Golden Globes Unveil First-Ever Nominees In Inaugural Podcast Category.

The nominees for the first-ever Golden Globes for best podcast have been announced, with six of the most listened-to series up for the trophy. The list includes Wondery’s “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” SiriusXM’s “Call Her Daddy,” Spotify’s “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” SiriusXM’s “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” SiriusXM’s “SmartLess,” and NPR’s “Up First.” Actors Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall presented nominees for each of the 28 award categories at a press conference Monday at the Beverly Hilton.

The Golden Globes, often referred to as “Hollywood’s Party of the Year” is the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of film and television. The event, which began in 1944, will now include podcasting when the Globes are handed out on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.

Organizers previously announced that the top 25 podcasts had automatically qualified for the award based on listening data from the Globe’s data partner, Luminate.

But that drew criticism only from series produced by podcasters outside the U.S., but from some American series as well. Some podcasters have said the Luminate list doesn’t accurately showcase the industry’s creative diversity. Several podcasters have also questioned the use of Luminate to select the shows. They also note that that the most listened-to series, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” failed to earn a nomination.

Others have slammed the number of conservative podcasts that made the cut. The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro had been actively campaigning for a nomination for his “The Ben Shapiro Show,” but he too was snubbed when the nominations were revealed.

Adding fuel to the backlash has been a pitch made by Penske Media Corp., which owns the Golden Globes. It suggested shows that are up for the award spend $25,000 to become a sponsor at its Podcasting FYC (For Your Consideration) Fest, which comes with a full-page ad in the Hollywood trade “Variety.” For podcasters that cough up $75,000, they will be presented with a Creative Impact Award in Podcasting by the magazine.

Despite the criticism, many podcasters are celebrating the inclusion of podcasting in the Golden Globes since it will give the industry a high-profile stage to showcase itself to millions of television viewers worldwide. It is also seen as an acknowledgement by Hollywood of the role that podcasting is playing in consumers’ entertainment consumption habits.