On October 14, the Hollywood Creative Alliance announced the nominees for the 2026 Astra Podcast Awards, and I’m thrilled to share that The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio has been nominated for Best Television Podcast for the SECOND consecutive year! After winning this very category in 2025, returning as a nominee is an incredible honor, and one that I certainly don’t take for granted.
I have to admit, I was surprisingly calm leading up to the nominations announcement. I knew the announcement was coming, but I wasn’t particularly nervous about the outcome. Of course, I was hopeful that The Buzz would receive another nomination, especially after the incredible year we’ve had. However, I also understood that being recognized once doesn’t automatically guarantee another nomination.
When the nominees were revealed, I was excited to see The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio on the list. But what REALLY made me react was seeing the other shows nominated alongside mine!
Pod Meets World. That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast. The Greatest Generation.
These are AMAZING podcasts, and I have tremendous respect for the work that goes into producing them. To see my independently produced show recognized alongside these established programs was an incredible feeling. In some ways, seeing that lineup made this year’s nomination feel even bigger than last year’s victory.
What makes this particularly special is that I’m returning to the category as the defending winner. Winning Best Television Podcast in 2025 was a milestone that I’ll never forget. It was a moment that reminded me how far this show had come and what was possible for an independent creator. Now, to receive another nomination the following year reinforces just how much the work continues to resonate.
As I celebrate my 20th season, The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio continues to evolve in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I began podcasting in 2006. What started as a passion for entertainment and conversations has grown into a platform that has allowed me to interview remarkable talent, cover major television festivals, attend premieres, and develop relationships throughout the entertainment industry.
This year alone has brought some extraordinary opportunities, including coverage of ATX TV Festival, Televerse, and major television premieres. I’ve had conversations with actors, writers, producers, and creators whose work has shaped the television landscape. Every experience has challenged me to continue growing as an interviewer, producer, and storyteller.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that The Buzz remains an independent production. From researching and booking interviews to recording, editing, and publishing each episode, I continue to manage the entire operation myself. It isn’t always easy, especially when opportunities begin arriving one after another, but seeing the finished work recognized on this level makes those long hours worthwhile.
I’ve said before that I want independent creators to know they can compete alongside productions with larger teams, bigger budgets, and more resources. This nomination is another reminder of that possibility. It’s not about diminishing the accomplishments of other podcasts. Quite the opposite! It’s about recognizing the quality of their work while understanding that an independent production can earn its place in that same conversation.
And that is what makes this year’s Astra nomination so meaningful to me.
The 2026 Astra Podcast Awards will take place on November 11 in Los Angeles, and I’m looking forward to celebrating another year of outstanding work in podcasting. Would I love to bring home another Best Television Podcast award? ABSOLUTELY! But regardless of the outcome, being recognized for the second consecutive year alongside shows I genuinely admire is already an achievement worth celebrating.
To the Hollywood Creative Alliance, thank you for recognizing The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio once again. To the publicists, guests, and industry professionals who continue to support the show, thank you for helping make these conversations possible. And to everyone who watches, listens, shares, and supports what I do, thank you for being part of this journey.
