Podcast Reports From Ear Worthy — 10/29/26 — The Awards Edition

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The 5th Annual Signal Awards announced their winners on October 20, 2026, celebrating the top creators, storytellers, and innovators in podcasting. Beyond the juried medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), the competition featured public voting where over 260,000 votes were cast by 94,000 unique voters worldwide.

The 2026 Signal Awards named 592 show winners. In today’s Podcast Reports, we'll review the winners who were featured in Ear Worthy and hold a special place in our hearts for excellence in podcasting.

We will also cover an award for Canadian independent podcasters via Pod The North from the Pod Summit.

The Buzz, Genre‑Solopreneur Podcast 2026 Gold — In 2025, The Buzz received a Silver Signal Award for Best Video Podcast: Guest in the Individual Episodes division. This year’s Gold Award recognizes the podcast at the show level, honoring the broader work behind the independently produced series.

We’ve written about this show several times: “NaVell Lee has been a dynamic force in the internet radio and podcasting landscape for over two decades. He has shown the pathway to success for other independent podcasters, excelled at reporting in the entertainment industry, and been a reliable, relatable, and engaging interviewer for decades.”

Grief & Light — Genre‑Mental Health 2026 Silver — As creator, host, and producer, Nina Rodriguez has built the show into a platform that amplifies griever voices, fosters compassionate understanding, and illuminates pathways forward, showing that grief is not something to “fix,” but something to tend, honor, and live with.

Lies We Bought — Gold for Creativity & Marketing. We are reviewing this podcast next week, and I am elated that the timing was right. Lies We Bought traces famous advertising slogans, corporate deceptions, cultural conditioning, and marketing myths back to their origins. Creator/host Emily Rask uses her background in building ad campaigns to “read the fine print out loud,” combining branding history with consumer psychology.

Crow’s Feet — Genre‑Culture, Belonging & Inclusion — These podcasts are part of a series featuring Crow’s Feet writers and others who talk about their experiences with aging. Few podcasts, publications, or social media influencers discuss aging. Kudos to this award winner.

Awf The Record — Craft‑Best Co‑Host — We just reviewed this show two weeks ago. We liked that episodes range from deep dives into modern etiquette, body image, and relationships to behind-the-scenes pop culture commentary and personal confessions. Plus, the co-hosts are charming and fun to listen to/watch. The studio is plush, and the video quality is excellent.

Choiceology — Craft‑Best Editing & Genre‑Science 2026 Gold — In 2023, we reviewed this show and said this: “Unlike some academic podcast hosts, Katy Milkman oozes sincerity, agreeableness, and a command of the podcast flow. Milkman wants listeners engaged, and she works hard to place us into that state of thoughtful reflection.”

Science Friday — Genre‑Science 2026 Silver — We’ve written about this show three different times, so we must like it! From the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff. Ira Flatow anchors the show each Friday, bringing radio and Internet listeners worldwide a lively, informative discussion on science, technology, health, space, and the environment.

Play On Podcasts — Richard III — Original Music by David Molina and Lindsay Jones / Sound Design by Lindsay Jones Silver — We love this show! Play On Podcasts is simply genius. It reimagines Shakespeare’s timeless tales, featuring original musical compositions and the voices of extraordinarily gifted artists. The podcast is superb in so many ways. The original music is delightful and enchanting. The acting bristles with emotive energy. The scripted plays facilitate Shakespearean humor, wit, and sarcasm to flow through them.

If You Please Himan Brown’s Radio Mystery Theater: Return of the Moresbys — Craft‑Best Voice Acting 2026 Silver — This show revives an art form that captivated millions for decades. It’s definitely worth the trip down memory lane.

Circles Edges Bronze award, Most Inspirational Podcast category — Recorded in a candlelit, old-school talk radio style that feels intimate and reassuring, episodes often blend solo reflective monologues with a calm atmosphere, focusing on self-awareness and philosophy rather than quick fixes or advice. Wonderful work by Dr. Aaron Tabacco.

American Afterlife — Craft‑Best Voice Acting 2026 Silver — In August 2026, we wrote: “Instead of spending $15 to see a disaster movie in the theater, plus the outrageous cost of candy, popcorn, and soda, download American Afterlife for free and enjoy two hours of the best audio drama that will delight your ears and spark your eyes to see the images described in the show.”

Fela Kuti: Fear No Man — Genre‑Music 2026 Gold — The iconic activist-musician shows the inextricable tie between music and politics.

Lawyering Without Law — Genre‑Thought Leadership 2026 Silver — What timing! We just reviewed this show two days ago. We admired that the show examines how legal institutions can protect democracy and how elected leaders can use those same institutions to undermine it.

Magical Overthinkers — Genre‑Thought Leadership 2026 Bronze — We reviewed this show in early 2025. It’s another book turned into a podcast, and that tends to work out well for the author and the audience. Back then, we wrote: The podcast aims to make some sense of the senseless. As Amanda Montell says, “crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it.”

The Messy Parts Genre‑ Business 2026 Bronze — We just reviewed this show several months ago and wrote: “Unlike some successful execs who jump into podcasting without quite understanding the medium, Maryam Banikarim paid attention, designed a show that played to her strengths and identified a core audience who can glean value from her show.”

Open To Debate — Genre‑Conversation Starter 2026 Silver & Genre‑Thought Leadership 2026 Silver — This podcast was voted 2025 Podcast Of The Year in the Ear Worthy Awards. Enough said.

Everything Everywhere Daily — Genre‑Daily Podcast 2026 Silver — We reviewed this show four years ago and wrote: “Everything Everywhere Daily is successful at being succinct because brevity is a strength of Gary Ardnt and the production staff. In about 10 minutes, listeners can learn something new every day on various subjects, including history, science, geography, mathematics, and technology, as well as biographies of some of the world’s most interesting people.”

Everybody Gets a Juice Box — Genre‑Family & Child‑Raising 2026 Gold — We wrote about this superb show last year: “The show features conversations with parents, educators, doctors, and specialists to provide support and actionable advice. The goal is to help parents feel seen, supported, and less alone by fostering a community that shares ‘the tea’ (the struggles) and “the juice” (the joys and wins).”

WebMD Health Discovered — Genre‑Health & Wellness 2026 Gold — We covered this show two years ago and still feel that, “It is one of the best health and wellness podcasts. It’s a much better resource than that family member all of us have who claims to be an expert in medical diagnosis and treatment because they’ve watched all 23 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.”

Bad Elizabeth — Genre‑Indie Podcast 2026 Gold — We loved this show when we reviewed it early this year, saying: “Bad Elizabeth is fresh air in the true-crime space, with cynical wit, gallows humor, and a snide approach to these malefactors.” The premise is as simple as it sounds — each episode explores the story of an “Elizabeth” (or any variation of that name) who is notorious, whether a murderer, a fraudster, or just a complete a-hole.

Trapped History — Genre‑Indie Podcast 2026 Silver — We’ve reviewed this show twice and love it because: “Trapped History has a distinct take on history, explaining that History is how we think about the past. It’s how we speak of it. And the way we speak of it today will be different to the way people spoke of it a century ago and to the way people will speak of it in a hundred years’ time.”

Everybody Knows But Me — Genre‑Indie Podcast 2026 Bronze — This show dips into multiple genres for maximum impact. We reviewed earlier this year and wrote: “It’s comedy mixed with tragedy, blending high-stakes, painful situations with humor, absurdity, and a lighthearted, sometimes happy, resolution. What Holly Brown aims for — and accomplishes — is to mirror the complexities of real life, where joy and sorrow often exist simultaneously.”

Immigrantly — Genre‑Interview or Talk Show 2026 Silver — We’ve reviewed this show and organization several times because their podcasts are so noteworthy. Over the last decade, the word “immigrant” has been tarnished with allusions to illegality, stealing resources from existing citizens, and exporting crime and violence. This podcast shares the stories of immigrant communities, exploring the multifaceted experiences of identity, culture, and belonging. It’s desperately needed to counteract the hate speech of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

History Snacks — Genre‑Kids 2026 Bronze — We reviewed this show mid-year and loved it because it counters the present administration's narrative that students cannot handle accurate history. This show is specifically designed to make history fun and accessible for kids. The show is an ideal way to get children interested in history and make it fun and entertaining as they learn.

Am I Doing It Wrong — Genre‑Self‑Improvement & Self‑Help 2026 Bronze — We’ve reviewed this show several times as new seasons onboarded. We wrote: “I admire how the show, though similar in structure and topic to NPR’s Life Kit, carves out its own identity, offering more detailed discussions and skipping the Hallmark Christmas movie tone.”

I Shaved My Vag For This — Genre‑Solopreneur Podcast 2026 Gold & Video Podcast‑Most Innovative Video Podcast 2026 Bronze — We’ve written about this remarkable show several times. First, we covered the content, then how this show may have the best title in the industry.

If you’d like to read the Ear Worthy reviews of these award-winning shows, go to https://podcastreports.blogspot.com. The Ear Worthy content on Blogger has a far better search feature than on Medium, Substack, or Vocal.

Pod the North Pitch Contest Awards $10,000 to Canadian Independent Podcasts

Pod The North Founder & Executive Producer Kattie Laur

This is exceptional news! Typically, large corporations in podcasting attempt to take money away from independent podcasters so they can dominate the industry. Well, Kattie Laur of Pod The North just did something truly extraordinary! She gave money to independent podcasters in Canada. (Note to Readers: At Ear Worthy, we love Canada and Canadians, and we do not share Donald Trump's view of our neighbors to the north.)

On October 17, 2026, Pod the North, the community resource and
newsletter for Canadian podcasts, hosted its inaugural Pod the North Pitch Contest live at the PodSummit conference in Calgary. PodSummit is an annual Canadian podcasting conference in Calgary, Alberta, that brings together creators, producers, and industry leaders for networking, learning, and collaboration.

Five shortlisted Canadian podcast creators took the stage to pitch their shows to an industry panel and live audience for a share of $10,000 in funding, designed to provide non-prescriptive, direct financial support to independent Canadian podcast creators.

The $10,000 grand prize pool was ultimately awarded to two standout Canadian shows:
● $7,500 Grand Prize Winner: Late Night Scrolling, hosted and produced by Liz Duff, a pop-culture and entertainment series bringing late-night-style interviews with a distinct Canadian perspective.
● $2,500 Runner-Up Winner: The Warblers, produced by Birds Canada, an
environmental and conservation podcast sharing stories, birding tips, and ecology insights across the country.
The three other shortlisted finalists included The Archery Parent Podcast, The Currency of Happiness, and The We in Werk.

Supported by major sponsorship from Sequel Media Inc. and Transistor.fm, the pitch competition aimed to bridge the funding gap for independent podcasts in Canada, allowing winners complete autonomy over how they spend their awarded prize money with the goal of
helping them to overcome plateaued growth.

“Podcasting in Canada is no easy feat. Anytime I ask Canadian podcasters what they need to succeed, it always comes down to funding,” said Kattie Laur, Founder and Executive Producer of Pod the North. “The goal of the Pod the North Pitch Contest was not only to provide real financial backing with zero strings attached, but to celebrate the sheer talent and variety within our national podcasting community while sharing valuable insights to the PodSummit audience.”

“Normally, podcasters are recording by themselves at home,” said Justin Jackson, CEO of Transistor.fm, and Pitch Contest judge. “Seeing creators pitch their idea, trailer, and dreams for their show in front of an audience felt special.”

The event marked a major highlight at PodSummit 2026, Calgary’s annual conference for podcasters, audio professionals, and digital creators.

Pod the North is an independent newsletter, resource, and advocacy platform dedicated to coverage, insights, and community building for the Canadian podcasting ecosystem. Founded by Canadian podcast strategist and executive producer Kattie Laur, Pod the North highlights
homegrown audio creators, industry developments, and resources for podcasters across Canada.

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This week’s Forbes article

https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankracioppi/2026/10/26/these-political-podcasts-attempt-a-delicate-balancing-act-presenting-all-sides/

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Check out books by Frank Racioppi. Everything from novels and nonfiction to podcasting books and essays.

Ear Worthy is a digital publication dedicated to growing independent podcasters/creators.