Em Rusciano hits out after being snubbed by Australian Podcast Awards

The comedian has lashed out at the “Australian podcast industry” after missing out on recognition at upcoming award ceremony.

Australian comedian and presenter Em Rusciano has vented her frustrations after her podcast show failed to score a nomination at an upcoming industry awards ceremony.

Rusciano, 45, submitted her series Anomalous for recognition at the Australian Podcast Awards (APAs), which announced its list of nominees on Wednesday ahead of the award show in Sydney on November 21.

The TV and radio presenter launched her health podcast in May, which sees her interview advocates and experts in the neurodivergent space to raise awareness for mental health and disabilities.

After the show failed to land a nomination for the awards, Rusciano took to her Instagram stories declaring that “the podcast industry in this country likes to operate as if I don’t exist.”

Em Rusciano has expressed her upset over being snubbed at the podcast awards.

The podcaster said she pours her heart and soul into her show.

“I know awards shouldn’t matter, but we all put so much into that podcast. We were the number one podcast in all of the country when we came out, we’ve pushed the needle forward on discussions around neurodivergence … Psychologist and psychiatrists are giving patients Anomalous when they leave, finding out they’ve been diagnosed,” Rusciano said.

“The recognition would be nice. I know it’s not important, but I don’t understand how we couldn’t even get a nomination. It’s been a hell of a week.”

Despite feeling defeated, Rusciano said the lack of recognition “doesn’t take away” from how proud she is of her show.

“I just don’t know what more I can do,” she continued.

“I don’t know why the external validation is bothering me today, but they can continue to ignore me all they want, it doesn’t take away from what we are achieving every week.”

Nominations for the Australian Podcast Awards fall under an array of different categories, including including podcasts on wellbeing, education and interview-based programs, with up to six nominees in some categories.

The mother-of-three was 42 when she received her ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis, and two years later, she was diagnosed with autism.

Rusciano addressed the National Press Club of Australia in 2022 about her diagnosis. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Since then, the veteran media personality has been deeply candid about her condition in a bid to educate others about neurodivergent people.

“I have autistic children, and I see how the world is not set up for them to be their best selves. And it’s kind of this compulsion I have to shift the conversations and make things a bit better and forge the path,” Rusciano told ABC News in June.

“I’ve gotten to a point now where I don’t need the external validation on my autism and ADHD. I live it, people around me live it. And I’m within a community of neurodivergent people now who support me and understand me and see me.”

Meanwhile, the APAs held its first ceremony in 2016 in a bid to celebrate the best podcasts and hosts in the country.

Head of Digital Audio at ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network, Corey Layton, said of this year’s nominees, “The podcasting landscape in Australia has exploded, with creators delivering bold, diverse, and original content that’s making waves internationally. This year’s awards are a testament to the incredible talent we have across the country.”