makeup And Vanity Set
True Crime
From: Tenderfoot TV, Double Elvis & Audacy
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.5 ★
Trailer Play trailer Jacked : Rise of New Jack Sound - Marcelino Villalpando
History
From: Wondery | UMG
Hosted by: ART19
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Revisionist History - Luis Guerra
History
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Throughline - Ramtin Arablouei, Drop Electric, Hania Rani
Documentary
From: NPR
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Treasure Island 2020 - Chris Tarry, Jennifer Rowekamp
Fiction and Arts
From: GZM Shows
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Two Princes - Score: Greg Laswell; Theme and additional scoring by Bobby Lord; Music Supervision: Jonathon Roberts
Fiction and Kids & Family
From: Spotify Studios
Hosted by: Megaphone
Best Performer in Audio Fiction
Trailer Play trailer DUST , Season 3: CHRYSALIS - Corey Hawkins
Drama
From: Gunpowder & Sky
Hosted by: Acast
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Hank the Cowdog - Matthew McConaughey
Kids & Family and Fiction
From: QCODE, HTC Productions
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Light House - Aly Trasher
Arts
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.4 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Left Right Game - Tessa Thompson
Fiction and Arts
From: QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Two Princes - Noah Galvin, Ari’el Stachel, Samira Wiley, Gideon Glick, Wesley Taylor, Alfredo Narciso, Mandi Masden, CJ Wilson, Michelle Gomez
Fiction and Kids & Family
From: Spotify Studios
Hosted by: Megaphone
We Are Not Alone - Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Science
From: We Are Not Alone
Hosted by: Blubrry
4.8 ★
Best Personal Growth / Spirituality Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Dear Therapists Self Improvement
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Hey Spirit! Religion & Spirituality and Society & Culture
From: Theresa Caputo
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.9 ★
Best Podcast Host
Trailer Play trailer Back Issue - Josh Gwynn, Tracy Clayton
Society & Culture
From: Pineapple Street Studios and Audacy
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Bunga Bunga - Whitney Cummings
History
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.2 ★
Trailer Play trailer MOBITUARIES : Anna May Wong (Death of a Trailblazer) - Mo Rocca
History
From: iHeartPodcasts and CBS News
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Revisionist History - Malcolm Gladwell
History
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Science Vs - Wendy Zukerman
Science
From: Spotify Studios
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.4 ★
Trailer Play trailer Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Society & Culture and Music
From: Pineapple Street Studios / Crooked Media / Spotify
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Best Politics or Opinion Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Burn the Boats News
From: Evergreen Podcasts
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer Winning Wisconsin Government
From: Wonder Media Network
Hosted by: Acast
4.3 ★
Best Production and Sound Design
Dirty Diana - Millie Iatrou, Ryan Walsh, Katie Halliday, Justin Davey, Matt Yocum & Ben Michev, Neely Oeftering
Fiction
From: QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.5 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Left Right Game - Ryan Walsh, Matt Yocum, Will Files, Ryan Sullivan
Fiction and Arts
From: QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Wind of Change - Henry Molofsky
Society & Culture and Music
From: Pineapple Street Studios / Crooked Media / Spotify
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Best Reporting
Trailer Play trailer Fiasco : Iran-Contra - Leon Neyfakh
Politics
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
I’m Not A Monster - Josh Baker
Society & Culture and True Crime
From: BBC Radio 5 Live
Hosted by: BBC
4.9 ★
Planet Money - Sarah Gonzalez, Kenny Malone, Jacob Goldstein, Robert Smith, Amanda Aroncyzk, Karen Duffin, Mary Childs
News
From: NPR
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Reveal - Shoshana Walter, Laura Starecheski, Ike Srikandarajah
News
From: The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX
Hosted by: PRX
4.7 ★
The Take - Malika Bilal, Stefanie Dekker, Safwat al-Kahlout
News
From: Al Jazeera
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Unfinished : Short Creek - Sarah Ventre, Ash Sanders
True Crime
From: SiriusXM
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Society & Culture and Music
From: Pineapple Street Studios / Crooked Media / Spotify
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Best Scriptwriting, Fiction
Trailer Play trailer Appearances - Sharon Mashihi
Society & Culture
From: Mermaid Palace, Radiotopia
Hosted by: PRX
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer DEM TIMES - Rhys Reed-Johnson, Jacob Roberts-Mensah
Drama
From: Our Day
Hosted by: Captivate
4.6 ★
Dirty Diana - Shana Feste
Fiction
From: QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.5 ★
Trailer Play trailer Looking For LaToya - Amy Aniobi, Chris Sanford, Kindsey Young
TV & Film and Fiction
From: HBO | Tenderfoot | Raedio
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Make It Up As We Go - David Hudgins, Brooks Hudgins
Music
From: AudioUp & SiriusXM
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Left Right Game - Jack Anderson
Fiction and Arts
From: QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Best Scriptwriting, Nonfiction
Trailer Play trailer And Nothing Less - Robin Linn
History
From: PRX
Hosted by: PRX
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Heavyweight - Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, Stevie Lane
Society & Culture and Comedy
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
Masters of Scale - WaitWhat Team, Adam Skuse, Katie Clark Gray
Business
From: WaitWhat
Hosted by: ART19
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Resistance - Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr.
Society & Culture
From: Gimlet
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Whistleblower - Tim Livingston
Sports
From: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.2 ★
Trailer Play trailer Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Society & Culture and Music
From: Pineapple Street Studios / Crooked Media / Spotify
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Best Society and Culture Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Code Switch Culture
From: NPR
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Ear Hustle Society & Culture
From: Ear Hustle & Radiotopia
Hosted by: PRX
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer Heavyweight Society & Culture and Comedy
From: Pushkin Industries
Hosted by: Omny Studio
Trailer Play trailer Into America Society & Culture
From: MSNBC, Trymaine Lee
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Latino USA Society & Culture and News
From: My Cultura, Futuro and iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Resistance Society & Culture
From: Gimlet
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
Best Sports Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Drafted Sports and Society & Culture
From: iHeartPodcasts and Treefort Media
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.2 ★
Trailer Play trailer Sports Uncovered Culture
From: NBC Sports
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.3 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Edge: Houston Astros Sports and Society & Culture
From: Audacy Studios | Ben Reiter | Prologue Projects
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer The Lead News
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
3.8 ★
Trailer Play trailer Whistleblower Sports
From: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.2 ★
Best True Crime Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Chasing Cosby True Crime
From: Los Angeles Times
Hosted by: Simplecast
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Dr. Death Season 2: Dr. Fata
True Crime
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.8 ★
I’m Not A Monster Society & Culture and True Crime
From: BBC Radio 5 Live
Hosted by: BBC
4.9 ★
Trailer Play trailer Somebody True Crime
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.5 ★
Best Wellness or Relationships Podcast
Trailer Play trailer Adult ISH Culture
From: YR Media and Radiotopia
Hosted by: PRX
4.0 ★
Trailer Play trailer Dying for Sex Society & Culture
From: Wondery
Hosted by: ART19
4.7 ★
Trailer Play trailer Last Day Season 2
Culture
From: Lemonada Media
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.6 ★
Trailer Play trailer Therapy for Black Girls Health & Fitness
From: iHeartPodcasts and Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.
Hosted by: Omny Studio
4.8 ★
We Got You Kids & Family
From: Sonic Union and TRAX from PRX
Hosted by: PRX
Trailer Play trailer Where Should We Begin? Society & Culture
From: Esther Perel Global Media
Hosted by: Megaphone
4.8 ★
ABOUT THE PODCAST ACADEMY
Founded in February 2020, The Podcast Academy is a non-profit professional membership organization that celebrates excellence in podcasting and elevates awareness of podcasts as an indispensable medium for entertainment, information, and creative expression. It values individual and organizational creators alike, of all backgrounds and means, and defines achievement through the values of quality, creativity, innovation, inclusion, and impact. The Podcast Academy provides community, professional development, and industry connections through inclusive, dynamic programming. For more information about The Podcast Academy, please visit www.thepodcastacademy.com and follow/like/subscribe on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Linkedin.
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