iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2026

 

With the past Golden Globes category of Best podcast, iHearts podcast awards is here again! It does almost seem to be the same names but I am out of the podcast loop in terms of who is up and coming and who is next up.

In other podcast news lots have signed on to Netflix, a handful of iHeart podcasts, and some sports, and now recently announced entertainment shows with Jake Shane and Alix Earle have both penned deals with Netflix as well.

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Podcasts which in my opinion gained popularity through the pandemic have elevated social media personalities over the years which is really cool seeing how entrainment has evolved.

As much as it is the model of bringing in popular influencers to the mainstream media, there is great potential for a fresher look at entertainment, new marketing and a dedicated following fan base. 

 

Netflix seems to be the next entertainment conglomerate that keeps evolving with the times, keeping up with the established media. 

Back to podcasts though, not as familiar as I thought I would be with the nominees but I love that though, up and coming talent, and podcasts are so entrepreneurial it's hard to bet against it. As much as media is so digital and algorithmic at the moment, its kinda cool how some projects still feel independent. 

2026 iHeartPodcast Award Nominees Include:

Podcast of the Year:

Good Hang with Amy Poehler
The Breakfast Club
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Pablo Torre Finds Out
The Daily
The Rest Is History
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Call Her Daddy
Heavyweight
Giggly Squad

Best Business & Finance:

Earn Your Leisure
How I Built This
Acquired
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha
The Diary of a CEO

Best Comedy:

Good Hang with Amy Poehler
The Toast
Distractible
Handsome
The Basement Yard

Best Crime:

Crime Junkie
Rotten Mango
Anatomy of Murder
My Favorite Murder
Wisecrack

Best Pop Culture:

Las Culturistas
Call Her Daddy
Therapuss with Jake Shane
Giggly Squad
The Viall Files

Best Food

Eating While Broke

The Sporkful
Home Cooking
The Splendid Table
Dinner’s On Me

Best Wellness & Fitness:

On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Huberman Lab
The Mel Robbins Podcast
10% Happier
Maintenance Phase

Best History:

The Rest Is History
You’re Wrong About
Throughline
American History Tellers
SNAFU

Best Kids & Family:

Story Pirates
Wow in the World
Circle Round
The Big Fib
Brains On!

Best Music:

The Bobby Bones Show
Song Exploder
Switched On Pop
All Songs Considered
One Song

Best News:

The Daily
The Megyn Kelly Show
Pivot
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Up First from NPR

Best Fiction:

The NoSleep Podcast
Havoc Town
Old Gods of Appalachia
Table Read
Murder at the Patel Motel

Best Sports:

New Heights
Pardon My Take
The Zach Lowe Show
Club 520
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Best Science:

Radiolab
Ologies
Hidden Brain
StarTalk Radio
Shell Game

Best Technology:

Hard Fork
Black Tech Green Money
Galaxy Brain
Acquired
All-In

Best Ad Read:

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Call Her Daddy
My Brother, My Brother and Me
Dudes on Dudes
Distractible

Best Host:

Amy Poehler
Pablo Torre
Alex Cooper
Emma Chamberlain
Caleb Hearon

Best Ensemble:

We Can Do Hard Things
SmartLess
The Basement Yard
This Is Important
Get Played

Best Political

Pod Save America
The Bulwark Podcast
Breaking Points
Hacks On Tap
The Ben Shapiro Show

Best TV & Film:

The Big Picture
The Rewatchables
How Did This Get Made?
Watch What Crappens
Girls Rewatch

Best Spanish Language:

Gracias, Come Again.
Radio Ambulante
Leyenda Legendarias
Chente Ydrach
Relatos de la Noche

Best Advice/Inspirational:

IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Thanks For Asking with Nora McInerny
Just Heal with Dr. Jay
Self-Conscious with Chrissy Teigen

Best Beauty & Fashion:

Nymphet Alumni
Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud
Articles of Interest
Lipstick on the Rim
Naked Beauty

Best Travel:

Women Who Travel
Travel with Rick Steves
Zero To Travel
Points Talk
The Travel Diaries

Best Religious & Spirituality:

Deeply Well with Devi Brown
Girls Gone Bible
Joel Osteen Podcast
WHOA That’s Good Podcast
Elevation with Steven Furtick

Best Branded Podcast:

This Is Not a Beauty Podcast (L’Oreal)
Crucible Moments (Sequoia Capital)
The Unshakeables (Chase for Business)
ZOE Science & Nutrition (ZOE)
Smart Talks (IBM)

Best Emerging:

Khloé in Wonder Land
Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Try Hard
Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim
Upstairs Neighbors

Best International:

ShxtsNGigs (United Kingdom)
Las Alucines (Mexico)
The Rest Is History (United Kingdom)
Shameless (Australia)
Crime Beat (Canada)