When the Golden Globes roll out the red carpet this Sunday (airing in Australia the next day on Monday 12 January), the world will once again fixate on designer gowns, diamond-drenched glamour and celebrity soundbites by the A-list guests. But, amid the Armani and Alexander McQueen, something quietly revolutionary will be happening behind the scenes. For the first time in its 83-year history, the Golden Globes will present a Best Podcast award, placing podcasting shoulder-to-shoulder with film and television on one of the most influential cultural stages in the world.
It’s a moment that feels both inevitable and surprising. Podcasting, once the domain of niche audio obsessives and indie creators recording in spare bedrooms, has officially entered the awards-season elite. And yes, the nominees lean heavily Hollywood. Amy Poehler’s Good Hang, Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert, and the ever-charming trio behind SmartLess – Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett – are all in the mix. The celebrity factor has sparked debate, with critics questioning whether this moment truly reflects podcasting’s roots, or simply its most famous faces.
But glamour aside, the significance of this move runs far deeper than star power. It signals a fundamental shift in how culture, media and influence now operate, and Australia is uniquely positioned at the centre of it.
Why Australia Is the Market to Watch
While Hollywood may be hosting the party, Australia is where the podcast momentum is quietly becoming unstoppable. Nearly 70% of Australians aged 24-35 are now regular podcast listeners, with many turning to podcasts as their primary source of entertainment, information and cultural commentary. For Gen Z and Millennials, the podcast host has replaced the TV anchor, the columnist, and in many cases, the influencer.
What makes this shift particularly powerful is trust. Around 75% of listeners say they value podcasters’ opinions more than social media influencers (15%) and even film and TV celebrities (10%). In an era of algorithm fatigue and sponsored-content scepticism, podcasts offer something rare: intimacy without interruption. One voice. One story. One relationship built over time.
For brands, creators and media companies, this trust gap is reshaping everything from advertising to audience strategy. Podcasting is no longer an “emerging” format – it’s a high-trust, high-loyalty medium with serious commercial relevance.
From Audience to Community
What the Golden Globes’ new category really acknowledges is not just podcast popularity, but podcast connection. Success is no longer measured purely by downloads or reach, but by loyalty, emotional resonance and community. Podcasts don’t just attract listeners; they build fandoms.
This is where the medium begins to look radically different from traditional broadcast media. Podcasts live in your ears on morning walks, long commutes and late-night spirals. They become companions. And increasingly, they’re moving offline.
Live shows sell out in minutes. Meet-ups feel more like reunions than events. And listeners are actively seeking ways to connect, not just with hosts, but with each other. As mass media fragments, community-driven platforms are becoming the new cultural powerhouses.
The Tech Powering Podcast Fandom
Behind this evolution is a growing ecosystem of technology designed to support deeper listener relationships. Platforms like Dome, a podcast community and insights platform co-founded by Aussie entrepreneurs Soph Greiner and Bella Filacuridi, are helping creators move beyond vanity metrics to understand who their audiences really are, and why they care.
The idea is simple but powerful: transform passive listeners into active communities, both online and in real life. Instead of shouting into the algorithm void, podcasters can build dedicated listener spaces, gain meaningful engagement insights, and unlock new sponsorship opportunities grounded in genuine connection, not clicks.
And that community-first philosophy is about to step fully into the spotlight.
A Glimpse of What’s Next
This March, Dome will launch DomeFest, Australia’s first-ever podcast fan festival, a one-day celebration of podcast culture, fandom and live connection at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Think Coachella energy, but for your favourite podcasts. Live recordings, panels, music and thousands of listeners who already feel like they know each other.
It’s a small but telling signal of where the medium is heading. As podcasting gains mainstream recognition – hello, Golden Globes – its future isn’t just bigger audiences, but deeper belonging.
When the gowns are archived and the speeches forgotten, one thing will remain. Amid the Valentino and vintage Versace, podcasting has stepped into the spotlight, not as a trend, but as a cultural force redefining how we listen, connect and belong.