The Australian Podcast Awards, powered by iHeart, has revealed its finalists for 2022 – unveiling a list of the country’s top podcasts, podcasting moments and talent across 33 categories.
A cast of industry judges worked to name the contenders for the country’s top podcasts, spanning a diverse range of categories from True Crime and Current Affairs, Comedy and Sport, and Documentary and Sex & Relationships.
Finalists include well-known podcasts, such as Brittany Hockley & Laura Byrne’s Hooked, Hitched & Hung Up, Osher Günsberg’s DadPod, and Sandra Sully’s Short Black, as well as indie favourites, such as Flex & Froomes, She’s on the Money and 7AM.
Category winners will be announced at an in-person event on Monday, 21st November at the Seymour Theatre in Sydney, hosted by Mitch Churi, ACRA Award winning host of The Night Show on the KIIS Network. Winners of each category will also be in the running to win the prestigious iHeart Podcast of the Year Award.
Churi said: “Australia truly does lead the pack on a global scale in terms of original, entertaining podcast content and in my opinion is the future of Australian media, so I'm so thrilled they have asked a radio personality to host the event.
“Jokes aside, I’m thrilled to be hosting this year’s Australian Podcast Awards and help uncover and celebrate the best of the best in the Aussie Podcast industry - Its going to be a great night!”
Matt Deegan, director at the Australian Podcast Awards, said: “Every year we’re amazed by the talent and creativity coming through the Australian Podcast Awards.
“This year’s list represents the best of the best, and it’s encouraging to see both industry heavyweights and fierce independents rising to the top. We can’t wait for the final awards to be announced in November.”
The final category - the Listeners’ Choice Award, supported by LiSTNR, is now open for the public to make their choice known. All Australian podcasts are eligible and anyone can vote here. The voting closes on Tuesday 15th November at 23:59 AEDT.
Australian Podcast Awards, Powered by iHeart, 2022 finalists:
Best Education Podcast
- Hi, I'm Eddie
- Life and Debt
- NDIS Know-how
- Rise of the Superbugs
- The Fact Detectives
- This Medical Life
Arts and Culture Podcast
- For Your Reference
- Let Me Tell You
- Object
- Talking Pointes
- The Deep
- The Phantom Never Dies
Best Branded Podcast (supported by Nova)
- 8 Minutes To Change Your Work Life
- Brain Fuel With Ampol
- If These Walls Could Talk
- Life's Booming
- Restitution
- The Flying Doctor Podcast
Best Business Podcast (supported by Subly)
- Lady Brains
- She's On The Money
- Tech Zero
- The Dive
- The Mentor with Mark Bouris
- The SEO Show
Best Comedy Podcast
- A Rational Fear
- CANCELLED
- Impromptunes: The Completely Improvised Musical Podcast
- The Bazura Project's Radio Free Cinema
- The Swab with Georgie Carroll
- Toni and Ryan
The Creativity Award
- 7AM
- ABC News Daily
- The Resource
- CHANGE AGENTS
- Full Story
- I was a Teenage Fundamentalist
Best Parenting Podcast
- DadPod
- Dr. Justin Coulson's Happy Families
- My Bilingual Family
- No need for Prince Charming
- Parental As Anything
- The Tired Mummy Podcast
Best Documentary Podcast
- I Swear I Never
- SAMSN's STRONGER
- Sirens Are Coming
- Tender: Roia Atmar
- The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment
- The King of Kowloon
Best Entertainment Podcast
- FAILURES
- OK Smart-ass
- POPGAYS
- radionotes Podcast
- Two Girls One Pod
- Unapologetically Asian
Best Children Podcast
- Busy Bodies with Mr Snotbottom: Funny Feelings
- Fun Fables: Bedtime Stories With a Twist
- Grow Your Mind
- Little Yarns
- Story Salad
- Toddler Tunes
Best Fiction Podcast
- Girls' Night Out
- Jones and Woolf
- Nocturnal Transmissions
- Tales from Three Corners
- The Bazura Project's Radio Free Cinema
- The Younger Man
Best Interview
- 7am
- Brains Trust
- Short Black with Sandra Sully
- The Flying Doctor Podcast
- The New Writers' Room
- Voice it
Best New Podcast (supported by Podfollow)
- After the Disaster
- Flex & Froomes
- Mr A+
- On the Down Low
- Tech Zero
- Uncurated
Best History Podcast
- Sirens Are Coming
- Stuff The British Stole
- The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment
- The King of Kowloon
- The Last Outlaws
- Uncurated
Best Sex & Relationships Podcast
- Hooked, Hitched & Hung Up
- Innies + Outies
- Ladies We Need to Talk
- Love Me, Love My Anxiety
- Pillow Talk
- The Single Life of Us
Best Factual Podcast
- Bad Taste
- Deepest Dive: The Search for MH370
- How Science Matters
- Tender: Roia Atmar
- The Yarn
- What the Duck?!
Best Sport Podcast
- AFL Fantasy with The Traders Annuals
- Born Offside Podcast
- Kickin' It Local
- The Long Haul
- The Physical Performance Show
Best True Crime Podcast
- Bloodguilt
- Deepest Dive: The Search for MH370
- Fairground F*ck Ups
- Sirens Are Coming
- The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment
- The Ring In
Best Climate Podcast
- 100 Climate Conversations
- Australia, If You're Listening
- Endgame
- Tech Zero
- The Regenerative Journey with Charlie Arnott
- The Yarn
Best Health and Wellbeing
- All in the Mind
- Enough
- Love Me, Love My Anxiety
- On the Down Low
- Suddenly Senior
- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health
Best Network (supported by Campaign)
- Acast
- ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Australia
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Broadwave
- DM Podcasts
- The Colour Cycle Podcast
Best Publisher (supported by Campaign)
- DM Podcasts
- Equity Mates Media
- Podshape Indi Publisher
- SBS
- SYMO interactive
- The Squiz
Best Indigenous Podcast
- Black Magic Woman Podcast
- Ear-Movies
- Hi, I'm Eddie
- Led By A Heartstring
- Tech Cetera
- The Space
The Creativity Award (supported by iHeart)
- All in the Mind
- Aussievision
- Elf Control
- How Taste Changed the World
- The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment
- Who Walks In - The Story of the New Harlem Jazz Band
Best Sales House (supported by Campaign)
- Acast
- ARN
- Mamamia
Best Creative Campaign (supported by Campaign)
- Budget Direct / She’s on the Money
- Bumble / Life Uncut
- National Live Tour 2022 / My Millennial Money
- Super Saturdays / Equity Mates
- Whoop / Queens Of The Drone Age
Rising Star (supported by iHeart)
- Amanda Yeo
- Frank Lopez
- Grace Valerie-Lynette
- Indi Symons
- Justine Landis-Hanley
- Kristen Amiet
The Spotlight Award (supported by Nova)
- Chat 10 Looks 3
- Crime Interrupted
- Life Uncut
- Mamamia Out Loud
- Sit With Us
- Who Is Daniel Johns?
The Bullseye Award
- A Happy, Positive Life
- Better@Work
- Baby Brain
- Mini Taco Podcast
- Unplugged in St Kilda
- Who Walks In - The Story of the New Harlem Jazz Band
Podcast Of The Year (supported by iHeart)
Announced on 21st November at the awards ceremony
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.