Scarborough’s Ark House Rehab celebrates triple shortlist success at British Independent Podcast Awards

The sold-out ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 4, at Kings Place in Kings Cross, London. Out of more than 500 entries nationwide, the podcast achieved the extraordinary feat of being shortlisted in three distinct categories: Best Personal Stories Podcast, Best Lifestyle Podcast, and Best Self-Improvement Podcast.

While the team did not take home a trophy on the night, reaching the final shortlist for three major awards at an event heavily backed by the audio industry is being hailed as a massive victory for the organisation and the wider recovery community.

This year's ceremony was powered by major global brands, with YouTube serving as the Headline Partner and global audio platform Acast acting as the After Party Sponsor. The event was also supported by other heavyweights including Advertising Week, AudioUK, Captivate, Rusty Quill, and Podnews.

Produced and hosted by Richard and Sam—both valued members of the Ark House team who have lived experience with addiction—the podcast has quickly grown from a local initiative into a powerful global beacon of hope.

“We are absolutely over the moon to have been recognised on such a massive platform alongside the absolute best in independent audio,” said Sam and Richard. “For us, this was never just about winning an award. It is about carrying the message of recovery to the people who need it most—whether they are trapped in active addiction, or they are family members trying to understand the illness. Being shortlisted for three awards proves that people are listening, the conversation is shifting, and we are successfully breaking the stigma of addiction.”

The celebration was made even sweeter as the ceremony coincided with a momentous milestone closer to home—the 34th anniversary of Ark House Rehab’s founding. To mark the birthday, the rehab’s original founder, Björn Roswald, returned to the sanctuary this week to spend time chatting with current staff and residents. He shared deeply moving stories about Ark House’s rich history, reflecting on over three decades of saving lives and paving the way for the ground-breaking work the team is continuing today through IN RECOVERY.

Launched just eight months ago as a companion guide for those navigating sobriety, IN RECOVERY has experienced an astronomical rise. It is now actively listened to by communities in over 83 countries.

It quickly surged into the top 20% of podcasts globally and reached Number 10 in the global Mental Health charts. The series was officially selected and recommended by The Sunday Times as a top-pick podcast.

The current second season has featured deeply personal interviews with recovery advocates, rehab graduates, and public figures—including television personality Ulrika Jonsson, who bravely shared her own journey through sobriety.

The launch of IN RECOVERY represents the next chapter in Ark House’s mission: replacing the isolation, shame, and negative stigma of addiction with community, empathy, and unfiltered honesty.

By taking their message directly to major audio platforms, Ark House is proving to those still struggling in the dark that healing is entirely possible, one episode at a time.

IN RECOVERY - The Ark House Podcast is available to stream on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.