From pop culture to politics to outer space—there are a ton of smart, enjoyable podcasts out there featuring a bevy of brilliant Black folks.
Below are just a few that may or may not be on your radar. What are your favorite podcasts?
RIP to Reggie Ossé aka Combat Jack, the creator of one of the best and most influential hip hop podcasts ever made.
Tea with Queen and J
If you’re into womanism, pop culture, and politics with a big fat dose of New York swag, Tea with Queen and J is just for you. These two women are as funny as they are brilliant, so be prepared for their quick wit and thoughtful analysis. Their episode by episode recap and critique of the She’s Gotta Have It Netflix series is one for the books.
The Read
Since 2013, Kid Fury and Crissle have been giving their hilarious millennial takes on entertainment and pop culture with their popular podcast The Read. Each had amassed a sizeable online following before teaming up with each other. Their podcast sometimes features guests from the pop culture world such as reality show star and walking meme Stevie J, actress Jenifer Lewis, and Breakfast Club co-host Charlamagne Tha God.
StarTalk
Everyone’s favorite celebrity physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has a lively podcast about…science of course. Tyson is known for integrating science knowledge into everyday pop culture, sports, and lifestyle topics, so it’s no surprise that his podcast StarTalk does just that. In fact, his co-host is comedian Chuck Nice—not exactly the first person you think of when you’re discussing science. But their chemistry (See what I did there?) works. There’s never a dull moment with Tyson and Nice.
Snap Judgment
Snap Judgment is an award-winning WNYC podcast that is all about innovative storytelling over nice beats. Since 2010, host Glynn Washington has been blessing his listeners with a diverse array of topics. It’s everything from Tonya Harding dopplegangers to college-era memories of kismet to birthing stories. The common thread? Great storytelling.
Support is Sexy
Media entrepreneur Elayne Fluker has candid talks with women entrepreneurs from all over the world on her podcast Support is Sexy. Past guests have included DigitalUndivided CEO Kathryn Finney, TressNoire co-founder Regina Gwynn, and celebrity make-up artist Mimi Johnson. Fluker and her guests dive deep into the issues that women entrepreneurs face like imposter syndrome and sexism. It’s an inspiring daily podcast for women who are looking to make business moves.