Sophia Media podcast lands 2026 Signal Awards finalist nod

Sophia Media’s new podcast My First Year As a Father has been named a finalist in the 2026 Signal Awards for an episode featuring novelist Thomas Greene. The recognition puts the series’ candid look at modern fatherhood, grief and caregiving in front of a wider audience as public voting continues through Oct. 15.

Why it matters: - The finalist nod gives Sophia Media early validation for a newly launched podcast centered on fatherhood, grief and emotional openness. - The recognition could help broaden the audience for a series built around intimate conversations about how men become parents and partners. - The episode is also eligible for the Signal Listener’s Choice Award, with public voting open through Oct. 15, 2026.

What happened: - Sophia Media’s podcast My First Year As A Father was named a finalist in the 2026 Signal Awards. - The nominated episode, featuring Thomas Christopher Greene, was selected in the Family & Child-Raising category. - The podcast launched this fall. - Joyce Sophia Xu is the founder of Sophia Media and the podcast’s executive producer and cohost.

The details: - The episode centers on Greene’s experience becoming a father to his daughters, Sarah and Jane. - Greene describes how his first daughter’s birth initially pushed him into a traditional provider role while he kept up a demanding professional life. - Three years later, Greene’s wife was hospitalized during her pregnancy with Jane, leaving him caring for Sarah on his own. - Greene says he began inventing a story for Sarah one night to comfort her, and that moment changed how he understood fatherhood. - Jane was born at 28 weeks and spent her entire six-month life in neonatal intensive care. - Greene speaks about the uncertainty of that period, the loss of Jane, the effect on his marriage and his changing relationship with Sarah, who is now a young woman. - Greene said, “What I didn’t realize was that stories could make a father become a dad.” - Greene is the author of six novels, including The Headmaster’s Wife, and the nonfiction collection Notes from the Porch: Tiny True Stories to Make You Feel Better about the World. - Greene founded Vermont College of Fine Arts and served as its president for 13 years. - My First Year As A Father is part of Sophia Media’s broader My First Year collection, which explores major life transitions through guest-led conversations. - Current series in the collection also focus on becoming mothers and fathers, beginning college, immigrating to America and building relationships with dogs. - Sophia Media says the production team includes creatives with experience at NPR, iHeartRadio, The Atlantic and Wondery. - The podcast and full My First Year collection are available on Sophia Media’s site, major podcast platforms and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The series is built around fathers speaking with unusual candor about manhood, caregiving, sacrifice and vulnerability. - The six published fatherhood conversations cover a wide range of experiences, from military service and community leadership to IVF, adoption, parental leave and grief. - The Greene episode is the emotional anchor of the series because it ties fatherhood to loss, resilience and storytelling. - Sophia Media is using the podcast to advance a broader mission of human connection through intimate audio storytelling.

What’s next: - Public voting for the Signal Listener’s Choice Award remains open through Oct. 15, 2026. - Sophia Media is continuing to expand the My First Year collection with more life-stage stories. - The company is likely to lean on the award recognition as it builds audience awareness for the new series.

The bottom line: - The Signal Awards shortlist positions My First Year As A Father as an early standout in the crowded podcast field, especially for listeners drawn to personal stories about parenting and identity.