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2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Nominees & Winners

iHeartRadio held their second annual iHeartRadio Podcast Awards last Friday, honoring podcasting superstars across 30 categories. The event was broadcast via YouTube livestream from the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles, and recognized the best podcasters in a wide variety of genres, including comedy, crime, music, sports, news, business, pop culture, food, technology, and more.

The iHeartRadio Podcast Awards opened with a monologue by comedy legend — and newly-minted podcasting powerhouse — Will Ferrell (Ferrell’s podcast, The Ron Burgundy Show, launched in early 2019). With less than a year of podcasting under his belt, Ferrell is just one of many celebrities who have made a strategic career move by getting on board with the podcasting boom.

In addition to recognizing the category winners, three Icon Awards were also presented to pay tribute to the creators, organizations, and podcasts that have made groundbreaking contributions to the world of podcasting and its expanding impact on pop culture.


iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Icon Award Winners

Audible Audio Pioneer Award Winner: Payne Lindsey & Donald Albright, Tenderfoot TV

Social Impact Award Winner: 1619, The New York Times (Apple Podcasts)

Innovator Award Winner: Life Kit, NPR (Apple Podcasts)


Below, you can find the full list of nominees and winners from the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.

Gavin DeGraw performs onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Jan. 16, 2020 - Source: Getty Images North America)
Gavin DeGraw performs onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)

2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Nominees & Winners:


Best Podcast of the Year:

Nominees:

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco & Earwolf)

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (Exactly Right)

Revisionist History (Pushkin Industries)

Stuff You Should Know (iHeartRadio)

The Daily (The New York Times)

The Dropout (ABC News)

The Joe Rogan Experience (Independent)

The Read (Loud Speakers Network)

The Ron Burgundy Podcast (iHeartRadio)

The Shrink Next Door (Wondery/Bloomberg)

Winner: The Dropout (ABC News)

(L-R) Victoria Thompson and Taylor Dunn accept the Podcast of the Year award for 'The Dropout' onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Jan. 16, 2020 - Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)
(L-R) Victoria Thompson and Taylor Dunn accept the Podcast of the Year award for The Dropout onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)

Best Overall Host – Female:

Nominees:

Amanda Seales (Starburns Audio)

Anna Sale (WNYC)

Holly Frey (iHeartRadio)

Jenna Wortham (The New York Times)

Kelly McEvers (NPR)

Nora McInerny (American Public Media)

Rachel Maddow (MSNBC)

Winner: Nora McInerny (American Public Media)

Nora McInerny (L) accepts the Best Overall Host - Female award for Terrible, Thanks for Asking, onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)
Nora McInerny (L) accepts the Best Overall Host – Female award for Terrible, Thanks for Asking, onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)

Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast:

Nominees:

Happier with Gretchen Rubin (Gretchen Rubin/The Onward Project)

Last Day (Lemonada Media)

Life Kit (NPR)

Therapy For Black Girls (Independent)

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel (Esther Perel Global Media/Gimlet)

Winner: Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel (Esther Perel Global Media/Gimlet)


Best Comedy Podcast:

Nominees:

Comedy Bang Bang (Earwolf & Scott Aukerman)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco & Earwolf)

My Dad Wrote A Porno (Independent)

The 85 South Show (Independent)

The Joe Rogan Experience (Independent)

The Read (Loud Speakers Network)

The Ron Burgundy Podcast (iHeartRadio)

Winner: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco & Earwolf)

Conan O'Brien accepts the Best Comedy Podcast award for 'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend' onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)
Conan O’Brien accepts the Best Comedy Podcast award for Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California. (Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)

Best Pop-Culture Podcast:

Nominees:

The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast (iHeartRadio)

Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe (PodcastOne)

Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR)

Talk Is Jericho (Westwood One)

The Breakfast Club (iHeartRadio)

Winner: The Breakfast Club (iHeartRadio)

(L-R) Charlamagne tha God, Angela Yee, and DJ Envy of The Breakfast Club speak onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)
(L-R) Charlamagne tha God, Angela Yee, and DJ Envy of The Breakfast Club speak onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)

Best Crime Podcast:

Nominees:

Crime Junkie (audiochuck)

Hit Man (iHeartRadio)

Man In The Window (L.A. Times/Wondery)

Root of Evil (TNT & Cadence 13)

The Clearing (Pineapple Street Media/Gimlet)

The Shrink Next Door (Wondery/Bloomberg)

White Lies (NPR)

Winner: Man In The Window (L.A. Times/Wondery)

(L-R) Jack O'Brien and Paige St. John, winner of the Best Crime Podcast award for 'Man In The Window,' attends the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)
(L-R) Jack O’Brien and Paige St. John, winner of the Best Crime Podcast award for Man In The Window, attends the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at the iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)

Best Music Podcast:

Nominees:

All Songs Considered (NPR)

Bobbycast (iHeartRadio)

Broken Record with Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam (Pushkin Industries)

DISGRACELAND (iHeartRadio)

expediTIously with Tip “T.I.” Harris (PodcastOne)

Song Exploder (Radiotopia)

Sound Opinions (WBEZ Chicago)

Winner: DISGRACELAND (iHeartRadio)


Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast:

Nicole Byer, Host of Why Won't You Date Me? with Nicole Byer, pictured at the 71st Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
(Source: Getty Images North America)
iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Category winner Nicole Byer at the 71st Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (Source: Getty Images North America)

Nominees:

Call Her Daddy (Barstool Sports)

Dear Prudence (Slate)

Death, Sex & Money (WNYC)

Life Kit (NPR)

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations (OWN)

Terrible, Thanks For Asking (American Public Media)

Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer (HeadGum)

Winner: Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer (HeadGum)


Best News Podcast:

Nominees:

Pod Save The World (Crooked Media)

Post Reports (The Washington Post)

The Daily Zeitgeist (iHeartRadio)

The Daily (The New York Times)

The Journal (The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet)

Today, Explained (Vox)

Up First (NPR)

Winner: The Daily (The New York Times)


Best Sports & Recreation Podcast:

Nominees:

30 For 30 (ESPN)

Fantasy Footballers (Independent)

Knuckleheads (The Players’ Tribune)

Pardon My Take (Barstool Sports)

Sports Wars (Wondery)

The Bill Simmons Podcast (The Ringer)

The Herd w/ Colin Cowherd (iHeartRadio & FOX Sports Radio)

Winner: 30 For 30 (ESPN)


Best Overall Host – Male:

Nominees:

Aaron Mahnke at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)
Aaron Mahnke at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)

Aaron Mahnke (iHeartRadio)

Bill Simmons (The Ringer)

Glynn Washington (WNYC)

Jonathan Van Ness (Earwolf / Stitcher)

Malcolm Gladwell (Pushkin Industries)

Marc Maron (Independent)

Roman Mars (Radiotopia)

Winner: Aaron Mahnke (iHeartRadio)


Best Business & Finance Podcast:

Nominees:

Business Wars (Wondery)

How I Built This with Guy Raz (NPR)

Marketplace (American Public Media)

The Chris Hogan Show (Ramsey Network)

The Indicator from Planet Money (NPR)

Winner: How I Built This with Guy Raz (NPR)


Best Food Podcast:

Nominees:

Doughboys (HeadGum/Doughboys Media)

Gastropod (Independent)

The Splendid Table (American Public Media)

The Dave Chang Show (The Ringer & Majordomo Media)

The Sporkful (Dan Pashman & Stitcher)

Winner: The Dave Chang Show (The Ringer & Majordomo Media)

(L-R) Doug Gottlieb and David Chang speak onstage during the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards at iHeartRadio Theater on January 17, 2020 in Burbank, California.
(Source: JC Olivera/Getty Images North America)

Best History Podcast:

Nominees:

1619 (The New York Times)

Lore (Independent)

Mobituaries with Mo Rocca (CBS)

Revisionist History (Pushkin Industries)

Stuff You Missed In History Class (iHeartRadio)

Winner: Revisionist History (Pushkin Industries)


Best Kids & Family Podcast:

Nominees:

#MOMTRUTHS with Cat & Nat (Independent)

Brains On! (American Public Media)

Story Pirates (Gimlet)

The Longest Shortest Time (Stitcher)

Wow In The World (NPR)

Winner: Story Pirates (Gimlet)

Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer -- hosts of nominated podcast #MOMTRUTHS with Kat & Nat -- in an ABC News appearance
Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer — hosts of nominated podcast #MOMTRUTHS with Kat & Nat — in an ABC News appearance

Best Fiction Podcast:

Nominees:

Blackout (Endeavor Audio & QCODE)

Carrier (QCODE)

Limetown (Two-Up)

Passenger List (Radiotopia)

Welcome To Night Vale (Night Vale Presents)

Winner: Blackout (Endeavor Audio & QCODE)


Best Science Podcast:

Nominees:

Hidden Brain (NPR)

Invisibilia (NPR)

Science Vs (Gimlet)

StarTalk Radio (Independent)

Stuff To Blow Your Mind (iHeartRadio)

Winner: Hidden Brain (NPR)


Best Technology Podcast:

Nominees:

TechStuff (iHeartRadio)

This Week In Tech (Independent)

Reply All (Gimlet)

Recode Decode (Recode)

Vergecast (The Verge)

Winner: Reply All (Gimlet)


Best Ad Read:

Nominees:

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (Armchair Umbrella)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco & Earwolf)

Pod Save America (Crooked Media)

Revisionist History (Pushkin Industries)

The Ron Burgundy Podcast (iHeartRadio)

Winner: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco & Earwolf)


DeRay Mckesson accepts the Best Political Podcast award for Pod Save The People onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (Source: Getty Images North America)
DeRay McKesson accepts the Best Political Podcast award for Pod Save The People onstage at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (Source: Getty Images North America)

Best Political Podcast:

Nominees:

Intercepted (The Intercept)

NPR Politics (NPR)

Pod Save The People (Crooked Media)

Political Gabfest (Slate)

The Ben Shapiro Show (The Daily Wire)

Winner: Pod Save The People (Crooked Media)


Best TV & Film Podcast:

Nominees:

Binge Mode (The Ringer)

How Did This Get Made? (Earwolf)

Rewatchables (The Ringer & Bill Simmons)

Straight Up with Stassi (Radio.com)

The Bechdel Cast (iHeartRadio)

Winner: How Did This Get Made? (Earwolf)


Best Spanish-Language Podcast:

El Cine De LoQueYoTeDiga (LoQueYoTeDiga)

El Show de Piolín (Eduardo “Piolín” Sotelo | reVolver Podcasts)

Nadie Sabe Nada (Cadena SER)

Radio Ambulante (NPR)

“TED en Español” (TED)

Winner: Radio Ambulante (NPR)

The team behind iHeartRadio category winner Radio Ambulante (NPR)
The team behind iHeartRadio category winner Radio Ambulante (NPR) (Image: NPR)

Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast:

Nominees:

Dressed: The History of Fashion (iHeartRadio)

Fat Mascara (At Will Media)

Forever35 (Independent)

Naked Beauty (Independent)

The Cut On Tuesdays (Gimlet)

Winner: Forever35 (Independent)


Best Travel Podcast:

Nominees:

On She Goes (Independent)

Overheard at National Geographic (National Geographic)

She Explores (She Explores)

The Wild (KUOW)

Travel with Rick Steves (Independent)

Winner: Overheard at National Geographic (National Geographic)


Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast:

iHeartRadio Podcast Awards Category Nominee Juju Bae (A Little Juju Podcast) at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. (Source: Getty Images North America)
Nominee Juju Bae (A Little Juju Podcast) at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. (Source: Getty Images North America)

Nominees:

A Little Juju Podcast (Independent)

Almost 30 (Independent)

Elevation with Steven Furtick (Elevation Church)

On Being with Krista Tippett (On Being Studios)

The Joel Osteen Podcast (Independent)

Winner: On Being with Krista Tippett (On Being Studios)


Best Green Podcast:

Nominees:

Climate One (The Commonwealth Club)

Drilled (Critical Frequency)

Sustainability Defined (Independent)

Terrestrial (KUOW News and Information)

Warm Regards (Independent)

Winner: Drilled (Critical Frequency)


Best Branded Podcast:

Nominees:

Camp Monsters (REI Co-Op)

Going Through It (MailChimp)

NBC’s Songland (NBC)

Spit (23&Me)

Trained (Nike)

Winner: NBC’s Songland (NBC)


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