Peabody Awards 2025: ‘Fantasmas’, ‘Shōgun’, ‘Sugarcane,’ and More Receive Nominations

The Board of Jurors for the Peabody Awards 2025 have announced the full list of nominees for categories spanning Arts, Children’s/Youth, Entertainment, and Interactive & Immersive, as well as Documentary, News, Public Service, and Radio/Podcast. The projects that received nominations were selected to represent the most captivating and impactful stories released in broadcasting and streaming media during 2024, and were chosen by a unanimous vote of 27 jurors from over 1,000 entries across the aforementioned eight categories.

In addition to Emmy-winning series like “Shōgun” and “Hacks,” the Entertainment nominees include newer shows currently vying for TV awards like HBO comedy “Fantasmas” and FX limited series “Say Nothing.” In the Documentary category, Oscar nominees “Sugarcane” and “Black Box Diaries” made the cut, as did several films that were on the Best Documentary Feature shortlist, including “Will & Harper” and “Daughters.”

The winners of the 85th Annual Peabody Awards will be announced on May 1, with a ceremony hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr. to follow on Sunday, June 1 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Additionally longtime NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell will be honored with the Career Achievement Award at the event, and landmark comedy sketch series “Saturday Night Live” will receive the Institutional Award. The awards ceremony will be produced by Bob Bain Productions.

“Whether a sweeping, cinematic drama, a sharp-witted comedy, a moving children’s program, or an interactive experience, Peabody is dedicated to rewarding resonant stories,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, via statement. “All of our nominees demonstrate thought-provoking storytelling that entertains, enlightens, and leaves an impact on audiences that serves to expand our collective understanding of humanity.”

The 68 nominees for the 85th annual Peabody Awards are said to explore a range of themes reflecting the core of human experience and global issues including systemic failures in the justice system, generational trauma, climate change, and the resilience of the human spirit. Peabody is based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

See the full list of nominees for the Peabody Awards 2025 below.

Arts

“Photographer” (National Geographic)
“Photographer” is a six-part documentary series that dives into the lives and missions of
some of the world’s most impactful photographers, showcasing their artistry, personal
struggles, and the cultural power of imagery. Through intimate storytelling and diverse
perspectives—from wildlife conservation to conflict zones—the series explores what
drives image-makers in a world oversaturated with photos, yet still hungry for meaning.

National Geographic, Little Monster Films

Children’s/Youth

“Out of My Mind” (Disney+)
This coming-of-age film, based on a 2010 novel by Sharon M. Draper, stars Phoebe-Ray
Taylor as a sixth-grader with cerebral palsy facing the challenges of being in a mainstream
class for the first time. Her thoughts are voiced by Jennifer Aniston, the non-verbal
character’s favorite actress from Friends, and her family is played by Rosemarie DeWitt,
Luke Kirby, and Judith Light.

Big Beach, Participant, EveryWhere Studios LLC, and Disney Branded Television

“Spirit Rangers” (Netflix)
“Spirit Rangers” is an animated series on Netflix that follows three Chumash and Cowlitz
siblings who transform into animal heroes to protect their California national park,
blending Native stories, environmental themes, and adventure. As the first U.S. kids’ show
created and showrun by a Native American, with an all-Native writers’ room and deep
tribal collaboration, it offers authentic, joyful, and empowering representation for
Indigenous communities.

Laughing Wild / Netflix

Entertainment

“Alex Edelman: Just For Us” (HBO | Max)
Comedian Alex Edelman presents his deeply personal solo show about identity,
assimilation, and empathy, centered around his real-life experience attending a meeting of
White Nationalists as a Jewish man. Over seven years, the show evolved through
conversation, revision, and audience engagement, ultimately becoming a celebrated HBO
special that resonated profoundly in a time of rising antisemitism and ideological division.

HBO in association with Enfield Tennis Academy, Above Average, and Seaview Productions

“Baby Reindeer” (Netflix)
“Baby Reindeer” follows Donny, a troubled comedian entangled in a toxic relationship with a
stalker, as he gradually unravels how his past has shaped his self-destructive behavior and
relationships. At its core, the series explores how unaddressed trauma perpetuates cycles
of harm, ultimately becoming a powerful and resonant meditation on healing, empathy, and
the enduring impact of abuse.

A Netflix Series / A Clerkenwell Films Production

“Clipped” (FX/Hulu)
This sports docudrama, created by Gina Welch, based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast “The
Sterling Affairs,” tells the story of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s downfall
after his recorded racist remarks were publicized.

FX Productions

“Fantasmas” (HBO | Max)
Created by and starring Julio Torres, “Fantasmas” is a surreal, genre-defying HBO comedy
series that blends narrative and sketch to explore themes of alienation, queerness, and
identity through a whimsical quest for a lost oyster earring in a dreamlike version of New
York City. With its bold visual style, diverse cast, and deeply personal storytelling, the show
stands as a singular testament to the value of unconventional, imaginative voices.

HBO in association with Irony Point, Fruit Tree, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Space Prince Inc.

“Hacks” (HBO | Max)
Season 3 of “Hacks” explores the renewed dynamic between comedy legend Deborah Vance
and young writer Ava Daniels as they reunite after a year apart, reigniting their creative
spark just in time for Deborah’s shot at hosting “Late Night.” As Deborah fights to claim a
long-denied dream and Ava learns to advocate for herself, the season becomes a powerful
reflection on ambition, legacy, and the courage it takes—especially for women—to boldly
ask for what they want.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Paulilu, First
Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment

“Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (PBS/MASTERPIECE)
This four-part drama is based on the true story of U.K. sub-postmasters who were falsely
accused of theft due to a faulty computer system, revealing one of the worst miscarriages of
justice in British history. The series sparked nationwide outrage, led to real-world legal
reform, and highlighted the extraordinary courage of ordinary people fighting back against
institutional abuse.

A Co-Production of ITV Studios, Little Gem, and MASTERPIECE for ITV

“One Hundred Years of Solitude” (Netflix)
“One Hundred Years of Solitude” follows José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán as they flee
their village and found the mythical town of Macondo, where generations of their family
grapple with love, madness, war, and a haunting curse in this stunning adaptation of
Gabriel García Márquez’s 1967 masterpiece.

Netflix / Dynamo

“Ramy Youssef: More Feelings” (HBO | Max)
In “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings,” the comedian reflects on the complexities of being a Muslim
public figure in America, confronting issues of representation, Islamophobia, and the
emotional toll of being expected to respond to global crises.

HBO presents a Cairo Cowboy and A24 production

“Ripley” (Netflix)
“Ripley” follows a cunning grifter in 1960s New York who is hired to retrieve a wealthy man’s
son from Italy, setting off a dark journey into deception, fraud, and murder. Based on
Patricia Highsmith’s acclaimed novels, the limited series explores the chilling
transformation of Tom Ripley as he manipulates his way through a life built on lies.

Showtime and Endemol Shine North America in association with Entertainment 360 and
Filmrights for Netflix

“Say Nothing” (FX/Hulu)
This FX limited series, adapted from Patrick Radden Keefe’s nonfiction book, traces the
unsolved murder of Jean McConville and the brutal complexities of The Troubles in
Northern Ireland. Through deeply human storytelling, the series transcends its historical
setting to explore universal themes of violence, trauma, idealism, and the moral
ambiguities of political conflict.

FX Productions

“Shōgun” (FX/Hulu)
Creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks reimagine James Clavell’s classic tale through a
modern lens, exploring what it means for two cultures to collide and transform one another
with empathy and authenticity. By involving Japanese collaborators in every facet of
production, they move beyond the “stranger in a strange land” trope to create a more
inclusive, respectful, and culturally rich storytelling process that could serve as a new
standard for global filmmaking.

FX Productions

“We Are Lady Parts” (Peacock)
“We Are Lady Parts” is a bold, joyful comedy about an all-female Muslim punk band
navigating identity, ambition, and sisterhood, blending sharp humor with themes of
inclusivity and representation. In its second season, the series elevates its complexity,
challenging cultural stereotypes with heart, humor, and killer music as the band
experiences the pressures of success and navigates how to remain true to themselves while
monetizing their art.

Working Title Television, a part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal
Studio Group

Interactive & Immersive

“1000xRESIST”
This genre-blending narrative adventure game uses time, memory, and shifting gameplay
styles to explore themes of identity, resistance, and intergenerational trauma, rooted in the
emotional aftermath of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Created by a majority Asian-
Canadian team, the game sets players in a haunting future shaped by a global pandemic and
alien occupation, challenging them to reckon with historical memory.

sunset visitor 斜陽過客 and Fellow Traveller

“Body of Mine”
“Body of Mine” is an immersive VR experience that places users in the body of another
gender, using interactivity to explore the lived experiences of transgender individuals
through intimate, tactile storytelling. Born from a deeply personal journey, the project has
grown into a widely impactful tool for empathy, healing, and education, now used in
LGBTQ+ centers across North America to foster understanding and connection amid rising
transphobia.

Kost

“Failures to Act”
This investigation of the largest government scandal in New Hampshire’s history delves
into an abuse case in which nearly 1,300 individuals have sued the state for neglecting to
protect them from mistreatment in youth facilities. Through an interactive timeline and
detailed personal accounts, this interactive project exposes the widespread nature of the
abuse, showing patterns over decades and highlighting the state’s failure to take
responsibility despite numerous allegations against over 300 staff members.

New Hampshire Public Radio & The Pudding

“Inside the Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour”
The New York Times meticulously reconstructs the deadly wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii,
using 400 resident and tourist videos placed meticulously on a photorealistic 3-D map,
offering a vivid account of the tragedy. Through interviews, expert analysis, and in-depth
reporting, the piece uncovers the failures that contributed to the disaster, providing a
comprehensive and gripping narrative of the events.

The New York Times

“One Day in Gaza | Close Up”
In “One Day in Gaza,” Al Jazeera English captures daily life in Gaza through the firsthand lens
of Palestinians using their phone cameras, highlighting both the devastation of war and the
resilience of those living through it. The piece exemplifies the power of citizen journalism
to provide raw, intimate storytelling where traditional media access is restricted, offering a
vital and humanizing perspective on a deeply complex conflict.

Al Jazeera Digital

“Tchia”
In “Tchia,” players embark on a tropical open-world adventure to rescue the protagonist’s
father from the tyrannical ruler Meavora, exploring a physics-driven sandbox across
beautiful islands. Inspired by New Caledonia, the game features creative gameplay and
immerses players in the culture and language of the island nation.

Awaceb

“Venba”
This narrative cooking game allows players to take on the role of an Indian mother
navigating her immigrant experience in Canada while reconnecting with her cultural roots
through food. The game explores family dynamics, particularly the strained relationship
between Venba and her son, Kavin, highlighting themes of love, loss, and the challenges of
being a first-generation immigrant.

Visai Games

“What Does Racial Bias in Medicine Look Like?”
Dr. Joel Bervell’s series of informative Instagram and TikTok videos expose racial
discrimination in healthcare, highlighting biased medical algorithms and practices.
Through well-researched insights, Bervell educates both medical professionals and
patients, empowering them with critical knowledge to combat harmful biases in medical
care.

Dr. Joel Bervell

Documentary

“American Coup: Wilmington 1898” (PBS)
A deadly race massacre and insurrection occurred in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 –
the only coup d’etat in U.S. history, though it is now little-known. This documentary shows
how white supremacists, fearing “Negro Rule,” overthrew Wilmington’s democratically
elected, multi-racial government.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and PBS North Carolina

“Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story” (CRAVE)
This film brings to life the powerful voice and legacy of Jackie Shane, a Black trans soul
singer who vanished at the height of fame and now tells her story in her own works.
Blending rare audio recordings, animated visuals, and family revelations, the film honors
Shane’s trailblazing journey, celebrating her impact as an icon who lived authentically long
before the world was ready.

Bangers Films and the National Film Board of Canada

“Black Box Diaries” (MTV Documentary Films / Showtime)
“Black Box Diaries” is journalist Shiori Ito’s deeply personal documentary chronicling her
journey of coming forward as a survivor of rape in Japan, where sexual violence is highly
stigmatized and rarely reported. Through self-recorded video diaries, secret conversations,
and raw emotional honesty, Ito exposes the systemic silencing of victims and the personal
cost of speaking out, ultimately transforming her pain into a powerful call for societal
change.

Hanashi Films, Cineric Creative, and Star Sands

“Bread & Roses” (Apple TV+)
Sahra Mani’s documentary follows the experiences of Afghan women since the Taliban took
control of Kabul, including an ex-government employee forced to stay indoors, a woman
organizing resistance via her dentistry practice, and a refugee who flees to Pakistan.

Apple Original Films presents an Eyan Foundation presentation in association with
Extracurricular

“Daughters” (Netflix)
“Daughters” follows the lives of four young girls navigating the emotional challenges of
having incarcerated fathers as they prepare for a special father-daughter dance at a D.C.
jail. Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights the generational impact of
mass incarceration, the resilience of families, and the urgent need for systemic change.

A Netflix Documentary / An Object & Animal and Epoch Films Production / A Park Pictures
and XTR Production in association with OPC, World of HA, Simpson Street, and Two One
Five

“Hollywoodgate” (Jolt)
As the Taliban transformed from militia to military regime in the wake of the U.S.
withdrawal from Afghanistan, they reclaimed and repurposed abandoned American
weaponry at a former CIA base. With unprecedented access, director Ibrahim Nash’at
captures a chilling year inside the regime, revealing the Taliban’s growing military
ambitions and the global rise of authoritarian propaganda.

Rolling Narratives in association with Jouzour Film Production, Cottage M and RaeFilm
Studios

“The Last of the Sea Women” (Apple TV+)
Director Sue Kim follows a declining community of women in South Korea—most of them
now in their 60s or older—who dive to the ocean floor without oxygen tanks to harvest
seafood to feed their community.

Apple Original Films Presents an A24 Production / an Extracurricular Production

“Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” (Netflix)
Directed by Lucy Walker, this film follows Nepali Lhakpa Sherpa as she becomes the first
woman to climb Mount Everest ten times while raising two daughters and surviving an
abusive marriage.

A Netflix Documentary / An SK Global Entertainment Production / An OBB Pictures
Production / An Avocados and Coconuts Production in association with MakeMake
Entertainment

“Night is Not Eternal” (HBO | Max)
Filmmaker Nanfu Wang documents Cuban activist Rosa María Payá’s fight for democracy
after her father’s state-sponsored killing echoes struggles in both Cuba and China. Through
intimate footage and personal experiences of surveillance, exile, and political awakening,
the film becomes a powerful exploration of global resistance, the fragility of democracy,
and the shared human pursuit of freedom.

HBO Documentary Films presents A Little Horse Crossing the River and Hard Working
Movies Production in association with NiKa Media and Secret Sauce Media

“One With the Whale” (Independent Lens, PBS)
A Native teen on a tiny Bering Sea island becomes the youngest person in his village to
harpoon a whale, providing vital sustenance that will feed the community for months, but
comes into conflict with internet conservation activists when a photo of his
accomplishment is posted online.

Vitamin Sea Productions

“Queendom”
Jenna, a 21-year-old queer artist from a remote Russian town, uses haunting, otherworldly
performances in the streets of Moscow to protest LGBTQ+ oppression and challenge
societal norms around beauty and identity. Documenting Jenna’s bold art and activism, this
film offers a powerful, intimate look at resilience under repression.

A Galdanova Film Production in association with Sundance Institute Documentary Film
Program, International Documentary Association, InMaat Productions, Doc Society and
Sopka Films

“The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” (Netflix)
This Norwegian production, directed by Benjamin Ree, tells the story of Mats Steen, a
young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who cannot participate in most everyday
activities, but finds refuge in the online roleplaying game “World of Warcraft.” After his death
at 25, his family discovers the rich life he had online as the character Ibelin Redmoore, a
valued member of a World of Warcraft community.

Medieoperatørene and VGTV for Netflix

“The Space Race” (National Geographic Channel)
“The Space Race” tells the powerful, long-overdue story of Black NASA astronauts who
overcame systemic racism to claim their place in the U.S. space program. The films centers
on Ed Dwight, the nation’s first Black astronaut trainee who was denied flight but paved
the way for future generations. Decades later, Dwight finally reached space at age 90,
turning his personal victory into a historic moment of justice.

National Geographic Documentary Films, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Algeria Films &
Cortés Filmworks

“STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.” (HBO | Max)
This four-part documentary series traces the rise and fall of Stax Records, the
groundbreaking Memphis-based, interracial, soul label that launched the careers of icons
such as Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes. Through rare archival footage, intimate interviews,
and an immersive sonic experience, the series offers an unflinching, deeply human portrait
of artistic innovation, community resilience, and the enduring struggle for Black
empowerment in America.

HBO Documentary Films presents in association with Concord Originals, Polygram
Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment; A Laylow Pictures production; A White Horse
Pictures production

“Sugarcane” (National Geographic Channel)
“Sugarcane” investigates the horrors of Canada’s Indian residential school system, revealing
new evidence of infanticide, coerced adoptions, and generational trauma tied to the
Catholic Church and government. Through intimate storytelling and sweeping visuals, it
uncovers buried truths while honoring the resilience of Indigenous communities, sparking
national reckoning and historic political action in both Canada and the United States.

National Geographic Documentary Films, Impact Partners, Fit Via Vi, Kassie Films,
Hedgehog Films

“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” (HBO | Max)
After a devastating accident left him paralyzed, Christopher Reeve became a powerful
symbol of resilience, using his platform to inspire hope and advocate for disability rights.
Throughout it all, he remained a passionate actor, filmmaker, and devoted family man, with
his wife Dana as his unwavering support.

DC Studios / HBO Documentary Films / CNN Films

“The Truth vs. Alex Jones” (HBO | Max)
Director Dan Reed and his team follow Sandy Hook families’ years-long legal battle against
Alex Jones and InfoWars. Through unprecedented courtroom access and profound
interviews, the film explores both the power and limitations of the legal process in
combating monetized disinformation, while asking why conspiratorial thinking has taken
such a deep hold in American society.

HBO Documentary Films presents an Amos Pictures Production

“Will & Harper” (Netflix)
Actor Will Ferrell and his longtime collaborator and friend Harper Steele take a road trip
across America together, getting reacquainted after Harper’s midlife gender transition.
They experience mixed reactions at different stops along the way as Will asks occasionally
awkward questions and realizes the limits of his fame to combat prejudice, painting a
realistically complex portrait of allyship.

A Netflix Documentary / A Wayfarer Studios Film / A Delirio Films Production / A Gloria
Sanchez Production

“You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack” (Netflix)
This Netflix film explores the case of a gang rape that occurred during the 2016 San Fermin
“running of the bulls” festival, leading to Spain’s first #MeToo reckoning and resonating
across the ocean to Latin America.

Netflix Presents Una Producción de Lucernam Films

News

“ABC News Investigates – Zombie Wells: The Threat Beneath” (ABC)
ABC News uncovers the significant and surprising threats that abandoned oil and gas wells
across the country pose to their surrounding communities.

ABC News and ABC Reporting Partners KABC – Los Angeles, KAKE – Wichita, KMGH –
Denver, KTRK – Houston, WRTV – Indianapolis

“China, the U.S. & the Rise of Xi Jinping” (PBS)
This two-hour FRONTLINE documentary explores China’s transformation into a global
superpower under President Xi Jinping amid the country’s escalating tensions with the
United States. Through rare interviews and deep reporting, the film traces Xi’s rise, his
authoritarian rule, and the far-reaching implications of his policies on human rights,
Taiwan, global trade, and U.S.-China relations.

FRONTLINE (PBS)

“Confronting Hate” (WTVF – TV)
Amid a significant increase in hate-group activity in and around Nashville, dogged WTVF
reporter Phil Williams exposes their violence, anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant
demonstrations, racist stunts, online agitating, and plans to seize political power.

WTVF-TV

“Death Trap: No Safe Place in Gaza” (NBC News)
This NBC News special series by Hala Gorani investigates the Israeli military’s strikes on
designated safe zones, hospitals, and journalists in Gaza, uncovering patterns of attacks
that contradict official denials. Drawing on satellite imagery, exclusive footage, and
interviews, the reports reveal the collapse of healthcare, targeted killings of media workers,
and the human toll on civilians who were promised safety.

NBC News

“Driven to Death” (KXAS-TV/ NBC 5)
This 14-month-long investigation from NBC5 in Dallas dives into statistics that show the
city has the highest traffic death rate among the ten largest cities in America, finding that
high speeds, poor roadway design, and outdated features are to blame.

KXAS-TV/NBC 5

“Policing Phoenix” (ABC15 Arizona (KNXV-TV))
ABC15 Arizona’s “Policing Phoenix” is a groundbreaking video series that renders the DOJ’s
most sweeping investigation of a local police department into a powerful, visual account,
rooted in years of investigative journalism. The 32-part series exposes the systemic failures
of the Phoenix Police Department and brings anonymized DOJ findings to life through real
cases, footage, and people.

ABC15 Arizona (KNXV-TV)

“South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning” (PBS)
FRONTLINE and the Associated Press examine allegations of abuse and fraud amid South
Korea’s foreign adoption boom and find that many children had been stolen from their
birth parents and handed over to unwitting Americans desperate to adopt.

FRONTLINE (PBS), The Associated Press

“Surviving Nova” (VICE TV)
VICE News follows survivors and the families of those taken hostage or killed during the October
7, 2023, Hamas attacks on the Nova music festival that came as part of the deadliest day in
Israel’s history. The coverage highlights their experiences as they cope with the trauma of the
attack while grappling with Israel’s response.

VICE News

“The Night Won’t End” (Fault Lines / Al Jazeera English / Television)
This film from Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines investigates the Israeli military’s killing of civilians in
Gaza and America’s role in these actions. While the United States continued to supply
bombs, artillery shells, and tanks to Israel, Fault Lines followed three families’ efforts to
survive.

Al Jazeera English

“War in the Holy Land” (PBS News Hour)
As the war between Israel and Hamas continued throughout 2024, PBS NewsHour
provided extensive reporting, highlighting the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the
displacement of citizens in northern Israel and Southern Lebanon.

PBS News Hour

Public Service

“Breakdown in Maine” (PBS)
FRONTLINE partners with the Portland Press Herald and Maine Public to examine the
deadliest mass shooting in Maine history and pinpoint the missed opportunities to prevent
it, including police, military, and mental health care system breakdowns, as well as law
loopholes unique to the state.

FRONTLINE (PBS), Portland Press Herald, Maine Public Radio

“Inside Story” (The Marshall Project and Scripps)
The “Inside Story” video series makes informative programming for incarcerated people,
tackling issues such as false convictions, understaffing in prisons, and restoring voting
rights upon release. Created by The Marshall Project’s Lawrence Bartley and Donald
Washington, Jr., both of whom are formerly incarcerated, it has been seen in 1,431 jails and
prisons across the country.

The Marshall Project

“Long Shadow: In Guns We Trust”
This podcast examines how the U.S. became deeply divided over guns and how violence has
escalated into an epidemic. The series traces the history of this great American debate from
the writing of the Second Amendment to Columbine and beyond.

Long Lead, The Trace, Campside Media, and PRX

“The Only Doctor” (Reel South / PBS)
Dr. Karen Kinsell, the sole doctor in rural Clay County, Georgia, has spent more than two
decades providing care without pay, but now faces the tough choice between retirement
and saving her struggling clinic. As a possible lifeline emerges from a university medical
group, Kinsell insists on maintaining affordability and access in this documentary
highlighting the high-stakes battle for rural healthcare amid political and pandemic-related
turmoil.

Reel South, BellaFran Productions, PBS North Carolina, South Carolina ETV, Louisiana
Public Broadcasting

Radio/Podcast

“Blindspot: The Plague in the Shadows”
WNYC Studios and The History Channel bring listeners stories from the early days of the
AIDS epidemic, highlighting the people on the frontlines of activism and showing the long-
term effects of the disease decades later.

WNYC and The History Channel

“The Good Whale”
Serial Productions and The New York Times tell the story of efforts to free the orca who
played the title role in the film Free Willy from an amusement park in Mexico City. The epic
experiment takes a number of unexpected turns, calling into question the practice of
keeping animals in captivity—even, and maybe especially, celebrity animals.

Serial Productions and The New York Times

“In the Dark: The Killings in Haditha”
The New Yorker’s investigative podcast considers the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians by U.S.
Marines, questioning whether they were war crimes, murder, or legitimate combat actions.
Reporter Madeleine Baran and her team took four years, traveling to 21 states and three
continents, to get the story.

The New Yorker

“Lost Patients”
NPR’s “Lost Patients” reframes the conversation around mental illness in the United States by
centering the voices of those experiencing psychosis and exposing systemic failures in
mental health care.

KUOW Public Radio, The Seattle Times, NPR

“Pablo Torre Finds Out: Watching the Dallas Cowboys on Death Row”
Correspondent David Fleming explores an unusual phenomenon in a Texas supermax
prison: death row inmates using their final words to cheer for their favorite sports teams.
Through the story of Charles Flores, the piece reveals how sports fandom offers inmates a
way to express identity, connection, and humanity, even in their final moments.

Meadowlark Media

“Pulse: The Untold Story”
In this Audible production, host Trevor Aaronson challenges the established narrative
surrounding the Pulse nightclub shooting, revealing that it was not a premeditated anti-
LGBTQIA+ hate crime, but rather an opportunistic act by shooter Omar Mateen—a
shocking revelation that has received little coverage.

Trevor Aaronson, Western Sound, and Audible

“Ripple”
In its first season, this investigative podcast revisits the aftermath of the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill, revealing ongoing ecological and health crises faced by Gulf Coast
communities long after media attention faded.

Western Sound and APM Studios

“Salmon Wars”
Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica team up to look into the disappearing salmon
population in the Northwest, telling the story through the voices of one Yakama Nation
family fighting to save the fish.

Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica

“Supermajority”
NPR’s “Embedded” presents this special four-part series following three mothers as they try
to take on Tennessee’s Republican-controlled state legislature, hoping for changes to gun
laws after their children’s school suffered a mass shooting in 2023. The lifelong
conservatives assumed they would be heard by their own party, but face challenging truths
along the way.

Nashville Public Radio and NPR’s Embedded

“Tested”
Hosted by Rose Eveleth, “Tested” delves into the ongoing debate surrounding who qualifies
to compete in women’s sports, focusing on athletes Christine Mboma and Maximila Imali,
who face challenges due to new regulations regarding testosterone levels. The series
highlights broader issues of fairness, identity, and the societal implications of enforcing
strict gender binaries, while also facilitating important conversations around sex and
gender in sports.

Bucket of Eels, CBC, NPR’s Embedded

“This is the Case of Henry Dee”
“This American Life” spotlights the parole case of Henry Dee, who is seeking release after 50
years in prison. Listeners are taken along the difficult process, which ultimately calls into
question the function of parole, and the meaning of crime and punishment.

This American Life

“Yousef, Youmna, Banias, and Majd: Four Lives in Gaza”
“This American Life” reports on the personal stories of individuals affected by the conflict in
Gaza, showcasing their experiences and decisions through intimate phone conversations.
Chana Joffe-Walt’s series of episodes provides a unique perspective on the war,
emphasizing the humanity and agency of those living through it – from families navigating
relocation to children coping with trauma, ultimately illustrating the resilience of life amid
despair.

This American Life