If podcasts aren’t already an essential part of your daily life, get on the bandwagon! They make commuting to work so much better, and are a great alternative to watching endless Netflix. Unlike zoning out and watching TV, when you’re finished listening to a podcast, you feel engaged, inspired, and smarter. Podcasts have taught me so many things – how to me a better writer and reader, rock my finances, excel at work, be happier at home, and tune into politics without feeling totally overwhelmed.
Here are 10 podcasts all badass twenty-something ladies should be listening to:
- Call Your Girlfriend. Anne Friedman and Aminatou Sow are THE BEST. If you only listen to one podcast on this list, make it this one. Imagine two best friends that are totally like you and your best friend, having conversations about periods, feminism, politics, and pop culture with loads of sarcasm. It’s so good. They also have a great monthly newsletter called The Bleed, and are both independently brilliant, so there is tons and tons of off-podcast content to explore as well.
- Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile explore Harry Potter like other people explore the Bible – and it’s amazing. If you’re any type of Harry Potter fan, there is so much joy in rteading the books this way. And if you’re not (what type of millennial are you?) the podcast is still very interesting, exploring themes like “commitment,” “honesty,” and “masculinity.” Vanessa and Casper are also hilariously funny together, and bring fascinating guests on the show.
- Happier (with Gretchen Rubin). This podcast is perfect for listening to in the morning on your commute to work, or at night before you go to bed. Happiness guru, Gretchen Rubin (author of The Happiness Project), teams up with her sister, Elizabeth Craft (a screenwriter and movie producer), to give super actionable tips on how to live a happier life. I love that the tips are so easy, like “If you can do a task in under a minute, like put your plate in the dishwasher…do it!” They also have really good interview guests, like Drew Barrymore and Dan Harris.
- This Pod is Your Pod. If you’re feeling a bit disenfranchised by our current political state in America, a) you are not alone, and b) this is the podcast for you. Brought to you by the fabulous ladies of Pantsuit Nation, this podcast will leave you feeling SO fired up and ready to take on the world.
- Women Rule. If you want to sound smart about politics at work, or just want to know what the hell is going on in current events, this is your go to. The podcast is produced by POLITICO, so it’s super polished and informative, and focuses on getting women more involved in politics.
- Feminasty. Remember the term “nasty woman?” It never went away, it just went to live in Podcast Land. Kate Harding and Samhita Mukhopadhyay are two friends who interview activists and advocates and explore what it means to be a powerful woman in this day and age. They have REALLY good guests and always have me laughing on my commute to work.
- 2 Dope Queens. Comedians Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams are LOL funny in this podcast, and are often joined by other comedians as they talk about race, hair journeys, sex, and pop culture. If you have a sarcastic sense of humor, this is the podcast for you.
- Grammar Girl: Quick & Dirty Tips. Fascinating (and ultra quick!) episodes that explore the history of language and word, and answer those pesky grammar questions like “cannot, can not, and can’t…what’s the difference?” I like listening to this one when I’m doing a repetitive task at work, like filing, because the episodes are so short. Bonus: If I get asked what I’m listening to, admitting it makes me sound professional.
- Magic Lessons (with Elizabeth Gilbert). This one is no longer broadcasting any more, but there are a TON of past episodes for your binge-listening pleasure. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of wildly popular books Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic, takes listener questions about creativity and then interviews one of her fabulous celebrity friends about them. It always leaves me feeling so inspired.
- Stuff You Missed In History Class. Crazy fascinating episodes about people you’ve almost always never heard about whose lives/inventions/work greatly impact your own. When I listen to this one, I’m constantly exclaiming “How did we NOT learn about this?!” I especially love the episodes that feature women (of which there are many).
