Australian Podcast Awards reveals 2020 finalists The ABC leads the nomination count for the 2020 iteration of the Australian Podcast Awards. Other major players including Acast, iHeartPodcast Network, News Corp and PodcastOne Australia also garnered multiple nominations.
In the ‘Best Radio Podcast’ category, however, no commercial radio shows are in the running. The finalists are Background Briefing (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Science with Dr Karl (triple j, ABC), Studio 1 (Vision Australia Radio), Take 5 (Double J Radio, ABC), and Triple J Hack (triple j, ABC).
In the ‘Best Network or Publisher’ category, the ABC appears again, alongside Lipp Media, Mamamia Podcasts, PodcastOne Australia, and The Squiz.
The 2020 event will be virtual and will take place on Saturday, November 21. In addition to the nominations below, all Australian podcadts are eligible for the Listeners’ Choice Award. Voting is open until 5pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, November 18.
Dave Gertler, founder of the Australian Podcast Awards, said it was good to be able to celebrate podcasting’s achievements, despite the tumultuous year.
“There have been many uncertainties and lots of disruption in 2020. Despite these challenges, Australian podcast creators have continued to step it up, producing world-class content. Across our 24 categories, the APAs celebrates the achievements of the nominees and the spectacular content they have provided for an ever growing audience. The award ceremony may look slightly different in November, but we are thrilled to still be able to celebrate the achievements of Australian podcasters and producers,” he said.
The Spotlight Award supported by iHeartPodcast Network Australia
This is one for the big hitters out there: podcasts with sizeable audiences bringing the medium into the mainstream.
Mamamia Out Loud (Mamamia)
Science Vs (Gimlet Media)
The Last Voyage of The Pong Su (The Age and Sydney Morning Herald)
The Kyle & Jackie O Show (KIIS & iHeartPodcast Network Australia)
The Lighthouse (News Corp Australia)
Moment of the Year supported by Acast
The most impactful, visible, compelling single piece of audio produced this year and exclusive to an Australian podcast.
Coronacast (Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor for ABC)
Matt & Alex – All Day Breakfast – Black Lives Matter (PodcastOne Australia)
Driven Young: Boys vs Girls Experiment Viral Moment (Byron Dempsey)
Squiz Kids Q+A with Prime Minister Scott Morrison (The Squiz)
Women of Influence (Kate Meade for ACE Radio)
The Bullseye Award supported by Acast
This category honours the podcasts that are producing exceptional listening experiences for niche audiences and those underrepresented in the media. It’s a big award for the small shows making a real difference to their communities.
All Ears (All Ears English)
Drinks Adventures (Drinks Adventure)
Money Power Freedom (Victorian Women’s Trust)
Prof Joe Covid 19 Aged Care Podcast (Dignity of Risk Australia)
The Gays Are Revolting (Lipp Media)
The Creativity Award supported by iHeartPodcast Network Australia
Chosen at the discretion of the judges, this award recognises a single piece of audio so
creatively dazzling that it deserves its own trophy.
All Ears (All Ears English)
From A Whisper To A Bang! (Megan Spencer for the Australian War Memorial)
The Last Voyage of The Pong Su (The Age and Sydney Morning Herald)
Science Vs: Pandemic! (Gimlet Media)
Tony Martin’s SIZZLETOWN (pots n pans productions)
Best Lockdown Podcast
This category celebrates the shows that have addressed this with their analysis and insight, or their ability to entertain and distract.
Busy Bodies with Mr Snot Bottom – Healthy Heroes Episodes (Mr Snot Bottom for Kinderling Kids Radio)
Coronacast (Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor for ABC)
How I Work (Amantha Imber)
Prof Joe Covid 19 Aged Care Podcast (Dignity of Risk Australia)
The New Social Contract (Impact Studios at UTS)
Best New Podcast supported by Acast
We also want to champion the best launch of a show across any genre – if you have managed to start well and keep getting better, tell us how.
7AM (Schwartz Media)
Life Uncut Podcast (Laura Byrne, Brittany Hockley & iHeartPodcast Network Australia)
Little Green Pod (ABC Regional & Local & ABC Audio Studios)
Nut Jobs: Cracking California’s Strangest $10 Million Dollar Heist (Marc Fennell for Audible)
Who The Hell is Hamish? (News Corp Australia)
Best Arts and Culture Podcast
Celebrating the arts across all cultures: the podcasts that encourage us to seek out new
releases or forgotten classics – through reviews, interviews, discussion…. any or none of the above.
Bad Behavior (Nikila Cranage, Rosalind Anketell, Namcheja Maghembe)
Beauty Island (Brittany Stewart)
Eyes on Gilead (Fiona Williams, Natalie Hambly, Sana Qadar, Haidee Ireland and Jeremy Wilmot for SBS )
Margin Notes (Yen Eriksen and Zoya Patel)
Talking Words (Olivia O’Flynn & Lucy Hayward)
Best Branded Podcast supported by PodcastOne Australia
Showcasing the best examples of advertiser-funded podcasts, where both the editorial and
sponsor’s aims are seamless and beneficial… and, above all, make a great listen.
Beyond Blue: Not Alone (Beyond Blue)
Love & Proud (NAB & JOY 94.9)
That’s Incredible (Mamamia Podcasts)
This Girl Can – Victoria (VicHealth)
What Happens Next? Hosted by Dr Susan Carland (Monash University)
Best Business Podcast supported by NOVA Entertainment
As with all our categories, we’re looking for shows that reflect the diversity of ideas,
backgrounds and industry in our country.
Building A Unicorn (Lawson Media)
My Millennial Career (symo interactive)
She’s on the Money (Victoria Devine & iHeartPodcast Network Australia)
The Richards Report (Ted Richards)
Women are the Business (University of Melbourne)
Best Comedy Podcast supported by Spotify for Podcasters
Not to be confused with our entertainment category, this is for podcasts that aren’t just funny… but have finely crafted jokes inside.
A Rational Fear (Dan Ilic for Downwind Media)
Dragon Friends (Dragon Friends Podcasting)
Hamish & Andy (Hamish Blake and Andy Lee for PodcastOne Australia)
Impromptunes – The Completely Improvised Musical Podcast (Impromptunes)
Tony Martin’s SIZZLETOWN (pots n pans productions)
Best Current Affairs Podcast supported by Spotify for Podcasters
Whether you are a business, news and current affairs show, publishing regular discussion
formats or original journalism, we want to hear podcasts that have sought insight into our
complex society.
7AM (Schwartz Media)
Background Briefing (The Background Briefing Team for Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Full Story (The Guardian)
The Quicky (Mamamia Podcasts)
What Happens Next? Hosted by Dr Susan Carland (Monash University)
Best Documentary Podcast supported by PodcastOne Australia
Documentaries take listeners into new worlds and experiences through real people, places, and events.
BIRDS EYE VIEW (StoryProjects with women in Darwin Correctional Centre)
Full Story (The Guardian)
Inside the Big Day Out (Double J)
It Burns: The Scandal-Plagued Race to Breed the World’s Hottest Chilli (Marc Fennell for Audible)
The Eleventh (ABC Audio Studios)
Best Entertainment Podcast supported by Podfollow
Outstanding entries in this category will revel in their eclecticism, curating content or features that your subscribers unquestionably consume with open hearts and minds.
Just The Gist (Rosie Waterland & Jacob Stanley)
Matt & Alex – All Day Breakfast (Matt & Alex – All Day Breakfast for PodcastOne Australia)
Shameless (Shameless Media)
The Convo With George Sargent (George Sargent)
The Wellness Collective (Natalie Kringoudis and Cecelia Ramsdale)
Best Family Podcast
Recognising the shows that entertain children with either high quality storytelling, amazing facts or very silly jokes.
Busy Bodies with Mr Snot Bottom (Mr Snot Bottom for Kinderling Kids Radio)
Little Yarns (ABC Kids listen)
Short & Curly (ABC Audio Studios)
Squiz Kids (The Squiz)
Too Peas in a Podcast (Mandy and Kate)
Best Fiction Podcast
Incorporating drama, readings, and ground-breaking new formats for storytelling. Outstanding entries in this category will incorporate production that suits the story/stories and sound design that acknowledges an audience primarily of headphone users.
Destination: Earth (Patrick McGinley)
Generation Betoota (The Betoota Advocate)
Love and Luck (Passer Vulpes Productions)
Nocturnal Transmissions (Kristin Holland)
Six Cold Feet (J.M. Donellan, Dead Eric Productions)
Best Interview
Incorporating interview formats across many topics: from books, to comedy, to health, to human interest.
Genocide Apology Brett de Hoedt for Podcasts of Justice)
Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski (ABC Audio Studios)
In My Country (Pia Perversi-Burchall & Adam Wood for That’s Not Canon Productions)
The Regenerative Journey with Charlie Arnott (Charlie Arnott)
Shoes Off: Diana Nguyen (Jay Ooi)
Best Radio Podcast supported by Omny Studio by Triton by Triton Digital
This category recognises the radio programs that appeal to podcast audience’s sensibilities, and the key aim of the Australian Podcast Awards: to recognise programming that honours fresh perspectives, new formats or alternative viewpoints unheard in mainstream media.
Background Briefing (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Science with Dr Karl (Nick Gerber, Lucy Smith, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki for triple j
Studio 1 (Matthew Layton for Vision Australia Radio)
Take 5 (Double J Radio)
Triple J Hack (triple j)
Best Sex & Relationship Podcast supported by Piccolo Podcasts
Recognising the great work being done in sex education and relationship advice; representing a wider variety of sexual experiences than has previously been the case in mainstream media.
Ghosts of Boyfriends Past (Elizabeth Best & Tom Harris for That’s Not Canon)
The Hook Up (Nat Tencic for triple j)
Love Etc. (Shameless Media)
My Mum Is A Pornstar (Miss Honey Analverkehr & Maz)
Search Engine Sex (Rowdie Walden)
Best Sports Podcast supported by Whooshkaa
Maybe you have incisive analysis, exceptional pundits and great access – or perhaps the
discussion is merely a sideshow to the blossoming, unspoken romance between your
contributors.
Dyl and Friends (Dylan Buckley)
John Tapp Racing (John Tapp)
Ordineroli Speaking (Neroli Meadows & iHeartPodcast Network Australia)
The 19th Tee Podcast (Nathan Drudi & Kieran Marsh)
The Phil Davis Podcast (Phil Davis for ABC)
Best True Crime Podcast supported by Whooshkaa
Whether it’s original investigations or pure storytelling, judges will be looking for well-researched programs, with evocative storytelling and human stories at its heart.
CHILDERS – The Full Story (Paul Cochrane)
Nut Jobs: Cracking California’s Strangest $10 Million Dollar Heist (Marc Fennell for Audible)
The Last Voyage of The Pong Su (The Age)
The Lighthouse (The Australian)
Unravel True Crime: Snowball (ABC Audio Studios)
Best Wellbeing Podcast
New for 2020, we’d like to showcase the best self-help and improvement podcasts focusing on positive mental health.
Curveball – The Club you didn’t want to be part of. (Beth Armstrong – Curveball Media/Luke Mynott – Unison Sound)
Healthy-ish (BODY + Soul, News Corp Australia)
Let’s Talk About Suicide (Hamish Blunck for JOY)
One Foot In (Bee & Zee)
Young Blood – Men’s Health Matters (Callum MacPherson)
Smartest Podcast
Whether your style is entertaining trivia or deep dives into very very specific topics, to become ‘Smartest Podcast’ is to make audiences smarter the longer they stay listening, or at least teach them something new.
Ask the Specialist: Larrakia, Tiwi and Yolngu stories to inspire better healthcare (Vicki Kerrigan, Stuart Yiwarr McGrath, Rarrtjiwuy Melanie Herdman, Bilawara Lee and Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri for Menzies School of Health Research)
Moonshot (Lawson Media)
Science Vs (Kaitlyn Sawrey & Wendy Zukerman for Gimlet Media)
She’s on the Money (Victoria Devine & iHeartPodcast Network Australia)
Shoes Off (Jay Ooi)
Best Network or Publisher supported by Omny Studio by Triton Digital
This category is for companies that have a public-facing brand around a slate of shows.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Lipp Media
Mamamia Podcasts
PodcastOne Australia
The Squiz
Best Indigenous Podcast supported by SoundCartel
We want to celebrate the great podcasts being made by First Nations producers and
presenters. The podcast can be across any genre, and the nominees will form an essential
playlist for all Australians.
A Cuppa and a Yarn (Michelle Aleksandrovics Lovegrove)
Ask the Specialist: Larrakia, Tiwi and Yolngu stories to inspire better healthcare (Menzies School of Health)
Little Yarns (ABC)
My Mum Is A Pornstar (Miss Honey Analverkehr & Maz)
Search Engine Sex (Spotify)
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