The birth of the podcast is generally attributed to journalist Christopher Lydon’s American culture commentary show “Open Source,” which debuted in 2003, as per The Guardian. Of course, it wasn’t called a “podcast” at the time, and the boom of the medium didn’t hit until about a decade later. In 2025, you can hardly open a social media app without bumping into 20-something-year-old men with microphones (proposing some regulations in that regard).
With an overwhelming influx of people confidently spewing their questionable opinions, stories, and ideas into the internet — please, no more CEO and alpha male podcasts — it can be difficult to find podcasts that truly speak to us. For queer people who want to connect with their community and consume more LGBTQIA+ media, it can be even harder to cut through the noise. Fear not, we’ve compiled a list of some hilarious, thought-provoking, fierce, and inspiring LGBTQIA+ podcasts to follow.
“Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang”
“Las Culturistas” hosts and “culture consultants” Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have served the world piping hot culture since 2016. With iconic guest like Mariah Carey, Michelle Yeoh, Lady Gaga, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, and Chappell Roan, the GLAAD Media Award-winning podcast sees the comedy duo (known for starring alongside each other in 2022’s gay rom-com “Fire Island”) explore the profound impact of pop culture and current events. Guests are asked the question, “What was the culture that made you say culture was for you?” which spawns both hilarious and touching conversations about culture’s ability to shape personal worldviews.
“We’re Having Gay Sex”
New York-based comedian and out lesbian Ashley Gavin’s podcast, “We’re Having Gay Sex,” is fairly self-explanatory. The official website calls it “a queer sex positive podcast,” noting that yes, “str8 ppl can listen too.” Though Gavin is known for her stand-up comedy chops and crowd work — even boasting a sold out Edinburgh Fringe 2024 show, “My Therapist is Dying” — her podcast was created in 2020 to document her “queer experiments” and hookup phase after a decade of serial monogamy. Guests, including Jojo Siwa and Robby Hoffman, discuss their sex lives and personal relationships with identity and sexuality. With humor at its core, “We’re Having Gay Sex” also covers serious issues like compulsory heterosexuality and racism in the queer community, making it an honest and progressive platform unafraid to dig deep.
“Horror Queers”
From horror publication Bloody Disgusting, the “Horror Queers” podcast knows just how precious the horror genre is to the LGBTQIA+ community (ponder over the concepts of being othered or deemed a “monster”). Since 2019, queer hosts Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman have explored diverse horror films with LGBTQIA+ themes/undertones or a “high-camp quotient,” covering everything from 1975’s “The Stepford Wives” to 2009’s “Jennifer’s Body.”
“The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya”
Hi, bald! Fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” legends and unhinged besties Trixie and Katya surely know of their hit web series, “UNHhhh.” (Those who don’t know of “UNHhhh” are surely more stable in every way.) Birthed in 2020, the drag queen comedy duo’s podcast, “The Bald and the Beautiful,” offers similarly absurdist commentary about the world of drag, friendship, L.A. gays, movies, pop culture, et cetera. Described as boasting “a pair of grizzled gay ghouls sitting on chairs, holding microphones, and discussing their fabulous lives in Tinseltown,” “The Bald and the Beautiful” is a hilarious gem.
“Gender Reveal”
From creator and host Tuck Woodstock, a Brooklyn-based trans journalist and editor, the “Gender Reveal” podcast has dissected and analyzed the limitless facets of gender since 2018. It seeks to “explore the vast diversity of trans experiences through interviews with a wide array of trans, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit people. But, like, in a fun way??” With a grant program and a super organized starter pack page to ease into Woodstock’s world of gender discussion, “Gender Reveal” is a trans-centric podcast with purpose.
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