Add these podcasts spanning beauty, trending topics, wellness, sex and relationships to your rotation as you adapt to life at home.
It’s no question that podcasts have become a popular medium for storytelling, especially as most of the world adapts to life in the midst of a global pandemic.
According to Podcast Insights, there are over one million podcast shows and 30 million episodes as of April 2020. Audio technology solutions platform Voxnest has also been tracking COVID-19’s impact on podcast listening, indicating a 42 percent increase globally. Despite listenership decreasing in the U.S. (they note that Americans are still adjusting to no longer utilizing the daily commute to consume podcasts and are readjusting), more listeners are tapping into categories including design, music, food, medicine. When reviewing these stats, it’s encouraging to see continued growth considering the times. It would, however, be remiss to acknowledge the monolithic voices and faces of these shows.
In an effort to help whittle down the endless options, we’ve compiled 8 podcasts hosted by women who look like us you should tune into—covering a diversity of topics and perspectives.
Check them out below.
Naked Beauty
Naked Beauty, hosted by Instagram’s product marketing manager Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli, is the podcast you can turn to for unfiltered self care and wellness chats, along with plenty of tea on beauty trends. Since its launch, Naked Beauty has blossomed into a community that values discussions with real women from different cultural backgrounds that go beyond reviews and tutorials.
Okay, Now Listen
Okay, Now Listen is Netflix’s Strong Black Leads’ newest program hosted by media personality Scottie Beam and entertainment journalist Sylvia Obell. The bi-weekly podcast features the women dishing what’s on their minds, what they’re binge-watching, and what they’re paying attention to on their timelines.
Laid Bare
The ladies of Laid Bare, hosted by sex and relationships expert Oloni, sexual wellness blogger Shakira Scott and presenter Shani Jamilah, describe their show as the podcast “for the sex positive and opinionated.” The UK-based trio have created a safe space to discuss sex and relationship topics that are typically considered to be taboo—like BDSM and orgies—in a fresh, conversational format.
This Audio Is Visual
For the photography enthusiasts out there, The Audio Is Visual is the podcast hosted by South African rapper and photographer Andy Mkosi, where she talks with other African photographers on their work and career journey. The podcast serves both as a masterclass (yes for takeaways!) and an audio archive for image makers.
I Said What I Said
Duo FK and Jollz are a riot on Twitter, so it’s no surprise I Said What I Said keeps that same energy. Their podcast gives listeners a glimpse into what it’s like being a Lagos millennial through their experiences.
The Goal Standard
It can be easy to fall into the rabbithole of motivational, self-help podcasts that leave you with empty advice. The Goal Standard, hosted by Lené Michelle Hypolite, leads with the stories of fellow Black women entrepreneurs by highlighting their stories of success and providing listeners with action steps for the ultimate level-up in our endeavors.
Gettin’ Grown: Learning How To Adult. For Real.
Keia and Jade are two Black women who navigate life as 30-somethings through their podcast, Gettin’ Grown. Their anecdotes and lessons are needed reassurances that figuring out how to adult is never-ending.
Therapy for Black Girls
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is the host of Therapy for Black Girls, a podcast with a focus on making mental health topics more relevant, relatable and accessible for Black women using pop culture. The licensed psychologist uses the digital space to encourage and amplify the mental wellness Black women and girls.
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Antoinette Isama is a dynamic multimedia culture journalist and editor. Her expertise lies in the intersection of African youth culture, arts, and the diaspora. She’s currently the co-founder of FourTwo Creative, a newly-launched agency of African women building culturally-relevant brands that thrive in the digital space. Keep up with her on Twitter and Instagram.
