2026 Astra Podcast Awards: the nominees

2026 Astra Podcast Awards: the nominees

Press Release · Los Angeles CA, United States ·

The Hollywood Creative Alliance announced today the nominees for the 2026 Astra Podcast Awards, recognizing a diverse range of voices and storytelling across 16 categories. All podcasts nominated today are eligible for the Podcast of the Year Award. 

The 2026 Astra Podcast Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at The Garland Hotel in Studio City. Tickets for the ceremony are now available and can be purchased by visiting AstraPodcastAwards.com 

Among this year’s nominees are Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, Crime Junkie, and The Daily. The nominations span beauty and fashion, books, comedy, family and parenting, film, gaming, health and wellness, pop culture, science, scripted storytelling, sports, topical news, true crime, and television.

From candid celebrity conversations and film commentary to immersive fiction and thought-provoking journalism, the nominees reflect the creativity and breadth of podcasting.

The complete list of nominees can be found below: 

Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast

    Breaking Beauty Podcast
    Trailer Play trailer Breaking Beauty
    Arts
    From: Dear Media, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins
    Hosted by: ART194.7 ★
    Gloss Angeles
    Gloss Angeles
    Arts
    From: Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan
    Hosted by: Acast4.6 ★
    Let's Get Dressed
    Trailer Play trailer Let’s Get Dressed
    Arts
    From: Liv Perez
    Hosted by: Acast4.6 ★
    The Skin Club Podcast
    The Skin Club Podcast
    Arts
    From: Alida & Rachel
    Hosted by: RSS.com4.7 ★

Best Book Podcast

    Booked On Fantasy Podcast
    Booked on Fantasy
    Arts
    From: Addison & Lorraine
    Hosted by: Buzzsprout4.9 ★
    Fantasy Fangirls
    Trailer Play trailer Fantasy Fangirls
    Arts
    From: Fantasy Fangirls
    Hosted by: Acast4.9 ★
    It Was A Book First
    Trailer Play trailer It Was A Book First
    Arts
    From: It Was A Book First
    Hosted by: Captivate
    The Book Club
    Trailer Play trailer The Book Club
    Arts
    From: Goalhanger
    Hosted by: Megaphone

Best Celebrity Podcast

Best Comedy Podcast

Best Family & Parenting Podcast

    Always Here
    Trailer Play trailer Always Here
    Kids & Family
    From: Abby Howard and Abby Howard | Daylight Media
    Hosted by: Megaphone4.9 ★
    Newsicle: Smart News for Curious Kids
    Newsicle
    Kids & Family
    From: Lily H
    Hosted by: Spotify for Creators
    Good Inside with Dr. Becky
    Trailer Play trailer Good Inside
    Kids & Family
    From: Good Inside
    Hosted by: Simplecast4.8 ★
    This Is So Awkward
    Trailer Play trailer This is So Awkward
    Kids & Family
    From: Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward
    Hosted by: Megaphone4.6 ★

Best Film Podcast

Best Game Podcast

    Critical Role
    Trailer Play trailer Critical Role Podcast
    Leisure
    From: Critical Role
    Hosted by: Simplecast4.9 ★
    Giant Bombcast
    Giant Bombcast
    Leisure
    From: Giant Bomb
    Hosted by: Spreaker4.7 ★
    No Chit Chat Trivia
    Trailer Play trailer No Chit Chat Trivia
    Leisure
    From: David Wuest
    Hosted by: ART194.8 ★
    Retronauts
    Trailer Play trailer Retronauts
    Leisure
    From: Retronauts
    Hosted by: Audioboom4.5 ★

Best Health & Wellness Podcast

Best Member Podcast

    Film Talk With A.J. Dean
    Film Talk With AJ Dean
    News
    From: Film Talk With AJ Dean
    Hosted by: Spotify for Creators4.9 ★
    Hallmarkies Podcast
    Hallmarkies
    TV & Film
    From: Hallmarkies Podcast
    Hosted by: Megaphone4.3 ★
    United By Rice
    United By Rice
    TV & Film
    From: United By Rice
    Hosted by: Spotify for Creators
    Visibility Ultd.
    Visibility Ultd.
    Business
    From: Leslie Short
    Hosted by: Spotify for Creators

Best Pop Culture Podcast

Best Science Podcast

Best Scripted Podcast

    Midnight Burger
    Trailer Play trailer Midnight Burger
    Fiction
    From: Business Goose Media
    Hosted by: Megaphone4.9 ★
    Table Read
    Trailer Play trailer Table Read
    Fiction
    From: iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio5.0 ★
    The Dragoning
    Trailer Play trailer The Dragoning
    Fiction
    From: Messenger Theatre Company
    Hosted by: Spotify for Creators4.8 ★
    Violet's Shadow Murder Mysteries
    Trailer Play trailer Violet’s Shadow Murder Mysteries
    Fiction
    From: Greta Craig
    Hosted by: Acast

Best Sports Podcast

Best Topical News Podcast

Best True Crime Podcast

Best TV Podcast

About The Astra Awards:

The Astra Awards recognize and celebrate the best in entertainment. Winners are selected by members of the Hollywood Creative Alliance, a membership organization comprising critics, entertainment journalists, content creators, industry insiders, and creatives who share a passion for honoring excellence in entertainment.

For more information, please visit TheAstras.com or follow us on social media:

X: @TheAstraAwards

Facebook: @TheAstraAwards

Instagram: @hollywoodcreativealliance

YouTube: @TheAstraAwards

TikTok: @TheAstraAwards

OPML icon The above list of podcasts is available as an OPML file for your podcast player

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.

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