Golden Globes enter the world of podcasts and tread carefully, avoiding controversy

The Golden Globes announced its first-ever podcast award nominees Monday, revealing a selection that notably avoids politically charged content in favor of mainstream entertainment and news programming.

The six inaugural nominees include “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” “Call Her Daddy,” “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” “SmartLess” and NPR’s “Up First.” These selections represent a diverse but relatively safe mix of celebrity interviews, self-improvement content, and news programming.

Industry observers quickly noted significant omissions from the original shortlist of 25 eligible podcasts. Popular but politically charged programs like “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “The Megyn Kelly Show,” “The Tucker Carlson Show,” “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and “Pod Save America” were all passed over despite commanding substantial audiences and cultural influence.

Ben Bogardus, professor and chair of the journalism department at Quinnipiac University, suggested the omissions were likely deliberate. “They’re trying to bill themselves as an award show that is for the masses and non-controversial, celebrating the best in entertainment. Having this political sideshow, I think they just wanted to avoid that,” he explained.

The cautious approach makes sense given the Golden Globes’ recent history of scandals and criticism. The awards show appears focused on rehabilitation rather than risking new controversies that might emerge if politically divisive hosts were given a platform at the ceremony.

Some podcast creators had actively campaigned for consideration. Ben Shapiro launched an aggressive publicity push for his decade-old program, which has featured interviews with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His campaign included industry media outreach and prominent billboard space in New York City’s Times Square.

The selection process itself has raised questions. The initial shortlist was created by Luminate Data, an analytics company owned by Penske Media Corporation, which also owns the Golden Globes. This corporate connection, along with the potential costs associated with traditional awards campaigns in Penske-owned publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, has prompted concerns about transparency and accessibility.

Karl Hughes, CEO of The Podcast Consultant and a 20-year industry veteran, acknowledged the significance of podcast inclusion in a major awards show while questioning the methodology. “If that’s how you want to pick your ‘best podcast,’ that’s certainly one starting point and one way to do it,” Hughes said. “I think it leaves a lot of stuff out. It leaves a lot of nuance out.”

The Globes’ criteria required eligible podcasts to have released at least six 30-minute episodes between January and September 2025, with selection based on “quality, creativity, audience engagement and impact.” However, many industry experts found these guidelines vague, failing to specify whether judgments were based on production quality, storytelling excellence, or audience metrics.

“It’s a good thing for the industry to get more recognition and getting recognition in a major award ceremony is awesome,” Hughes noted. “But the way it’s done, of course, is a very blunt instrument.”

The nominees demonstrate corporate consolidation in the podcast industry. Three of the six finalists come from SiriusXM, with the others distributed by Amazon, Spotify, and NPR. This reflects broader trends as major media companies continue acquiring independent podcast networks and investing in exclusive content.

Mel Robbins, nominated for her self-help podcast, expressed gratitude in a statement: “To be nominated for this award is surreal. It is also proof of a simple truth: It is never too late to change your life. Your age, your past, and your doubts do not determine what you can create next.”

While podcasting has previously been recognized by digital-focused awards like the Webbys, the Ambies, and the Shorty Awards, the Golden Globes represent the first major mainstream awards show to include the medium. This recognition highlights podcasting’s evolution from its radio origins to a distinct and influential media format.

The winner will be announced during the Nikki Glaser-hosted ceremony on January 11, potentially setting precedent for how other major awards shows might approach podcast recognition in the future.