The Podcast Academy, the preeminent professional podcast organization, announced that Straight Talk with Ross Mathews’ dynamic duo Ross Mathews and Nikki Boyer (2021 Podcast of the Year winner; Dying for Sex) will co-host its second annual Awards for Excellence in Audio (The Ambies) on March 22. The ceremony will be streamed LIVE on YouTube and Twitch from The Mayan Theater in Los Angeles, CA at 6PM PT/9PM ET. This year’s Ambies are presented by Wondery with additional sponsor support from Audible, Audacy, PRX, Tenderfoot TV, The Hollywood Reporter, and Loeb & Loeb.
Mathews and Byer stated, “As former lovers, it will certainly be awkward for us to work together, but we’re professionals and refuse to let our unbridled passion get in the way of us hosting the Ambie Awards this year. We can’t wait!”
“The chemistry that Ross and Nikki share on their podcast is undeniable,” said Chairman of the Podcast Academy, Donald Albright, President & Co-Founder of Tenderfoot TV. “Their charm, wit, and humor will certainly make for an evening of laughter as we honor the best of the best in the industry. We can’t wait to bring them from behind he mic to in front of the camera for all audiences to see at The Ambies.”
The Ambies celebrate excellence in podcasting and elevate awareness and status of podcasts as a unique and personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling and expression. The ceremony will highlight 178 nominees across 25 categories with winners to be selected by every voting member of The Podcast Academy – in addition to a Governor’s Award.
Eligible new members will be able to vote to determine this year’s winners if registered by February 14. As part of the Podcast Academy’s commitment to ensure its membership represents the vast and diverse industry, they have partnered with Spotify to sponsor its membership scholarships. More information can be found at www.thepodcastacademy.com/join-the-community. Nominations for The Ambies will be announced on February 14.
Last year’s winners featured activists, award-winners, bestselling authors, luminaries and renowned journalists. In addition to Boyer’s Dying for Sex win for Podcast of the Year, winners also included Tessa Thompson (Best Performer in Audio Fiction; The Left Right Game), Winds of Change which took home the most Ambies with three wins (Best Podcast Host, Best Reporting, Best Script Writing – Nonfiction), Driving the Green Book (Best History Podcast), plus much more.