Black Podcasting Awards Celebrates Its 2025 Winners
Black Podcasting Awards (BPAwards) reached a new milestone this weekend, bringing dozens of podcasters and fans together in Baltimore for its first-ever in-person ceremony, held during the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival. The standing-room crowd filled the historic Motor House’s Black Box Theater to honor the voices shaping Black podcasting from indie creators and breakout shows to leaders redefining the medium itself.
With 45 awards bestowed on 29 podcasts, 5 podcasters, and 1 network, the evening showcased the brilliance and breadth of Black podcasting.
Pictured above, Anna DeShawn (Queer News) earned four honors, including the prestigious Legend Award. Fellow indie podcaster Lisa Woolfork (Stitch Please) echoed DeShawn’s big night, sweeping all 3 of her categories.
Longtime creator Dominic Lawson (Black Is America) received three new awards, including the peer-voted Podcaster of the Year, bringing his career total to 42.
Music and culture favorite We Sound Crazy Podcast also scored three awards, including the coveted Podcast of the Year.
While over a dozen award acceptance speeches were shared in person, two other winners shared reflections on what the honors meant to them.
“Podcasting is more than a notion!” said Christin Smallwood, host of Untoxicify Your Relationship, which earned Best Religion & Spirituality Podcast. “Creating this body of work has been a labor of love — one that has stretched and strengthened me, and I pray empowers others seeking sustainable, grace-filled relationships.”
“After six years and four other shows, The Mediocre Black Woman — the fifth podcast I’ve hosted — was the first time I ever felt called to submit my work,” said Goddess Theadora, winner of Best Personal Journals Podcast. “To be seen and celebrated by the Black Podcasting Awards means so much. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when you lead with intuition, trust, and faith.”
Follow Black Podcasting Awards on social media @BlackPodAwards to stay updated. Apply for a chance to win at the 2026 Black Podcasting Awards starting May 26, 2026.
FULL LIST OF 2025 BLACK PODCASTING AWARD WINNERS
45 award wins in 43 award categories for 29 podcasts, 5 podcasters, and 1 podcast network
- 2025 LEGEND AWARD: Anna DeShawn, Bernard P. Achampong, Wize Grazette
- BEST PODCAST NETWORK: Owls Education Company
- BEST PRODUCER: Quincy L. Lewis

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

About Black Podcasting Awards
Black Podcasting Awards (BPAwards) celebrates, spotlights, and bolsters Black podcasts for more wins and successes. It achieves this primarily by producing an annual awards program and ceremony. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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.



