In the United States, the Golden Globes announced their inaugural nominations for the Best Podcast category, which took place on December 11, 2025. Notably absent from the nominations was 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' despite being recognized as the most popular podcast across streaming platforms. The nominated shows included 'Call Her Daddy,' 'The Mel Robbins Podcast,' 'SmartLess,' 'Up First,' 'Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard,' and 'Good Hang With Amy Poehler.' It is reported that the nominations intentionally ignored politically charged and controversial content, pointing to a broader strategy by the award show to capture a non-controversial audience. Critics voiced disappointment over the absence of popular shows, including Joe Rogan's and left-leaning podcasts that were not finalized in the nominations, leading to discussions about the criteria used for the Best Podcast award. Some suggested that this outcome reflects the awards show’s desire to present itself as mainstream and non-political, especially in light of its historical scandals. Additionally, there were controversies surrounding the selection process, as it was revealed that Luminate Data, part of Penske Media Corp, assisted in curating the shortlist. Critics have pointed to this as problematic, indicating a potential corporate influence over what podcasts were eligible for consideration. While some political shows made it to the shortlist, none were among the final nominees, mirroring the omissions of true crime podcasts like 'Morbid' and 'Rotten Mango.' Despite not being recognized by the Golden Globes or Time magazine's 100 Best Podcasts of All Time list, Joe Rogan 's show maintained its dominance on Spotify as the number one podcast for the fifth consecutive year, demonstrating its significant user engagement and loyal audience base. This exclusion raises questions about how awards are determined and the criteria that constitute 'important' content in the eyes of award committees.