12 Podcasts To Download During Black History Month (And Beyond)

“Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down,” Toni Morrison writes in her masterpiece Song of Solomon.

Media, including a good podcast, can be a catalyst to release the stuff that holds us back. Here are a dozen digital audio series (listed in alphabetical order) about the African American experience to explore during Black History Month — or any time during the year.

Black Girl Podcast: This audio series was created by Scottie Beam, Gia Peppers, Sapphira, Bex and Alysha P, coworkers who met at New York’s legendary hip hop radio station Hot 97. These five women share with the public their uplifting and often funny conversations about life, sisterhood, pop culture and romance. New episodes drop weekly on channels like SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

Bodega BoysIf you’re hankering for some levity, then this show might be perfect for you. Hailing from the Bronx, Desus Nice (Daniel Baker) and The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez)—together known as “The Bodega Boys”—discuss pop culture topics pulled from Twitter trends and breaking entertainment news. The podcast is available on outlets like Spotify, Apple
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, SoundCloud, Podbay and YouTube.

Brown & Black: Mike Sargent is African American. Jack Rico is Hispanic. Together these dynamic pundits (who also happen to be friends) opine on the latest in popular culture as viewed from a Brown and Black perspective, as well as interview guests from the media and entertainment world. New episodes released via platforms like Podchaser, iHeart, Listen Notes, Apple and Spotify.

Dear Culture: theGrio’s Dear Culture podcast highlights the issues affecting millennial Black America. The show is hosted by theGrio’s social media director Shana Pinnock and managing director Gerren Keith Gaynor. Senior writer Blue Telusma serves as executive producer. From talking about uplifting the Black community with businessman and comedian Byron Allen (who’s company Entertainment Studios owns theGrio) to covering social equality issues with activist Tamika Mallory or the importance of positive friendships with Yvonne Orji, this audio series tackles important subjects with insightful guests. It reaches listeners via channels like Apple
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, iHeart, Spotify, and Stitcher podcasts.

Larry Wilmore: Black on the AirEmmy Award-winner Larry Wilmore is back on the air. The talented producer, actor and comedian weighs in on topical issue of interest and chats with guests in the worlds of politics, entertainment, culture and sports. Distribution may be found on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.

The Laverne Cox ShowShe burst into the public arena through the television series Orange is the New Black. Now actress Laverne Cox has teamed up with Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland Audio and iHeartMedia to launch a new interview program with the Emmy-winner as host and producer. The first episode features bestselling author Dr. Brené Brown. The series was created, Cox told People Magazine, to get listeners “closer to becoming the very best versions of ourselves.” Available on iHeart.  

Making: To recognize Black History Month, WBEZ Chicago’s biography podcast series looks at how some of Black America’s most famous names turned into icons. Making explores the lives of Beyoncé, former president Barack Obama and television host Oprah Winfrey. The podcast airs on Pocket Casts, Apple and Spotify.

The Read: The Loud Speakers Network presents Kid Fury and Crissle, who host their weekly podcast covering hip-hop and pop culture’s most trying stars. When this duo throw shade and spill tea, no star is safe unless perhaps she’s married to Jay-Z and the mother of Blue Ivy. This audio show may be found at Apple Podcasts and other places you find favorite podcasts.

Still ProcessingJenna Wortham and Wesley Morris, two writers for The New York Times
NYT
, get up close and personal as they try to understand the pleasures and pathologies of America. They talk TV, movies, art, music and the internet to find the things that move them — to tears, awe and anger. Available at Apple, Google and Podchaser, among other places,

Therapy for Black GirlsDr. Joy Harden Bradford created this popular weekly podcast for those looking for inner healing. The show’s format is a weekly conversation with Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, where during the show she addresses mental health and personal development topics in ways to make them more relevant for Black women. The program is distributed by platforms like Apple, Stitcher and Spotify.

TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones: With anti-trans violence and political backlash at all-time highs, journalist Imara Jones moderates a podcast where trans people and allies debate and discuss how to create a more equitable world for all. The program, a Spotify #2020Wrapped Honoree, is produced in conjunction with news anchor Maria Hinojosa’s Futuro Media. The show may be found at Radio Public, Castbox, Apple and other major podcast outlets.

What’s In It For Us?Every Wednesday, Dr. Christina Greer, an associate professor at New York’s Fordham University, and Dr. Jason Johnson, a professor at Maryland’s Morgan State University, ponder the question “What’s in it for us?” regarding the shifting U.S. political landscape. The co-hosts and their notable guests bring smart and funny conversation for modern Black millennials. The progressive podcast is executive produced by Kevin Y. Brown and part of theGrio’s new slate of content in February. This month the show will heavily focus on what’s happening in Washington as Biden makes massive strides in his first 100 days in office. The show airs on platforms like Apple, Radio.com and Spotify, as well as YouTube.

A special thank you to Fiona Crystal for her guidance in putting together this list.


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