Podcasts for Women...
I love a good podcast. Especially one that shares women's voices and other underrepresented perspectives. But I did a little digging, and it turns out only 22% of podcasts are hosted by women!
So I did some research (and a lot of listening) and put together a list of 16 podcasts by women thought leaders from all walks of life, covering everything from personal stories to professional advice. Whether you want to keep up on the latest in pop culture or get inspired to start your own business, this list has something for you!
Without further ado, here is PowerToFly's List of Podcasts for Women - And Anyone Who Cares About Celebrating & Learning From Women's Stories and Perspectives... (Cough, cough this should be everyone).
On Being
Krista Tipett is a generous hostess. She gives the floor to community-conscious experts from around the globe. On Being seeks to answer the "animating questions at the center of human life: What does it mean to be human, and how do we want to live?"
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Innovation For All
Hosted by active PowerToFly community member Sheana Ahlqvist, Innovation for All addresses the social impact (positive and negative) of innovation. Sheana covers topics like cyber bullying, tech monopolies, artificial intelligence, and sexism and racism in the tech industry.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
- What Would Ethical Data Practices Look Like?
- How Can Technology Help Close Early Education Gaps?
- From Homeless to Fashion Tech Entrepreneur
Watch Shaena's Chat and Learn with PowerToFly here.
Pop Culture Happy Hour
This roundtable podcast hosted by Linda Holmes chews on a wide range of topics through a pop-culture lense.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Creating Espacios
"Creating Espacios is dedicated to elevating the voices and stories of trailblazing Latinas. The goal is to close the gap of information for a new generation of Latinas who aspire to follow their innovative and entrepreneurial dreams."
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Hurry Slowly
Host Jocelyn K. Glei is "obsessed with how we can find more meaning and creativity in our daily work." This podcasts gives tips and tricks to increase productivity by slowing down.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
The Flow Down
A podcast all about periods? Totally into that! Talking about periods has been taboo in our culture - and especially the workplace - for far too long, and hosts Jessica Weiss and Stefanie Kleinburd are here to put a stop to it. Leveraging their background in journalism and women's health, they provide resources for handling your monthly flow.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Rants and Randomness
This podcast is a rare find and a real treat! Get ready for some candid conversations as NY Best Selling Author, social media influencer, and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker Luvvie Ajayi interrogates her community of mentors and professionals on their career, lifestyle, identity, and cultural impressions.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Confessions of Successful Asian Women
Host Aliya Janjua interviews Asian women who are "climbing the ladder of success." These authentic conversations about success and the challenges that come with it (especially for Asian women) empower listeners to pursue their own dreams.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
- Episode 35: Mai Ton VP of People/HR In Tech On taking up space as an Asian woman in tech
- Episode 33: Nancy Hoque Engineer and Product Marketing Manager on learning to stand out in male-dominated careers.
- Episode 17: Dr. Amita Roy Shah Author and Founder of Hybrid Parenting.org on raising culturally aware children
Bodies
Each episode of this documentary series begins as a medical mystery. Host Allison Behringer shares vulnerable stories from her guests about topics like motherhood, identity, bodily changes, gender, and menopause.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
Gilbert's recent bestseller, "Big Magic — Creative Living Beyond Fear," is brought to life on this podcast. She holds real conversations with real people who feel stuck in their career or their personal journey. Her Magic Lessons are roadmaps for living a more engaged creative life.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
- Dear Creativity and Fear
- The Pure Pleasure of Making Stuff
- Know the Taste of Failure
Marie Forleo
This career-focused podcast offers actionable advice to overcome hurdles in one's career. Named by Oprah as a thought-leader for the next generation, Marie Forleo is on a mission to help bring success, confidence, and inspiration to her listeners.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
The Double Shift
This podcast is all about the millennial working mom. Hosted by an award-winning journalist and active member of our PowerToFly community, Katherine Goldstein's the Double Shift creates open conversations about moms' experiences in the workplace.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Check out Katherine's Chat and Learn with PowerToFly here.
Nerdette
Tricia Bobeda and Greta Johnsen talk science, pop-culture and community through a "nerdy" lens.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Black Girl in OM
A podcast and online publication that "speaks directly to women of color and strives to inspire women around the world." Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory speak about wellness, representation, and business.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Tamarindo
Brenda Gonzalez and Ana Sheila Victorino want to make an impact on politics and culture by sharing honest stories and interviews from the Latinx community.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
- Las Mamas
- Chicano, Latina, Latinx...What's in a Name?
- A Queer History
Mash Up Americans
Since 2000, there has been a 32% growth in Americans that identify as mixed race. 55% of Americans are in interfaith marriages and 43% of millenials are non-white. Amy S. Choi and Rebecca Lehrer speak about the complexities of identity of "mash-up" identities in The States.
3 handpicked episodes to get you started:
Lead Together: Behind the Scenes of Facebook's Women@ Leadership Day
Tatiana L. is a global client partner based in Miami.
Tatiana is part of the Women@ Facebook Resource Group and helped plan Women's Leadership Day, an annual global community summit. While the highly-anticipated event takes place over just one day, its massive impact is felt over the course of the entire year.
Amy W. is an operations lead based in London.
"Women's Leadership Day is more than an event. It's energy, and it's a movement," Amy W., an operations lead in London, says. "Moments like this can completely change the perception of women in technology."
From choosing the content and programming for the event to making it accessible for women around the globe, we went behind the scenes with seven members of the Women@ Facebook Resource Group to learn more about how women are empowered—and are empowering one another— in their career journeys at the Facebook company.
Behind the scenes with Women@
Amanda M., an internal recruiting manager based in Singapore, speaking onstage at 2019 Women@ Leadership Day in APAC.
"I've always been passionate about empowering women, but I didn't know how I could do it at work. My first Women@ experience changed how I felt at Facebook," Amanda M., an internal recruiting manager in Singapore, remembers. "From then on, I wanted to help other women feel heard, valued, and confident."
Planning the global event, which brings together women from more than 20 countries, calls for close collaboration across multiple teams, regions, and timezones. Members of Women@ also partner with other Facebook Resource Groups, such as the Pride@ Resource Group, Latin@ Facebook Resource Group, Desis@ Facebook Resource Group and Black@ Resource Group, to ensure all women at Facebook are represented and feel included.
Vivian V. is a program manager based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
"Across regions and communities, we each bring unique differences and powerful stories. When one of us moves forward, we have the opportunity to bring all of us forward," Vivian V., a program manager in the San Francisco Bay Area explains. "While planning the summit, we meet weekly to talk about what women in different regions are experiencing. From the event theme and content to planning speaker sessions and fine-tuning details, we each have items to own. Two months before the summit, we meet daily to share updates and make sure nothing slips through the cracks."
"Just like me, women in APAC look forward to Women's Leadership Day all year long," Amanda says. Planning something that's deeply meaningful to so many people can feel like a lot of pressure, but at the same time, it's uplifting. I appreciate that we have the opportunity to talk about our individual and shared challenges, and we map out ways we can build community while empowering leadership for women across the globe."
Empowering confidence, equality, and leadership through storytelling
Paris Z., a vertical strategy lead in Singapore, and Amanda M. collaborate with women across the globe to plan Women@ programming and events.
Women's Leadership Day encourages women to talk about challenges like experiencing imposter syndrome, breaking through barriers, and how to manage work/life flexibility. "Storytelling is a huge part of the event," Paris Z., a vertical strategy lead in Singapore, explains.
Vivian says, "I've been at Facebook for nearly two years and help plan these events, and honestly, I never really understood imposter syndrome before I got here. Working with the Women@ community and hearing from our speakers—who are talented, brilliant superstars—I've seen firsthand how it affects them too."
Michelle C. is a client partner based in London.
Michelle C., a client partner in London, says that the summit's speaker sessions, which feature people from inside and outside of Facebook, are a highlight of every event. "We had a speaker from Tel Aviv who talked about the importance of balance in her personal life and how she co-parents with her husband. She shared specific things she's done, like adding her husband to the WhatsApp chat groups for mothers she's in and reminding her daughter's school that her husband is also available when their child feels sick. Her message was that we'll never be equal in the workplace until we're equal at home, and it really struck a chord."
Paris says that in APAC, Eva Chen's talk about facing challenges amidst the coronavirus pandemic and how she's raising her daughter was a top-rated session because it was so relatable. "From talking about her daughter's love for dinosaurs—a "boy" thing—and raising kids to fully be themselves to opening up about what it was like to grow up with immigrant parents from China and Vietnam, Eva inspired us with her authenticity and openness. Her struggle to feel supported while working in fashion and tech, rather than medicine, is something a lot of people in APAC understand."
"Every woman has a unique story," Michelle says. "Hearing from others is inspiring, validating, and truly eye-opening. It reminds us that we're not alone."
A memorable and lasting impact
It's no surprise that with the tremendous amount of planning and careful consideration that goes into the summit, its full impact is impossible to measure.
"It meant so much to me when people shared such positive feedback about Women's Leadership Day," Paris says. "We heard that some attendees felt inspired for days and weeks."
Kira G. is an agency partner based in Berlin.
Kira G., an agency partner in Berlin, has witnessed how the summit's programming can inspire action, even helping people push past a career plateau. "We might reach a point in our careers when we think, "I can't do this anymore, I'm not moving forward'," she says. "Women's Leadership Day gives us fresh perspectives, shows us new approaches, and starts important conversations. This can unlock new paths for growth and help us move forward."
Impact is felt in other Facebook groups, communities, and across teams too, inspiring interest and allyship. Amanda explains, "I felt so proud when a male VP from the Sales team came to us after hearing about what people talked about at Women's Leadership Day. He told us he wanted to learn more because it's everyone's responsibility to be an ally."
Empowering the community throughout the year
While Amanda describes Women's Leadership Day as a "bump in energy and inspiration" and "an injection of adrenaline", Vivian says that the real magic is what happens afterwards—and takes place all year long.
"When we think about Women's Leadership Day, our focus is on making sure that the powerful messages we hear and experience serve us throughout the entire year. We ask ourselves questions like, "How can we sprinkle these themes into our programming throughout the month or quarter? How do these ideas fit with our Women@ initiatives?" Going through something awesome together is just the beginning. Our work takes place year-round and we're constantly building on it to do more."
Paris agrees: "There's no shortage of amazing stories from our Women@ community throughout the year. Women's Leadership Day is just one channel for those stories, and I love how it stays top of mind with people and empowers them to do more good. When we come together, we can do anything we dream of."
"We're building a sisterhood and a community," Tatiana beams. "It feels so good to know there's always someone there to support you."
Learn more about Facebook's Employee Resource Groups, including Women@ here.
