The iHeartRadio Podcast Awards is a podcast awards show that celebrates podcasts heard throughout the year across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia's digital music platform. Founded by iHeartRadio in 2019, the event recognizes the most popular podcasters and podcasts over the past year. Winners are chosen in a few categories by judges, but the majority of categories are voted on by fans through the iHeart Podcast Awards website and social media. The inaugural event was held on January 18, 2019, at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles. Overview Fans vote on their favorite podcasts through the iHeart Podcast Awards website and social media over the course of a couple of months leading up to the ceremony. A panel of judges who are blue-ribbon podcast industry leaders determines the podcast winners of several of the categories.
List of ceremonies YearDateVenueHost cityHost(s)Podcast of the Year winnerBroadcaster2019January 18, 2019iHeartRadio TheaterLos AngelesLenard McKelvey Holly Frey
Bobby Bones
Mario LopezSlow Burn produced by Slate Magazine and hosted by Leon NeyfakhiHeartRadio2020January 17, 2020iHeartRadio TheaterLos AngelesWill FerrellThe Dropout produced by ABC News and hosted by Rebecca JarvisLiveXLive
iHeartRadio2021TBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD2026March 16, 2026Moody TheaterAustin, TexasEgo NwodimGiggly Squad hosted by Paige DeSorbo and Hannah BernerVEEPS iHeartRadio
Award categories The categories cover an array of genres, including fiction, religion and spirituality, music, and political podcasts. Categories voted on by judges are indicated with a double dagger ().
Current award categories
Best Podcast of the Year (2019–present) Best Comedy Podcast (2019–present) Best Crime Podcast (2019–present) Best Music Podcast (2019–present) Best News Podcast (2019–present) Best Sports & Recreation Podcast (2020–present) Best Overall Host – Male (2020–present) Best Overall Host – Female (2020–present) Best Business & Finance Podcast (2020–present) Best Pop Culture Podcast (2020–present) Best Food Podcast (2019–present) Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast (2019–present) Best History Podcast (2019–present) Best Kids & Family Podcast (2019–present) Best Fiction Podcast (2020–present) Best Science Podcast (2020–present) Best Technology Podcast (2020–present) Best Ad Read (2020–present) Best Political Podcast (2020–present) Best TV & Film Podcast (2020–present) Best Spanish Language Podcast (2020–present) Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast (2020–present) Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast (2020–present) Best Travel Podcast (2020–present) Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast (2020–present) Best Green Podcast (2020–present) Best Branded Podcast (2019–present)
Past award categories
Best Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast (2019) Best Entertainment & TV Podcast (2019) Best Curiosity (2019) Best Health & Fitness Podcast (2019) Best LGBTQ Podcast (2019) Most Bingeable (2019) Best Multi-Cultural Podcast (2019) Best Scripted Podcast (2019) Best Sports Podcast (2019) Best Science & Tech Podcast (2019) Breakout Podcast (2019)
Special awards
Podcast Innovator Award
2019: Marc Smerling 2020: Life Kit 2021: QCode 2022: Descript 2023: Ashley Flowers 2024: Rotten Mango 2025: Daniel Alarcón 2026: Hrishikesh Hirway Podcast Pioneer Award
2019: NPR 2020: Tenderfoot TV's Payne Lindsey and Donald Albright 2021: TBD 2026: Terry Gross
Social Impact Award
2019: Ear Hustle 2020: 1619 2021: TBD 2026: Jay Shetty
Multiple wins and nominations Most wins (as of 2020) Rank1st – 3rdPodcastConan O'Brien Needs A FriendReply AllThe Breakfast ClubTotal2 Most nominations (as of 2020) Rank1st2nd – 6th7th & 8thPodcastRevisionist HistoryThe DailyThe Joe Rogan ExperienceAtlanta MonsterSlow BurnStuff You Should KnowDirty JohnThe Ron Burgundy PodcastTotal543
Performance +YearPerformers (chronologically)2019N/A2020Gavin DeGraw2021TBD
See also iHeartRadio Music Awards iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards iHeartRadio Music Festival
References
External links