Popsock Media Celebrates Double Gold (AND A SILVEr) Win at 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards
Popsock Media is proud to announce two major wins at the prestigious 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards, with our original podcast productions receiving international recognition for excellence in audio storytelling.
Heaven’s Helpline wins double gold for Narrative/Documentary and Investigative Journalism
In partnership with NZME, Heaven’s Helpline took home two GOLD awards, recognising its powerful and in-depth reporting in the categories of Narrative/Documentary and Investigative Journalism. The podcast explores the hidden world of religious control and spiritual abuse in Aotearoa and beyond, told through the voices of those who lived it.
This compelling investigative series has resonated with audiences across New Zealand and globally, praised for its emotional depth, narrative clarity, and courageous reporting by Murray Jones.
“This is a testament to the bravery of those who chose to speak out regarding the injustice they saw” says host / journalist Murray Jones.
“Since Heaven's Helpline was released, I have been inundated with messages from all over the world, many sharing similar tragic experiences as explored in the series. Some expressed relief at realising they were not alone in their abuse being covered up. This demonstrates the impact that investigative journalism can have when properly resourced”
The series was co-written by award winning podcaster Adam Dudding and edited by Popsock Media’s Kirsten Johnstone.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the people who shared their stories, to our other collaborators, to our partners at NZME, and for the funding provided by NZ On Air.”
Read more about Heaven’s Helpline at NZ Herald here
The Good Sex Project Season 2 takes Silver with Stuff
Meanwhile, the second season of our podcast The Good Sex Project earned a Silver award for Narrative/Documentary, continuing its mission to break down stigma and spark honest, inclusive conversations about sex, relationships, and intimacy in New Zealand.
The second season built on the success of Season 1, bringing fresh perspectives and vital stories to the forefront of public discourse.
“I’m thrilled that these stories have hit their mark with audiences, and grateful to NZ On Air that they continue to believe in what we’re doing, and Stuff for their support on this season.” Melody Thomas, host and creator of The Good Sex Project.
Popsock Media Celebrates Dual Award Nominations in NZ and New York
Excellent news incoming!
Popsock Media is beyond proud to share that two of our flagship podcasts – Heaven’s Helpline and The Good Sex Project – are finalists in both the 2025 New York Festival Radio Awards and the New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards.
This is an incredible honour for our small, independent team based in Wellington – especially knowing we’re standing alongside some of the most respected names in global audio storytelling.
🔸 Heaven’s Helpline, created with NZ Herald, is a finalist in the Narrative/Documentary and Investigative Journalism categories in New York, and for Best History & Documentary in New Zealand. The series investigates how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handles – or fails to handle – serious allegations of abuse and misconduct, and follows journalist Murray Jones as he digs into the institution’s extraordinary wealth and secrecy.
🔸 The Good Sex Project, made with Stuff and hosted by Melody Thomas, is a warm, brave, and deeply honest look at what makes for good sex and good relationships. It’s been recognised in the Narrative/Documentary category internationally, and asa finalist for Best Health & Wellbeing podcast here at home.
We’re absolutely stoked to see these shows recognised. Keep your fingers crossed for the big nights!
Awards Night Dates:
🏆 New York Festival Radio Awards – May 22
🏆 New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards – June 5
Popsock Media Wins Double Gold at 2024 New York Festival Radio Awards
New Zealand-based production company Popsock Media has taken home two Gold Medals at the prestigious 2024 New York Festival Radio Awards, recognising outstanding storytelling and production in global audio content.
Winning in their respective categories, The Good Sex Project and Te Rauparaha: Kei Wareware were celebrated for their compelling narratives and cultural impact.
Hosted by Melody Thomas, The Good Sex Project offers candid conversations with New Zealanders, helping listeners explore their own relationships and desires within a broader societal context.
Meanwhile, Te Rauparaha: Kei Wareware is a powerful seven-part series that brings to life the story of the legendary Ngāti Toa leader Te Rauparaha, based on an 1860s account by his son Tamihana Te Rauparaha, finally published in full by descendant Ross Calman in 2020.
TRUE JUSTICE OUT NOW
New Zealanders love True Crime,
We love a mystery; a victim; a villain:
When the bad guy goes to jail,
and the good guys go back to their lives.
But REAL life isn’t that straightforward.
Justice advocacy group JustSpeak have announced the launch of True Justice - a five part narrative podcast series journeying through the justice system, from the moment of arrest to life after prison. Produced by JustSpeak and award winning podcast company Popsock Media (The Lake, The Magpie House), this series hears directly from those who have been through our prisons, threading together a wealth of experience and expertise with witty anecdotes, laughter, and tears - from the mundanity of needing socks, to having to fight for life-saving medical care.
True Justice is hosted by Tūhoe / Jewish Actor and musician Ana Chaya Scotney (Cousins, the Breaker-Upperers) and Victoria University Criminology (Hons) student Tommy Doran, who spent time in prison as a young methamphetamine addict. Although the two come to the podcast with vastly different life experiences, they’re both passionate about imagining a way our justice system might be done better.
True Justice elevates the experiences of people who have found themselves trapped behind bars - exploring their hope and heartbreak, and the challenges they faced navigating the system. The podcast also features perspectives from academics, activists and justice sector leaders, which paint a clear picture of the systemic issues affecting justice in Aotearoa, and how it could be changed for the better.
True Justice offers listeners an opportunity to see justice from the other side, drawing the connections between poverty, housing insecurity, disability, racism, mental illness, and the people we keep locked inside our prisons. By shedding light on the realities of life inside these cells, True Justice seeks to confront the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ nature of our justice system, where “going to prison [is] like disappearing, it's about becoming nothing”.
Overarchingly, True Justice offers a clear vision for the future of justice in Aotearoa based on rehabilitation, restoration and decolonisation.
This podcast invites listeners to reflect on what justice means to them, and join the movement for true justice in Aotearoa. Register now to receive notification when True Justice is released, and find also information about services that you can get in contact with to volunteer and/or find support if you have been through the justice system.
JustSpeak is a non-profit organisation that advocates for transformational change in the criminal justice system, and works towards inspiring change towards a society without prisons, police and punishment and rather provides rehabilitation, therapy and education support to establish long lasting and meaningful change for everyone.
LISTEN HERE
The Lake wins 2 prizes at 2022 Voyager Media Awards
AUGUST 20 2022
The Lake has won 2 awards at the 2022 Voyager Media Awards.
The Lake – created for Stuff by the Popsock Media team of Kirsten Johnstone, Melody Thomas and
investigative reporter Aaron Smale – won both Best Team Investigation and Best Podcast – Narrative/Serial.
Judges said the podcast was "as journalistically rigorous as it is emotionally impactful", and that it was “the standout winner in a highly competitive category”.
The Lake also won a gold medal at the New York Festival Radio Awards in April.
