The Signal Awards has released its 2025 slate of winners. This annual program’s goal is to recognize “podcasts that define culture.” That mission is expressed in a complex category structure based on four types of product:
- Shows
- Limited Series & Specials
- Individual Episodes
- Brand Storytelling
Within those categories, the program accepts four types of entry:
- Shows — podcasts which are submitted and adjudicated at the level of the show. This media type recognizes the full breadth of work being made in podcasting today with categories ranging from Scripted Fiction to (new this year) Best Video Podcast Host.
- Limited Series & Specials — honors for limited-run podcasts and special projects made and published for a finite span of time. Categories span from Best Sound Design to Best Indie Podcast.
- Individual Episodes — recognizing the year’s standout podcast episodes with categories ranging from Best Guest to Activism, Public Service, & Social Impact.
- Brand Storytelling — honors for the brands and agencies who have created the year’s best podcasts driving brand affinity and growth. From Best Podcast Ad to Thought Leadership Podcast.
And the Awards drill down to yet deeper levels. Within each type of entry above, recognition is distributed for these attributes:
- Craft
- Genre
- Video
Within each of those attributes the program breaks out multiple specific awards; the Genre group, for example, itemizes 40 specific awards. There is also a Listener’s Choice category.
With this extraordinary volume of review and bestowal, telling a short story is impossible. The organization itself works hard to carve out bullet points of success, by highlighting podcasts which earned dual honors — a Signal Gold award and a Listener’s Choice Awards. That seems sensible, and here is that list:
- ‘The Wonder of Stevie’ (Audible) Best Host
- ‘Baby, This is Keke Palmer ‘(Wondery) Interview or Talk Show
- ‘The Mel Robbins Podcast’ (143 Studios) Best Guest
- ‘The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart’ (The Weekly Show) Best Host for and Individual Episode
- ‘Scam, Inc.’ (The Economist) Money & Finance
- ‘Club Shay Shay’ (Shay Shay Media) for Athletes Shaping Culture
- ‘99% Invisible’ (SiriusXM) Documentary
- ‘The Moth Radio Hour’ (The Moth) Commute Podcast
- ‘Charlie’s Place’ (Atlas Obscura) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
All ofo this makes a browsing gold mine and discovery field of podcasts. HERE it is.