The Golden Globes has a new problem: deciding which podcasts deserve a trophy. The awards show has revealed its shortlist of 30 eligible podcasts for its second Best Podcast award, and the list reads like a mix of late-night talk show hosts, true-crime obsessives and a pair of comedians who have spent years building a following on their own terms.
The award was introduced last year, and Amy Poehler’s Good Hang won it. Now the category is back, and the field has grown from 25 to 30 shows.
Conan O’Brien Makes the Cut
Conan O’Brien’s Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend made the cut, along with Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, and Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast.
The True-Crime Shows
True-crime podcasts populate the list. Love Trapped joins My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, and Morbid adds a darker edge.
Comedy History and Science Fiction
Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History brings intellectual heft to the list, while Behind the Bastards offers a lighter take on comedy history. The Toast is also on the list.
The Shows That Missed Out
Not everything made the cut. 20/20, 48 Hours, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and The Ben Shapiro Show are no longer eligible.
How the List Was Made
Luminate determines the Top 30 qualifying podcasts based on audience reach, engagement, revenue and chart rankings, using direct data from platforms. Luminate is owned by Deadline parent PMC, which co-owns the Golden Globes.
The 2026 Nominees Set the Template
Last year’s nominees included Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Smartless and NPR’s Up First. The pattern holds: big names, wide audiences, and a few surprises.
What Comes Next
The shows will now be invited to submit themselves for consideration, and Globes voters will determine the nominees. The category is still young.
The List at a Glance
| Category | Podcast |
|---|---|
| Late-Night Talk | Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend |
| Comedy Duo | Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang |
| True Crime | My Favorite Murder |
| Comedy History | Behind the Bastards |
| Intellectual Nonfiction | Revisionist History |
The category rewards the shows that have shaped podcasting into what it is today.
Source material: “Conan O’Brien, Bowen Yang & Shane Gillis Podcasts Become Golden Globe Eligible As Shortlist Revealed,” Deadline.
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