The Best LGBTQIA+ Podcasts for Pride Month and Beyond

Speaking of Roxane Gay, no list of LGBTQIA+ podcasts would be complete without this offering from the celebrated writer and critic. In these intimate conversations, Gay delves into the most pressing issues of our time, examining the things she cares about the most: race, writing, art, pop culture, queerness, and more. Recent guests have included disability activist Imani Barbarin and writer and cultural critic Margo Jefferson.

You know an interview podcast hosted by a standup comedian is always going to be a good time. Comic Cameron Esposito brings her particular brand of queer humor to these illuminating conversations with a wide range of LGBTQIA+ people. They talk makeup with writer Ijeoma Oluo, Star Wars fandom with actor Vico Ortiz, and books with award-winning author Malinda Lo. There's a conversation here for everyone, no matter what you're interested in.

Podcasts hosted by friends are another sure bet for a good time. In this one, pals Lauren and Nicole sit down with queer people of diverse backgrounds and identities to talk about coming out. Their conversations range from hilarious to absurd, mundane to profound. Guests share the ups and downs and unexpected twists of their journeys coming out to family, friends, themselves, and the world.

When you're in the mood for some gay hilarity, can you imagine anything better (or more delightfully bizarre) than a scripted comedy about a sperm bank heist? This hilarious romp follows a crew of queer misfits as they attempt to break into the US government's top secret sperm bank, hidden deep beneath the Seattle Space Needle. They're after the sperm of some of the world's greatest thinkers and most famous politicians. Why? Because a lesbian cult needs it, of course. Directed by Alan Cumming and starring a cast of brilliant queer actors, including Bowen Yang, Jane Lynch, and Cynthia Nixon, Hot White Heist is just as zany and fun as it sounds.

A serial fiction podcast from the creators of Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead is the perfect blend of creepy, mysterious, and thought-provoking. A truck driver sets out on a journey across America in search of her wife, whom she's long assumed was dead. Along the way, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy that goes far deeper than one missing person, encountering some truly terrifying (and not entirely human) murderers along the way.

There are a lot of great LGBTQIA+ audiobooks out there, but if you're feeling overwhelmed and aren't sure where to start, Queer as Fact is an excellent introduction to queer history all over the world. Each episode explores a different person, event, piece of art, or movement important to queer history. This podcast covers an incredible range of eras, places, and topics, from Beki, the queer language of the Philippines, to the history of asexuality in the United States.

This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn more about queer history, and especially about queer people whose stories are rarely championed in mainstream media. Eric Marcus shares intimate, moving conversations from his extensive archive of oral interviews, conducted over several decades. These conversations with queer luminaries such as Sylvia Rivera, Frank Kameny, and Harry Hay are not just insightful and engaging—they provide crucial context for the LGBTQIA+ movements and communities of today.

If you're in the market for a podcast that delves into everything queer, you're going to want to tune into Keeping It Queer. Hosts Navin Noronha and Farhad Karkaria look at the world through a queer lens, discussing everything from pop culture and politics to sex and relationships. Each themed episode focuses on a different topic—asexuality, finances, celebrity crushes, and mythology among them. Whatever they're discussing, Noronha and Karkaria make sure to queer the conversation.

While many of these podcasts are focused on LGBTQIA+ life in the United States, there are queer people living and loving all over the world. This podcast shines a light on queer Africans, living on the African Continent and in the Diaspora. Tune in for stories of relationships, family, career, travel, community, history, and more, all exploring the complex intersections of LGBTQIA+ and African identity.

Food 4 Thot is hosted by the dynamic, multiracial foursome of Denne Michele Norris, Joseph Osmundson, Tommy Pico, and Fran Tirado. These four writers talk about everything from the books they're currently loving to the relationships quandaries they're currently mired in. Astrology, COVID, media representation, sex toys—you never know exactly what kind of conversation you're going to get, but you know it's going to informative, insightful, funny, and open.

Sometimes, it's serious topics like fatphobia and labor organizing; sometimes, it's deep dives into the mysteries of trees and coral reefs. And other times, it's everything you ever dreamed of knowing about olive oil. Whatever Jonathan Van Ness is curious about on any given day, they make you curious about it too. The Queer Eye star and all-around ball of human sunshine brings all of their sparkle to this podcast about, well…everything.

In this series of thoughtful conversations, host Matthias Roberts explores faith and spirituality from an LGBTQIA+ perspective. His guests include people from a wide variety of religions and disciplines: ministers, pastors, writers, psychologists, activists, and more. On Queerology, they come together to ponder what it means to be a queer person of faith.

After 10 years of serial monogamy, comedian Ashley Gavin decides it's finally time to sleep around. Naturally, she documents her journey through queer dating and sex with honesty, curiosity, and a whole lot of humor. Along the way, she speaks with people of diverse genders and sexualities—trans and cis, queer and straight—about their sex lives.

If you're looking for a comprehensive and inclusive podcast about all things sex and relationships, you can't go wrong with Queer Sex Ed. Hosts Sara and Jay discuss sexual health, relationships, sex toys, kink, the importance of sex education, and so much more! Their conversational style is friendly and upbeat. They pack a lot of information into each episode, answer listener questions, and share plenty of real-life stories along the way.

On Nancy, best friends Kathy Tu and Tobin Low talk about all aspects of the LGBTQIA+ experience—the good, the bad, and all the in-betweens. In addition to chatting about their lives and whatever is happening in the news, they have in-depth conversations with tons of smart and interesting queer people, including actors, writers, and advocates. Other times, they take a deep dive into a beloved or influential piece of queer media.

When it comes to pop culture and hip-hop, bloggers Kid Fury and Crissle leave no stone unturned in this conversational podcast. With plenty of banter and a big dose of insight, the hosts discuss whatever's going on in the world of music and entertainment—not to mention their own lives. Full of fresh takes, plenty of laughs, and real-talk about living in New York City as queer millennials, The Read has such a big audience for a reason: it's irresistible.

Passionate about gay romance novels? Big Gay Fiction Podcast is a must-listen! Avid romance fans and hosts Jeff Adams and Will Knauss bring you author interviews, thoughtful discussions about the romance industry, conversations about gay pop culture and publishing, and, of course, book and TV tie-in recommendations galore. They're always reading (or watching) something dreamy and steamy, so get ready for your TBLT pile to grow exponentially.

Prefer your novels with a twist of murder? Then Queer Writers of Crime is the podcast for you! Historically, whodunits, mysteries, and thrillers have not been particularly LGBTQIA+ inclusive. But queer crime writers have always existed, and more and more queer books in these genres are being released every year. Host Brad Shreve has made it his mission to connect suspense and crime fans with the best LGBTQIA+ fiction. Shreve interviews LGBTQIA+ authors about their lives, creative process, inspirations, and more.

Whether we realize it or not, everyone has a relationship with gender. In this podcast, transmasculine nonbinary writer and therapist Alex Iantaffi digs into those fascinating, complicated, and varied understandings of who we are. Alongside a series of guests across the gender spectrum, Iantaffi reflects on all the ways that gender affects lives, from parenting to spirituality. No matter where you are on your gender journey, Gender Stories is here to help you think about gender in new ways.

Gender Reveal is a podcast all about trans and nonbinary people and the issues that affect their lives. Host Tuck Woodstock talks to trans and nonbinary folks from all walks of life about their personal journeys, day-to-day lives, work, and identities. Past guests have included writers such as Torrey Peters and Edgar Gomez, academic and abolitionist Da’Shaun Harrison, and lawyer and advocate Chase Strangio. The podcast also includes answers to questions listeners send in and discussions of current events and politics.

Host Callie Wright started Queersplaining because they wanted to see more authentic representative media where queer and trans people get to tell queer and trans stories. Each week, they share portraits of LGBTQIA+ lives. Rather than focusing on big-name celebrities, Wright speaks with ordinary people about the ways that their queer and trans identities shape how they move through the world. From a day on the job with a trans manager of a large erotic boutique to candid conversations about the challenges of communicating with a partner, these real-life stories are as engaging and relatable as they are funny and inspiring.

Miss Mouthy is dedicated to celebrating the stories and lived experiences of trans women of color in the city of Detroit. Each week, host Racquelle Trammell and her guests discuss dating, mental health, grief, politics, fashion, career, music, pronouns, racism, activism, sex work, and more—absolutely nothing is off-limits. While the show makes space for trans women to openly discuss their struggles, these moving conversations are grounded in joy, love, and a whole lot of pride.

While this UK-based podcast focuses on issues affecting trans and nonbinary people across the pond, listeners across the USA and all over the world will find much to relate to and get fired up about. Snarky fact-finding hosts Michelle and Ashleigh don't hold back in their conversations about what's going on in pop culture and politics. Centering trans perspectives in their critiques and analyses, they interview guests about everything from the history of trans activism to the realities of transgender parenting.