Your Next Podcast Should Be About Racial Justice

Podcasts are like the best friends you never knew you needed. Each episode acts as the BFF you have on speed dial when in need of the most dire advice. But they don't just reassure you; they also challenge you. When listening to one of these podcasts, you are casually training yourself to step out of your "comfort zone," and all you have to do is plug in your headphones.

As a queer, black, and female podcast creator, I am personally empowered by this medium because the audio world helps me feel more connected to people at a time when everyone is looking for answers. Each series shares key insights that also serve as a tool for self growth. Think of it as being given the answers to a test you weren’t sure how to study for. What can you learn about the processes that make those answers possible?

I've often experienced my most crucial teaching moments when two genuinely curious people are able to communicate earnestly about difficult topics. In the wake of the brutal and racists killings of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, folks must sharpen their listening skills and find ways to collectively heal America’s system of oppression.

Think about the relationship you have with your closest friends. When people share their most vulnerable moments, you can't help but care about them and are more open to change. By plugging in those headphones, you've just taken the first step towards living life empathically. Through intimate conversations about systemic racism, these 16 podcasts from black and brown creators are both powerful and approachable. In each episode, you’ll be walked through an entire discussion, or even debate, that allows you to hear both sides of a nuanced argument without inserting your own input.

Instead, a podcast gives you the valuable chance to find joy in growing while learning from someone else's most personal experiences—even though you've never met them. As you push to educate yourself more about racial and political justice, you can learn from both mainstream podcasts, such as 1619 and Code Switch, and the more niche series that stem from situational knowledge, like Hoodrat To Headwrap and The Filter. Here's everything you should add to your must-listen list: