PBS Reno ARTS Podcast Named a Signal Award Finalist
Cast your Listener’s Choice vote through October 15 at vote.signalaward.com
RENO, NV (SEP 29, 2026) – The Signal Awards, which recognize the podcasts that define culture, today revealed the finalists for its fifth annual honors. The PBS Reno ARTS podcast episode featuring actor/director Kristoffer Polaha is among the finalists in the Individual Episodes | Interview or Talk Show genre.
“It’s exciting to have this episode of PBS Reno ARTS in the running for Signal Award,” said Dave Santina, PBS Reno Director of Local Content and host of PBS Reno ARTS. “We were lucky to welcome Kristoffer Polaha to the PBS Reno studio the morning after his movie Mimics premiered and his passion and excitement carried through our conversation. We genuinely had fun recording this episode and that experience makes me feel extra pleased that it’s being considered for a Signal Award.”
All Signal Award finalists are eligible to win a 2026 Signal Listener’s Choice Award, a global competition where fans can vote for their favorite podcasts from the Signal Judging Academy’s shortlist. The Signal Listener’s Choice Awards saw record participation in 2025 with more than 385,000 votes tallied.
Scan the QR code below to vote for the PBS Reno ARTS podcast featuring Kristoffer Polaha:
“Our popular podcast series being a finalist in this Listener’s Choice category is a testament to its popularity and likeability, which makes us proud!” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President & CEO.
Online voting is open now through October 15 at 11:59pm PST at vote.signalaward.com. Winners of the 2026 Listener’s Choice Awards will be announced on October 20, 2026. At that time, the Signal Awards Judging Academy will also announce the winners of bronze, silver, and gold across each category.
“Podcasting has become more culturally influential than ever before,” said Jemma Rose Brown, General Manager of the Signal Awards. “This year’s finalists are a true testament to the medium’s growth in both breadth and depth.”
About PBS Reno
In fiscal year 2024-2025, PBS Reno reached 592,189 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube Channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom Workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
About The Signal Awards
The Signal Awards is mission-focused on uplifting the podcast medium by recognizing the most potent, meaningful and unprecedented audio projects being made today. Now in its fifth year, entrants to The Signal Awards are reviewed by The Signal Awards Judging Academy, an esteemed collective made up of the architects, instigators and trailblazers of the medium. The Signal Awards set a standard for editorial excellence by honoring the organizations, artists, mavericks, brands and storytellers who are shaping the podcast industry. The 2026 Signal Award winners will be announced October 20, 2026.
Contact us:
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Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503