Why You Should Listen To LGBTQ+ Podcasts

Introduction

With over 2 million podcasts available for listening to at your disposal today, it’s probably no secret they have become increasingly popular in mainstream culture. Podcasts may be a great way to gather information, broaden your perspective, learn about LGBTQ therapy, hear interviews and relatable stories from queer hosts, laugh, and even learn something new about the gay agenda that you can apply to your everyday life or personal experiences. While there are numerous genres to listen to, LGBTQ+ seems to be on the rise and may be a valuable resource to individuals of all gender identities and sexualities.

Whether your identity within the queer community or otherwise, listening to queer podcasts offers various voices, perspectives, and expressions about queer culture from all genders, backgrounds, and sexual orientations to open your mind, inspire you during pride month, and learn something new. Read on to find podcasts on topics like transgender mental health, gay relationships, and what it means to be queer. In addition to these identities, individuals within the LGBTQ+ community are also diverse regarding race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class, and nationality, giving even more diversity in thoughts, experiences, and understanding, making many podcasts inclusive.

Mental Health In This Community

While being a member of the queer community may often be empowering, it can also come with its unique challenges. Studies show LGBTQ+ individuals are twice as likely to experience mental health concerns than heterosexual individuals, and those who identify as transgender may be four times as likely as cisgender individuals. These individuals are often an underrepresented group disproportionately affected by mental health issues when it comes to mental health. While a podcast is not a replacement for professional LGBTQ+ therapy, media like gay comics, gay romance fiction, gay reality tv, and LGBT news may be an invaluable resource for many that can also provide a sense of understanding and community.

Benefits Of Media Consumption

For individuals exploring their identity or sexuality, a podcast may be a safe space to receive support and hear people in the queer community share stories they can relate to. At the same time, navigating their experience in the LGBTQ+ community.

A podcast—particularly one with queer hosts—allows you to immerse yourself in the LGBTQ+ community without having to actively participate in the gay pop culture discussion beyond listening if you’re not ready yet. For those who may not identify as a queer individual, an LGBTQ+ podcast may be able to give you the language to fully support your queer loved ones or community and give you a background of their experiences as gay men and queer women, as well as a better understanding of what it means to identify as LGBTQ+ in today’s world of identity politics.

Podcasts To Try

While a queer podcast may be beneficial for all people on the gender and sexuality spectrums, it may sometimes be difficult to navigate the vast space of LGBT podcasts to find the pop culture podcast that may suit you best. There are a ton of options when it comes to LGBTQ+ podcasts (there’s even a Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast with a queer theme). From exploring your sexuality and discovering inspiring queer icons to learning about mental health and supporting a loved one within the LGBTQ+ community, there may be a podcast that resonates with you and your experiences. If you’re interested in listening to the best LGBTQ podcasts, these are some of the most highly rated podcasts that may inspire you and open your mind.  

Food 4 Thot

Hosted by a multiracial mix of LGBTQ+ individuals and queer friends, Food 4 Thot is an incredibly inclusive podcast that explores various topics relevant to the queer community. From relationships and sex lives to sexuality and race, Food 4 Thot may be able to help you navigate your experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community or understand how to support a loved one who is in this community.

Making Gay History

Queer individuals may have been previously underrepresented in many ways within the community. However, with the Making Gay History podcast, each episode celebrates successes within the queer community, sharing intimate portraits of LGBTQ+ individuals, exploring the queer history and the LGBTQ movement, and empowering LGBTQ+ moments in history. Making Gay History documents how queer people have impacted the world by exploring several different LGBTQ themes. Pasts guests include people like Morgan Page and AJ Lewis, who discussed a piece of trans history with an oral history of Reed Erickson. This may be the podcast for those who want to feel inspired and empowered with a structured, investigative podcast. 

Query

Hosted by comedian and actor Cameron Esposito, Query is a highly rated podcast featuring inspiring leaders and visionaries, like queer writers and the latest LGBTQ music artists. Each episode explores personal stories and intimate experiences from a queer lens with identity and the cultural shift around sexuality, gender, and civil rights as an LGBTQ+ individual in today’s world, intending to inspire and broaden your perspective.

Numerology

Hosted by Matthias Roberts, Queerology invites theologians, thought-leaders, writers, psychologists, and change-makers to discuss what it means to be queer as a person of faith. This podcast explores the intersection of faith and sexuality. It may provide a fresh perspective and actionable tips to make lifestyle changes to improve your overall well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals with strong faith and spirituality. Past guests include New York Times bestselling author Matthew Paul Turner and recording artist Lucy Dacus.

LGBTQ&A

This podcast LGBTQ+ features interviews with some of the most interesting and inspiring individuals within the queer community. Hosted by Jeffrey Masters and produced by The Advocate Magazine, the LGBTQ&A podcast may provide support and relatable stories as speakers and listeners alike navigate their experience in today’s world as LGBTQ+ individuals.

A Gay And A Non-Gay

Co-hosts James Barr and Dan Hudson explore the relationship between LGBTQ+ and heterosexual individuals in this podcast, challenges their differences within both their personal lives, and discuss why we should all be friends who avoid viewing things from the perspective of one gay stereotype. This podcast may be inspiring and eye-opening for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones to better understand their unique personal experiences and effectively relate to one another with kindness and compassion. New episodes are typically released each week.

Homo Sapiens

Homo Sapiens is a podcast hosted by Christopher Sweeney that explores today’s world from an authentic queer perspective. Sweeney interviews leaders, icons, thinkers, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. They talk about life, culture, LGBTQ themes, and issues that affect LGBTQ people, as well as how they can affect these individuals.

Bottoming

Led by co-hosts Brendan Geoghegan and Matthew Riley, Bottoming is a podcast created for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community experiencing difficulties in their lives and mental health concerns. Each episode navigates difficult conversations, covering topics surrounding mental health, and gay sex uncovers stigmas within our culture, and explores all things mental health and how they can impact these individuals in the world today.

How To Be A Girl

Hosted by a single mother and initially recorded in 2014, How to Be a Girl navigates life with a 6-year-old transgender daughter and shares the journey of uncovering what it means to be a girl in today’s world. This inspiring podcast may be informative and empowering for individuals exploring their gender identity or sexuality, those who are currently transitioning or have a loved one or individuals who would like to broaden their perspective and learn more about the transgender community and their experiences. This podcast explores many of the challenges trans people may face in today’s world and offers supportive advice for both transgender individuals and their caregivers, if applicable, and loved ones.

Outward

Created by Slate Magazine, Outward is a monthly podcast exploring culture, politics, and challenges from a queer perspective. This podcast offers real-life advice and practical tips, scientific discoveries on sexuality, current events and changes, and everything from various perspectives and voices on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

This list is by no means a comprehensive list of all the LGBTQ+ podcasts out there. There are still many other media resources you can explore beyond the ones listed here, like Being Gay, a podcast hosted by LGBTQ+ advocate Sam Wise, or selected works from queer advocate Roxane Gay. You can listen to a trans history podcast or an LGBT podcast centered around social justice issues or identity politics. There is also a new podcast that covers LGBTQ+ themes called Nancy. It’s produced by WNYC in New York and hosted by best friends Kathy Tu and Tobin Low.

If you’re into pop culture, you can find a podcast that looks at reality TV through a queer lens or a podcast like To L and Back: An L Word Podcast. To L and Back: An L Word Podcast is a deep dive into the popular Showtime series(of the same name) about queer women, taking you through each episode one by one. You can listen to a podcast hosted by a drag queen, like Very That or Sibling Rivalry. There’s even a podcast called Buffy Gays, in which the hosts talk about the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

It can sometimes help to listen to a recent episode to see if this particular podcast covers topics you’re interested in. If you’re active on social media, you can be a part of the conversation by using a viral hashtag related to the show or even directly interacting with the hosts online. Be sure to do your research if you don't connect with any of the options listed above. 

When To See A Therapist

While a podcast may be a valuable resource to turn to when you need support, it’s not a replacement for professional therapy. Professional therapy may allow you to work through your unique challenges and receive therapies and treatment specific to your needs. If you’re experiencing difficulties in your life or have mental health concerns, it may be time to seek support from a mental health professional. Online therapy is an effective tool you can use to receive treatment. It has the same convenience as a podcast, as you can receive support from your laptop or mobile device, all from the comfort of your own home or wherever you have an internet connection. Many studies show online therapy is just as effective as traditional in-person therapy, with individuals reporting improved symptoms of various mental health concerns after only a short period of sessions. Individuals who use online therapy found it more cost effective than traditional therapy, making it a potentially more affordable alternative to in-person therapy.

BetterHelp

If you’re interested in trying online therapy to improve your mental health, navigate your identity, or overcome challenges in your life, BetterHelp may be able to help. BetterHelp is an affordable online therapy platform that can match you with a licensed therapist who can best suit your individual needs. BetterHelp also has a popular podcast for mental health titled "Getting Better: Stories of Mental Health," which you can listen to here.

Conclusion

No matter what you’re experiencing, a therapist from BetterHelp may be able to help you work through issues in your life and provide practical tools and therapies that can help improve your mental health and overcome issues so you can live a happier, more fulfilled life. Reach out today to talk to someone and begin your journey to a better you.