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The Podcast Academy has announced the nominees for its inaugural Awards for Excellence in Audio or The Ambies. The ceremony will be streamed LIVE on YouTube, Twitch and other platforms on Sunday, May 16, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA at 5PM PT/8PM ET, with a pre-show starting at 4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET.
There are 164 nominees in 23 categories — with winners to be selected by every voting member of The Podcast Academy — in addition to a Governor’s Award. Eligible new members will be able to vote to determine this year’s winners if registered by March 26. More information about becoming a member may be found here.
Here are the nominees Podcast of The Year: Blockbuster: The Story of James Cameron (Miniseries) Bunga Bunga Chasing Cosby DETOURS Dirty Diana Dying for Sex For Life: The Podcast Forgotten: Women of Juarez Say Their Name The Happiness Lab
Best Business Podcast: An Arm and a Leg Brought to you by… Go For Broke Masters of Scale Teamistry The Heist Women at Work
Best Comedy Podcast: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Culture Kings Don’t Ask Tig Groceries How Did This Get Made? The Breakfast Club Threedom
Best Documentary Podcast: California City Conviction Season 2: American Panic For Life: The Podcast I’m Not A Monster Louder Than a Riot Painkiller: America’s Fentanyl Crisis The Edge: Houston Astros
Best Entertainment Podcast: Dissect Even the Rich For Life: The Podcast Office Ladies Prime Video Presents The First One The Plot Thickens
Best Fiction Podcast: Asking For It Blood Ties - Season 2 DEM TIMES Dirty Diana Frozen Frights: Aurora Borealis “Vacant” The Left Right Game Two Princes
Best History Podcast: American History Tellers American Scandal DETOURS Driving the Green Book Slow Burn Unfinished: Deep South Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers
Best Interview Podcast: A Winning Mindset: Lessons From The Paralympics Asian Enough Back from Broken Death, Sex & Money More With Anna Maria Tremonti The FRONTLINE Dispatch Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Best Knowledge, Science or Tech Podcast: American Innovations Brave New Planet How to Save a Planet In Machines We Trust Short Wave Tai Asks Why Unlocking Bryson’s Brain
Best News Podcast: Do No Harm Post Reports Suspicious Activity: Inside the FinCEN Files The Journal Today, Explained VICE News Reports What Next
Best Original Score and Music Supervision: Bunga Bunga - Scott Velasquez, Jeff Schmidt Dead and Gone - Makeup And Vanity Set Jacked: Rise of New Jack Sound - Marcelino Villalpando Revisionist History - Luis Guerra Throughline - Ramtin Arablouei, Drop Electric, Hania Rani Treasure Island 2020 - Chris Tarry, Jennifer Rowekamp Two Princes - Score: Greg Laswell; Theme and additional scoring by Bobby Lord; Music Supervision: Jonathon Roberts
Best Performer in Audio Fiction: DUST, Season 3: CHRYSALIS - Corey Hawkins Hank the Cowdog - Matthew McConaughey Light House - Aly Trasher National Geographic Kids Greeking Out - Kenny Curtis, Tori Kerr The Left Right Game - Tessa Thompson Two Princes - Noah Galvin, Ari’el Stachel, Samira Wiley, Gideon Glick, Wesley Taylor, Alfredo Narciso, Mandi Masden, CJ Wilson, Michelle Gomez We Are Not Alone - Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Best Personal Growth / Spirituality Podcast: Borne the Battle Dare to Lead with Brené Brown Dear Therapists Hey Spirit! Meditative Story On Being with Krista Tippett Stay Calm with Bob Roth
Best Podcast Host: Amicus Presents: The Class of RBG - Dahlia Lithwick Back Issue - Josh Gwynn, Tracy Clayton Bunga Bunga - Whitney Cummings MOBITUARIES: Anna May Wong (Death of a Trailblazer) - Mo Rocca Revisionist History - Malcolm Gladwell Science Vs - Wendy Zukerman Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Best Politics or Opinion Podcast: Burn the Boats Gaining Ground: The New Georgia Our Nation of Immigrants Politically Re-Active The Dan Bongino Show The NPR Politics Podcast Winning Wisconsin
Best Production and Sound Design: Canary: The Washington Post Investigates - Bishop Sand Conviction: American Panic - Matthew Boll Dirty Diana - Millie Iatrou, Ryan Walsh, Katie Halliday, Justin Davey, Matt Yocum & Ben Michev, Neely Oeftering The Left Right Game - Ryan Walsh, Matt Yocum, Will Files, Ryan Sullivan Unfinished: Short Creek - John DeLore Where is George Gibney? - Ger McDonnell Wind of Change - Henry Molofsky
Best Reporting: Fiasco: Iran-Contra - Leon Neyfakh I’m Not A Monster - Josh Baker Planet Money - Sarah Gonzalez, Kenny Malone, Jacob Goldstein, Robert Smith, Amanda Aroncyzk, Karen Duffin, Mary Childs Reveal - Shoshana Walter, Laura Starecheski, Ike Srikandarajah The Take - Malika Bilal, Stefanie Dekker, Safwat al-Kahlout Unfinished: Short Creek - Sarah Ventre, Ash Sanders Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Best Scriptwriting, Fiction: Appearances - Sharon Mashihi DEM TIMES - Rhys Reed-Johnson, Jacob Roberts-Mensah Dirty Diana - Shana Feste Looking For Latoya - Amy Aniobi, Chris Sanford, Kindsey Young Make It Up As We Go - David Hudgins, Brooks Hudgins National Geographic Kids Greeking Out - Kenny Curtis, Jillian Hughes, Emily Everhart The Left Right Game - Jack Anderson
Best Scriptwriting, Nonfiction: And Nothing Less - Robin Linn Heavyweight - Jonathan Goldstein, Kalila Holt, Stevie Lane Masters of Scale - WaitWhat Team, Adam Skuse, Katie Clark Gray Resistance - Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr. Suspicious Activity: Inside the FinCEN Files - Jonathan Menjivar, Jenelle Pifer, Joel Lovell Whistleblower - Tim Livingston Wind of Change - Patrick Radden Keefe
Best Society and Culture Podcast: Code Switch Ear Hustle Heavyweight Into America Latino USA Resistance You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton
Best Sports Podcast: 17 Weeks Drafted Sports Uncovered The Cam Chronicles The Edge: Houston Astros The Lead Whistleblower
Best True Crime Podcast: Brainwashed/Uncover Chasing Cosby Dr. Death Season 2: Dr. Fata I’m Not A Monster Somebody Supernatural with Ashley Flowers The Messenger
Best Wellness or Relationships Podcast: Adult ISH Dying for Sex Last Day Season 2 The Happiness Lab Therapy for Black Girls We Got You Where Should We Begin?