Australia’s podcasting stars turned out in force at the Sofitel Sydney, Darling Harbour last night for the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards, powered by iHeart.
This year’s awards honoured the industry’s most captivating voices across 31 categories, underscoring the rapid growth and influence of podcasting nationwide.
Taking top honours, Ladies, We Need to Talk—hosted by Yumi Stynes—won Podcast of the Year and also Sex and Relationships for its frank, funny, and fearless dive into taboo topics.
Similarly, The Pool Room with Tony Armstrong took home Best Entertainment and Best Sport, applauded for its heart and humour in exploring untold tales of winners, losers, and the weird stories in between.
Recognised for championing diverse perspectives, First Things First, hosted by Brooke Blurton and Matty Mills, was awarded Podcast Champion for its influential focus on Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ topics. Meanwhile, award-winning journalist Marc Fennell was honoured in multiple categories, taking home Best History and Spotlight for his compelling podcast House Of Skulls, recognising his in-depth explorations of pivotal yet often overlooked stories, as well as his wide-reaching influence.
Audience favourite Listener’s Choice went to comedy duo Toni & Ryan, celebrating their powerful connection with fans. Best Host was awarded to two of Australia’s most respected music journalists and friends, Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe of the Double J podcast, Bang On.
The Rising Star accolade was awarded to emerging talent Pearl Tan, for her fictional storytelling and rising influence in the industry. Her podcast Diversity Work, which tackles race, identity, and the pressures of representation, has resonated with a growing audience, marking her as one to watch.
Corey Layton, head of digital audio at ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia, said: “This year’s winners are a testament to the diverse voices and creative approaches that are captivating listeners across Australia. The awards reveal countless examples of both seasoned creators and new voices covering an array of topics that educate, entertain, and inspire. On behalf of everyone at iHeart, congratulations to this year’s nominees and to the entire industry for another incredible year of podcasts”.
“2024 has been another banner year for the Australian podcast sector, with more creativity, excellence, and innovation than ever before. This is reflected in the calibre of entries we received, and picking this year’s winners was as challenging a task as ever,” said Adam Shepherd, editorial lead of the Australian Podcast Awards.
Since their inception in 2016, the APAs have been dedicated to showcasing Australia’s exceptional podcast talent. The awards celebrate a medium that’s quickly become one of the most powerful platforms for storytelling, education, and entertainment. Now in their eighth year, the APAs continue to honour the most innovative voices and emerging talent across a diverse range of categories.
