Iowa Podcast Awards

15/09/2025

The Iowa Podcast Awards will officially return in Spring 2026.

One year ago today, hundreds of podcasters from throughout Iowa came together for the first time to learn from each other, celebrate each other, and lift each other up at the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards.

Since then, tons of new shows have popped up, attendees have stayed in touch and been on each other's shows, and the future of the medium looks brighter than ever. We've also been reviewing your survey responses, talking with professionals in the industry, and planning how to move the IPA's forward in the best way possible.

With all of that in mind and on the anniversary of the Iowa Podcast Awards, we can officially share that the IPA's will return as a SPRING event in 2026.

Keep your eyes on our social media platforms (Facebook/Instagram) as well as our website (which will be live again soon) as we prepare to announce specific dates, locations, award information, and some surprises in the next 6-8 weeks.

We can't wait to celebrate you again.

15/11/2024

Thank you to everyone who filled out our 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards Survey! The randomly selected winner of the Rode PodMic USB was Mindy Pollack from REMelations: A Comedy Dream Interpretation Podcast!

Stay tuned - we have some BIG things cooking to help support Iowa-based podcasters and we plan to share more before the end of the year!

28/10/2024

REMINDER: Please fill out our 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards Survey by the end of the day next Friday, November 8th to be entered into the drawing for a new Rode PodMic USB!

This survey directly helps us create better experiences for podcasters, podcast listeners, and podcast partners/sponsors throughout the state. You do NOT need to have attended the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards in order to fill out the survey.

Thank you for engaging with the first-ever Iowa Podcast Awards. Please fill out the survey to the best of your ability to help us make future events and programs better for everyone!

18/10/2024

Help us make the 2025 Iowa Podcast Awards and future programs better by filling out our survey!

You do NOT need to have attended the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards in order to fill out the survey - knowing they exist is enough - and everyone who fills out the survey with their name and email is entered into a random drawing giveaway for a Rode PodMic USB!

Find the survey and other updates here:

Fill out our post-event survey to be entered to win a Rode PodMic USB, order your 2024 IPA shirt, hat, or even extra trophies, and more!

08/10/2024

Huge thanks to our friends at The Gazette for highlighting the Iowa Podcast Awards and helping us elevate and celebrate some Iowa-based podcasts!

Iowa podcasters highlighted at first-ever Iowa Podcast Awards

23/09/2024

Iconic Moments at the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards

📸 by Forrest M. Moore

21/09/2024

Our thanks to our friends at the Corridor Business Journal for sharing the news of the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards and our winners!

Additionally, congratulations to them for winning Best Business Podcast for their show Real Success with Nate Kaeding!

On Sunday, Sept. 15. around 200 attendees from throughout the state traveled to Cedar Rapids to participate in the first-ever Iowa Podcast Awards, held at

18/09/2024

You can now read our official press release and find our list of winners over on the Iowa Podcast Awards website:

The Iowa Podcast Awards, hosted by Upload Media Group, announces the official list of 2024 Iowa Podcast Award winners.

17/09/2024

On Sunday, September 15th, 2024, nearly 200 people gathered at The Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids to celebrate nearly 100 nominated podcasts created right here in Iowa. Creators, business owners, community leaders, and more met and connected over a shared love of storytelling. During the two-hour show that was filled with laughter, tears, and people shouting "Adam" for some reason, we gave out 28 awards to podcasts that represent some of the greatest projects in our state created over the last year.

Below are your official 2024 Iowa Podcast Award winners.

We congratulate all of them as well as all of the podcasters who submitted their shows for consideration. You all truly are the Voices of Iowa, and we urge you all to seek out these shows and support them with a like, follow, and a listen.

In the coming weeks, we'll share more insights and highlights from the event, including official photos, videos, and a look ahead at what's next for Upload Media Group and the Iowa Podcast Awards.

Our thanks to all of the judges, presenters, live podcasters, workshop leaders, and staff/volunteers who helped make this event possible. We'll celebrate you more soon.

Additional thanks to Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Corridor Business Journal, Vault Coworking & Collaboration Space, CSPS Hall, The Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids, Armstrong Development Company, Studio 81, NewBo City Market and everyone else who sponsored, donated space, or helped produce the event.

The 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards were produced by Upload Media Group.

12/09/2024

✨ Location Overview for Sunday including NEW LOCATIONS!

At 8am, we'll start the morning off at NewBo City Market for early check-in, mingling, coffee from Roasters NewBo, and a live show from Confused Breakfast from 8:30-9:30am.

*Note: This is a slight change in times to allow people to travel downtown to our new location for Workshops and Live Podcasts.

At 10am, we'll begin Live Podcasts and Workshops at Armstrong Development Company's Armstrong Hub, which also happens to be the home of Upload Media Group's podcast studio!

You'll be checked in at the main entrance on 3rd Ave (between Hills Bank and Coffee Republic). You will need to have purchased a ticket or be previously approved to get in. From there, you'll head up to the fourth floor to explore the podcast studio, lecture room, and Studio 81.

Workshops will take place in the lecture room. Live podcasts will take place in the gorgeous Studio 81, a full-service production studio and partner of Upload Media Group. Our thanks to both Armstrong Development Company and Studio 81 for allowing us to celebrate podcasting in your spaces.

Once the last live podcast ends at 5pm, we'll all disperse to change and grab dinner before heading over to The Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids at 7pm for our cocktail hour before the award show starts at 8pm.

Keep up to date on all of the latest information at www.iowapodcastawards.com

12/09/2024

Maurice A Davis has entered the chat!

In addition to the 30-Second Challenge, we have three fantastic workshops to help you level up your podcasting:

At 10am, join Mike Schulte of the Confused Breakfast podcast and The Pork Tornadoes for a look at how he has leveraged social media to garner millions of podcast downloads and engage hundreds of thousands of followers regularly.

At 2pm (following the 30-Second Challenge at 1pm), Jason Shadrick from Premier Guitar will give a walkthrough of how he produces podcasts remotely for rock stars and how you can elevate your remote podcasts.

At 3pm, marketing professor and published author Maurice Davis will walk you through how AI and better systems can help you quickly and efficiently generate an endless stream of shareable content so you can focus on what matters most to you: Making your podcast!

See the full schedule for the day at www.IowaPodcastAwards.com/schedule

11/09/2024

🎤 Sign up by Friday for the 30-Second Challenge! 🎧

This fast, fun, and positive experience is based off of the hit 30-Second Challenge from other podcast conferences. Submit your show for consideration and a panel of experienced podcasters and producers will provide real-time reactions and feedback to the first 30-seconds of your show, which is roughly how much time you have to convince a new listener to stick around for your full episode.

We'll learn from each other, grow together, and have a good time!

Submit your show for the 30-Second Challenge at www.iowapodcastawards.com/30challenge