Award Categories
Celebrate Your Voice
Overview
The Iowa Podcast Awards recognizes excellence in three types of categories: Show Recognition, Talent Recognition, and Honor Awards.
Show Recognition awards are designed to recognize the show itself, such as Best Comedy Podcast or Best News Podcast. This category requires paid submission by an individual involved with the podcast.
Talent Recognition awards are designed to recognize the people that work on the show, such as the hosts or the production team. This category requires paid submission by an individual involved with the podcast.
Honor Awards are special awards designed to recognize those who are doing something special within the medium of podcasting here in Iowa. Submissions in this category are free and anyone can submit any active podcaster for consideration.
Submissions will be reviewed by the IPA Committee. Submissions that are not submitted under the appropriate category in the eyes of the IPA Committee may be redirected to a different category. Categories that do not receive a minimum of three submissions may be eliminated and submitters will have the option of moving their submission to another category, if applicable, or receive a refund of their submission fee.
Submit Your Nomination:
Top Awards
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*Automatic Submission
The big one. Podcast of the Year is the final award given out at the Iowa Podcast Awards Ceremony and is given to a show that, in the past year, has exemplified the absolute best from podcasting in the State of Iowa, taking into consideration audio and video quality, quality of content, consistency, audience engagement, representation of the state, and more.
Every podcast that is submitted for a Show Recognition or Talent Recognition Award is automatically considered for Podcast of the Year, with finalists being announced in advance of the awards ceremony.
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*Automatic Submission
Arguably the highest honor from the Iowa Podcast Awards - The People’s Choice Award.
Just like the Podcast of the Year award, all podcasts submitted for consideration for a Show Recognition or Talen Recognition Award will be entered into consideration for the People’s Choice Award.
Once the submission deadline passes, the Iowa Podcast Awards will open up public voting for the People’s Choice Award through both the IPA website and the IPA social media channels. Rules on public voting will be shared at that time.
At the Awards Ceremony, the podcast which has received the most public votes will be given the People’s Choice Award.
Show Recognition Awards
Presented By:
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The best singular episode of the year taking into consideration audio and video production, quality of content, audience engagement, “Wow” factor, and more.
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An award for a podcast or project that was designed to run for a predetermined amount of time or tell one singular story with an end date.
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A podcast best identified by its interviews between one or more hosts and one or more guests
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A podcast where the focus is primarily on comedic content
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A podcast where the content primarily focuses on business matters such as entrepreneurship, leadership, and more.
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A podcast that brings the host's perspective/opinion on any number of topics that reflect societies and cultures worldwide, including religion, professional growth, etc.
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A podcast where the content is primarily comprised of discussion and information around politics at the local, regional, and/or national level.
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A podcast about movies, books, television, podcasts, radio, theater, audiobooks, video games, or other media entertainment. Is your podcast entertaining but not on one of these subjects? Then this is not your category.
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A non-fiction show presenting a truthful account of an event, person, or topic without intentional misrepresentation. Typical modes of documentary are observational, expository, or participatory.
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A podcast that shares news and does not include critical assessment or opinion.
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A podcast about sports and/or athletes.
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A narrative work portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary. Though it may be based on a true situation or time, it must not be presented as fact.
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A chronicle or inquiry into a past event. To distinguish history from other categories, the title must have significant distance from current events.
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A podcast that is intended to be listened to by children.
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A non-fiction podcast about true crime events.
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A podcast where the content primarily revolves around food and/or beverages.
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A podcast focused on current events in popular culture.
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A podcast about health, wellness, and/or relationship topics.
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Video is the future for podcasts. This award is designed to recognize those who are excelling in offering a video version of their podcast. This may include quality of production but should also reflect creativity, uniqueness, and value.
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*This category was added on Friday, April 12th following inquiries from the community.
This category is designed to celebrate the podcasts that are primarily focused on educating their audiences, regardless of age or topic.
Talent Recognition Awards
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This award recipient will exemplify excellence in podcast hosting through quality, content, and more.
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These award recipients will exemplify excellence in podcast hosting through quality, content, and more.
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This award recipient will represent excellence in the production of their podcast through quality, content, and more.
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This podcast will exemplify the best that the State of Iowa has to offer in regards to podcast production and storytelling through audio.
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This award winer exemplifies the best in original music as part of the storytelling of a podcast.
The music submitted in this category MUST be original to the podcast and should be presented as a primary component of the podcast (eg Theme Song, Transition Song, etc.).
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This award recipient will represent the best writing for a scripted podcast in the State of Iowa.
At this time, this category will represent both fiction and non-fiction scriptwriting. If we receive enough submissions that the category should be split into two, we will notify all submitters.
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For excellence in podcast performing, typically acting or singing.
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*This category was added on Friday, April 12th following inquiries from the community.
This category is designed to celebrate the graphic designers behind the primary visual element of our podcasts, and often the very first thing that future listeners see: The Cover Art!
NOTE: Podcasts can have multiple pieces of cover art. As such, we will judge only the main cover art for your podcast.
Honor
Awards
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This award is given to creators who are using the medium of podcasting to create change in their local/regional community.
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This award is given to creators and shows whose work is pushing the boundaries of podcasting and exploring new ways to work within this medium.
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This award is given to an individual who is going above and beyond to advocate for the accessibility and growth of digital content creation in the State of Iowa.
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This award is given to a podcast which launched within the last 12 months and has already showcased the potential to be impactful to its audiences as an “Up-and-Coming” podcast.
