LEADERSHIP
Founding Governors Members, all professionals working in various sectors of the podcast industry, were appointed to establish The Podcast Academy (TPA) with the goals of celebrating excellence by moving the annual awards into a key recognition position and encouraging growth and networking of members and the industry. TPA is run by professional staff who are overseen by the volunteer Board of Governors who set the strategic vision and goals of the organization.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ilana Susnow
AT LARGE MEMBER
Head of Podcast Marketing &
Audience Growth, Bloomberg
Jen Sargent
VICE-CHAIRPERSON
Board Director.
Strategic Advisor
Christy Mirabal
CHAIR PERSON
Founder & CEO,
Listening Party Agency
Matty Staudt
TREASURER
Founder & President,
Jam Street Media
E.B. Moss
SECRETARY
Founder,
Moss Appeal
GOVERNORS
Eric Barnett
Vice President of
Revenue, Supporting Cast
Donald Albright
CEO & Co-Founder,
TenderfootTV
Nikki Boyer
TV Host, Podcaster &
CEO, Dying for Media
Norma Jean Belenky
Owner,
NJB Media
Fallon Jethroe
Founder & CEO,
Hello Fallon Entertainment
Ti King
Executive Director, Arkansas Podcast Collaborative
Sirisha Kuchimanchi
Former Tech Exec, Independent Podcast Host & Producer
Kacie Luaders
Founder, Could Be Pretty Cool
Arielle Nissenblatt
Founder & Curator, Earbuds Podcast Collective
Brandon Schexnayder
CEO, Southern Gothic Media
Pat Shah
Global Head of Content Acquisition, Strategy & Partnerships, Audible
Alejandro Vargas
Founder & CEO,
Podway Podcast Network
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ami Thakkar
Ami Thakkar is the Executive Director of The Podcast Academy, where she leads the organization’s mission to support podcast creators, celebrate excellence in audio, and help shape the future of the medium. With a career spanning law, editorial media, nonprofit leadership, and global storytelling, Ami brings a rare blend of strategic rigor and creative empathy to the role. She is also an independent podcaster herself and the creator and host of Tuckered Out with Ami Thakkar, a show centered on honest conversations about ambition, burnout, and identity with trailblazers from all backgrounds. Having lived and worked across the U.S., India, and the Middle East, Ami approaches leadership with a global perspective and a deep respect for the craft of audio storytelling. As Executive Director, she is focused on strengthening The Podcast Academy as a trusted, inclusive home for creators and elevating podcasting’s cultural impact worldwide.