The Ambies: all the winners from the 6th annual awards for excellence in audio
Tonight, The Podcast Academy (TPA), the preeminent professional podcast organization, announced the winners of the 6th Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). The Ambies celebrate excellence in podcasting while elevating the awareness and status of podcasts as a powerful, personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling, and expression. The podcast industry’s biggest night took place at the Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, as part of On Air Fest, and was hosted by Emmy and WGA Award–winning comedian, writer, and producer Wyatt Cenac, with Donwill serving as the evening’s official house DJ.
Christy Mirabal, Chair of The Podcast Academy, presented the Governors Award to Kara Swisher, recognizing her meaningful contributions to the growth of the podcasting industry.
“Kara Swisher has never just covered power. She’s confronted it. Don’t believe me? Google her interviews with Mark Zuckerberg and President Obama,” said Mirabal. She added, “Kara Swisher has proven you can hold power accountable, build a fiercely loyal audience, and talk about it all to the New York Times while wearing her iconic shades. She helped elevate podcasting from an emerging format to a central arena for cultural and political conversation.”
In her acceptance speech, Swisher shared some sage advice with the audience: “Be really useful to your listeners and have great respect for them. Whether it’s figuring out something smart to say at work, or something with their spouse or partner or their kids. Be useful to them in life.” She went on to add, “Be unique that you can’t get it anywhere else.”
Angela Yee presented the late Reggie Ossé with the Impact Award for his significant and lasting effect on listeners. His wife, Akim Vann accepted the award on his behalf.
“Reggie didn’t just create a successful show—he shifted the culture of podcasting,” said Ye. “He helped define how hip-hop stories are told in audio, expanded space for Black creators, and built a legacy that continues to resonate across the industry.”
Touré announced the inaugural Vanguard Podcaster of the Year Award. He stated, “The Vanguard Podcaster of the Year is a new award that recognizes an individual who has made a remarkable and lasting impact on the podcasting industry within the past year. Pablo Torre was chosen by the first ever Vanguard Jury and we looked for people who were not just making successful podcasts, but expanding their influence way beyond audio, truly multidimensional talents whose achievements set new standards for what it means to be a podcaster.”
Additional presenters included B.A. Parker (co-host of Code Switch), Brittany Luse (It’s Been a Minute), Katy Hearne Church (Queen’s Podcast), Maria Hinojosa (founder of Futoro Media; In the Thick), Matt McGorry (How to Get Away with Murder), Maulik Pancholy (Murder at the Patel Motel) and Sky Scraper (New York City FC’s mascot).
Additional highlights from the evening:
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Host Wyatt Cenac opened the ceremony with a hilarious monologue saying, “Being a podcast host is an interesting kind of celebrity because a lot of people may not know your face, but they know your voice. I’ve often wondered if Ira Glass has to put on a fake British accent when he’s at a restaurant, so people aren’t like ‘oh shit, Ira Glass is at table seven. Let’s spit in his food.’”
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Christy Mirabal, Chair of The Podcast Academy stated: “When The Podcast Academy created The Ambies, it wasn’t just to hand out trophies, it was to honor the medium and the people who move it forward; The storytellers, journalists, comedians, documentarians, producers, and teams who are shaping culture through audio.” She went on to add, “The Podcast Academy exists to support and advocate for the podcast community year-round and to create a professional home for this industry; A place where excellence is judged by peers who understand the craft, where we invest in mentorship and access, and where we work every day to level the playing field.”
6th Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies) Winners and Honorees:
- Governors Award Honoree: Kara Swisher
- Impact Award Honoree: Reggie Ossé (posthumously), accepted by his wife, Akim Vann
- Vanguard Podcaster of the Year: Pablo Torre
- Best True Crime Podcast: [Uncover]’s Sea of Lies, Produced by What’s the Story Sounds for CBC
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From: Audible Originals
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From: Audible Originals
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Hosted by: WNYC4.5 ★
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Hosted by: Omny Studio
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Hosted by: PRX
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Hosted by: Simplecast
Hosted by: Acast4.8 ★
Hosted by: Simplecast
Hosted by: Omny Studio
The above list of podcasts is available as an OPML file for your podcast player
About The Podcast Academy
Founded in February 2020, The Podcast Academy is a not-for-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 Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Linkedin. Visit our donation page to support our mission.
This is a press release which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand. We may make small edits for editorial reasons.