Black Podcasts for Your Summer Travels (PART 1):
Podcasts are the shit. I’m just going to go ahead and put that out there.
Seriously. If you’re not tuning in you’re missing out on some insanely wonderful conversational gems. As a woman of color, a new mother, a partner, and a Black woman in corporate America, there’s a multitude of issues, thoughts, conflicts and ideas I contend with on a daily basis related to said identities. And honestly, sometimes that can be overwhelming. And isolating. As someone who’s attended both a diverse college and a PWI as well as I am often the only WOC in many of my work spaces, there’s plenty of moments where I miss being able to discuss or ponder on things that relate to who I am outside of my profession.
Enter podcasts. I’ve listened to everything from live comedy to true crime, to emotional discussions of the constant attack on POC in this country. As they’ve increased in popularity, so have the genres have increased. Whether you’re looking for something political and socially conscious during your commute to work or perhaps you want the tea and need something juicy and hysterical while on that flight, trust me-- there’s a podcast out there for whatever you want or need. Check out a few of my favorites below and feel free to tweet at me (@MsSashaS) and put me on to any you’re listening to too!!!
1. The Read- Current Favorite Episode: Ariel’s Dreads, Frequency: Weekly, Hosts: Kid Fury and Chrissle, http://thisistheread.com/
If there’s any podcast I HAVE to listen to on a regular basis it’s this one. Some of you may remember Kid Fury from his YouTube days of hilarity. Paired with his co-host Crissle, you are guaranteed at least 1 good true laugh out loud moment per listen. These two discuss ALL the entertainment tea and insight you’ll need pertaining to black entertainment and politics and just, in general the increasingly common shenanigans that occur in Trump’s Amerikka (insert eye roll). Having said that, this show is called The Read, So yes, there are plenty of moments where both hosts equally read a clown FOR. FILTH. Truly, my cup runneth over with every single episode. Case in point, below they discuss the phenomenon that is Lil Nas X:
Preview:
Fury: (On Old Town Road) “Um yeah, his EP is out, it sounds like music a young n**** would be making. Cardi B is on there somewhere and only ONE of the songs has an explicit icon next to it on Apple.
Crissle: I bet because he knows who’s listening to that sh** and it’s the children.
Fury: It is just…like, I’m sure Kidz Bop has already sent the paper work.
Crissle: Had to have (laughing)
Fury: Like, just sign here on the dotted, we got our track for you.
Crissle: I don’t think that anything will hit these kids the way that Old Town Road has though.
Fury: It’s literally their generations Back that A** up
Crissle: YES it is they’re OBSESSED these kids cannot get enough of it.
Fury: Old Town Road is baby Knuck if You Buck.
LOL.
2. Therapy for Black Girls- Current Favorite Episode: Session 108: Find Your People, Frequency: Weekly, Host: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford a licensed psychologist in ATL, GA, therapyforblackgirls.com
All of Dr. Bradford’s episodes are short, sweet and to the point. This podcast is especially good for a shorter commute where you’re still looking for some meaningful and often uplifting content. Dr. Bradford discusses a wide-variety of issues ranging from heavy and emotional topics (ex: When Mother’s Day is Painful), to episodes focused on tips and encouraging suggestions for ways to improve your life (ex: Increasing Sexual Confidence). She even includes a directory of other black therapists across the country for us to tap into, ya’ll. Yes!
Preview:
“The third and final place that I think could really be great for finding your people, is by looking a little more closely in your everyday life. Sometimes there are people in our lives who could really become our people with a little bit of effort on our parts. So the sister that you exchange pleasantries with at the end of yoga class, or the person in your calculus class who explains to you what happened when you missed something the professor said…OR the sister who works on the 6th floor that you run into every now and then, how might you deepen some of these relationships to see if this might be someone who you really enjoy?”
3. Black Girl Podcast- Current Favorite Episode: Marathon, Frequency: Monthly, Hosts: Sapphira Martin, Alysha Pamphile, Gia Peppers, Deanii “Scottie Beam” Scott and Rebecca “Bex” Francois, https://soundcloud.com/blackgirlpodcast
It’s always great to see a group of sisters come together to create. This podcast is a great mixture and balance of light-hearted girl talk ranging from their experience’s as young black women to deeper cultural issues that need to be addressed. The conversation style here is roundtable which provides the opportunity to hear a variety of views between the five hosts and at times, their guests. All five hosts have at one point worked for the hip hop radio station, Hot 97 and it was there the show’s “Godfather” Ebro Darden (of the infamous Ebro in the Morning) overheard the women talking and suggested they create a public platform for their conversations.
Preview:
(On her immediate feelings after Nipsey Hussle’s passing) Scottie Beam: “I think I felt the same sentiments as everybody else. But what puzzled me the most…which I was trying to process as far as grieving for someone you’ve never met. A lot of the time I sat there and I was like, ‘I feel so strong(ly) about this and I don’t know this man.’ I’ve listened to this man’s music, I’ve listened to his message, I resonate with his message and everything… but why does it hurt so bad? Like, I’m literally grieving for someone I don’t know. So that’s something that I had to process. And realizing that we see him in so many black men that I admire.”
If you’re looking for a vibe that’s akin to sitting down for drinks (and tea) with your girlfriends, this is one is for you. The camaraderie between the hosts is refreshing and their episodes have definitely inspired some great conversations between me and my own crew.
4. Black Girl in Om- Current Favorite Episode: Answers and Alignment, Frequency: Weekly or Bi-weekly, Hosts: Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory, http://www.blackgirlinom.com/podcast
Now, I’m clearly biased, but this one is one of my favorite go-to resources for all things spiritual and energy centric. Because while we’re all busy kicking ass and taking names as we Black women do… we often forget to check in with our inner selves and examine if she needs some TLC too. Black Girl in Om’s mission is to “promote holistic wellness and inner beauty for women of color. We encourage self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment for communities of color.” The hosts Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory created this platform in 2014 as a space for us to revamp the way we view and discuss wellness as people of colo
photo via ESSENCE
Preview (quotes from several episodes):
“Trusting that divine power, the Creator of the Universe, has given me the confidence to allow myself to walk in my greatness.” - Deun Ivory
“I’m not going to shrink myself. I’m not going to make my requests or my wants or my desires small.”- (guest) Ev’Yan Whitney on sexual desires.
"I need to release certain things and release them on a deep level because I’m holding onto certain things that aren’t serving me." - Lauren Ash
"I acknowledge where I am and who I am in this moment, but I’m not going to stay here. I’m going to hold this thought captive and release it."- Deun Ivory
"It’s key that we see ourselves represented as beautiful and as worthy”- Lauren Ash
“I’ve been learning to operate out of abundance”- Deun Ivory
Black Girl in Om is the quintessential podcasts for healing, introspection and gaining clarity on subjects especially relatable to women of color. Let me be the first to tell you these episodes are not for the faint of heart. It requires deep thought and a willingness to put aside the world for a while a connect with your spiritual self. I promise you’ll thank yourself later for giving this one a listen. It’s literally a place for you to exhale, Sis.
5. Ratchet and Respectable- Current Favorite Episode: The Ayesha Curry Conundrum, Frequency: Weekly or Bi-Weekly, Host: Demetria L. Lucas, https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/demetria/ratchet-and-respectable
Again, I am severely biased. Alas, I STAN for Demetria L. Lucas’ work and implore you all to give this one a listen. I LIVE for this woman’s commentary on any pop culture happenings and relationships on social media and her audio version does not disappoint. Sis always hits the nail on the head. Lucas is the author of A Belle In Brooklyn (if you haven’t read that please pick it up!) and Don’t Waste Your Pretty and former ESSENCE writer. Her writing was the work I turned to in college when I needed (again) to read something relatable to ME as a black woman who at the time was in the midst of dating and just beginning to explore the world. So when I found out she had a podcast I couldn’t get my headphones in fast enough. Demtria L. Lucas is THEE writer I’ve read everything from and have adored through the years. Also she’s a fellow VIBE magazine alum (hey girl hey!). So yeah, I’m real bias.
In fact, to wrap up part one of this list— love her and YOU all so much I’ve done the work for you for with this one. Check out her latest episode where she discusses turning 40, the pressures that come with living in LA, ASAP Rocky, Queen Sugar and more.
