The Podcasts Every Woman Should Be Listening To
There’s no surprise that the rise of the podcast is continuing with as much energy as when they exploded into the creative sphere, with iTunes subscriptions expanding endlessly until the next millennial zeitgeist changes its direction. But for the time being, we are faced with endless possibilities for creating and exploring in the world of Podcasting; created by amateurs, professionals and celebrities, with topics as diverse from true crime, to comedy, to pop culture. Podcasting has been a remarkable media platform for women to educate and explore topics that affect them but in a relaxed and refreshing way, that brings women closer together in a society that is constantly trying to pull us in another direction. My picks will include podcasts that are thought-provoking and educative but others that will make you laugh out loud.
The High Low Podcast by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes
Best friends and co-workers, Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes are the ultimate female double-act to welcome newcomers on the podcast scene. The High-Low is a social commentary on life as a woman in the 21st-century with a focus on pop-culture, news and politics. Their motto is that life “is best consumed with a mix of the trivial and political”, which makes the podcast brim with enlightening feminine perspective but with a dash of silliness, something that always makes me want to download every week. This podcast stands out because of their open and informative response to universal topics that all women can relate too, but also because they are mindful of their occasional ignorance and use this as method of female empowerment and education.
Who this podcast is for: Women who are on the ball with all things feminist, but who also doesn’t mind girl-crushing on Chrissy Teigen…
My Favourite Murder by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
This insanely popular comedy podcast began in 2016 and became the brainchild of the two hosts after they struck up conversation over true crime at a Halloween party. What makes My Favourite Murder so important is how it has allowed women to openly enjoy the grisly but also draw energy and empowerment from it. These unconventional hosts openly talk about their own experiences with mental health, anxiety and substance addiction, and do not shy away from the harsh topics but actually embrace them in a refreshingly transparent way. The podcast is a call to arms for women, in no uncertain terms, to fight back, take control and be aware of choices that need to be made to make themselves safe. Their infamous catch-phrase “Stay sexy and don’t get murdered!”, embodies the mission of the podcast and brings a well-needed lighter tone to a podcast that does cover a lot of gloom. My Favourite Murder has transcended the boundaries of the podcast, to become a movement with women across the globe turning up to live shows of the podcast, creating a network for women that spreads the message of female solidarity and understanding in the face of uncertainty and danger.
Who this podcast is for: Lovers of true crime, comedy and female camaraderie
The Guilty Feminist by Deborah Frances White
This live audience podcast began in 2015 with Deborah Frances-White, and since has been “the fifty-million download” phenomenon, and has become one of the best-loved podcasts for women. Every episode is co-hosted by a special guest and begins with the phrase “I’m a feminist but…” followed with a confession of moments when they have done or thought something the ‘ideal feminist’ wouldn’t. The Guilty Feminist exists in a place where human flaw diverges with feminist idealism, and touches on the guilt that might follow when you fall short of this. Fear not, this guilt is countered by copious amounts of humour over confessions such as ‘I’m a feminist, but some days my lie doesn’t even pass the Bechdel test’. This podcast is relatable with the topics discussed, and the manner in which it does so-it does not single out any woman as being unable to be a part of a gender equality conversation but in fact welcomes them. What The Guilty Feminist doesn’t do, despite its hilarity, is to dilute historically important feminist matters and makes a point to discuss and debate topics such as diet culture, toxic masculinity and patriarchy. It is an important podcast that touches on sensitive topics with humour, something that makes quite heavy and scary topics, not so scary after all.
Who the podcast is for: The 21st-century imperfect feminist
On The Line by Estée Lalonde
This lifestyle blogger turned podcaster is your new favourite agony-aunt, Estée created this podcast to be a direct response to audience voicemail submissions covering subjects of break-ups, birth control, fashion and lifestyle. This podcast bursts with emotion and you can find yourself laughing one minute, and tearing up in the next, especially when you hear a first hand a callers experience which has deeply affected them. Nothing is off-limits in this podcast and it is a breath of fresh air for women to ask questions they might have been too afraid to ask for a long time.
Who this podcast is for: Anyone who needs a bit of light-hearted wisdom!