Pride Month is in full swing, and while everyone is posting on social media flying their rainbow flags, there’s no need to restrict the celebrations to pride parades—we should celebrate all month long!
To honor the occasion, here are some of my favorite LGBTQ-related podcasts (disclaimer: I use that term loosely because I couldn’t NOT include Rachel Maddow). From comedy to news, get ready to laugh, ponder, and expand your knowledge as to why we celebrate Pride.
Throwing Shade with Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson
Four years ago, I decided that I wanted to start listening to podcasts because I was commuting from the suburbs into Center City. My then-boyfriend, now fiancé (thank you so much), was an avid podcast listener. He suggested this podcast to me as my first, and let me tell you, henny: It’s by far my favorite!
Bryan and Erin do a fantastic job of blending real life “shews” (ie: issues) with comedy in a way that is comedic and irreverent but gets right to the point. I listen every week and literally laugh out loud while I’m listening. I’ve also convinced at least three people to listen as well, so, basically, I should be their agent…or at least Mondo’s agent.
RuPaul: What’s The Tee with Michelle Visage
If you don’t LOVE RuPaul and Michelle Visage, then you can’t sit with me. Now that we’re thankfully in the golden age of drag (thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race), it’s the perfect segue to get more of RuPaul. This podcast is full of laughter and great gay icons like Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Chaka Khan, and Tituss Burgess. For all the fun that is, Ru and Michelle are able to strike the perfect balance of laughter and seriousness as they dive into more serious LGBTQ topics. #MissVanjie
The Rachel Maddow Show
If you’re not familiar with Rachel Maddow, get familiar. This podcast isn’t really LGBTQ-themed, but Rachel is a supporter of LGBTQ rights and a lesbian, thus the “LGBTQ-related” categorization. Her journalism has been a source of unbiased news reporting through these troubling times we’re all living in. She reports the facts in a nuanced and thorough way, connecting current events to similar ones in history.
The podcast itself is an audio recording of her weeknight show, but it gets the job done. It’s a helpful tool to get your news on the run to your next Pride party. Also, Rachel Maddow 2020!
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
HENNY!!!! Jonathan Van Ness has shot to fame with the recent successful reboot of Queer Eye. I’m sure you’ve noticed that all members of the new Fab Five are in each other’s Instagram posts every five minutes. They’ve managed to curate their social media in a way that makes me think they’re all BFFs even if they’re not, and that makes me want to know more and more about them. So, if you’re like me, you found Jonathan’s podcast where he dives into all sorts of topics ranging from Brexit to gender identity. Can you BELIEVE?!?!
Making Gay History
Pride Month is also about celebrating our history. This podcast was one of many “firsts” for me. The first time I listened was the first time I was heading to the LGBTQ beach town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It was the first episode of the podcast. It was also, sadly, the first time I heard the name Sylvia Rivera. Sylvia was and is a trans icon who was at Stonewall the night of the uprising and founded both the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance.
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The podcast poignantly explores our history as LGBTQ people, filling in the gaps of information that we should all know about. Bonus: This month, Making Gay History is also teaming up with four other podcasts for a one-night-only Pride Month episode. Check them out on Twitter for more deets.
Are there any other LGBTQ-focused podcasts you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
