The First Ambies Awards Winners: Best Podcasts of 2020

Todd Spangler

May 17, 2021 at 9:26 a.m.·3 min read

The Podcast Academy on Sunday hosted its first Awards for Excellence in Audio — aka The Ambies — the industry group’s bid to establish an Oscars-level awards program for audio programming.

The first Ambies featured awards in 23 categories, with Wondery’s “Dying for Sex,” documenting the sexual adventures of a woman diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, winning the award for podcast of the year. Patrick Radden Keefe, host of “Wind of Change,” won three Ambies, including for podcast host.

More from Variety

The kudocast honored “WTF With Marc Maron” with the inaugural Governors Award, which recognizes a podcast or individual for the compelling impact they’ve had on the industry. In addition, “Teenager Therapy” received the Audio Impact Award, recognizing an individual or podcast that has made a significant, positive impact on its listeners.

The first annual ceremony was streamed live from L.A. and hosted by standup comic, actor and writer Cameron Esposito. Presenters included Hank Azaria, Darren Criss, Whitney Cummings, Ashley Flowers, Este Haim, DeRay Mckesson, Jacquis Neal, Matt Schrader, Neil Strauss, Kenan Thompson, and Rainn Wilson. Chris Colbert and Merk Nguyen served as the voices of The Ambies and iHeartRadio’s Miles Gray and Jack O’Brien co-hosted the pre-show.

Founded in February 2020, the Podcast Academy is a not-for-profit membership organization whose charter is to foster community, professional development and connections in the industry. The Ambies awards show was sponsored by Amazon Music, IMDb, PRX, Tenderfoot TV and Wondery (now owned by Amazon); Adobe Systems is sponsoring the preshow.

Along with its sponsorship of the Ambies, IMDb has launched title pages for all Ambies winners and nominees, making them among the first podcasts to be listed on the service,

Here’s the list of 2020 Ambies awards winners.

Podcast of the Year
Dying for Sex (Wondery)

Best Business Podcast
The Heist (Center for Public Integrity)

Best Comedy Podcast
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend (Team Coco, Earwolf)

Best Documentary Podcast
I’m Not A Monster (BBC Sounds, Panorama, Frontline PBS)

Best Entertainment Podcast
Even the Rich (Wondery)

Best Fiction Podcast
Blood Ties, Season 2 (Wondery)

Best History Podcast
Driving the Green Book (Macmillan Podcasts)

Best Interview Podcast
Death, Sex & Money (WNYC Studios)

Best Knowledge, Science or Tech Podcast
Short Wave (NPR)

Best News Podcast
Today, Explained (Vox Media Podcast Network

Best Original Score and Music Supervision
Jacked: Rise of New Jack Sound – Marcelino Villalpando (Wondery, Universal Music Group)

Best Performer in Audio Fiction
The Left Right Game – Tessa Thompson (QCode)

Best Personal Growth / Spirituality Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett (On Being Studios)

Best Podcast Host
Wind of Change – Patrick Radden Keefe (Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media, Spotify)

Best Politics or Opinion Podcast
Gaining Ground: The New Georgia (Tenderfoot TV, Crooked Media)

Best Production and Sound Design
The Left Right Game – Ryan Walsh, Matt Yocum, Will Files, Ryan Sullivan (QCode)

Best Reporting
Wind of Change – Patrick Radden Keefe (Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media, Spotify)

Best Scriptwriting, Fiction
Dirty Diana – Shana Feste, Jen Besser (QCode)

Best Scriptwriting, Nonfiction
Wind of Change – Patrick Radden Keefe (Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media, Spotify)

Best Society and Culture Podcast
Code Switch (NPR)

Best Sports Podcast
Whistleblower (Tenderfoot TV & Whistleblower Media)

Best True Crime Podcast
Dr. Death Season 2: Dr. Fata (Wondery)

Best Wellness or Relationships Podcast
Therapy for Black Girls (iHeartRadio)

Best of Variety

Yahoo Sports
Ex-USC coach Tony Bland reportedly returns to college basketball with Washington after bribery conviction
Bland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 2019.
a few seconds ago
Associated Press
Emily Brown and Susanna Tapani each score as Boston returns from 24-day break to beat Toronto 2-1
Emily Brown scored her first career goal, Susanna Tapani had a goal and an assist, and Boston returned from a 24-day international break to beat Toronto 2-1 on Thursday night. Boston (5-4-2-9) is in fifth place with 25 points, two behind Ottawa for the fourth and final playoff spot. Toronto (10-3-0-7), which entered as the league’s best road team with six wins and 16 points in nine games, needs just one point to clinch a playoff berth.
a minute ago
Associated Press
Kraken outlast Wild 4-3 in final regular-season game for non-playoff teams
Tye Kartye tipped in a slap shot by Oliver Bjorkstrand for the tiebreaking goal with 2:40 remaining, and the Seattle Kraken beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Thursday night to wrap up the regular season for two teams that missed the playoffs. Ryan Hartman scored 6-on-4 on a power play for the Wild with 1:05 left and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury pulled, but Kraken goalie Joey Daccord — who had 21 saves — and the defense held up.
3 minutes ago
Associated Press
Flights divert around western Iran as one report claims explosions heard near Isfahan
Commercial flights began diverting their routes early Friday morning over western Iran without explanation as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic claimed there had been “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan. The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran's unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran early Friday.
4 minutes ago
Reuters
Israeli missiles hit site in Iran, ABC News reports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran, ABC News reported late on Thursday, citing a U.S. official. Iran's Fars news agency said explosion were heard at an airport in the Iranian city of Isafahan but the cause was not immediately known. Several flights were diverted over Iranian airspace, CNN reported.
4 minutes ago
BBC
Netflix: Profits soar after password sharing crackdown
The streaming giant said it added 9.3 million subscribers in the first three months of the year.
5 minutes ago
PA Media: Entertainment
Cast of Pulp Fiction reunite to mark anniversary at TCM Classic Film Festival
John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman appeared at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles for the screening of the film.
6 minutes ago
People
Ella Bleu Travolta Supports Dad John Travolta at “Pulp Fiction” 30th Anniversary Event
John Travolta shares his daughter Ella, 24, with his late wife Kelly Preston
6 minutes ago
Reuters
PRESS DIGEST-British Business - April 19
The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. - British music investor Hipgnosis Songs Fund has agreed to a 1.1 billion pound ($1.37 billion) takeover from an American rival Concord Chorus. - Alliance Trust, one of Britain's biggest investment trust, has sacked Jupiter Fund Management, but has chosen not to award its 300 million pound mandate to the star fund manager whose defection triggered the rethink.
7 minutes ago
KNXV - Phoenix Scripps
Valley pastor making a difference at the border
A Valley pastor crosses the U.S., Mexico border near Nogales to help those in need on both sides.
9 minutes ago
People
Taylor Swift Posts Sneak Peek of 'Fortnight' Music Video — and It's Expectedly Chaotic
The full “Fortnight” video, featuring Post Malone, will debut Friday evening
12 minutes ago
Investor's Business Daily
Dow Jones Futures Tumble On Iran Explosions; Stock Market About To Break Power Trend
Futures fell on reports of Iran explosions: The market power trend is about to end. Netflix gave weak guidance.
13 minutes ago
Simply Wall St.
Maxis Berhad Full Year 2023 Earnings: Revenues Beat Expectations, EPS Lags
Maxis Berhad ( KLSE:MAXIS ) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: RM10.2b (up 4.0% from FY 2022). Net...
13 minutes ago
PA Media: UK News
Mother of murdered teenager to be honoured for anti-racism charity work
Dr Gee Walker will be made an MBE for her work in tackling prejudice after her son Anthony was killed in 2005.
13 minutes ago
KNXV - Phoenix Scripps
West Valley legislator withdraws from primary after accusations of petition signature forgery
State Representative Austin Smith, a Republican who represents parts of the West Valley from Luke Air Force Base to Wickenburg, put out a statement on social media withdrawing himself as a candidate for his own seat.
15 minutes ago
KGTV - San Diego Scripps
SDPD: Man enters Linda Vista home, sexually assaults young girl
Police are looking for a man suspected of entering a Linda Vista home overnight and sexually assaulting a young girl.
17 minutes ago
USA TODAY
Weather map 'anomaly' from data error, not massive post-eclipse waves | Fact check
The dark shape on the map did not depict a real phenomenon, according to the company that produced the maps.
18 minutes ago
KNXV - Phoenix Scripps
PHX PD: 'Operation Makeup Breakup' leads to 3 indictments, $560,000 of recovered merchandise
Three suspects have been indicted after a long-term investigation that resulted in arrests and recovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen property. On Thursday, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell joined Phoenix Police Department officials to reveal the details of the investigation.
18 minutes ago
Reuters
Pentagon chief Austin discusses Iran, Gaza aid with Israel's Gallant
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss Iran's actions in the Middle East, other regional threats and aid into Gaza, the Pentagon said in a statement. Austin discussed "the importance of increasing and sustaining" the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, including via a new route from Ashdod Port in Israel, the Pentagon said.
19 minutes ago
Associated Press
Unfair labor complaint filed against Notre Dame over athletes
The complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a California-based group calling itself the College Basketball Players Association. It said Notre Dame is engaging in unfair labor practices as defined by the National Labor Relations Act. The complaint is similar to one filed against University of Southern California last May by the NLRB’s Los Angeles office alleging players on USC’s football and men’s and women’s basketball teams are employees and not “student-athletes” within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
22 minutes ago

Latest Stories