If you’re not into watching Trump’s Inauguration today, listening to these podcasts made by Black creatives might be more enlightening and enjoyable!
With the Inauguration of President-Elect Trump looming, many of us have decided to sit this one out. Call it a silent protest or just an escape from the non-stop coverage that will be haunting our television, radio and Facebook feeds.
Here are some of the best weekly podcasts from black creators discussing music, film, politics, dating and much more with humor and honesty. Enjoy!
Black Girl Nerds
I started listening to podcasts by Black Girl Nerds last year and I’m so happy I found a community of like-minded, nerdy black girls. Now, BGN isn’t exclusively for black girls but an online community for all nerds. BGN was created by Jamie Broadnax.
"An online community where women can embrace their eccentricities and appreciate who they are."
BGN covers a variety of trending topics and frequently interviews celebrity guests from your favorite movies, tv shows and fandoms. The first BGN podcast I listened to featured an impress guest list: Idris Elba (Thor), Anika Noni Rose (The First Black Disney Princess) and Tommy Davidson (In Living Color).
2 Dope Queens
Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams are hysterical besties hosting a live comedy show in Brooklyn. These 2 Dope Queens, along with their dearest comedian friends, tell stories about sex, romance, race, hair journeys, living in New York, and much more!
Some of their well-known comedians have included Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Hannibal Burress (Broad City), Eric Andre (The Eric Andre Show) Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) and Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live).
So Many White Guys
If you like “2 Dope Queens” I’m confident you’ll love Phoebe Robinson’s solo podcast, “So Many White Guys”. If you hadn’t noticed there’s a lot of white guys firmly planted in the mainstream world of entertainment. But, there are extremely creative and talented minority men and women killing it right now in the industry who deserve some spotlight.
"“Coming from a comedy background where cis, straight white dudes are the norm and everyone else is the ‘other’ or the token, it feels great to flip that and have the majority of the guests on SMWG be women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folks and not reduce them to what they identify as on a census form.”"
Phoebe is hilariously entertaining and she invites several well-known creatives to interview on her show like Constance Wu (Fresh Off The Boat), Hasan Minhaj (The Daily Show With Trevor Noah), Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin) and many more!
The Read
I haven’t listened to ‘The Read’ yet but I’m going to add it to my list for my next commute to work. Apparently, the commentators are best-friends who are new to NYC. Pod-casting was a way for this duo to vent about their struggles in the Big Apple. Here’s a short description of what they offer in their weekly podcast:
"Join Kid Fury and Crissle for their weekly podcast covering hip-hop and pop culture’s most trying stars. Throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude, no star is safe from Fury and Crissle unless their name is Beyoncé. (Or Blue Ivy.)"
Their most popular episode is an oldie but goodie where the two along with Francesca Ramsey (MTV Decoded) react to Queen Bey’s surprise album drop in 2013.
Denzel Washington Is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period
Every time I read the title of this podcast I laugh and shake my head in agreement. I love Denzel Washington and if you do too then you’ll love listening to comedians W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery discuss Denzel’s movies – in alphabetical order – every week. These two are friends who discuss a wide range of topics and leave nothing off the table.
Call Your Girlfriend
Here’s a podcast for besties near and far. When “adulting” becomes to hectic and stressful let these two besties invite you into their world where they discuss life, culture and politics.
"Call Your Girlfriend is a podcast for long-distance besties everywhere, hosted by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman and produced by Gina Delvac. Every other week, eavesdrop as Aminatou and Ann call each other to discuss the intricacies of pop culture and the latest in politics. We’re highbrow and lowbrow, unapologetically feminist, and not afraid to real-talk each other about everything from menstrual cycles to workplace dramas."
Every other week they invite some high-profile besties to the table for a special segment titled: Phone-A-Friend.
2 Brown Girls
Fariha Roisin and Zeba Blay are two brown girls and best-friends living in New York City. In their podcasts they discuss pop culture, film, television and some divisive topics like racism in America and the 2016 election. Their last upload was a discussion about the election results.
"We’re back after a cute little hiatus to discuss the end of the fucking world."
And they haven’t posted since November. But, I’m looking forward to listening to them in 2017.
The Combat Jack Show
On a weekly basis, a wide array of personalities including Talib Kweli, Deray McKesson, Feminista Jones, and Marc Lamont Hill appear on the podcast to discuss the latest in current events.
"The undisputed #1 Hip-Hop podcast, the Combat Jack Show features interviews with Hip-Hop icons & the most in-depth conversations about music, news, culture & race."
Some of those icons include: Russell Simmons, Chuck D, Damon Dash, Rza, Scarface, D-Nice all share personal stories and talk exclusively about their journeys, philosophies and viewpoints.
For Colored Nerds
Nerds exist in all parts of the world, and they are men, women and brown like me. Here’s another podcast exploring “nerd-dom” from a male and female perspective. Every week, Brittany and Eric get together and converse nerd culture, career, and Beyonce. Here’s an episode where the two give a full breakdown of Yonce’s latest surprise album: Lemonade.
Last Name Basis
Francesca Leigh “chescaleigh” is a YouTube star who gained even more attention for her role in MTV Decoded. She joins her husband for a “sometimes weekly podcast” discussing newlywed life, pop culture and politics. These lovebirds are adorable, funny and smart.
Rantin’ and Ravin’ with Yamaneika and Friends
Comedian Yamaneika Saunders joins some of her best comic friends for a hilarious weekly podcast. No topic is too controversial or taboo for your listening pleasure!
Next: 17 Non-Profit Organizations That Need Your Support in 2017
This list is just a tiny fraction of popular podcasts featuring men and women of color. But there are so many more black creators uploading funny, thought-provoking podcasts every day.
Are there any podcasts that you subscribe to with a diverse listening crowd in mind? If so, what are they and when is the best time for you to listen. In the car? On the exercise bike? In-between classes? Give us the details and links in the comment section below. Happy Listening!