‘Joe Rogan Experience,’ ‘SmartLess’ Among 25 Podcasts Eligible for New Golden Globes Category

The winner of the inaugural ‘Best Podcast’ category will be announced at the 83rd Golden Globes in January.

Joe Rogan during UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix on May 7, 2022. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

“The Joe Rogan Experience” and “SmartLess,” cohosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, are among the 25 streaming programs eligible for the Golden Globes’ new “Best Podcast” award.

On Thursday, the awards institution unveiled potential contenders for the inaugural category, which will debut at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes ceremony on Jan. 11, 2026, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.

A handful of other comedy podcasts are featured on the list, including “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von,” and “Call Her Daddy,” hosted by influencer Alex Cooper.

A slew of true crime podcasts are also eligible, among them “20/20,” “48 Hours,” “Crime Junkie,” “Dateline NBC,” and “Morbid,” as well as the political programs “Candace,” “Pod Save America,” “The Ben Shapiro Show,” “The Megyn Kelly Show,” and “The Tucker Carlson Show.”

“This year’s inaugural list of eligible programs ... reflects the incredible depth, diversity and creativity thriving in the podcasting world today,” Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, said in a statement.

“From groundbreaking investigative series to deeply personal storytelling and innovative audio formats, this list showcases the power of podcasting to inform, entertain, and inspire audiences around the globe.”

Several award shows already honor streamers, including The Ambies, The Webby Awards, and the Podcast Awards.

However, the Golden Globes, which has been celebrating achievements in television and film since 1944, is the first major entertainment awards ceremony to recognize the medium.

The organization announced its “Best Podcast” category in May, calling it a “landmark inclusion” for podcasting.

Signage promoting the Golden Globe Awards and NBC in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2020. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The inaugural award aims to celebrate excellence in podcasting by “recognizing the quality, creativity, audience engagement, and impact of the most outstanding podcast of the year,” the organization notes online.

“Podcasts have emerged as a profound medium for sharing narratives and building communities across global borders and generations,” Hoehne said. “By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasts, we aim to honor our heritage categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.”

The list of qualifying podcasts was determined by the Globes’ data partner, Luminate, a leading entertainment data company.

Although 25 podcasts are eligible for the award, only six will be nominated. Eligible programs must submit entries to the Golden Globes by Oct. 31 to be nominated.

The complete list of Golden Globe nominations will be announced on Dec. 8.