by 
Updated on April 3, 2022
Podcasts in the last several years have become a booming medium, with many trying to break in. This includes the usual digital music giants like Spotify and Apple Music.
Many of the top podcasts aren’t diverse in who produces them; the 10 most popular ones from 2020 are (as far as I can tell) all by White creators. Fortunately, there are plenty of podcasts by non-White voices, covering a variety of genres. Below, I look at some of my favorite podcasts by Black creators. Note some of these also appeared on last year’s list of favorite podcasts.
Code Switch
Podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch
Code Switch is an NPR podcast that focuses on American society’s treatment of minorities. Topics covered by Code Switch range from analyzing the origins of the term “people of color” to the cultural impact of “Dora the Explorer.” One episode covered the topic of reparations for African-Americans, with Erika Alexander interviewed; she’s the actress that played Maxine Shaw (attorney-at-law) on 90s sitcom “Living Single.” The show’s hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji.
The podcast received a large amount of attention in 2020, after the George Floyd protests saw a spark in interest in Black-produced media. Around this time a year ago, it was Apple’s #1 podcast.
It’s Been a Minute
Podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510317/its-been-a-minute-with-sam-sanders
It’s Been a Minute is an NPR podcast hosted by Sam Sanders. Each episode sees Sanders interview a different person related to the week’s topic. Topics range from corporate greed involving conglomerates like Disney (with an interview with Abigail Disney, Walt Disney’s grandniece) to discussing the TV show “Pose.”
Sanders himself is also openly gay, which he discusses in an episode about National Coming Out Day.
MEGASheen
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/megasheen/id1133749508
MEGASheen is a podcast by Viktor Kerney and Bussy Phillips. The podcast covers sci-fi/fantasy and comics material from a Black queer perspective. There are also occasional interviews with a third party.
Kerney is also the creator of his own fantasy-themed comic, “StrangeLore.”
Revision Path
Podcast: https://revisionpath.com/podcasts/
Revision Path is a design podcast hosted by Maurice Cherry. The podcast features interviews with a variety of Black graphic designers, web developers, and other digital creators.
The podcast’s website has also recently expanded into carrying job listings.
Photo by Kertojan ääni (Flickr / CC BY / cropped from original)
