Where are all the cool lady podcasts?
May 9, 2012 1:15 PM   Subscribe

Where are all the cool lady podcasts? I listen to TAL, Wiretap, Radiolab, The Truth, etc., all of which I love, but I would like to hear some female perspectives in the mix as well. I prefer science-y content but comedy or just life in general works too. I'm open to anything, really, just want to hear some great female podcasting.
posted by tatiana wishbone to Computers & Internet (35 answers total) 124 users marked this as a favorite
 
Julie Klausner's "How was Your Week?" is one I'm enjoying right now. She's smart, funny and a really solid interviewer.
posted by goggie at 1:25 PM on May 9, 2012 [6 favorites]


If you want science-y and cool lady, look at: Dr Kiki's Science Hour
posted by dforemsky at 1:27 PM on May 9, 2012


Janet Varney's The JV Club features female guests.
posted by The Deej at 1:27 PM on May 9, 2012


I really enjoy CBC's Spark, hosted by Nora Young. Stuff to Blow Your Mind is good too, with a nice dynamic between the male and female cohosts.

I'll be watching for more suggestions here, because beyond that I think all of the female hosted podcasts I listen to have a crafty bent...
posted by polymath at 1:27 PM on May 9, 2012 [4 favorites]


Stuff You Missed in History Class? Or possibly Stuff Mom Never Told You.
posted by Diablevert at 1:28 PM on May 9, 2012 [6 favorites]


Earth Beat, hosted by Marnie Chesterton on Radio Netherlands.
posted by JanetLand at 1:35 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


If you would enjoy a podcast about gay and feminist politics that's very silly and vulgar, you should check out Throwing Shade with Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi.
posted by smartyboots at 1:36 PM on May 9, 2012 [6 favorites]


Some of the answers in this question from late 2010 might still be useful.
posted by bcwinters at 1:38 PM on May 9, 2012


Slate DoubleX Gabfest
posted by Duffington at 1:39 PM on May 9, 2012 [4 favorites]


You'll probably get a lot of recommendations for How was your week with Julie Klausner. The format is usually monologue followed by interviews (typically of someone from comedy or pop culture). I think the monologues are rough on new listeners but the interviews are fantastically naturalistic and conversational.

Don't forget that grand dame of NPR, Fresh Air is usually helmed by Terry Gross. Also, On the Media is co-hosted by the wonderful Brooke Gladstone.

NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is hosted by Linda Holmes (who I think is a Mefite). Similiarly, two of the three standing hosts of Slate's Cultural Gabfest are women and their Double X Gabfest is almost always hosted by women. Slate's series of interviews with non-fiction authors, The Afterword is hosted by June Thomas.

Last but not least, I am a huge fan of Totally Laime. Elizabeth Laime, a comedy writer mainly interviews comedians. Her husband does appear on the show but he takes more of a sidekick role. Their rapport is tremendous.
posted by mmascolino at 1:39 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


YES, another vote for Julie Klausner and How Was Your Week. You will indeed get a lot of recommendations for her because the podcast is just that enjoyable. She's also one of the best interviewers I've heard, and she gets outside of the usual guest suspects very quickly and does a lot of interviews with authors, musicians, cultural figures, etcetera you don't hear from on other podcasts.

Also in the comedy vein, Ronna and Beverly is a podcast done by two actresses in character as retired best friends in Marblehead, Massachusetts. I know that sounds truly dreadful, but I recommend giving it a trial run. If you like their schtick, it's an enjoyable half hour.
posted by superfluousm at 1:42 PM on May 9, 2012


Best answer: Seconding Stuff You Missed In History Class. I'm meh on ...Mom Never Told You. Very feminism-lite, they tend to settle on completely asinine conclusions like "it's feminist to be a debutante". Which bugs me.

That said, they are pretty good at science talk, looking fairly critically at the studies that get trotted out to support this or that gender-oriented notion. But generally a hard "meh".
posted by Sara C. at 1:46 PM on May 9, 2012


Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman has a podcast.
posted by bdc34 at 1:47 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


On Throwing Shade Erin Gibson teams with a gay man to snark on issues of the day.

It's worth a listen, if not all the time.
posted by Danf at 1:49 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


I really enjoy CBC Radio's 'The Current' which is hosted four days a week by Anna Maria Tremonti. It's a current events show, so not exactly what you requested, but her interviewing is top notch. Mad respect for her.

Also seconding CBC's Spark with Nora Young. Fantastic show!
posted by burntflowers at 1:57 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


After getting into Robert Sapolsky, I did a bunch of online searches and found out about the Brain Science Podcast, hosted by Ginger [Virginia] Campbell (, MD), a physician who practices emergency medicine in Alabama. She's super cool, and the podcasts include all kinds of engaging conversations and book reviews. The theme music sort of scares me, though.
posted by simulacra at 2:02 PM on May 9, 2012


Galactic Suburbia, where "Alisa, Alex and Tansy bring you speculative fiction news, reading notes and chat from the galactic suburbs of Australia," has been nominated for a Hugo this year, as has SF Squeecast, which has several big female names in science fiction and fantasy as regular contributors.
posted by Wylla at 2:05 PM on May 9, 2012


"All in the Mind is Radio National's weekly foray into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour - everything from addiction to artificial intelligence." Historically hosted by Natasha Mitchell and this season on by Lynne Malcom this is a weekly podcast that touches on current events, hosts interviews, visits conferences and the like - pretty much an evening-news-magazine-format for all things mindful.
posted by mce at 2:06 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


The CBC's Definitely Not the Opera, hosted by Sook Yin Lee, takes a theme every week and integrates interviews with folks on the street, segments from production staff (often telling personal stories) and sometimes interviews with people who have some kind of expertise. The themes are usually just everyday life stuff, so it's an easy listen. There's also some music.

I haven't listened to a lot of This American Life, but my bet is that if you like TAL, you will like DNTO also.
posted by snorkmaiden at 2:10 PM on May 9, 2012


PS:

1) List of [most] episodes, for easy perusal
2) List of guests (with link to transcripts)

Get yr brain [science] on, girl.

posted by simulacra at 2:12 PM on May 9, 2012




The mention of Fresh Air with Terry Gross reminded me of a local Dallas show called Think with Kris Boyd.

From their website:
Think features in-depth interviews with compelling guests, covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and trends to food and wine, travel, adventure and entertainment.
posted by CathyG at 2:50 PM on May 9, 2012 [2 favorites]


The Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian.
posted by severiina at 3:32 PM on May 9, 2012




I second CBC's Definitely Not the Opera - I find it similar in some ways to This American Life, which I also love.
posted by barnoley at 3:56 PM on May 9, 2012


I haven't actually listened to the Skepchick podcast, but I like their blog empire.
posted by lakeroon at 4:12 PM on May 9, 2012


A third of the music podcast Low Times does great female podcasting.
posted by steinsaltz at 4:24 PM on May 9, 2012


Destination D.I.Y. is a show kind of in the vein of TAL but masterminded by Julie Sabatier and mostly made by women.
posted by chrchr at 4:29 PM on May 9, 2012


Yes, seconding Definitely Not The Opera, Spark, and Stuff You Missed in History Class. I also really enjoy The Food Programme with Sheila Dillon on BBC Radio 4.
posted by emeiji at 5:47 PM on May 9, 2012


It's definitely specific in its subject matter, but Cast On with Brenda Dayne is absolutely wonderful. Her voice is so soothing, and the topic matter engaging. Most especially if you're a knitter, fiber artist, or interested in the history of Wales!
posted by femmegrrr at 7:56 PM on May 9, 2012 [1 favorite]


Stuff you Missed in History Class (with link, because it is awesome, and you will def want to subscribe).
Science Magazine Podcast (itunes rss) has female hosts -- it's a good way to keep up with current events in science
posted by bluefly at 4:05 AM on May 10, 2012


Making It With Riki Lindhome is about building a career in Hollywood. She interviews both genders, but it's fun.

Also on Nerdist is Sex Nerd Sandra. Has a male co-host, I don't know if that invalidates it for you though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:19 AM on May 10, 2012


Sex Nerd Sandra is often very female-centered (her friend who came on about taboo fantasies like incest, the one about the couple that engages in rape play where the woman described why she considers it female-friendly safe space, etc.). It's a cliche that women are into cooking, but The Splendid Table sort of comes to mind too.
posted by ifjuly at 9:48 AM on May 10, 2012


Answer Me This! is only one-third female (maybe a bit more, because Martin the Soundman doesn't talk much) but it's very funny, smart, and doesn't make me cringe.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:05 PM on May 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


The Dork Forest, Cocktails for Two, Women Aren't Funny are my go-to lady podcasts. The Mental Illness Happy Hour also has a good amount of ladies on it.

(harrumph selflinker I also have a podcast w/ a fellow lady comic, link can be found under my posts to Projects /selflinker)
posted by SassHat at 8:55 AM on May 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


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