Cameron Esposito
Cameron Esposito is set to host the Podcast Academy's inaugural Awards for Excellence in Audio, the 2021 Ambies.
The comedian and writer, who released her memoir Save Yourself last year, hosts the Queery podcast, featuring interviews with LGBTQ+ luminaries and exploring issues of identity, personality, gender, sexuality and civil rights.
The Podcast Academy is also set to honor the Teenager Therapy podcast with the Audio Impact Award, recognizing a person or podcast that has had a positive influence on its listeners. Emmy-nominated actor Asante Blackk will highlight the recipients with an interview during the show. The teen-hosted podcast joins previously announced Governors Award recipient WTF with Marc Maron.
"We are excited to have Cameron host our first-ever Awards for Excellence in Audio ceremony. Her energy, stage presence, and wit will surely make for a memorable evening," said Podcast Academy chairman Donald Albright, who's also the president and co-founder of Tenderfoot TV. "To add, the governors are pleased to honor Teenager Therapy with the Audio Impact Award for their work in the medium. We are thoroughly impressed by this group of independent young podcasters that have taken to the airwaves to share their personal stories and create an inclusive environment for their listeners."
Other stars set to appear during the hour-long Ambies ceremony include Hank Azaria, Darren Criss, Whitney Cummings, Ashley Flowers, Este Haim, DeRay Mckesson, Jacquis Neal, Matt Schrader, Neil Strauss, Kenan Thompson and Rainn Wilson.
Top nominees for the Ambies, selected by a blue-ribbon panel of more than 100 professionals and announced in March, include podcastsDirty Diana, The Left Right Game and Wind of Change as well as Wondery's Bunga Bunga, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Slate's Slow Burn and NPR's Code Switch.
The Podcast Academy formed in early 2020 with the goal of creating an Oscars for podcasting.
The 2021 Ambies are set to stream live from Los Angeles on YouTube and Twitch at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 16.