Sorry, another podcast question
April 25, 2017 3:06 PM Subscribe
Looking for more podcasts like Pod Save America, Two Dope Queens, Pop Culture Happy Hour, and Call Your Girlfriend. ie, topical but sort of general-interest, with smart, funny people riffing on general topics.
I'm interested in pop culture, politics, social science/psychology, and health topics. The most important thing to me is that the hosts be smart and funny, but a bit of a social justice/activist edge really sells it for me. So for instance, I like Pod Save America and Pop Culture Happy Hour, but find NPR's Politics Podcast way too inside-the-beltway and Slate's Culture Gabfest annoyingly bland.
I'm not looking for narrative or more reporting-based podcasts like 99% invisible or the Serial offspring - I'm just looking for smart, funny people talking about things. I'm also not looking for podcasts that specialize too much (unless it's in one of the topics I listed above).
Oh, one more I like is Dear Prudence, not so much for the advice but because it's always Mallory Ortberg and a friend riffing on the questions asked and it's always delightful.
Bonus points for prominently featuring women/POC/LGBT hosts, and please no podcasts that are only hosted by straight white men (Pod Save America only barely makes the grade, I know, but they're the only ones getting storage space on my phone).
I'm interested in pop culture, politics, social science/psychology, and health topics. The most important thing to me is that the hosts be smart and funny, but a bit of a social justice/activist edge really sells it for me. So for instance, I like Pod Save America and Pop Culture Happy Hour, but find NPR's Politics Podcast way too inside-the-beltway and Slate's Culture Gabfest annoyingly bland.
I'm not looking for narrative or more reporting-based podcasts like 99% invisible or the Serial offspring - I'm just looking for smart, funny people talking about things. I'm also not looking for podcasts that specialize too much (unless it's in one of the topics I listed above).
Oh, one more I like is Dear Prudence, not so much for the advice but because it's always Mallory Ortberg and a friend riffing on the questions asked and it's always delightful.
Bonus points for prominently featuring women/POC/LGBT hosts, and please no podcasts that are only hosted by straight white men (Pod Save America only barely makes the grade, I know, but they're the only ones getting storage space on my phone).
Have you checked out the Max Fun podcasts? A lot of straight white dude-ness, and most of them skew comedy over content, but Throwing Shade, Lady to Lady, and Minority Korner sound like they fit the bill. Also Wham Bam Pow if sci-fi movie discussions aren't too far afield. Sawbones is getting close to the "barely makes the grade" line, but ticks the health topic box.
posted by supercres at 3:21 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by supercres at 3:21 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Insert my usual recommendation for The Black Guy Who Tips here. Hosted by a black couple (one man, one woman), covers a lot of the topics you mentioned. They are definitely smart and absolutely funny.
posted by freezer cake at 3:22 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by freezer cake at 3:22 PM on April 25, 2017
Since you like the Two Dope Queens stand up show format, I recommend Put Your Hands Together with Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher. Married (to each other) lady hosts, lots of politics chatter, and they prominently feature LGBTQ/POC comedians. Plus the podcast network, Feral Audio, rules and I don't see it get enough love here!
posted by rabbitbookworm at 3:23 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rabbitbookworm at 3:23 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Check out the Maximum Fun stable. There are a bunch there that might fit the bill. (Sawbones, Stop Podcasting Yourself, and My Brother, My Brother and Me are a few I've really liked.
posted by goggie at 3:31 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by goggie at 3:31 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ah, just noted all are heavily white dude. Throwing Shade over there is a better fit. I also really like Julie Klausner's How Was Your Week.
posted by goggie at 3:33 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by goggie at 3:33 PM on April 25, 2017
Still Processing is one of my current favorites.
posted by Flannery Culp at 3:38 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Flannery Culp at 3:38 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Came in to recommend Another Round which was noted upthread. You may also like Politcally Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu.
posted by Constant Reader at 3:43 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Constant Reader at 3:43 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you like advice columns you may like Ask a Clean Person with Jolie Kerr. She and her sidekick/co-host Dave are really funny and I am not a crazy clean person but I learn stuff too.
posted by misskaz at 3:51 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by misskaz at 3:51 PM on April 25, 2017
Since you mentioned an advice podcast—perhaps Dear Sugar? It's hosted by Cheryl Strayed (who wrote the Dear Sugar columns) and friend & fellow writer Steve Almond. They answer letters every episode, but the "advice" largely consists of just thoughtful conversations between the two of them. While it's not about psychology per se, being an advice podcast, it's very psychological. And very feminist. And often quite warmly funny.
Canadaland Commons, if you don't mind a focus on Canadian politics. Three hosts (all either women or POC) discuss current events, with a definite focus on social justice & activism. The tone is casual, modern, and humorous.
posted by stellarc at 4:33 PM on April 25, 2017
Canadaland Commons, if you don't mind a focus on Canadian politics. Three hosts (all either women or POC) discuss current events, with a definite focus on social justice & activism. The tone is casual, modern, and humorous.
posted by stellarc at 4:33 PM on April 25, 2017
Pop Rocket is similar in content and format to Pop Culture Happy Hour, but more lively and funny.
posted by jeoc at 4:50 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jeoc at 4:50 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Try Pop Rocket. It's a pop culture podcast which generally has a pretty diverse panel and often explores pop culture from a social justice angle.
posted by bunderful at 4:50 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bunderful at 4:50 PM on April 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
I listen to the podcasts you listed happily, so here's a list of others I find similar: Appointment Television, Melanin Millenials, Sooo Many White Guys (interviews, Dope Queen Pheebs), The 45th, The Worst Bestsellers, and The Read. I also enthusiastically endorse everything ChuraChura mentioned. Vox's the Weeds hits a slightly different spot than NPR politics but can't tell if you'd like it. Slate Money if financial stuff is at all interesting, and Who Weekly for self-aware gossip. Have you tried any of the other Pod Save America titles?
posted by slanket wizard at 5:35 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by slanket wizard at 5:35 PM on April 25, 2017
Yeah, have you tried Lovett or Leave It yet?
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:36 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:36 PM on April 25, 2017
Throwing Shade will be right up your alley!
posted by tatiana wishbone at 5:38 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by tatiana wishbone at 5:38 PM on April 25, 2017
Response by poster: Oh you guys, you really get me. These recs were exactly what I was looking for and I'm so excited to dig into almost all of these!
Yeah, have you tried Lovett or Leave It yet?
I listened to the first one and was pretty "ehhhh" but I should give it another shot. I can't waaaaaaiiiiit for Deray's though!
posted by lunasol at 6:23 PM on April 25, 2017
Yeah, have you tried Lovett or Leave It yet?
I listened to the first one and was pretty "ehhhh" but I should give it another shot. I can't waaaaaaiiiiit for Deray's though!
posted by lunasol at 6:23 PM on April 25, 2017
I've recently stumbled across Hanna and Matt Know It All, which is an advice podcast. But it's different in that they take questions answered in other advice columns (Dear Prudence, Savage Love, etc.) and answer it themselves. I don't know if they're a couple, but I think Hannah identifies as gender queer or something non-binary.
posted by Leontine at 7:04 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by Leontine at 7:04 PM on April 25, 2017
Here are a couple that seem to have gone unmentioned:
Baby Geniuses - Hosted by two goofy white ladies. Pretty frivolous, but when politics or mental health do come up, the discussion is very progressive.
Las Culturistas - Hosted by one Asian American and one White American, both gay. Witty and outrageous hot takes on anything and everything.
posted by cathycartoon at 7:36 PM on April 25, 2017
Baby Geniuses - Hosted by two goofy white ladies. Pretty frivolous, but when politics or mental health do come up, the discussion is very progressive.
Las Culturistas - Hosted by one Asian American and one White American, both gay. Witty and outrageous hot takes on anything and everything.
posted by cathycartoon at 7:36 PM on April 25, 2017
Chiming in to say definitely Another Round & See Something Say Something.
You might also like Who? Weekly for funny discussions of very random celebrities.
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:40 PM on April 25, 2017
You might also like Who? Weekly for funny discussions of very random celebrities.
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:40 PM on April 25, 2017
Answer Me This! with Helen and Olly is random, sweary, British AskMe.
posted by maudlin at 8:01 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 8:01 PM on April 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
Another vote for Another Round, as well as Death, Sex and Money-hosted by a white woman with a diverse set of guests; The Unofficial Expert-a lighthearted comedy podcast hosted by two black women; and Social Misfit with a black woman host who discusses politics and other random topics with different guests.
posted by piap at 9:13 PM on April 25, 2017
posted by piap at 9:13 PM on April 25, 2017
I love the Guardian's Token.
She's a woman of colour and Jewish and he's trans. They're both english and clever and warm and have an offense free zone between themselves. They're obviously respectful colleagues and lovely people, but with each other they cross in to areas many fear to tread, respectfully.
Token "Starting in Australia and now in the UK, Token is a podcast about marginalised identities. But it's fun - we promise. We talk about race, gender, sexuality, culture, politics and whatever else makes you feel like a token in today's world. The only constants are fun, frank discussion and the freedom to politely ask awkward questions. And we want to hear from you too. So, whether you agree or disagree with us, or you simply have a different perspective, keep it respectful and get in touch!"
posted by taff at 9:45 PM on April 25, 2017
She's a woman of colour and Jewish and he's trans. They're both english and clever and warm and have an offense free zone between themselves. They're obviously respectful colleagues and lovely people, but with each other they cross in to areas many fear to tread, respectfully.
Token "Starting in Australia and now in the UK, Token is a podcast about marginalised identities. But it's fun - we promise. We talk about race, gender, sexuality, culture, politics and whatever else makes you feel like a token in today's world. The only constants are fun, frank discussion and the freedom to politely ask awkward questions. And we want to hear from you too. So, whether you agree or disagree with us, or you simply have a different perspective, keep it respectful and get in touch!"
posted by taff at 9:45 PM on April 25, 2017
The Read!
"Join Kid Fury and Crissle for their weekly podcast covering hip-hop and pop culture's most trying stars. Throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude, no star is safe from Fury and Crissle unless their name is Beyoncé. (Or Blue Ivy.)
As transplants to NYC, The Read also serves as an on-air therapy session for two friends trying to adjust to life and rats in the big city."
posted by mdonley at 1:48 AM on April 26, 2017
"Join Kid Fury and Crissle for their weekly podcast covering hip-hop and pop culture's most trying stars. Throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude, no star is safe from Fury and Crissle unless their name is Beyoncé. (Or Blue Ivy.)
As transplants to NYC, The Read also serves as an on-air therapy session for two friends trying to adjust to life and rats in the big city."
posted by mdonley at 1:48 AM on April 26, 2017
You might want to try the previously.tv podcasts. They're all TV-focused, and a lot of them focus on specific shows, but there's a general-TV one, Extra Hot Great (all the most recent episodes are "minis" because one of the hosts is on vacation, so you might want to scroll back to the most recent numbered podcast to get a taste of what the show is more usually like).
It's VERY silly, but socially-conscious, and usually at least half women hosts (not, though, a lot of POC - the three core hosts are all white and the guests skew white).
It's been going for many years and has a fair number of inside jokes so on the one hand it might be a little inaccessible to a new listener, but on the other hand if you find you like it you have a huge back-catalog to catch up on!
posted by mskyle at 5:17 AM on April 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's VERY silly, but socially-conscious, and usually at least half women hosts (not, though, a lot of POC - the three core hosts are all white and the guests skew white).
It's been going for many years and has a fair number of inside jokes so on the one hand it might be a little inaccessible to a new listener, but on the other hand if you find you like it you have a huge back-catalog to catch up on!
posted by mskyle at 5:17 AM on April 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seconding Throwing Shade and Answer Me This, and adding a recommendation for Angry Little Goats.
posted by saladin at 6:17 AM on April 26, 2017
posted by saladin at 6:17 AM on April 26, 2017
International Waters, a pop culture quiz podcast hosted by the lovely Dave Holmes. It pits two Americans against two Brits.
posted by getawaysticks at 6:39 AM on April 26, 2017
posted by getawaysticks at 6:39 AM on April 26, 2017
Frangela: The Final Word is one of my favorites. Funny and smart take on political issues.
posted by ambulocetus at 4:38 PM on April 27, 2017
posted by ambulocetus at 4:38 PM on April 27, 2017
I've been enjoying Delete Your Account. They're a fair bit to the left of Pod Save America, which I also listen to.
posted by clavicle at 9:16 AM on May 1, 2017
posted by clavicle at 9:16 AM on May 1, 2017
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posted by ChuraChura at 3:13 PM on April 25, 2017 [5 favorites]