Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Washington Post Entry Title: Field Trip Entry Credit: Lillian cunningham, Bishop Sands, Emma Talkoff, Katty Huertas , Robin Amer Judge Comment: Listeners are sure to be pulled into the narrative arc of this well-researched podcast. It unearths the histories — and complexities — of the founding and maintaining of America’s national parks. Throughout the series, Lillian Cunningham conducts illuminating interviews that are woven into warm narration and rich soundscapes from beginning to end.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Marriott Bonvoy Traveler Entry Title: About the Journey: Washington Heights, NYC: Embrace 'The Little Dominican Republic' and Its Unexpected Running Scene Entry Credit: Valerie Conners, Robin Bennefield, Oneika Raymond, Kristy Westguard, Gale Straub Judge Comment: This podcast episode is a seamless blend of travel guide and audio postcard that explores the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City and how it unifies and empowers the residents who live there. Packed with great ambient and natural sound, it’s an important and fun glimpse into a marginalized community that is too often viewed as a monolith. Oneika Raymond’s rapport and presence is incredibly engaging.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Condé Nast Traveler Entry Title: Women Who Travel Podcast: Raving in Ukraine Entry Credit: Lale Arikoglu Judge Comment: The rave culture in Ukraine is the focus of this important, sound-rich podcast episode. The audio mixing does well to emphasize the slight dissonance of experiencing war while also choosing to party — as an act of defiance and maintaining normalcy. This is an excellent cultural portrait, and the choice for women to lead the storytelling is exceptional considering that during war, women are often seen as passive or, at worst, actively abused and harassed.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: LIz Beatty Entry Title: Meet the Mountain Women Behind Banff's Adventure Culture Entry Credit: Liz Beatty Judge Comment: This episode is a great exploration of daring women and the personal perspectives behind getting outside of one’s comfort zone to connect with the history and culture of a place. Liz Beatty’s delivery and the way she takes listeners from one setting or idea to the next is incredibly natural, skilled and inviting. Listeners feel like they are traveling alongside her.
