The Signal Awards announced its fourth annual honors today, recognizing podcasts across multiple genres with participation surging 126% year-on-year in listener voting. The 2025 winners represent the podcast pantheon that continues to attract major media personalities, indie creators, and institutional media companies.
Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s “IMO” podcast and Jon Stewart’s “The Weekly Show” secured top honors, alongside creator-driven efforts such as “Baby, This is Keke Palmer”. Ashley Flowers, creator of “Crime Junkie”, received the Audio Icon Award. Other notable winners include Katie Couric’s “Next Question” (Best Host in News & Politics), Sue Bird’s “Bird’s Eye View” (Sports), and “The Mel Robbins Podcast” (Best Guest).
In the documentary space, Wondery’s “Liberty Lost” and Futuro Media Group’s “Suave Season Two” both receive Signal Gold recognition. “The Moth Radio Hour,” “99% Invisible,” and “Today, Explained” also earn top honors in their respective categories.
The awards recorded more than 385,000 votes from approximately 127,000 voters this year, marking substantial growth in audience participation. International submissions continued to expand, with entries from the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Qatar, and additional markets.
The Listener’s Choice campaign results highlighted strong audience connections with shows including “The Wonder of Stevie” (Audible), “Dark History,” “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” and “Club Shay Shay.”
Special Distinction Awards Recognize Industry Impact
The Signal Awards designated several Special Distinction honors for industry influence:
Ashley Flowers of “Crime Junkie” and Audiochuck received the “Audio Icon Award” for reshaping true crime content and building audience communities
Hasan Minhaj earned the inaugural “Cultural Impact Award” for his podcast “Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know,” launched in 2024
Brian Reed and Robyn Semien of “Question Everything” secured the “Special Achievement Award” for pushing podcast boundaries
iHeartPodcasts claimed “Podcast Company of the Year” for earning the most Signal Awards in 2025
Independent Creators Gain Recognition
Independent productions also received recognition, with shows such as “Debt Heads,” “Hyperfixed,” “Señora Sex Ed,” and “Things That Go Boom” securing top honors in their categories.
Several podcasts earned both “Judging Academy Gold” awards and “Listener’s Choice” distinctions, including “The Wonder of Stevie” (Best Host), “Baby, This is Keke Palmer” (Interview or Talk Show), “The Mel Robbins Podcast” (Best Guest), “Scam, Inc.” (Money & Finance), and “Club Shay Shay” (Athletes Shaping Culture).
Video Podcast Format Continues Growth
The awards highlighted the expanding video podcast category with winners including “All There Is with Anderson Cooper” (CNN), “Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud” (Vox Media Podcast Network), “The Colin and Samir Show,” and “The Rest Is Classified” (Goalhanger).
The Signal Awards Winner’s Party, presented by ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts, takes place November 10 at Public Records in Brooklyn, bringing together creators, producers, and industry executives. The Signal Awards Judging Academy added new members in 2025, including Latif Nasser (Radiolab), Steve McLendon (YouTube), Valentina Bojanini (TED), Tiffany Faure (Spotify), and Ney Alvarez (Al Jazeera).
According to General Manager Jemma Rose Brown, this year’s winners demonstrate how “audio is shaping discourse” across investigative journalism, personal storytelling, and cultural commentary formats.
David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.
The Signal Awards announced its fourth annual honors today, recognizing podcasts across multiple genres with participation surging 126% year-on-year in listener voting. The 2025 winners represent the podcast pantheon that continues to attract major media personalities, indie creators, and institutional media companies.
Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s “IMO” podcast and Jon Stewart’s “The Weekly Show” secured top honors, alongside creator-driven efforts such as “Baby, This is Keke Palmer”. Ashley Flowers, creator of “Crime Junkie”, received the Audio Icon Award. Other notable winners include Katie Couric’s “Next Question” (Best Host in News & Politics), Sue Bird’s “Bird’s Eye View” (Sports), and “The Mel Robbins Podcast” (Best Guest).
In the documentary space, Wondery’s “Liberty Lost” and Futuro Media Group’s “Suave Season Two” both receive Signal Gold recognition. “The Moth Radio Hour,” “99% Invisible,” and “Today, Explained” also earn top honors in their respective categories.
The awards recorded more than 385,000 votes from approximately 127,000 voters this year, marking substantial growth in audience participation. International submissions continued to expand, with entries from the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Qatar, and additional markets.
The Listener’s Choice campaign results highlighted strong audience connections with shows including “The Wonder of Stevie” (Audible), “Dark History,” “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” and “Club Shay Shay.”
Special Distinction Awards Recognize Industry Impact
The Signal Awards designated several Special Distinction honors for industry influence:
Independent Creators Gain Recognition
Independent productions also received recognition, with shows such as “Debt Heads,” “Hyperfixed,” “Señora Sex Ed,” and “Things That Go Boom” securing top honors in their categories.
Several podcasts earned both “Judging Academy Gold” awards and “Listener’s Choice” distinctions, including “The Wonder of Stevie” (Best Host), “Baby, This is Keke Palmer” (Interview or Talk Show), “The Mel Robbins Podcast” (Best Guest), “Scam, Inc.” (Money & Finance), and “Club Shay Shay” (Athletes Shaping Culture).
Video Podcast Format Continues Growth
The awards highlighted the expanding video podcast category with winners including “All There Is with Anderson Cooper” (CNN), “Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud” (Vox Media Podcast Network), “The Colin and Samir Show,” and “The Rest Is Classified” (Goalhanger).
The Signal Awards Winner’s Party, presented by ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts, takes place November 10 at Public Records in Brooklyn, bringing together creators, producers, and industry executives. The Signal Awards Judging Academy added new members in 2025, including Latif Nasser (Radiolab), Steve McLendon (YouTube), Valentina Bojanini (TED), Tiffany Faure (Spotify), and Ney Alvarez (Al Jazeera).
According to General Manager Jemma Rose Brown, this year’s winners demonstrate how “audio is shaping discourse” across investigative journalism, personal storytelling, and cultural commentary formats.
Follow this link for the full list of winners.
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