We recommend: The queerest podcasts this PRIDE

Editor’s note: I had so much fun putting together this podcast playlist to mark Pride month—which includes strippers, activists, popstars and authors talking about everything queer. Enjoy!

Written by: Arunima Joshua,  Advisory editor

377 by All Things Small: A scripted narrative podcast, it journeys the triumphant judgement striking down section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. The episode from All Things Small features author and public health official Siddharth Dube, lawyer Anand Grover and includes news clips and court readings as well. It’s cinematic, engaging and what I really liked about it is how they managed to tell a story through script rather than a clinical approach.

Ace by Angela Chen by A OK: If you’re crunched for time and aren’t much of a reader—this is an enlightening podcast on Angela Chen’s book on asexuality—an often overlooked representation of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. While the book ‘Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex’ is a great read, the podcast doesn’t shy away from talking about attraction, romantic longings and shedding myths about asexuality.

Kim Petras by Charli XCX’s Best Song Ever: The trans popstar and Charli XCX, both LGBTQIA+ icons discuss music, sex and the late hyper-pop artist and producer SOPHIE who spearheaded the rise of the queer-allying genre. As a die-hard Charli XCX and art pop fan it’s exhilarating to see two of my favourite gay poster girls get together for a tête-à-tête.

How to Handle Desi Parents by Shuddh Desi Gay with Yogi and Kabeer (Hindi LGBT Podcast): As the title suggests, this podcast episode from Shudd Desi Gay in Hindi deals with the arduous challenge of coming out and seeking support from Indian parents for queer individuals. It’s accessible, easy going and never patronising. Yogi and Kabeer do a great job of providing real tips on this tricky subject tailored for India.

Special Edition: Voices from Mumbai Pride by Keeping it Queer with Navin Noronha: Renowned comedian Navin Noronha’s podcast delves into the 2017 Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride March. Noronha speaks to LGBTQIA+ participants and allies as to what the Pride march meant to them. We like this special edition for its slice of life chants, interviews and bytes from the march. There were many participants for whom it was their first Pride and their liberation and exhilaration is captured delightfully.

Bodies by NB: My Non-Binary Life: In conversation with the authors of Trans Like Me (CN Lester) and Queer Sex (Juno Roche) the hosts of NB find answers to questions about gender dysphoria, octopus sex, reconstruction surgery, weird ‘boob stuff’ and learning to live in your body as a non-binary person. Juno’s vulnerability is palpable as they tell us how they find themself beautiful and being trans. It’s also cute how host Caitlin bribes their partner with tea to talk about their personal relationship on the record.

Queer Representation in Indian Cinema: Part 2 - Lesbian Women by Queer Conversations with KayDee: Going beyond Bollywood to Malayalam and Kannada films as well, hosts Kay and Dee explore conspicuous and subtle lesbian representation from Sonam Kapoor films to the coming-of-age hit ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ in Indian cinema. The free-flowing conversation is heartfelt, curious and leaves you with a newfound sapphic lens to deconstruct media and film.

All The Fine Girls Be There by Nancy: Storyteller B A Parker breaks down the history of a black lesbian strip club in Los Angeles. ‘Shakedown’ is an experimental documentary about the titular strip club with a radical trajectory and is the first non-adult film to have been released on PornHub. ‘Shakedown nights’—exclusively lesbian strip nights—at the club were active for 8 years since 1996 for black lesbian dancers to do what they do best: dance for other black lesbian, bi and trans women. Burlesque dancer Egypt Blaque Knyle was at the helm of the strip line-up and is also featured on the podcast. Anecdotes shared include issues with rival clubs and the scourge of young, black, underage lesbians sneaking into the club. As the visitors of the club describe the experience, the listening one is the same - “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen (heard) before.”

PS: We've compiled our picks that are available on Spotify into a handy playlist for your convenience. Check it out on the Splainer Spotify account here.