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The results are in! After thousands of nominations and weeks of deliberation from our judges panel, we're ready to announce the winners of the 2026 Quill Podcast Awards, and this year's lineup did not disappoint.
From shows tackling immigration and climate justice to ones that just make you laugh on your commute, the finalists this year covered a lot of ground. What they had in common was simpler: real people, making things they care about, for audiences who keep coming back.
Without further ado, please join us in celebrating this year’s Quill Podcast Award winners!
Podcast of the Year
The Melting Pod
Show description:
The Melting Pod brings you stories of our dysfunctional immigration system and where we go from here.
Hosted by three friends who’ve served inside the federal government for two decades and four presidents of both parties, The Melting Pod will give you a deeper understanding of the immigration headlines, without jargon or shallow punditry.
Amanda Baran, Doug Rand, and Claire Trickler-McNulty will also bring you extraordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell – about how we got here and where we're going.
Best New Podcast
I Used to Work There
Show description:
Everyone has a work story. The inspiring ones, the unbelievable ones, the hilarious disasters, the heartbreaking moments, and the strange or paranormal encounters you never saw coming. This is where they are told.
I Used To Work There brings real people together to share the unforgettable stories from the jobs they once had. The moments that shaped them, shocked them, scared them, or still make them laugh years later. Some stories will lift you up. Some will haunt you. All of them stay with you.
Branded Podcast of the Year
Not Just Fluff
Show description:
It may go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: we love our pets. They have their own social media accounts, big personalities, and an even bigger piece of our hearts. Our furry friends deserve quality care – and who hasn’t wished their pet could speak? While we can’t grant them that superpower, we did the next best thing. We made an award-winning podcast about them, for us.
Not Just Fluff is here to give you just that: Actionable tips and smart advice from pet professionals who really understand pet care. Host and Producer Hannah Shaw will sit down with pet pros to debunk common pet-related myths, share practical advice, and deep dive into some of the most common questions we hear from pet lovers.
B2B Branded Podcast of the Year
Tried and Tested
Show description:
Welcome to PSI’s Tried and Tested Podcast, hosted by Isabelle Gonthier. Tune in every other Thursday for expert conversations on testing, credentialing, and assessment. Each episode explores industry trends, practical insights, and the real work behind high-stakes testing, featuring leaders and practitioners shaping the future of the assessment industry.
B2C Branded Podcast of the Year
A Radical Act of Hope
Show description:
Welcome to A Radical Act of Hope. In this series, Inuk climate advocate Siila Watt-Cloutier brings us into her world. A world where melting ice isn’t just a symptom of climate change—it’s a disruption of memory, identity, and rhythms of life in the North. She takes us from her home in the Arctic to the frontlines of international climate justice, alongside those who have been speaking up—and holding steady—for decades. See full description.
Most Creative Branded Podcast
Raising Kids in the Age of AI
Show description:
A new podcast from The AI Education Project (aiEDU), created in collaboration with Google, that explores how AI is shaping the future of learning, hosted by aiEDU's Alex Kotran and Dr. Aliza Pressman, a developmental psychologist and bestselling author.
Best Business Podcast
The Curiosity Current
Show description:
Do you find yourself pondering what today’s trends and insights tell us about tomorrow’s consumers? Ever wonder how technology is changing the market research landscape? Are you curious about what keeps insights professionals up at night? Get swept away by the Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast about two world-leading market research experts who follow their natural curiosity to bring consumer insights to life.
Best Tech Podcast
Shell Game
Show description:
A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 2 tells the story of enterprise and entrepreneurship in the AI age. Or: how Evan tried to build a real startup, run by fake people.
This season, Evan confronts head-on the assertion from tech entrepreneurs and VCs that we’re on the precipice of AI remaking the workforce. That we should expect not just AI colleagues working alongside us, but also — by Sam Altman’s telling, at least — the dawn of a billion-dollar company with only one human involved. Evan learns what it would take to create such a company … by doing it: Launching a real startup with five AI employees. Over the course of eight episodes, he explores what AI agents tell us about the work we do, the meaning we find in it, and the world that their makers say we’ll all be living in soon enough.
Best Society and Culture Podcast
Documenting A Genius
Show description:
Documenting A Genius is a special conversation remembering the life, artistry, and legacy of Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest musicians of our time. Presented by Topiary Studios, Documenting A Genius is a series that celebrates extraordinary artists and the stories that define their legacy.
Best Science and Medicine Podcast
DNA Today
Show description:
Discover New Advances in the world of genetics, from technology like CRISPR to rare diseases to new research. For over a decade, the multi-award-winning podcast” DNA Today” has brought you the voices of leaders in genetics. Host Kira Dineen brings her genetics expertise to interview geneticists, genetic counsellors, patient advocates, biotech leaders, researchers, and more.
Best Health and Wellness Podcast
F*ck Buddies
Show description:
Welcome to F*ck Buddies, the dating and sex advice podcast setting out to smash toxic masculinity and rape culture. We’re here to answer all of your sticky, sexy questions!
Best Video Podcast
Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer
Show description:
Welcome to Crafty Brewers, where we’ll increase your enjoyment of craft beer by learning about the stories, techniques, and inspiration behind the best craft breweries. In every episode, we visit a different brewery to showcase its unique atmosphere and hear brewers share how they got started, what they’ve learned, and what keeps them brewing. Crafty Brewers is perfect for beer lovers who want to discover new beer styles, explore brewing techniques, and get to know the people behind the pints.
Best Comedy Podcast
You Wanted This
Show description:
A NEW weekly podcast from Richard & Reid - YOU pick the topic, but WE pick how we handle it.
Hosted by Richard Eden and Reid Vanier from the popular and multi-award-winning Doctor DC Podcast and Ghostfacers, YOU WANTED THIS is a bold new experiment in audience interaction. Powered by their loyal fanbase on the dedicated subreddit, You Wanted This makes the audience the producer by accepting any episode topics that have been posted and upvoted by their community. Reid and Richard do a comedic deep dive into any topic the audience decides on, adjusting their format each episode to fit the subject.
From Cults to Shipwrecks to The Muppets to Godzilla and beyond… You Wanted This!
Congratulations to this year’s Quill Podcast Awards Winners!
From climate justice to craft beer, this year's winners span just about every corner of the podcasting world, and what they all have in common is simple: they made something their listeners genuinely care about.
The Quill Podcast Awards have been recognising that connection since 2021, celebrating the shows that actually move people, make them think differently, or finally put words to something they couldn't quite articulate before.
A huge congrats to this year’s winners!
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About the author
Tianna Marinucci is a content creation and digital marketing specialist. She graduated from McGill University in 2021 and has since worked in a variety of industries from interior design to technology.
After traveling to more than 60 countries and working in three, she is inspired by diverse cultures and motivated by unique experiences.
In her spare time, Tianna loves trying new foods, going to concerts, and learning more about history and socio-economics through books and podcasts.
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