5 Women-led Podcasts That You Need Right Now
Why these kick-ass podcasts matter and help you stay informed
Next time you see someone with headphones on, try to guess what they’re listening to. If they’re smirking or chuckling, they might be listening to a podcast.
At least that’s been my experience. I can’t tell you the times that I busted out laughing or yelled, “Wait, what?!” while out in public with my headphones on. I noticed the strange looks and should’ve felt embarrassed, but I wasn’t — I was busy listening to my podcast.
I’m a full-time podcast junkie. Nothing pleases me more than popping in my headphones and listening to a podcast while commuting, doing chores, exercising, and anything else.
Women are doing incredible work in the podcast field. They are diving into topics that are taboo, political, and thought-provoking. They’re doing it with confidence and reaching mass audiences.
In the podcasts mentioned below, these women are diverse and are using their platforms to educate, inspire, and entertain.
What’s great is you can expand your mind on your own time and you don’t have to worry about missing an episode. You can stop and start and choose any episode.
You can access the following podcasts on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Some are also available on Google Podcasts, Luminary, and Stitcher.
Most of these also have websites that allow you to listen from your desktop or laptop.
Here are five incredible podcasts led by badass women that are guaranteed to make you think:
I Weigh
I Weigh is a society and culture podcast with actress and activist Jameela Jamil. Jamil started this podcast to create a dialogue about our worth outside of what we weigh. Each week, Jamil seeks to learn more about class, feminism, gender, the patriarchy, sex work, race, and other aspects of our lives.
This podcast aims to bring awareness about how culture and society have bred us to feel shame. Her goal is to shatter the shame that keeps us quiet and afraid.
Jamil emphasizes the message that we weigh our characteristics, qualities, love, and actions.
For example, each episode ends with her asking her guests what they “weigh” and they’re not allowed to answer with a number. Guests might answer that they weigh being an activist, being compassionate, being a good friend, being a leader, etc.
Her guests are a mix of experts and celebrities. Some notable ones are Jane Fonda, Esther Perel, Evan Rachel Wood, Conan O’Brien, and so many other wonderful guests you can get jazzed about.
Jamil brings comic relief and respect to the topics and guests on her podcasts.
She curses like a sailor and we love her for it.
Check this one out asap! You can find her podcast on Apple Podcasts and Earwolf, Spotify, and iHeart.
Crime Junkie
There is so much to say about Crime Junkie, which is led by childhood besties Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat.
Not only are these women incredible researchers and storytellers, but they are activists. Ashley and Brit donate, support, and spread awareness to help bring justice to victims and their families.
They support causes such as testing backlogged DNA, advocating for LGBTQIA+ and signing petitions for families who need police attention on their loved ones’ cases.
Flowers and Prawat aim to improve the way we consume true-crime content.
These women are unstoppable. Each week, they fill their episodes with excellent reporting, quality sources, and engaging storytelling. I can’t sing their praises enough.
Plus, they’re so down-to-earth that it’s easy to feel like they’re your old friends.
You can catch episodes on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. You can listen on the Crime Junkie website where you can also sign petitions and donate to families and animal shelters.
The C-Word
This podcast about “crazy” (c-word) women is well done and so fun!
Writer and actress Lena Dunham and historian Alissa Bennett deep dive into history and pop culture. They focus on women who have been called “crazy” by the press and the public.
Bennett and Dunham are incredibly articulate, compassionate, and funny. These hosts bring a behind-the-scenes view because of their own dances with fame and public notoriety.
Notable “C-Word subjects” are Amy Winehouse, Marie Antoinette, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Robin Givens, Yoko Ono, and many other misunderstood women.
The C-Word brings nuance to the conversations of these women.
They tell their stories with empathy and passion and are quick to admit what they don’t know. I love the commentary, storytelling, and research in their episodes.
Bennett and Dunham end every episode with a thoughtful and heartfelt wish for the woman of the episode. Love!
You can listen to a few episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, but for access to all, you’ll need to subscribe to Luminary for $4.99 a month. You can always subscribe, binge, and cancel.
Trust me, this podcast is worth it!
Girls Gotta Eat
Sex? Relationships? Dating? Comedy?
Queens Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg leave no topic uncovered in this fantastic podcast about modern love and lust.
Hesseltine and Greenberg talk about attachment theory, communication, dating, marriage, and divorce.
They talk about how to approach butt stuff, how to get over heartbreak, and how to take better nudes. More topics include having kids, not having kids, and having better sex overall.
These ladies cover it all and have an impressive array of guests on their podcast, ranging from authors, comedians, medical doctors, public figures, psychologists, and even a dominatrix.
Hesseltine and Greenberg have their fingers on the pulse of trends in dating. They don’t shy away from sharing their own stories of heartbreak and debauchery.
Not only are these women best friends, but they are both hilarious and vulnerable.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or their website.
On Point
This one is a little different because it’s created and produced by NPR.
It differs from the others in this list because they have replaced the former host with the incredible journalist and radio producer, Meghna Chakrabarti.
Chakrabarti is smart as a whip and can cover any topic ranging from AI, geopolitics, literature, social issues, and much more. Nothing is off-limits or out of reach for Chakrabarti.
On this podcast, Chakrabarti features diverse and renowned authors, experts, and scientists. She approaches conversations on current and historical issues from both sides to present a nuanced presentation for audiences.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the On Point website.
What to do next
There are many incredible podcasts out there, but this list of podcasts led by badass women is just the start.
Don’t be surprised if you get addicted!
Start with the podcasts from this list and scroll through and see which episodes appeal to you most. There is no rule that states you need to start from the most recent.
I could geek out all day about these women and their podcasts! Now get started and let me know which ones are your favorites. Happy listening!
If you love these podcasts or have others you want to recommend, please do so in the comments! Thanks for reading and supporting my work. Lots of love!