Recognized: Awards, Audacity & Accessibility
Exploring the stories, trends, and insights shaping the world of recognition and accolades.
Welcome to Recognized — a new publication exploring the systems, stories, and strategies behind awards and recognition.
I wanted to take a moment in this first issue of recognized to honor the lasting impact of Todd Cochrane on the podcasting world.
Todd Cochrane —the founder of Blubrry and creator of PodcastAwards.com — passed away on September 8, 2025, after spending time with family on the West Coast. His passing was announced shortly thereafter by Blubrry via PR Newswire and Podnews.
Todd’s influence stretched far beyond his own ventures. Many credit him with helping establish the early standards, tools, and recognition systems that turned podcasting from a creative experiment into an industry. His fingerprints can be found across the ecosystem — from monetization and measurement practices to community-led recognition through the People’s Choice Podcast Awards.
The PodcastAwards.com People’s Choice Podcast Awards have been postponed indefinitely. After nearly two decades of celebrating independent creators, the long-running listener-voted awards are now on hold, and the future of the program remains uncertain.
When I interviewed Todd in mid-July, He discussed the inner workings of the People’s Choice Awards with remarkable candor — addressing both its high points and its hard lessons. What stood out most was his remarkable transparency and his genuine willingness to help others — even when there was no personal gain in it for him.
Todd’s legacy isn’t just in the technology or awards he built — it’s in the thousands of podcasters who he impacted and helped along the way.
Sources, Tributes & Further Reading
Livestream Memorials / Tributes:
New Media Show Tribute to Todd Cochrane: YouTube Link — Industry leaders including Adam Curry, Mike Dell, and Rob Walch join host Rob Greenlee to reflect on Todd’s journey from Navy service to podcasting innovator, his advocacy for independent creators, and the enduring lessons he leaves for the industry.
PLUGHITZ Live Tribute to Todd Cochrane: YouTube Link — PLUGHITZ Live takes a moment to reflect on the legacy of a true pioneer.
Obituaries & Memorial Articles:
Podnews Obituary: Todd Cochrane, podcasting pioneer, has died — Comprehensive obituary honoring Todd’s life and legacy
Podnews Full Article: Detailed Obituary — Extended coverage of Todd’s contributions to podcasting
Eagle Funeral Homes: Obituary — Service details about Todd’s life, career, and family
WTVB Radio Station: Obituary — Local obituary from Branch County
Blubrry In Memoriam: Official Statement — Blubrry’s tribute to their founder and CEO
Inside Radio: Podcast Pioneer Article — Industry coverage of Todd’s passing and contributions
Podcast Movement Weekly: In Memory of Todd Cochrane — Tribute from the podcasting community
The Audacity to Podcast: In Memory of Todd Cochrane — Tribute from fellow podcasting pioneer
Todd’s Work & Legacy:
Blubrry — Meet Todd Cochrane: Bio Page — Comprehensive timeline of Todd’s achievements and contributions to podcasting
Geek News Central: Official Site — Todd’s pioneering podcast launched in October 2004, one of the first 50 podcasts ever created
New Media Show: Official Site — Co-hosted by Todd for 13 years, discussing trends and developments in the media industry
Podcast Awards: Wikipedia — Historical context about the People’s Choice Podcast Awards that Todd founded
Todd’s Book: “Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide” (Wiley Publishing, 2005) — One of the first books ever written about podcasting, earning an Amazon.com Editors Choice Award
Podcast Hall of Fame: Todd was inducted into the inaugural class in 2015
LinkedIn Profile: Todd Cochrane — Professional background and achievements
October 2025 Awards Roundup
British Podcast Awards: Lost in Translation
The British Podcast Awards wrapped recently, honoring creators across the UK — but their press release caught my attention more than the winners.
Calling the event “the biggest night in podcasting is arguably one of the most audacious claims in podcasting for 2025.
The British Podcast Awards are a national event. A well-produced, legitimate national event that celebrates UK creators and serves an important role in the British podcasting community, but national nonetheless. To claim this as podcasting’s biggest night ignores awards like the Ambies, the Webby Awards, Signal Awards, and countless regional events happening globally.
Our take: The British Podcast Awards don’t need to be “the biggest night in podcasting” to matter. They need to matter to British podcasters, British audiences, and the UK media industry.
Sources:
The Ambies Move to New York
The Ambies, the annual awards hosted by The Podcast Academy, will join On Air Fest in New York beginning in 2026
With regular submissions closing on October 10, 2025, late entries will be accepted from October 11th to October 17th with an additional fee. Winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony on February 23, 2026 —a departure from the awards’ previous association with Podcast Movement.
However, this geographic shift raises accessibility concerns for creators outside the tri-state area. For most independent podcasters on tight budgets, attending 1-2 major events per year is the reality. When choosing between Podcast Movement, Podfest, or niche-specific regional conferences offering extensive programming and networking, On Air Fest rarely tops the priority list for those based elsewhere. By anchoring the Ambies permanently in one of the country’s most expensive cities, the awards may inadvertently limit in-person attendance to those with geographic proximity or substantial travel budgets.
Our take: This relocation will likely boost the awards’ prestige among New York’s media and audio elite, but it risks excluding independent podcasters who can’t afford to attend.
Sources:
The Golden Globes Podcast Debate
The Golden Globes announced their inaugural Best Podcast category for the 83rd ceremony on January 11, 2026, but the structure has sparked debate across the podcasting community.
Only 25 of the most popular podcasts are eligible — a list determined exclusively by Luminate, the Golden Globes’ data partner.
The selected shows include The Joe Rogan Experience, Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, and The Mel Robbins Podcast — all established, well-funded productions. Each must pay a $500 entry fee to compete for just six nominee spots, meaning 19 will pay and receive nothing.
Our take: With the exception of Mel Robbins, podcasters of this size don’t seem particularly excited about applying to just potentially be nominated for what many see as a manufactured award designed more for the Golden Globes’ benefit than the podcasting community’s. Like the other countless media outlets and recognition organizations that leverage these popular podcasts to generate more mainstream attention.
Instagram Launches Physical Award Program for Creators
Instagram announced “Rings,” a new awards program designed to recognize creators who “take creative chances” and influence cultural conversations on the platform.
The program: A panel of judges—curated creative professionals from around the world—nominated and voted on winners. The program focuses on recognizing a “spirit” of creativity rather than specific content types.
What winners get:
A physical ring designed by Grace Wales Bonner
An exclusive gold ring around their profile picture when they post Stories
Ability to customize their profile backdrop color
Option to personalize their “like” button design
Our take: “Creative spirit” and “taking creative chances” are conveniently vague terms that could mean absolutely anything. Without a published judging rubric or transparent criteria, this feels like another opaque selection process where a handful of judges pick their favorites and call it an award.
Sources:
Join the Conversation
I’m wrapping up interviews and comment inclusions for our multimedia series exploring the evolving role of recognition and awards in podcasting — how they shape the industry, influence creators’ careers, and determine what gets discovered and celebrated.
I’ve spoken with Jack Rhysider (Darknet Diaries), the late Todd Cochrane (Creator of the People’s Choice Podcast Awards), Rob Greenlee (Chairperson, Podcast Hall of Fame), and John Leschinski (Founder, Canadian Podcast Awards)—along with other podcast leaders.
Ready to weigh in? If you’d like to share a comment on behalf of your organization or be considered for inclusion, visit https://soundsdebatable.com/share-it/ or reach out on LinkedIn
Awards Open for Submissions & Voting
Signal Awards: Final Days
The Signal Awards honor excellence in podcasting and audio storytelling across a diverse range of categories. Recognizing both independent creators and established media companies, the awards celebrate innovation, compelling narratives, and technical excellence in the rapidly evolving audio landscape. With submissions closing in just days, this is your final chance to be recognized among the year’s most outstanding podcast work.
Award Details:
Wraps Up: Voting closes tomorrow (October 10th) — winners announced October 15th
Focus: Podcast & audio excellence
The Lovie Awards: Voting Open
The Lovie Awards recognize European digital creativity — you can vote now.
Award Details:
Voting Ends: October 16th — just 8 days remaining
Focus: Europe, internet/creative fields
Webby Awards: Early Entry Open
The Webby Awards are now accepting entries. Beat the crowd — early submissions close October 24, 2025.
Award Details:
Early Entry Deadline: October 24, 2025
Focus: Web, apps, video, podcasts, digital media
Other Awards Happening in October
Student Academy Awards
Awards Ceremony: October 6, 2025
Focus: Student filmmaking
Korea Drama Awards
Date: October 11, 2025
Focus: Korean TV & drama productions
Daytime Emmy Awards
Date: October 17, 2025
Focus: U.S. daytime television & streaming
Golden Hugo Awards
Date: October 15–26, 2025
Focus: International film & documentary
Telly Awards
Call for Entries Opens: October 21, 2025
Focus: Video, TV, branded content
Changes & Announcements
The Academy Awards (Oscars) will introduce a new Best Stunt Design category starting with the 100th ceremony (for films released in 2027). (The Guardian)
The HPA (Hollywood Professional Association) is expanding its awards: the HPA Engineering Excellence Awards have been rebranded to “HPA Awards Innovation & Technology”, adding more categories and new honors (e.g. Transformative Impact Award). (TV Tech)