Five Months In, Independent Insurance Podcast The Salty Adjuster Wins 2026 Signal Award Among Podcasting's Biggest Names

The Salty Adjuster earns Bronze for Best Trailer in their episode featuring Precious Norman-Walton, joining a winners’ circle that includes major media podcasts

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Five months ago, The Salty Adjuster was a brand-new independent podcast with a microphone, a sense of humor, and a mission to tell the human stories behind the insurance industry. Today, it’s an award-winning production sharing the international stage with some of podcasting’s most recognizable names.

The Salty Adjuster earned a Bronze Signal Award for Best Trailer in the fifth annual Signal Awards, recognizing its trailer featuring insurance industry leader, mentor, and advocate Precious Norman-Walton.

The award places the show among honorees from major media organizations and production companies, a remarkable achievement for a podcast launched in May 2026 without major network or studio backing. The team will head to the Signal Awards celebration in Brooklyn on November 9 to join fellow honorees.

The Signal Awards recognize excellence in podcasting across genres and formats. This year’s competition, themed “Recognizing the Risk Takers,” celebrates creators pushing the boundaries of audio storytelling.

“Insurance is full of people with extraordinary stories, and we knew those stories deserved a bigger audience,” said Brett Ashley McKenzie, executive producer and co-host of The Salty Adjuster and founder of CoVerse Communications. “In only five months, we’ve earned a coveted award alongside some of the most respected names and production companies in podcasting. To be recognized for our storytelling at this level is extraordinary.”

Hosted by the outspoken insurance personality known as Salty and produced by McKenzie, The Salty Adjuster blends humor and candid conversation to explore the people and experiences shaping insurance.

Topics range from career development and leadership to mental health, workplace culture, technology, and personal adversity.

“We wanted this show to be about people, you know? Focusing on the humans in the industry. There are enough shows about the financials and metrics and projections,” said Salty, host of The Salty Adjuster. “When we started, we just wanted a place where cool people that happened to work in and around the insurance industry could have open and honest conversations, and be completely real with each other. Somewhere along the way, we found community, and honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around this, I feel like somebody is going to tell us to leave the party at any moment.”

The winning trailer features Precious Norman-Walton, an insurance industry leader recognized for her commitment to mentorship, professional development, and community.

Her conversation with Salty and McKenzie captures the show’s defining approach: candid, personal, funny, and grounded in human connection.

“It’s not often that we find safe spaces in the insurance professional world where we can be organically vulnerable and transparent,” Norman-Walton said. “I was invited to talk about how I have shown up professionally, and ended up sharing about the depth of my humanity as a caregiver, daughter, sister, wife, and mom.”

Behind the award is CoVerse Communications, the creative team responsible for the show’s sound, visual identity, production, and guest experience. Specializing in insurance, CoVerse has expanded its marketing and podcast production services into academia and mental health.

Daniel Jackson, the show’s music producer, creates its original music and audio identity.

“Working for Salty has been a blessing,” he said. “It’s rare to work with a company that consciously invests in human art. Salty keeps its work organic and in-house, with real people telling real stories. These are the projects artists crave.”

Quinn McGowan, the show’s artist and designer, developed its distinctive visual identity.

“Being a visual voice for Salty means so much because I’m part of a team with a shared vision and a deep, abiding dedication to being real and helping people,” he said. “People, passion, craftsmanship. In a moment where automation and shortcuts seem to be the majority of what is being offered, working in a space that values the human touch is more more than anyone can ask for.”

Heather Blevins, associate producer and a celebrated claims industry thought leader, described the show’s appeal.

“Insurance has plenty of polished talking points. What we need more of is people willing to pull up a chair and tell the truth about the work, the hard lessons, and the humans behind the industry. That’s what I love about The Salty Adjuster.”

Since May, The Salty Adjuster has released more than 40 episodes, generated nearly 3,500 listens across platforms, and reached audiences in 32 countries.

The podcast has ranked among Apple’s Top 50 Careers podcasts in the United States, Canada, and Israel. Its social community includes 1,255 LinkedIn followers and 520 Instagram followers. A recent Reddit AMA in an adjusters community garnered 80 comments.

October brought additional milestones. At the CPCU Society’s In2Risk conference in Las Vegas, the team recorded ten live interviews. The show also welcomed its first paid sponsor, Canadian claims salvage leader Barga.

For McKenzie, the recognition reinforces the importance of stories that might otherwise go untold.

“There’s something pretty wonderful about an insurance podcast getting invited to the same party as the people who helped make podcasting a cultural phenomenon,” McKenzie added. “But the best part is what this says to our guests, our listeners, and the people working behind the scenes. Your stories matter. You don’t need a celebrity name, a massive studio budget, or a media empire to make something meaningful. Sometimes you just need people who believe in the story enough to tell it.”

Individuals interested in appearing on The Salty Adjuster can email TheSaltyAdjuster@gmail.com with their pitch. The show is in the middle of its second season.

About The Salty Adjuster

Launched in May 2026, The Salty Adjuster is an independent, award-winning podcast exploring the people, personalities, and experiences behind insurance. Hosted by Salty and executive producer Brett Ashley McKenzie, the CoVerse Communications production combines humor, candid conversations, and human-centered storytelling.

About CoVerse Communications

Founded in 2023, CoVerse Communications is a boutique public relations, marketing, and creative production agency specializing in insurance and expanding into new sectors. Services include media relations, thought leadership, executive communications, social media, and podcast and book production. CoVerse serves established organizations, emerging technology companies, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

Brett McKenzie
CoVerse Communications
brett@coversecomms.com
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