NEW YORK/AUSTIN – In an exciting announcement, iHeartMedia, recognized as the No. 1 podcast publisher globally by Podtrac, has revealed the nominees for the highly anticipated 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards. Set to take place live at South by Southwest (SXSW); this event will celebrate the best in podcasting from 2023, acknowledging the industry’s most innovative talents and content creators across 29 diverse categories.
Partnering with the prestigious SXSW Conference and Festivals, the live and in-person ceremony will be held at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin on Monday (March 11) at 8 p.m. CT. The ceremony will be broadcast on select iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide, digitally through the iHeartRadio app, and via video stream in collaboration with YouTube on the iHeartRadio Channel. Fans can also catch the event on demand following the initial live stream on YouTube.
Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group, emphasized the dynamic growth of the podcast industry, stating, “As the podcast industry continues to grow rapidly, this past year has proven that podcasters are always innovating in the audio space and finding new ways to reach and engage new audiences.”
Nominees span 29 categories covering podcast genres such as comedy, crime, news, TV and film, sports, food, business, and more. Podcast fans have the opportunity to participate in voting for the coveted Podcast of the Year presented by The Hartford award, with nominees including popular titles like “Crime Junkie,” “The Daily,” “My Favorite Murder,” and “SmartLess.”
Additionally, the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards will feature industry Icon Awards, honoring creators, organizations, and podcasts significantly contributing to podcasting’s expanding role in popular culture. Jonathan Goldstein, host of “Heavyweight,” will receive the 2024 Pioneer Award.
The Innovator Award presented by YouTube will be bestowed upon the podcast “Rotten Mango,” acknowledging its unique storytelling through both audio and video.
The announcement also highlighted last year’s virtual 2023 iHeartPodcast Awards, hosted by actor and comedian Brian Baumgartner, which featured appearances by award nominees, celebrity presenters, and special guests.
The 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards is part of iHeartMedia’s roster of nationally recognized events, including the iHeartRadio Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, the nationwide iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Concert Tour, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, iHeartCountry Festival and iHeartRadio ALTer Ego. Additional information, including guest hosts, presenters, celebrity appearances, and more, will be announced soon.
The full 2024 category nominees are:
Podcast of the Year presented by The Hartford:
Crime Junkie
The Daily
My Favorite Murder
New Heights
Normal Gossip
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
The Retrievals
Scamanda
SmartLess
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Best Business & Finance:
Direct Deposit
How I Built This
MoneyWatch with Jill Schlesinger
Networth & Chill with Your Rich BFF
Planet Money
Best Comedy:
Baby, This is Keke Palmer
Handsome
SmartLess
This Is Important
Why Won’t You Date Me
Best Crime:
Crime Junkie
The Girlfriends
The Retrievals
Scamanda
Something Was Wrong
Best Pop Culture:
Las Culturistas
I’ve Had It
Just B with Bethenny Frankel
Search Engine
Watch What Crappens
Best Food Podcast Award Presented by Planet Oat:
Cereal Killers
Hungry for History
Recipe Club
The Splendid Table
Sporkful
Best Wellness & Fitness:
Huberman Lab
Maintenance Phase
The Mel Robbins Podcast
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Therapy For Black Girls
Best History:
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca
Revisionist History
Slow Burn
Throughline
You’re Wrong About
Best Kids & Family:
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Kids Short Stories with Mr. Jim
Sound Detectives
Story Pirates
The Suga
Best Music:
Disgraceland
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
Popcast
Questlove Supreme
Song Exploder
Best News:
The Daily
Pivot
Pod Save America
Today Explained
Up First
Best Fiction:
Ad Lucem
Full Body Chills
The Mantawauk Caves
Radio Rental
The Space Within
Best Sports:
Around The NFL
Club Shay Shay
The Dan Le Batard Show
New Heights
Pardon My Take
Best Science:
Hidden Brain
Inner Cosmos
Ologies
Radio Lab
StarTalk
Best Technology:
All-In
Hard Fork
Lex Fridman Podcast
TED Radio Hour
Vergecast
Best Ad Read:
Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Heavyweight
How Did This Get Made?
Say More with Dr. Sheila
SmartLess
Best Overall Host:
Joe Budden (The Joe Budden Podcast)
Jonathan Goldstein (Heavyweight)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Wiser Than Me)
Laci Mosley (Scam Goddess)
Nicole Byer (Why Won’t You Date Me?)
Best Overall Ensemble:
The 85 South Show
Handsome
New Heights
SmartLess
Today, Explained
Best Political:
The Ben Shapiro Show
CNN Inside Politics
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
NPR Politics Podcast
Pod Save America
Best TV & Film:
Drama Queens
Films to be Buried With
Give Them Lala w/ Lala Kent
How Did This Get Made?
Pop Culture Happy Hour
Best Spanish Language:
La Brega
Cassettes
Duolingo Spanish
Leyendas Legendarias
Transportista: Who Murdered Captain Coral? (Spanish version)
Best Advice / Inspirational:
Getting Curious
Dear Chelsea
Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast
This Keeps Happening with Vienna Pharaon
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle
Best Beauty & Fashion:
Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Articles of Interest
Fool Coverage with Manny MUA and Laura Lee
The Goop Pursuit: Healing in a Sick Society
Lipstick On The Rim
Best Travel:
As Told By Nomads
Atlas Obscura
The Travel Hacking Mom Show
Travel With Rick Steves
Women Who Travel
Best Green:
Climate of Change
Discarded
Living on Earth
TED Climate
Sea Change
Best Spirituality & Religion:
The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz
The Bible Recap
Elevation with Steve Furtick
On Being with Krista Tippett
Women Evolve
Best Branded Podcast:
Crimson Hearts Collide (Hallmark Media)
Love In Gravity (ViiV Healthcare)
Mind the Business (Intuit Quickbooks)
Symptomatic (Novartis)
Townsizing (HGTV)
Best Emerging:
Classy
Handsome
How to Destroy Everything
I’ve Had It
The Really Good Podcast with Bobbi Althoff
Best International:
CTV Question Period with Vassy Kapelos (Canada)
Dichosa Sexualidad (Mexico)
The Fold (New Zealand)
The Imperfects (Australia)
Rocio Cordova (Mexico)
Proud partners of this year’s iHeartPodcast Awards include presenting partner The Hartford, a leading small business insurer, YouTube, and Planet Oat, with more to be announced.
