12 Podcasts For Women Trying To Glow Up This Year
Take a moment to say “congratulations" to yourself today. Why? Well, 2017 was your year, and 2018 is too. As driven women, we often decide whether a year was “our year" based on what we accomplished: whether we landed that promotion, whether our summer fling became bae or bye, and so on. We measure ourselves by what we did, but we often overlook a huge part of that —the time and effort we took to keep pushing. You deserve a moment to clap for 2017, because you made it.
In fact, you should already be raising a glass to next year. You've powered through this year with enough time left for a strong finish to the calendar and a head start on 2018. To continue growing your glow-up, we've gathered a top-notch selection of podcasts. Skim this list to find your “lmaomgyes" moments, shoulders to cry on, reminders to breathe deep and even a little financial motivation not buy anymore Instagram boutique clothing. Whatever you need to boost your glow in 2018, we've got it.
Ready, Set, Glow!
Hashtag and Stilettos
Can you troubleshoot your way to success? Are brand partnerships right for your brand? Get the answers to questions like these and more from your personal “publicist in your pocket," entrepreneur and PR expert Sakita Holley on Hashtags and Stilettos.
With her expertise in tow, Sakita drops gems and trades verses with some of her entrepreneurial peers like writer Demetria Lucas D'Oyley and CurlBox founder Myleik Teele who shared gems on scaling a business. She also provides insight on the ins and outs of being your own boss, like gifting listeners with the "Sakita Method" to teach them out how to create luck in business and branding, as well as how to build a network as an introvert.
You Had Me at Black
“What percent are you on?" Recharge your black girl magic by tuning in into true-life stories from people who “get" you. Founded by sisters and creative-duo Martina and Britney Abrahams, YHMAB captures stories from black millennials often left out of the media.
You Had Me At Black is a podcast that acts as series of personal journals and captivates the listeners week-to-week by planting them firmly into the lives of perfect strangers with a story to tell. Whether you're a black traveler who comes face-to-face with his past while traveling to Cuba or a creative having trouble answering her calling after a failed relationship took the life from her - there are pieces of us somewhere in these 10+ minute stories.
Joblogues
For many, the first and fifteenth means payday. But what if you could cash in on a career boost during those days too? Check in with hosts Joymarie and Cortney and Joblogues for candid career conversations designed to make your next move, your best move.
The #groupchatgirlfriends of Joblogues give career advice in a down-to-earth way that feels like you're in the middle of a conversation over mimosas after a hard workweek and desperately in need of a little inspiration. Alongside guests like money maven Tonya Rapley and communications guru Amanda McCormick, the ladies show listeners how to hone in on the skills God gave us to create a work life you love to lead.
Myleik Teele's Podcast
Any entrepreneurs in the room who need a mentor? Myleik Teele's Podcast will serve as a virtual mentorship to young aspiring entrepreneur women who are looking to level up in their careers as well as find balance in their professional and personal lives. The conversational podcast allows you to kick it with the creator of CurlBox as she breaks down everything from the importance of therapy, to egg freezing for women in their 30's, and handling your own PR.
With the hashtag #MyTaughtYou, each week, Myleik ensures that you leave her podcast with a lesson to actively and immediately learn from. Above all, she teaches us to stay in our lane while creating one of our own. She is queen of the Q&A's, but has been known to sit down with celebrity guests every now and then with some of her latest appearances featuring Instyle's Fashion & Beauty Editor-At-Large Kahlana Barfield, xoNecole's Editor-In-Chief Necole Kane and celeb hairstylist to the stars Ursula Stephen. But the party definitely doesn't stop there.
2 Dope Queens
2 Dope Queens are your homegirls away from home. Tune in to hear co-hosts Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams take on EVERYTHING, from roasting Ben Carson to some good 'ol girl-gang gossip with the cast of Girls Trip.
The two best friends put on quite the live show. They are black AF, unapologetic AF, and funny AF and it all comes together to create a wildly entertaining 45-minute listen. Guests like Queen Latifah and Teegan & Sarah come through to the weekly barbecue to show up and show out, talking all things love, sex, race, and of course, living in New York.
Black Girl in Om
Chin up, shoulders relaxed, and deep breaths for this one, ladies! The BGIO podcast is a refreshing celebration of wellness, self-care, and self-love for women of color. Follow along with your very own guides-on-the-side, Black Girl in Om founder Lauren Ash and Art Director Deun Ivory as they chat with wellness and beauty gurus of all specialties.
BGIO is the podcast component to the equally peaceful and woo-sah-inducing reads that fill the pages of the Black Girl in Om site. BGIO places a strong emphasis on wellness and can be the reset you're looking for on days where the gloom feels longer than the sun. When guests like Hey Fran Hey or Latham Thomas come through, you better believe that the gems you will receive are going to be potent as ever. But with subjects like finding wholeness, mindfulness, and emotional empowerment, BGIO never fails to deliver.
She's Beauty And Beast
Tracy G. serves as our weekly fairy glow up mother, sprinkling much-needed black girl magic onto the lives of her day-to-day listeners. She walks us through the mundanities of life in a way that seeks to empower the modern-day millennial women on the pathway to owning their dopeness.
A self-proclaimed "audio vision board," She's Beauty And Beast is your one-stop shop for your 2018 glow up with topics ranging from sprituality and sanity to sexuality and sensuality. Tracy G. talks about life post-celibacy, liberation, lacefront beards, and even the effects of overdosing on too much self-improvement.
Consider these two “semi-responsible" millennials your audio-guide to adulting —well at least the personal finance and career aspects. Make money moves that matter through their conversations with a dynamic mix of financial experts on Paychecks & Balances.
Personal finances are one of those aspects in life that you have to steadily work towards each and every day to make sure your accounts are in order, your credit check is on point, and your savings are on deck in full effect. Rich and Marcus can be the advisors your wallet and life will thank you for. With their conversations on financial independence, wealth building, and budgeting - 2018 is bound to full of abundance for you.
The Creative Millennial
If you're a creative and you've ever felt alone or isolated in your craft, that ends as soon as you tune into Candice VanWye's Creative Millennial podcast.
The newly established business podcast is a weekly podcast where Candice talks to creatives of all ages and success points like Essence Hayes, the owner and designer of Coloring Pins who made success the only option and Tasha James, who shared her journey as a blogger with a “small" audience.
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast
What does it take for you to become the best version of yourself? Kick off your shoes, unhook your bra, and tune into a weekly conversation with licensed psychologist, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford about all things mental health and personal development with the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast.
While Dr. Harden Bradford always stipulates that her weekly sessions are not a replacement for going to therapy, her sessions offer a range of wellness tips and strategies gears to help you maintain your mental health. She talks about red flags in relationships, managing grief, Impostor Syndrome, and ex sex. She also uses fictional characters, like Love & Basketball's Monica and Being Mary Jane's Mary Jane, to help frame important conversations.
Gettin' Grown
What age did you think you'd have it all figured out? Now let's all laugh about it with Keia and Jade, the “happy and hard working (Blackity) Black" hosts of the Gettin' Grown podcast as they try to figure out life as 30-somethings.
How comforting is it to learn that we are all trying to figure this thing called life out? Keia and Jade are our reaffirming sistas from another mista. The ladies give us the real on things like gift giving during the holidays, street harassment, and the importance of owning and protecting your black magic. No one has a game plan, but we can all navigate through these waters together.
The Black Girl Podcast
Name a more iconic *quintet*, we'll wait. Get a dose of these five fresh perspectives from Scottie Beam, Gia Peppers, Sapphira, Bex, and Alysha P and their hilarious takes on life, sisterhood, pop culture, and “making it" on the Black Girl Podcast.
The five women have made a career for themselves as media phenoms in their own right, and became friends while working on Hot 97. The conversations took on a life of its own literally and they decided to create a podcast around it. The opinions sometimes differ but the love is all the same. The girls pose deep questions like whether or not it's important to have love first or respect first, the effects of your choices on your future, exes, and of course, sex. Get your 2018 poppin' with just the right amount of girl talk to lift your spirit and guide you through your day-to-day.
What are some podcasts you listen to for wellness and inspiration? Share your favorites below.
Featured image by Getty Images
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CultClassiq is your very own wing woman, committed to finding the answers to life's most annoying dating questions. Follow her on Twitter/Instagram at @CultClassiq and visit https://medium.com/@CultClassiq to keep up!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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We all love that Beyoncé's recent foray into country music has turned the world's attention back to the impact of Black legends and icons who were foremothers of the genre. All of the buzz around the superstar's take on country music (along with the fab TikToks of Black women getting their country glam on to prep for a possible country music tour), brings to the forefront stories of the amazing impact of women like Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Elizabeth Cotton, and Linda Martell. These women laid the groundwork for folk, country, and rock music way before any of us reached our mother's wombs.
I've loved country music since childhood and would rock, sway, and sing along to songs by The Neville Brothers, Patsy Cline, and Elvis. (Yep, I loved me some Elvis, honey. It was an admiration I inherited from my mom.). Back in the day, my friends and I would all enjoy the country music songs played at a popular hangout spot, the local skating rink. The DJ would go from 69 Boys, Brandy, and Usher to Billy Ray Cyrus ("Achy Breaky Heart), Dolly Parton ("9-to-5" and "I Will Always Love You,") and Shania Twain ("Man! I Feel Like A Woman.") Country music has always been part of my life's soundtrack.
Since it's Women's History Month, what a perfect time to highlight some of the other Black women who have been standing it the gap for years, doing this country music thing, and doing it well. Here are a few to add to your playlists this month and beyond.
The Boykin Sisters AKA The BoykinZ
Sisters Nylan, Nytere, Anale, and Alona took the country music world by storm on TikTok, drawing more than 480,000 followers and 10 million likes for their soulful country music swag. They've performed with Shania Twain on the Country Music Awards, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and have recorded with legendary country music producer Nathan Chapman. Each brings their own unique flavor to the group, from style to music abilities.
Rissi Palmer
She released her self-titled debut album with hit singles, “Country Girl,” “Hold On To Me,” and “No Air,” and has since performed at The White House, New York's Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry. She’s also shared stages with country and pop music heavy-hitters including The Eagles, Charley Crockett, and Taylor Swift. Taking things to the advocacy level, she launched her own radio show Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer on Apple Music Country and created the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund to support newbie country artists of color to reach their entertainment industry dreams.
C Brandon / Contributor/Getty Images
Yola
A U.K.-bred country music artist, this singer and actress was nominated for multiple Grammys for her 2019 debut album, Walk Through Fire, including Best Americana Album. Her 2021 album, Stand For Myself, mixes country and soul with intriguing and relatable visuals. She also magnificently starred as Rosetta Thorpe in the 2023 Elvis biopic, a film whose soundtrack was an American Music Award winner.
Mickey Guyton
A modern-day pioneer in her own right, Mickey Guyton was the first Black woman to be nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category at the Grammy Awards in 2021, and, that same year, she became the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards. Her song, “Black Like Me,” released in the wake of the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, added more to her legacy of being a leader and advocate in country music.
Brittney Spencer
This newbie artist in the game has given us strong previews of her talent, releasing two EPs and receiving Country Music Awards and Country Music Television award nominations. Elektra signed her to a deal in 2022, and this year, she released her debut album, My Stupid Life, which has been described by one Rolling Stone reviewer as “one of the most convincing country statements in a while.”
Reyna Roberts
The self-proclaimed "Princess of Outlaw Country," is serving soul, sass, and style with her music, with a debut album titled, Bad Girl Bible, Volume 1, sparking intrigue and fan support. Her more than 300,000 followers on IG rally behind her, as she campaigns for big-ticket performances that we are sure, will be in her future.
Chapel Heart
Sisters Danica and Devynn Hart have joined musical forces with cousin Trea Swindle as a country music trio, and found early viral success performing on “America’s Got Talent.” In 2021 the group was inducted into Country Music Television’s “Next Women of Country,” and they’ve been honored as “International Group of the Year” as well as “International Song of the Year” for the single “You Can Have Him Jolene” in Scotland. They have been nominated for several British CMAs including “Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year” for their second album release The Girls Are Back In Town.
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Featured image by Emma McIntyre / Staff/Getty Images