Our favorite moving, mind-expanding podcasts, covering everything from wellness to politics to cooking.
The 25 Podcasts We Can't Stop Listening To
The best podcasts for women, from (mostly) women feel like a combination of a spa day, a college course, and a religious service. They're a new way of getting your daily dose of feminist ideas—challenging your assumptions, exposing you to new voices, feeding your soul.
American women in the 1960s nourished their emerging feminism by going to consciousness raising groups—meetings where they could overcome the isolation of being housewives and see that the problems of life under the patriarchy were shared. They multiplied their power by exchanging ideas, realizing that being alone and angry can be devastating, but being angry as a group can be catalyzing. The intimacy of women simply taking turns talking and listening helped create what eventually became a giant bullhorn, demanding equality.
Today, perhaps, the closest analog to classic consciousness raising groups is feminist podcasts. Great podcasts mirror consciousness raising groups' relatively low barrier to entry, a homegrown feel, and a quiet feeling of collectivity. You might hear news analysis, a book recommendation, a makeup review, and a call to political action in a single episode.
It's Women's History Month, and thanks to the pandemic it's not really possible to connect with another mom in the carpool line, or tentatively approach a beloved author at a reading, or have a heart-to-heart in the women's bathroom, or join an in-person meeting of your local woman-led activist group. But with these, our favorite feminist podcasts right now, you can have a woman whispering in your ear all the time. Feminist podcasts offer a quiet place for women and allies to gather and speak, exchange ideas, build a vast network of relationships. Lend your ear to these podcasts, and you'll find yourself in some great conversations with spectacular women.
Encyclopedia Womannica
If your idea of “Powerful Women from History” stops after RBG and Beyonce, subscribe to Encyclopedia Womannica. It's a mini-biography of a fascinating woman every day, at around seven minutes each. You could have three new feminist heroes in the time it takes to go on a coffee run.
Our Body Politic
Journalist Farai Chideya interviews a hispanic businesswoman about why she's a Republican, talks to a woman epidemiologist about why the COVID vaccine rollout got off to such a slow start, asks listeners how their lives have changed during the pandemic, reviews new movies, analyzes comments from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Marjorie Taylor Green, and more. And that's one episode. Our Body Politic covers issues affecting US women of color, from the perspective of US women of color, in a super smart way. It manages to be both a political and cultural cheat-sheet, and extremely listenable.
Lolita Podcast
When you learn that Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita—which is considered a masterwork of literature and has inspired nearly 70 years of fascination—is made up of description after description of child rape, life feels somewhat unlivable. Host Jamie Loftus unpacks the novel and its profound legacy with such nuance and care, it's a small miracle. Don't even consider attempting Lolita without Loftus in your pocket.
The PHG Podcast
The Professional Home Girl starts every one of her podcasts by confidently telling her listeners to please leave a review and make it five stars, and it just gets better and better from there. Eboné, the homegirl in question, “aims to show the full range of women of color living full lives that they have worked to have.” She does this brilliantly and simply, by conducting an interviews with an anonymous woman of color in each episode—a Rikers Island corrections officer, or a woman who survived a plane crash that killed 100 other passengers. Common themes are sex workers, scientists, and survivors of all different varieties, and the PHG treats them all with equal respect and fascination. You think this girl won't interview her own therapist on her podcast? Think again.
What I Wore When
Of course we have to hype our brilliant podcast, What I Wore When, hosted by Glamour's own Perrie Samotin. She interviews every celeb you love about the outfit they wore on a life-changing day—what Natasha Bedingfield wore when she wrote "Unwritten." What Zoey Deutch wore to her Bat Mitzvah. What Jameela Jamil wore to her first day of work on The Good Place. Come for the outfit descriptions, stay for the gossip and bonding.
Side Hustle Pro
Can you transform your candle business or tutoring company or nail art obsession into an actual source of income? Sure, entrepreneurs talk about doing that all the time, throwing around buzzwords and success stories, but how can you learn how they actually did it? Side Hustle Pro host Nicaila Matthews Okome breaks down, episode by episode, how Black women entrepreneurs turned their side hustles into their business. It's chatty, friendly, and motivating.
POOG
There are many great comedy podcasts and many great beauty podcasts. POOG (it's Gwyneth's brand, backwards) hosted by comedians Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak on another level—it will have you gently, gorgeously weeping with laughter and writing down quotes on your notes app like Novak's observation: “We're trapped, via our eyes and our senses, on the outside of this container! If our body is a house it's like we're on the upper level looking out a window and we can't turn around and look inside the house. We are staring. Out. Of. The. House." You'll find yourself nodding along as Berlant talks about shoplifting Manuka honey from Whole Foods, and how she and her mother used to share a gynecologist. By the time Novak starts crying on air, trying to explain the sublime pain of eating a melting ice cream cone, POOG feels less like a zany brunch and more like a religion. Please join me in taking up orders.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
Let's just get this out of the way—your dad never told you this stuff either, and it's his fault too. Now! This podcast is a research-based investigation of womanhood, in the most lovely, chatty, way possible. Cohosts Samantha McVey and Anney Reese break down everything from the best friend trope in romcoms to the history of the word pussy to the science behind why more women than men suffer from migraines.
Friends Like Us
You can't be alone when you have friends like Marina Franklin, who has the most relaxing voice of any comedian. Each week, Franklin sits down with a little group, dominated by women of color, for a combination of heart-to-heart and political debate. Imagine The View, but more functional.
She's All Fat
You need a fat culture sommelier. You need guidance on how to master the queer cottagecore aesthetic while your weight fluctuates. You need a fat sex therapist; you need a deep dive on fat camps; you need an analysis on the stock character of “the fat friend." Your sisters at She's All Fat deliver all of this, season after season, with “chill vibes only," plus full episodes on topics including, “Body Positive ICON Miss Piggy.”
Hey, girl
Remember when we used to stream podcasts on stressful commutes? Level up by listening to Hey, Girl during a slow walk, or during restorative stretching, or while staring off into space. Host Alex Elle sits down one-on-one with creative women for thoughtful, intimate conversations that pull back the hectic, consumerist layer that pushes down on us most days. Grab your notebook and pen, Elle sometimes suggests. Learning can be relaxing.
Unfuck Your Brain
Every woman you love deserves a full-time support staff of professionals to help her overcome her fears, manage her schedule, and achieve her full potential. But if for some reason she can't afford to hire help, the next best thing is Unfuck Your Brain, with lawyer-turned-life-coach Kara Loewentheil. “I teach you to understand not just what evolution has done to the human brain, what your family experiences might have done to your brain, but also what living under a patriarchy does to your brain,” she promises. She doesn't believe in “woo-talk or vibes,” just concrete advice and doable exercises to grow confidence and happiness in a world that still wants women to be submissive and grateful.
Why Won't You Date Me?
Comedian Nicole Byer is gorgeous, hysterical, and extremely explicit about the many sexual acts she would do if she had an equally enthusiastic partner, so why won't people date her? Each week, Byer and a celeb guest (and occasionally someone she dated) try to get to the bottom of this issue. They go through her dating apps, dissect her DMs, and tell stories from their own dating lives. You may pick up dating advice, insider comedy knowledge, and pole-dancing tips from this podcast.
Black Girl In Om
This is a truly tranquil, beautiful space for meditative conversations with fascinating women of color “on their unique journey towards wholeness.” Baths and candles are all well and good when it comes to self-care, but access to teachers and caring communities is vital, too, and Black Girl In Om is blissfully accessible. The podcast is a platform that centers the wellness needs of women of color with a combination of spirituality and down-to-earth lifestyle tips.
Gloss Angeles
Two former beauty editors, Kirbie Johnson (who worked at PopSugar) and Sara Tan (who was with Bustle) break down the latest in trends and products, in a podcast that has earned the stamp of approval from Glamour's own Senior Beauty Editor, Lindsay Schallon.
Just Women's Sports
World Cup champion Kelley O'Hara welcomes us into real, deep conversations with the greatest women in sports, in this thrilling podcast. O'Hara asks guests to share “the untold stories behind their success," and she scores again and again—Allyson Felix, Nastia Lukin, Chloe Kim, Candace Parker, and more athletic giants share how they did it all, in endlessly fascinating episodes.
Home Cooking
Home Cooking will put a smile on your face and a dozen new items on your grocery list. Extremely charming hosts Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway will have you salivating whether you're an experienced cook or just an enthusiastic snacker.
Maintenance Phase
The genius writer Aubrey Gordon (she's behind Your Fat Friend) and Michael Hobbes of the podcast You're Wrong About team up like a superhero pair to debunk lies and bad science behind popular diets and weight loss nonsense. It's laugh out loud, and more informative than anything your diet-obsessed mom taught you. Let it radicalize you—or at least let it help you enjoy full-fat ice cream.
The Motherhood Sessions
Most things people know about being a mom before they actually become one come from movies and random celebrity soundbites. Until the gory truth is taught in schools like it should be, tune in to reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Alexandra Sacks on The Motherhood Sessions. She'll make you feel more informed, and much, much less alone.
Going Through It
On Going Through It, Tracy Clayton sits down for emotional, bracing conversations with fascinating women about a time in their lives when they had to decide whether to quit what they were doing or make themselves keep going. It's a who's-who of cool women of our time, talking about their most vulnerable moments. In 2020, Clayton focused on Black women, creating 14 gorgeously inspiring conversations.
Bitch Sesh
Bitch Sesh, a podcast about the Real Housewives and more from comedic actors Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider, will elevate your Bravo fandom from guilty pleasure to cultural pursuit. Until you and your girls can drink white wine and watch the Houswives on a couch together, Bitch Sesh is your best friend.
Naked Beauty
Brooke Devard's powerful podcast is an an unusually honest conversation about how beauty and wellness fit into life as a woman, particularly a woman of color. It's a dance party, a panel, and a wine night, all in one. Conversations range from motherhood to drinkable collagen to the politics of self-care.
The Science of Beauty
From our friends at Allure, this is the definitive look at what works and why in the world of skincare, makeup, and beauty trends. They dive into lasers, hyperpigmentation, scalp health, and more with actual dermatologists, and chemists, to tell you what's worth the money, and what's just a scam.
Lady Don't Take No
The only thing better than a beauty podcast is a beauty podcast that's also a justice podcast. Alicia Garza, one of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, makes racial justice work and community organizing feel accessible and exciting even to newbies, with her pod that also regularly touches on the importance of Fenty Beauty.
Terrible, Thanks For Asking
Host Nora McInerny describes Terrible, Thanks For Asking as “A personal crusade against toxic positivity." Her show, which is actually completely endearing and warm, disputes the "idea that we have to be positive, that the only vibes allowed are good vibes, when sometimes the vibes are actually quite bad!” Never has this been more relevant. McInerny asks real people—and the occasional celeb, hello Rebecca Black—how they're actually doing. And time and again, magic happens.
Jenny Singer is a staff writer for Glamour. You can follow her on Twitter.
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Jenny Singer
