WSU Professor Nominated for Peabody Award

Siri Colom's podcast about a San Francisco gay church during the AIDS crisis earns prestigious nod.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:38pm by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a faded, tattered rainbow flag captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conveying a sense of resilience and legacy in the face of adversity.A powerful visual metaphor for the podcast's exploration of LGBTQ+ history and the lasting impact of the AIDS crisis.San Francisco Today

Worcester State University associate professor of sociology Siri Colom has been nominated for a Peabody Award for her work co-producing the podcast series "When We All Get to Heaven," which explores a gay church in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis.

Why it matters

The Peabody Awards are one of the most prestigious honors in broadcasting and digital media, recognizing excellence in storytelling that tackles important social and cultural issues. Colom's nomination highlights the significance of LGBTQ+ histories and the ongoing impact of the AIDS pandemic, especially in San Francisco which was at the epicenter of the crisis.

The details

The podcast "When We All Get to Heaven" delves into the experiences of a gay church community in San Francisco as they navigated the devastation of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Colom co-produced the series, which has now been nominated for a prestigious Peabody Award, one of the highest honors in electronic media.

  • The podcast "When We All Get to Heaven" was released in 2025.
  • The Peabody Award nominations were announced in April 2026.

The players

Siri Colom

An associate professor of sociology at Worcester State University who co-produced the nominated podcast series.

When We All Get to Heaven

A podcast series that explores the experiences of a gay church community in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

Peabody Awards

One of the most prestigious honors in broadcasting and digital media, recognizing excellence in storytelling that tackles important social and cultural issues.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This nomination is a testament to the power of storytelling to shed light on important histories that are often overlooked.”

— Siri Colom, Associate Professor of Sociology, Worcester State University

What’s next

The Peabody Award winners will be announced in June 2026.

The takeaway

Colom's Peabody nomination for "When We All Get to Heaven" underscores the continued importance of preserving and sharing LGBTQ+ histories, especially those impacted by the devastating AIDS crisis. The recognition also highlights the power of podcasting as a medium to amplify marginalized voices and tackle complex social issues.