wisecracka six-part series that combines true crime and comedy, Podcast of the Year was selected at the 2026 Ambie Awards.
The show, from Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, focuses on British comedian Ed Hedges, who tells the story of a true murder in his hometown in his comedy show, and journalist Judy Tufay, as she investigates the story. The podcast beat out other contenders including Contact Her Daddy, Crime Junkie, SmartLess, and Pod Save America.
wisecrack It topped the nominations list with five nominations, ultimately receiving four, including Best Community and Culture Podcast. Pablo Torre, host Pablo Torre finds outwas named Vanguard Podcaster of the Year.
Other winners included Conan O’Brien needs a friend For best comedy podcast, Death, sex and money For the best interview podcast, and Indicator androm Planet Money for the best business podcast.
The concert was held Tuesday night (after being rescheduled from Monday due to the snowstorm) at Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn as part of On Air Fest. Comedian and writer Wyatt Cenac hosted the event. The sixth annual Awards for Excellence in Audio are presented by the Podcast Academy.
In addition to the competitive prizes, Kara Swisher, host Bevot and With Kara Swisher, She has received Governors’ Awards for her contributions to the growth of the podcasting industry.
Angela Yee introduced the late Reggie Oseh, host Jack’s combat display And the founding partner of loudspeaker network, With the Impact Award for his lasting impact on listeners. His wife, Akeem Van, accepted the award on his behalf.
Presenters included BA Parker (co-host of Switch the code), Brittany Luce (It was accurate), Katie Hearn Church (Queen podcast), María Hinojosa (Founder of Futuro Media; In thick), Matt McGree (How to get away with murder), Sky Scraper (New York City FC mascot) and Tori (Why did they break up Tracy Clayton?).
Full list of winners:
Judges Award Winner
Kara Swisher
Impact Award
Reggie Oseh (posthumously), accepted by his wife Akeem Van
Vanguard Podcast of the Year
Pablo Torre
General podcast
wisecrack
Tenderfoot TV, iHeart Podcast
Best ad I’ve read
Conan O’Brien needs a friend
SiriusXM
Best branded podcast
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster Mysteries
Audio Studios, Sesame Workshop
Best business podcast
Indicator of planet money
NPR
Best comedy podcast
Conan O’Brien needs a friend
SiriusXM, Team Coco
Best DIY Podcast
Revised history
Dr. Andre White, Airwave
Best documentary podcast
The hoax: Caitlyn’s baby
CBC, BBC World Service
Best emerging podcast
How is this better?
Courier Newsroom
Best entertainment podcast
Twenty thousand hertz
Realistic sound
Best fiction podcast
Red for revolution
Meta Mana Media
Best history podcast
Our ancestors were anarchists
Coco Hill Productions
Best indie podcast
Our ancestors were anarchists
Coco Hill Productions
Best freelance podcast host or presenter
Jimmy Feldman and Rachel Webster
Debt heads
The captain and the fox
Best interview podcast
Death, sex and money
List
Best podcast for knowledge, science or technology
Radiolab
New York Public Radio
The best news and politics
reveals
Detect and PRX
Best soundtrack and music supervision
Marcus Bagala and Sam Ewing
DC Large Size: Batman
DC Comics, universe
Best Performance in Audio Fiction
Maulik Pancholi, Murray Bartlett, Poorna Jagannathan, Karan Soni, Anna Camp, Adam Pally, Margo Martindale, Richard Kind, Conrad Ricamora, Iqbal Theba, Julian Shapiro Barnum, Padma Lakshmi and others.
Murder at the Bateel Hotel
Broadway Video, Audio
Best podcast for personal growth/spirituality
Wild Card with Rachel Martin
NPR
Best podcast for kids
The floor
WNYC Studios
Best podcast host or hosts
Rachel Martin
Wild Card with NPR’s Rachel Martin
Best production and sound design
Alex Vespestad, Steven Perez, and Cooper Skinner
wisecrack
Tenderfoot TV, iHeart Podcast
Best reports
Robin Simien
Question everything
Placement theory
Best screenwriting, fiction
Jana Naomi Smith
Red for revolution
