The 4th Annual Signal Awards Are Open for Entries

The Signal Awards, the premier honor recognizing excellence in podcasting, is officially open for entries for its 4th annual season. As the podcast industry continues to shape culture and conversations worldwide, The Signal Awards seeks to celebrate the voices, stories, and innovations that define this ever-evolving medium.

Podcasts are no longer commentating from the outside—they are where culture is created. From breaking news to personal narratives that inspire change, the power of audio storytelling has never been stronger. This year, The Signal Awards expands its categories to further recognize the creators, hosts, and productions that continue to push the boundaries of the industry.

New additions to Signal’s categories include separate Best Host categories in News and Politics, Culture, and Documentary to reflect the skills required of hosts in these genres to capture and move audiences. We are opening more avenues for fiction podcasts, such as Best Voice Acting. Signal is also expanding categories for Video Podcasts to include Best Editing for a Video Podcast, Most Innovative Video Podcast, as well as new honors for Thought Leadership and Local News.

“In 2024, we watched podcasts shift into a new place in the cultural consciousness, ” said Jemma Brown, General Manager of The Signal Awards in an opening letter penned to creators. “Podcasts are the new linchpins of our information ecosystem –– which means the work that you do is more vital than ever. ”

Creators are invited to submit their work in categories spanning Shows, Limited Series & Specials, Individual Episodes, and Branded Content. Past winners include industry-leading and chart-topping podcasts such as Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Ten Percent Happier, Design Matters, Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, and Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

The Signal Awards are judged by an esteemed panel of experts from across the podcasting landscape. Additions to The Judging Academy this year include influential voices such as Latif Nasser (Co-Host, Radiolab), Anna Sale (Host, Death, Sex & Money), Bailey Sarian (Host and Executive Producer, Dark History) in addition to Marshall Lewy, (Chief Content Officer, Wondery), Kate Navin (Head of Creative Development, North America at Audible), Steve McLendon (Product Lead, Podcasting at YouTube), Kati Fernandez (Senior Director, Head of Development, ESPN), Carrie Lieberman (Chief Operating Officer, iHeartPodcasts), and Valentina Bojanini (Director of Audio Content Strategy, TED), as well as industry leaders at NPR, CNN, Condé Nast, Vox Media and more.

New this year, The Signal Awards has partnered with industry-leading platforms and publishers including YouTube, Dolby, TED, The CBC, On Air Fest, Good Tape and Sounds Profitable. These organizations join a growing cohort of aligned organizations amplifying the award’s honors which include Max by HBO, Podcast Movement, The Podglomerate and Pod People. The Early Entry Deadline for The Signal Awards is Friday, May 9th, 2025, offering entrants the opportunity to receive preferred pricing. For more information on categories, eligibility, and how to enter, visit www.signalaward.com.