Considering the current state of the world, we could all benefit from an escape from reality—if not literally, at least figuratively. Whether you’re seeking a binge-worthy true crime investigation, a lesson on the women history forgot, or voices of reason offering earnest advice, we’ve got you covered. (For additional recommendations based on what your friends and influencers listen to, we suggest that you check out the new Goodpods app.)
Below is our lineup of the best women-hosted podcasts—some newly launched, others hundreds of episodes deep—that will make you laugh and make you cry, and let you zone out for a while.
The Coco & Breezy Podcast
From honest anecdotes on what it’s like to be a woman of color in the fashion industry to candid discussions on their thoughts and feelings on the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Coco and Breezy’s newly-launched podcast offers important insight on what it means to be a Black woman today.
Dirty Diana
Starring Demi Moore and created by Shana Feste (Country Strong director), Dirty Diana tells the story of two partners who find their way back to each other from a dying, sexless marriage. Described as portraying “sex and longing from a female gaze with female pleasure at its center,” this six-episode narrative series is the sex-drama podcast you never knew you needed.
Come Through with Rebecca Carroll
Writer, podcast host, producer, and editor Rebecca Carroll’s new podcast focuses on how race is inextricably linked to issues such as healthcare, jobs, climate change, and the media. The series features 15 insightful conversations with thinkers, writers, and artists like Ava Duvernay, Robin DiAngelo, and Issa Rae, presenting essential discussions about race in an election year that can only be considered a “pivotal moment for America.”
And Nothing Less
Hosted by Rosario Dawson and comedian Retta, And Nothing Less is a new podcast honoring the centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote. In the seven-part series, listeners will be guided through the untold history of women’s suffrage, with a focus on the women whose voices are too often overlooked.
Unlocking Us
Brené Brown—professor, lecturer, and five-time New York Times bestseller—is back with a new podcast to “challenge what we think we know” about the human experience. Episodes will vary from discussions with influential thought-partners (like Tarana Burke and Glennon Doyle), to direct conversations with listeners, along with interactive “ask me anything” episodes—all centered around “unlocking the deeply human part of who we are.”
InCharge with DVF
InCharge with DVF is Diane von Furstenberg’s newly-launched debut podcast series. Expect candid interviews with inspiring women (Elaine Welteroth, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, and Karlie Kloss are part of the impressive lineup) that focus on the trials and tribulations of their accomplished lives and career. In the inaugural episode, released March 12, Kris Jenner opens up about the details of the affair that broke up her family.
Anonymous Was A Woman
Listen to Jamila Rizvi (author and CCO of Future Women) and Astrid Edwards (writer, director, and co-founder of Bad Producer Productions) analyze books by and about women in their new podcast, Anonymous Was A Woman. Each episode will delve into the works they’ve loved and hated, and those that have made them laugh and cry. Check out the trailer now in anticipation of the April premiere.
The Michelle Obama Podcast
Join the former First Lady for intimate conversations with family, friends, and colleagues, digging into topics such as sibling relationships, raising children, women’s health, mentorship, and marriage. If the inaugural episode featuring her husband is any indication, the series will be a source of insightful reflections on the experiences that form who we are.
Sugar Calling
Cheryl Strayed, the bestselling author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things, is reviving her beloved advice column persona, Sugar, in the new podcast Sugar Calling. Strayed will be lighting up these perilous times as she calls up some of the world’s most prolific writers (such as Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume) for wisdom, insight, and inspiration.
Straighten Your Crown
In Straighten Your Crown, hosts Andrea Minkow (advisor for second career female entrepreneurs and CEOs) and Amy Jin (coach, speaker, and ex-Google BD exec) offer invaluable advice for all women entrepreneurs. From examining female founders’ often inhibiting need to be liked, to explaining how to fundraise in a time of financial crisis, each episode tells you everything you need to know about “starting, scaling, and raising money for a business.”
Okay, Now Listen
Hosted by hilarious duo Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell (and produced by Netflix and Strong Black Lead), this bi-weekly podcast highlights the latest in pop culture—think “what they’re binging and what’s blowing up their timelines.” If episode two’s interview with Nadia Hallgren (director of the Michelle Obama-documentary Becoming) is any indication of what’s to come, this new podcast is definitely worthy of your time.
Why Won’t You Date Me?
Comedian Nicole Byer (best known as the host of Netflix’s reality bake-off series, Nailed It!) examines why she’s still single in this hilarious, and at times R-rated, podcast. Every episode features a new and entertaining guest, with Byer providing analysis on everything from combating dry-spells to the dramatic highs and lows of online dating, and what hiring a professional matchmaker actually entails. Think of this as your go-to resource for relatable scrutiny on finding love in the modern world.
Terrible, Thanks for Asking.
“You know when someone asks ‘How are you?’ you just say ‘fine,’ even if you’re totally dying inside, so everyone can go about their day?”—that is the introduction to Nora McInrey’s meaningful podcast, Terrible, Thanks for Asking. It takes shape as honest conversations with ‘normal’ people about the real, complicated—sometimes good and sometimes bad—feelings we have about ourselves and the world around us.
Truth Be Told
Truth Be Told is an unfiltered advice podcast hosted by Tonya Mosley. Each week, the Emmy award-winning radio journalist explores what it means to live and thrive as a person of color in our society. It offers guidance on “how you can be you in a world that doesn’t always want you to be,” and tackles some of the most pressing issues people of color face, making it an educational must-listen for all.
Death, Sex & Money
Death, Sex & Money is the ultimate podcast for things we “think about a lot, and need to talk about more.” From intimate conversations on topics frequently-deemed taboo (“How do you come to terms with a paternity test that shows a different result than you anticipated?”) to important, challenging discussions on everything from navigating interracial dating to overcoming the loss of a child, each episode is a thought-provoking discussion about the relationship struggles we all can relate to.
Jill on Money.
Certified financial planner Jill Schlesinger translates complex financial concepts and business lingo into digestible ideas in this informative, money-focused podcast. The Emmy-nominated and Gracie Award-winning business analyst for CBS News offers tangible advice on investing, saving, and avoiding common money mistakes, along with analysis on everything from the current status of the economy and workplace issues for women.
Friends Who Talk About Money
Writer, financial advocate, and founder of Ladies Get Paid Claire Wasserman’s new podcast focuses on a topic many usually avoid: money. In each episode, Claire interviews friends, families, and couples to discuss how money affects their relationships, with the goal of ending the taboo around discussing money and asking for financial help.
The StyleRow Podcast
StyleRow—a platform that’s streamlining the highly inefficient design process for designers, showrooms, and makers—has newly launched a podcast that hones in on the interior design industry. Tune in to StyleRow’s founder and CEO, Erinn Valencich, as she interviews “the creatives responsible for bringing the world’s most beautiful spaces alive.”
This Podcast Will Kill You
Epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann share their fascination with epidemics and bizarre medical mysteries, offering insights into the mysterious world of medicine (and the importance of washing your hands!). The hosts explore a different disease each episode, covering its history, biology, and, more importantly, how scared you need to be of contracting it. They have dedicated several episodes to analyzing everything from the virology and epidemiology of COVID-19, to potential vaccines, and the longer-lasting mental health consequences of quarantine.
Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books
This daily podcast by writer and mother-of-four Zibby Owens speaks to moms who, well, don’t have time to read books. In each episode, Owens interviews prominent authors such as the award-winning novelist Jamaica Kincaid and New York Times-bestseller Celeste Ng, about their works.
Call Your Girlfriend
This weekly phone-call-turned-podcast between Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman offers “highbrow and lowbrow, fiercely opinionated” hot takes on women’s humanity. From discussing their own menstrual cycles and workplace dramas to highlighting the experiences of famous and non-famous women alike, each episode is an empowering conversation that will instantly make you feel part of this real-life best friend duo.
Criminal
Phoebe Judge’s Criminal is the award-winning true-crime podcast that stands the test of time. Each episode features a new story about “people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, and/or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.” It is an addictive listen with new episodes released bi-monthly, every other Friday.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
For a relevant and relatable discussion on all that encompasses identifying as female, listen to the bi-weekly podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You. Hosts Samantha McVey and Anney Reese explore topics like dating in the era of #MeToo, women’s relationship to ambition, and mental health in black communities. Taking a research-based approach, it is an equally informative and entertaining podcast on intersectional feminism and gender equality.
The History Chicks
Flipping that script on his-tory (a.k.a history taught through the male gaze), The History Chicks goes back thousands of years to highlight prominent women excluded from our textbooks. From Clara Barton, the trailblazing humanitarian and founder of the Red Cross, to the inimitable songbird Ella Fitzgerald, each conversation focuses on one woman’s “challenges, failures, successes, and all the juicy bits.”
Black Girl In Om
Guests like Erica Chidi Cohen (founder of LOOM) and Latham Thomas (founder of Glow Maven) join podcast hosts Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory for a weekly discussion on wellness, self-care, and self-love for women of color. With conversations on everything from yoga to clean beauty, Black Girl In Om offers inspiring advice and uplifting insight that will make you feel more in touch with your personal holistic wellbeing.
Out of Office.
A go-to podcast for career inspiration from Babba Canales, founder of brand marketing agency byBabba, Out Of Office highlights the “journeys, lessons learned and advice from creative forces who manifested their own way.” Episode highlights include Canales’ discussion with Teen Vogue’s Lindsay Peoples Wagner on diversity in the workplace, and Lauren Chan, founder of plus-size brand Henning, talking about size-inclusivity in the fashion industry.