Every time awards season opens, big networks submit their shows and many independent, mission-oriented entrepreneurial podcasters scroll past entries thinking it’s not for them.
What does being award-winning really mean for a podcast and is it worth it? Yes, it’s worth it.
This year, Future Around & Find Out (FAFO), an independent tech podcast hosted by former NPR journalist Dan Blumberg, won the judges’ Webby for Best Technology Podcast. It competed against network-backed shows, including The Vergecast. The Verge took the fan vote with its much larger platform. FAFO took the judges’ award, after three years in a row as an honoree.
That win didn’t come out of nowhere. It came after a full rebrand, a new format and a growth strategy my partner Jullian and I built with Dan over six months. You can read all about it in our case study. But it also came from something simpler: Dan kept applying.
In this article, you’ll find out why awards are worth your time, which ones to keep in mind and which deadlines are coming up (including the Webbys). I’ll also share what I learned about crafting strong submissions, from two perspectives: supporting our clients’ award submissions at PodVision and as a judge for the Webbys, the Signal Awards and the Ambies.
Why apply?
An award will not grow a show on its own but it will give every growth strategy a head start.
- “Webby Award-winning” tells a potential listener, guest or sponsor that your show is high-quality before they press play. For business owners, it also lends credibility to your other work.
- Nominations and wins give you a reason to reach out to podcast newsletters, listening apps and your own mailing list. After FAFO’s win, we pitched it again and it was featured in various industry outlets Podcasting Today, Podcast Rex, Podcast Delivery, Ear Worthy and Podwires.
- Bigger shows and networks are more likely to say yes to partners that make them look good. An award does that for you. (Read more about cross-promos here.)
- Just the submission process forces you to step back and listen to your show the way a stranger would.
You don’t have to be a veteran show to win. The Hairy Chin Podcast, a women’s health advocacy podcast hosted by Spencer Moore, won four Women Who Podcast Magazine Awards, including Best in Show, in the very first awards competition it entered. PodVision supported Spencer through the whole submission, from choosing the episodes and categories to writing the application.
Here’s what another creator, Naomi Bloomstein, says about the support:
“Andreea kindly gave me some ideas about my strange indie series and suggested I enter some of the awards which are more open to independent creators. I’ve been nominated for the IPA’s and just won at the International Women’s Podcast Awards for Most Honest moment. Advice like this can make such an impact. Through the shortlists and wins, we’ve gained 990% increase in our listenership!”
— Naomi Bloomstein, Audio Producer | BBC Charles Parker Award Winner
Which awards are worth it?
The right award is the one where your show can actually stand out.
A huge competition with a category that fits you perfectly can be a good strategy, even though it might seem intimidating. Look at past winners in each category and ask: would my show fit this list?
Here are awards to save to your calendar:
| Award | Best for | Next deadline | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Webby Awards | Any podcast with a polished show and online presence | Early entry: October 30, 2026. Later deadlines at higher fees follow; check the site | Early pricing is the best of the season. Nominees in early April 2027, winners in late April |
| The Ambies | English-language shows with at least 3 episodes published in 2026 | Late submissions: November 6, 2026 | Late fees are $285 for members, $335 for non-members |
| New York Festivals Radio Awards | Podcasts and audio storytelling worldwide | January 31, 2027 | New Crime Drama and Kids & Family podcast categories this year |
| The Signal Awards | Shows, limited series, single episodes and branded podcasts | Expected in spring 2027 | Last cycle: early deadline May 8, final June 26, extended July 31 |
| Women Who Podcast Awards | Independent, women-identified podcasters | Expected in early summer 2027 | Submissions closed at the end of June this year |
| International Women’s Podcast Awards | Women in podcasting, across roles and genres | Expected in 2027 | 2026 entries were open through July 31 |
Deadlines and fees change every year. Always double-check the official website before you plan your submission.
There are also great regional and niche awards, such as the All-Ireland Podcast Awards or Spain’s Premios Ondas. If your show serves a specific country, community or industry, look for awards built for it. Keep an eye on All Hear for upcoming international deadlines and check out my own Eurowaves’ Top Podcasting Events page for a European list.
Looking for support to put this into practice and choose the right award for you?
Let’s chat That’s the first thing we figure out together in PodVision’s award submission support.
Not sure where your show stands? Get our free 360 Podcast Audit.
Launching a new podcast? Get our free podcast launch checklist.
How does a submission stand out for judges?
As a judge, we get to listen to a-many entries. A submissions that immediately stands out makes our job easy.
Here’s the process we follow when PodVision supports a client’s award submission:
- Start early: A good submission takes time. Plan it over a few weeks: picking episodes and categories first, then clipping and drafting the written submission, then a full review before submitting.
- Choose the best categories: Read each category description and match one episode to one category. An episode about listener questions fits a service or impact category. A deep, personal episode fits a vulnerability or storytelling category.
- Pick your favorites: Your most popular episode isn’t always your best entry. Judges remember the episodes where the host’s personality shines through: the banter, the reactions, the stories.
Pro tip: save it all. Your current submission is 80% of next year’s submission and maybe even your next sponsor pitch.
What to do with your award
Winning or being nominated is not the end of it. It’s a new credential but it only works if people see it. Here’s what you can do the moment you get the news:
- Update everything. Add “Webby Award-winning” (or your award) to your show description, website, media deck, host bio, LinkedIn, email signature, etc.
- Celebrate. Share it on socials and tag the awards, tell your mailing list or Substack, and let listeners know in an episode.
- Pitch it. Podcast newsletters love a win from an independent show. After FAFO’s Webby, our buzz-building push got it featured in a series of industry newsletters.
- Level up. Use the award as the first line of your cross-promo pitches. Shows and networks that ignored you last year are more likely to say yes now.
- Pitch sponsors. “Award-winning” makes a sponsorship deck or a guest invite more intriguing and newsworthy.
- Use it for your business. If your podcast supports your business, add the award to your sales materials and website.
- Plan. Save your entry and make notes of what worked.
If you don’t win… you’re in good company. FAFO was an honoree three years in a row before it won. Take a look at the winning entries in your category and what they did differently, and apply again next year.
Ready for awards season?
A well-written submission can put your show in the same room as the biggest names in podcasting, just like it did for FAFO and The Hairy Chin.
At PodVision, award submission support includes a kick-off call, writing your application with you, and feedback before you hit submit. If you’re thinking about the Webbys, the Ambies or any of the awards above, we can help.
Want this done for your show? Let’s chat
Not sure where your show stands? Get our free 360 Podcast Audit.
Launching a new podcast? Get our free podcast launch checklist.
