Here Are 11 Black Female-Led Podcasts You Should Be Listening To

Taysha Robinson

Apr 06, 2019 09:34 AM +0000

It's safe to say we're living in the golden age of podcasting. Between the never-ending political commentary inspired by the daily nightmare our current administration, true crimes, scripted radio plays, comedies, personal journals, culture, and more, the choices for listeners are endless.

Nevertheless, the growth of podcasting in the last decade has often seen Black voice undervalued and unrecognized. With the growing podcast industry, which many experts believe will eventually take over talk radio in the near future, Black people have started a steadily growing podcast presence, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out why.

In no particular order, here are the top ten Black female-led podcasts worth lending your ear to:

WNYC Studios presents the hilarious Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams in 2 Dope Queens. Hosting the live comedy show from Brooklyn, New York, the 2 Dope Queens, along with their favorite comedians, tell stories of sex, romance, race, hair journey, living in New York, Billy Joel and so much more. Once you've listened to all their podcasts, you can see how it is made by checking out their equally laughable comedy special on HBO.
Top Episodes:Dad Bods and Billy Joel has the Softest Hands
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Black Girl Nerds is an online community devoted to promoting nerdiness among Black women and people of color.
Top Episodes:BGN #160 | Jason Mitchell and American Gods and #BGNPodcast Extra - The Get Out Episode
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Hosted by the unabashedly, hilarious Yamaneika Saunders and friends, Rantin' and Ravin' discusses day-to-day events ranging from news, documentaries, beauty, fashion, and more.
Top Episodes: Go Hug A Black Woman w/ Mehran Khagani and Bunny Dick w/ Mehran Khagani
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With Rants and Randomness, join NYT best-selling author Luvvie Ajayi as she rants on all things society and pop culture. Her unique brand of "loving judgement, hilarious shade, and necessary truth-telling" will leave you craving for more.
Top Episodes: Keep Building (with Damon Young) Episode 27 and Real Gs Move in Silence Like Wakanda (with Eunique Jones Gibson) Episode One
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With new episodes dropping every Tuesday, Queen and J—self-proclaimed "womanist race nerds" from the Bronx—talk liberation, politics, and pop culture over a cup of tea. With the intentions to dismantle "white supremacist patriarchal capitalism one episode at a time," Tea with Queen and J discusses the humility of Black women, being upset, what happens when you play yourself, and more.
Top Episodes:#200 Humble Is Not For Black Women and #199 Oh Word?
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Hosted by Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory, Black Girl Om -- Founder and Art Director, respectively -- this podcast will be your go-to for conversations on wellness, self-care, and self-love for women of color. Black Girl in Om uplifts, affirms, and informs, while featuring special guests—including yogis, holistic lifestyles, clean beauty experts, and the movers, shakers, and innovators within the wellness and beauty industry.
Top Episodes:#1: The Beginnings of Black Girl in OM: With a Side of Meditation and Prince and #3: Five Challenges on Self-Care Journeys
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In hopes of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues and therapy that prevent Black women from seeing a therapist, I present you Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. The Therapy for Black Girls Podcastis a weekly chat about things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Your host, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, offers practical tips and strategies to improve your mental health, discusses the latest news and trends in mental health, pulls back the curtain on what happens in therapy sessions, and answers your listener questions.
Top Episodes:Showing Up When You Want to Lay Down and Taking Care of Yourself After a Breakup
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After meeting, and becoming friends, at hip-hop's iconic station, Hot 97, Scottie Beam, Gia Peppers, Sapphira, Bex, and Alysha P decided to make their hilarious conversations about life issues, sisterhood, pop culture, love, growth, and the pursuit of their dreams to the public. Updated weekly, join the Black Girl Podcast as they navigate differing opinions and life experiences that lead them to understand themselves, and the world around them.
Top Episodes:[Episode 51] "Welp." and [Episode #52] "Herstory."
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Hosted by Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli, Naked Beauty provides a space for unfiltered talk about beauty trends, tips, and products, with the girl who gets it.
Top Episodes:"Who is She Without Her Hair?" ft. Nia Pettit and Behind the Highlight Reel ft. Hannah Bronfman
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hey, girl. is a podcast created with the intention of uniting the voices of phenomenal women, no matter the distance. With sisterhood and storytelling at its core, author Alex Elle converses with the people who inspire her. From family to friends, to even strangers, the hey, girl. guests provide insight into their personal stories through sincere and intimate conversations.
Top Episodes:Revisiting Angel on Knowing and Trusting the Journey and Judit on Creating a Colorful Life
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From the producers of the powerhouse Phoebe Robinson-Jessica Williams collaboration 2 Dope Queens, WNYC's latest is "a late-night talk show for your ears." Hosted by comedian and 2DQ regular Michelle Buteau, the show combines stand-up segments and a house band with celebrity guests including Robinson, Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr., and The Handmaid's Tale's Ann Dowd.
Top Episodes: #1: What's Even the Point of a Buffet? and #2: What Happens in Paris, Stays in Paris
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Featured image by Getty Images

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