In an increasingly digitized landscape, podcasts have become a major source of information and entertainment. It’s easy to put on your headphones and press play on the latest episode of your favorite podcast for your daily commute. However, it’s hard to not get tired of the constant onslaught of new Alpha Male podcasts on my TikTok that spread misogynistic rhetoric, like what traits make women undesirable to men. If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air amid the abundance of male-led podcasts, then look no further than these six podcasts created by women, for women.
“Pretty Basic”
Alisha Marie and Remi Cruz are two best friends and lifestyle vloggers on YouTube who have combined forces to create this podcast that discusses love, friendship and the harsh realities of being women on social media. This podcast is reminiscent of a long, comforting conversation with an older sister or close friend. Cruz often discusses her experiences as a woman of color in the entertainment industry. The name, “Pretty Basic,” is an ode to a term that many women have heard about themselves — that their interests and hobbies are “basic.” Both Marie and Cruz take back that narrative and reclaim it for themselves in their duo podcast.
“anything goes”
If there’s one thing that Gen Z loves, it’s relatability, and YouTuber Emma Chamberlain has made it her brand. Many members of Gen Z grew up watching lifestyle and commentary YouTubers such as Eva Gutowski and Casey Neistat, so Chamberlain is not new to this trend of sharing what her life honestly looks like. While audience members should take all celebrity and influencer podcasts with a grain of salt because they are wealthy and well-known, there are still valuable pieces of advice that Chamberlain provides about the importance of self-love and female friendship. Each episode feels like being on a long FaceTime call, listening to Chamberlain chronicle the events of her life in California and how she grappled with fame at such a young age. What’s relatable about Chamberlain’s not-so-relatable career is that she, much like us, is still figuring it out as she goes.
“The Mel Robbins Podcast”
You’re likely familiar with the “Let Them” theory popularized on TikTok, which essentially states if someone or something doesn’t want to be in your life or does not naturally fit into it, then you have to let them go. These are the wise words of Mel Robbins, a New York Times bestselling author and motivational speaker. In her eponymous podcast, she gives listeners science-backed advice to change their lives in small ways that can actually change the way they perceive themselves entirely. She gives various guidance to listeners, helping them deal with difficult people, overcoming fear and self-sabotage and changing their mindset. Anyone who wants to change their life mentally and spiritually can do so by tuning in to what Robbins has to say.
“The History Chicks”
“The History Chicks” is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of women throughout history. In each of their episodes, hosts Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider take an in-depth look at the lives of historical icons, such as Pocahontas and Marie Antoinette, and modern-day figures, such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackie Kennedy. It encourages us to recognize that women have been the foundation of so many of the political revolutions, technological innovations and other societal advancements throughout history.
“Life Kit”
NPR’s “Life Kit” is a one-stop-shop for life advice, entertainment, self-reflection, anecdotes and history. Hosted by Marielle Segarra, this podcast gives listeners bite-size advice on a range of topics, covering everything from paying taxes, traveling on a budget or dealing with an overbearing friend. While these may seem like mundane and simple questions, we always need help with the basics. As someone who is constantly asking my friends for advice, or advising them, it’s great to have a podcast solely dedicated to doing so, and this podcast also frequently answers questions that listeners send in.
“Brown Ambition”
If there’s any podcast to invest in, it’s “Brown Ambition,” where you can learn all things investment, wealth building and finance, directly from ambitious women of color. Hosted by personal finance expert and journalist Mandi Woodruff and award-winning financial educator and “Get Good With Money” author Tiffany Aliche, this podcast helps listeners address their financial concerns and learn about the economy. Woodruff and Aliche, two women of color, actively and unapologetically work to build their own path towards financial success. Listeners learn about networking, investing in the stock market and the multitude of avenues to build wealth.
Contact Pritheva Zakaria at [email protected].
