The fifth annual Ambies awards ceremony was a night to remember for many in the podcasting industry. Hosted by actor-comedian Tig Notaro, the event honored some of the most talented individuals and production companies in the audio entertainment space. Among the winners were hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers of “Las Culturistas,” as well as “Saturday Night Live’s” Ego Nwodim.
The awards, presented at Chicago’s McCormick Convention Center as part of the Podcast Movement conference, recognized a wide range of platforms and production banners. Wondery, Audible, iHeart Media, Audacy, NPR, the CBC, Pineapple Street Studios, Higher Ground Productions, and Crooked Media were just a few of the names that took home trophies in various categories.
One of the standout winners of the night was the podcast “Hysterical,” which took home the coveted Podcast of the Year award. The investigative series delved into the mystery ailment that affected teenage girls in LeRoy, N.Y., and was produced by Wondery and Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios. Host and producer Dan Taberski also received recognition for his outstanding reporting on the show.
Other winners included “Las Culturistas” for Best Comedy Podcast, Ego Nwodim for Best Interview Podcast, and Higher Ground Productions for Best Entertainment Podcast with “The Wonder of Stevie.” Wondery and Crooked Media’s “Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD” won Best History Podcast, while NPR’s “How I Built This Podcast with Guy Raz” took home the prize for Best Business Podcast.
The event also honored industry veterans Ira Glass with the Governors Award and Sam Sanders with the Impact Award. The full list of winners spanned 28 categories, showcasing the diversity and talent within the podcasting community.
Overall, the fifth annual Ambies was a celebration of excellence in audio entertainment, highlighting the creativity and innovation that continues to drive the industry forward. Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding contributions to the world of podcasting.
