Start the weekend now with Phoebe's picks: Recent Episodes
Radiotopia
Phoebe Robinson, host of Sooo Many White Guys and cohost of 2 Dope Queens, spends her Sundays with these podcasts.
Not to get too self-promotional, but my interview with St. Vincent is off the charts good. We chat about tour bus pooping etiquette, queerness and strip clubs. Have I piqued your interest yet?
Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton cover EVERYTHING. And with what’s been going on recently in the United States, stories from immigrant kids are exactly what your soul needs. This episode is a mash-up of previous episodes of Another Round, but an amazing place to start to get the flavor of the show. And yes, it will make you cry.
Who doesn’t want to learn about the magic of Oprah? In this podcast, Jenn White takes us through the journey that made Oprah a household name. Oprah is a constant source of inspiration for me, so when I learned that every segment on her show required a “higher purpose,” it pushed it over the edge for me and made me reflect on my own life. What am I doing to create a higher purpose in my own work?
Death, Sex and Money focuses on the big stuff: relationships, money, family. Usually hosted by Anna Sale, this episode features a conversation between Sonia Manzano and Justice Sonia Sotomayor on insecurities, empathy, and their rough upbringings. The power of the written word is the takeaway from this episode.
Kid Fury and Crissle throw shade on all thing hip-hop and pop culture. This podcast always feels like a therapy session for me. The episode “Water Color Woes” talks up Solange, black comic book characters, and throws shade on TV shows that kill off black characters.
Represent is a space to discuss pop culture created by or about women of color and members of the LGBTQ community. Queer POC rarely feel represented, let alone with an Oscar nominated film. In this episode Aisha Harris talks with the writer and filmmaker of “Moonlight” touching on tone, casting, and the spectrum of roles POC actors are being cast in.
There’s nothing like spending an hour with Hannibal Buress even if it’s just you and his podcast. In this episode, he reads and comments on his AirBnB reviews. With all the serious podcasts on this list, this one will definitely bring a smile to your face.
Y’all, we are living in some divided times, who can’t use a best friend right now? If you’re feeling like you need a boost, I recommend this podcast, which calls itself as “a podcast for long-distance besties everywhere.” Each week, you get to eavesdrop Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman live out their friendship in front of us — with no apologies.
The team over at Reveal is doing excellent work. The mission of this podcast is “to engage and empower the public through investigative journalism and groundbreaking storytelling in order to spark action, improve lives and protect our democracy.” Each episode, is well-researched and riveting. I’m all for that, and you should be too.
What isn’t there to like about this show? It’s about a father, who wrote a porno. The jokes basically write themselves! In this podcast, Jamie Morton (along with the help of his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine) read an erotic novel that was written by his father. It’s amahz-ing. For this series, I suggest you start at the beginning.
This show bills itself as “not-great-relationship advice from completely unqualified Hollywood types.” In this episode, Anna Farris and Katie Couric talk gender politics in journalism and Hollywood, as well as dating deal breakers. It’s lighthearted and fun, while still touching on some serious AF topics.
The name of this podcast is truth — can’t be denied. What’s better, it’s hosted by my comedian friends Kevin Avery and W. Kamau Bell. No braggies, but I’m in this episode. We discuss “Pelican Brief,” and not gonna lie, we’re pretty hilarious.
This podcast is a big commitment, but worth every second. In every episode, Jonathan Braylock, James III, and Jerah Milligan review major motion pictures that feature black leading actors. In this episode, they talk about one of my favorite movies “Fences.” It’s directed by Denzel Washington, starring himself and Viola Davis.