Amy Poehler and Dax Shepard are the two controversial Golden Globe nominees for Best New Podcast.
Nikki Glazer talks hosting the Golden Globes and proving herself
Nikki Glazer shares how she approached hosting the Golden Globes with gratitude and a determination to make viewers proud.
It seems like everyone has a podcast now.
So, isn’t it about time for the major award shows to catch up? The Golden Globe Awards is venturing into previously uncharted territory this year with the introduction of the Podcast of the Year award, which aims to celebrate the medium’s most “extraordinary and diverse talent,” according to the organization.
But as with any major change, this news was not without some backlash. Here’s what you need to know about the new Golden Globes, once again hosted by Nikki Glazer, on Sunday, January 11 (CBS and Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Why did the Golden Globes add a podcast category?
The Golden Globes announced last spring that the show would add a podcast category in 2026, citing “exponential growth” in the medium that reflects “today’s audience and consumer behavior.” According to data tracker Luminate, the global audience for podcasts is expected to exceed 600 million this year.
“As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,” Golden Globes President Helen Hohne said in a statement last May. “By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasting, we aim to honor traditional categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.”
What’s the controversy surrounding the podcast category at the Golden Globe Awards?
The new podcast category sparked a small controversy with the revelation that Luminate would narrow down the list of eligible podcasts to 25. Penske Media owns major entertainment publications covering the Golden Globes, Luminate, and podcasts such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. In response, a Los Angeles Times article denounced the new category as unethical and a “money grab.”
The list of 25 podcasts targeted includes controversial right-wing shows by Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro, the latter of whom campaigned heavily for the nomination. Mr. Shapiro gave an “informative” interview ahead of the vote, and his conservative media company, the Daily Wire, even bought a “Ben Shapiro Show” sign in Times Square.
But in the end, political podcasts were not nominated in favor of shows focused on middle-class entertainment.
25 podcasts eligible for awards:
- “20/20” (ABC News)
- “48 Hours” (CBS News)
- “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard”
- “Call her daddy.”
- “Candice”
- “Crime Junkie”
- “Dateline NBC”
- “Be good friends with Amy Poehler.”
- “Sick”
- “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark, Mystical Stories”
- “sorry”
- “Pod Save America”
- “Rotten mango”
- “Sean Ryan Show”
- “Smartless”
- “What you need to know”
- “The Ben Shapiro Show”
- “Bill Simmons Podcast”
- “The Daily” (New York Times)
- “The Joe Rogan Experience”
- “The Megyn Kelly Show”
- “Mel Robbins Podcast”
- “Tucker Carlson Show”
- “This weekend with Theo Fung”
- NPR’s “Up First”
Who will be nominated for this year’s Golden Globe Podcast?
The nominees for the first podcast category are:
- “Armchair Expert and Dax Shepard”
- “Call her daddy.”
- “Be good friends with Amy Poehler.”
- “Mel Robbins Podcast”
- “Smartless”
- “First things first.”
Who is expected to win Best Podcast at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards?
Awards experts at Variety, Vanity Fair, and GoldDerby unanimously predict that Poehler will win the award for her entertaining freshman season of “Good Hang,” and with good reason.
The “Saturday Night Live” star has a goofy warmth and flair for riffs that lend her well to the podcast format, allowing A-list guests like Ariana Grande and Gwyneth Paltrow to open up in a way she rarely does in interviews. More importantly, Poehler has a genuine curiosity and sensitivity, and knows when to sit quietly and listen to his subjects.
Frankly, you couldn’t ask for a better hang.
