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Signal Awards 2023

All The Winners of Second Annual Signal Awards

Press Release · New York, NY, USA · via Signal Awards ·

The Signal Awards, celebrating the world’s best podcasts, today announced the Winners for its second annual honors. Some of the world’s most influential, entertaining and informative voices are taking top prizes, including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria, Kit Harington, Kevin Hart, Hoda Kotb, Doja Cat, QuestLove, Jill Scott, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ashley Johnson, Jon Stewart, Ed Helms, Snoop Dogg, Björk, Steve Yeun, Kevin Pang and Miranda Keeling. Notable podcasts such as HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast, The Slowdown, Netflix is a Daily Joke, Operation: Tradebom, And That’s Why We Drink, Growing Up Powerful and She’s a 10 Times 5 are also receiving Gold Awards for exceptional work.

“2023 was a huge year for podcasts, as worldwide listenership continued to skyrocket and new trends emerged,” said Signal Awards managing director Deondric Royster. “The winners of the second annual Signal Awards represent the best of the industry: those who are pushing boundaries, telling important stories, encouraging laughter, and reaffirming the overall power of podcasting and its ability to connect to listeners all over the world.”

The first-ever Signal Company of the Year was won by Audible, earning the most honors across all categories. With 32 total wins, Audible received nods for Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, The Sesame Street Podcast, Mandela: The Lost Tapes, Origins, American Football, The Goop Pursuit and more.

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During the public voting stage, podcast fans cast over 130,000 votes for the Signal Listener’s Choice award. Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast, Mobituaries with Mo Rocca, Small Town Dicks, Barely Famous, And That’s Why We Drink and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls were among the podcasts receiving the most public votes.

With nearly 2000 entries received in only its second year, Signal Awards is already one of the largest honors for podcasts in the world. Organizers noted the diversity of companies entering great podcasts, including global media heavyweights like Warner Bros. Discovery, ABC News, Audible, SXM Media, WaitWhat, Apple, Netflix, Al Jazeera, iHeart Podcasts and Stitcher Studios to pioneering companies like Paramount Amazon, Vox Media Podcast Network, Tenderfoot TV, Lemonada, Crooked Media and Realm.

Reflecting the medium’s reputation for being informal and authentic, a number of shows were selected as Winners for Best Indie Podcast including Like You: Mindfulness For Kids, Fireside with Blair Hodges, Humans of Purpose, Undiscarded: Stories of New York and Curios Matter Anthology.

Live recorded and video podcasts continue to be popular tools of the industry, with more and more notable voices taking to the medium every day. The Official Game of Thrones Podcast House of the Dragon, Questlove Supreme, Soul & Science Podcast | Shake Shack CMO Jay Livingston and Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma – SO YOU THINK YOU’RE A STARSEED? were all recognized as Winners for shows in the Best Live Podcast Recording category.

Signal Award Winners were selected by the Signal Academy, which included Founding Jurors Jody Avirgan (Host, This Day in Esoteric Behavior); Ray Chao (GM of Audio, Vox Media); Rachael King (CEO and Co-Founder, Pod People; Maya Watson (Head of Global Marketing, Clubhouse); Michael Gluckstadt (Director of Podcasts, HBO & HBO MAX); Anna Hossnieh (Executive Producer, iHeartRadio Comedy); Jenny Kaplan (Co-Founder and CEO, Wonder Media Network); Deray McKesson (Host, Pod Save the People / Co-founder & Executive Chair, Campaign Zero) and Nikki Silva (Co-Host, The Kitchen Sisters Present from PRX).

Signal Awards Winners will be celebrated with a reception at The Bowery NYC on October 23, 2023.

Signal Awards Winner Highlights

Best Daily Podcast – Shows

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
The Slowdown – APM Studios
From: American Public Media
Hosted by: American Public Media

Best Commute Podcast – Shows

Netflix Is A Daily Joke
Netflix is a Daily Joke – Netflix
From: Netflix
Hosted by: Megaphone
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
On Purpose with Jay Shetty – alignPR
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio
And That's Why We Drink
Play trailerAnd That’s Why We Drink – Metro Public Relations
From: Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz
Hosted by: Simplecast

Best Experimental Podcast – Shows

Stopping To Notice with Miranda Keeling
Play trailerStopping To Notice with Miranda Keeling – Fresh Air Production
From: Fresh Air Production
Hosted by: Omny Studio

Best Host (Current Events) – Shows

The Problem With Jon Stewart
Play trailerThe Problem with Jon Stewart: The Official Podcast – Apple TV Podcast
From: Apple TV+
Hosted by: ART19

Best Indie Podcast – Shows

Undiscarded: Stories of New York
Play trailerUndiscarded: Stories of New York – CitizenRacecar & The City Reliquary
From: The City Reliquary Museum and Civic Organization
Curious Matter Anthology
Play trailerCurious Matter Anthology – Knightsville Workshop
From: Knightsville Workshop
Hosted by: Megaphone
Humans of Purpose
Play trailerHumans of Purpose – Humans of Purpose
From: Purposeful
Hosted by: Podbean
Fireside with Blair Hodges
Play trailerFireside with Blair Hodges – Fireside
From: Blair Hodges
Hosted by: Squarespace
Like You: Mindfulness for Kids
Play trailerLike You: Mindfulness for Kids – Perpetual Motion
From: Perpetual Motion
Hosted by: Spotify for Podcasters

Popular Culture & Variety – Shows

Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast
Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast
From: iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio

Best Exclusive Content + Experiences – Shows (Listener’s Choice)

Small Town Dicks
Play trailerSmall Town Dicks – Paperclip Ltd.
From: Paperclip Ltd.
Hosted by: Acast

Interview or Talk Show – Shows

Gold Minds with Kevin Hart
Gold Minds with Kevin Hart – Hartbeat
From: SiriusXM
Hosted by: Simplecast
Most Interesting Person You've Never Heard of Podcast
Most Interesting Person You’ve Never Heard Of Podcast – Corner Booth Media
From: MIP Podcast
Hosted by: Spotify for Podcasters
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Play trailerWiser Than Me – Lemonada Media
From: Lemonada Media
Hosted by: Omny Studio
Profoundly Pointless
Profoundly Pointless – Profoundly Pointless
From: Cloud10
Hosted by: Megaphone
Gal on the Go Unplugged™
Gal on the Go Unplugged – Gal on the Go Unplugged
From: Kimberly
Hosted by: Podbean

Comedy – Shows

Gold Minds with Kevin Hart
Gold Mind with Kevin Hart – Hartbeat
From: SiriusXM
Hosted by: Simplecast

Documentary – Shows

Teaching Texas
Play trailerTeaching Texas – Wonder Media Network
From: Wonder Media Network
Hosted by: Simplecast
The Catch
Play trailerThe Catch - Season 2 – Foreign Policy
From: Foreign Policy
Hosted by: Megaphone
Admissible: Shreds of Evidence
Play trailerAdmissible: Shreds of Evidence – VPM Media Corporation
From: VPM & Story Mechanics
Hosted by: Megaphone
Operation: Tradebom
Play trailerOperation: Tradebom – Apple TV Podcast
From: Apple TV+ / Truth Media
Hosted by: ART19
DDx
Play trailerDDx: Abortion as Healthcare (a Miniseries) – Figure 1
From: Figure 1
Hosted by: Simplecast

History – Shows (Listener’s Choice)

Mobituaries with Mo Rocca
Play trailerMobituaries with Mo Rocca – Paramount
From: CBS News & iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio

Best Hosts – Shows

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Play trailerWiser Than Me – Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Lemonada
From: Lemonada Media
Hosted by: Omny Studio
BEEF with Bridget Todd
Play trailerBEEF with Bridget Todd – Next Chapter Podcasts
From: Next Chapter Podcasts, Bridget Todd
Hosted by: Megaphone
Dark History
Play trailerDark History host by Bailey Sarain – Audioboom
From: Audioboom Studios
Hosted by: Audioboom
Mind of a Monster: Aileen Wuornos
Play trailerMind of a Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer – Michelle Ward – Warner Bros. Discovery
From: ID
Hosted by: Acast
Reality with The King
Play trailerReality with the King – Carlos King – QCODE
From: Carlos King & CRK Entertainment | QCODE
Hosted by: Megaphone
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – Wondery
From: Ten Percent Happier
Hosted by: ART19

Best Conversation Starter – Shows

Shes a 10 Times 5
She’s a 10 Times 5 – She’s a 10 Times 5 Podcast
From: Laurie Jabbar, Michelle Emmick and Randi Crawford
Hosted by: Buzzsprout
  • The Sunday 7 Conversation Starter – Draft Doris
  • How to Do the Pot
    Play trailerDo the Pot – How to Do the Pot
    From: Ellen Scanlon
    Hosted by: Spotify for Podcasters

    True Crime – Shows (Listener’s Choice)

    And That's Why We Drink
    Play trailerAnd That’s Why We Drink – Metro Public Relations
    From: Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz
    Hosted by: Simplecast

    Kids – Shows (Listener’s Choice)

    Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
    Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls -- Rebel Girls
    From: Rebel Girls
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Best Video Podcast – Branded Shows & Advertising (Listener’s Choice)

    Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
    Play trailerConan O’Brien Needs a Friend – Samsung Electronics – SXM Media
    From: Team Coco & Earwolf
    Hosted by: Simplecast

    Television & Film -- Individual Episode (Listener’s Choice)

    HBO's The Last of Us Podcast
    Play trailerHBO’s The Last of Us Podcast - Episode 3 - “Long, Long Time” – Warner Bros. Discovery
    From: HBO
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Best Guest – Individual Episode

    Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast
    Michelle Obama – The Light Podcast: “Barack is My Home” with Oprah Winfrey (Ep. 8) – AUDIBLE
    From: Higher Ground
    Hosted by: Acast
    HBO's The Last of Us Podcast
    Play trailerHBO’s The Last of Us – Ashley Johnson – Warner Bros. Discovery
    From: HBO
    Hosted by: Megaphone
    On Purpose with Jay Shetty
    On Purpose with Jay Shetty – Tom Holland ON: How to Overcome Social Anxiety & Beneficial Life Lessons You Can
    From: iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio
    Questlove Supreme
    Questlove Supreme – The Oriel Co.
    From: iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio

    Best Writing – Individual Episode

    The No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman
    Play trailerThe No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman – “Chapter Eight: Thin Lines” – Antica Productions
    From: Lionsgate Sound & CBC
    Hosted by: Triton Digital
    MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
    Play trailerMrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories Ep. 126 The Barn – Ballen Studios
    From: Ballen Studios
    Hosted by: ART19
    Ahead of Its Time
    Play trailerAhead of its Time VR Gloves: Where air guitar meets a Nintendo flop, meets the future of remote surgery – Setapp
    From: Setapp
    Hosted by: Simplecast

    Best Guest – Individual Episode

    The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon
    Play trailerThe Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon, “Live from GOT Fan Con with Kit Harington” – Warner Bros. Discovery
    From: HBO Max
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Arts & Culture – Individual Episode

    Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejón
    Play trailerHungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejón – iHeartPodcasts
    From: My Cultura and iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio
  • Origins – Tobe Nwigwe – Audible
  • Proof
    Play trailerProof - The World’s Greatest Italian Beef – Kevin Pang – America’s Test Kitchen
    From: America's Test Kitchen
    Hosted by: ART19

    Lifestyle – Individual Episode

    Biscuits & Jam
    Play trailerBiscuits & Jam - Hoda Kotb Is a Southerner – Dotdash Meredith
    From: Southern Living
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Best Conversation Starter – Individual Episode

    The California Report Magazine
    The California Report Magazine Did Mac Dre Really Go to Prison Because of His Lyrics – KQED
    From: KQED
    Hosted by: Megaphone
    Beyond 6 Seconds
    Play trailerBeyond 6 Seconds: Dissociative Identity Disorder with Amber Louise Ainsworth – Beyond 6 Seconds
    From: Carolyn Kiel
    Hosted by: Libsyn

    Interview or Talk Show – Individual Episode

    Wish I Knew
    Play trailerWish I Knew: Peter Beck – Bessemer Venture Partners
    From: Bessemer Venture Partners
    Hosted by: Spotify for Podcasters
    Skip Intro
    Play trailerSkip Intro – Steven Yeun – Netflix
    From: Netflix
    Hosted by: Megaphone
    What the Hack with Adam Levin
    What the Hack: Jill Schlesinger Hits the Reset Button – Loud Tree Media
    From: Loud Tree Media
    Hosted by: Megaphone
    Milk Drunk by Bobbie
    Play trailerMilk Drunk: The Podcast – Meghan Trainor & Emily Oster: Redefining “Best” Parenting – Bobbie
    From: Bobbie Baby Formula
    Hosted by: Simplecast

    Music – Individual Episode

    • Origins: Doja Cat – AUDIBLE

    Interview or Talk Show - Individual Episode (Listener’s Choice)

    Barely Famous
    Barely Famous Podcast x Kat Stickler - PodcastOne
    From: PodcastOne
    Hosted by: Nox Solutions

    Most Innovative Audio Experience – Limited Series & Specials

    Björk: Sonic Symbolism
    Play trailerBjörk: Sonic Symbolism – Archetype
    From: Mailchimp
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Advice & How To – Limited Series & Specials

    Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast
    Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast – AUDIBLE
    From: Higher Ground
    Hosted by: Acast

    Advice & How To – Limited Series & Specials (Listener’s Choice)

    Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast
    Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast – AUDIBLE
    From: Higher Ground
    Hosted by: Acast

    Best Editing – Limited Series & Specials

    Culpable
    Play trailerCulpable – Tenderfoot TV
    From: Tenderfoot TV, Resonate Recordings & Audacy
    Hosted by: Megaphone
    Into America
    Into America: Street Disciples – MSNBC
    From: MSNBC, Trymaine Lee
    Hosted by: Simplecast
    Long Shadow
    Play trailerLong Shadow: Rise of the American Far Right – Long Lead
    From: Long Lead & Campside Media
    Hosted by: Acast
    Heretic in the House
    Play trailerHeretic in the House – The Shalom Hartman Institute
    From: Shalom Hartman Institute of North America
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Limited Series & Specials

    The Idiom
    The Idiom – SBS
    From: SBS
    Hosted by: StreamGuys
    Free From Desire: Asexual in the City of Love
    Play trailerFree From Desire: Asexual in the City of Love – Paradiso Media
    From: Paradiso Media
    Hosted by: Simplecast
    Inside Europe | Deutsche Welle
    Inside Europe - Women of Europe – Deutsche Welle
    From: DW.COM | Deutsche Welle

    History – Limited Series & Specials

    SNAFU with Ed Helms
    Play trailerSNAFU with Ed Helms – FilmNation Entertainment, Pacific Electric Picture Company, Gilded Audio, iHeartRadio
    From: iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio

    Best Original Score or Music – Limited Series & Specials

    Lake Song
    Play trailerLake Song – Make Believe Association
    From: Make-Believe Association
    Hosted by: Libsyn

    Best Writing – Limited Series & Specials

    Rebel Girls: Growing Up Powerful
    Play trailerGrowing Up Powerful – Rebel Girls
    From: Rebel Girls
    Hosted by: Megaphone
  • CAN YOU DIG IT? – A HIP HOP ORIGIN STORY – PB & J Productions (Audible)
  • SNAFU with Ed Helms
    Play trailerSNAFU with Ed Helms – FilmNation Entertainment
    From: iHeartPodcasts
    Hosted by: Omny Studio
    Into America
    Into America: Street Disciples – MSNBC Into America Podcast
    From: MSNBC, Trymaine Lee
    Hosted by: Simplecast
    High Strange
    Play trailerHigh Strange – Tenderfoot TV
    From: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
    Hosted by: Megaphone

    Music – Limited Series & Specials

    • Snoop Dogg W+M – AUDIBLE

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    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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