Podcast and creator
The Independent
Awards 2026
Sunday, March 15th
4:30-7:00 PM
Skybox on 6th
Austin, TX
Award Categories & Nominees
The Jury Awards
Ten categories selected by a 4-person jury from an ORBIT-informed longlist.
Best Independent Interview:
NOMINEES:
The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
The Viall Files
Lex Fridman Podcast
The Shawn Ryan Show
Best Independent Storytelling:
Nominees:
Serialously with Annie Elise
CreepCast
True Crime with Kendall Rae
Sistas Who Kill: A True Crime Podcast
Crime Weekly
Best Independent Comedy:
Nominees:
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Bad Friends
The Toast
Small Town Murder
Kill Tony
BEST INDEPENDENT SPECIALTY:
Nominees:
Life Wide Open with CboysTV
Any Austin
FLAIR
Everything Everywhere Daily
BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Nominees:
The Iced Coffee Hour
We Study Billionaires
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC)
This Week in Startups
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha
BEST INDEPENDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS:
Nominees:
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
The Rich Roll Podcast
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
BEST INDEPENDENT SPORTS & RECREATION:
Nominees:
Jomboy
Cleetus McFarland
JxmyHighroller
Pardon My Take
Westen Champlin
BEST INDEPENDENT NEWS & POLITICS:
Nominees:
The Philip DeFranco Show
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen
The Matt Walsh Show
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The Next Level
BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT:
Nominees:
So True with Caleb Hearon
Crime, Conspiracy, Cults and Murder
Fitz & Whit
The Telepathy Tapes
Dr Insanity
INDEPENDENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR:
Nominees:
The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
The Ben Shapiro Show
The MeidasTouch Podcast
ORBIT Influence Awards
Three awards based purely on ORBIT data measuring audience influence.
Highest Impact Award
Highest Volume Award
Breakout Performer Award
The Perfect Score Award
The Advertiser’s Choice Award
Patron Awards
Two awards recognizing brands that champion independent creators.
Indie Pac Patron: Scale
Indie Pac Patron: Commitment