2025 iHeartPodcast Awards: Winners Revealed (Pics &Video)

The 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards Live at SXSW brought together the biggest names in podcasting to celebrate the most entertaining and innovative podcasts of 2024. The event took place in Austin, Texas, at ACL Live at The Moody Theater, where attendees honored the incredible talent and diverse leaders across the podcasting industry.

The ceremony was attended by nominees, celebrity presenters, and special guests, including winners Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff from “My Favorite Murder,” presenters Annaleigh Ashford and Melissa Moore, Cam Jordan, Chelsea Handler, Dennis Quaid, Ed Helms, Joe Manganiello, Kyle MacLachlan, Social Impact Award winner Sarah Spain, and Sophia Bush.

The evening began with hosts Jack O’Brien and Miles Gray of “The Daily Zeitgeist” podcast, who set the tone with their signature humor. The first award of the night, Best Overall Ensemble, was presented by Joe Manganiello and his dog Bubbles to Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark of “My Favorite Murder.” The hosts expressed their gratitude for being part of the podcasting world, remarking, “it feels really cool to be in a club with you guys.”

Melissa G. Moore, host of the “Happy Face” podcast, and actress Annaleigh Ashford, who plays Melissa in the upcoming TV adaptation of the podcast, presented the Best Crime Podcast award to “Betrayal.” Host Andrea Gunning accepted the award and honored the brave women who share their stories on the show.

Ed Helms, the host of “SNAFU,” presented the Social Impact Award to Sarah Spain, host of the “Good Game” podcast and an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist. Sarah thanked iHeart for trusting her “veteran voice” and encouraged people to join the women’s sports movement, saying, “Join us, because even though we’ve been here for a long time, I’m pretty sure we’re just getting started.”

Ed Helms returned to present the Best Overall Host award to Mel Robbins from “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” who accepted her award via video. She emphasized the power of podcasting to bring positivity to listeners, especially during difficult times.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler, hosts of “Not Today, Pal,” presented the Best Science Podcast award to “Ologies with Alie Ward.” Alie Ward opened her acceptance speech with some fun facts about raccoons and possums before thanking the podcasting community for allowing her to be her authentic self.

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark returned to present the Best Business and Finance Podcast award to “Planet Money.” Actor and podcaster Kyle MacLachlan, who is launching the new iHeartPodcast “What Are We Even Doing,” presented the Audible Audio Pioneer Award to Dan Taberski. Dan shared how winning an award early in his career had given him the confidence to continue pursuing his passion.

Social Impact Icon honoree Sarah Spain and eight-time Pro Bowler Cam Jordan presented the Best International Podcast award to “The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett” from the United Kingdom. Miles Gray raised a glass of Wild Turkey bourbon to toast several winners, including Best Pop Culture Podcast, “The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster,” and Best Ad Read, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.”

Sophia Bush, actress and host of “Drama Queens” and “Work in Progress,” presented the Best Travel Podcast award to “JUMP with Traveling Jackie.” The podcast hosts reminisced about starting the show 11 years ago and discussed what it takes to have an independent podcast. Justin Richmond, host of “Broken Record,” and Vivian Tu, host of “Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF,” presented the Best Technology Podcast award to “Hard Fork,” who expressed their love for technology while sharing some uncertainty about its future.

Dennis Quaid, actor and host of “Happy Face,” presented the Innovator Icon Award and the Best Spanish Language Podcast award to Daniel Alarcón, who thanked his team at “Radio Ambulante.” Filmmaker Payne Lindsey and “Wrongful Conviction” host Lauren Bright Pacheco presented the Best News Podcast award to “Pivot,” which was accepted by a member of the team.

Chelsea Handler, host of “Dear Chelsea,” presented the coveted Podcast of the Year award to “Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang,” who thanked their fans for voting and emphasized their mission to keep listeners laughing with their “half-informed takes.”

The ceremony was broadcast on select iHeartMedia Radio stations, streamed exclusively on the iHeartPodcast Channel via the iHeartRadio app, and also streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook channels. The event is available on demand and will air on AXS TV on March 11 at 8 p.m. ET.

The full list of 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards winners is as follows:

• Social Impact Award: Sarah Spain
• Audible Audio Pioneer Award: Dan Taberski
• Innovator Award: Daniel Alarcón
• Podcast of the Year: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
• Best Business & Finance Podcast: Planet Money
• Best Comedy Podcast: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
• Best Crime Podcast: Betrayal
• Best Pop Culture Podcast: The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster
• Best Food Podcast: Be My Guest with Ina Garten
• Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast: Huberman Lab
• Best History Podcast: You’re Wrong About
• Best Kids & Family Podcast: Story Pirates
• Best Music Podcast: Song Exploder
• Best News Podcast: Pivot
• Best Fiction Podcast: Hello From The Magic Tavern
• Best Sports Podcast: New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
• Best Science Podcast: Ologies with Alie Ward
• Best Technology Podcast presented by Lenovo®: Hard Fork
• Best Ad Read: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
• Best Overall Host: Mel Robbins (The Mel Robbins Podcast)
• Best Overall Ensemble: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
• Best Political Podcast: The Megyn Kelly Show
• Best TV & Film Podcast: How Did This Get Made?
• Best Spanish Language Podcast: Radio Ambulante
• Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast: Naked Beauty
• Best Travel Podcast: JUMP with Traveling Jackie
• Best Green Podcast: TED Climate
• Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast: Oprah’s Super Soul
• Best Branded Podcast: You Can’t Make This Up (Netflix)
• Best Emerging Podcast: Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
• Best International Podcast: The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett – United Kingdom

The event was proudly supported by Audible, Lenovo®, and Wild Turkey® Bourbon. Executive producers for the 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards were John Sykes, Tom Poleman, Conal Byrne, and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia. This event is part of iHeartMedia’s roster of nationally recognized events, including the iHeartRadio Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Concert Tour, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, iHeartCountry Festival, and iHeartRadio ALTer Ego.