Sam Sanders To Receive Impact Award
Sam Sanders to Receive Impact Award at The Ambies 2025
Big news in the podcasting world! The Podcast Academy has announced that award-winning journalist, radio host, and podcaster Sam Sanders will be honored with the Impact Award at the Fifth Annual Ambies. This prestigious award recognizes individuals or podcasts that have made a significant, positive impact on listeners. Past winners include Ira Madison III (2024) and Teenager Therapy (2020).
The Ambies, known as the Oscars of podcasting, will take place on Monday, March 31, at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. The ceremony, hosted by the hilarious Tig Notaro, will be live-streamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST. As previously announced, Ira Glass will also be honored with the Governors Award.
Why Sam Sanders Deserves This Honor
Sam Sanders isn’t just a podcaster—he’s a storyteller, a culture critic, and a voice of clarity in today’s media landscape. From his early days at NPR to launching game-changing shows like Into It, Vibe Check, and The Sam Sanders Show, he’s built platforms that celebrate joy, curiosity, and meaningful conversations.
“Sam Sanders doesn’t just cover the news, he makes sense of it, humanizes it, and welcomes us into the conversation,” said Christy Mirabal, chairperson of The Podcast Academy. “His ability to challenge perspectives, celebrate culture in all its complexity, and make audiences feel truly seen is what sets him apart.”
A Look at Sanders’ Career Highlights
- Co-host of Vibe Check (Stitcher Podcasts) alongside Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford
- Host of The Sam Sanders Show (Produced with KCRW, distributed by PRX)
- Founder of Into It at Vulture and New York Magazine—named one of the best podcasts of 2022 by Spotify and VOGUE
- Creator of NPR’s It’s Been A Minute, where he interviewed icons like JLo, Maya Rudolph, Beto O’Rourke, and Malcolm Gladwell
- Founding host of the NPR Politics Podcast during the 2016 election
- Multiple award-winner, including honors from the Ambies, iHeart Podcast Awards, LA Press Club, and the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists
- Published in top outlets like New York Magazine, Politico, The Washington Post, and Columbia Journalism Review
- Harvard Kennedy School grad with a Master’s in public policy
The Ambies 2025: What to Expect
This year’s Ambies will shine a spotlight on 199 nominees across 28 categories, recognizing the best in podcasting. The winners are selected by voting members of The Podcast Academy. Expect an evening filled with celebration, humor, and some of the biggest names in the industry.
Want to check out the full list of nominees? Find them here.
Final Thoughts
Sam Sanders’ impact on podcasting is undeniable. Whether he’s breaking down pop culture, making politics accessible, or amplifying underrepresented voices, his work resonates deeply with listeners. This Impact Award is well deserved, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
ABOUT THE PODCAST ACADEMY
Founded in February 2020, The Podcast Academy is a not-for-profit professional membership organization that celebrates excellence in podcasting and elevates awareness of podcasts as an indispensable medium for entertainment, information, and creative expression. It values individual and organizational creators alike, of all backgrounds and means, and defines achievement through the values of quality, creativity, innovation, inclusion, and impact. The Podcast Academy provides community, professional development, and industry connections through inclusive, dynamic programming. For more information about The Podcast Academy, please visit www.thepodcastacademy.com and follow/like/subscribe on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Linkedin. Visit our donation page to support our mission.
Sponsor support for The Podcast Academy includes Wondery, The Hollywood Reporter, Audible, Dolby, Airwave, The Podcast Show, Castbox, Outfront Media, Twitch and NPM/NPR.