RECOMMENDATIONS
POD IS LOVE // 11 of the best LGBTQ+ podcasts for Pride Month
Issue #015 of the Pod Bible magazine was released on 6th of June, featuring the usual reviews, recommendations and interviews. As June is Pride month in the UK, we also asked Brendan Geoghegan and Matthew Riley from Bottoming to share with us some of the best LGBTQ+ podcasts.
Now we’re halfway through Pride month, we thought we’d share their recommendations of the best shows available from the LGBTQ+ community right now…
TRANS 20:20s
Created by writer and filmmaker Juliet Jacques, Trans 20:20s takes a look at what it’s like to be a twenty-something trans, non-binary or gender diverse person in the year 2020. Released at the back end of the year, this podcast, which is available on Soundcloud, allows for an insight into the human experience of these marginalized individuals. Each interview offers new perspectives on government legislation, media representation, and possibly the largest topic of the year, lockdown, and how each of these things has and does affect them and others within our community. The project was commissioned by Studio Voltaire in partnership with Gendered Intelligence as part of Desperate Living C-19.
BUSY BEING BLACK
Josh Rivers sits at the helm of this podcast, with an aim of exploring how to make the most of queer Black life. There’s a richness of conversation featuring the likes of Lady Phyll, Jeffery Williams, Travis Alabanza and countless others. Last year, with funding from the European Cultural Foundation, Busy Being Black presented a series of conversations exploring queer Black solidarity across Europe during the Covid-19 crisis, and featured first-listens to a new multimedia Anthology/Appendix’ series by Isaiah Lopaz, which explores themes of migration, faith and belonging.
BITTEN PEACH POD
Hosted by non-binary writer and director, ShayShay, Bitten Peach Pod is the queer Asian talk show that asks ‘real life’ Queer Asians the dreaded question… “where are you really from?” which results in some heartwarming and much-needed conversations. ShayShay has a beautiful energy that works perfectly as they speak to a rich variety of guests about their lives, their culture, their art and their Asian icons. It’s supported by gender-diverse, Pan-Asian artist collective, The Bitten Peach, who put on gag-worthy shows in queer venues across London – so be sure to check them out!
CALL ME MOTHER
Journalist and author of upcoming book ‘The Transgender Issue’, Shon Faye, hosts this beautiful series from Novel, talking to unsung and lesser-heard older LGBTQ+ trailblazers. We don’t hear from our LGBTQ+ elders enough in the podcast world, and this series seeks to change that, with guests including performance artist and gender theorist, Kate Bornstein, sexual health and HIV activist, Marc Thompson and actor-politician-activist, Michael Cashman to name a few. Episodes are all under 30 minutes making them easily digestible, and you’ll come away feeling educated, empowered and (if it fits!) grateful to be queer. Listen now >>
BOTTOMING
Ok, we know we’re being cheeky, but we couldn’t list our favourite LGTBQ+ podcasts without sharing our own audio child. Bottoming is the LGBTQ+ mental health podcast, discussing rock bottoming and beyond, not sex. Birthed out of our own troubles with mental health, we wanted to open up the conversation to the rest of the community and further afield, to normalise healthy discussions about our mental states. Released fortnightly, we interview guests about their mental health journeys, reflect on our own, and hope to offer practical advice related to reaching out for support. After this year, we all need it. You’re doing amazing sweetie.