Podcasts are becoming our constant companions: from making us chuckle while running our errands to keeping us company on our commute to work. Sometimes, they’re simply background noise, and other times, they command our full attention: making us laugh, cry, or even gasp in horror. There’s nothing like discovering a binge-worthy podcast, especially when it has been curated by women, for women.
Because sharing is caring, we’ve rounded up our favourite women-run podcasts, guaranteed to treat your soul as well as your ears!
Synced
Listening to Synced feels like a warm hug – it transports you to the couch of your best friend while sipping coffee and catching up after an impromptu sleepover. Monica Padman and Liz Plank first bonded in the process of freezing their eggs: a heartfelt journey that created their hit podcast “Race To 35”.
Now, they’re back with weekly instalments discussing health, dating in your 30s, sustainable fashion choices, and so much more. The second half of each episode consists of Monica and Liz “giving their two cents” on listener questions: ranging from “How do I tell my best friend I’m in love with them?” to “How do I get my partner more on board with using sex toys?”.
Therapy For Black Girls
Dr Joy’s podcast isn’t just a joy to listen to: it’s an achievement. Along with her countless female guests, she’s fighting to de-stigmatise mental health, one episode at a time. Therapy For Black Girls is “a weekly chat about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves”.
Each episode is a safe space to explore countless shared experiences we have as women, and not one of us is left out! As a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Joy Harden injects discussions with her expertise, humour, understanding, and grace.
But, she also knows that there’s always another voice to be heard: regularly allowing fellow experts and women to take the mic. Fancy joining the Sisterhood? Our honourable episode mentions include “Maintaining Lasting Friendships”, “Demystifying Menopause” and “What Does It Mean to Be A Girl’s Girl?”.
Redhanded
It’s time to give a shoutout to our girls in the UK: the queens of True Crime Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire. Their award-winning show Redhanded is more than just a weekly dose of mystifying murder cases, it’s a perfect blend of “true crime, progressive politics, and a lot of charm”, as summed up by Vox.
It’s safe to say that today’s media is saturated with true crime deep-dives, with countless podcasts filling our proverbial ears. It’s even safer to say that, despite the dangerous subject matter, Hannah and Suruthi provide a refreshing tone to the genre that keeps their cult following coming back for more.
With plenty of British humour and an infectious rapport, these women cover cases from all over the world: taking you from the criminal underworld of Japan to the killings that inspired The Silence of the Lambs.
Raising Good Humans
Parenting can be tough, but navigating the world of online advice can be even harder. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to raise humans who are healthy, happy, and thriving. Making waves in the sea of parenting guidance is Dr. Aliza Pressman: with her beloved podcast Raising Good Humans.
As a developmental psychologist and mother of two teenagers, Aliza brings the right mix of personal experience and science-backed parenting tools to her show. Rather than bombarding us with facts, she makes her listeners feel that we’re on a journey together “to learn, grow, and feel inspired as people, and as parents”.
She also understands that we women are busy folk, whether we’re parents or not. Each episode is around 50 minutes long, delving into complex topics without leaving the listener feeling overwhelmed. Recent topics include child skincare, alleviating mealtime tension, and detangling the “cool mom” concept.
Sex With Emily
Dr. Emily Morse is on a mission: “to liberate the conversation about sex and pleasure”. As the longest-running sex and relationships podcast with millions of avid listeners worldwide, many would say she’s achieved this mission, but with countless topics to cover, she’s just hitting her stride!
Listening to Sex With Emily is, to put it simply, somewhat life-changing. Her candid conversations are a breath of fresh air in a society still riddled with cultural taboos surrounding sex. This fresh air is exhaled as a sigh of relief, as we listeners realise that our worries and concerns in the bedroom are totally normal. With years' worth of twice-weekly content, there’s bound to be a topic that interests you in Dr Emily’s archives: from kinks and solo-sex tips to tackling trust issues and mismatched libidos.
She’s My Cherry Pie
The year is 2020; amid lockdown, we’ve all baked banana bread with varying degrees of success, and we’ve binge-watched at least 2 seasons of The Great British Bakeoff. For many of us, this ignited a passion for baked goods that has only grown since the pandemic, and lucky for us, there’s a delicious podcast to satiate our sweet tooth.
She’s My Cherry Pie is the number one baking podcast in The US, with host Jessie Sheehan interviewing the world’s top pastry chefs. Each episode takes a delectable deep-dive into a new recipe: sharing sourdough secrets, the mystery of fortune cookies, and the complex science of “Pieometry”. With 40-minute instalments and weekly updates, there’s always time to enjoy a slice of cherry pie!
Women Who Travel
From Christopher Columbus to Hemingway, the realm of travel has been dominated, historically, by men. Frustrated, Condé Nast Traveler editor Lale Arikoglu sought to reclaim this narrative and shed light on the intrepid experiences of women. Enter her accomplishment, Women Who Travel: a podcast that interviews female-identifying guests about their global adventures.
With the help of her guests, Lale transports listeners to myriad destinations. Close your eyes for a moment and you’re in The Grand Canyon: following two women botanists as they battle the rapids of the Colorado River. In another episode, you’ll be island-hopping through Croatia, or discovering a Vogue editor’s packing secrets.
FoundMyFitness
Whether you’re looking for something new to listen to while you work out, or simply want to know more about the ice bath trend, look no further than the FoundMyFitness podcast. When Dr Rhonda Patrick speaks, she blends charisma, passion, and science in a way that has inspired millions to start their fitness journey.
At face value, many of her topics seem reminiscent of our high school biology days, but her delivery is accessible, witty, and heartfelt. Bringing the latest research on nutrition, ageing, and disease prevention to the table, Rhonda’s mission is to help us apply science to our daily lives. With topics including heat therapy, the benefits of Omega-3, and resistance training, FoundMyFitness is the perfect soundtrack to your morning routine.
The Guilty Feminist
On her podcast’s website, host Deborah Frances-White shares a story that many of us can relate to in some way. She tells us that “one time I went on a women’s rights march, and I popped into a department store to use the loo, and I got distracted trying out face cream. And when I came out the march was gone”.
The Guilty Feminist is kind of a big deal in the podcast world: discussing what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. Deborah is a comedian at heart: tackling the lofty principles behind feminism with both humour and genuine knowledge. Each week, she’s joined in conversation by a host of fabulous women: from Olivia Coleman and Thea Sharrok to Jenny Eclair.
Table Manners
Laughter: it’s one of the oldest and purest forms of self-care with a proven track record of lightening the load. In today’s society, listening to the news can become overwhelming, and sometimes we need a little pick-me-up. Table Manners is exactly that.
Hosted by Jessie and Lennie Ware, Table Manners is the comedic mother-daughter duo we never knew we needed. Episodes encompass “food, family, and the beautiful art of having a chat”, straight from Jessie’s dinner table. Oversharing is guaranteed, laughs abound, and spilt wine is a given.
As the name suggests, Table Manners is primarily a show for foodies, rated the most popular arts & food podcast in the UK. But there’s more to Jessie Ware’s offering than delicious food: in each episode, the family duo are joined by guests from the world of music, politics, and culture: from Ed Sheeran to Nigella Lawson.
Are you a seasoned podcast listener? Have we missed one of your favourites in our top-5 selection? Share your most loved women-run podcasts with the SOCIÉTÉ community in the comments below!
