Timbre Awards Judges
The 2026 judges panel is packed with professional communicators, market shapers, and creative leaders. Each powerhouse judge will be part of the Timbre Award evaluation process.
Meet the Judges
Lex Friedman
A podcast strategist, writer, and community builder dedicated to helping listeners discover great podcasts and creators improve their craft. She is the founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective and was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2026 and serves on the Board of Governors for The Podcast Academy.n award-winning strategist and founder of Frontwood Strategies, where she helps business leaders, advocates, and organizations develop effective communications, messaging, and media strategies.
Arielle Nissenblatt
A podcast industry executive and entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling media and ad businesses. He has held leadership roles at Midroll and ART19, helping drive major growth and acquisitions by EW Scripps and Amazon, respectively, and later served as Head of Podcast Strategy for Wondery.
Tom Dunn is a partner at Narrative Strategies and a seasoned creative professional with a track record of success in political advertising and media production, backed by technical proficiency. His gift for creative development has allowed him to thrive in political communications for over 20 years.
Tom Dunn
A Partner and Creative Director at Friendly Design Co, with over 13 years of experience leading creative strategy and design for mission-driven organizations. His work focuses on translating complex ideas into clear, compelling visual storytelling through thoughtful design and problem-solving. With a strong eye for branding and audience engagement, Ross brings a creative and strategic perspective to evaluating podcast content and presentation.
Ross Nover
A dynamic advocate who made history as the 2nd African American President of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in more than 49 years. With over two decades of experience in mental health, social justice, and gender equity, she empowers others to lead with empathy and create meaningful change.
Christian F. Nunes MBA, MS, LCSW
Todd VonDeak is co-owner of TVD Associates, a consulting firm specializing in association management and nonprofit strategy. A former Vice President at the Society of Hospital Medicine, he brings hands-on healthcare association experience to his work. He also serves as a professor in the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship departments at Stockton University, where he is passionate about developing first-generation and early-career students into confident leaders.
Todd VonDeak
An award-winning strategist and founder of Frontwood Strategies, where she helps business leaders, advocates, and organizations develop effective communications, messaging, and media strategies.
Nell Callahan
A public health lawyer and policy expert with extensive experience at the intersection of media, technology, and public interest. She previously served in the U.S. Senate as Deputy Legislative Director and Commerce Counsel for Senator Amy Klobuchar, where she worked on AI policy, telecommunications, media, and consumer protection. Now Deputy Chief of Staff at Common Sense Media, Bridget focuses on shaping a safer, more equitable digital landscape for children. Her background in media policy and public impact brings a thoughtful, values-driven perspective to evaluating podcast content.
Bridget Morrison
A Senior Director of Creative Impact at Signal Group, Vincent leads the firm's creative development, content creation, and social media strategy. Through a sharpened understanding of modern content and effective storytelling, he breathes life into every campaign and project with creative direction. Prior to joining Signal, Vincent served in the U.S. Senate for six years.
Vincent Sheu
The Head of Innovation and Strategy for Signal Group, Robert has worked at the confluence of media, business and government in leading digital media and communications in the U.S. and around the world. He has helped lead digital business strategy at leading media companies, designed and developed digital products to engage audiences and collaborated with senior leaders at Fortune 500 companies and in U.S. foreign policy in formulating and executing information campaigns.
Rob Bole