The fifth annual Discover Pods Awards were, predictably, bigger and better than previous years. More surprisingly, a few categories were decided by a handful of votes despite thousands and thousands cast. These were tight races.
In my opinion, podcast discovery remains a very real problem for the industry (see: the domain name of this site.), and as such I deliver a similar challenge to readers every year:
If you haven’t heard of another nominated podcast in a category you’re interested in please give it a listen. These podcasts are all deserving of recognition and who knows, maybe you’ll find a new podcast to add to your queue.
These are good podcasts, I promise. Try something new.
Alright, let’s get to the winners…
Best Overall Podcast
Winner: Old Gods of Appalachia
Runner up: Potterless
- Baby Name Envy
- Cold War Conversations
- Exit Scam
- Imagined Life
- Morbidology
- My First Million
- Old Gods of Appalachia
- Potterless
- The Daily
- The Me-Suite
- Twenty Thousand Hertz
- Waypoint Radio
- You’re Wrong About
Best New/Debut Podcast of 2021
Winner: The Newest Olympian
Runner up: My World with Jeff Jarrett
- Aack-Cast
- Exit Scam
- Financial Feminist
- For A Better World
- My World with Jeff Jarrett
- No More Late Fees
- Stolen: The Search for Jermain
- The Ezra Klein Show
- The Living Fears
- The Newest Olympian
- The Silt Verses
People’s Choice
Winner: True Crime & Cocktails
Runner up: Join The Party
- 10ish podcast
- Ask Dale Anything
- Blaxit Global
- Catie and Erik’s Infinite Quest
- Cold War Conversations
- Cover to Cover with Chris Franjola
- Creative Elements
- Fantasy Footballers
- For a Better World
- Grits with a Side of Murder
- Hey Gurl! With Bill Janisse
- Join The Party
- Malevolent
- Pod and Prejudice
- Sugar Coated Murder
- Swish and Flick
- The Bourbon Road
- True Crime & Cocktails
Non-English Podcast
Winner: Wag Kang Lilingon
Runner up: Dos: After You
- Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast
- Dos: After You
- El Verdadero Robo del Siglo
- Gabi Ng Bading
- Lästerschwestern
- Paris Paysanne
- SBS Easy French
- Wag Kang Lilingon
- התשובה
True Crime Podcast
Winner: Crime Junkie
Runner up: True Crime & Cocktails
- A Death in Cryptoland
- A Paranormal Chicks
- Algorithm
- Cold Case Canada
- Crime Junkie
- Criminal
- In Your Own Backyard
- International Infamy
- It’s Always the Husband
- LA Not So Confidential
- Marked Safe
- My Favorite Murder
- Small Town Murder
- True Crime & Cocktails
Sports Podcast
Winner: 30 for 30
Runner up: Wrestling Anonymous
- 30 for 30
- Crime in Sports
- Fantasy Footballers
- Fish Nerds
- Pardon My Take
- Ross Tucker Football Podcast
- The Lowe Post
- The Old Man and the Three
- The Ryen Russillo Podcast
- Wrestling Anonymous
News Podcast
Winner: NPR Morning Edition
Runner up: Pod Save America
- El Hilo
- Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast
- NPR Morning Edition
- Pod Save America
- Political Junkie
- The Daily
- The Daily Zeitgeist
- Today, Explained
- Up First
- What A Day
Interview Style Podcast
Winner: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Runner up: Juicy Scoop
- Armchair Expert
- Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
- Expertos de Sillón
- Juicy Scoop
- Mixergy
- People I (Mostly) Admire
- Sway
- The Next Big Idea
- WTF with Marc Maron
LGBTQ+ Culture Podcast
Winner: FriGay the 13th
Runner up: Beyond the Rainbow
- Beyond the Rainbow
- Born on This Day Podcast
- FriGay the 13th
- Gayest Episode Ever
- Gayish
- Getting Curious
- Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen
- Making Gay History
History Podcast
Winner: The History Chicks
Runner up: Cold War Conversations
- Behind the Bastards
- Cold War Conversations
- Encyclopedia Womannica
- Hardcore History
- History or His Story
- Noble Blood
- Obscure History
- Plodding Through The Presidents
- Sawbones
- The History Chicks
- You’re Wrong About
Comedy Podcast
Winner: And That’s Why We Drink
Runner up: Cover to Cover with Chris Franjola
- All Fantasy Everything
- And That’s Why We Drink
- Barmy Dale
- Comedy Bang! Bang!
- Cover to Cover with Chris Franjola
- Scam Goddess
- Smartless
- The Dollop
Kids & Family Podcast
Winner: Mirths and Monsters
Runner up: Wow in the World
- Baby Name Envy
- Dreamful
- Goodnight World
- Mirths and Monsters
- Skyjacks: Courier’s Call
- Varmints
- Wow in the World
Society & Culture Podcast
Winner: 99% Invisible
Runner up: Code Switch
- 99% Invisible
- A Bintel Brief
- Autism Rocks and Rolls
- Blaxit Global
- Cancel Me Daddy
- Code Switch
- Day X
- Even The Rich
- In God We Lust
- Keep it!
TV & Movies Podcast
Winner: Potterless
Runner up: How Did This Get Made
- A More Civilized Age: A Clone Wars Podcast
- Anime Sickos
- Bitch Sesh
- Buffering the Vampire Slayer
- Fake Doctors Real Friends
- How Did This Get Made
- No More Late Fees
- Office Ladies
- Potterless
- Spoilerpiece Theatre
- The Big Picture
- The Rewatchables
Technology & Science Podcast
Winner: Ologies
Runner up: Hidden Brain
- Curiosity Daily
- Darknet Diaries
- Dementia Researcher
- Hidden Brain
- Ologies
- Science Diction
- Science Vs
- This Week in Tech
Audio Drama or Fiction Podcast
Winner: Old Gods of Appalachia
Runner up: Malevolent
- AFTERSHOCK
- Caso 63
- Chad: A Fallout 76 Story
- Hello From the Hallowoods
- Malevolent
- Old Gods of Appalachia
- Passenger List
- Red Frontier
- Restless Shores
- The Children of Room 56
- The Vanishing Act
- Whisperling
Business Podcast
Winner: Snacks Daily
Runner up: How I Built This
- Business Moves
- How I Built This
- Legends of Sales & Marketing Podcast
- Me Suite
- Rebel Entrepreneur
- Snacks Daily
- The All In Podcast
Arts Podcast
Winner: LeVar Burton Reads
Runner up: How To Love Lit
- Alternative Stories and Fake Realities
- Creative Elements
- Drunk Art Review
- How to Love Lit
- LeVar Burton Reads
- Pop Culture Happy Hour
- The Moth
Music Podcast
Winner: That Thing I Do
Runner up: We Luvv Rare Grooves
- Bill Buds
- Cocaine and Rhinestones
- Dissect
- Infectious Groove
- No Skips
- She Will Rock You
- Slate Hit Parade
- That Thing I Do
- We Luvv Rare Grooves
Food Focused Podcast
Winner: A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich
Runner up: Gastropod
- A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich
- Beyond the Plate
- Dads Drinking Bourbon
- Doughboys
- Everyday is a Food Day
- For a Better World
- Gastropod
- Off Menu
- The Sporkful