The Dad Project has won Best Podcast at the 14th Asian Media Awards, held at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel on Friday 30 October 2026.
The awards, supported by the University of Salford, recognise the best of British Asian talent across journalism, broadcasting, film, theatre and digital media. This year's ceremony was hosted by Sky Sports presenter Bela Shah. Other winners on the night included ITV News correspondent Sejal Karia, named Journalist of the Year, and Sonia Sodha, named Media Personality of the Year.
Second time of asking
The Dad Project entered the Asian Media Awards in 2025 but didn't win. This year it entered again and made the shortlist, alongside some of the biggest names in British Asian podcasting:
- Beard Before Wicket: Nubaid Haroon, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, for No Ratings Studios
- The Shizzio Show: Shizzio
- The Story Isn't Over: History From The Margins: Amar Singh, for Ramblings of a Sikh
- Tommy's Brownload: Tommy Sandhu, Kej and Sach, for Fresh Naan Productions
Going into the night, the team genuinely didn't expect to win.
A family moment on stage
The award was presented by journalist Minreet Kaur, Naroop's cousin, and Pritpal Kaur, Naroop's aunt and co-founder of Asian Women Run.
Pritpal had her own moment that night. She was surprised with an award for inspiring more women into fitness and wellbeing. She is the oldest South Asian woman to have run the London Marathon.
"When we started The Dad Project, we simply wanted to create a space for honest, meaningful conversations," said co-founder and host Naroop Jhooti. "To see that work recognised on a stage like this is something I'm incredibly proud of. Having Minreet and my aunty present it made it a family moment I'll always remember."
More than a podcast
We started The Dad Project as a podcast about fatherhood, identity and the things men rarely say out loud. It has grown into a community, with weekly meetup groups and monthly live podcast events.
Our aim is to help men understand themselves better, build stronger relationships and feel less alone.
Every episode starts with a guest who trusts us with something real. This award belongs to them, and to the men who turn up to our meetups week after week.
Thank you
Thank you to every guest who has shared their story, and every listener who has tuned in or passed an episode on.
A podcast is only what you hear. Behind every episode, meetup and live event is a team doing the work nobody sees: Amit Amin, our COO, Anastasiia Shvaniuk, Creative Assistant and Ravi Chandarana, Portrait Photographer. This award is theirs as much as ours.
Thank you too to Nazira Bemath of PR by Naz, who has got us onto BBC Radio London and in front of audiences we'd never have reached on our own. And to Maslow's, who give us a home for our weekly meetups and live events. A community needs somewhere to meet, and they've been that place.
And thank you to our partners and supporters for believing in us.
Thank you to our partners and supporters for believing in what we're building.
Congratulations to our fellow finalists, Beard Before Wicket, The Shizzio Show, The Story Isn't Over and Tommy's Brownload. It was an honour to be shortlisted alongside you.
Listen and get involved
- Listen to the latest episodes on our website or Apple Podcasts
- Join a weekly meetup
- Come to a live podcast event
Read the Asian Media Awards' report on the 2026 ceremony.
About The Dad Project
The Dad Project is a UK men's podcast, community and live events platform, co-founded by Naroop Jhooti and Nemash Patel. It hosts weekly meetup groups and monthly live podcast events, and won Best Podcast at the Asian Media Awards 2026.
