5 New Worthy LGBTQ Podcasts and Which Episodes to Start With
| 04/07/20
Ah, the sweet sound of silence.
We might not be leaving the house anytime soon -- I no longer listen to The Daily as I commute to my office, formerly known as my bedroom -- but that doesn't mean you can't turn on a podcast to help pass the time. Give these five new (or new to you) podcasts a try when you need some company. They're sure to supply a big, virtual, queer hug.
And then, check out our list of the 12 best LGBTQ podcasts that you should be listening to.
1. FANTI
Come December, FANTI will surely top every Best New Podcast of The Year list. Journalists Tre'vell Anderson and Jarrett Hill bring their pop culture and political expertise to a weekly conversation about the people and topics that they're fans of, but sometimes have some "anti" feelings towards.
Start here: Tyler Perry's a complicated figure. In the episode, "Tyler Perry and the MCU: Madea Cinematic Universe," Anderson and Hill discuss why it feels trendy to hate on Tyler Perry, why they're fans of his, and how Perry created a media empire after writing his way out of homelessness. It's the type of lively, nuanced conversation you can expect on the show.
2. Gender Reveal
I'm cheating by calling the long-running Gender Reveal new. But I believe it will be new to many of you and, without a doubt, it deserves a place on your weekly podcast rotation. Each week, journalist and educator, Tuck Woodstock interviews trans and nonbinary people about "what the heck gender is." They bring an empathy and curiosity to each interview and, perhaps more importantly, their humor. Gender is complicated, yes, but that doesn't mean it can't also be fun.
Start here: Farhat Rahman, a Muslim filmmaker and curator, talks about Bangladeshi gender roles, how we tokenize trans voices, and their work improving film representation for trans people of color.
3. Queering Desi
When we talk about "the LGBTQ experience," we're often only talking about a Western LGBTQ experience. The long-time community activist and writer, Priya Arora, fixes that by taking listeners through the unique experiences of the South Asian LGBTQ community in Queering Desi.
Start here: Rav Bansal, a former contestant on The Great British Bakeoff, talks with Arora about what it's meant to come to terms with his sexuality as a Sikh man. Click here to listen to "Bake It Or Leave It With Rav Bansal" from Queering Desi's newest season. (Bansal is also the host of the podcast Do You Wear That in the Shower?)
4. Gleewind
Now that you're stuck at home, you have no excuse not to catch up on Glee. Since premiering in 2009, the show has been cemented as queer canon. All six seasons are streaming on Netflix and Gleewind is the perfect companion. Superfans, Michael Swan and Jorge Molina take listeners through each episode and try to answer the big question: Does recapping something messy make you messy? You'll have to listen to see.
Start here: Vocal Adrenaline has finally made it to Regionals. Listen to the hosts breakdown the "teen emotional breakdowns, heart-soaring musical numbers, and entirely too much Matthew Morrison rapping" that made up the Season 1 finale.
5. Marti Talks
On top of shooting their show LOGOtv show, Marti Reports, and running for New York City council (where if elected in 2021, they'll become both the first drag artist and the first nonbinary person to hold public office in New York state), Marti Gould Cumings is also hosting a newly announced podcast.
Start here: Coming soon, the debut episode of Marti Talks will feature Nina West, Laura Benanti, and Bob the Drag Queen.
