With millions of loyal listeners devoting hours of their time on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis, podcasts have emerged as one of the most powerful ways to both learn about the topics that resonate most with target audiences (through monitoring) and get in front of those audiences.
The LGBTQ+ community is no exception. Podcasts can provide a valuable window in the cultural conversations shaping this community, informing more inclusive and authentic messaging strategies. But with so many LGBTQ+-focused podcasts now widely available, it’s hard to know where to start.
That’s where we can help.
Whether you’re looking for a place to promote your Pride Month event, pitch a story that has relevance to the LGBTQ+ community, or simply want to better understand these audiences, we’ve created a list of LGBTQ+ podcasts – which cover a range of topics and have dedicated fan followings – to consider adding your list of media outlets to pitch.
1. LGBTQ&A
This popular podcast is hosted by GLAAD award-winning journalist Jeffrey Masters and produced by The Advocate. Each week, Masters interviews some of the most interesting LGBTQ+ people in the world.
Notable guests include White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, queer icon Janelle Monáe, and trans healthcare advocate Jamison Green.
2. Making Gay History
With 13 seasons of episodes to catch up on, this podcast brings “the voices of LGBTQ history to life through intimate conversations with champions, heroes, and witnesses to history.”
Founder and host Eric Marcus digs into his decades-old audio archive (with help from the New York Public Library) of interviews to help shine a light on the largely hidden history of the LGBTQ+ community.
Start in season 1 with an episode about Dear Abby, an early activist, or jump to more recent episodes about gay journalist Randy Shilts and radical lesbian feminist Jill Johnston.
3. Bad with Money
Bad with Money is hosted by best-selling author and comedian Gaby Dunn. They discuss the intersection of finance and social justice and bring “a social justice, feminist, and unabashedly radical point of view to conversations with top journalists, student loan experts, tax specialists, mutual aid organizers and other money disrupters in their fields.”
As one listener puts it, “I have learned so much from this podcast and have always felt empowered and supported by Gaby - which is NOT how other financial pods have felt! And the centering of marginalized voices is a huge plus!”
If you’re pressed for time, check out the bite-sized mailbag episodes in which Gaby answers fan questions and discusses reactions to their more in-depth episodes. Topics run the finance gamut, from medical tourism to crypto, paying for dating apps and the corporatization of LGBTQ Pride (“pinkwashing”).
5. The Read
On The Read, hosts Kid Fury and Crissle cover all things hip hop and pop culture. Only Beyoncé and Blue Ivy are safe. The show averages over 350,000 plays a week, so it’s definitely one to add to your list.
Fury is a vlogger, writer and comedian who grew up dreaming of becoming a rapper named Trina. Crissle West is also a writer and comedian and has appeared on Comedy Central’s Drunk History for episodes about Harriet Tubman and the Stonewall Riots.
Episodes run a bit longer than others on the list, anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours, which allows listeners to really get invested in the extremely entertaining conversations.
We recommend starting with the episode “Will & Testaments,” which covers the hosts’ – and the public’s – reactions to the infamous 2023 Oscars slap. They also answer fan letters about several unique dating situations.
5. Queery
Check out Queery, hosted by standup comic Cameron Esposito, for must-listen conversations with “some of the brightest luminaries in the LGBTQ+ family.” Esposito and guests discuss gender identity, politics, sexuality, civil rights, and more. Guests include “queeros” (gay heroes) that should be on your radar if they aren’t already. Interviews with singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, actor and drag king Vico Ortiz, transgender athlete Chris Mosier, and State Representative Renitta Shannon (D-GA) make up just a few notable episodes.
6. Gender Reveal
The Gender Reveal podcast features journalist and “resident gender detective” Tuck Woodstock interviewing trans and nonbinary artists and activists. They answer listener questions, analyze current events, and create a show that acts as an educational tool for anyone hoping to learn more about gender. If you’re new to the podcast, check out the organized “starter packs” and find a topic that appeals to you. Choose from trans parenting, journalism and podcasting, trans politics, pronouns, and more.
7. Rose & Rosie: Parental Guidance
This podcast is hosted by comedy duo and married couple Rose and Rosie. Listeners are invited to “Hold their hands - as they hold baby Ziggy’s - and find out what family looks like for the LGBTQ+ community.”
The 30-minute episodes aim to help other LGBTQ+ couples who find themselves in similar situations by ensuring they don’t feel alone, answering all their questions and being transparent about Rose and Rosie’s own journey into parenthood.
To describe the show in co-host Rosie Spaughton’s words, as told to DIVA Magazine: “It’s like climbing into bed with a best friend at a sleepover and you’re talking about everything. It’s a safe space, and maybe you shout, maybe you cry, but you know that you’re guaranteed to laugh.”
8. Las Culturistas
Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are your guides on this “unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE.” The show has been around since 2016 and has more than 400 episodes for new listeners to check out.
“The show manages to be both acidic and warm, like a steaming cup of Tang for the mind,” says The New Yorker. Special guests range from SNL writers to actors, songwriters, comedians, and more.
A recent episode features a conversation with Tina Fey, discussing everything from her history at SNL to the impact of Mean Girls.
How to Secure Earned Media Coverage on LGTBQ+ Podcasts
These podcasts are a good start for understanding a target audience, but what’s next? If you want to get your brand or organization in front of these engaged audiences, consider pitching to the journalists and producers behind these podcasts.
That’s where a good media database comes in. A quality media database can help you identify the right journalists and media influencers for your story, announcement, or news item. Further, it can provide the kind of intel that may spark story ideas to pitch.
Identifying and Building Your Media List
For example, if you have a story that relates to LGBTQ+ issues, you could use a database like CisionOne Outreach to search top podcasters covering LGBTQ+ issues (among other areas) or related outlets.
You can then drill down even further to look at a podcaster’s recent coverage, what topics they are interested in covering, which geographical areas they serve, and which social channels they are active on, among other qualifiers. All these factors will help inform more personalized messaging and help you craft a pitch that is relevant to their audience.
Next, you can add these journalists to a custom-built media list and even reach out directly from the platform’s distribution tool (which also enables you to track if the media contact has engaged with your communication).
Crafting Your LGBTQ+ Podcast Pitch
As indicated above, a good monitoring strategy can help you understand the types of stories or announcements that might resonate with podcast audiences. To get you started, here are some types of pitches that could lead to quality coverage in LGBTQ+-focused podcasts:
Expert interview: Offer an interview with an expert from your organization or client who can provide thought-provoking commentary or expert analysis on LGBTQ+-related topics, such as legal issues, healthcare, workplace equality, or current events affecting the community.
Event promotion: Pitch coverage of an upcoming LGBTQ+-focused event, campaign, or initiative that your organization or client is involved with or sponsoring. (Pro tip: Location is key here, so make sure the event your pitching is local to the specific podcaster.)
Product or service launch: If your client has a new product, service, or offering tailored to the LGBTQ+ community, pitch an exclusive preview or review opportunity for the podcast.
Unique research: Share new data or findings from research or a report conducted by your organization or client that provides insights into LGBTQ+ experiences, trends, or issues. (Bonus: Most journalists explicitly want to receive data from the PR pros pitching them.)
Community spotlight: Pitch a segment featuring an LGBTQ+-owned business, non-profit organization, or community leader making a positive impact.
For more advice on crafting relevant, attention-getting pitches for any type of audience, check out our guide, Mastering the Pitch: Data-Backed Strategies for Smarter PR.
To learn how CisionOne can help you identify the most effective media contacts and channels to amplify your brand and reach target audiences, schedule time to speak with an expert and explore the platform today.
