18 Black-Hosted Podcasts That You Should Subscribe to Immediately

If you aren't a fan of Nicole Byer, I'm sorry but we can't be friends. Why Won't You Date Me? is Byer in podcast form, where the comedian talks about being single and questions her guests on the various aspects of relationships that puzzle her. Her guests include fellow comedians, close friends, people she's given blowjobs to, and sometimes a combination of all three! Byer is ridiculous, hilarious, and baring it all for listeners, which makes Why Won't You Date Me? the perfect listen.

Start listening now!

Black Girl Podcast is the dose of melanin magic that everyone needs in their day. Rebecca "Bex" Francois, Sapphira Martin, Alysha Pamphile, Gia Peppers, and Deanii "Scottie Beam" Scott come together to give their opinions on everything pop culture and life experiences, giving us the girl talk that is sorely needed in the podcast world. Each episode is a kiki that bolsters your soul and invites you into the lives of your five new best friends who just want you to be the best version of yourself every day.

Start listening now!

Mandii B and WeezyWTF do not have time for bullsh*t or being shy — they're here to talk about all the ins and outs about sex (literally) and teach us all a little something while they do it. WHOREible Decisions is the frank discussion of sex and sexuality that is refreshing and sometimes terrifying, but in a good way. The podcast welcomes a variety of guests such as doctors, porn stars, activists, and witches who share their sex lives and enlightening details.

Start listening now!

Keep It features Ira Madison III, Kara Brown, and Louis Virtel as they tackle pop culture and politics at a time where the two inevitably mesh. Whether it's movies, music, or celebs being incredibly bad, Ira and his guests — comedians, journalists, actors, musicians, activists, politicians, and more — never shy from whatever is going on in this messed up world today.

Start listening now!

When you're looking for some tips on how to take care of your mental health, Therapy For Black Girls is the podcast for you. Hosted by Dr. Joy Harden Bardford, Therapy For Black Girls is a weekly chat about all things mental health and personal development that allows black women to find a sense of peace in a world that constantly attempts to take it away.

Start listening now!

The Friend Zone features three friends exploring mental heath, wealth, and hygiene that folks always have questions about, but never the answers. Dustin Ross, Francheska of Hey Fran Hey and Assante cover everything from relationships to fitness from three very different perspectives, all in the hopes of keeping their listeners from developing musty brains!

Start listening now!

Bim Adewunmi and Nicole Perkins bring thirsting to a new level with their incredibly liberating podcast, Thirst Aid Kit. The two explore "the public ways women express their desire," which include why we desire who we desire and how we actually desire them. Each episode covers a specific subject (or group of subjects, i.e. "Southern Baes") and each woman literally lusts out loud. They examine their desire through conversation, original fan fiction, and personal fantasies. Special guests include the very men they desire, including Chris Evans, Charlie Cox, and Rahul Kohli.

Start listening now!

I'm usually not about that true crime life, but sometimes you can't help but get caught up in the craziness of these true-life stories. Fruitloops features two true crime enthusiasts, Beth and Wendy, who bring diversity to the true crime conversation. They discuss serial killers like Harrison Graham (aka The Corpse Collector), Lam Kor-wan (aka The Jars Murderer, aka The Rainy Night Butcher, aka The Rainy Night Killer and The Hong Kong Butcher), Charles Ng, and Juana Barraza — all of whom I never heard of until I discovered them. So obviously, they're doing their jobs!

Start listening now!

Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris chat about everything from politics and dating, to art and society. The New York Times' writers tackle the tough topics to face the harsh realities of the world and figure it out, even when most of the time it never makes any sense.

Start listening now!

Get your nerd on, friends! Blerds and Nerds covers everything from comics, video games, and anything else that sparks your nerdy heart. Shannon Talley, Gyasi Sturgis, Julian Atienza, and Jaja Smith give their perspectives on everything geek in a way that makes you feel like you're right at home talking with your friends.

Start listening now!

Everyone's favorite truth-teller drops weekly gems, telling you exactly what it is with passion — not hostility. Amanda Seales delivers her customary brand of tough love in each episode that explains the "Side Effects" of whatever that week's topic is. This isn't for those with thin skin, Seales always keeps it real, even if it's hard to hear.

Start listening now!

Gettin' Grown features Keia and Jade, two happy and hard-working women who are just trying to learn how to adult — for real. They're just trying to figure out life as 30-somethings, one week at a time, and to be honest, who isn't? This is the kind of relatable content we're looking for!

Start listening now!

Alex Elle brings you intimacy with some incredibly inspiring women in her podcast Hey, Girl. Created with sisterhood and storytelling in mind, Hey, Girl. guests share their stories through candid conversations and dive into wellness and self-care to nurture every listener's sense of self.

Start listening now!

On The Read, hosts Kid Fury and Crissle West unabashedly takedown mainstream moguls — Beyoncé being the exception, naturally — and illuminate the overall absurdity of our current pop culture landscape. The podcast's namesake comes from each episode's final segment, wherein the two "read" (i.e. chastise) offenders of the previous week, like anyone from Rachel Dolezal to surly Best Buy employees.

Start listening now!

True crime lovers, we got you! Hosts Keyerra and JV focus on stories of crimes by people of color that rarely see the light of day. They cover the stories of the murderers and serial killers, as well as the victims and survivors who were able to make it.

Start listening now!

Insecure fans, this is for you! The Read's Crissle and The Friend Zone's Fran come together to give us the aftershow we badly need. Need someone to validate your rage with Molly's bad decisions? Looking for more people to discuss how fione every man who appears onscreen is? Your people are here!

Start listening now!

The Thick sheds light on dating and work life from the perspectives of Tabria Majors and Mindy J, a curve super model and an aspiring journalist, respectively. The two dish out their opinions on love, life, and everything in between.

Start listening now!

NPR's Code Switch is a weekly conversation on race and culture, and how they play out in the lives of people of color, and how all of this is shifting. Originally a blog, the podcast is hosted by a variety of journalists, including Shereen Marisol Meraji, Gene Demby, Adrian Florido, Karen Grigsby Bates, and Leah Donnella.

Start listening now!