Best Arts & Culture Podcast
Celebrating arts and criticism across all cultures: the podcasts that encourage us to seek out new releases or forgotten classics – through reviews, interviews, discussion, any or none of the above.
Outstanding entries in this category will go beyond episode recaps or the typical ‘thumbs up/down’ critiques and give listeners fresh angles on the arts they love, with genuine and passionate presentation or will deeply reflect artistic or cultural subjects in their output.
Subjects could include Arts, Books, Craft, Hobbies, Film, Music, TV and Video Games
Best Business Podcast
Inspiring the next generation of CEOs, COOs and other acronyms. You could be showcasing stories of great leadership, or helping listeners make every penny count.
As with all our categories, we’re looking for shows that reflect the diversity of ideas, backgrounds and industry in our country. So the best entries will need to be fresh-sounding, personable and inclusive.
Subjects could include Business, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Investing, Management, Marketing and Non-Profits
Best Climate Podcast
Can podcasts save the planet? Sure, they can. We think the intimacy and creativity of podcasting makes it perfect for the job. The climate and environmental emergency can be complex, confusing and frankly a bit of a turn off, but podcasts can touch hearts and minds like nothing else.
We also think that the podcast industry has so far lagged behind other creative sectors when it comes to sustainable production practices. So, this award is a chance to champion podcasts and production teams who are really making a difference.
This award is open to specialist shows in any genre - you don’t have to be specifically about climate change every week to qualify. Put in your best work on the subject.
Winners will be able to demonstrate they are changing the conversation. Either through creative, innovative and compelling audio. Or through sustainable production which measures and minimises harm.
Best Comedy Podcast
Not to be confused with our entertainment category, this is for podcasts that aren’t just funny, but have finely crafted jokes inside. From panel shows to parody, improv to sitcoms – and entirely new formats that only podcasts can create – judges have been instructed to reward the podcast that made them laugh, not necessarily the ones that have mass appeal.
Outstanding entries in this category will be markedly different from the traditional 28’ radio formats, pushing boundaries or reaching listeners beyond those tuning into FM stations
We recognise there are different types of comedy: it could be belly laughs, sweet-natured, angry or timely satire, just plain surreal - all are welcome.
Subjects could include Comedy, Improv, Stand-Up, Sitcoms
Best Documentary Podcast
Documentaries take listeners into new worlds and experiences through real people, places, and events. But it’s not just about providing facts; we’re interested in how producers weave them into an overall narrative that’s compelling as well as truthful.
Outstanding entries in this category will combine excellent scripted narration with field recordings and interviews, sophisticated editing and sound design, all to achieve the most natural, accessible storytelling.
Documentary podcasts can be one-offs, themed seasons or stand-alone series. Clips and durations are different to other categories (more details)
Best Entertainment Podcast
Incorporating music shows, magazine programmes, true storytelling and chat-based formats. If you put a spring in your listeners’ step, if you provide toe-tappin’, tear-jerking, LOLing or first class escapism - you should apply within.
Outstanding entries in this category will revel in their eclecticism, curating content or features that your subscribers unquestionably consume with open hearts.
Best Factual Podcast
Our ‘Best Factual’ category, under a PR-friendly name. From why we need bees to the intricacies of language - entries here should improve our understanding of ourselves and the world in an entertaining and accessible way. Whether your schtick is entertaining trivia or any number of gloriously niche subjects, to become ‘Smartest Podcast’ at the Irish Podcast Awards is to make audiences smarter the longer they stay listening.
Outstanding entries in this category will elevate the potentially driest of subjects to unmissable listening, making best use of podcasting’s unique qualities.
Best Family Podcast
Recognising the shows that entertain children and their families with either high quality storytelling, amazing facts or very silly jokes.
Outstanding entries in this category will educate their audience in an accessible and entertaining manner. Children’s podcasts should demonstrate how they engage listeners through format, casting and tone.
Subjects could include Magazine shows, Education, Pets & Animals and Stories for Kids.
Best Fiction Podcast
Incorporating drama, readings, and ground-breaking new formats for storytelling.
Outstanding entries in this category will incorporate production that suits the story/stories and sound design that acknowledges an audience primarily of headphone users. New writing, new talent, new ways of looking at the world – these will be noted favourably.
Best History Podcast
Be it a deep-dive into our ancestors or a whistle-stop tour of the twentieth century, the Irish Podcast Awards would like to recognise the work being done by the best podcast historians in the country.
Outstanding entries in this category will take care over accuracy and perspective, whilst telling their stories with passion, empathy and relevance.
Best News & Current Affairs Podcast
Whether you are a business, news and current affairs programme publishing regular discussion formats or original journalism, we want to hear podcasts that have sought insight into our complex society.
Outstanding entries in this category will find new angles on recent events, beyond the headlines and 24-hour news cycles, retaining relevance with an audience beyond the week they were published.
Subjects could include News, Business News, Entertainment News, News Commentary, Discussions, Politics, Reporting and Tech News
Best Sex & Relationships Podcast
Recognising the great work being done in sex education and relationship advice; or representing a wider variety of sexual experiences than has previously been the case in mainstream media.
Outstanding entries in this category will have a high standard of research (whether in terms of guests or subject matter) and presentation that confronts taboos in an entertaining and accessible way.
Best Sport Podcast
Maybe you have incisive analysis, exceptional pundits and great access – or perhaps the discussion is merely a sideshow to the blossoming, unspoken romance between your contributors. Regardless, if you have a loyal audience and an entertaining show, you should enter.
Outstanding entries in this category will be able to demonstrate a fanbase loyal to the podcast beyond the dreams of most sports clubs. Audience size is not a factor: making niche sports accessible to wider audiences would be as valued here as much as any show pegged to a major sporting tournament.
Best True Crime Podcast
Still one of podcasting’s most popular genres, winners in this category will be outstanding in their field. Whether it’s original investigations or pure storytelling, judges will be looking for well-researched programmes, with evocative storytelling and human stories at its heart.
Outstanding entries in this category will have crafted a format around the material available, whether that’s archive, original interviews or other techniques, playing with this most established of podcast genres to create something unique.
Best Radio Podcast
This category recognises the radio programmes that appeal to podcast audience’s sensibilities, and the key aim of the Irish Podcast Awards: to recognise programming that honours fresh perspectives, new formats or alternative viewpoints unheard in mainstream media.
The radio programme this is connected to must be available on a licensed, broadcast radio station.
Best Wellbeing Podcast
Showcasing the best self-help, improvement and health podcasts.
Your audio entry should illustrate how you tackle sensitive and sometimes traumatic issues with compassion, and/or provide a toolkit for listeners to apply to their own lives. Alternatively demonstrate how you support or inspire a listeners’ health and fitness regime.
Our judges are people too, so please add any trigger warnings to your track-listing.