NEW YORK – In a groundbreaking move, the Golden Globes have added a best podcast category to their lineup this year. The nominations, unveiled on Monday, are already sparking conversations across the media landscape.

The contenders for this inaugural accolade include “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” “Call Her Daddy,” “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” “SmartLess,” and NPR’s “Up First.” These selections represent a diverse blend of content, from insightful interviews and celebrity discussions to engaging news and personal advice, chosen from a preliminary list of 25 eligible shows.

In a noticeable departure from controversy, the nominations bypassed some of the more politically charged podcasts. Notably absent are popular conservative programs like “The Megyn Kelly Show,” “The Tucker Carlson Show,” “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and Candace Owen’s “Candace.” Also missing is “The Joe Rogan Experience,” despite its dominance on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and YouTube throughout the year. Similarly, the left-leaning “Pod Save America” and true crime favorites such as “Morbid” and “Rotten Mango” were not included.

Ben Bogardus, chair of the journalism department at Quinnipiac University, suggests that the Golden Globes, still recovering from past controversies, are keen to sidestep further disputes. “They aim to position themselves as an inclusive and non-controversial awards show, celebrating the best in entertainment without the distraction of political controversies,” he explained.

The reaction to the exclusion of politically themed podcasts has been relatively muted, with only a few users on social media expressing disappointment. Critics noted the absence of top-ranked programs from figures like Joe Rogan and “manosphere” commentator Theo Von. As of yet, the podcast hosts have not publicly commented on the snub.

Reaction to the apparent snubbing of politics-related podcasts early Monday was light, with a handful of X users weighing in with criticism that high-ranking programs from personalities like Rogan and “manosphere” podcaster Theo Von had been left off the final cut. There was no direct reaction from the hosts themselves.

Shapiro had launched an all-out Golden Globes publicity campaign for his decade-old podcast, on which he’s spoken with the likes of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the past year. In addition to making the rounds with industry publications, Shapiro also secured massive billboard space in New York City’s Times Square.

The 25 potential candidates — including The New York Times’ “The Daily” and Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” — mostly matched up with the most listened-to shows.

“If that’s how you want to pick your ‘best podcast,’ that’s certainly one starting point and one way to do it,” says Karl Hughes, a 20-year podcasting veteran who is CEO of The Podcast Consultant. “I think it leaves a lot of stuff out. It leaves a lot of nuance out.”

Eligible podcasts must have original content and must have released at least six episodes between Jan. 1, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2025, with each episode having a minimum length of 30 minutes. The award, which will be handed out at the Nikki Glaser-hosted show Jan. 11, recognizes “the quality, creativity, audience engagement and impact” of the podcast, per the Globes.

Many podcast experts were left scratching their heads since the Globes didn’t use any categories for its long list and was a bit murky about what constituted a best podcast. Quality of production? Consistency? The stories being told? Raw numbers?

“It’s a good thing for the industry to get more recognition and getting recognition in a major award ceremony is awesome,” Hughes says. “I think that’s cool to see. But the way it’s done, of course, is a very blunt instrument.”

Controversy almost immediately ensued after the initial announcement when it was revealed that Luminate Data, an entertainment tracking and analytics company, would create the shortlist. Luminate belongs to Penske Media Corp., which owns the Globes. Then there’s the accompanying costs associated with traditional ad campaigns for the award in the pages of Variety and The Hollywood Reporter — also owned by Penske. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While more digital-friendly awards shows like the Webby Awards, the Ambies, iHeartRadio and The Shorty Awards recognize podcasting, the Globes’ move marks the first time podcasts have been included by a major awards show.

Hughes says that’s a natural step as podcasting matures and starts attracting more corporate dollars. He hopes the Globes’ spotlight will make podcasting accessible to more people.

“It’ll open up the door for more individuals and businesses that want to use the medium to tell interesting stories because it’s got a little more respect, a little more gravitas, a little more mainstream appeal,” he said.

Bogardus marveled at how the podcasting industry has grown up in the past 25 years, moving beyond its origins in radio and giving hosts freedom that content creators in other media don’t have: “Going into an award show now really shows that it has come into its own as a type of communication that people consume, which can be on par with television, with radio, with streaming, with internet videos, with social media.”

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Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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