TPA has unveiled its inaugural Vanguard Jury—a collective of industry leaders and emerging voices dedicated to shaping and elevating the podcasting medium. This committee selected the 2026 Vanguard Podcaster of the Year, honoring an individual who has had a standout year in podcasting, with the winner to be announced at the ceremony.

The 2027 Vanguard Jury includes:
TBA

Description At the core of our judging process are three essential evaluation areas: Engagement, Craftsmanship, and Noteworthiness. These form the foundation of our assessment across all categories, each weighted to ensure a balanced review of every podcast submission. There is additional criteria specific to each category in addition to these three outlined below.

1. Engagement
   How engaging is the episode? Judges will consider how well the content captivates and holds the listener's attention.

2. Craftsmanship
   This area evaluates the level of skill and care that went into creating the episode. From editing to storytelling, craftsmanship is about recognizing the effort behind the scenes.

3. Noteworthiness
   Does the podcast stand out from the rest? Judges will assess whether the episode offers something unique or exceptional, setting it apart in a positive way.

By using these consistent evaluation areas and weights, we ensure that all entries are judged by the same high standards, fostering fairness and clarity throughout the process.

If you are selected to be on the Ambies Jury you will be listening to a selection of entries within your category. All entries are to be listen to in their entirety, except in the preliminary round. Afterward, judges will rank each submission on a scale of 1-7, evaluating it across the specific criteria for that category.

We emphasize the importance of approaching this task with a neutral perspective, setting aside personal preferences and considering the podcast from the viewpoint of an interested listener. Playback speed should remain unchanged, allowing you to experience the content as intended by its creators. It is also recommend judges take notes during the listening session or complete the judge survey immediately afterward to ensure impressions are fresh and accurate.

The Ambies® are judged by our Ambies Jury. Judges are a select group of experienced and knowledgeable individuals within the podcast industry. As all judges are The Podcast Academy (TPA) members, they are typically professionals with a deep understanding of podcasting, including producers, editors, creators, and other industry experts. These judges are chosen for their expertise and their ability to evaluate podcasts with a critical and informed perspective. We carefully avoid assigning any entries to judges where there may be a conflict of interest, preserving the integrity of the judging process.

Their primary role is to identify the top submissions in each category, ensuring that only the highest quality podcasts move forward to the nomination stage. Submissions are evaluated through two rounds. The first round, judges review up to fifteen minute time-stamped clip from each submission and assess whether it should advance to the next round. In the next round, the judges are responsible for listening to all the entries in full, up to a maximum of 15 hours, and they must do so with an objective mindset, judging each entry based on its quality and adherence to the evaluation criteria.

Once the Jury have selected the nominees, the broader membership of TPA is invited to vote on the winners. This process ensures a collective decision on the winners and represents the diverse voices of our podcast community.

If you are not on the Jury, The Podcast Academy members are still tasked with selecting our winners! By participating, you help to ensure that our awards represent the full spectrum of talent and creativity in the podcast industry. Our members truly reflect the best of the podcasting world, and we want the winners to be chosen by those who understand the craft and its challenges.

We appreciate all who participate in The Ambies®, and demonstrate their commitment to maintaining the high standards of our award ceremony.