Who's in the British Podcast Awards "longlist"?

I've been following the British Podcast Awards for years now, and I'm always impressed by the depth and diversity of the nominees. This year is no exception, with 409 entrants across 27 categories. Almost half of these are claimed to be independent titles and talent - evidence of the thriving indie podcast scene in the UK.

The longlist is dominated by a few big players, with the BBC leading the pack at 53 nominations. Other notable entrants include Audible with 11 nominations, Audio Always, Platform Media, and Bauer Media, all with 8 nominations each. Persephonica and Fun Kids have 7 nominations, while Rethink Audio, Sky News, Bloomberg, and History Hit all have 5 nominations. It's heartening to see these big players recognizing and supporting the work of independent creators.

One notable indie who has made the longlist is the 19-year-old podcast Answer Me This!. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the podcast's age and relative newness to the scene. It's evidence of the hard work and dedication of the creators, and a reminder that age is just a number when it comes to producing high-quality content.

The British Podcast Awards has also announced that the final round of the Listener's Choice Award will be chosen using the Spotify platform. This is a great move, as it allows listeners to have a real say in the outcome of the award. The top 20 podcasts from the open vote on the British Podcast Awards website will move forward to a vote that requires listeners to use Spotify to make their final vote. Any podcast currently available on Spotify is eligible for nomination, so this is a great opportunity for listeners to discover new podcasts and have their say in the awards.

As I look at the longlist, I'm reminded of the advice given by Tom Scott, a well-known YouTuber and podcaster, in a recent YouTube video. He says, "If you want to get better, just go and make stuff." This is sage advice for anyone looking to break into the podcasting industry, and it's a reminder that the only way to get better is to keep creating and pushing yourself to new heights. So, if you're watching this because you want to make stuff - just go and make stuff. The world needs more podcasters like you!

The British Podcast Awards is celebrating its tenth year, and it's amazing to see how far the industry has come. From its humble beginnings to the thriving ecosystem we see today, podcasting has come a long way. And with the longlist for the British Podcast Awards announced, we can't wait to see which podcasts will make it to the final round.