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

CHAIR PERSON

Christy Mirabal
Founder & CEO, Listening Party Agency

VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Jen Sargent
CEO, Wondery

SECRETARY

E.B. Moss
Founder, Moss Appeal

TREASURER

Matty Staudt
Founder & President, Jam Street Media

AT LARGE MEMBER

Ilana Susnow
Head of Podcast Marketing & Audience Growth, Bloomberg

GOVERNORS

Donald Albright
CEO & Co-Founder, TenderfootTV

Nikki Boyer
TV Host, Podcaster & CEO, Dying for Media

Chris Colbert
CEO & Founder, DCP Entertainment

Jay Green
EVP, Business Strategy & Partnerships, 
QCode Media

Fallon Jethroe
Founder & CEO,
Hello Fallon Entertainment

Ti King
Executive Director, Arkansas Podcast Collaborative

Sirisha Kuchimanchi
Former Tech Exec, Independent Podcast Host & Producer

Steve Lack
Founder, Steve Lack Audio

E.B. Moss
Founder, Moss Appeal

Arielle Nissenblatt
Founder & Curator, Earbuds Podcast Collective

Sangeeta Pillai
Founder & CEO, Soul Sutras

Seth Rubinroit
Senior Manager, Audio and Digital Strategy (NBCUniversal Local)

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.