NEW YORK (AP) – This year's Golden Globes introduced a new category: Best Podcast, which generated considerable discussion following the announcement of the nominees on Monday. The six contenders for this inaugural award are "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard," "Call Her Daddy," "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," "The Mel Robbins Podcast," "SmartLess," and NPR's "Up First." These podcasts encompass a variety of genres including news, advice, and celebrity interviews, all chosen from a preliminary shortlist of 25 programs deemed eligible by the Golden Globes.
Notably absent from the nominations were several high-profile political and controversial podcasts. The shortlist featured popular conservative programs such as "The Megyn Kelly Show," "The Tucker Carlson Show," "The Ben Shapiro Show," and "Candace," hosted by Candace Owens, as well as "The Joe Rogan Experience," which has dominated podcast charts on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube this year. Other politically-themed podcasts like the left-leaning "Pod Save America" were also overlooked, alongside well-known true crime narratives like "Morbid" and "Rotten Mango."
Ben Bogardus, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University, expressed that the decisions by the Globes' voting body seem aimed at sidestepping controversy after past scandals that have plagued the awards show. He indicated that the Globes appear to wish to present themselves as a mainstream, non-controversial award ceremony, thereby focusing on entertainment without engaging in potentially divisive political discourse.
Initial reactions to the omission of politically cringeworthy podcasts were mild, with some users on social media expressing criticism regarding the absence of influential figures like Joe Rogan and "manosphere" podcaster Theo Von. Despite the outcry, the hosts of the sidelined podcasts remained noticeably silent.
Among those making an effort to gain recognition, Ben Shapiro reportedly launched a comprehensive publicity campaign for his podcast, aiming to garner attention by engaging with industry publications and even securing billboard advertisements in New York City's Times Square. Other prominent candidates such as "The Daily" from The New York Times and "Pardon My Take" from Barstool Sports also featured prominently in the preliminary list.
Karl Hughes, a veteran in the podcasting industry and CEO of The Podcast Consultant, commented on the criteria for nomination, suggesting that while aligning nominations with the most listened-to shows is one method, it inherently overlooks a broader spectrum of innovative and nuanced content. The criteria for the Best Podcast award require contenders to showcase original content, be released between January 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025, with each episode lasting a minimum of 30 minutes. The award itself, to be hosted by Nikki Glaser on January 11, is designed to celebrate the "quality, creativity, audience engagement, and impact" of podcasts.
Despite the recognition that the Golden Globes' inclusion of podcasts brings, many experts in the field found the selection process confusing due to the lack of clear categorization and criteria related to what defines a 'best podcast.' Concerns raised by Hughes point toward the need for a more refined approach to judging, as the current methodology seems overly blunt.
Moreover, the announcement sparked immediate controversy regarding the process behind creating the shortlist, which was managed by Luminate Data—a company associated with Penske Media Corp., the owner of the Golden Globes. The initiative of the Globes has added an interesting dynamic to the awards landscape, marking the first time podcasts have been recognized by a major awards event. As podcasting continues to evolve and attract corporate interest, Hughes remains optimistic that this acknowledgment will encourage more individuals and businesses to use the medium for storytelling.
In reflecting on the growth of the podcasting industry over the past quarter-century, Bogardus noted its evolution beyond the limitations of radio into a respected form of communication that stands alongside television and streaming media. The recognition from a prestigious award ceremony like the Golden Globes signals a maturation of the podcasting medium, establishing its significance in the broader media landscape.
