56: Fedora Contributor Recognition Winners 2026

The Fedora Contributor Recognition Program just wrapped its second year, and the winners were announced live at Flock. On this episode of the Fedora Podcast, we sit down with a couple of them: Ankur Sinha and Justin Forbes, to talk about the work that earned them recognition and what keeps them showing up for Fedora year after year.

We cover Ankur's long-running stewardship of the Join SIG and his work on NeuroFedora, and Justin's work keeping the Fedora kernel reliable, secure, and up to date. Two very different corners of the project, one shared thread of contribution.

If you have ever wondered what it takes to leave a lasting mark on Fedora, this episode is full of answers.

The Fedora Podcast brings you exclusive interviews and deep dives with the innovators and contributors who make the Fedora community amazing! From cutting-edge technologies to the production of the Fedora distribution itself, we chat with the minds behind it all. Whether you're a longtime user or just curious, there's always something new to discover in the world of Fedora.

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🔗 Episode Resources
Contributor Recognition Program 2026 Wiki: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Contributor_Recognition_Program_2026
Announcement Thread: https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/meet-the-2026-fedora-contributor-recognition-program-winners/194595

Chapters
00:00 Stream start
00:36 Contributor Recognitions
01:54 Introductions
07:36 Award experience
15:56 Join SIG
28:38 Kernel team
44:00 NeuroFedora
51:38 Closing thoughts
59:30 Wrap up

Special Guests: Ankur Sinha and Justin Forbes.