Brilliant Women-Led Podcasts To Listen To Right Now
How do you choose what podcast to listen to next? Is it a recommendation from an entertainment-savvy friend? Is it when you find out one of your favourite people on Twitter has launched one of their own? Or do you mindlessly scroll through the iTunes and Spotify recommended lists and hope to land on one with a grabbing picture? We've all been there but fear not! We have a sweet resolve for your eager ears. Whether you're looking for the perfect accompaniment to your backlog of scam documentaries or some reassuring relationship advice, there's plenty out there – and we're here to help you narrow it down.
Female voices are reverberating across the airwaves and we've picked out some of our favourites on the podcast scene at the moment. Whether it's celebrating Black women in music, a twisty deep dive into the occult or a hilarious new format that sees people dig into why they might be single, we've got it covered. Ahead, find some of the smart, funny and engaging women who are talking about the things that matter to us.
Presented by: Kate Hutchinson
Average episode length: 26 mins
The world is full of rule-breaking, game-changing, headline-making women who aren't shouted out enough. Cosey Fanni Tutti, Bonnie Greer and Molly Parkin are just a handful of women who The Last Bohemians, which is produced by an all-female audio team, identifies as the "female firebrands and maverick outsiders who have lived life on the edge and still refuse to play by the rules." These, some of the coolest women of our time, are true trailblazers whose stories will shock, impress and charm you all at once. Prepare to be reintroduced to the musicians and groupies, style icons and campaign leaders you'll only want to know more about.Courtesy of The Last Bohemians
Presented by: Sadia Azmat and Monty Onanuga
Average episode length: 34 mins
Newsflash: It's a white man's world. We know this. But how does that experience feel when you don't 'look' like you're from the country you call home? It's a very common notion here in the UK even now, and presenters Sadia and Monty are two brilliant, warm and witty young women here to talk through it. How do you fit into a white world when you're not white? When should you 'switch on and off your ethnic'? How do sex, love, life and work fit into all this when people are poised to shout "race" before you've had a chance to say hello? This, my friends, is only the tip of the iceberg. Each week they're joined by guests to chat through anything and everything and, trust me, you'll feel either seen or enlightened just as frequently as you find yourself running out of breath from laughing too hard.Courtesy of No Country For Young Women
Presented by: Anna Smith
Average episode length: 40 mins
Sure, you're into films but if you've ever wanted to extend your knowledge of the showbiz world in an easy, sincerely interesting way, might I suggest listening to Girls On Film. The podcast brings together some of the most knowledgeable women in entertainment to talk about the latest releases (most episodes are spoiler-free, don't worry!) through a distinctly female lens. As host Anna points out in her introduction, women make up more than 50% of audiences, yet only 22% of film critics. Here's one way they're trying to restore the balance and shout a little bit louder about representation. It's smart, informative and full of the sort of dinner party conversation you'd be proud to regurgitate over the weekend. At the very least, you'll come out the other side of an episode feeling mega knowledgeable, with a couple of worthy films to add to your watch list.Courtesy of Girls On Film
Presented by: Suruthi and Hannah
Average episode length: 45 mins
Fascinated by crime, horror and everything in between? I couldn't be happier to introduce you to the voices of two women who talk through all the things that go bump in the night (and day, it seems) in their laugh-out-loud yet wildly informative podcast series. This one has been running for a while now but it's still going strong, with weekly episodes coming to a podcast provider near you. Each week they unpick new cases and mysteries that stretch back in time and across the world – serial killers, poltergeists, whodunnits and more – with specialists and guest experts cropping up to throw in their two cents every now and again, too.Courtesy of Redhanded
Presented by: Jada Sezer and Louise Troen
Average episode length: 1 hour
In need of some inspiration? Some of the most incredible women have been gathered on this very podcast to share how they've got to where they are, and empower you to get to where you want to be. It sounds like a heavy feat to tackle in one podcast, but give it a go. The name comes from the idea of 'unsubscribing' from the negative habits we so easily slip into and 'resubscribing' to happier, healthier ways of living. Jada and Louise are joined by a huge range of impressive guests – from Vanessa Kingori, British Vogue's first black female publishing director, to Gina Martin, who successfully campaigned for upskirting to be made a crime – who offer broad perspectives on everything from work and motherhood to mental health and general life. It's pretty informal; it'll feel like you're listening in on an important sofa conversation with the women you've been following on Instagram.Courtesy of Unsubscribe
Presented by: Carrie-Anne and Remi Sadé
Average episode length: 1 hour
Led by two single mums, this podcast addresses the complex, wonderful and shared reality of single motherhood in a way that isn't found elsewhere – it's sincere, fun and open. Their first episode last year kicked off with a chat about dating and covered everything from overcoming rejection to sharing pictures of your kids on dating apps and how sex slots into the dynamic. Fast-forward to the second series and they have guest experts sharing their thoughts alongside seasonal milestones like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, too. They're building an amazing community around their limitless discussions and the podcast comes highly recommended by many.Courtesy of Alright for a Mum
Presented by: Adrienne Herbert
Average episode length: 40 mins
You might already be familiar with Adrienne Herbert. She's a global ambassador for adidas, cofounded the Get To Know network and has a popular health, fitness and wellness-focused Instagram account with upwards of 37,000 followers. The latest string to her bow is a new podcast all about achieving your goals. Yep, this one is motivation-specific so if you've been feeling lethargic, unsure or unwilling to do that thing at the top of your to-do list, listen up. Each week Adrienne is joined by a variety of coaches, entrepreneurs, creatives and professionals from a wide range of industries to find out the habits, routines and secrets behind their success. It's built around the premise of taking just one hour a day to improve "your life and unlock your full potential". It could just be the polite kick up the bum you need to get going.Courtesy of Power Hour
Hosted by: Elizabeth Day
Average episode length: 45 mins
If you've wandered past a Waterstones recently, you might've spotted Elizabeth Day's bestseller How To Fail in the window. If you spent the best part of the last month googling all things Phoebe Waller-Bridge post-Fleabag, then you might've even found the episode of this very podcast in which the writer-actress-superstar talks about how all the fails in her 20s gave way to the incredible material we've all loved watching. While I encourage you to go back and listen to that particular episode, Elizabeth has since gone on to chat to more intimidatingly successful people to ask them about all the things that went wrong (and how they came back from it). It'll make you feel so much better about all the times your shit has hit the fan, too.Courtesy of How To Fail with Elizabeth Day
Hosted by: Dr Annabel Sowemimo and Edem Ntumy
Average episode length: 1 hour
The Sex Agenda Podcast is leading the conversation on sex, sexuality and reproductive health among Black and people of colour. Set up by the grassroots organisation Decolonising Contraception, the podcast is led by Dr Annabel Sowemimo (community sexual & reproductive health doctor) and Edem Ntumy (community engagement officer). Each episode gives a round up of sexual health news, social justice issues and focuses on the work of those addressing inequalities within our sector. Given that the pandemic, plus the closure of sexual health services, has exacerbated sexual health inequalities among BPOC this is a vital listen. It will leave you inspired, informed and better able to advocate for your sexual health.
Hosted by: Journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale
Average episode length: 50 mins
People love to dump on reality TV but the truth is that watching the relationships, careers and dramas of supposedly unscripted, real-life people unfold in front of our eyes has always been fascinating. This 10-part audio documentary takes a deep dive into some of the most iconic reality shows of the last two decades – think Big Brother, Love Island, TOWIE, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and more – dissecting their positive impact on our wider culture but also the more troubling facets that have come along as our obsession with them has grown.
Hosted by: Emma Chamberlain
Average episode length: 40 mins
It really is in the title. Anything and everything goes on this podcast from the buzzy internet personality. From body image and self-acceptance to talking about her rise on YouTube as one of the internet's funniest people and her thoughts on whether she wants to have children and generational attitudes to motherhood, there's something peculiarly ASMR-y about listening to someone ramble – sometimes pointedly and sometimes stream-of-consciousness style with no direction at all –on all manner of subjects. Oh, and did we mention she records the whole thing from the comfort of her own bed? Cosy.
Hosted by: Elizabeth Day and Emma Reed Turrell
Average episode length: 40 mins
Elizabeth (author of How To Fail) and Emma (author and psychotherapist) have been BFFs for over 20 years. That means over 20 years of the kind of nourishing conversations you only get with your nearest and dearest, roaring with laughter or sobbing shoulder to shoulder in your kitchen over a cup of tea (or something harder) in the early hours of the morning. The pair have now bottled that brilliance in a podcast unpacking wisdom and genuine curiosity about a slew of challenges we face in daily life. Whether it's thoughts on imposter syndrome or the meaning of endings, you better believe if you've thought it, these two are chatting about it.
Hosted by: Danyel Smith
Average episode length: 1 hour
It's such a hit it's back for season three and as always this is one for all the music lovers out there. The podcast continues the commitment of author and former editor-in-chief Danyel Smith to uplifting incredible Black women in the music industry, providing us with an empowering platform to truly delve into their stories. This season we have conversations with the likes of sultry and soulful Brit artist Ella Mai as she releases her sophomore album, discussions on the influence of Billie Holiday's music and her impact on jazz as we know it today, and anecdotes from your favourite songwriters, producers and artists.
Hosted by: Political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco
Average episode length: 1 hour 30 mins
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries 'hysteria' was used to diagnose women with supposedly erratic or emotional behaviours (aka any behaviour that might make men feel uncomfortable). The word, in its original usage, might have slipped out of favour but the same gaslighting, misogynistic verbiage still exists – and women have a lot to be angry about. The podcast invites a roster of hilarious, opinionated women to talk about everything from corporation unions to reproductive rights in the face of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. There's even an impassioned chinwag with Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) from Succession. We stan.
Hosted by: Maisie Hill
Average episode length: 1 hour
You might have seen the eye-catching book of the same name doing the rounds back in 2018 but the podcast really takes it to the next level with menstrual health expert, acupuncturist, certified life coach and author Maisie dishing out profound and empowering knowledge all about your menstrual cycle. We all know that hormones wreaking havoc on our body can be literal hell so the podcast offers actual serviceable information on how to work with your cycle rather than be ruled by it. And it goes beyond that with episodes on loving yourself and learning to be compassionate when negative thoughts arise, and how some of us might get the urge to 'nest' aka be at home during our periods and why it might happen.
Hosted by: Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz
Average episode length: 40 mins
Every week, best mates Christine and Em take us on a journey through all manner of hair-raising topics across the dark arts, spiritualism and the occult and their wider impact on modern culture. One week may see the co-hosts dive into mystical stories about healing waters aka the magically restorative fountain of youth; another episode will sink its teeth into lycan lore aka myths behind werewolves and shape-shifting humans. It's eye-opening, educational and just cool. An alternative vantage point on human history, boring it certainly is not.
Hosted by: Laci Mosley
Average episode length: 1 hour 30 mins
Ever since Fyre Festival, the public's obsession with the scam subgenre of true crime has exploded. Why is that? Undoubtedly because there is nothing more fascinating than the ingenuity, imagination or downright audacity that underpins some of the most famous frauds in recent media culture. Here to quench our bottomless thirst is Laci's podcast, which keeps us up to date on the latest scams while breaking down some of the craziest historic hoodwinks. From brutal romance scams to therapist fraud and even a supergroup of Harvard grads turned casino card-counting bamboozlers, get all your intel here.
Hosted by: Fola and Rukiya
Average episode length: 1 hour
The name pretty much says it all. Before you raise your eyebrows at the podcast's tagline of being "anti cancel-culture", understand it's more about having balanced discussions, taking accountability and a space "'where Black Brits can feel seen" and have those all-important raw conversations. Episodes address a "toxic thinker" of the week – from a person who thinks everyone should wait until they've achieved their career and financial aspirations before looking for love to someone who admits their relationship isn't great but they believe being single is worse – and offer an open-minded platform to discuss, not cancel. It's genuinely hilarious. We defy you not to recommend to your friends after just one listen.
Hosted by: Nicole Byer
Average episode length: 1 hour
"Nicole Byer is single and has been for decades. She's smart, funny, has a fat ass and loves giving blow jobs." I mean, what an intro. Every week, the comedy and relationships podcast sees hilarious host Nicole invite a comedian, friend or even an ex (!) to dig into reasons why she might be single (without a shred of self-pity). In one episode, Nicole is joined by a female comic to discuss whether men are afraid of funny women and the ethics of writing jokes about your partner; in another, Drag Race icon Raja Gemini doubles down on why she keeps relationships off social media. It's comedy gold but full of heart.
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