NEW YORK, NY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026—The Podcast Academy (TPA), the preeminent professional podcast organization, announced two top honors that will be bestowed at the 6th Annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies). Kara Swisher will receive the Governors Award, which recognizes an individual, show, network, or company that has made meaningful contributions to the growth of the podcasting industry. TPA will posthumously honor the late Reggie Ossé with the Impact Award, recognizing an individual or podcast that has made a significant, positive effect on its listeners.

They will be honored at the podcasting industry’s top awards ceremony on Monday, February 23 at the Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Hosted by Emmy and WGA award-winning comedian, writer, and producer, Wyatt Cenac, The Ambies are presented as part of On Air Fest. 

“Each of this year’s honorees has shaped podcasting in a distinct way,” said Christy Mirabal, Chair of The Podcast Academy. “Kara has spent decades challenging power and pushing the tech conversation forward. Reggie built community through conversations that felt deeply personal and culturally defining. The Ambies exist to recognize the creators moving podcasting forward, and this year’s recipients are setting the standard.”

Kara Swisher is host of On with Kara Swisher and co-host of the Pivot podcast. She’s editor-at-large at New York Magazine and a CNN contributor. Swisher is the co-founder of the technology website, Recode, and tech conference, Code, which is the country’s premier conference on tech and media. Considered the top reporter in the tech game, Swisher has been reporting on the industry since the early 1990s. Once called “Silicon Valley's most feared but revered journalist,” Swisher has established herself as the oracle of the tech world with unrivaled access to the industry's most significant leaders. She’s the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, February 2024).

Reginald Joseph “Combat Jack” Ossé (1964–2017) was a pioneering hip-hop journalist, entertainment attorney, and podcast trailblazer whose work helped shape both the business and storytelling of modern hip-hop culture. Born in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrant parents, he earned degrees from Cornell University and Georgetown University Law Center and went on to represent influential artists including Jay-Z and Damon Dash, co-founding one of the first Black-owned hip-hop law firms. He later transitioned into journalism as a managing editor at The Source before reinventing himself in 2010 as the creator and host of The Combat Jack Show, one of the most influential early hip-hop podcasts, known for its candid, long-form interviews. He also co-founded the Loud Speakers Network, helping establish podcasting as a vital platform for cultural dialogue and paving the way for a new generation of creators. Ossé passed away in 2017 after a battle with colon cancer, leaving a lasting legacy as a bridge between hip-hop’s foundational era and its digital future. He is survived by his wife, Akim Vann, owner of The Bakery on Bergen, and their children, Chuma an entrepreneur, New York City Councilmember Chi, model and tastemaker Kai, and first year college student Kara Sky also continue to honor his legacy.

The Ambies celebrate excellence in podcasting while elevating the awareness and status of podcasts as a powerful, personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling, and expression. The ceremony will honor 227 nominees across 33 categories, including six new categories: Podcast Advertiser Innovator Award, Best Ad Read, Best Branded Podcast, Best Emerging Podcast, Best Use of Video in a Podcast, and Vanguard Podcaster of the Year. Winners in 32 categories are selected by the full voting membership of TPA. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST ACADEMY

Founded in February 2020, The Podcast Academy is a not-for-profit professional membership organization that celebrates excellence in podcasting and elevates awareness of podcasts as an indispensable medium for entertainment, information, and creative expression. It values individual and organizational creators alike, of all backgrounds and means, and defines achievement through the values of quality, creativity, innovation, inclusion, and impact. The Podcast Academy provides community, professional development, and industry connections through inclusive, dynamic programming. For more information about The Podcast Academy, please visit www.thepodcastacademy.com and follow/like/subscribe on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Linkedin. Visit our donation page to support our mission.

Sponsor support for The Podcast Academy’s Ambie Awards includes Dolby, Wondery, Airwave, Amazon Music, The Hollywood Reporter, Sounds Profitable, Outfront Media, The Podcast Show, CrimeCon, Etsy, Audible, and CNN. 

ABOUT ON AIR FEST

On Air Fest is the Premier Creator Storytelling Festival taking place Feb 23-26 in Brooklyn. Centering media innovation, art and podcasts, On Air presents intimate talks, performances & exhibitions that uplift the storytellers, publishers and brands who are shaping culture today. Since 2018, our flagship festivals in Brooklyn and Los Angeles have brought together thousands of artists, storytellers and industry leaders to bring forward innovative ideas and launch new projects. We’ve been called the “Coachella of Podcasts” by Fast Company and “the Future of Podcasting” by Wired.

On Air Fest 2026 headliners include Wyclef Jean, Alec Baldwin, Roxane Gay, Malcolm Gladwell, Don Lemon, Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder), The Telepathy Tapes, Chani Nicholas, Heavyweight, Code Switch, Vibe Check, Broken Record, and 100+ more storytellers and performers.

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The Ambies logo: here; photo credit: The Podcast Academy

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