For Your Ears: Ambie nods are here, cousins hosting podcasts, birding by Bean, & ramping up for the World Cup⚽️
Did your favorite podcasts get nominated? Find out & vote if you're eligible
Greetings from Snowy NYC
Yesterday, NYC became a real-life snow globe. The downpour made the day perfect for just chilling harder than usual for a weekend. I listened to 6 hours of podcasts yesterday alone. Today, I emerge from my podcast hole to share with you some podcast news and launches.
Read on!
📝Today’s Newsletter Agenda
Happy Ambies Season
Your recommendations
News from podcast land
Extra tidbits
Happy Ambies Season🏆
Last week, the Ambies Podcast Awards nominees were announced from The Podcast Academy.
The nominees for 2026 Ambies have been announced, with 10 podcasts — including “Call Her Daddy,” “SmartLess,” “Crime Junkie,” “Pod Save America” and “Pablo Torre Finds Out” — vying for the top honor of Podcast of the Year.
Todd Spangler, Variety
The winners — of the above category and many others — will be announced at the award ceremony in late February at On Air Fest in Brooklyn. I’ll be there! And I will absolutely be providing a bingo card for your watch-along pleasure. See you there?
Disclaimer: I am on the board of governors of The Podcast Academy
Newsletter Recommendation
Discover sara's podcast recs:
Your Recommendations
Each week, I ask for your recommendations. Whether they’re podcasts that you host / work on, or just ones you’re loving lately, I love reading about your audio finds.
Here are some comments we received:
From Eric Drobny: “Just finished Fela Kuti: Fear No Man. It’s an unfair analysis given he’s one of my favorite artists of all time and Radiolab is up there in my favorite-ever shows (plus, anything the Obamas are doing right now? Yes please). I will listen to it several more times no doubt.”
From David Savage: “I’ve been listening to The Art of Manliness myself.”
Share a note about what you’re listening to OR what shows you’re making and we’ll include you here next time around.
News from Podcastland / Press Release Roundup
Here’s a list of the podcast news sent via email to me over the past week. We take your press releases via email.
You’ll find a description as it appeared in the email, which is why some of the titles are IN ALL CAPS.
Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast Debuts on Netflix Today with Kenny Chesney Interview
NASHVILLE, TN – January 26, 2026 - Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast, one of the most influential podcasts in country music, officially expands its reach with its highly anticipated Netflix debut today. Hosted by radio/TV personality and National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, Bobby Bones, The BobbyCast launch represents a marquis milestone for the show, as it brings Bones’ deep dive long-form conversations to a global video audience as part of Netflix and iHeartMedia’s exclusive video podcast partnership. Listen.
The Oprah Podcast Earns Four Ambies Nominations Across Interviews, Hosting, Personal Growth and Branded Content
New York, NY — The Oprah Podcast has been nominated for four Ambies awards, presented by The Podcast Academy, in the categories of Best Interview Podcast, Best Podcast Host, Best Branded Podcast, and Best Personal Growth/ Spirituality Podcast. The multi-category nominations underscore the podcast’s editorial rigor and deep impact in the audio space in their first year.
"More Life with Carl Radke" to Launch January 27th - Kyle Cooke 1st Guest
New York, NY - January 22, 2026 - Sony Music’s Global Podcast Division today announced the launch of More Life with Carl Radke, a new weekly podcast hosted by Carl Radke, an entrepreneur, author, mental health advocate and star of Summer House. Premiering January 27 on all podcast platforms, with full video episodes on Spotify and YouTube, the show offers unfiltered, deeply personal conversations centered on healing, self-discovery, and the pursuit of a more intentional life.
NEWS: iHeart and Rider Strong announce “The Red Weather”
LOS ANGELES, CA — January 22, 2026 — iHeartPodcasts today announced it is partnering with actor, filmmaker and podcaster Rider Strong (Boy Meets World, Cabin Fever) to launch his new audio series, “The Red Weather.” This innovative 8-episode autofiction podcast, inspired by Strong’s initial work on a documentary about communes in and around his hometown of Sebastopol, California, masterfully blends a fictional true-crime mystery with a profoundly personal real-life narrative. The series will premiere with its first two episodes on January 28, with episodes launching twice weekly thereafter. Listen to the official audio trailer now, HERE.
AMP Sports Announces “Cousins,” A New Weekly Podcast Series Hosted By NBA Icons Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady
AMP Sports today announced “Cousins,” a new original podcast series hosted by NBA Hall of Famers, leading NBC Sports commentators, and real-life cousins, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
Launching January 28, each week the NBA All-Stars will come together to analyze the latest games, share untold stories with a hint of nostalgia, and chop it up with guests at the intersection of basketball and the culture that surrounds it.
NEWS: iHeart Announces Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles
NEW YORK – January 21, 2026 – iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, today announced the new original podcast “Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles,” co-hosted by active professional basketball players WNBA superstar Breanna “Stewie” Stewart and NBA defensive powerhouse Myles Turner. The weekly show will debut on January 28, 2026 with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays. Fans can listen to the official trailer now, HERE.
Audible Collaborates with Kenya Barris to Bring Comedic Legends Together for New Audio Comedy Series “Big Age”
NEWARK, N.J. – January 5, 2026 – Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, and Khalabo Ink Society announce Big Age, a new Audible Original comedy series. From the unmatched comedic mind of Kenya Barris, creator of the Emmy-nominated and acclaimed television series black-ish, this heartwarming and hilarious series stars comedy powerhouses Jenifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Niecy Nash-Betts in a story that proves it’s never too late to enjoy life’s little moments.
New Show / CRAFTED Rebrand: Future Around & Find Out
NEW YORK, NY — January 20, 2026 — Independent technologist and former NPR journalist Dan Blumberg today announced the rebranding of the three-time Webby Award-honored podcast CRAFTED. to its new face: Future Around & Find Out (FAFO). The rebrand marks a strategic shift toward the future, away from past-tense case studies, to help builders navigate an era that’s equal parts exciting and terrifying.
Rachel Bilson Joins Kristin Cavallari’s Dear Media Hit Podcast “Let’s Be Honest”
The newest episode of Kristin Cavallari’s Dear Media hit podcast, Let’s Be Honest features an interview with Rachel Bilson. On the podcast, Rachel Bilson sits down with Dear Media’s, Let’s Be Honest host Kristin Cavallari for a fun honest girl chat.
Sean Bean announced as new host of award-winning Get Birding podcast
Acclaimed actor Sean Bean is the new host of Get Birding, the multi award-winning podcast for all birders, from first-timers to experienced field observers. A passionate birder himself, Sean will host the new, always-on series of Get Birding with the first episode available today (Thursday 22 January) - just in time for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend.Get Birding, produced by Peanut & Crumb, aims to make birdwatching and nature accessible and joyful for everyone, everywhere. We’ll hear Sean talk about his own birding adventures, as well as those of his celebrity guests; Sean is joined in Episode 1 with Elbow frontman and BBC 6 Music DJ, Guy Garvey.
NEWS: iHeartPodcasts Explores International Football In New Series “The Away End”
WHAT: iHeartPodcasts is teaming up with Daniel Alarcón, host of My Cultura Podcast Network’s “Radio Ambulante” and John Green, New York Times bestselling author, for new original podcast series “The Away End,” exploring the universal love for international football leading up to The 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico. Listen to the trailer HERE.
Extra Tidbits:
Which podcasts were name checked most frequently in the 2025 best-of podcast lists? Lauren Passell and I investigate and share our findings in the latest issue of Podcasts We Text About:
Discover 5 trauma-informed true crime podcast recommendations via EarBuds True Crime Podcast Recommendations this week.
I’m starting a free Podcast Newsletter Challenge. Sign up here if you’re thinking of starting a newsletter to go along with your podcast.
AND I’m teaching a workshop with Radio Boot Camp on the same topic later this year.
Brooklyn readers! I’m cohosting a podcast book club event with Brooklyn Public Library on February 18th. Details here.
Happy listening! Bye!
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