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Awards are, for many of us, a strong indicator of the best culture we should be consuming – but does this include podcasts? This week, the British Podcast Awards 2023 (the Baftas of pods) announced their nominations shortlist. The News Agents received the most nominations (three), while the Guardian’s Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph and Today in Focus got nods, as did some of our favourites from last year including 28ish Days Later, Where There’s a Will There’s a Wake, Can I Tell You a Secret, Pig Iron and Ukrainecast.

However, there has been some discussion about how inclusive these awards are. “For us to enter even 50% of our shows, with the ticket entry and entertaining that comes along with it, it costs [nearly] £2000,” tweeted Luke Moore, the COO of podcast producers Stak. “Why should Stak repeatedly go up against companies like the BBC and Audible, companies whose resources are astronomical in comparison?” Talia Augustidis, of Broccoli Content, added that she’s excited to be nominated for the Rising Star Award but can’t actually afford to go: “What entry-level, independent audio producer could possibly pay £318 for a ticket?”